The idea is an armoured body in the form of a rectangular box with curved or angled sides. It is supported on 6 variable length 'legs' to each leg is attached by a UJ a bogey consisting of forward drive wheel and equal size driven tensioner wheel which tensions a Kegresse belt ( no idlers. ) The height of the body above the bogeys is monitored to keep the body level with the ground ( as much as possible. ) There are three modes of locomotion:
(1) On patrol ( showing the flag, ) the legs are extended as far as possible ( subject to suspension movement ) if a road side bomb is exploded it will simply take out a leg (which can be replaced. )
(2) Over rough ground the legs are adjusted to a suitable height for the conditions. As each bogey rides up a hump then the force trying to raise the body is sensed and the leg length reduced, similarly when the individual bogey goes down a dip the sudden loss of force is noted and the leg extended. In all cases the body is held level. Note when going over very rough ground the speed must 'automatically' be reduced as the forces and torque associated with a heavy armoured body would be too great for extended legs and also there is a limit as to how fast the legs can operate.
(3) On level ground and road surfaces where little suspension movement is required the body can hunker down on to the bogeys. Much higher speeds can now be maintained since as well as a substantial reduction in torque the compressed legs are very much stiffer. This position would also be used ( with reduced speed ) when the tank is under attack.
Suggested ways of obtaining design objectives:
(a) Legs, multi-segmented hydraulic telescope type. Each segment to consist of two cylinders the top covered to form a piston ring, in the open bottom the next segment sides, one-way valves at top and bottom of the segment are uncovered at the correct moment to allow progressive expansion and contraction ( segment by segment ) of the leg. The inside is hollow allowing the passage of concertinaed hydraulic drive/return pipes or electric cables.
(b) Bogeys. For central positioning of leg this could consist of 2 drive and 2 tensioner wheels with 2 belts making 12 belts in all - loss of one would not be vital and the belts would be very easy to replace. An electric or hydraulic motor and tensioning arrangement.
(1) On patrol ( showing the flag, ) the legs are extended as far as possible ( subject to suspension movement ) if a road side bomb is exploded it will simply take out a leg (which can be replaced. )
(2) Over rough ground the legs are adjusted to a suitable height for the conditions. As each bogey rides up a hump then the force trying to raise the body is sensed and the leg length reduced, similarly when the individual bogey goes down a dip the sudden loss of force is noted and the leg extended. In all cases the body is held level. Note when going over very rough ground the speed must 'automatically' be reduced as the forces and torque associated with a heavy armoured body would be too great for extended legs and also there is a limit as to how fast the legs can operate.
(3) On level ground and road surfaces where little suspension movement is required the body can hunker down on to the bogeys. Much higher speeds can now be maintained since as well as a substantial reduction in torque the compressed legs are very much stiffer. This position would also be used ( with reduced speed ) when the tank is under attack.
Suggested ways of obtaining design objectives:
(a) Legs, multi-segmented hydraulic telescope type. Each segment to consist of two cylinders the top covered to form a piston ring, in the open bottom the next segment sides, one-way valves at top and bottom of the segment are uncovered at the correct moment to allow progressive expansion and contraction ( segment by segment ) of the leg. The inside is hollow allowing the passage of concertinaed hydraulic drive/return pipes or electric cables.
(b) Bogeys. For central positioning of leg this could consist of 2 drive and 2 tensioner wheels with 2 belts making 12 belts in all - loss of one would not be vital and the belts would be very easy to replace. An electric or hydraulic motor and tensioning arrangement.
