Abstract: A replacement endless drive track for use on a heavy duty tracked vehicle such as a bulldozer or tank includes a reinforced polymeric drive belt, two parallel sets of closely spaced rail blocks adjacent the drive belt, a plurality of drive pins extending between opposing ones of the rail blocks, and supporting members adjoining the drive belt and the rail blocks. The rail blocks are substantially Z-shaped, such that a forward portion of one rail block is offset and overlaps the rearward portion of a directly adjacent rail block. The rail blocks, drive pins and drive treads may be comprised of a polymeric material which is harder than the polymeric material of the drive belt. The drive pins may alternatively be disposed at a lateral end of the supporting members to accommodate a tracked vehicle with peripherally disposed drive sprockets. In addition, the frame of the tracked vehicle may be adapted to provide for attachment of widened rollers which roll directly on the track for smoother and quieter travel.

Abstract: A replacement endless drive track for use on a heavy duty tracked vehicle such as a bulldozer or tank includes a reinforced polymeric drive belt, two parallel sets of closely spaced rail blocks adjacent the drive belt, a plurality of drive pins extending between opposing ones of the rail blocks, and supporting members adjoining the drive belt and the rail blocks. The rail blocks are substantially Z-shaped, such that a forward portion of one rail block is offset and overlaps the rearward portion of a directly adjacent rail block. The rail blocks, drive pins and drive treads may be comprised of a polymeric material which is harder than the polymeric material of the drive belt. The drive pins may alternatively be disposed at a lateral end of the supporting members to accommodate a tracked vehicle with peripherally disposed drive sprockets. In addition, the frame of the tracked vehicle may be adapted to provide for attachment of widened rollers which roll directly on the track for smoother and quieter travel.

Abstract: A replacement endless drive track for use on a heavy duty tracked vehicle such as a bulldozer or tank includes a reinforced polymeric drive belt, two parallel sets of closely spaced rail blocks adjacent the drive belt, a plurality of drive pins extending between opposing ones of the rail blocks, and supporting members adjoining the drive belt and the rail blocks. The rail blocks are substantially Z-shaped, such that a forward portion of one rail block is offset and overlaps the rearward portion of a directly adjacent rail block. The rail blocks, drive pins and drive treads may be comprised of a polymeric material which is harder than the polymeric material of the drive belt. The drive pins may alternatively be disposed at a lateral end of the supporting members to accommodate a tracked vehicle with peripherally disposed drive sprockets. In addition, the frame of the tracked vehicle may be adapted to provide for attachment of widened rollers which roll directly on the track for smoother and quieter travel.

Abstract: A modular endless track drive system for use on a track vehicle such as a bulldozer is made up of a number of polymeric drive modules interconnected with polymeric master links. Each drive module includes a plurality of drive members with lateral frictional drive faces for engagement with a drive wheel, each master link having similarly configured drive faces. The drive wheel is provided with drive surfaces shaped to match the shape of the lateral drive faces on the drive modules and master links and/or a sprocket for engaging with additional drive faces on the drive modules and master links. A drive module is made by molding a polymeric multiple drive member structure atop a plurality of base portions, encasing one or more connecting members therein with their ends exposed. The master links are made in a similar fashion, but with upper and lower base portion parts for fastening the drive module connector members therebetween to form an endless track.

Abstract: An assembly for joining ends of a drive track of an endless track drive system includes at least one connector member or connector member belt situated within the endless drive track, one or two retaining rods situated between abutting ends of the endless drive track, and a master link with a one-piece upper part and a one-piece lower part. The connector member(s) or connector member belt(s) is situated within the endless drive track in such a way that substantially parallel lengths of the connector member(s) or connector member belt(s) extend longitudinally of the endless drive track and loops of the connector member(s) or connector member belt(s) extend from ends of the endless drive track.

Abstract: An endless track drive system for use on a track vehicle such as a bulldozer includes a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally interconnected in a closed loop to form an endless track, each drive member including at least one frictional drive face, and at least one continuous reinforcement member encased within and further interconnecting the plurality of drive members. Each drive member of the endless track preferably includes at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of the endless track for engagement with a drive wheel. The endless track also preferably includes tread members which are either integrally formed with, bonded to or removably fastened to the drive members, and the tread members may be bias-ply, fiber reinforced or cable reinforced.

Abstract: An endless drive track for use on a track vehicle such as a bulldozer includes a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members, each drive member including a first lateral frictional drive face sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of the endless drive track at a first angle with respect to horizontal and a second lateral frictional drive face sloping inwardly with respect to the transverse direction of the endless drive track at a second angle with respect to horizontal, and a reinforcement member for connecting the drive members to one another to form an endless track. Each drive member of the endless track preferably includes first and second lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly toward one another at the first angle with respect to horizontal and third and fourth lateral frictional drive faces, above the first and second drive faces, sloping inwardly toward one another at the second angle with respect to horizontal, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

Abstract: An endless track drive system for use on a track vehicle such as a bulldozer includes a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally interconnected in a closed loop to form an endless track, each drive member including at least one frictional drive face, and at least one continuous reinforcement member encased within and further interconnecting the plurality of drive members. Each drive member of the endless track preferably includes at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of the endless track for engagement with a drive wheel. The endless track also preferably includes tread members which are either integrally formed with, bonded to or removably fastened to the drive members, and the tread members may be bias-ply, fiber reinforced or cable reinforced.

Abstract: An endless drive track for use on a track vehicle such as a bulldozer includes a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members, each drive member including a first lateral frictional drive face sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of the endless drive track at a first angle with respect to horizontal and a second lateral frictional drive face sloping inwardly with respect to the transverse direction of the endless drive track at a second angle with respect to horizontal, and a reinforcement member for connecting the drive members to one another to form an endless track. Each drive member of the endless track preferably includes first and second lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly toward one another at the first angle with respect to horizontal and third and fourth lateral frictional drive faces, above the first and second drive faces, sloping inwardly toward one another at the second angle with respect to horizontal, the second angle being greater than the first angle.

Abstract: A modular endless track drive system for use on a track vehicle such as a bulldozer is made up of a number of polymeric drive modules interconnected with polymeric master links. Each drive module includes a plurality of drive members with lateral frictional drive faces for engagement with a drive wheel, each master link having similarly configured drive faces. The drive wheel is provided with drive surfaces shaped to match the shape of the lateral drive faces on the drive modules and master links and/or a sprocket for engaging with additional drive faces on the drive modules and master links. A drive module is made by molding a polymeric multiple drive member structure atop a plurality of base portions, encasing one or more connecting members therein with their ends exposed. The master links are made in a similar fashion, but with upper and lower base portion parts for fastening the drive module connector members therebetween to form an endless track.

Abstract: An assembly for joining ends of a drive track of an endless track drive system includes at least one connector member or connector member belt situated within the endless drive track, one or two retaining rods situated between abutting ends of the endless drive track, and a master link with a one-piece upper part and a one-piece lower part. The connector member(s) or connector member belt(s) is situated within the endless drive track in such a way that substantially parallel lengths of the connector member(s) or connector member belt(s) extend longitudinally of the endless drive track and loops of the connector member(s) or connector member belt(s) extend from ends of the endless drive track.

Abstract: An endless drive system suitable for use, for example, as a tracked vehicle drive system, an endless belt or an endless chain drive system. A number of endless drive sections are interconnected by cable connector sections. The cable connector sections include cables which can be encased in rubber. The cables can be provided with end retaining members which aid in retaining the cable connector sections and the endless drive sections together and which prevent expanding, fraying or unwinding of the cable ends. Special end retaining members can be utilized to aid self-alignment of the system.

Abstract: An endless drive system suitable for use, for example, as a tracked vehicle drive system, an endless belt or an endless chain drive system. A number of endless drive sections are interconnected by cable connector sections. The cable connector sections include cables which can be encased in rubber. The cables can be provided with end retaining members which aid in retaining the cable connector sections and the endless drive sections together and which prevent expanding, fraying or unwinding of the cable ends. Special end retaining members can be utilized to aid self-alignment of the system.

Abstract: An endless drive system suitable for use, for example, as a tracked vehicle drive system, an endless belt or an endless chain drive system. A number of endless drive sections are interconnected by cable connector sections. The cable connector sections include cables which can be encased in rubber. The cables can be provided with end retaining members which aid in retaining the cable connector sections and the endless drive sections together and which prevent expanding, fraying or unwinding of the cable ends. Special end retaining members can be utilized to aid self-alignment of the system.