Abstract: A guide roller assembly for use in a guide roller mechanism of a crawler type vehicle, including a support shaft fixedly provided on a truck frame and a guide roller rotatably mounted on the support shaft through bearings. The guide roller has an integral unitary body structure of a stepped cylindrical shape having a radially bulged portion formed integrally by plastic deformation in an axially intermediate portion between cylindrical end portions of a smaller diameter, and having a uniform wall thickness over the entire length of the guide roller. The guide roller is improved in strength and can realize a substantial cut in production cost.

Abstract: A guide wheel for a track apparatus is provided. The guide wheel includes a central hub rotatably mounted to a frame of a track apparatus. A first guide wall extends radially from the central hub and terminates at an outer edge. A second guide wall also extends radially from the central hub and terminates at an outer edge. The first and second guide walls define a circumferentially extending channel in the guide wheel. The channel in the guide wheel sequentially receives a plurality of lugs extending from the inner surface of a flexible track of the track apparatus so as to prevent lateral movement of the track.

Abstract: A track apparatus having a frame is provided. The track apparatus is mountable on a rotatable axle of a vehicle and includes a continuous flexible track and a drive wheel mountable to the rotatable axle of the vehicle for rotational movement therewith. The drive wheel drives the flexible track in response to rotation of the axle of the vehicle. The leading and trailing pairs of idler wheels and the pairs of bogie wheels of the track apparatus are mounted on stub axles so as to allow the drive wheel to pass therebetween. This, in turn, allows for the drive wheel to have an increased diameter.

Abstract: A track apparatus is provided for mounting on a rotatable axle of a vehicle. The track apparatus includes a flexible track having an upper length and a ground-engaging lower length. A drive wheel is mountable to the rotatable axle so as to drive the flexible track in response to rotation of the axle. Leading and trailing idler assemblies are attached to the frame. Each idler assembly includes a non-pneumatic idler wheel having a plurality of voids therein. In addition, a bogie assembly is also supported by the frame. The bogie assembly includes a non-pneumatic bogie wheel having a plurality of voids therein. The idler wheels and the bogie wheels have increased dimensional reliability and provide shock absorption and self-cleaning features to the track apparatus.

Abstract: A drive wheel mounted on a rotatable axle of a vehicle is provided for driving a continuous flexible track. The drive wheel includes a central hub mountable on the axle for rotational movement therewith. First and second rim walls extend radially from the central hub and define a circumferentially extending void in the drive wheel. A plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers are rotatably supported in the void for engaging a portion of the track.

Abstract: A mounting device is provided for mounting a drive wheel of a track apparatus to a rotatable axle of the vehicle. The mounting device includes a generally cylindrical sleeve having first and second opposite ends. The cylindrical sleeve includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots therein. An attachment device interconnects the cylindrical sleeve and the axle of the vehicle and also interconnects the cylindrical sleeve and the drive wheel.

Abstract: An impact reducing idler wheel comprises a retaining ring and a tread ring having a pair of mutually-spaced tread surfaces separated by a radially outwardly open annular groove. The retaining ring is positioned within the radially outwardly open annular groove. A first resilient member is disposed between the retaining ring and the tread ring. A central hub is concentric with the tread ring, and a second resilient member is disposed between the hub and the tread ring. The tread ring may comprises a plurality of arcuate segments which are independently movable relative to the hub and the retaining ring.

Abstract: A guide wheel for use with the suspension assembly of a snowmobile vehicle is provided with an embossed rim surface. The later is formed of a succession of convex and concave surfaces, the convex surfaces contacting the inner side of the lower run of the snowmobile track while the concave surfaces are so disposed as to avoid contacting pressure on that part of the snowmobile track in which lies transverse reinforcing rods embedded in the track.

Abstract: A snow and ice-clearing track assembly (16) for a vehicle (10) is provided which has a plurality of rotatable track wheels (22-26) including a specialized drive wheel (24) together with a continuous loop, substantially imperforate track (34) disposed about and engaging the wheels (22-26). The track (34) includes a plurality of inwardly extending drive lugs (36) which are received within circumferentially spaced lug openings (56) and snow and ice-clearing passages (58, 60) on opposite sides of the central openings (60). An alternate drive wheel (70) has a pair of polyurethane rings (84, 86) on opposite sides of lug-receiving openings (78) preventing buildup of ice and snow adjacent the drive wheel.

Abstract: In the operation of conventional track assemblies it is common for an idler to have a pair of laterally extending wear treads to engage and support the wear rails defined by the track links of the track assembly as it is driven thereabout. This ultimately creates an arcuate wear pattern on the wear rails of the track links creating an extremely rough ride when the wear rails contact the track rollers suspended from a track roller frame. The present invention provides an idler member having a flange member that defines a raised center portion. The raised center portion contacts a roller bushing that extends between a pair of chain assemblies defined by the track assembly to support the track assembly as it is rotated therearound. The raised center portion further provides a pair of tapered side portions that are positioned between the chain assemblies and to provide lateral guiding thereof.