Including Plural Layers Of Different Materials Patents (Class 305/166)
  • Patent number: 10870456
    Abstract: A track for traction of an off-road vehicle such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The track comprises an inner surface, a ground-engaging outer surface, and a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface. The track may be very thin and/or the traction projections may be very high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CAMSO INC.
    Inventors: Jules Dandurand, Denis Courtemanche, Jason Davis
  • Patent number: 10392060
    Abstract: A track system for traction of a vehicle (e.g., a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) etc.). The track system comprises a track and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly. The track system may have various features to enhance its traction, floatation, and/or other aspects of its performance, including, for example, a lightweight design, enhanced tractive effects, an enhanced heat management capability, an enhanced resistance to lateral skidding (e.g., on a side hill), an adaptive capability to adapt itself to different conditions (e.g., ground conditions, such as different types of snow, soil, etc.; and/or other conditions), an adjustability of a contact area of its track with the ground, and/or other features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventors: Jules Dandurand, Pascal Labbe, Jason Davis, Daniel Lochnikar
  • Patent number: 10183709
    Abstract: A crawler with a wear limit indicator comprises a crawler main body, sprocket holes formed to pass through a central portion of the crawler main body at equal intervals, core metals configured to be inserted and installed in-between the sprocket holes, left lugs configured to protrude from one surface of the crawler main body and simultaneously overlap with the sprocket holes and one of the core metals, right lugs configured to protrude from the other surface of the crawler main body and simultaneously overlap a pair of adjacent core metals, and a wear limit indicator configured to protrude from front and rear surfaces of the left lugs and the right lugs and inform that a replacement time for a crawler has come when worn-out surfaces of the left lugs and the right lugs are placed on the same horizontal plane as the wear limit indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: TR BELTRACK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woojeong Kim
  • Patent number: 9919752
    Abstract: An elastic crawler includes an endless elastic body; cores that each include a core body and a pair of protrusions; lugs, on the outer circumferential side of the elastic body, each disposed so as to avoid a crawler circumferential direction area corresponding to at least a portion of the core in the crawler circumferential direction; and grooves, on the crawler inner circumferential surface, each positioned outward in the crawler width direction from the pair of protrusions in a crawler circumferential direction area corresponding to the core, each of the grooves being recessed relative to crawler inner circumferential surface portions adjacent to the groove on both sides in the crawler circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 9637188
    Abstract: A crawler web for a crawler chain of a crawler vehicle, in particular a snow vehicle, is proposed, wherein the crawler web comprises a base rail which is attachable releasably to the crawler chain, a track bracket which is provided for guiding the crawler chain on a chassis of the crawler vehicle, and a tread element which is provided for arrangement on a ground contact side of the crawler chain and for engagement in an underlying surface. According to the invention, the track bracket and the tread element are formed integrally, wherein the tread element is extended over a large part of a length in the longitudinal direction of the base rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Hans Hall GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Hall
  • Patent number: 9308952
    Abstract: A track formed of a molded rubber base sandwiching a cord layer and a single layer of ply fabric extending longitudinally of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CAMSO INC.
    Inventors: Jules Dandurand, Denis Courtemanche
  • Publication number: 20150035354
    Abstract: A track formed of a molded rubber base sandwiching a cord layer and a single layer of ply fabric extending longitudinally of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jules DANDURAND, Denis COURTEMANCHE
  • Patent number: 8833873
    Abstract: A track formed of a molded rubber base sandwiching a cord layer and a single layer of ply fabric extending longitudinally of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Camoplast Solideal Inc.
    Inventors: Jules Dandurand, Denis Courtemanche
  • Patent number: 8567877
    Abstract: A rubber crawler which includes: a rubber crawler body having an endless belt shape and which has a left-right pair of rolling wheel passing surfaces on the inner circumferential surface thereof; a steel cord layer in which a plurality of steel cords extending in the crawler circumference direction are embedded in the rubber crawler body so as to be arranged in the crawler width direction, and a plurality of bias reinforcing layers that are disposed on the outer circumferential side of this steel cord layer in the rubber crawler body, in which the left-right pair of rolling wheel passing surfaces are disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the rubber crawler body at positions corresponding to the respective end portions in the crawler width direction of the steel cord layer and the plurality of bias reinforcing layers; the rubber crawler further includes: a rubber layer disposed between an innermost reinforcing layer that is positioned on the innermost side of the plurality of bias reinforcing layers
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Ijiri
  • Patent number: 8567876
    Abstract: The tracks of the present invention utilize cut pieces of reinforcement which are associated with each individual drive lug. By using individual pieces the lugs can be easily built up with multiple layers of rubber and reinforcement. The cut pieces can be strategically shaped and placed to optimize their effect to realize improved performance and durability of the track. Incorporation of such inner fabric reinforcement layers adds stiffness to the lugs and thereby increases the torque capacity of the track. Additional layers also provide increased damage resistance after the outer layers of fabric are worn away, and added layers improve wear resistance on the sides of the lugs due to undercarriage misalignment and track-to-wheel contact when the vehicle turns during normal operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Veyance Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Alan Wellman
  • Publication number: 20130192960
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rubber-metal composite, the method including a process of bringing a metal material into contact with a buffer solution having a pH of from 5 to 7.2, followed by a process of causing the metal material and rubber to adhere to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Toyosawa
  • Patent number: 8162410
    Abstract: A crawler belt 20 includes first regions and second regions alternately arranged in a circumferential direction thereof. The first region has at least one first tread lug 25 and the second region has at least one second tread lug 26. The first tread lug 25 has high flexural rigidity and is not easily bent and the second tread lug 26 has low flexural rigidity and is easily bent. The first tread lug 25 catches on an upper end of a high step or bump S with the second tread lug 26 in a bent condition, thus allowing the crawler unit to move over the step or bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Topy Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Hirose, Shingo Tsukui
  • Publication number: 20120074772
    Abstract: A track formed of a molded rubber base sandwiching a cord layer and a single layer of ply fabric extending longitudinally of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Jules DANDURAND, Denis Courtemanche
  • Patent number: 8083296
    Abstract: A track formed of a molded rubber base sandwiching a cord layer and a single layer of ply fabric extending longitudinally of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Camoplast Solideal Inc.
    Inventors: Jules Dandurand, Denis Courtemanche
  • Patent number: 8016368
    Abstract: A rubber crawler track having less wear at its left and right end portions to improve its durability. The rubber crawler track has steel cords 12 embedded in the longitudinal direction of the track and has a rubber lug 15 formed on the outer periphery side thereof. The rubber crawler track is constructed from three kinds of rubbers that are an inner peripheral side rubber (a), an outer peripheral side rubber (b), and an edge rubber (c) at the left and right of the rubber crawler track. The edge rubber (c) is a rubber layer having the highest hardness degree. The ground contact side, inner peripheral side and ends in the width direction have different kinds of rubber, and the edge rubber (c) having excellent wear resistance with a hardness degree of 72 (JIS A) or greater is placed in particular at the machine body side end of the rubber crawler track because of the significant wear at this location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20110121644
    Abstract: The tracks of the present invention utilize cut pieces of reinforcement which are associated with each individual drive lug. By using individual pieces the lugs can be easily built up with multiple layers of rubber and reinforcement. The cut pieces can be strategically shaped and placed to optimize their effect to realize improved performance and durability of the track. Incorporation of such inner fabric reinforcement layers adds stiffness to the lugs and thereby increases the torque capacity of the track. Additional layers also provide increased damage resistance after the outer layers of fabric are worn away, and added layers improve wear resistance on the sides of the lugs due to undercarriage misalignment and track-to-wheel contact when the vehicle turns during normal operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: VEYANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Ronald Alan Wellman
  • Patent number: 7866766
    Abstract: A ground engaging track for a vehicle has a continuous loop or endless belt body portion having an exterior surface to engage the ground and an interior surface including driven members. The driven members are configured to be engaged by a drive sprocket to rotate the body portion to move the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Norman O. Berg
  • Patent number: 7823987
    Abstract: A track formed of a molded rubber base sandwiching a cord layer, followed by a cross bar and a single layer of ply fabric extending longitudinally of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Camoplast Inc.
    Inventors: Jules Dandurand, Denis Courtemanche
  • Patent number: 7641292
    Abstract: A structure of a coreless crawler comprising: main cords that are embedded in rows in a longitudinal direction of the crawler, two layers of bias cords (a, b) that are embedded at an outer peripheral side of the main cords, bias cords (c) that are laid perpendicular to the main cords and embedded at an inner peripheral side of the main cords, rubber protrusions that are formed at constant intervals at a central portion on an inner peripheral surface of the crawler, and rubber lugs that are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the crawler, wherein the bias cords (a, b, c) and the main cords are held between treatment rubbers, and a rubber layer having lower hardness than treatment rubber is interposed between the main cords and the bias cords (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7578565
    Abstract: A crawler belt is disclosed herein having an endless steel belt (high-tensile-strength belt) and a belt main body made of rubber and attached around an outer periphery of the steel belt. The steel belt has engagement holes arranged at even intervals in a circumferential direction thereof. The belt main body has escape recesses formed therein. A wheel has projections arranged at even intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The projections are adapted to be engaged with the engagement holes of the steel belt and at the same time to enter the escape recesses of the belt main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignees: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Topy Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Hirose, Shingo Tsukui
  • Publication number: 20080203813
    Abstract: An offset track forms a pattern perpendicular to the centerline of the track which enables tracks to be formed with even or odd number of metal inserts and thus accommodate virtually any tracked vehicle. The offset track uses variations in body thickness and lug width to provide a high performance offset track with improved ride, minimum vibration and longer wear. Use of full size and mini-inserts in a single track minimizes the weight and further enhances the performance of an offset track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Richardson J. Doyle
  • Patent number: 7325888
    Abstract: A rubber crawler having a very good straight driving property is obtained by modifying a method of embedding bias cords in a rubber crawler and neutralizing shear stresses caused by tensile load of bent portions of the crawler when the crawler is entrained about a vehicle main body. The rubber crawler is comprised of an endless rubber elastic body, a main cord row, two layers of bias cords having opposite angles of inclination, guide projections, and a lug. The bias cords of the first layer at a side near the main cord row are embedded over a region having substantially the same transverse dimension as that of the main cord row, at a fixed angle of inclination, and the bias cords of the second layer are divided into two sections, covering a region having substantially the same transverse dimension as that of the bias cords of the first layer other than a portions corresponding to the guide projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Fujita, Shuichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7293844
    Abstract: A rubber crawler track (1) has an endless rubber belt-shaped rubber crawler track main body (2) formed of a rubber elastic body and core metal pieces (3) embedded in the rubber crawler track main body (2) at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the rubber crawler track, wherein a high hardness intermediate rubber layer track main body (2) is provided from below at least the ground contacting surface side of an end portion in a length direction (rubber crawler track width direction) of the core metal pieces (3) toward outside the end portion in a width direction of the rubber crawler track. The rubber elastic body of the rubber crawler track main body (2) is formed in a multiply layered structure with at least two or more layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fukuyama Gomu Kogyo Kabushiki Gaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7128378
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a coreless rubber which ensures running stability by compensating shift (deviation) in the width direction even if prepared by combination of usual rollers, and which is easily and in low cost prepared by adoption of simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Sugihara, Shuichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7083242
    Abstract: An endless flexible belt track produced from an elastomer comprises a steel cable (30) spirally wound in the thickness of the belt (12) and outer layers embedded in the thickness of the belt and formed successively from the turns (34) of the cable toward the outside, by: a first oblique layer (36) formed from wires that in turn form a first acute angle (A) to a perpendicular to the turns of the cable; a transversal layer (38) formed from wires that in turn form a right angle to the turns of the cable; and a second oblique layer (40) formed from wires that in turn form a second acute angle (B) to a perpendicular to the turns of the cable, the second acute angle (B) extending in the opposite direction to the first acute angle (A). Application to all-terrain vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Otico
    Inventors: Denis Piou, Olivier Phely
  • Patent number: 6974196
    Abstract: Described is an endless track for an industrial or agricultural vehicle consisting of a body formed of a rubber material having an outer surface displaying a series of ground engaging profiles longitudinally spaced along the surface and an inner surface displaying a series of longitudinally spaced drive lugs adapted to be engaged by drive sprockets on the vehicle driving assembly. The body of the endless track is fabric reinforced. One layer of fabric longitudinally extends at a distance from the inner surface of the track and has a width slightly less than the width of the drive lugs so that the fabric may extend inside the drive lugs to increase their rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Camoplast Inc.
    Inventors: Lucie Gagne, Alain Lussier
  • Patent number: 6769746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two part endless vehicular rubber track comprised of a polyurethane based tread component and a rubber carcass component. In one aspect, the tread component may be comprised of a sulfur curable polyurethane or blend of sulfur curable polyurethane and sulfur curable elastomer. The invention includes a vehicle containing such track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Michael Brendan Rodgers, Bina Patel Botts, Ram Murthy Krishnan
  • Patent number: 6575540
    Abstract: The endless track is made of a reinforced rubber material with longitudinally spaced and transversely disposed ridges or lugs. It is particularly well-adapted for recreational snowmobiles having a single track. The track is characterized in that the rubber material of the central portion of the body has a hardness of between 75 and 90 duro A while the rubber material of the opposite band portions of the body has a hardness between 55 and 75 duro A. Such track facilitates the steering capabilities of a snowmobile, particularly when the snowmobile is traveling on hard and abrasive surfaces. It also improves the durability of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Soucy International Inc.
    Inventors: Gilles Soucy, Yves St-Pierre, André Deland
  • Publication number: 20030094854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two part endless vehicular rubber (flexible, elastomeric) track comprised of a polyurethane based tread component and a rubber carcass component. In one aspect, the tread component may be comprised of a sulfur curable polyurethane or blend of sulfur curable polyurethane and sulfur curable elastomer. The invention includes a vehicle containing such track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Brendan Rodgers, Bina Patel Botts, Ram Murthy Krishnan
  • Publication number: 20020145335
    Abstract: The endless track is made of a reinforced rubber material with longitudinally spaced and transversely disposed ridges or lugs. It is particularly well-adapted for recreational snowmobiles having a single track. The track is characterized in that the rubber material of the central portion of the body has a hardness of between 75 and 90 duro A while the rubber material of the opposite band portions of the body has a hardness between 55 and 75 duro A. Such track facilitates the steering capabilities of a snowmobile, particularly when the snowmobile is traveling on hard and abrasive surfaces. It also improves the durability of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Gilles Soucy, Yves St-Pierre, Andre Deland
  • Patent number: 6203125
    Abstract: Disclosed is a track belt for a snowmobile, which comprises a track belt main body, a core body arranged along a longitudinal direction of the track belt main body, reinforcing woven cloths disposed respectively in the outside and inside of the core body, cover layers for covering these reinforcing woven cloths and a plurality of horizontal rigid members placed at specified intervals in the longitudinal direction of the track belt main body and in the cross direction of the same. Overlapping of the reinforcing woven cloth is disposed respectively in the outside and inside of the horizontal rigid members. Reinforcing woven cloth is made by spirally winding a belt-like woven cloth having a specified width on a circumference of the track belt main body at a specified angle to the longitudinal direction of the track belt main body. Reinforcing woven cloths are made of tire fabric cords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Arakawa, Jun Shimada
  • Patent number: 5533796
    Abstract: An endless belt design for endless track assemblies for use upon off-road vehicles, the belt assembly comprising an elastomeric belt reinforced by embedded fibers, a substantial portion of these fibers being embedded at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the belt especially in the area of the cleat mounting holes, so that the holes are restrained from elongation under shearing load from the mounting bolts by longitudinal components of tension in the biased or angled fabric strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: LMC Operating Corp.
    Inventor: Micheal G. Beeley