Abstract: An elastic crawler and an elastic crawler drive mechanism collectively suppress the interference between the pin members and the engaging portions, and improve the durability of the engaging portions. The elastic crawler includes on an inner circumferential side thereof a plurality of engaging portions (14) respectively engageable with a plurality of pin members (22) arranged at a spacing in a circumferential direction of a sprocket, wherein: the engaging portions (14) have a pressure receiving surface (14a) which receives the pin members (22), an outline shape in side view of the pressure receiving surface (14a) being formed by an envelope L1 drawn by an outer end of the pin members (22) when the sprocket rolls coaxially with a central axis of a virtual rotor with a rolling diameter D1 defined by D1=(pitch of the engaging portions)×(number of pin members)/(?)×a, and 0.9?a?1, together with the virtual rotor on a plane.

Abstract: An undercarriage assembly for a mobile machine includes a continuous track having a plurality of mated track links that can translate with respect to the machine. Each track link may include a shoe portion and a body portion. The body portion includes a plurality of projecting pin lugs each having a pin bore to receive a bin and link adjacent track links together. The pin lugs can include a pair of sprocket lugs for making rolling contact with a sprocket, a pair of roller lugs for making rolling contact with a plurality of rollers, and a side lug having a protruding shoulder to assist in aligning the plurality of rollers.

Abstract: The invention describes a track chain for diggers, bulldozers, loading vehicles, crawlers, agricultural machines, transport vehicles and the like, a chain link and a chain-driven vehicle with new and useful features concerning the special design of the track chain. The track chain can transfer the driving force well-proportioned, so that it can prevent the rubber track from running off the rails or lateral dislocation.

Abstract: An endless track for traction of a vehicle, such as a construction vehicle, an agricultural vehicle, a forestry vehicle or a military vehicle. The endless track has an enhanced elastomeric material curing capability. In one embodiment, each of a plurality of elastomeric projections of the endless track, such as guide/drive projections or traction projections, comprises elastomeric material defining a cavity to enhance a curing process during manufacturing of the endless track. The cavity may be shaped such that, during the curing process, a heat conductor positioned in the cavity conducts heat from the heat conductor to the elastomeric material of the projection.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tank wheel assembly systems, methods, and apparatus. In one embodiment, a tank wheel assembly includes a first wheel and a second wheel. A first face of the first wheel faces a second face of the second wheel. A guide tunnel is defined by at least a portion of the first face and at least a portion of the second face. The guide tunnel has outer surfaces and is configured to receive a center guide of a tank tread. The guide tunnel and center guide at least partially maintain the tank tread of the tank wheel assembly. A wear resistant coating is located on at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the guide tunnel, restricts the center guide of the tank tread from abrading the outer surfaces of the guide tunnel, and has a thickness of at least about 0.025 inch.

Abstract: A pneumatic drive tire for tracked vehicles is provided having an outer tread surface divided into two zones. The first tread zone has a plurality of lugs and grooves, the grooves may extend across the entire first zone creating soil discharge channels. The soil discharge channels preferably extend into the shoulder. The tire has a second tread zone with no lugs or grooves.

Abstract: This invention relates to endless tracks and systems used to propel track laying vehicles [i.e., vehicles which use endless tracks rather than tires to contact the terrain over which they are driven, e.g., tractors, tanks, bulldozers, etc.] and, more particularly, to an improved rubber track design and system allowing the endless track to be driven more efficiently at highway speeds. The track is made from a polymer adapted to travel over a drive sprocket, a plurality of guide wheels and a tensioning wheel, the track having a first exterior ground engaging surface and a second interior drive sprocket engaging surface, the track comprising: a carcass portion in which reinforcements are embedded into the polymer; a plurality of tread lugs disposed on the first engaging surface; a plurality of drive lugs disposed on the second engaging surface and a plurality of guide horns disposed on the second engaging surface.

Abstract: This invention refers to the traction lugs of reinforced elastomeric endless traction bands, and more particularly to those which are used on heavy vehicles like defense vehicles or for skid steer vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to traction lugs which are angled with respect to the transversal axis of the traction band and preferably disposed in chevrons, which optimize the band's traction while reducing the occurrences of teeth skipping and the level of vibrations and noise induced by the interaction of the traction band with the sprocket.

Abstract: This invention relates to endless tracks and systems used to propel track laying vehicles [i.e., vehicles which use endless tracks rather than tires to contact the terrain over which they are driven, e.g., tractors, tanks, bulldozers, etc.] and, more particularly, to an improved rubber track design and system allowing the endless track to be driven more efficiently at highway speeds. The track is made from a polymer adapted to travel over a drive sprocket, a plurality of guide wheels and a tensioning wheel, the track having a first exterior ground engaging surface and a second interior drive sprocket engaging surface, the track comprising: a carcass portion in which reinforcements are embedded into the polymer; a plurality of tread lugs disposed on the first engaging surface; a plurality of drive lugs disposed on the second engaging surface and a plurality of guide horns disposed on the second engaging surface.

Abstract: The present invention is an elastic flat tread which can prevent an elastic solid from cracking even if the vehicle runs on a protruding object during traveling. For this purpose, the elastic flat tread is provided with any core (1, 11, 115) of a core (1, 11) attached to a link (6) and a core (115) attached to a metal plate (9A) which is attached to a link (8), and end portions (1a, 1b; 11a, 11h; 115a, 115b) in a longitudinal direction of the aforesaid any core (1, 11, 115) are bent toward the side not in contact with the ground.

Abstract: An elastic crawler has a crawler body formed like an endless belt out of an elastic material, a plurality of driving projections provided on an inner circumferential surface of the crawler body with a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction thereof, and a plurality of traction lugs provided on an outer circumferential surface of the crawler body with a pitch different from that of the driving projections.

Abstract: A crawler traveling apparatus includes a rubber crawler belt having a plurality of driving projections formed with a predetermined peripheral pitch on an inner peripheral face of the belt, a drive wheel rotatable when engaged with the driving projections of the crawler belt for driving the belt, and a plurality of free wheels rotatable for laterally guiding the driving projections under movement. Each driving projection has an upper half having a lateral face including an upper half lateral face portion and a lower half having a lower half lateral face portion, the upper half lateral face portion having an erect inclination angle smaller than an erect inclination angle of the lower half lateral face portion. Each free wheel has an inner lateral face opposed to the driving projection, the inner lateral face having an inclined guide face having an inclination parallel to the lower half lateral face portion of the driving projection.

Abstract: A cover suitable for use in conjunction with a wheelchair wheel. The cover includes a durable nylon fabric and includes a barrier and a cover portion, the barrier being interposed between an inner surface of the cover portion and the tread and sidewalls of the wheel so that foreign matter present on the wheel does not contaminate or otherwise harm any persons or surfaces with which the covered wheel may come into contact. The cover further includes an outer surface and first and second edges. A plurality of straps attached to the first edge of the cover, and configured to be removably attached to the second edge of the cover, permit the cover to be readily attached to, and detached from, the wheel. Finally, a plurality of lateral seams on the outer surface of the cover facilitate traction when the wheelchair passes over relatively smooth surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to a molded crawler track comprising metallic core bars set in an endless rubber belt. The core bars comprise first and second wings (2, 4) extending in a transverse direction to the axis of the track and, between the wings, a sprocket part (3) which is engaged by a drive sprocket. A protrusion (5, 15) is provided on either side of the sprocket part, i.e. protruding out of the plane of the wings towards the guide wheel for the track. The protrusions serve to guide the track over the guide wheels. The protrusions are inclined; one forward, one towards the rear; The relative dimensions of the elements of the core bars, are given. This combination of features reduces the occurrence of fatigue fractures and cracks in the belt.

Abstract: A rubber crawler belt having a pattern of a lug provided on an outer circumferential side of a rubber belt has a central lug portion provided to continuously extend around a center portion in a width direction of the outer circumference of the rubber belt, in a waveform, and a plurality of branch lug portions each having a predetermined width and provided from the central lug portion toward left and right end portions of the rubber belt to be away therefrom diagonally in a circumferential direction, and an interval between the branched lug portions adjacent to each other being the same as an interval between drive protrusions, in the circumferential direction of the rubber belt.

Abstract: With the objective of providing an elastic crawler shoe which is capable of discharging snow which gets into a space between crawler belt links before a packing phenomenon occurs, a projection which is made of an elastic material is provided so as to protrude into the space which is enclosed by the right and left crawler belt links and front and rear connecting pins.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elastic crawler having an improved flexing properties in which arrangement of lugs are improved so as to prevent deterioration of the flexing properties due to rigidity of a crawler body increased by providing lugs. The crawler includes a crawler body 2, a plurality of core members 3 having right and left wings 3R, 3L, respectively, and provided in the crawler body laterally with respect to the crawler and in parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, and a plurality of right and left lugs including small lugs provided correspondingly to one of the wings 3R or 3L and large lugs provided correspondingly to two of the wings 3R or 3L adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler.

Abstract: An endless drive track system for use with a tracked vehicle. The endless drive track system includes a planetary drive system having drive rollers, a plurality of roller wheels, and an endless track with a reinforcing brace embedded within the endless track for at least one of a plurality of drive beads extending from an interior surface of the endless track. The reinforcement brace is made of wear-resistant material. Each drive bead has at least one drive face that is engaged by the drive rollers of the planetary drive system. The roller wheels frictionally engage at least one, if not both, friction faces of each drive bead. Each reinforcing brace includes a horizontal section having first and second ends. A first flange extends from the horizontal section near a first friction face of each drive bead while a second flange extends from the horizontal section near a second drive friction face of each drive bead. The first and second flanges extend from a horizontal section of the reinforcing brace.

Abstract: An endless drive track system for use with a tracked vehicle includes a planetary drive system having drive rollers, a plurality of roller wheels, an endless track having an interior surface and a plurality of drive lugs attached to the interior surface. Each drive lug includes at least one drive face that is positively engaged by the drive rollers of the planetary drive system, and longitudinal faces that are engageable with the sides of the roller wheels. Each longitudinal face has an angled shape defined by upper and lower portions. The lower portion is substantially perpendicular to the interior surface while the upper portion is angled between about 5° and 60° with respect to the lower portion. This arrangement promotes lateral guidance of the endless track and reduces the potential of damaging contact between the longitudinal faces and the roller wheels. The endless track may include a reinforcing brace having flanges that protect the longitudinal faces.

Abstract: An inner periphery driving type rubber crawler comprises: a plurality of core metals buried in series in the rubber crawler along the longitudinal direction thereof such that the longer sides of each core metal are in parallel with the transverse direction of the crawler; a plurality of steel cords buried in the rubber crawler such that they surround the outer periphery of the core metals; a pair of horns which protrude from each core metal toward the inner side of the rubber crawler and which have a shape longer in said transverse direction than said longitudinal direction; and rubber members which cover sides of said horn in said longitudinal direction. The paired horns and the associated rubber members form a pair of driving protrusions. A sprocket of a driving wheel is inserted between the driving protrusions and is engaged with the protrusions via driving pins for transferring driving force to the rubber crawler.

Abstract: A positive drive endless rubber track system for the undercarriage of a vehicle, the rubber track including spaced guide lugs projecting inwardly therefrom, the undercarriage including a drive wheel having spaced sprocket pins thereon, idler wheels, and tension adapting wheels around which the endless rubber track is guided and driven by the driving wheel, the drive wheel being attached to the vehicle and having an up-ratio in the range of about 0.5% to about 4.0%.

Abstract: A metal core for a rubber crawler, wherein an engaging part with a sprocket is provided at the center thereof, wherein horn members are provided at the outsides of the engaging part, wherein right and left wing parts are provided at the outsides of the horn members, wherein concave parts are formed by intercepting the engaging part lengthwise and crosswise by a rib, and wherein inner surfaces of the right and left horn members are inclined at a fixed angle to the wing portion of the metal core in a top view.

Abstract: A crawler belt for use on a crawler motor vehicle has an elongate belt body drivable in a predetermined direction, and a plurality of ridges mounted on a ground contact side of the belt body, each of the ridges having at least one sipe defined in a free end thereof for allowing the ridge to be flexibly deformable in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. Each of the ridges has a plurality of sipes defined therein and extending longitudinally thereof or substantially perpendicularly to the predetermined direction. The ridges comprise a plurality of chevron-shaped ridges pointing toward the predetermined direction and succesively arranged at predetermined spaced intervals in the predetermined direction. The ridges are divided into a plurality of groups each including a plurality of ridges by grooves extending transversely of the belt body, and divided into a plurality of segments by at least one longitudinal groove extending longitudinally of the belt body.