Endless traction band with asymmetrical support

Abstract

This invention relates to an endless traction band that is used to propel tracked vehicles and, more particularly, to an improved traction band made from a polymer adapted to travel over a drive sprocket, a plurality of guide wheels and a tension wheel. The inner surface of the endless traction band includes a different lug configuration which allows for the endless traction band to be installed more efficiently on a tracked vehicle.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an endless traction band that is used to propel tracked vehicles [i.e., vehicles which use endless traction bands rather than tires to contact the terrain over which they are driven, e.g., tractors, tanks, bulldozers, etc.] and, more particularly, to an improved elastomeric traction band comprising, along its inner surface circumference, a different lug configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous types of vehicles are frequently used on terrain where it is difficult for pneumatic tires to operate. Both in existent inexistent. To complete the installation of the traction band 120 over the plurality of wheel (130,140,150), only the lugs of the central area 126 needs to be inserted inside the space 143 generated between the inward and outward wheel sections (145 and 146 in FIG. 5).

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and 5, a row of guide lugs 125 are disposed on the outward area 124 and a row of drive lugs 123 are disposed on the central area 126. No lugs appear on the inward area 128. This configuration could as well be reversed, by having the drive lugs 123 located on the inward area 128 and on the outward area 124 and by locating the guide lugs on the central area 126.

These lugs all have an angled profile 127 on their inward side in order to provide an engaging surface with the mating wheels as the traction band moves and rolls around them. These angled profiles 127 are not restricted to any shape and can also be added to the most outward side of the lugs.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the endless traction band 120 rotates around the tension wheel 140 and a plurality of road wheels 150. The row of drive lugs 123 are maintained in the spacing 143 between the inward wheel section 145 and outward wheel section 146. Since no power is transferred to those wheels 140, 150 and only lateral support and traction band alignment is provided to the vehicle 100 at those areas, the combination of a row of guide lugs 125 and a row of drive lugs 123 only allows for the axial rotation of the elastomeric traction band 120 with respect to the wheels 140, 150 and blocks all other possible rotational and translation movement of the wheel-traction band assembly.

The guide lugs 125 and the drive lugs 123 can have different shape and profile combinations, depending on the type of use the elastomeric endless band 120 has been selected for. In another embodiments (not shown), the drive sprocket wheels 130 could be made from an inner cylindrical part comprising the lug receiving cavities which would be assembled to an outer part acting as a wall and for which the lateral guide lugs 125 of the endless traction band 120 would provide lateral support. In still another embodiment, the drive sprocket 130, the tension 140 and road wheels 150 could be made from a one piece disk containing the drive lugs cavities (drive sprocket 130) or the spacing provision 143 (tension 140 and road 150 wheels).

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Claims

1. A traction band for use over a plurality of wheels of a tracked vehicle allowing such vehicle to travel on a ground surface, comprising:

an inner surface which faces said plurality of wheels and an outer surface which faces said ground surface;

said inner surface comprising an inward area, a central area and an outward area;

a first series of lugs, having a first height and which are disposed in rows in said inward area, along a longitudinal direction of said traction band;

a second series of lugs, having a second height higher than said first height and which are disposed in rows in said outward area, along the longitudinal direction of said traction band.

2. A traction band as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traction band is endless.

3. A traction band as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third series of lugs are disposed on the said central area and along the longitudinal direction of said traction band.

4. A traction band as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first series of lugs and said second series of lugs are guide lugs and said third series of lugs are drive lugs.

5. A traction band as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first series of lugs and said second series of lugs are drive lugs and said third series of lugs are guide lugs.

6. An endless traction band for use over a plurality of wheels of a tracked vehicle allowing such vehicle to travel on a ground surface, comprising:

an inner surface which faces said plurality of wheels and an outer surface which faces said ground surface;

said inner surface comprising an inward area, a central area and an outward area;

a first series of lugs, having a first height and which are disposed in rows in said inward area, along a longitudinal direction of said traction band;

a second series of lugs, having a second height and which are disposed in rows in said outward area, along the longitudinal direction of said traction band;

a third series of lugs, having a third height and which are disposed in rows in said central area, along the longitudinal direction of said traction band;

wherein said first height is smaller than said second and third height.

7. A traction band as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and third series of lugs are guide lugs and said second series of lugs are drive lugs.

8. A traction band as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and third series of lugs are drive lugs and said second series of lugs are guide lugs.

9. An endless traction band for use over a plurality of wheels of a tracked vehicle allowing such vehicle to travel on a ground surface, comprising:

an inner surface which faces said plurality of wheels and an outer surface which faces said sound ground surface;

said inner surface comprising an inward area, a central area and an outward area;

a first series of lugs, having a first height and which are disposed in rows in said outward area, along a longitudinal direction of said traction band;

a second series of lugs, having a second height and which are disposed in rows in said central area along the longitudinal direction of said traction band.

10. A traction band as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first series of lugs are guide lugs and said second series of lugs are drive lugs.

11. A traction band as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first series of lugs are drive lugs and said second series of lugs are guide lugs.

12. A traction band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first series of lugs includes a predetermined number of first lugs and said second series of lugs includes a predetermined number of second lugs, said predetermined number of first lugs being smaller than said predetermined number of second lugs.

13. A traction band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first series of lugs are circumferentially positioned in sequences in said inward area and only on a portion of said traction band's circumference.

14. A traction band as claimed in claim 9, wherein lugs are only located in the central and outward areas.

15. A traction band as claimed in claim 9, wherein no lugs are disposed on said inward area.