초록 ▼

A track assembly for moving a vehicle which includes a track having lugs including both drive and guide portions on its inner surface. The guide portions substantially abut against the track rollers of the assembly. Such abutment maintains alignment of the track between those rollers so as to preven

A track assembly for moving a vehicle which includes a track having lugs including both drive and guide portions on its inner surface. The guide portions substantially abut against the track rollers of the assembly. Such abutment maintains alignment of the track between those rollers so as to prevent it from moving from side to side and interfering with feeding of the drive portions onto the assembly drive sprocket. Further, the guide portions grab against the drive sprocket to maintain contact of the drive portions therewith. Each of the above functions permits uninterrupted movement of the vehicle since the track is enabled to move in a continued path.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A track assembly for moving a vehicle, the assembly comprising:a) a beam having a top plate and first and second side plates depending from the top plate; b) a plurality of spaced track rollers mounted to the side plates beneath the top plate; c) a drive sprocket having alternating teeth and groo

1. A track assembly for moving a vehicle, the assembly comprising:a) a beam having a top plate and first and second side plates depending from the top plate; b) a plurality of spaced track rollers mounted to the side plates beneath the top plate; c) a drive sprocket having alternating teeth and grooves and being supported on the beam adjacent one end thereof and above the top plate; d) an idler wheel supported by the side plates adjacent the end of the beam opposite from the drive sprocket; and e) an endless elastomeric track having outer and inner surfaces, the track being entrained about the rollers, the idler and the sprocket with its inner surface engaging the same, the inner surface including two laterally spaced rows of lugs, each of the lugs having first and second portions of different size and shape, the first portion being receivable in the grooves of the sprocket in driving relationship with the teeth, the second portion extending along and being engageable with an outer side surface of the sprocket when the first portion is in driving relationship with the sprocket; the idler wheel having a disc that runs on the inner surface of the endless track between the two laterally spaced rows of lugs. 2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:each of the track rollers include at least a left, middle and right disc, the middle disc engaging the inner surface of the track between the rows of lugs, each of the left and right discs engaging the inner surface of the track adjacent the second portions of the lugs. 3. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:the first and second portions of each lug meet and the second portion is taller than the first portion. 4. The assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein:the second portions of the lugs substantially brace against a side surface of the sprocket and against inner side surfaces of the left and right discs of the track rollers. 5. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:the first and second portions are drive and guide portions, respectively, which meet to form a right angle. 6. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:the first and second portions meet to form a right angle and the second portion braces against a side surface of the sprocket as the first portion is engaged by the sprocket teeth. 7. A track assembly for moving a vehicle, the assembly comprising:a) a frame subassembly including a fore and aft extending center beam having a top plate, and first and second side plates; b) a plurality of spaced track rollers mounted to the side plates below the top plate, the rollers having a plurality of roller discs; c) an idler carried on an axle supported by the first and second side plates with at least a portion of the idler positioned beyond the first end of the beam; d) a dual-component drive sprocket including alternating teeth and grooves, the sprocket being rotatably carried by one of the first and second plates above the center beam; e) an endless elastomeric track having an outer surface, and an inner surface which engages the idler, the track rollers and the sprocket as the track moves the vehicle, the inner surface including two rows of lugs, each row of lugs positioned laterally between two of the roller discs, the lugs having first and second portions, the first portion being drivingly engaged by the sprocket to cause movement of the track as the second portion braces against the sprocket to assist in maintaining contact between the sprocket and inner surface; and f) each of the first and second side plates including apertured portions for accommodating their respective connection with each of the idler and at least one of the track rollers. 8. The assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein:the drive sprocket consists of first and second detachable halves. 9. The assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein:removal of the track relative to the sprocket is permitted by removal of one of the halves of the sprocket and subsequent rotation of the remaining half. 10. A track assembly for moving a vehicle, the assembly comprising:a frame subassembly including a center beam having a top plate, and first and second side plates, the subassembly further comprising; a plurality of spaced track rollers disposed below the beam; an idler wheel carried on an axle supported at the first and second side plates, the wheel positioned beyond the first end of the beam; mounting apparatuses associated with each of the first and second side plates, the apparatuses including apertured sections for accommodating their respective connection with each of the idler and at least one of the track rollers, the apparatuses further including fasteners and associated retaining plates, the fasteners being disposed in removable engagement with the apertured sections and retaining plates for joining the first and second side plates with the idler and at least one of the rollers; a split drive sprocket having first and second halves, the sprocket being carried by one of the first and second side plates; an endless elastomeric track having an outer surface and an inner surface which engages the idler, the track rollers and the sprocket when the track moves the vehicle across the ground, the inner surface including two rows of lugs which are moveable between the spaces defined by the rollers, each of the lugs including first and second portions, the first portion being engageable with the sprocket to cause movement of the track and the second portion being taller than and forming a right angle with the first portion so as to grasp against a side surface of the sprocket and substantially brace against the track rollers to maintain alignment of the track with the sprocket and between the rollers; a tensioning device to adjust engagement of the track against the idler and the sprocket, the fastening members being removable, the track being removable from engagement with the idler, track rollers and sprocket upon removal of a portion of the sprocket, removal of the fastening members adjacent the idler and movement of the idler to a substantially rearward upright position; and mounting members associated with one of the first and second side plates for permitting attachment of the track assembly to the vehicle as a pre-assembled unit. 11. An endless track for a track laying vehicle, the track including an elastomeric body having an outer ground engaging surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a pair of spaced rows of lugs, the pair of rows straddling a center line between the edges of the track, each of the lugs having a driving portion and a guiding portion, both portions extending from the inner surface of the elastomeric body, the driving portion of each lug being inboard of the guiding portion, and the guiding portion of each lug having a dimension substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the track and greater than the same dimension of the driving portion of the lug.12. An endless track as set forth in claim 11 wherein the lugs of the spaced rows are of an L-shape and are directly opposed to one another.