초록 ▼

The track system includes a plurality of track assemblies, each having track; a frame structure to mount the track to the vehicle; and inner wheels in contact with an inner surface of the track. The track assembly also includes two drive gears disposed externally to the track and configured to frict

The track system includes a plurality of track assemblies, each having track; a frame structure to mount the track to the vehicle; and inner wheels in contact with an inner surface of the track. The track assembly also includes two drive gears disposed externally to the track and configured to frictionally engaged an outer surface of a corresponding one of the tires. The drive gears are drivingly connected with the track for transmitting power thereto. Each one of the drive gears has a rotation axis, a plurality of elongated traction bars extending substantially parallel and circumferentially to the rotation axis, and open ends. The elongated traction bars are spaced-apart from one another and define channels therebetween allowing granular and liquid materials to flow inwardly towards the rotation axis, and outwardly of the drive gears through the apertured ends.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A track system for an all-wheel drive vehicle having a plurality of tires, the track system comprising: a plurality of track assemblies, each removably adaptable to a corresponding tire of the vehicle, each track assembly comprising: a frame structure including two elongated side plates oriented

1. A track system for an all-wheel drive vehicle having a plurality of tires, the track system comprising: a plurality of track assemblies, each removably adaptable to a corresponding tire of the vehicle, each track assembly comprising: a frame structure including two elongated side plates oriented parallel to each other and transversally spaced-apart from each other, the two side plates each having two opposite ends, each opposite end being associated to a corresponding longitudinal end of the track assembly;a tire area located centrally and above the frame structure, where the corresponding tire is to be received and rotated around a wheel axis;a plurality of track roller shafts being parallel to one another and interspaced from one another from one longitudinal end of the track assembly to the other longitudinal end of the track assembly, and including two end roller shafts each associated to a corresponding one of the longitudinal ends of the track assembly; the track roller shafts each having plurality of track rollers interspaced transversally from one another along the track roller shafts, the track rollers of each track roller shaft being longitudinally aligned with corresponding track rollers of the other track roller shafts and forming a plurality of longitudinal sets of track rollers;a track having a web forming a closed loop housing and snugly wrapping the track rollers, the track having guiding members protruding inwardly therefrom, the guiding members being longitudinally aligned with at least one longitudinal spacing defined between the longitudinal sets of track rollers, to transversally guide the track relative the track rollers;an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface mounted to the frame structure, extending transversally between the side plates and longitudinally between the end roller shafts, being inwardly offset from the web by a distance associated to a thickness of the guiding members, and being apertured in a manner to allow the track rollers to protrude therefrom to reach the web;two parallel, transversally-oriented drive shafts, each received in the frame structure on a corresponding longitudinal side of the tire area, each having a rotatable drive gear having an apertured and generally cylindrical outer wall drivingly engaged with the track and having at least one open transversal end, the drive gears being collectively engageable with the tire in a manner that the drive gears collaborate in driving the track as the engaged tire rotates;a tension attachment adapted to apply tension between the frame and the wheel axis and to maintain the tire in engagement against both drive gears;each drive gear being associated to at least one corresponding internal scraper secured to the frame and protruding into the drive gear through the at least one open transversal end for scraping an internal surface of the cylindrical outer wall, and at least one corresponding external scraper secured to the frame and aligned for scraping an external surface of the cylindrical outer wall;each drive gear being associated to at least one shield closing a generally wedge-shaped space formed between the cylindrical outer wall and the track, adjacent a corresponding one of the end roller shafts;a partition partitioning a portion of the track extending between the drive gears from the tire area; andtwo lateral tire supports mounted to the frame structure, each lateral tire support being positioned on a corresponding transversal side of the tire area and rotatably receiving a plurality of tire rollers aligned in a corresponding vertical plane to laterally engage a tire received in the tire area. 2. The track system of claim 1 wherein each track assembly further comprises a filler filling a space extending between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface, the filler surrounding a plurality of the track roller shafts and portions of corresponding ones of the track rollers. 3. The track system of claim 2 wherein the filler is made of a moulded material, and the sliding surfaces are provided in the form of apertured sheet material. 4. The track system of claim 1, wherein each track assembly further comprises two end beams, each mounted between the side plates at a corresponding end of the track assembly, extending between the corresponding end roller shaft and an adjacent one of the track roller shafts, and having scraper members protruding into corresponding ones of spacings located between the track rollers of the end roller shafts. 5. The track system of claim 1 wherein each track assembly further comprises an arctuate slide surface extending below the tire area, between the two drive gears, and being offset from the tire area by a spacing distance. 6. The track system of claim 1 wherein the end roller shafts are raised relative to other ones of the roller shafts, are selectively movable to adjust the track tension and replace the track, and the track rollers of the end roller shafts have a larger diameter than the track rollers of other ones of the roller shafts. 7. The track system of claim 1 each track assembly further comprises abutment plates mounted to the side plates and each covering a portion of the track above a corresponding one of the end roller shafts. 8. The track system of claim 7 further comprising abutment members mountable to the vehicle in a manner to receive a corresponding one of the abutment plates upon pivoting of the track assembly around the wheel axis when the corresponding tire is in the tire area. 9. The track system of claim 7 wherein each track assembly further comprises at least one deflector mounted to the side plates on a corresponding one of the front of the tire area and the rear of the tire area, and each being pivotable between an in-use configuration in which the deflector extends upwardly from a corresponding abutment plate to deflect snow from a corresponding drive gear, and an installation position in which it is pivoted laterally from a corresponding one of the side plates. 10. The track system of claim 1 wherein at least two of said track assemblies each further comprise an upturned ski mounted to the frame structure and protruding from a corresponding end of the track assembly, outwardly relative the vehicle. 11. The track system of claim 1 wherein the frame structure further comprises two transversal beams extending between the side plates, each extending adjacent a corresponding one of the drive gears. 12. The track system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the at least one internal scraper and the at least one external scraper associated to a corresponding one of the drive gears is made integral to a corresponding one of the transversal beams. 13. The track system of claim 11 wherein the partition extends between the two transversal beams. 14. The track system of claim 11 wherein the lateral tire supports are mounted to the two transversal beams. 15. The track system of claim 11 wherein each drive gear is associated to a first external scraper and to a second external scraper, both external scrapers being secured to the frame and aligned for scraping an external surface of the cylindrical outer wall, the second external scraper being tangentially interspaced from the first external scraper by at least 100°. 16. The track system of claim 15 wherein the first external scraper is made integral to a corresponding one of the transversal beams. 17. The track system of claim 15 wherein the second external scraper is made integral to a corresponding one of the at least one shield. 18. The track system of claim 1 wherein the at least one shield includes a shaver closely aligned with an outer surface of the track.