초록 ▼

A wheel for a track assembly of a tracked vehicle, such as, for example, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a snowmobile, a construction vehicle or an agricultural vehicle. The wheel in use is one of a plurality of wheels of the track assembly. The track assembly comprises an endless track disposed aroun

A wheel for a track assembly of a tracked vehicle, such as, for example, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a snowmobile, a construction vehicle or an agricultural vehicle. The wheel in use is one of a plurality of wheels of the track assembly. The track assembly comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels, comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The wheel comprises a wheel body comprising a hub portion, a rim portion, and a radially-extending portion between the hub portion and the rim portion. The wheel also comprises a covering on the body. The covering in use contacts the endless track's inner side. A material of the covering is different from a material of the wheel body. The wheel body and the covering may be mechanically interlocked. The covering may comprise a peripheral portion covering at least part of a peripheral side of the wheel body and a lateral portion covering at least part of a lateral side of the wheel body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheel for a track assembly of a tracked vehicle, the wheel in use being one of a plurality of wheels of the track assembly, the track assembly comprising an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of wheels and a

1. A wheel for a track assembly of a tracked vehicle, the wheel in use being one of a plurality of wheels of the track assembly, the track assembly comprising an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the wheel comprising: a wheel body comprising a hub portion, a rim portion, and a radially-extending portion between the hub portion and the rim portion, the wheel body comprising a wheel body material; anda covering on the wheel body, the covering in use contacting the inner side of the endless track, the covering comprising a covering material different from the wheel body material, the wheel body and the covering being mechanically interlocked. 2. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a given one of the wheel body and the covering comprises a hole and the other one of the wheel body and the covering extends into the hole to mechanically interlock the wheel body and the covering. 3. The wheel claimed in claim 2, wherein the given one of the wheel body and the covering is the wheel body. 4. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a given one of the wheel body and the covering comprises a plurality of holes and the other one of the wheel body and the covering extends into the holes to mechanically interlock the wheel body and the covering. 5. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a given one of the wheel body and the covering comprises a recess and the other one of the wheel body and the covering extends into the recess to mechanically interlock the wheel body and the covering. 6. The wheel claimed in claim 5, wherein the given one of the wheel body and the covering is the wheel body. 7. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a given one of the wheel body and the covering comprises a plurality of recesses and the other one of the wheel body and the covering extends into the recesses to mechanically interlock the wheel body and the covering. 8. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a given one of the wheel body and the covering comprises a hole and a recess and the other one of the wheel body and the covering extends into the hole and into the recess to mechanically interlock the wheel body and the covering. 9. The wheel claimed in claim 8, wherein the given one of the wheel body and the covering is the wheel body. 10. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering is overmolded on the wheel body. 11. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a mechanical interlock relationship between the wheel body and the covering restrains all degrees of freedom of movement of the covering relative to the wheel body. 12. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a mechanical interlock relationship between the wheel body and the covering is such that the wheel body and the covering are interconnected without requiring an adhesive bond between the wheel body and the covering. 13. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein there is no adhesive bond between the wheel body and the covering. 14. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a mechanical interlock relationship between the wheel body and the covering is such that the wheel body and the covering are interconnected without requiring a chemical bond between the wheel body and the covering. 15. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein there is no chemical bond between the wheel body and the covering. 16. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel body material is a first polymeric material and the covering material is a second polymeric material different from the first polymeric material. 17. The wheel claimed in claim 16, wherein the first polymeric material is not elastomeric and the second polymeric material is elastomeric. 18. The wheel claimed in claim 17, wherein the second polymeric material is polyurethane. 19. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel body comprises a first lateral side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, and a peripheral side between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, the covering comprising a peripheral portion covering at least part of the peripheral side of the wheel body and a lateral portion covering at least part of the first lateral side of the wheel body. 20. The wheel claimed in claim 19, wherein the lateral portion of the covering is a first lateral portion, the covering comprising a second lateral portion covering at least part of the second lateral side of the wheel body. 21. The wheel claimed in claim 19, wherein the inner side of the endless track comprises a plurality of wheel-contacting projections spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of the endless track, the wheel comprising a projection-contacting portion in contact with a given one of the wheel-contacting projections when the wheel contacts the given one of the wheel-contacting projections, the lateral portion of the covering forming at least part of the projection-contacting portion of the wheel. 22. The wheel claimed in claim 21, wherein the wheel body comprises a lateral portion forming at least part of the projection-contacting portion of the wheel. 23. The wheel claimed in claim 22, wherein the lateral portion of the wheel body comprises a plurality of lateral parts spaced apart circumferentially by a plurality of lateral parts of the lateral portion of the covering. 24. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein a coefficient of friction of the covering material with the inner side of the endless track is less than a coefficient of friction of the wheel body material with the inner side of the endless track. 25. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the hub portion comprises a bearing defining an opening for receiving an axle, the wheel body material being overmolded on the bearing. 26. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel is a roller wheel for rolling on the inner side of the endless track. 27. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the tracked vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). 28. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the tracked vehicle is a snowmobile. 29. The wheel claimed in claim 1, wherein the tracked vehicle is an agricultural vehicle or a construction vehicle. 30. A track assembly for providing traction to a tracked vehicle, the track assembly comprising a plurality of wheels and an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the plurality of wheels including a drive wheel for driving the endless track, a given wheel of the plurality of wheels comprising: a wheel body comprising a hub portion, a rim portion, and a radially-extending portion between the hub portion and the rim portion, the wheel body comprising a wheel body material; anda covering on the wheel body, the covering contacting the inner side of the endless track, the covering comprising a covering material different from the wheel body material, the wheel body and the covering being mechanically interlocked. 31. A wheel for a track assembly of a tracked vehicle, the wheel in use being one of a plurality of wheels of the track assembly, the track assembly comprising an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the wheel comprising: a wheel body comprising a hub portion, a rim portion, and a radially-extending portion between the hub portion and the rim portion, the wheel body comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite one another and a peripheral side between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, the wheel body comprising a wheel body material; anda covering on the wheel body, the covering in use contacting the inner side of the endless track, the covering comprising a covering material different from the wheel body material, the covering comprising a peripheral portion covering at least part of the peripheral side of the wheel body and a lateral portion covering at least part of the first lateral side of the wheel body. 32. A track assembly for providing traction to a tracked vehicle, the track assembly comprising a plurality of wheels and an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels, the endless track comprising an inner side for facing the plurality of wheels and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground, the plurality of wheels including a drive wheel for driving the endless track, a given wheel of the plurality of wheels comprising: a wheel body comprising a hub portion, a rim portion, and a radially-extending portion between the hub portion and the rim portion, the wheel body comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite one another and a peripheral side between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, the wheel body comprising a wheel body material; anda covering on the wheel body, the covering in use contacting the inner side of the endless track, the covering comprising a covering material different from the wheel body material, the covering comprising a peripheral portion covering at least part of the peripheral side of the wheel body and a lateral portion covering at least part of the first lateral side of the wheel body.