US3575474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Positive drive system for an endless track
Assignee: Gates Rubber Co
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Filing: 1968-06-03
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1988-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A lug and sprocket, positive drive system for a flexible and endless track. An antifouling drive and idler wheel for a positive drive system for use in mud, snow or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E Russ Sr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:23
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S474/00; Y10S474/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel in combination with: a first rotatable axle for mounting the antifouling drive wheel; a rotatable idler wheel mounted to a second axle which is substantially parallel to the first axle; and an endless and substantially flat track having at least one row of longitudinally aligned evenly spaced apart drive lugs projecting outwardly and away from the inner surface of the track, the track extending over and between the antifouling drive wheel and the idler wheel, wherein the improvement comprises: an imperforate disc-shaped body having sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces whereby the sides of said body are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material; a means for attaching the radially inner portion of said disc-shaped body to the first axle; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped cantilevered tangs disposed substantially at and supported at a planar surface from the periphery of said disc-shaped body, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said disc-shaped body to interface and mesh with the lugs to drive the endless and substantially flat track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel in combination with: a first rotatable axle for mounting the antifouling drive wheel; a rotatable idler wheel mounted to a second axle which is substantially parallel to the first axle; and an endless and substantially flat track having at least one row of longitudinally aligned evenly spaced apart drive lugs projecting outwardly and away from the inner surface of the track, the track extending over and between the antifouling drive wheel and the idler wheel, wherein the improvement comprises: an imperforate disc-shaped body having sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces whereby the sides of said body are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material; a means for attaching the radially inner portion of said disc-shaped body to the first axle; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped cantilevered tangs disposed substantially at and supported at a planar surface from the periphery of said disc-shaped body, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said disc-shaped body to interface and mesh with the lugs to drive the endless and substantially flat track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An antifouling drive wheel according to claim 1 wherein said disc-shaped body has a surface of a material from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane and natural and synthetic rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
A rotatable antifouling idler wheel in combination with: a rotatable drive wheel mounted to a first axle; a second rotatable axle for mounting the antifouling idler wheel which second axle is substantially parallel to the first axle; and an endless and substantially flat track having at least one row of longitudinally aligned evenly spaced apart drive lugs projecting outwardly and away from the inner surface of the track, the track extending over and between the antifouling idler wheel and the drive wheel, wherein the improvement comprises: an imperforate disc-shaped body having sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces whereby the sides of said body are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material; a means for attaching the radially inner portion of said disc-shaped body to the second axle; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped cantilevered tangs disposed substantially at and supported at a planar surface solely from the periphery of said disc-shaped body, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said disc-shaped body to interface and mesh with the lugs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
186 words
A rotatable antifouling idler wheel in combination with: a rotatable drive wheel mounted to a first axle; a second rotatable axle for mounting the antifouling idler wheel which second axle is substantially parallel to the first axle; and an endless and substantially flat track having at least one row of longitudinally aligned evenly spaced apart drive lugs projecting outwardly and away from the inner surface of the track, the track extending over and between the antifouling idler wheel and the drive wheel, wherein the improvement comprises: an imperforate disc-shaped body having sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces whereby the sides of said body are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material; a means for attaching the radially inner portion of said disc-shaped body to the second axle; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped cantilevered tangs disposed substantially at and supported at a planar surface solely from the periphery of said disc-shaped body, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said disc-shaped body to interface and mesh with the lugs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An antifouling idler wheel according to claim 3 wherein said disc-shaped body has a surface of a material from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, and natural and synthetic rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A positive drive system for an endless and substantially flat track, which comprises: at least one rotatable wheel comprising a sprocket wheel having spaced apart sprocket teeth, and a plurality of correspondingly spaced apart tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said sprocket wheel near the root circumference of the sprocket teeth, and said tangs essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of said sprocket wheel; at least one idler wheel; a substantially flat and endless track extending over and between said rotatable wheel and said idler wheel, said flat and endless track having at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart sprocket teeth receiving openings that have a spacing such that the sprocket teeth of said sprocket wheel will mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings; and at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart lugs protruding outwardly and away from the inner surface of said flat and endless track, the said lug spacing being such that said lugs mesh with said tangs of said rotatable wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A positive drive system for an endless and substantially flat track, which comprises: at least one rotatable wheel comprising a sprocket wheel having spaced apart sprocket teeth, and a plurality of correspondingly spaced apart tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said sprocket wheel near the root circumference of the sprocket teeth, and said tangs essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of said sprocket wheel; at least one idler wheel; a substantially flat and endless track extending over and between said rotatable wheel and said idler wheel, said flat and endless track having at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart sprocket teeth receiving openings that have a spacing such that the sprocket teeth of said sprocket wheel will mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings; and at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart lugs protruding outwardly and away from the inner surface of said flat and endless track, the said lug spacing being such that said lugs mesh with said tangs of said rotatable wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A positive drive system according to claim 5 wherein said idler wheel is of the configuration of said rotatable wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
A positive drive system for an endless and substantially flat track, which comprises: a sprocket wheel having spaced apart sprocket teeth; a rotatable wheel comprising: a substantially disc-shaped body, a plurality of spaced apart tangs located around the circumference of said disc-shaped body, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side and disposed substantially at the periphery of said rotatable wheel such that the axis of said tangs are parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotatable wheel; a common axle between said sprocket wheel and said rotatable wheel; at least one idler wheel; a substantially flat and endless track extending over and between said sprocket wheel, said rotatable wheel and said idler wheel, said flat and endless track having at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart sprocket teeth receiving openings having a spacing such that the sprocket teeth of said sprocket wheel will mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings; and at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart lugs protruding outwardly and away from the inner surface of said flat and endless track, said lugs having a spacing such that said lugs mesh with said tangs on said rotatable wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
197 words
A positive drive system for an endless and substantially flat track, which comprises: a sprocket wheel having spaced apart sprocket teeth; a rotatable wheel comprising: a substantially disc-shaped body, a plurality of spaced apart tangs located around the circumference of said disc-shaped body, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side and disposed substantially at the periphery of said rotatable wheel such that the axis of said tangs are parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotatable wheel; a common axle between said sprocket wheel and said rotatable wheel; at least one idler wheel; a substantially flat and endless track extending over and between said sprocket wheel, said rotatable wheel and said idler wheel, said flat and endless track having at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart sprocket teeth receiving openings having a spacing such that the sprocket teeth of said sprocket wheel will mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings; and at least one longitudinal row of spaced apart lugs protruding outwardly and away from the inner surface of said flat and endless track, said lugs having a spacing such that said lugs mesh with said tangs on said rotatable wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
161 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel in combination with an endless track having an inner surface and at least one row of longitudinally aligned eveNly spaced apart sprocket teeth receiving openings, the track material surrounding the openings being resiliently deformable, which comprises: an imperforate sprocket wheel having sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces whereby the sides of said sprocket wheel are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material and having spaced apart sprocket teeth to interface and mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings of the endless and substantially flat track; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped tangs disposed substantially at and supported solely from the periphery of the root circumference of the sprocket teeth, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said sprocket wheel to interface and support the inner surface of the endless and substantially flat track near the sprocket teeth receiving openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel in combination with an endless track having an inner surface and at least one row of longitudinally aligned eveNly spaced apart sprocket teeth receiving openings, the track material surrounding the openings being resiliently deformable, which comprises: an imperforate sprocket wheel having sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces whereby the sides of said sprocket wheel are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material and having spaced apart sprocket teeth to interface and mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings of the endless and substantially flat track; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped tangs disposed substantially at and supported solely from the periphery of the root circumference of the sprocket teeth, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said sprocket wheel to interface and support the inner surface of the endless and substantially flat track near the sprocket teeth receiving openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel for use with an endless and substantially flat track having an inner surface, and at least one row of longitudinally aligned evenly spaced apart lugs projecting outwardly and away from the inner surface of the track, which comprises: an imperforate wheel having a central mounting means and sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces extending from the central mounting means to the wheel periphery, said disc-shaped body having a surface of a material from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane and natural and synthetic rubber, whereby the sides of said wheel are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped cantilevered tangs disposed substantially at and supported solely from the periphery of said wheel, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from each side of said wheel, said tangs meshable with the lugs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
155 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel for use with an endless and substantially flat track having an inner surface, and at least one row of longitudinally aligned evenly spaced apart lugs projecting outwardly and away from the inner surface of the track, which comprises: an imperforate wheel having a central mounting means and sides shaped to define substantially planar smooth and continuous axially oppositely facing outer surfaces extending from the central mounting means to the wheel periphery, said disc-shaped body having a surface of a material from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane and natural and synthetic rubber, whereby the sides of said wheel are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material; and a plurality of spaced generally cylindrically shaped cantilevered tangs disposed substantially at and supported solely from the periphery of said wheel, said tangs projecting outwardly and away from each side of said wheel, said tangs meshable with the lugs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A drive wheel as set forth in claim 9 wherein the outer surfaces of said drive wheel are frustoconical
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A drive wheel as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tangs have a cross section which is somewhat elliptical.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
170 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel for use in combination with an endless and substantially flat track having an inner surface and at least one longitudinal row of sprocket teeth receiving openings, the track material surrounding the openings being resiliently deformable, which comprises: 1 A sprocket wheel having sides shaped to define a smooth and continuous outer surface whereby the sides of said sprocket wheel are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material, said sprocket wheel having a surface of a material from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane and natural and synthetic rubber, and said sprocket wheel having spaced apart sprocket teeth to interface and mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings of the endless and substantially flat track; and a plurality of spaced apart tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said sprocket wheel near the root circumference of the sprocket teeth to interface and support the inner surface of the endless and substantially flat track near the sprocket teeth receiving openings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
170 words
A rotatable antifouling drive wheel for use in combination with an endless and substantially flat track having an inner surface and at least one longitudinal row of sprocket teeth receiving openings, the track material surrounding the openings being resiliently deformable, which comprises: 1 A sprocket wheel having sides shaped to define a smooth and continuous outer surface whereby the sides of said sprocket wheel are substantially free of projections capable of entrapping foreign material, said sprocket wheel having a surface of a material from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane and natural and synthetic rubber, and said sprocket wheel having spaced apart sprocket teeth to interface and mesh with the sprocket teeth receiving openings of the endless and substantially flat track; and a plurality of spaced apart tangs projecting outwardly and away from at least one side of said sprocket wheel near the root circumference of the sprocket teeth to interface and support the inner surface of the endless and substantially flat track near the sprocket teeth receiving openings.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |