Belt track

Claim 2

An endless vulcanized belt track for a track vehicle, said belt track comprising a body of flexible elastomeric material including a ground-contacting surface and a plurality of spaced, rigid, elongated, independent, unitary traction elements extending generally transversely of said belt track, each said element including a base having a relatively flat attaching surface and at least one portion projecting therefrom with said base being secured onto said ground-contacting surface of said body and firmly fixed thereto to form an integral structure solely by means of the adhesive bond created during vulcanization of said belt track and without the use of fastening means in said body, said base surface being substantially coplanar with said ground-contacting surface so that no substantial portion of said element is embedded in the elastomeric material but a substantial portion thereof projects outwardly therefrom to present an exposed surface for ground contact, and fillets of elastomeric material formed on said body engaging and adhered to a substantial portion of the sides of each said element to further secure said elements to said body.

Claim 3

The belt track as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body includes raised sections along each lateral edge of the belt track and a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the belt track, said seCtions and said ribs integrally formed therewith during vulcanization of said belt track to provide lateral stability for the vehicle during the operation thereof.

Claim 4

The belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said traction element is a generally U-shaped metallic member.

Claim 5

The belt track as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said traction element is a generally inverted T-shaped metallic member.

Claim 6

The belt track as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body further includes at least one longitudinally disposed row of openings therethrough to accommodate the vehicle drive means and each said traction element is aligned with the vehicle drive means so that at least a portion of the surface thereof contacts the drive means to provide a wear surface therefor.

Claim 7

An endless vulcanized belt track for a sprocket-driven, snow-traveling vehicle, said belt track comprising: A. a body of reinforced, flexible, elastomeric material containing reinforcement therein for longitudinal stability and including a ground-contacting surface and at least one longitudinally disposed row of sprocket-receiving openings therethrough, and B. a plurality of spaced, rigid, elongated, independent, unitary traction elements extending transversely of the belt track and disposed between said openings to provide transverse rigidity for the belt track, each said element including a base having a relatively flat attaching surface and at least one portion projecting therefrom with said base being secured onto said ground-contacting surface of said body and firmly fixed thereto to form an integral structure solely by means of the adhesive bond created during vulcanization of said belt track and without the use of fastening means or the reinforcement within said body, said base surface being substantially coplanar with said ground-contacting surface so that no substantial portion of said element is embedded in the elastomeric material but a substantial portion thereof projects outwardly therefrom to present an exposed surface for ground contact with the snow thereby providing traction for the vehicles, and fillets of elastomeric material formed on said body engaging and adhered to a substantial portion of the sides of each said element to further secure said element to said body.

Claim 8

An endless vulcanized belt track for a sprocket-driven, snow-traveling vehicle, said belt track comprising: A. a body of reinforced, flexible, elastomeric material containing reinforcement therein for longitudinal stability and including a ground-contacting surface and at least one longitudinally disposed row of sprocket-receiving openings therethrough, and B. a plurality of spaced, rigid, elongated, independent, unitary traction elements extending transversely of the belt track and disposed between said openings to provide transverse rigidity for the belt track, each said element including a base having a relatively flat attaching surface and at least one portion projecting therefrom with said base being secured onto said ground-contacting surface of said body and firmly fixed thereto to form an integral structure solely by means of the adhesive bond created during vulcanization of said belt track and without the use of fastening means or the reinforcement within said body, said base surface being substantially coplanar with said ground-contacting surface so that no substantial portion of said element is embedded in the elastomeric material but a substantial portion thereof projects outwardly therefrom to present an exposed surface for ground contact with the snow thereby providing traction for the vehicles, and fillets of elastomeric material formed on said body engaging and adhered to a substantial portion of the sides of each said element to further secure said element to said body.

Claim 9

The belt track as claimed in claim 6, wherein said body includes raised sections along each lateral edge of the belt track and a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the belt, said sections and said ribs integrally formed therewith during vulcanization of said belt track to provide lateral stability for the vehicle during the operation thereof.

Claim 10

The belt track as claimed in claim 6, wherein said body further includes a plurality of lugs of elastomeric material formed thereon, said lugs disposed between each said traction element longitudinally of the belt track and between each said sprocket-receiving opening transversely of the belt track to provide added traction for the vehicle.

Claim 11

The belt as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said traction element is a generally U-shaped metallic member.

Claim 12

The belt track as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said traction element is a generally inverted T-shaped metallic member.

Claim 13

The belt track as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said traction element is aligned with elements of the sprocket drive or suspension means of the vehicle so that at least a portion of the surface thereof contacts the sprocket or suspension elements to provide a wear surface therefor.