US3659908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Track-engaging assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-02-19
•
Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A track-engaging assembly more particularly used as a driving sprocket for an endless track of a caterpillar vehicle, comprising a plurality of parallel square elements mounted on a shaft or tubing with the side edges of the elements arranged at 45* with respect to the side edges of adjacent elements to engage an endless track made of a plurality of rows of interconnected substantially rigid elongated blocks with the blocks of one row displaced half a length of a block relative to the blocks of adjacent rows and wherein the plates are spaced from one another on the shaft or tubing, so that foreign material which may adhere to the track will not clog the sprocket, as it is free to fall between the elements. The elements can be of similar or of different sizes in the latter case to engage and drive each block of each row when the blocks have different thicknesses, so as to obtain uniform pulling on the endless track across the width thereof. When the endless track system comprises vehicle supporting wheels running on the lower run of the track, said wheels preferably have a rim entirely made of metal in direct running engagement with the endless track blocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Edouard Martin Comellas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:25
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S474/00; Y10S474/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A track-engaging assembly comprising a shaft and a plurality of plates, all having the shape of a regular polygon with the same number of sides, all secured to said shaft at their centers and arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to said shaft, at least any group of two plates being spaced from an adjacent group longitudinally of said shaft, so that at least one main face of each plate is spaced from the opposite main face of an adjacent plate, and each plate having its sides positioned at an angle to the sides of the adjacent plate, said angle equal to half the center angle of a plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A track-engaging assembly comprising a shaft and a plurality of plates, all having the shape of a regular polygon with the same number of sides, all secured to said shaft at their centers and arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to said shaft, at least any group of two plates being spaced from an adjacent group longitudinally of said shaft, so that at least one main face of each plate is spaced from the opposite main face of an adjacent plate, and each plate having its sides positioned at an angle to the sides of the adjacent plate, said angle equal to half the center angle of a plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A track-engaging assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plates are removably mounted on said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of said plates are spaced from one another along said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least two sets of plates, the plates of each set being of equal size but of a size different from the size of the plates of the other set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plates are removably mounted on said shaft and are unequally spaced along said shaft, and wherein there are at least two sets of plates, the plates of each set being of equal size but of a size different from the size of the plates of the other set.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plates of the sets are interchangeably mounted on said shaft to enable changing their order along said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the plates have a square shape, there being at least two sets of plates, the plates of each set being of equal size and thickness but of a size and thickness different from the size and thickness of the plates of the other set, the smaller plates having a smaller thickness than the thickness of the larger plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein all of said plates are spaced from one another along said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
A track-engaging assembly comprising a shaft and a plurality of plates of square shape removably and interchangeably secured at their center to said shaft to enable changing their order aloNg said shaft, said plates arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to said shaft, at least any group of two plates being spaced from an adjacent group longitudinally of said shaft, each plate having its sides positioned at a 45* angle to the sides of the adjacent plates, there being at least two sets of plates, the plates of each set being of equal size but of a size different from the size of the plates of the other set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A track-engaging assembly comprising a shaft and a plurality of plates of square shape removably and interchangeably secured at their center to said shaft to enable changing their order aloNg said shaft, said plates arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to said shaft, at least any group of two plates being spaced from an adjacent group longitudinally of said shaft, each plate having its sides positioned at a 45* angle to the sides of the adjacent plates, there being at least two sets of plates, the plates of each set being of equal size but of a size different from the size of the plates of the other set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plates of each set have equal thickness but of a thickness different from the thickness of the plates of the other set, the smaller plates having a smaller thickness than the thickness of the larger plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
257 words
A track arrangement for a tracked vehicle comprising, in combination, an endless track and a track-engaging assembly on which said endless track is trained, said endless track comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected track units arranged in longitudinal rows, each unit comprising an elongated body made of elastomeric material having two spaced transverse bores intermediate its ends, the units of a row being displaced longitudinally for the distance of one-half the length of a unit relative to the units in an adjacent row with the bores in register, means for securing said rows in side-by-side relation and for pivotally connecting the units of any given row to the units of an adjacent row, said tracked engaging assembly comprising a shaft, a plurality of plates, all having the shape of a regular polygon with the same number of sides, all secured to said shaft at their centers and arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to said shaft, at least any group of two plates being spaced from an adjacent group longitudinally of said shaft and each plate having its sides positioned at an angle to the sides of the adjacent plate, said angle equal to half the center angle of a plate, said shaft being disposed transversely of the rows of units, the sides of each plate adapted to sequentially engage the units of one row, the thickness of at least some of said plates being smaller than the width of the units of the row trained on said last-named plates, said width being taken transversely of the rows.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
257 words
A track arrangement for a tracked vehicle comprising, in combination, an endless track and a track-engaging assembly on which said endless track is trained, said endless track comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected track units arranged in longitudinal rows, each unit comprising an elongated body made of elastomeric material having two spaced transverse bores intermediate its ends, the units of a row being displaced longitudinally for the distance of one-half the length of a unit relative to the units in an adjacent row with the bores in register, means for securing said rows in side-by-side relation and for pivotally connecting the units of any given row to the units of an adjacent row, said tracked engaging assembly comprising a shaft, a plurality of plates, all having the shape of a regular polygon with the same number of sides, all secured to said shaft at their centers and arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to said shaft, at least any group of two plates being spaced from an adjacent group longitudinally of said shaft and each plate having its sides positioned at an angle to the sides of the adjacent plate, said angle equal to half the center angle of a plate, said shaft being disposed transversely of the rows of units, the sides of each plate adapted to sequentially engage the units of one row, the thickness of at least some of said plates being smaller than the width of the units of the row trained on said last-named plates, said width being taken transversely of the rows.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA658255A
Cited
US3164417A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |