Cushioned track with anti-slippage means

Claim 2

A cushioned track comprising an annular resilient spacer means, normally having a substantially smooth and uninterrupted annular tread formed thereon composed of an elastomeric material, mounted for rotation about a central axis thereof, and an endless track assembly circumferentially mounted completely around said spacer means, said track assembly comprising a plurality of closely coupled ground-engaging shoes having substantially flat inner surfaces circumferentially surrounding said spacer means and annular connecting means connected to said shoes to closely couple them together and to uniformly compress the substantially flat inner surfaces of said shoes into intimate contact with said annular tread to form a substantially circumferentially continuous and polygonal-shaped surface contact therewith, at least some of said shoes each having anti-slippage means secured thereon to extend substantially fully across inner surface portions of such shoes to terminate at each end thereof in close proximity to a respective connecting means and radially inwardly theretowards deflecting said annular tread into substantial enveloped relationship around said antislippage means for normally preventing relative rotational movement between said annular spacer means and said track assembly, said annular tread being sufficiently soft and resilient to permit such enveloped relationship and wherein the ratio of the radial height of said anti-slippage means to the radial, composite thickness at the tread of said spacer means is selected from the range of from 0.1 to 0.5.

Claim 3

A cushioned track comprising an annular resilient spacer means, normally having a substantially smooth and uninterrupted annular tread formed thereon composed of an elastomeric material, mounted for rotation about a central axis thereof, and an endless track assembly circumferentially mounted completely around said spacer means, said track assembly comprising a plurality of closely coupled ground-engaging shoes having substantially flat inner surfaces circumferentially surrounding said spacer means and annular connecting means connected to said shoes to closely couple them together and to uniformly compress the substantially flat inner surfaces of said shoes into intimate contact with said annular tread to form a substantially circumferentially continuous and polygonal-shaped surface contact therewith, at least some of said shoes each having anti-slippage means secured thereon to extend substantially fully across inner surface portions of such shoes to terminate at each end thereof in close proximity to a respective connecting means and radially inwardly theretowards deflecting said annular tread into substantial enveloped relationship around said anti-slippage means for normally preventing relative rotational movement between said annular spacer means and said track assembly, said annular tread being sufficiently soft and resilient to permit such enveloped relationship and wherein the ratio of the radial height of said anti-slippage means to the radial, composite thickness at the tread of said spacer means is selected from the range of from 0.1 to 0.5.

Claim 4

A cushioned track comprising an annular resilient spacer means, normally having a substantially smooth and uninterrupted annular tread formed thereon composed of an elastomeric material, mounted for rotation about a central axis thereof, and an endless track assembly circumferentially mounted completely around said spacer means, said track assembly comprising a plurality of closely coupled ground-engaging shoes having substantially flat inner surfaces circumferentially surrounding said spacer means and annular connecting means connected to said shoes to closely couple them together and to uniformly compress the substantially flat inner surfaces of said shoes into intimate contact with said annular tread to form a substantially circumferentially continuous and polygonal-shaped surface contact therewith, at least some of said shoes each having anti-slippage means secured thereon to extend substantially fully across inner surface portions of such shoes to terminate at each end thereof in close proximity to a respective connecting means and radially inwardly theretowards deflecting said annular tread into substantial enveloped relationship around said anti-slippage means for normally preventing relative rotational movement between said annular spacer means and said track assembly, said annular tread being sufficiently soft and resilient to permit such enveloped relationship and wherein the ratio of the radial height of said anti-slippage means to the radial, composite thickness at the tread of said spacer means is selected from the range of from 0.1 to 0.5.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein an anti-slippage means is secured to each of said shoes.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein the radially inward extremity of said anti-slippage means is rounded to induce envelopment of said tread therewith and to prevent abrasion thereof.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 wherein said anti-slippage means is positioned between the circumferential length-wise ends of said shoe.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein said anti-slippage means comprises only one narrow rod secured to each of said shoes between the circumferential length-wise ends thereof.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1 wherein said anti-slippage means comprises only two narrow and spaced rods secured to each of said shoes between the circumferential length-wise ends thereof.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the radial height of said anti-slippage means to the pitch length between axes of each adjacent pair of pivot pIns is selected from the range of from 0.027 to 0.186.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 1 wherein said spacer means comprises an air-inflated and reinforced elastomeric member and said connecting means comprises a connecting means positioned on each side of said spacer means, adjacent to a respective sidewall thereof, and attached to radially inner surface portions of said shoes, each of said connecting means comprising an articulated link assembly having a plurality of links and a pivot pin pivotally connecting each circumferentially adjacent pair of links together.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said link assemblies comprises a plurality of single links with each circumferentially adjacent pair of links being overlapped and connected together by said pivot pin, one of said links attached to each one of said shoes, each of said links comprising a fork end portion and an opposite blade end portion, the blade end portion of one link of each adjacent pair of links being pivotally mounted within the fork end portion of the second link thereof by a pivot pin having its longitudinal axis positioned substantially parallel relative to said central axis and further positioned substantially intermediate a pair of adjacent shoes.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 8 wherein said anti-slippage means has a uniform cross section.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 1 further comprising complementary first and second lug means formed at a respective length-wise end of each shoe, said anti-slippage means comprising an end portion of each of said second lug means.