Endless track having replaceable transverse rods

Claim 2

An endless track for a motor driven vehicle comprising a onepiece generally flat longitudinally flexible belt having a series of regularly spaced sprocket engaging means extending longitudinally therein, and stiffening means comprising a series of longitudinally spaced transversely extending elongate reinforcing members substantially completely embedded in said belt, each said reinforcing member being encapsulated in a sheath of flexible material which prevents, or at least limits, bonding of the reinforcing member to the material of the belt during moulding, means at opposite longitudinal edges of said belt providing access to the ends of said rods, said rods being selectively axially displaceable transversely of said belt whereby defective rods may be replaceD.

Claim 3

An endless track for a motor driven vehicle comprising a one-piece generally flat longitudinally flexible belt having a series of regularly spaced sprocket engaging means extending longitudinally therein, and stiffening means comprising a series of longitudinally spaced transversely extending elongate generally rigid reinforcing rods substantially completely embedded in said belt, said reinforcing rods each being of a length less than the transverse width of the belt and each being centrally located with respect to the transverse direction of said belt, said belt, at least in the longitudinal edge portions thereof being of an elastic material, means at opposite longitudinal edges of said belt providing access to the ends of said rods, said access means comprising slit means in the edge portions of said belt registering with the ends of each rod, each said slit means being elastically distendable to permit passage of a rod therethrough, said rods being selectively axially displaceable transversely of said belt whereby defective rods may be replaced.

Claim 4

An endless track for a motor driven vehicle comprising a one-piece generally flat longitudinally flexible belt having a series of regularly spaced sprocket engaging means extending longitudinally therein, and stiffening means comprising a series of longitudinally spaced transversely extending elongate generally rigid reinforcing rods substantially completely embedded in said belt, said reinforcing rods each being of a length less than the transverse width of the belt and each being centrally located with respect to the transverse direction of said belt, said belt, at least in the longitudinal edge portions thereof being of an elastic material, means at opposite longitudinal edges of said belt providing access to the ends of said rods, said access means comprising slit means in the edge portions of said belt registering with the ends of each rod, each said slit means being elastically distendable to permit passage of a rod therethrough, said rods being selectively axially displaceable transversely of said belt whereby defective rods may be replaced.

Claim 5

An endless track according to claim 2 wherein each rod is of a rigid material having a degree of resilience.

Claim 6

An endless track according to claim 3 wherein each rod has ends which are smoothly rounded to avoid damage to the track upon removal of a rod.

Claim 7

An endless track according to claim 4 wherein each rod is of non-circular generally flattened form in cross-section.

Claim 8

An endless track according to claim 4 wherein in assembled form each end of each rod is encapsulated in an individual sheath of flexible material, each rod having an intermediate portion which is directly contacted by the material of the track.

Claim 9

An endless track according to claim 4 wherein each rod is of generally circular cross-section.

Claim 10

An endless track according to claim 2 wherein when in assembled form said reinforcing member is at least partially encapsulated in a closely fitting sheath of flexible material.

Claim 11

An endless track according to claim 2 wherein said belt is substantially flat on one side, the opposite side displaying a series of transverse ribs, each said reinforcing member being embedded in a respective one of said ribs.

Claim 12

An endless track according to claim 2 wherein each sheath is a closely woven fabric of natural or synthetic fibre, each reinforcing member being of a length less than the transverse width of the belt and being centrally positioned therein, each sheath extending beyond the ends of its respective reinforcing member substantially to the longitudinal edges of the belt, the ends of the sheath being embedded in the edge portions of the belt in closed flattened form but being distendable by elastic deformation of said edge portions to provide said means providing access to the ends of the reinforcing member.

Claim 13

An endless track for a motor driven vehicle comprising a generally flat one-piece longitudinally flexible belt of rubber like material having a series of regularly spaced sprocket engaging means extending longitudinally thereon close to each lateral edge thereof, stiffening means comprising a series of longitudinally spaced transversely extending metal reinforcing rods embedded in said belt, each said rod being enclosed in a sleeve of flexible fabric, each said rod being of a length slightly less than the width of said belt and being centrally arranged therein, each sleeve having end portions extending beyond the respective ends of the corresponding rod substantially as far as the longitudinal edges of the belt, the end portions of each sleeve being in a flattened and closed condition, but being distendable by elastic distortion of the edge portions of said belt to provide access to the ends of said rods, said rods being selectively axially displaceable transversely of said belt whereby defective rods may be replaced.

Claim 14

An endless track for a motor driven vehicle comprising a generally flat one-piece longitudinally flexible belt of rubber like material having a series of regularly spaced sprocket engaging means extending longitudinally thereon close to each lateral edge thereof, stiffening means comprising a series of longitudinally spaced transversely extending metal reinforcing rods embedded in said belt, each said rod being enclosed in a sleeve of flexible fabric, each said rod being of a length slightly less than the width of said belt and being centrally arranged therein, each sleeve having end portions extending beyond the respective ends of the corresponding rod substantially as far as the longitudinal edges of the belt, the end portions of each sleeve being in a flattened and closed condition, but being distendable by elastic distortion of the edge portions of said belt to provide access to the ends of said rods, said rods being selectively axially displaceable transversely of said belt whereby defective rods may be replaced.