Sprocket wheel for snowmobile or the like

Claim 2

A sprocket wheel comprising a circular body formed of elastomeric material, said body having a series of radial projections formed in circumferentially equally spaced arrangement about the outer periphery thereof and extending radially outwardly therefrom to define with troughs between the projections the outer periphery of the sprocket wheel; and at least one layer of reinforcing fabric material extending across the sprocket wheel transverse to the central plane thereof and disposed along the said outer periphery of the sprocket wheel, said fabric material being bonded to said elastomeric material.

Claim 3

A sprocket wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material is rubber and said fabric material consists of a nylon webbing.

Claim 4

A sprocket wheel for driving an apertured endless track used in a snowmobile-type vehicle comprising a ring formed of rubber material, said ring including a rim portion having a series of radial teeth formed in circumferentially equally spaced arrangement about the outer periphery thereof and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and at least one lAyer of reinforcing wear-resistant fabric material extending across the sprocket wheel transverse to the central plane thereof and disposed along the said outer periphery of said rim, said fabric material being bonded to said rubber to thereby augment the tensile strength of said ring about the said outer periphery thereof while maintaining sufficient resiliency as the teeth engage the apertured track.

Claim 5

A sprocket wheel for driving an apertured endless track used in a snowmobile-type vehicle comprising a ring formed of rubber material, said ring including a rim portion having a series of radial teeth formed in circumferentially equally spaced arrangement about the outer periphery thereof and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and at least one lAyer of reinforcing wear-resistant fabric material extending across the sprocket wheel transverse to the central plane thereof and disposed along the said outer periphery of said rim, said fabric material being bonded to said rubber to thereby augment the tensile strength of said ring about the said outer periphery thereof while maintaining sufficient resiliency as the teeth engage the apertured track.

Claim 6

A sprocket wheel as defined in claim 3, wherein said fabric material is a nylon webbing.

Claim 7

A sprocket wheel as defined in claim 4, wherein the circumferential ends of said layer of fabric material join adjacent the apex of a tooth; said nylong webbing extending the entire axial width of said rim portion.

Claim 8

A sprocket wheel as defined in claim 5 wherein said ring further includes a circular flange portion extending radially inwardly of said rim, said flange portion being provided with a plurality of radially disposed apertures extending axially therethrough.

Claim 9

A sprocket wheel for driving an apertured endless track used in a snowmobile-type vehicle comprising a ring formed of rubber material, said ring including a rim portion having a series of radial teeth formed in circumferentially equally spaced arrangement about the outer periphery thereof and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and at least one layer of reinforcing wear-resistant fabric material extending across the sprocket wheel transverse to the central plane thereof and disposed adjacent the said outer periphery of said rim, said fabric material being bonded to said rubber material and being slightly spaced radially inwardly from said outer periphery so as to leave around the said outer periphery of said ring a thin layer of rubber material to render said ring more resistant when used in an abrasive medium.

Claim 10

A sprocket wheel for driving an apertured endless track used in a snowmobile-type vehicle comprising a ring formed of rubber material, said ring including a rim portion having a series of radial teeth formed in circumferentially equally spaced arrangement about the outer periphery thereof and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and at least one layer of reinforcing wear-resistant fabric material extending across the sprocket wheel transverse to the central plane thereof and disposed adjacent the said outer periphery of said rim, said fabric material being bonded to said rubber material and being slightly spaced radially inwardly from said outer periphery so as to leave around the said outer periphery of said ring a thin layer of rubber material to render said ring more resistant when used in an abrasive medium.