Track link for a tracked vehicle

Claim 1

A track link for a tracked vehicle comprising: means defining a ground opposable face containing at least one slideway; a load bearing shell longitudinally insertable into said slideway, said shell having a central longitudinal portion with bowed cross-sectional configuration and edge longitudinal portions on opposite sides of said central longitudinal portion, each of said edge portions being turned back to define a "C" shaped cross section, the area of each said edge portion adjacent said central portion being substantially parallel to said ground opposing face and defining with said central portion an inner bearing surface and the area of each said edge portion parallel to said inner bearing surface defining an outer bearing surface, said inner and outer bearing surfaces of said edge portions engaging said slideway ; and a resilient ground engagement pad secured to the concave surface of said load bearing shell so as to protrude outwardly therefrom beyond said outer bearing surfaces, said shell being disposed in said slideway in use with the pad protruding outwardly from the ground opposable face so that when said shell and said pad are subjected to outwardly acting centrifugal forces, said bowed central portion and said edge portions are flattened by reactive forces generated at said outer bearing surfaces, thereby increasing the grip of said shell upon said pad and extending said shell laterally to increase its retention in said slideway.