Patent US2584989A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4569561A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4569561A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Endless drive system
Assignee: Edwards Harper McNew and Co
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Filing: 1984-05-04
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Granted: 1986-02-11
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Expires: 2004-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An endless drive system suitable for use, for example, as a tracked vehicle drive system, an endless belt or an endless chain drive system. A number of endless drive sections are interconnected by cable connector sections. The cable connector sections include cables which can be encased in rubber. The cables can be provided with end retaining members which aid in retaining the cable connector sections and the endless drive sections together and which prevent expanding, fraying or unwinding of the cable ends. Special end retaining members can be utilized to aid self-alignment of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Edwards
- 👤 Daniel R. Harper
- 👤 Quinton B. McNew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:16
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/18; B62D55/24; B62D55/253; B62D55/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An endless drive system comprising: a plurality of endless drive sections each including a substantially closed shoe portion having first and second side edges, first and second substantially closed side walls extending from the first and second side edges of the shoe portion and sloping inwardly therefrom toward the center of the endless drive section, and a central surface joining the first and second side walls to define therewith and with the shoe portion a chamber open at its end faces; and a like plurality of cable connector sections, each including at least one cable member and means to attach one end of the cable connector section to the shoe portion of a first one of the endless drive sections and the other end of the cable connector section to the shoe portion of a second one of the endless drive sections, such attachments being within the chambers of the endless drive sections, to cause the plurality of cable connector sections to join the plurality of endless drive sections in a closed loop as an endless drive system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An endless drive system comprising: a plurality of endless drive sections each including a substantially closed shoe portion having first and second side edges, first and second substantially closed side walls extending from the first and second side edges of the shoe portion and sloping inwardly therefrom toward the center of the endless drive section, and a central surface joining the first and second side walls to define therewith and with the shoe portion a chamber open at its end faces; and a like plurality of cable connector sections, each including at least one cable member and means to attach one end of the cable connector section to the shoe portion of a first one of the endless drive sections and the other end of the cable connector section to the shoe portion of a second one of the endless drive sections, such attachments being within the chambers of the endless drive sections, to cause the plurality of cable connector sections to join the plurality of endless drive sections in a closed loop as an endless drive system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each endless drive section further includes a pair of wear pads and means to attach one wear pad to each side wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 2 in which said wear pads are polyurethane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each endless drive section further includes a tread member attached to the shoe portion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 4 in which each tread member includes a grouser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each cable connector section attaching means comprises a first cable clamp fastened to each cable member of the cable connector section, a second cable clamp fastened to each cable member of the cable connector section, means for fastening the first cable clamp to the shoe portion of the first one of the endless drive sections and means for fastening the second cable clamp to the shoe portion of the second one of the endless drive sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 6 in which each cable clamp comprises a pair of cable clamp halves and means for fastening the pair of cable clamp halves together on the corresponding cable members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 7 in which each cable clamp half includes at least one recess for receipt of the at least one cable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 8 in which each cable member is a discrete cable piece extending from the first cable clamp to the second cable clamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 9 in which each cable piece has a retaining member on each end thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 10 in which the cable clamp recesses are shaped to permit passage of the cable members through the cable clamp and the retaining members are positioned outside the cable clamp to prevent the cable from pulling out of the cable clamps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 10 in which the cable clamp recesses are shaped to receive and retain the retaining members within the cable clamp.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 12 in which the retaining members are spherical.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 12 in which the retaining members are cylindrical members swaged onto the cable ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each cable member includes a multi-strand cable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 15 in which each multi-strand cable is covered by a resilient coating to prevent foreign objects from reaching the cable strands.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 16 in which the resilient coating is rubber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each cable connector section further includes a resilient housing encasing the at least one cable and the attaching means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 18 in which the housing is spaced from the side walls and the central surface to permit foreign objects to fall therefrom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 18 in which each housing has an opening therethrough to increase flexibility.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 18 in which the resilient housings are rubber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
143 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a drive wheel including: an axle-like central portion; and first and second side portions, each side portion having an exterior surface with a periphery and having an interior surface formed of a plurality of wheel drive sectors, each wheel drive sector having a first end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and sloping inwardly to a second end adjacent and connected to one end of said central portion to cause said central portion to connect said first and second side portions, the slopes of said wheel drive sectors substantially matching the slopes of said endless drive section side walls; said closed loop looping about said drive wheel with at least some of the endless drive sections contacting at least some of the wheel drive sectors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
An endless drive section as claimed in claim 22 in which each wheel drive sector is wedge-shaped with the wedge wide end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and the narrow end adjacent and connected to the central portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endless drive section as claimed in claim 23 in which each wedge-shaped wheel drive sector has a truncated triangular shape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which said cable member has sufficient length to provide a space of about one inch between shoe portions of adjacent endless drive sections.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 25 in which each endless drive section further includes first and second side walls extending from the first and second side edges of the shoe portion and sloping inwardly therefrom and means joining said side walls at the center of the endless drive system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 26 in which said means to attach one end of the cable connector sections to the shoe portion of one endless drive section is a cable clamp bar integral with said first and second side walls.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 27 in which said cable clamp bar and said shoe portion have opposed complementary grooves to receive said cable member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 26 in which said first and second side walls are trapezoidal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said endless drive sections includes a grouser bar having a portion extending laterally beyond the closed shoe portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 30 in which said grouser bar is V-shaped.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 30 in which said grouser bar has holes therethrough in the portion thereof extending laterally beyond the closed shoe portion to permit the escape of dirt and debris.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 30 in which each endless drive section further includes wear pads for said laterally extending portions of said grouser bars and means for attaching said wear pads to said portions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 33 in which said wear pads are polyurethane.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endless drive system as claimed in claim 33 in which at least a portion of at least some of said wear pads extends longitudinally to lap onto the grouser bar portion of an adjacent endless drive section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
101 words
A drive wheel for an endless drive system in which the endless drive system includes a plurality of endless drive sections each including a substantially closed shoe portion having first and second side faces which sections are linked to adjacent sections to form a gap therebetween, said drive wheel comprising first and second side portions and axle means joining said first and second side portions, each side portion including a plurality of wedge-shaped sectors and ridge means between said sectors adapted to fit into a gap between adjacent endless drive sections in an endless drive system trained over said drive wheel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
101 words
A drive wheel for an endless drive system in which the endless drive system includes a plurality of endless drive sections each including a substantially closed shoe portion having first and second side faces which sections are linked to adjacent sections to form a gap therebetween, said drive wheel comprising first and second side portions and axle means joining said first and second side portions, each side portion including a plurality of wedge-shaped sectors and ridge means between said sectors adapted to fit into a gap between adjacent endless drive sections in an endless drive system trained over said drive wheel.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A drive wheel as claimed in claim 36 in which said ridge means are rounded bars.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
A drive wheel as claimed in claim 36 in which said sectors are flat trapezoids and said ridge means are formed by joined adjacent edges of said trapezoidal sectors.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
A drive wheel as claimed in claim 36 in which said sectors are flat trapezoids and said ridge means are rounded bars located at intersections of adjacent trapezoidal sectors.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
96 words
A drive wheel for an endless drive system, said drive wheel comprising: an axle-like central portion; and first and second side portions, each side portion having an exterior surface with a periphery and having an interior surface formed of a plurality of wheel drive sectors, each wheel drive sector having a first end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and sloping inwardly to a second end adjacent and connected to one end of said central portion to cause said central portion to connect said first and second side portions.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
96 words
A drive wheel for an endless drive system, said drive wheel comprising: an axle-like central portion; and first and second side portions, each side portion having an exterior surface with a periphery and having an interior surface formed of a plurality of wheel drive sectors, each wheel drive sector having a first end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and sloping inwardly to a second end adjacent and connected to one end of said central portion to cause said central portion to connect said first and second side portions.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A drive wheel as claimed in claim 40 in which each wheel drive sector is wedge-shaped with the wedge wide end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and the narrow end adjacent and connected to the central portion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
A drive wheel as claimed in claim 41 in which each wedge-shaped wheel drive sector has a truncated triangular shape.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
A drive wheel as claimed in claim 40 further comprising ridge members extending from the peripheries of the side portions to said central portion between adjacent ones of said wheel drive sectors.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
40 words
A drive wheel as claimed in claim 40 in which said central portion includes a plurality of recesses for receiving drive pins from endless drive sections to provide positive drive engagement between said drive wheel and the endless drive sections.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-10 | 1989-08-12 | 1990-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-10 | 1993-08-12 | 1994-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-10 | 1997-08-12 | 1998-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |