US4906054A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endless track drive system
Assignee: Edwards Harper McNew and Co
•
Filing: 1987-05-20
•
Granted: 1990-03-06
•
Expires: 2007-05-20
Abstract
Abstract An endless track drive system for use on a track vehicle such as a bulldozer includes a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally interconnected in a closed loop to form an endless track, each drive member including at least one frictional drive face, and at least one continuous reinforcement member encased within and further interconnecting the plurality of drive members. Each drive member of the endless track preferably includes at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of the endless track for engagement with a drive wheel. The endless track also preferably includes tread members which are either integrally formed with, bonded to or removably fastened to the drive members, and the tread members may be bias-ply, fiber reinforced or cable reinforced. The drive wheel preferably is provided with drive surfaces shaped to match the shape of the lateral drive faces on the drive members and/or a sprocket for engaging with additional drive faces on the drive members. The endless track drive system also preferably includes a scraper for scraping dirt and debris from the endless track and/or the drive wheel.
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 01:30
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/18; B62D55/20; B62D55/205; B62D55/21; B62D55/213; B62D55/088; B62D55/202; B62D55/24; B62D55/253
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An endless vehicle track comprising: a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally formed in a closed loop to form said endless vehicle track, each said drive member including at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of said endless vehicle track and serving as means for frictionally driving an endless track vehicle, lateral frictional drive faces of adjacent drive members being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of said endless vehicle track by less than a longitudinal length of each of said lateral frictional drive faces; and at least one substantially continuous reinforcement member substantially entirely encased within said endless vehicle track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An endless vehicle track comprising: a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally formed in a closed loop to form said endless vehicle track, each said drive member including at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of said endless vehicle track and serving as means for frictionally driving an endless track vehicle, lateral frictional drive faces of adjacent drive members being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of said endless vehicle track by less than a longitudinal length of each of said lateral frictional drive faces; and at least one substantially continuous reinforcement member substantially entirely encased within said endless vehicle track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, further comprising at least one tread member fixed to said plurality of drive members and extending in a direction opposite from said lateral frictional drive faces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 2, said at least one tread member being bias-ply, fiber reinforced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 2, said at least one tread member being cable reinforced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 2, said at least one tread member being integrally formed with said plurality of drive members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 2, said at least one tread member being bonded to said plurality of drive members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 2, said at least one tread member being removably fastened to said plurality of drive members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 7, a separate tread member being removably fastened to each drive member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 7, said at least one tread member comprising a plurality of tread members, overlapping ends of said tread members being together removably fastened to corresponding drive members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 2, side edges of said lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a longitudinal direction of said endless track.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, each said drive member further including a generally horizontal upper surface between said at least two inwardly sloping lateral frictional drive faces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, each said drive member having at least one hole therein to reduce the polymeric mass of said drive member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, each said drive member further comprising a base portion and support structure extending from said base portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 13, said support structure comprising a strap with two side wall portions sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of said endless vehicle track.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 13, said support structure comprising a strap fixing said at least one continuous reinforcement member to said base portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, each said drive member further including a generally horizontal upper surface between said at least two inwardly sloping lateral frictional drive faces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, each said drive member further including an upper drive face, said upper drive face being narrower at an uppermost point than at a lowermost point as viewed in a transverse direction of said drive member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, further comprising at least one tread member removably fastened to said endless vehicle track and extending in a direction opposite from said drive members, said at least one removable tread member comprising a polymeric tread bonded to a metal supporting plate which is fastened to said endless track with a metal backing plate sandwiched therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 18, said polymeric tread comprising three tread portions bonded to said metal supporting plate in a transverse direction of said endless track, with spaces between adjacent tread portions to allow escape of dirt and debris.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 19, said at least one removable tread member being substantially U-shaped in plan view.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 1, said at least one reinforcement member being situated below bottom edges of said lateral frictional drive faces of said drive members when said drive members are in contact with the ground.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
An endless vehicle track comprising: a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally formed in a closed loop to form said endless vehicle track, each said drive member including at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of said endless vehicle track, said lateral frictional drive faces of adjacent drive members being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction, and member substantially entirely encased within said endless vehicle track.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
An endless vehicle track comprising: a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally formed in a closed loop to form said endless vehicle track, each said drive member including at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of said endless vehicle track, said lateral frictional drive faces of adjacent drive members being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction, and member substantially entirely encased within said endless vehicle track.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 22, said at least one reinforcement member being situated below bottom edges of said lateral frictional drive faces of said drive members when said drive members are in contact with the ground.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The endless vehicle track of claim 22, each said drive member further including a generally horizontal upper surface between said at least two inwardly sloping lateral frictional drive faces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
156 words
An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: an endless vehicle track including a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally formed in a closed loop to form said endless vehicle track, and at least one substantially continuous reinforcement member substantially entirely encased within said endless vehicle track, each said drive member including at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of said endless vehicle track and serving as means for frictionally driving an endless track vehicle, lateral frictional drive faces of adjacent drive members being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of said endless vehicle track by less than a longitudinal length of each of said lateral frictional drive faces; and a drive wheel for driving said endless vehicle track, said drive wheel including at least two drive surfaces for engaging with said at least two lateral frictional drive faces of each said drive member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
156 words
An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: an endless vehicle track including a plurality of polymeric endless track drive members integrally formed in a closed loop to form said endless vehicle track, and at least one substantially continuous reinforcement member substantially entirely encased within said endless vehicle track, each said drive member including at least two lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a transverse direction of said endless vehicle track and serving as means for frictionally driving an endless track vehicle, lateral frictional drive faces of adjacent drive members being spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of said endless vehicle track by less than a longitudinal length of each of said lateral frictional drive faces; and a drive wheel for driving said endless vehicle track, said drive wheel including at least two drive surfaces for engaging with said at least two lateral frictional drive faces of each said drive member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The endless track drive system of claim 25, said drive wheel including a plurality of drive surfaces, each said drive surface being shaped to substantially match the shape of a lateral frictional drive face of said drive members for frictional engagement therewith.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
The endless track drive system of claim 26, said drive wheel including first and second side portions and an axle portion connecting said first and second side portions, and each said drive member including an upper frictional drive face between said at least two lateral frictional drive faces, said axle portion of said drive wheel including a plurality of drive surfaces for frictional engagement with said upper frictional drive faces.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The endless track drive system of claim 26, said drive wheel further comprising sprocket means for further driving said drive members.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
The endless track drive system of claim 28, said drive wheel including first and second side portions and an axle portion connecting said first and second side portions, and each said drive member including an upper drive face between said at least two lateral frictional drive faces, said axle portion of said drive wheel including a sprocket shaped to substantially match and engage with said upper drive faces.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The endless track drive system of claim 25, said drive wheel including a plurality of holes for escape of debris.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The endless track drive system of claim 25, further comprising scraper means for scraping dirt and debris from said endless vehicle track.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The endless track drive system of claim 31, said scraper means including means for simultaneously scraping dirt and debris from said drive wheel and said endless track.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The endless track drive system of claim 25, side edges of said lateral frictional drive faces sloping inwardly with respect to a longitudinal direction of said endless vehicle track.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The endless track drive system of claim 25, said drive wheel being incompressible.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The endless track drive system of claim 25, each said drive member further including a generally horizontal upper surface between said at least two inwardly sloping lateral frictional drive faces.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
The endless track drive system of claim 25, said at least one reinforcement member being situated below bottom edges of said lateral frictional drive faces of said drive members when said drive members are in contact with the ground.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-05 | 1993-09-04 | 1994-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-05 | 1997-09-04 | 1998-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-05 | 2001-09-04 | 2002-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |