US5352029A — Positively driven elastomeric tracked work vehicle

Claim 1

Independent Claim 283 words

A drive assembly for a track laying vehicle having a vehicle body, a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, and at least one track mounted for movement on the vehicle body, the drive assembly comprising: at least first and second rotatable wheels relatively spaced in the direction of said longitudinal axis with at least one of said wheels being a drive wheel; and a continuous elastomeric track comprising a main body having a ground engaging surface, an opposite wheel engaging surface and a plurality of power transmission elements integrally molded with said main body and projecting from said wheel engaging surface; said drive wheel comprising a hub member, a peripheral edge on said hub member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rim supports connected to said hub member, each of said rim supports extending from said hub member and comprising at least one plate-like body having at least one laterally extending side portion, a radially outer support portion and a radially inner portion, at least one pair of circumferential rim sections operatively connected to said outer support portions of said rim supports in laterally spaced apart relation with respect to each other to form a gap therebetween, open side zones between said rim sections and said side portions of adjacent rim supports, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive members extending between said rim sections and separating said gap into a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outer zones each being adapted to receive therein at least one of said power transmission elements on said continuous track so that said power transmission elements are engageable with said drive members with said radially outer zones communicating with said open side zones.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 283 words

A drive assembly for a track laying vehicle having a vehicle body, a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, and at least one track mounted for movement on the vehicle body, the drive assembly comprising: at least first and second rotatable wheels relatively spaced in the direction of said longitudinal axis with at least one of said wheels being a drive wheel; and a continuous elastomeric track comprising a main body having a ground engaging surface, an opposite wheel engaging surface and a plurality of power transmission elements integrally molded with said main body and projecting from said wheel engaging surface; said drive wheel comprising a hub member, a peripheral edge on said hub member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rim supports connected to said hub member, each of said rim supports extending from said hub member and comprising at least one plate-like body having at least one laterally extending side portion, a radially outer support portion and a radially inner portion, at least one pair of circumferential rim sections operatively connected to said outer support portions of said rim supports in laterally spaced apart relation with respect to each other to form a gap therebetween, open side zones between said rim sections and said side portions of adjacent rim supports, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive members extending between said rim sections and separating said gap into a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outer zones each being adapted to receive therein at least one of said power transmission elements on said continuous track so that said power transmission elements are engageable with said drive members with said radially outer zones communicating with said open side zones.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 71 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track further comprises: at least one drive side on each power transmission element, a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing filaments extending in said longitudinal direction of said main body, and a plurality of spaced apart laterally extending anchor members within said main body of said track in regions adjacent said power transmission elements and connected to said longitudinally extending reinforcing filaments.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising: additional reinforcing filaments in said main body of said track operatively connected to said anchor members and extending into said power transmission elements.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said additional reinforcing elements each comprises at least one loop of filament having free ends connected to respective anchor members and extending into a respective transmission element.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said at least one loop of filament is adjacent to and extends substantially parallel to said at least one drive side.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said at least one loop of filament having free ends comprises sides extending substantially parallel to said at least one drive side.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said radially outer zones of said drive wheel are in communication with said open side zones on both sides of said drive wheel.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said rim sections have edges facing each other and an outer face on each rim section; and at least a portion of each of said facing edges is inclined inwardly from a respective outer face.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said drive members comprise rods.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said drive members comprise tubes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said drive members comprise bars.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: at least some of said drive members are secured to at least some of said rim supports.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein: at least some of said drive members are connected to said rim sections.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: at least some of said drive members are connected to said rim sections.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: at least some of adjacent laterally extending side portions of said plate-like bodies of said rim supports taper inwardly towards each other between said outer support portions and inner portions thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 150 words

A track for a track laying vehicle having a vehicle body, a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, and at least one track mounted for movement on the vehicle body, the track comprising: a continuous elastomeric track comprising a main body having a ground engaging surface, an opposite wheel engaging surface and a plurality of power transmission elements integrally molded with said main body and projecting from said wheel engaging surface; at least one drive side on each power transmission element; a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing filaments extending in the longitudinal direction of said main body; a plurality of spaced apart laterally extending anchor members within said main body of said track in regions adjacent said power transmission elements and connected to said longitudinally extending reinforcing filaments; and additionally reinforcing filaments operatively connected to said anchor members and extending into said power transmission elements.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 150 words

A track for a track laying vehicle having a vehicle body, a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, and at least one track mounted for movement on the vehicle body, the track comprising: a continuous elastomeric track comprising a main body having a ground engaging surface, an opposite wheel engaging surface and a plurality of power transmission elements integrally molded with said main body and projecting from said wheel engaging surface; at least one drive side on each power transmission element; a plurality of substantially parallel reinforcing filaments extending in the longitudinal direction of said main body; a plurality of spaced apart laterally extending anchor members within said main body of said track in regions adjacent said power transmission elements and connected to said longitudinally extending reinforcing filaments; and additionally reinforcing filaments operatively connected to said anchor members and extending into said power transmission elements.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The track as claimed in claim 16 wherein: said additional reinforcing elements each comprises at least one loop of filament having free ends connected to respective anchor members and extending into a respective transmission element.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The track as claimed in claim 17 wherein: said at least one loop of filament is adjacent to and extends substantially parallel to said at least one drive side.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The track as claimed in claim 17 wherein: said at least one loop of filament having free ends comprises sides extending substantially parallel to said at least one drive side.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 213 words

A drive wheel for a track laying vehicle having a vehicle body, a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, and at least one track mounted for movement on the vehicle body, the drive wheel comprising: a hub member, a peripheral edge on said hub member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rim supports connected to said hub member, each of said rim supports extending from said hub member and comprising at least one plate-like body having at least one laterally extending side portion, a radially outer support portion and a radially inner portion, at least one pair of circumferential rim sections operatively connected to said outer support portions of said rim supports in laterally spaced apart relation with respect to each other to form a gap therebetween, open side zones between said rim sections and said side portions of adjacent rim supports, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive members extending between said rim sections and separating said gap into a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outer zones each being adapted to receive therein at least one of said power transmission elements on said continuous track so that said power transmission elements are engageable with said drive members with said radially outer zones communicating with said open side zones.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 213 words

A drive wheel for a track laying vehicle having a vehicle body, a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, and at least one track mounted for movement on the vehicle body, the drive wheel comprising: a hub member, a peripheral edge on said hub member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rim supports connected to said hub member, each of said rim supports extending from said hub member and comprising at least one plate-like body having at least one laterally extending side portion, a radially outer support portion and a radially inner portion, at least one pair of circumferential rim sections operatively connected to said outer support portions of said rim supports in laterally spaced apart relation with respect to each other to form a gap therebetween, open side zones between said rim sections and said side portions of adjacent rim supports, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive members extending between said rim sections and separating said gap into a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outer zones each being adapted to receive therein at least one of said power transmission elements on said continuous track so that said power transmission elements are engageable with said drive members with said radially outer zones communicating with said open side zones.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: said radially outer zones of said drive wheel are in communication with said open side zones on both sides of said drive wheel.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 44 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: said rim sections have edges facing each other and an outer face on each rim section; and at least a portion of each of said facing edges is inclined inwardly from a respective outer face.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: said drive members comprise rods.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 14 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: said drive members comprise tubes.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 14 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: said drive members comprise bars.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: at least some of said drive members are secured to at least some of said rim supports.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 26 wherein: at least some of said drive members are connected to said rim sections.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: at least some of said drive members are connected to said rim sections.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 39 words

The drive assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein: at least some adjacent laterally extending side portions of said plate-like bodies of said rim supports taper inwardly towards each other between said outer support portions and inner portions thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-10-03	1998-04-04	1998-10-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-10-03	2002-04-04	2002-10-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-10-03	2006-04-04	2006-10-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Positively driven elastomeric tracked work vehicle

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