Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel – Traction increasing
Patent
1993-01-11
1995-12-26
Stormer, Russell D.
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
Traction increasing
301 443, 305 50, 305 54, B60B 1520
Patent
active
054781418
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to ground engaging elements for wheels and endless tracks for motor vehicles and to wheels and endless tracks incorporating such ground engaging elements.
In one form the invention resides in a ground engaging element for mounting on a base, comprising a hollow body of resiliently flexible material, the hollow body having first and second mounting flanges, the first mounting flange extending outwardly and having a mounting face adapted to contact said base and a further face space from said mounting face, the second mounting flange having a face so disposed as to be spaced from the base when the mounting face of the first mounting flange is in contact with the base whereby the first mounting flange of a similar ground engaging element can be received in said space with the face of said second mounting flange in contact with said further face of the first mounting flange.
With this arrangement, two of said ground engaging elements disposed in side by side relation can be secured to said base with the first mounting flange of one element disposed between the base and the second mounting flange of the other element, and those two mounting flanges being fixed to the base by any suitable fixing means such as one or more fixing bolts passing through aligned holes formed in the two mounting flanges.
Preferably the hollow body has a pair of longitudinal side faces, and an outer longitudinal face for contacting the ground.
Preferably, said longitudinal side faces are generally planar and so arranged as to be generally normal to the plane of said base.
Preferably, the junction between each side wall and the adjacent mounting flange is curved.
Preferably, a stabilizing flange is provided on the side of the body corresponding to said first mounting flange to extend inwardly of the body.
Preferably, the hollow body is substantially tubular and open along a longitudinal portion thereof, said open longitudinal portion being disposed so as to confront said base when the element is fixed to said base. Preferably the ends of the tubular body are open.
In circumstances where the ground engaging element forms part of a wheel for a motor vehicle, said base to which the ground engaging element is fixed may be in the form of a rim of the wheel.
In circumstances where the ground engaging element forms part of an endless track of a motor vehicle, said base to which the ground engaging element is fixed may comprise an endless band passing around spaced end rollers. The combination of the endless band and the ground engaging elements mounted thereon provide the endless track.
In another form the invention resides in a wheel comprising a rim and a plurality of ground engaging elements as aforesaid mounted on the periphery of said rim to provide a ground engaging surface. The resilient nature of the ground engaging elements provides cushioning for the ground engaging surface.
In still another form the invention resides in an endless track for a vehicle comprising an endless band and a plurality of ground engaging elements as aforesaid mounted on the band to provide a ground engaging surface. The resilient nature of the ground engaging elements provides cushioning for the ground engaging surface. The endless base may be in the form of a continuous flexible band which is able to flex so as to provide further cushioning for the vehicle.
Preferably, neighboring ground engaging elements are closely associated with each other to provide mutual support when deflecting under load.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic side view of an endless track for a tracked vehicle, showing one ground engaging element in bold lines and neighboring elements in phantom lines; and
FIG. 2 is a similar view of a wheel.
The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to an endless track for a tracked vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless flexible band 11 mounted between
REFERENCES:
patent: 1377450 (1921-05-01), Whipple
patent: 1727625 (1929-09-01), Zybach
patent: 1854826 (1932-04-01), Crumb et al.
patent: 2085980 (1937-07-01), Hutchens
patent: 2188196 (1940-01-01), Wanek
patent: 2901021 (1959-08-01), Booharin
patent: 5078454 (1992-01-01), Rollinson
patent: 5154490 (1992-10-01), Burns
AirBoss Limited
Stormer Russell D.
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