TRACK WITH LOW FRICTION REINFORCED GUIDE BLOCKS

CHENILLE AVEC BLOCS DE GUIDAGE RENFORCES A FROTTEMENT REDUIT

English Abstract

The endless track of a track-propelled vehicle has an inner face provided with
a series of longitudinally spaced guide blocks; the guide blocks have, on an
opposite side faces thereof, pads made of low friction resin material to
contact the mid rollers of the track assembly.

Claims

CLAIMS
1. An endless track for track-propelled vehicles having a track
assembly including a drive wheel, an idler wheel and a series of rollers
resting on
a lower run of the track comprising: a body of elastomeric material having an
inner surface and an outer surface; said inner surface displaying thereon a
series
of longitudinally spaced guide blocks; said guide blocks having a front face,
a
rear face and opposite side faces; said opposite faces being formed of pads
made of low friction resin material.
2. An endless track as defined in claim 1, wherein said pads are
integrally molded to said elastomeric material forming said guide blocks.
3. An endless track as defined in claim 1 and 2, wherein said resin
material is UHMW.

Description

CA 02412425 2002-11-20
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Track with low friction reinforced guide blocks.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to an endless track for track-propelled
vehicles
wherein guide blocks formed on the inner surface of the track are provided
with
a reinforcing material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Track-type vehicles have track assembly that normally includes an endless
rubber belt which wraps around a drive wheel, an idler wheel and a number of
rollers, called mid-rollers. The inner surface of the endless belt has a
number of
upstanding guide blocks which are guided through a channel formed by the
wheel arrangement of the track assembly.
During use of the vehicle, the drive wheel rotates and engages the endless
belt
thereby causing the belt to rotate around the path defined by the drive wheel,
idler wheel and mid-rollers. Rotation of the endless belt causes each of the
guide
blocks to pass through a channel defined by the drive wheel, idler wheel and
each of the mid-rollers. Having the guide blocks passing through the guiding
channel enables the belt to remain within the rolling path. The contact
between
the guide blocks passing next to the drive wheel, idler and each of the mid-
roNers
is a source of wear on these components. Friction between the guide blocks and
the guiding wheels generates heat which accelerates deterioration of the guide
blocks and the mid-rollers.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a track wherein friction
is
minimized and heat generation is reduced between the mid rollers and the guide
blocks by using a low friction material on the guide blocks.

CA 02412425 2002-11-20
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a low friction
surface on
at least a portion of the rubber guide block which contacts the wheel thus
preventing the wheel from being removed from the track and to prevent the
guide
block from being worn or damaged by the wheel.
This is achieved by providing a low friction properties resin to the member
which
is exposed to the contacting of the drive wheel, idler wheel and mid-rollers.
During the belt molding process, a low friction material pad is embodied to
the
guide block opposite edges. By using a low friction material pad which has
similar molding characteristics of rubber, at a given pressure and molding
temperature, molecular reaction occurs between the low friction material pad
and
the based rubber compound. This provides the low friction material pads with
adequate adhesion to properly stay in place, along the guide block edges,
without
any additional mechanical or bonding agent.
The present invention therefore relates to an endless track for track
propelled
vehicles having a track assembly including a drive wheel, an idler wheel and a
series of rollers resting on a lower run of the track comprising: a body of
elastomeric material having an inner surface and an outer surface; the inner
surface displaying thereon a series of longitudinally spaced guide blocks; the
guide blocks having a front face, a rear face and opposite side faces; the
opposite faces being formed of pads made of low friction resin material.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be
understood, however, that this detailed description, while indicating
preferred
embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since
various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art.

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BRIEF DESGRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a guide block for an endless track made in
accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawing, there is shown the inner face 10 of a segment of an
endless track which is provided, in its center, with a series of
longitudinally
spaced guide blocks 12, each having a front face 14, a rear face 16 and
opposite
side faces 18 and 20.
The present invention is concerned with providing a guide block on each
opposite
side face thereof with a heat resistant thermoplastic or thermosetting member
having low friction properties, each side face being exposed to the side
surfaces
of the track rollers.
Although the invention has been described above with respect to one specific
form, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that it may be
modified and
refined in various ways. It is therefore wished to have it understood that the
present invention should not be limited in scope, except by the terms of the
following claims.

Representative Drawing