Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
REAR TRACK ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE AND TRACK
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present technology relates to track assemblies to be mounted
to a rotatable axle of a
vehicle, and tracks for such track assemblies.
BACKGROUND
[0002] All-Terrain Vehicles ("ATV's") are four-wheeled off-road vehicles.
ATV's are designed
for "all" terrains. ATV wheels are usable with "all" terrains, but may not be
optimized for one or
more particular types of terrain. Given that wheels do not provide optimal
traction on certain types
of terrain, e.g. mud, snow, sand, etc., track systems were developed to be
used on ATV's in place of
the wheels. ATV's, however, including their frames, suspensions, and fairings,
were designed for
having wheels as ground-contacting elements, and not for having tracks.
[0003] Track systems have been developed to replace wheels of ATVs, in
order to improve
traction of the ATVs in some driving conditions. Wheels are circular in shape
(and thus when
rotated maintain the same shape ¨ and are designed to be rotated in use), and
are generally smaller
than track systems. Tracks systems typically have frames that are triangular
in shape and are
generally larger than wheels.
[0004] Existing track systems are suitable for their intended purposes.
However, improvements
to existing systems are always desirable.
SUMMARY
[0005] In conventional wisdom, to improve vehicle performance, such as
acceleration, the
horsepower of the vehicle's motor is increased. Such an approach is often
practiced with
snowmobiles.
[0006] However, as it has been found by the creators of the present
technology, sometimes
increasing a vehicle's motor horsepower may be relatively expensive and may
not provide the
desired performance improvements in some driving conditions, such as deep snow
driving
conditions. The creators of the present technology have found that this may
more often be the case
with vehicles such as ATVs and Side by Side vehicles, than with snowmobiles.
In one aspect, the
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creators of the present technology have found that the propulsion mechanisms
by which ATV and
Side-by-Side track assemblies propel such vehicles differ from the propulsion
mechanisms of
snowmobiles, at least when such vehicles are used on snow.
[0007] That is, the track of a snowmobile is designed to eject snow from
under the track and
thereby propel the snowmobile. ATV and Side-by-side vehicle tracks, on the
other hand, often pull
on snow trapped between traction lugs of the tracks in order to propel such
vehicles. The creators of
the present technology have found that this difference in propulsion
mechanisms may be leveraged
in some cases to provide vehicle performance improvements for some types of
driving conditions
and for some types of terrain without necessarily needing to increase a
vehicle's horsepower.
[0008] For example, it has been found that providing a track assembly for
an ATV or a Side-by-
Side vehicle, the track assembly having a track with a track length that is in
a particular range of
track lengths improves vehicle performance, including acceleration, in at
least some driving
conditions. As another example, it has been found that providing a track
assembly for an ATV or a
Side-by-Side vehicle, the track assembly having a track with a track length
that is in a particular
range of track lengths, in combination with the track having traction lugs
that have traction lug
heights in a particular range of traction lug heights, improves vehicle
performance, including
acceleration, in at least some driving conditions. It has additionally been
found that providing a
track system having a frame that has an effective frame height in a particular
range of effective
frame heights, as will be described herein, in combination with an effective
frame length in a
particular range of effective frame lengths, also as will be described herein,
improves performance
in some driving conditions.
[0009] It has also been found that providing particular combinations of
track length and traction
lug height(s) for an ATV or a Side-by-Side vehicle in a further combination
with certain additional
features described in this document, improves vehicle performance in at least
some driving
conditions. Thus, the present technology provides a track system for use with
a vehicle, such as an
ATV, a Side-by-Side vehicle, or other similar vehicles, provides improved
vehicle performance,
including acceleration, in at least some driving conditions, including at
least some snow driving
conditions. In another aspect, the present technology provides a track (an
endless track) that could
be used with track assemblies for vehicles such as ATVs or Side-by-Side,
including the track
assemblies described in this document. The track has a structure that makes
the track relatively
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cheaper to manufacture for at least some applications, including some
applications when the track is
used with the track assemblies described herein, while providing a sufficient
level of stiffness and
other properties thereof to be suitable for those applications.
[0010] In one aspect, there is provided herein a track assembly to be
mounted to a rotatable rear
axle of a vehicle, the rotatable rear axle being structured for mechanical
attachment of a wheel
thereto. The track assembly includes: a frame having a front, a rear, a
bottom, a left side, and a right
side; a drive wheel rotationally mounted to the frame for rotation about a
drive wheel axis
positioned in a vertical drive wheel plane, the drive wheel having a
peripheral surface, the drive
wheel being structured to be attached to the axle of the vehicle when the
wheel is removed; a front
idler wheel assembly mounted at the front of the frame for rotation about a
front idler wheel
assembly axis parallel to the drive wheel axis, the front idler wheel assembly
having a peripheral
surface; a rear idler wheel assembly mounted at the rear of the frame for
rotation about a rear idler
wheel assembly axis parallel to the drive wheel axis, the rear idler wheel
assembly having a
peripheral surface; and a track having an inner surface facing the drive
wheel, and an outer surface
opposite the inner surface, the outer surface having a plurality of traction
lugs distributed along the
outer surface. The track includes a plurality of longer transverse
reinforcement rods distributed
therethrough and a plurality of shorter transverse reinforcement rods
distributed therethrough, the
shorter transverse reinforcement rods being shorter in length than the longer
transverse
reinforcement rods. Each of the longer and shorter transverse reinforcement
rods is aligned along at
least a part of its length with at least one of the traction lugs.
[0011] The drive wheel, the front idler wheel assembly and the rear idler
wheel assembly are
positioned relative to the frame to support the track around the drive wheel
peripheral surface, the
front idler wheel assembly peripheral surface, and the rear idler wheel
assembly peripheral surface.
The track is in driving engagement with the drive wheel. At least one of the
front idler wheel
assembly and the rear idler wheel assembly are selectively movable between a
plurality of
longitudinally-distributed tension positions to tension the track.
[0012] In some implementations, the frame has an effective frame length
equal to a horizontal
distance between a foremost point on the outer surface of the track and the
rear idler wheel
assembly axis. The effective frame length is between 48 inches and 60 inches.
The frame has an
effective frame height equal to a vertical distance between the drive wheel
axis and a point on the
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outer surface of the track, the point being positioned directly below the
drive wheel axis. The
effective frame height is between 17 inches and 20 inches.
[0013] In some embodiments, the track assembly further includes a
longitudinally-extending
left slide rail connected to the bottom of the frame and having a bottom
surface, a front end, a rear
end and a length; and a longitudinally-extending right slide rail connected to
the bottom of the frame
and having a bottom surface, a front end, a rear end, and a length.
[0014] In some embodiments, the drive wheel, wheels of the front idler
wheel assembly and
wheels of the rear idler wheel assembly are the sole wheels of the track
assembly contacting the
track.
[0015] In some embodiments, the track assembly further includes a plurality
of mid-rollers,
each mid-roller of the plurality of mid-rollers being connected to at least
one of the left slide rail and
the right slide rail to rotate about a mid-roller axis that defines a mid-
roller plane with the drive
wheel axis. In such embodiments, the mid-roller plane defines an angle with
the vertical drive wheel
plane that has a magnitude of not more than 20 degrees.
[0016] In some embodiments, the plurality of mid-rollers is positioned
relative to the left slide
rail and the right slide rail such that each mid-roller in the plurality of
mid-rollers extends downward
past the bottom surface of each of the left slide rail and the right slide
rail by 2/25.4 inches to 6/25.4
inches (2 millimetres to 6 millimetres, respectively).
[0017] In some embodiments, the track assembly further includes a
longitudinally-extending
central slide rail connected to the bottom of the frame. In such embodiments,
the central slide rail is
positioned between the left slide rail and the right slide rail.
[0018] In some embodiments, each traction lug of the plurality of
traction lugs has a lug length
of approximately one-third of a width of the track.
[0019] In some embodiments, each traction lug of the plurality of
traction lugs has a lug length
of approximately one-quarter of a width of the track.
[0020] In some embodiments, the plurality of traction lugs is arranged
in a 2-1 repeating
pattern.
[0021] In some embodiments, the plurality of traction lugs is arranged
in a 2-2 repeating
pattern.
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[0022] In some embodiments, at least some traction lugs in the plurality
of traction lugs are
longitudinally spaced from each other by 5 to 8 inches (127 millimetres to
203.2 millimetres,
respectively).
[0023] In some embodiments, the longer transverse reinforcement rods
alternate with the
shorter transverse reinforcement rods along a longitudinal direction in the
track.
[0024] In some embodiments, the longer transverse reinforcement rods
alternate with the
shorter transverse reinforcement rods in a long-short-long-short pattern.
[0025] In some embodiments, the track assembly further includes: a first
plurality of L-shaped
clips mounted to the track such that each clip of the first plurality of L-
shaped clips passes with each
revolution of the track around the frame of the track assembly between the
left slide rail and the
track, each clip of the first plurality of L-shaped clips having an upstanding
L-portion extending
from the track toward the frame of the track assembly; and a second plurality
of L-shaped clips
mounted to the track such that each clip of the second plurality of L-shaped
clips passes with each
revolution of the track around the frame of the track assembly between the
right slide rail and the
track, each clip of the second plurality of L-shaped clips having an
upstanding L-portion extending
from the track toward the frame of the track assembly.
[0026] In some embodiments, the each clip of the first and second
pluralities of clips is
mounted to the track over a longer transverse reinforcement rod of the
plurality of longer transverse
reinforcement rods, the upstanding L-portion of a first sub-plurality of clips
of the first plurality of
L-shaped clips is positioned on a left side of the left slide rail, the
upstanding L-portion of a second
sub-plurality of clips of the first plurality of L-shaped clips is positioned
on a right side of the left
slide rail, the upstanding L-portion of a first sub-plurality of clips of the
second plurality of L-
shaped clips is positioned on a left side of the right slide rail, and the
upstanding L-portion of a
second sub-plurality of clips of the second plurality of L-shaped clips is
positioned on a right side of
the right slide rail.
[0027] In some embodiments, the first and second sub-pluralities of
clips of the first plurality of
L-shaped clips alternate in a right-left-right pattern along the track's
length; and the first and second
sub-pluralities of clips of the second plurality of L-shaped clips alternate
in a right-left-right pattern
along the track's length.
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[0028] In some embodiments, the rear idler wheel assembly has four idler
wheels.
[0029] In some embodiments, the track assembly further includes a
dynamic traction device
having one end connected to the frame and another end connected to the vehicle
when the track
assembly is in use.
[0030] In some embodiments, the track has a track perimeter of 135 inches
to 180 inches (3429
millimetres to 4572 millimetres, respectively).
[0031] In some embodiments, the front idler wheel assembly has a front
idler wheel assembly
radius, the bottom surface of each of the left slide rail and the right slide
rail has an upward
curvature having an upward radius of curvature, the upward curvatures of the
left slide rail and the
right slide rail are sized such that the track bends around the front idler
wheel assembly and the
upward curvatures of the left and right slide rails about an effective wheel
radius, and the effective
wheel radius is greater than each of the front idler wheel assembly radius and
the upward radius of
curvature.
[0032] In some embodiments, the drive wheel, the front idler wheel
assembly, the rear idler
wheel assembly, the bottom surfaces of the left and right slide rails, and the
track are sized and
positioned relative to each other such that when: a) the track assembly is
mounted to the vehicle, b)
the vehicle is traveling forward on flat level surface terrain covered with
snow, and c) the track is
being driven by the drive wheel about a path around the drive wheel, the front
idler wheel assembly,
the left and right slide rails, and the rear idler wheel assembly, each
traction lug in the plurality of
the traction lugs enters the snow substantially perpendicular to the flat
level surface terrain. In such
embodiments, each traction lug remains perpendicular to the flat level surface
terrain as the track
travels about its path at least until that traction lug begins to exit the
snow.
[0033] In a further aspect, there is also provided a vehicle having a
rotatable rear axle that is
structured for mechanical attachment of a wheel thereto, and having an
embodiment of the track
assembly described above being attached to the axle to support the vehicle on
terrain.
[0034] In some embodiments, the vehicle is one of: an All-Terrain
Vehicle, a Side-by-Side
Vehicle, and a wheelchair.
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[0035] In some embodiments, the vehicle has a ground clearance, and a
ratio between the
effective frame length of the frame of the track assembly and the ground
clearance is between 2.6
and 3.5.
[0036] In some embodiments, the vehicle further includes a rotatable
front axle and a front
track assembly attached to the front axle, and the front track assembly has an
effective frame height
that is within 1 inch of the effective frame height of the track assembly that
is attached to the rear
axle.
[0037] For purposes of this application, terms related to spatial
orientation such as forwardly,
rearward, upwardly, downwardly, left, and right, are as they would normally be
understood by a
driver of the vehicle sitting on the driver seat of the vehicle in a normal
riding position. Terms
related to spatial orientation when describing or referring to components or
sub-assemblies of the
vehicle and of various components for the vehicle, separately from the vehicle
should be understood
as they would be understood when these components or sub-assemblies are
mounted to the vehicle,
unless specified otherwise in this application.
[0038] Additional and/or alternative features, aspects, and advantages of
embodiments of the
present technology will become apparent from the following description, the
accompanying
drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various
embodiments of articles,
products, methods, and apparatuses described in the present specification. The
drawings could not
be to scale. Some features shown in the drawings could be exaggerated, or
scaled down, relative to
their possible "life" size(s), in order to make these features clearly visible
in the drawings.
[0040] In the drawings:
[0041] Figure 1 is a left side view of a track assembly, according to a
first embodiment;
[0042] Figure 2 is a bottom view of the track assembly of Figure 1;
[0043] Figure 3 is a left side view of the track assembly of Figure 1,
with a track mounted
thereon;
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[0044] Figure 4 is a left side view of the track assembly of Figure 3,
showing an effective wheel
radius of the track assembly;
[0045] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the track of
Figures 3 and 4;
[0046] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the track of
Figure 5, according to another
embodiment;
[0047] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a vehicle with the track
assembly of Figures 1 to 4
mounted onto a left side of the rear axle of the vehicle;
[0048] Figure 8 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure 7;
[0049] Figure 9 is a top plan view of an outer surface of the portion of
the track of Figure 5;
[0050] Figure 10 is a cross-section of the part of the track of Figure 9,
taken along line A-A of
Figure 9;
[0051] Figure 11 is a close-up perspective view of a transverse
reinforcement member of the
track of Figure 5;
[0052] Figure 12 is a different perspective view of the reinforcement
member of the track of
Figure 11;
[0053] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a first side of two different
clips of the track of Figure
5; and
[0054] Figure 14 is a second perspective view of a second side of the
two different clips of
Figure 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] The headings in this section of the document are used solely to
improve readability of
the detailed description, and were not meant to be used for, and must not be
used for, interpreting
any of the information included in the detailed description. The headings do
not separate the
detailed description into sections, and the detailed description should be
read and interpreted as
though the headings in the detailed description do not exist.
Directions
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[0056] With reference to Figure 1, a forward direction, as the term is
used in this document, is
shown with reference numeral 90a. A rearward direction, as the term is used in
this document, is
shown with reference numeral 90b. An upward direction is shown with reference
numeral 90c. A
downward direction, as the term is used in this document, is shown with
reference numeral 90d.
[0057] With reference to Figure 2, a leftward direction, as the term is
used in this document, is
shown with reference numeral 90e. A rightward direction, as the term is used
in this document, is
shown with reference numeral 90f.
Track assembly - General
[0058] Figures 1 to 4 show a track assembly 90 for a vehicle. The track
assembly 90 has a
frame 92. As shown in Figure 2, the frame 92 has a left side 92a, a right side
92b, a front 104, a rear
106, and a bottom 108. The frame includes a plurality of frame members 110-
116. The frame
members 110-116 are welded to each other and are thus non-mobile relative to
each other.
[0059] The frame 92 is suspensionless. It is contemplated that the frame
92 could include a
suspension, such that, for example an upper part of the frame 92 would be
sprung relative to a lower
part of the frame 92 (not shown).
[0060] In this embodiment, a drive wheel 164 is rotatably secured on the
frame 92 at a junction
point of the frame members 110, 112, 114, to rotate about a drive wheel axis
122. The drive wheel
164 has a vehicle axle attachment portion 120 structured to allow the drive
wheel 164 to be bolted
to a wheel hub or other structure of a vehicle that is connected to an axle of
the vehicle and which
wheel hub or other structure normally receives a wheel of the vehicle. The
drive wheel 164 is thus
attachable to an axle of the vehicle instead of a wheel of that vehicle, co-
axially with the drive wheel
axis 122 and the axis of rotation of the wheel hub or other structure. The
vehicle axle attachment
portion 120 in this implementation has a plurality of apertures defined
therethrough which match a
bolt pattern of the wheel hub of a vehicle to which the drive wheel 164 is to
be bolted. It is
contemplated that any other suitable attachment of the drive wheel 164 to an
axle of a vehicle could
be used. An example of a vehicle axle and vehicle are shown in Figures 7 and
8, and are described
in more detail later in this document. The non-mobile frame members 110-116
extend from the
vehicle axle attachment portion 120 to slide rails 124, 126.
Slide Rails
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[0061] The frame 92 has a longitudinally-extending left slide rail 124,
which is connected to the
frame members 110-116 at a the bottom 108 of the frame 92. The left slide rail
124 has a bottom
surface 128, a front end 130, a rear end 132, and a length 134.
[0062] The frame 92 also has a longitudinally-extending right slide rail
126, which is connected
to the frame members 110-116 at the bottom 108 of the frame 92. The right
slide rail 126 has a
bottom surface 136, a front end 138, a rear end 140, and a length (which in
this example is equal to
the length 134 of the left slide rail 124).
[0063] The bottom surface 128, 136 of each of the left and right slide
rails 124, 126 is
positioned such that it is supportable by a track 144 against terrain. As best
shown in Figure 1, in
some embodiments, the bottom surface 128, 136 of each of the left and right
slide rails 124, 126 is
provided by a slide made of an ultra high molecular weight ("UHMW") polymer.
In the present
implementation, each of the slides is held on its corresponding slide rail
124, 126 by a
conventionally known combination of T-slot and a screw. It is contemplated
that the slides could be
secured using a different suitable mechanism, including an adhesive. It is
contemplated that the
slides could be made integral with corresponding ones of the slide rails 124,
126. In some
implementations, instead of having the slides, the bottom surfaces 128, 136 of
the slide rails 124,
126 are coated with a low-friction material such as a UffMW polymer.
[0064] The front end 130, 138 of each slide rail 124, 126 is connected
to a first one 110 of the
plurality of frame members 110-116 of the frame 92, and the rear end 132, 140
of each slide rail is
connected to a second one 114 of the plurality of frame members 110-116. The
front end 130, 138
of each of the left and the right slide rails 124, 126 has an upward curvature
146. The upward
curvature 146 of each of the left and the right slide rails 124, 126 has an
upward radius of curvature
148.
[0065] The front end 130, 138 of each slide rail 124, 126 is connected
to the first one 110 of the
plurality of frame members 110-116 via a first transverse member 158, and the
rear end 132, 140 of
each slide rail 124, 126 is connected to the second one 114 of the plurality
of frame members 110-
116 via a second transverse member 160.
[0066] The frame member 112 is connected to the frame member 114 via the
frame member
116. The frame members 110-116 are located between the left and the right
slide rails 124, 126. The
frame members 110-116 are located vertically between the left and the right
slide rails 124, 126.
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[0067] The slide rails 124, 126 are connected to a third one 112 of the
plurality of frame
members 110-116 via a third transverse member 162 at a point intermediate the
front end 130, 138
and the rear end 132, 140 of the slide rails 124, 126.
[0068] The bottom surfaces 128, 136 of the slide rails 124, 126 include
flat track supporting
surfaces 152, 154 which extend rearward 90b from the upward curvature 146 of
the front end 130,
138 toward the rear end 132, 140, and in some embodiments extend rearward 90b
past the rear idler
wheel assembly 172. The rear idler wheel assembly 172 is described later in
this document.
[0069] The flat track supporting surfaces 152, 154 are about 36.5 inches
(927 millimeters) long.
In some embodiments, the flat track supporting surfaces 152, 154 are between
about 40 inches
(1016 millimeters) and about 52 inches (1321 millimeters) long. It is
contemplated that other
lengths could be used. As best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, approximately two-
thirds of the length
134 of each of the slide rails 124, 126 is positioned rearward 90b of a
vertical transverse drive wheel
plane 156.
[0070] It is contemplated that in other embodiments, the track assembly
90 need not have slide
rails 124, 126, in which case standard known frames with mid-rollers (not
shown) for driving the
track 144 on terrain could be used.
Wheel Assemblies
[0071] The drive wheel 164 has a peripheral surface 166. The peripheral
surface 166 of the
drive wheel 164 extends upward 90c above the frame 92. The drive wheel axis
122 is positioned in
a vertical transverse drive wheel plane 156.
[0072] The track assembly 90 has a front idler wheel assembly 170, and a
rear idler wheel
assembly 172. The forward idler wheel assembly 170 has a peripheral surface
174 and is connected
to the frame 92 at the front of the frame 92 for rotation about a forward
idler wheel axis 176 that is
parallel to the drive wheel axis 122. It is contemplated that the forward
idler wheel assembly 170
could be connected to the frame 92 for rotation about the forward idler wheel
axis 176 by being
rotationally connected to the slide rails 124, 126. The peripheral surface 174
extends forward 90a of
the front ends 130, 138 of the slide rails 124, 126. The front idler wheel
assembly 170 has two front
idler wheels 170a, 170b. It is contemplated that the front idler wheel
assembly 170 could have more
than two wheels, or a single wheel.
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[0073] The rear idler wheel assembly 172 has a peripheral surface 178.
The rear idler wheel
assembly 172 is connected to the frame 92, via the rear ends of the slide
rails 124, 126, at the rear of
the frame 92 for rotation about a rear idler wheel assembly axis 180 that is
parallel to the drive
wheel axis 122. It is contemplated that the rear idler wheel assembly 172
could be connected to the
frame 92 for rotation about the rear idler wheel assembly axis 180 by being
connected directly to the
frame 92 instead of or in addition to being rotationally connected to the
slide rails 124, 126. The
peripheral surface 178 extends rearward of the rear ends 132, 140 of the slide
rails 124, 126. The
rear idler wheel assembly 172 has two idler wheels 172a, 172b. It is
contemplated that the rear idler
wheel assembly 172 could have more than two wheels, or a single wheel.
[0074] In a particular embodiment, the front idler wheel assembly 170 has
two idler wheels
170a, 170b. The rear idler wheel assembly 172 has two idler wheels 172a, 172b.
As shown with
dashed lines in Figure 2, in some implementations, the rear idler wheel
assembly 172 has four idler
wheels 172a, 172b, 182a, 182b (the two additional wheels 182a, 182b are shown
in dashed lines).
Four-wheeled versions of the rear idler wheel assembly 172 provide advantages
in some
applications.
[0075] As shown in Figure 4, the front idler wheel assembly 170 has a
front idler wheel
assembly radius 150. Each of the upward curvatures 146 of the slide rails 124,
126 has an upward
radius of curvature 148. In this embodiment, the upward radius of curvature
148 of the left slide rail
124 is equal to the upward radius of curvature 148 of the right slide rail
126.
[0076] The upward radii of curvature 148 of the slide rails 124, 126 and
the front idler wheel
assembly radius 150 are sized such that the track 144 bends around the front
idler wheel assembly
170 and the upward curvatures 146 about an effective wheel radius 186, and the
effective wheel
radius 186 is greater than each of the front idler wheel assembly radius 150
and the upward radii of
curvature 148.
Tensioner Assembly
[0077] The slide rails 124, 126 have transversely aligned tensioner
apertures 188 that extend
longitudinally in the respective slide rails 124, 126. The rear idler wheel
assembly 172 is mounted
onto a rearward axle 190 via known ball bearings (not shown). The rearward
axle 190 is slidably
mounted to the apertures 188 via a known bolt (not shown, received inside the
rearward axle 190)
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and nut combination 192. The rearward axle 190, and the bolt and nut
combination 192 may be
collectively referred to as a tensioner assembly 194.
[0078] The tensioner assembly 194 is configured such that when the nut is
loosened, the
tensioner assembly 194 is slidable along the length of the apertures 188, and
such that when the nut
is tightened, the tensioner assembly 194 is fixed in a position in the
apertures 188. The rear idler
wheel assembly 172 is thus selectively movable between a plurality of
longitudinally-distributed
tension positions to tension a track 144 that may be supported by the track
assembly 90.
[0079] The tensioner assembly 194 is a known mechanism. It is
contemplated that any other
suitable tensioner assembly could be used. It is contemplated that the forward
idler wheel assembly
170 could be implemented, instead of or in addition to the rear idler wheel
assembly 172, with a
suitable tensioner assembly such that forward idler wheel assembly 170 would
be movable between
a plurality of longitudinally-distributed tension positions to tension the
track 144.
Mid-Rollers
[0080] In this embodiment, the track assembly 90 excludes wheels (i.e. has
no wheels) between
the front end 130 and the rear end 132 of the left slide rail 124, and
excludes wheels (i.e. has no
wheels) between the front end 138 and the rear end 140 of the right slide rail
126. The wheels of the
front idler wheel assembly 170 and the rear idler wheel assembly 172, and the
drive wheel 164 are
the sole wheels of the track assembly 90 contacting the track 144. This
configuration provides for
improved slide durability in some applications.
[0081] Each of the slide rails 124, 126 has a plurality of mid-roller
support apertures 196
distributed along its length. The mid-roller support apertures 196 are
arranged to receive one or
more wheels (which will be referred to as "mid-rollers 198", shown in dashed
lines in Figure 1) in at
least one position on the slide rails 124, 126. An example set of positions of
the mid-rollers 198 is
shown in Figure 1.
[0082] In this embodiment, the apertures 196 are configured to receive
wheel mounting
brackets 200 (could be any suitable wheel mounting brackets) with one or more
mid-rollers 198
rotationally attached to each of the mounting brackets 200. In this
embodiment, each wheel
mounting bracket 200 has one mid-roller 198 rotationally attached thereto.
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[0083] The mid-roller support apertures 196 on the left side rail 124 are
longitudinally offset
from the mid-roller support apertures 196 on the right side rail 126, as shown
with reference arrow
202, such that when mid-rollers 198 are mounted to these apertures 196 (in
this example, via the
brackets 200), the mid-roller(s) 198 on the left side rail 124 are
longitudinally offset from the mid-
roller(s) 198 on the right side rail 126.
[0084] The longitudinal offset of the mid-rollers 198 reduces vibration
experienced by the track
assembly 90 when the track assembly 90 is in use, in some applications. It is
contemplated that in
some embodiments, the slide rails 124, 126 could be configured to receive mid-
rollers 198 that
would be longitudinally aligned relative to each other when rotationally
mounted to the slide rails
124, 126.
[0085] As shown in Figure 1, the mid-roller support apertures 196 are
positioned to support two
mid-rollers 198a on the left side rail 124, and one mid-roller 198b on the
right side rail 126. It is
contemplated that a different combination, longitudinal offset, and number
(including zero) of mid-
rollers 198 could be used, depending on the application of the track assembly
90 and the particular
track 144 used with the track assembly 90.
[0086] For example, there could be pairs of longitudinally-aligned mid-
roller support apertures
196 in the slide rails 124, 126. Each of the pairs could be sized to receive
an axle with one or more
mid-rollers 198 thereon, and could be positioned to provide suitable
protrusion(s) of the mid-
roller(s) 198 below the bottom surfaces 128, 136 of the slide rails 124, 126.
It is contemplated that
different numbers and different combinations of positions of mid-roller
support apertures 196 could
be used.
[0087] In other words, the mid-roller support apertures 196 are wheel
attachment features. In an
aspect, in some cases the mid-roller support apertures 196 allow users of the
track assembly 90 to
reconfigure the track assembly 90 by adding one or more mid-rollers 198 to
adapt the track
.. assembly 90 to different types of terrain and other riding conditions.
[0088] It is contemplated that any other suitable mechanism for mounting
mid-rollers 198 to the
slide rails 124, 126 could be used. For example, the system disclosed in the
commonly owned US
Patent No. 8,240,782, entitled "Track assembly", issued August 14, 2012, could
be used. US Patent
No. 8,240,782 is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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[0089] The track assembly 90 is operable without any mid-rollers 198 in
at least some
applications. Thus, it is contemplated that the slide rails 124, 126 could
have no apertures or other
wheel attachment features that would be configured to receive mid-rollers 198.
[0090] In some embodiments of the track assembly 90 that include mid-
rollers 198, the mid-
rollers 198 are sized and positioned to protrude below the bottom surfaces
128, 136 of the slide rails
124, 126 to roll against an inner surface 204 of the track 144. In some such
embodiments, the mid-
rollers 198 are positioned relative to the left slide rail 124 and the right
slide rail 126 to extend
downward past the bottom surface of each of the slide rails 124, 126 by 2/25.4
inches (2
millimetres).
[0091] It is contemplated that mid-rollers 198, when present, could be
positioned relative to the
slide rails 124, 126 to extend downward past the bottom surfaces 128, 136 of
the slide rails 124, 126
by a distance that is in a range of 2/25.4 inches to 6/25.4 inches (2
millimetres to 6 millimetres,
respectively). Such ranges of protrusion below the bottom surfaces 128, 136 of
the slide rails 124,
126 provide improved slide durability in some applications.
[0092] In some embodiments of the track assembly 90 that include mid-
rollers 198, and as
shown in Figure 1, the mid-rollers 198 are positioned relative to the slide
rails 124, 126 within 20
degrees away from (in either direction) the vertical transverse drive wheel
plane 156 starting from
the drive wheel axis 122 in a downward 90d direction along said plane 156 (see
reference arrows
210, 212 in Figure 1). Such positioning of mid-roller(s) 198 improves
performance of the track
assembly 90 in some applications.
Track and Track assembly Length
[0093] As shown in Figures 3-4 and 7-8, a track 144 is supported around
the drive wheel 164,
the forward and rear idler wheel assemblies 170, 172, and the bottom surfaces
128, 136 of the slide
rails 124, 126. The track 144 is suitably tensioned by adjustment of the
tensioner assembly 194 via
known tensioning methods.
[0094] As shown in Figure 3, the track assembly 90 has an effective frame
length 218,
measured as a horizontal distance between a foremost point on the outer
surface of the track 144
(from which outer surface extend the traction lugs 216) and the rear idler
wheel assembly axis 180,
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as shown in Figure 3. In the present implementation, the effective frame
length 218 is 48 inches
(1219.2 millimeters). In other implementations, the frame 92 is structured
such that the effective
frame length 218 is between 48 inches (1219.2 millimeters) and 60 inches (1524
millimeters).
[0095] The frame 92 also has an effective frame height 93, defined as a
vertical distance
between the drive wheel axis 122 and a point 123 on the outer surface of the
track 144 (from which
outer surface extend the traction lugs 216), the point 123 being positioned
directly below the drive
wheel axis 122. In the present implementation, the effective frame height 93
is 19 inches (482.6
millimeters). In other implementations, the frame 92 is structured such that
the effective frame
height 93 is between 17 inches (431.8 millimeters) and 20 inches (508
millimeters).
[0096] It has been found by the creators of the present technology that
combinations of the
effective frame length 218 and the effective frame height 93 in which the
effective frame length 218
and the effective frame height 93 are in the abovementioned ranges,
respectively, provide
performance improvements in some driving conditions, including some deep snow
driving
conditions. For example, it has been found that in some deep snow driving
conditions, such as in
some soft deep snow of three to five feet deep, the effective frame height 93
reduces an amount of
snow drag on the vehicle with which the track assembly 90 is used, while the
effective frame length
218 provides floatation and increased traction performance.
[0097] The track 144 is in driving engagement with the drive wheel 164.
In this embodiment,
the drive wheel 164 is a drive sprocket 164 that has circumferentially-
positioned teeth 220 that
extend away from the drive wheel 164, and the track 144 has a plurality of
drive apertures 222. The
drive apertures 222 are positioned in the track 144 to receive the teeth 220
of the drive sprocket 164
as the drive sprocket 164 rotates the track 144. As shown, the drive apertures
222 are longitudinally
distributed along the track 144 and are positioned between adjacent ones of
the traction lugs 216
that are in a center row 312 of traction lugs 216.
[0098] The drive wheel 164, the front idler wheel assembly 170, the rear
idler wheel assembly
172, and the bottom surfaces 128, 136 of the slide rails 124, 126 define a
track perimeter. The track
perimeter is about 138 inches (3505.2 millimetres). In some embodiments, the
track perimeter is
between 130 inches (3302 millimetres) and 150 inches (3810 millimetres). In
some embodiments,
the track perimeter is between 135 inches (3429 millimetres) and 180 inches
(4572 millimetres).
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[0099] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the track 144 has a width 226, which
in this embodiment is
14 inches (355.6 millimetres). In some embodiments, the track 144 has a width
226 that is between
13 inches (330.2 millimetres) and 15.5 inches (393.7 millimetres). It is
contemplated that other
widths 226 could be used, depending on each particular embodiment of the track
assembly 90.
Traction Lug Materials, Hardness and Height
[00100] The track 144 has a plurality of traction lugs 216 extending
outwardly from an outer
surface 228 of the track 144. The traction lugs 216 are distributed
longitudinally on the outer surface
228 of the track 144, as shown in Figure 5.
[00101] The track 144 and the traction lugs 216 are made of an elastomeric
material. In this
embodiment, each of the traction lugs 216 has a hardness in a range of 70 to
95 shore A, and is
made from natural rubber. It is contemplated that the traction lugs 216 could
be made from a
different material, such as a synthetic rubber, and could be made to have a
different hardness.
[00102] Each of the traction lugs 216 has a lug height 230. The lug
height 230 of each traction
lug 216 is an average height of that traction lug 216. As shown in Figure 5,
the traction lugs 216 of a
given track 144 may have one or more groove patterns 232. A first groove
pattern 232 is shown in
Figure 5. A second groove pattern 234, of an alternate embodiment of the track
144, is shown in
Figure 6.
[00103] In the embodiment of Figure 5, each of the traction lugs 216 has a lug
height 230 of 2
inches (50.8 millimeters). In some embodiments, the traction lugs 216 have a
lug height 230 that is
in a range of 1.37 inches (44.4 millimeters) to 2.5 inches (63.5 millimeters).
[00104] Traction lugs 216 of the track 144 could have one and the same lug
height 230, or could
include a plurality of different lug heights 230, the lug heights 230 being in
one of the above ranges.
Traction Lug Length
[00105] As best shown in Figure 5, each traction lug 216 has a lug length 236
of approximately
one-third of the width 226 of the track 144 and the traction lugs 216 in the
center row 312 are
slightly longer than the traction lugs 216 in the two side rows 314, 316. In
some implementations,
the traction lugs 216 in the center row 312 have the same lug length 236 as
the traction lugs 216 in
the two side rows 314, 316. In the embodiment of the track 144 shown in Figure
6, each traction lug
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216 has a lug length 236 of approximately one-quarter of the width 226 of the
track 144. In this
embodiment (Figure 6), the traction lugs 216 all have one and the same lug
length 236. In some
embodiments of the track 144, the traction lugs 216 have different relative
lug lengths 236.
Traction Lug Patterns
[00106] The traction lugs 216 in each of the three longitudinal rows of
traction lugs shown in
Figure 5 are longitudinally spaced from each other by 6 inches (152.4
millimetres). It is
contemplated the traction lugs 216 in each of the three longitudinal rows of
traction lugs could be
longitudinally spaced from each other by 5 to 8 inches (i.e. a traction lug
216 may be longitudinally
spaced from a longitudinally adjacent traction lug 216 by 5 to 8 inches) (127
millimetres to 203.2
millimetres, respectively). Such longitudinal spacing provides improved
performance in some
driving conditions. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, each traction lug 216
in each of the three
longitudinal rows of traction lugs 216 is longitudinally offset by 3 inches
(76.2 millimetres) from
each adjacent traction lug in the adjacent longitudinal row(s) of traction
lugs 216. This spacing is
referred to as pitch. That is, in the embodiment of Figure 5, the pitch is 3
inches 3 inches (76.2
millimetres).
[00107] In some embodiments, the track 144 has traction lugs 216 with a
combination of
different longitudinal spacings (pitch) in each given longitudinal row of
traction lugs, the different
longitudinal spacings (pitch) being within the range of 5 to 8 inches (127
millimetres to 203.2
millimetres, respectively) in some such embodiments.
[00108] The traction lugs 216 of the track 144 of Figure 5 are in a 2-1
repeating pattern (a row
244 of lugs having one traction lug 216 is followed by a row 246 of lugs
having two traction lugs
216). The traction lugs 216 are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal
vertical center plane
248 of the track 144. In other embodiments, the traction lugs 216 of the track
144 have different
patterns.
[00109] In this embodiment, each traction lug 216 in one sub-plurality of
traction lugs 216 has
one angled portion 229, the angled portion 229 being angled relative to the
longitudinal vertical
center plane 248. Each traction lug 216 in another sub-plurality of traction
lugs 216 has two angled
portions 252, 254, the angled portions 252, 254 being angled relative to the
longitudinal vertical
center plane 248, and being substantially symmetrically positioned about
longitudinal vertical center
plane 248.
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[00110] In the embodiment of the track 144 of Figure 6, the traction lugs
216 are arranged in a 2-
2 repeating pattern (a first row 256 of traction lugs 216 having two traction
lugs 216 is followed by
a second row 258 of traction lugs 216 having two traction lugs 216). Each of
the traction lugs 216
has an angled portion 260. The angled portion 260 is angled relative to a
longitudinal vertical center
plane 264 of the track 144. In some embodiments, the track shown in Figure 6
is used on front track
assemblies and the track shown in Figure 5 is used on rear track assemblies.
This provides
performance advantages in some applications and driving conditions.
[00111] The various configurations of the track 144 described in this
document provide
performance advantages in some applications. The various described
configurations of the track 144
in combination with the effective frame length 218 of the track assembly 90
when the effective
frame length 218 is in the range described herein above provide performance
advantages in some
applications. The patterns of the traction lugs 216 and the various
implementations of construction
of the track 144 described herein are not limited to being used to the track
assembly described
herein and could be used with other track assemblies.
Perpendicular Entry of Traction Lugs into Snow
[00112] In some embodiments, the drive wheel 164, the front idler wheel
assembly 170, the rear
idler wheel assembly 172, the bottom surfaces 128, 136 of the left and right
slide rails 124, 126, and
the track 144 are sized and positioned relative to each other such that when
the track assembly is
mounted to a vehicle, such as an All Terrain Vehicle ("ATV"), the following
operation occurs.
[00113] When the vehicle is traveling forward 90a on flat level surface
terrain (not shown)
covered with snow, and the track 144 is being driven by the drive wheel 164
about a path around the
drive wheel 164, the front idler wheel assembly 170, the left and right slide
rails 124, 126, and the
rear idler wheel assembly 172, the traction lugs 216 of the track 144 enter
the snow substantially
perpendicular to flat level surface terrain. The traction lugs 216 remain
substantially perpendicular
to the flat level surface terrain as the track 144 travels about the path at
least until the traction lugs
216 begin (i.e. each traction lug 216 begins) to exit the snow.
Clips and Reinforcing Rods
[00114] Now referring to Figures 9 to 12, the track 144 shown in Figures
3 to 5 and 7 and 8 is
shown in more detail. As schematically shown in Figure 9, the track 144 has an
endless belt portion
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145 that defines the outer surface 228 of the track 144, a plurality of longer
transverse reinforcement
rods 304 distributed through the track 144 / endless belt portion 145, and a
plurality of shorter
transverse reinforcement rods 306 distributed through the track 144 / endless
belt portion 145. In
this implementation, the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306 are shorter
in length than the
longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 and are all of one and the same
length. It is contemplated
that the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306 need not be all of one and
the same length.
Similarly, in this implementation, the longer transverse reinforcement rods
304 are all of one and
the same length. It is contemplated that the longer transverse reinforcement
rods 304 need not be all
of one and the same length.
[00115] As schematically shown in Figure 9, each of the shorter transverse
reinforcement rods
306 is aligned along its length with a corresponding one of the traction lugs
216 that are in the
center row 312 of the traction lugs 216, and is slightly shorter than its
corresponding traction lug
216. This alignment of each of the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306
with a corresponding
traction lug 216 in the center row 312 helps reduce torsion of the
corresponding traction lug 216
when the track 144 is driven over some types of terrain. In this
implementation, the length of each
of the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306 is about 90% of the length
236 of its corresponding
traction lug 216. It is contemplated that a different length ratio could be
used.
[00116] Both the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306 and the longer
transverse
reinforcement rods 304 are disposed inside the track 144 / endless belt
portion 145 and are fully
covered in the rubber of the endless belt portion 145. It is contemplated that
a different construction
could be used. As schematically shown in Figure 9, shorter transverse
reinforcement rods 306 and
the longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 alternate along the length of the
track 144. That is,
each of the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306 is neighbored by two
adjacent longer
transverse reinforcement rods 304, and vice versa. As shown in Figure 9, the
present
implementation, the longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 alternate with
the shorter transverse
reinforcement rods 306 in a long-short-long-short pattern 307. It is
contemplated that a different
arrangement could be used, depending on the particular layout of the traction
lugs 216 for example.
[00117] As schematically shown in Figure 9, in this implementation each of the
longer
transverse reinforcement rods 304 is aligned along a part of its length at one
of its ends with a
corresponding one of the traction lugs 216 that are in the left side row 314
of the traction lugs 216,
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and along a part of its length at its other end with a corresponding one of
the traction lugs 216 that
are in the right side row 316 of the traction lugs 216. This alignment of each
of the longer transverse
reinforcement rods 304 with corresponding traction lugs 216 in the side rows
314, 316 helps reduce
torsion of the corresponding traction lugs 216 when the track 144 is driven
over some types of
terrain. The alignment of the longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 and the
shorter transverse
reinforcement rods 306 relative to the track 144 and the traction lugs 216 is
shown in the cross-
section in Figure 10, the cross-section being taken along the section line A-A
of Figure 9.
[00118] Figure 11 shows a close-up perspective view of one of the longer
transverse
reinforcement rods 304, taken out of the track 144. As shown, in this
implementation, each of the
.. longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 is an elongate fiberglass rod that
has a cross-section in the
shape of the letter "D", with an arcuate surface .308 on its one side and a
flat surface 310 opposite
the arcuate surface 308. It is contemplated that the longer transverse
reinforcement rods 304 could
be made from a different material(s) and/or could have a different cross-
section(s). Figure 12 shows
another perspective view of the one of the longer transverse reinforcement
rods 304. In this
.. implementation, each of the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306 is
also an elongate fiberglass
rod and has the same cross-section and shape as the longer transverse
reinforcement rods 304. It is
contemplated that the shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306 could be made
from a different
material(s) and/or could have a different cross-section(s).
[00119] As shown in Figures 5 and 9, in addition to the drive apertures 222,
the track 144 has
two side rows 318, 320 of apertures defined therethrough. Each of the two side
rows 318, 320 of
apertures in this implementation is similar in shape and positioning to the
drive apertures 222, but it
is contemplated that a different arrangement could be used. As schematically
shown in Figure 9, a
first plurality of L-shaped clips 322 is mounted to the track 144, each of the
clips 322 being
mounted onto the rubber of the endless belt portion 145 over one end of each
of the longer
transverse reinforcement rods 304 on the left side of the track 144. Each of
the clips 322 on the left
side of the track 144 passes between the left slide rail 124 and the track 144
when the track 144 is
mounted onto the track assembly 90 and when that track 144 is driven, with
each revolution of the
track 144 around the frame 92 of the track assembly 90. The clips 322 on the
left side of the track
144 help reduce friction between the track 144 and the left slide rail 124
when the track assembly 90
is in use.
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[00120] A second plurality of L-shaped clips 324 is mounted to the track
144, each of the clips
324 being mounted onto the rubber of the endless belt portion 145 over the
other end of each of the
longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 on the right side of the track 144.
Each of the clips 324 on
the right side of the track 144 passes between the right slide rail 126 and
the track 144 when the
track 144 is mounted onto the track assembly 90 and when that track 144 is
driven, with each
revolution of the track 144 around the frame 92 of the track assembly 90. The
clips 324 on the right
side of the track 144 help reduce friction between the track 144 and the right
slide rail 126 when the
track assembly 90 is in use.
[00121] A third plurality of C-shaped clips 326 is mounted to the track
144, each of the clips 326
being mounted onto the rubber of the endless belt portion 145 over a middle
portion of each of the
shorter transverse reinforcement rods 306. Each of the clips 326 passes
between the drive sprocket
164 and the track 144 when the track 144 is mounted onto the track assembly 90
and when that
track 144 is driven, with each revolution of the track 144 around the frame 92
of the track assembly
90. As shown, the clips 326 are mounted over the shorter transverse
reinforcement rods 306 only,
and not over the longer transverse reinforcement rods 304, providing a clip-
rod-clip pattern 327 as
schematically shown in Figure 9. As a result, when the track 144 is driven,
the drive sprocket 164
rolls over one of the centrally-placed clips 326, then over the inner surface
340 of the track 144 over
one of the longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 neighboring that clip 326
in the direction of
rotation of the drive sprocket 164, then over a subsequent one of centrally-
placed clips 326 in the
same direction, the again over the inner surface 340 of the track 144 over a
subsequent one of the
longer transverse reinforcement rods 304 in the same direction, and so on. The
clips 326 help reduce
friction between the drive sprocket 164 and the track 144 when the track
assembly 90 is in use. The
clip-rod-clip pattern 327 also helps reduce manufacturing costs of the track
144 in some
applications without materially affecting wear rates of the track 144.
[00122] The clips 322, 324, 326 are shown in more detail in Figures 10, 13
and 14. Ti this
implementation the clips 322, 324, 326 are made of a suitable metal. Each of
the clips 322, 324, 326
are has a C-shaped portion 328, 330 that is mounted over a corresponding one
of the transverse
reinforcement rods 304, 306 and is deformed with a suitable tool over the
rubber of the endless belt
portion 145 covering that corresponding one of the transverse reinforcement
rods 304, 306 and is
thereby mounted to and retained on the track 144 (see Figure 10 for an
installed view for example).
Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the centrally-placed clips 326 have a flat
central portion 332 that is
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driven over by the drive sprocket 164 with each revolution of the track 144
around the frame 92 of
the track assembly 90. Each of the side clips 322, 324 also has a flat central
portion 334 that is
driven over by the one of the slide rails 124, 126 corresponding to that side
clip 322, 324.
Additionally, each of the side clips 322, 324 also has an upstanding portion
336 that extends from
the track 144 toward the frame 92 of the track assembly 90 as the flat central
portion 334 of that side
clip 322, 324 is driven over by the one of the slide rails 124, 126
corresponding to that side clip 322,
324.
[00123] Each of the upstanding portions 336 of the side clips 322, 324 is
positioned such it
passes between a corresponding one of the guide lugs 338 of the track 144 and
a corresponding one
of the slide rails 124, 126 when the side clip 322, 324 having that upstanding
portion 336 is driven
over by the corresponding one of the slide rails 124, 126 as the track 114
revolves around the track
assembly 90. More particularly, as shown in Figure 7 for example, the guide
lugs 338 are distributed
along and extend from an inner surface 340 of the track 144, with each of the
slide rails 124, 126
being bordered by a longitudinal row of the guide lugs 338 on each of the left
and right sides of that
slide rail 124, 126. The guide lugs 336 help maintain the track 144 in
transverse alignment relative
to the slide rails 124, 126. The side clips 322, 324 are positioned in between
each corresponding pair
of rows of the guide lugs 336, and are oriented in an alternating pattern 342
shown schematically in
Figure 9.
[00124] For example, in the row of apertures 320, the upstanding portion
344 of a first one 346
of these side clips 324 is positioned on the right side of the row 320 and
extends from the inner
surface 340 of the track 144 toward the frame 92 of the track assembly 90, as
shown with a
schematic profile 348 of that clip 346. The upstanding portion 344 passes
between the right side of
the right slide rail 126 and a corresponding one of the guide lugs 338 when
that clip 346 is driven
over by the right slide rail 126. The upstanding portion 350 of the next one
352 of these side clips
324 is positioned on the left side of the row 320 and extends from the inner
surface 340 of the track
144 toward the frame 92 of the track assembly 90, as shown with a schematic
profile 354 of that
clip 352. The upstanding portion 350 passes between the left side of the right
slide rail 126 and a
corresponding one of the guide lugs 338 when that clip 346 is driven over by
the right slide rail 126.
The next 356 one of the side clips 324 is positioned on the right side of the
row 320, the same way
as the clip 346.
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[00125]
This pattern repeats itself along the length of the track 144 in the row 320.
In this
implementation, the row of apertures 318 has the same pattern of clips 322 as
the row 320 with
respect to the left slide rail 124. It is contemplated that the pattern of
clips 322 in the row 318 could
be a mirror image of the pattern of clips 324 in the row 320 for example. The
upstanding portions
344, 350 and the clips 346, 352, 356 are additionally shown schematically on
the track 144 itself in
Figure 9 with hidden lines, with the upstanding portions 344, 350 being shown
darker than the
corresponding central portions 332, 334 of the corresponding clips 346, 352,
356. In an aspect, the
pattern 342 of clips 322, 324 helps maintain the track 144 in transverse
alignment with the slide rails
124, 126 in some applications. In some applications, the pattern 342 of clips
322, 324 helps reduce
wear of the slide rails 124, 126 and guide lugs 338. The pattern 342 is
referred to as a right-left-right
pattern.
Exemplary Vehicle
[00126]
An exemplary application of the track assembly 90 to a vehicle 266 is
described
next, with reference to Figures 7 and 8. The vehicle 266 is an ATV. It is
contemplated that the
vehicle 266 could be, instead, for example, a Side-by-Side Vehicle, or a
motorized wheelchair
configured to receive one or more of the track assembly 90.
[00127] The ATV 266 has a vehicle frame 268. The vehicle frame 268 supports a
front left
suspension 270, a front right suspension, a rear left suspension 274, and a
rear right suspension. The
rear left suspension 274 includes a swing arm 282. The rear right suspension
includes a swing arm.
The rear right suspension is a mirror image of the rear left suspension 274.
Therefore, a description
of the rear left suspension 274 corresponds to a description of the rear right
suspension. Therefore,
further description of the rear right suspension is omitted.
[00128]
The vehicle frame 268 supports a front left axle 278, front right axle, a rear
left axle 280,
and a rear right axle. The rear right axle is supported by the rear right
suspension. The rear left axle
280 is supported by the rear left suspension 274. The front right axle is
supported by the front right
suspension. The front left axle 278 is supported by the front left suspension
270.
[00129]
The front right axle is a mirror image of the front left axle 278. The rear
right axle is a
mirror image of the rear left axle 280. Therefore, a description of the front
left axle 278, and the rear
left axle 280, corresponds to a description of the front right axle and the
rear right axle, respectively.
Therefore, further description of the front right axle and the rear right axle
is omitted.
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[00130] The vehicle frame 268 supports a motor 284. The motor 284 is connected
to the rear left
axle 280 via a transmission (not shown) to rotate the rear left axle 280 about
a rear axle drive axis
286 to propel the vehicle 266.
[00131] The vehicle frame 268 pivotably supports a handlebar 288. The
handlebar 288 is
connected to the front axles 278 to pivot the front axles 278 to steer the ATV
266. Pivoting of the
handlebar 288 pivots the front track assemblies 290 of the ATV and steers the
ATV 266 when the
ATV 266 is in motion.
[00132] The track assembly 90 is connected / attached to the rear left axle
280 by the drive wheel
164 being bolted to a wheel hub of the ATV 266, located at an outer end of the
rear left axle 280 of
the ATV 266, co-axial with an axis of rotation of the wheel hub of the rear
left axle 280. The rear
left axle 280 drives the wheel hub, and the wheel hub drives the drive wheel
164.
[00133] A rear right track assembly, which is a mirror image of the track
assembly 90, is
similarly connected to the rear right axle of the ATV. The rear right track
assembly is a mirror
image of the track assembly 90. Therefore, a description of the track assembly
90 corresponds to a
description of the rear right track assembly 90. Therefore, further
description of the rear right track
assembly is omitted.
[00134] The front track assemblies 290 are connected to the front axles 278
and have tracks that
are the same as the track shown in Figure 6 mounted thereon. In this
embodiment, the track 144 of
the rear left track assembly 90 is of the embodiment shown in Figure 5. In
this implementation, the
front track assemblies 290 have are structured to have an effective frame
height 291 that is equal to
the effective frame height 93 of the rear track assemblies. In some
implementations, the front track
assemblies 290 are structured such that their effective frame height 291 is
within 1 inch (25.4
millimeters) of the effective frame height 93 of the rear track assemblies.
Ground Clearance Ratio
[00135] The ATV has a ground clearance 292, which is measured as an average
distance of the
bottom 300 of the ATV from terrain 302 when the ATV is on terrain 302 and is
at its gross vehicle
weight. The ground clearance 292 is sized to be about 18 inches (457.2
millimeters). In the present
implementation, a ratio between the effective frame length 218 of the track
assembly 90 and the
ground clearance 292 is 2.67.
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[00136] In some embodiments, the combination of the ground clearance 292 and
the effective
frame length 218 of the track assembly is sized to provide a ratio between the
effective frame length
218 of the track assembly 90 and the ground clearance 292 that is between 2.6
and 3.5.
Dynamic Traction Device
[00137] The track assembly 90 includes the dynamic traction device 294
connected at one end
296 to the frame 92 of the track assembly 90, and to the frame 268 of the ATV
266 at another end
298. The dynamic traction device 294, and its functions, are shown and
described in the commonly
owned U.S. Patent Application No. 15/485,699, filed on April 12, 2017 and
entitled "Track System
.. for Attachment to a Vehicle", which application is hereby incorporated
herein in its entirety.
[00138] It is contemplated that a suitable anti-rotation link could be
used instead of the dynamic
traction device 294. Such an anti-rotation link could be connected between the
vehicle frame 268
and the track assembly 90 and could be configured to limit rotation of the
track assembly 90 relative
to the ATV 266 so that the track assembly 90 does not come into contact with
the vehicle frame 268
when the ATV 266 is in use. It is contemplated that in some cases, the track
assembly 90 could be
used without a dynamic traction device 294 and without an anti-rotation link.
Manufacturing and Materials
[00139] It is contemplated that new vehicles, such as the ATV 266, could be
manufactured with
one or more of the track assembly 90. It is contemplated an existing vehicle
could be retrofitted by
replacing, for example, one or more wheels of the existing vehicle with the
track assembly 90.
[00140] Thus, the track assembly 90 could be sized and dimensioned to be
attached to the rear
axle of a vehicle when, for example, a rear wheel of that vehicle, is removed.
It is contemplated that
the track assembly 90 could be sized and dimensioned to be attached to more
than one type of
vehicle, and to more than one type of axle of the vehicle.
[00141] It is contemplated that the track assembly 90 could be sized and
dimensioned to be
attached to a front axle of a vehicle when, for example, a front wheel, is
removed. It is contemplated
that the track assembly 90 could be sized and dimensioned to replace a range
of vehicle wheel sizes.
[00142] In the implementation of the track 144 shown in Figures 5, 9 and
10, besides the rods
304, 306, the track 144 is made of rubber, and also includes longitudinal
fiberglass cord and tissue.
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It is contemplated that the track assembly 90 and the track 144 could be made
of any suitable
combination of materials. It is contemplated that the track 144 could be
manufactured, assembled
and sold separate from the track assembly 90. It is also contemplated that the
track 144 could be
made for other track assemblies. It is contemplated that the track assembly 90
could be
manufactured, assembled, or sold without a track 144. It is contemplated that
the track assembly 90
could be manufactured, assembled, or sold without a track 144 being mounted on
the track
assembly 90.
[00143] Embodiments of the present technology each have at least one of the
above-mentioned
object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be
understood that some
.. aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to
attain an above-mentioned
object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not
specifically recited herein.
[00144] Modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments of
the present
technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing
description is intended to
be exemplary rather than limiting.
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