CA2490127C - Endless track with various hardnesses for a recreational vehicle - Google Patents
Endless track with various hardnesses for a recreational vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2490127C CA2490127C CA2490127A CA2490127A CA2490127C CA 2490127 C CA2490127 C CA 2490127C CA 2490127 A CA2490127 A CA 2490127A CA 2490127 A CA2490127 A CA 2490127A CA 2490127 C CA2490127 C CA 2490127C
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- Prior art keywords
- rubber
- endless track
- traction
- traction projections
- hardness
- Prior art date
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Links
- 235000019589 hardness Nutrition 0.000 title description 25
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 111
- 230000001141 propulsive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920001875 Ebonite Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
- B62D55/08—Endless track units; Parts thereof
- B62D55/18—Tracks
- B62D55/24—Tracks of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts
- B62D55/244—Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
- B62D55/08—Endless track units; Parts thereof
- B62D55/18—Tracks
- B62D55/26—Ground engaging parts or elements
Abstract
An endless track for a recreational vehicle, such as a snowmobile on all- terrain vehicle, is formed of an endless body made of rubber material having a ground engaging side and an inner side, the outer side displaying a series of longitudinally spaced profiles extending along the track; the track is characterized in that the rubber material of one profile has a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the rubber material of one or more of the succeeding profiles.
Description
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Endless track with various hardnesses for a recreational vehicle FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endless track for recreational vehicles such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle in which the rubber material varies in hardness from one profile to the other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A track which is used on recreational vehicles designed to travel on snow, such as a snowmobile, or grounds, such as an all-terrain vehicle, consists basically of an endless body of molded rubber material that is flexible so that it may follow curvatures as it passes around drive and idler sprocket wheels forming part of the track driving system.
Endless tracks which are found more particularly on snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicle are made of rubber material which is reinforced with longitudinally spaced and transversally disposed rods embedded in the rubber material. The inner side of the track is usually flat with serially spaced lugs which are adapted to engage the driving wheels. The outer side of the track displays a series of longitudinally spaced transverse profiles for engaging the snow or ground over which the snowmobile travels. These profiles thus provide traction to the vehicle on snow, mud, ice or any similar surfaces.
Some tracks exist in which the rubber material in the lateral portion of the outer side profiles has a lower hardness value than that of the rubber material in the central portion of the outer side profiles to allow the track to bend more easily during a sharp turn while still being rigid enough at the center for maintaining a good traction during use. Such a track may be found described in Canadian patent application No. 2,319,934 filed September 18, 2000 and published March 18, 2002.
However, while these known tracks facilitate the steering capability of these types of vehicles, it does not improve traction of the profile when travelling in surfaces which, in some cases, are hard (packed snow or ice) and, in other cases, soft (deep snow).
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a track with profiles of different hardnesses of rubber material to increase its traction on different types of ground conditions.
This is achieved by providing an endless track for snowmobile wherein the rubber hardness of one profile is different from that of one or more of its succeeding profiles.
This construction enables the track to maintain good traction in various snow conditions as the profile having a soft rubber material will flatten soft snow allowing the succeeding profile to have good traction on the snow flattened by the preceding profile. On an icy surface, greater adherence of the vehicle track is achieved by the profiles having a soft rubber material.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for a recreational vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless body made of rubber material having a ground engaging side and an inner side.
The endless track also comprises a series of longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles on the ground engaging side, the longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles extending in a lateral direction of the track. The rubber material of all profiles of one row has a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the rubber material of all profiles in one or more succeeding rows.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for providing traction to a vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track also comprises a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track. Respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material. The hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections that is closest to the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections in a widthwise direction of the endless track.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for providing traction to a vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track also comprises a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track. Respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material to increase traction of the endless track on a relatively soft ground surface and on a relatively hard ground surface. The hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections. The hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections is lower than the hardness of rubber material of a third one of the rubber traction projections. The second one of the rubber traction projections is located between the first one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for providing traction to a vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track also comprises a plurality of traction profile areas located on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track. Each of the traction profile areas extends across a width of the endless track from a first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the endless track and contains outwardly-projecting rubber material forming at least one rubber traction projection. An average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a first one of the traction profile areas is greater than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a second one of the traction profile areas and the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas is lower than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a third one of the traction profile areas. The second one of the traction profile areas is located between the first one of the traction profile areas and the third one of the traction profile areas in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
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.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a segment of an endless track made in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to figures 1 and 2, there is shown a segment 10 of an endless track used for example for driving a recreational vehicle, such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle.
The track 10 consists of a body made of rubber material having outer surface and an inner surface 14. The outer surface 12 displays a series of longitudinally spaced embossed areas (four being shown as 16, 18, 20 and 22) in which are embedded a transverse rod 24 usually made of plastic material.
In these embossed areas, there are provided profiles such as 26, 28, 30 and 32 which may extend along the entire width of the track or, as illustrated in the drawings, may be transversally spaced from adjacent profiles 34, 36, 38 and 40, respectively.
As illustrated in figure 2, the present invention is concerned with providing different type of hardnesses in the rubber material of the profiles. In the embodiment illustrated, profiles 26 and 34 have a hardness value similar to that of profiles 32 and 40 but greater than the two intermediate profiles 28, 36 and 30, 38.
The rubber material of the profiles 28, 36 and 30, 38 preferably has an average hardness of between about 55 and about 75 duro A while the rubber material of the profiles 26, 34 and 32,40 may have an average hardness of about 75 and about 90 duro A. The hardness of the rubber material of the profiles 28, 36 and 30,38 is the same as that of the rubber material of the main body of the endless track.
Although the invention has been described above in relation to one specific embodiment, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that it may be varied in different ways. For example, the alternance of soft and rubber profiles may vary, especially in view of the profile configurations, such as one row of hard rubber profiles followed by two, three, four or five rows of soft rubber profiles. It is therefore wished to have it understood that the present invention should not be limited in interpretation, except by the terms of the following claims.
Endless track with various hardnesses for a recreational vehicle FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endless track for recreational vehicles such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle in which the rubber material varies in hardness from one profile to the other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A track which is used on recreational vehicles designed to travel on snow, such as a snowmobile, or grounds, such as an all-terrain vehicle, consists basically of an endless body of molded rubber material that is flexible so that it may follow curvatures as it passes around drive and idler sprocket wheels forming part of the track driving system.
Endless tracks which are found more particularly on snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicle are made of rubber material which is reinforced with longitudinally spaced and transversally disposed rods embedded in the rubber material. The inner side of the track is usually flat with serially spaced lugs which are adapted to engage the driving wheels. The outer side of the track displays a series of longitudinally spaced transverse profiles for engaging the snow or ground over which the snowmobile travels. These profiles thus provide traction to the vehicle on snow, mud, ice or any similar surfaces.
Some tracks exist in which the rubber material in the lateral portion of the outer side profiles has a lower hardness value than that of the rubber material in the central portion of the outer side profiles to allow the track to bend more easily during a sharp turn while still being rigid enough at the center for maintaining a good traction during use. Such a track may be found described in Canadian patent application No. 2,319,934 filed September 18, 2000 and published March 18, 2002.
However, while these known tracks facilitate the steering capability of these types of vehicles, it does not improve traction of the profile when travelling in surfaces which, in some cases, are hard (packed snow or ice) and, in other cases, soft (deep snow).
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a track with profiles of different hardnesses of rubber material to increase its traction on different types of ground conditions.
This is achieved by providing an endless track for snowmobile wherein the rubber hardness of one profile is different from that of one or more of its succeeding profiles.
This construction enables the track to maintain good traction in various snow conditions as the profile having a soft rubber material will flatten soft snow allowing the succeeding profile to have good traction on the snow flattened by the preceding profile. On an icy surface, greater adherence of the vehicle track is achieved by the profiles having a soft rubber material.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for a recreational vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless body made of rubber material having a ground engaging side and an inner side.
The endless track also comprises a series of longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles on the ground engaging side, the longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles extending in a lateral direction of the track. The rubber material of all profiles of one row has a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the rubber material of all profiles in one or more succeeding rows.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for providing traction to a vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track also comprises a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track. Respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material. The hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections that is closest to the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections in a widthwise direction of the endless track.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for providing traction to a vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track also comprises a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track. Respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material to increase traction of the endless track on a relatively soft ground surface and on a relatively hard ground surface. The hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections. The hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections is lower than the hardness of rubber material of a third one of the rubber traction projections. The second one of the rubber traction projections is located between the first one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track for providing traction to a vehicle. The endless track comprises an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track also comprises a plurality of traction profile areas located on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track. Each of the traction profile areas extends across a width of the endless track from a first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the endless track and contains outwardly-projecting rubber material forming at least one rubber traction projection. An average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a first one of the traction profile areas is greater than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a second one of the traction profile areas and the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas is lower than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a third one of the traction profile areas. The second one of the traction profile areas is located between the first one of the traction profile areas and the third one of the traction profile areas in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
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.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a segment of an endless track made in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to figures 1 and 2, there is shown a segment 10 of an endless track used for example for driving a recreational vehicle, such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle.
The track 10 consists of a body made of rubber material having outer surface and an inner surface 14. The outer surface 12 displays a series of longitudinally spaced embossed areas (four being shown as 16, 18, 20 and 22) in which are embedded a transverse rod 24 usually made of plastic material.
In these embossed areas, there are provided profiles such as 26, 28, 30 and 32 which may extend along the entire width of the track or, as illustrated in the drawings, may be transversally spaced from adjacent profiles 34, 36, 38 and 40, respectively.
As illustrated in figure 2, the present invention is concerned with providing different type of hardnesses in the rubber material of the profiles. In the embodiment illustrated, profiles 26 and 34 have a hardness value similar to that of profiles 32 and 40 but greater than the two intermediate profiles 28, 36 and 30, 38.
The rubber material of the profiles 28, 36 and 30, 38 preferably has an average hardness of between about 55 and about 75 duro A while the rubber material of the profiles 26, 34 and 32,40 may have an average hardness of about 75 and about 90 duro A. The hardness of the rubber material of the profiles 28, 36 and 30,38 is the same as that of the rubber material of the main body of the endless track.
Although the invention has been described above in relation to one specific embodiment, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that it may be varied in different ways. For example, the alternance of soft and rubber profiles may vary, especially in view of the profile configurations, such as one row of hard rubber profiles followed by two, three, four or five rows of soft rubber profiles. It is therefore wished to have it understood that the present invention should not be limited in interpretation, except by the terms of the following claims.
Claims (72)
1. An endless track for a recreational vehicle comprising:
- an endless body made of rubber material having a ground engaging side and an inner side; and - a series of longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles on said ground engaging side, said longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles extending in a lateral direction of the track, wherein the rubber material of all profiles of one row has a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the rubber material of all profiles in one or more succeeding rows.
- an endless body made of rubber material having a ground engaging side and an inner side; and - a series of longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles on said ground engaging side, said longitudinally spaced rows of propulsive profiles extending in a lateral direction of the track, wherein the rubber material of all profiles of one row has a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the rubber material of all profiles in one or more succeeding rows.
2. The endless track of claim 1, characterized in that the rubber material having greater hardness has a value of between 75 and 90 duro A.
3. The endless track of claim 2, wherein the rubber material of the succeeding profile has a hardness value of between 55 and 75 duro A.
4. An endless track for providing traction to a vehicle, the endless track comprising:
i. an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground; and ii. a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, wherein respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material, the hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections being greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections that is closest to the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections in a widthwise direction of the endless track.
i. an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground; and ii. a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, wherein respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material, the hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections being greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections that is closest to the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections in a widthwise direction of the endless track.
5. The endless track of claim 4, wherein the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections is aligned with the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections in the widthwise direction of the endless track.
6. The endless track of any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the first one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections.
7. The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections is lower than the hardness of rubber material of a third one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections that is closest to the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections in the widthwise direction of the endless track, the second one of the rubber traction projections being located between the first one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
8. The endless track of claim 7, wherein the ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections is aligned with the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections in the widthwise direction of the endless track.
9. The endless track of any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections is lower than the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections.
10.The endless track of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a fourth one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the fourth one of the rubber traction projections that is closest to the ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections in the widthwise direction of the endless track, the fourth one of the rubber traction projections being located between the second one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
11.The endless track of claim 10, wherein the ground-engaging point of the fourth one of the rubber traction projections is aligned with the ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections in the widthwise direction of the endless track.
12.The endless track of any one of claims 10 and 11, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of the fourth one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the fourth one of the rubber traction projections.
13.The endless track of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a fifth one of the rubber traction projections at a ground-engaging point of the fifth one of the rubber traction projections that is closest to the ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections in the widthwise direction of the endless track, the fifth one of the rubber traction projections being located between the third one of the rubber traction projections and the fourth one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
14.The endless track of claim 13, wherein the ground-engaging point of the fifth one of the rubber traction projections is aligned with the ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections in the widthwise direction of the endless track.
15. The endless track of any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the third one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of the fifth one of the rubber traction projections at any ground-engaging point of the fifth one of the rubber traction projections.
16.The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 15, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections corresponds to a hardness of rubber material of the endless rubber body.
17.The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 16, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the first one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections is between duro A and 90 duro A.
18. The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 17, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections is between 55 duro A and 75 duro A.
19.The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 18, wherein a ratio of (i) the hardness of rubber material of the first one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections over (ii) the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections at the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections is greater than 1 and less than 1.7.
20.The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 19, wherein a height of each of the rubber traction projections is greater than a thickness of the endless rubber body.
21. The endless track of claim 20, wherein the height of each of the rubber traction projections is at least twice the thickness of the endless rubber body.
22. The endless track of claim 20, wherein the height of each of the rubber traction projections is at least three times the thickness of the endless rubber body.
23. The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 22, comprising a plurality of rubber wheel-contacting projections projecting inwardly on the inner side and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track to contact the wheels of the vehicle.
24.The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 23, comprising a plurality of transversal rods embedded in the endless rubber body, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track, and extending transversally to the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
25. The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 24, wherein the endless rubber body includes a first series of openings which extend from the inner side to the ground-engaging outer side and a second series of openings which extend from the inner side to the ground-engaging outer side, the first series of openings and the second series of openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless track and being spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the endless track.
26. The endless track of claim 25, wherein the endless track has a central region between the first series of openings and the second series of openings, the ground-engaging point of the first one of the rubber traction projections and the ground-engaging point of the second one of the rubber traction projections being located in the central region of the endless track.
27.The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 26, wherein the second one of the rubber traction projections is disposed to flatten a ground area subsequently engaged by the first one of the rubber traction projections.
28. The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 27, wherein the second one of the rubber traction projections has greater adherence on a ground surface than the first one of the rubber traction projections.
29.The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 28, wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile.
30. The endless track of any one of claims 4 to 28, wherein the vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
31.An endless track for providing traction to a vehicle, the endless track comprising:
i. an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground; and ii. a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, wherein respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material to increase traction of the endless track on a relatively soft ground surface and on a relatively hard ground surface, the hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections being greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections, the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections being lower than the hardness of rubber material of a third one of the rubber traction projections, the second one of the rubber traction projections being located between the first one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
i. an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground; and ii. a plurality of rubber traction projections projecting outwardly on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, wherein respective ones of the rubber traction projections differ in hardness of rubber material to increase traction of the endless track on a relatively soft ground surface and on a relatively hard ground surface, the hardness of rubber material of a first one of the rubber traction projections being greater than the hardness of rubber material of a second one of the rubber traction projections, the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections being lower than the hardness of rubber material of a third one of the rubber traction projections, the second one of the rubber traction projections being located between the first one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
32.The endless track of claim 31, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a fourth one of the rubber traction projections, the fourth one of the rubber traction projections being located between the second one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
33.The endless track of claim 32, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections is greater than the hardness of rubber material of a fifth one of the rubber traction projections, the fifth one of the rubber traction projections being located between the third one of the rubber traction projections and the fourth one of the rubber traction projections in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
34.The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the first one of the rubber traction projections corresponds to the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections.
35. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 34, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections corresponds to a hardness of rubber material of the endless rubber body.
36. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the first one of the rubber traction projections is between duro A and 90 duro A.
37.The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 36, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections is between 55 duro A and 75 duro A.
38.The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 37, wherein the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections is between 75 duro A and 90 duro A.
39.The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 38, wherein a ratio of (i) the hardness of rubber material of the first one of the rubber traction projections over (ii) the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections is greater than 1 and less than 1.7.
40. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 39, wherein a height of each of the rubber traction projections is greater than a thickness of the endless rubber body.
41.The endless track of claim 40, wherein the height of each of the rubber traction projections is at least twice the thickness of the endless rubber body.
42. The endless track of claim 41, wherein the height of each of the rubber traction projections is at least three times the thickness of the endless rubber body.
43.The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 42, comprising a plurality of rubber wheel-contacting projections projecting inwardly on the inner side and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track to contact the wheels of the vehicle.
44. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 43, comprising a plurality of transversal rods embedded in the endless rubber body, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track, and extending transversally to the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
45. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 44, wherein the endless rubber body includes a first series of openings which extend from the inner side to the ground-engaging outer side and a second series of openings which extend from the inner side to the ground-engaging outer side, the first series of openings and the second series of openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless track and being spaced apart in a widthwise direction of the endless track.
46.The endless track of claim 45, wherein the endless track has a central region between the first series of openings and the second series of openings, the hardness of rubber material of the first one of the rubber traction projections being greater than the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections at ground-engaging points of the first one of the rubber traction projections and the second one of the rubber traction projections which are located in the central region of the endless track, the hardness of rubber material of the second one of the rubber traction projections being lower than the hardness of rubber material of the third one of the rubber traction projections at ground-engaging points of the second one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections which are located in the central region of the endless track.
47.The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 46, wherein the second one of the rubber traction projections is disposed to flatten an area of the relative soft ground surface subsequently engaged by the third one of the rubber traction projections.
48. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 47, wherein the second one of the rubber traction projections has greater adherence on the relatively hard ground surface than the first one of the rubber traction projections and the third one of the rubber traction projections.
49. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 48, wherein the relatively soft ground surface is a soft snow surface and the relatively hard ground surface is a packed snow surface or icy surface.
50.The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 49, wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile.
51. The endless track of any one of claims 31 to 49, wherein the vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
52.An endless track for providing traction to a vehicle, the endless track comprising:
i. an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground; and ii. a plurality of traction profile areas located on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, each of the traction profile areas extending across a width of the endless track from a first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the endless track and containing outwardly-projecting rubber material forming at least one rubber traction projection, wherein an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a first one of the traction profile areas is greater than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a second one of the traction profile areas and the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas is lower than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a third one of the traction profile areas, the second one of the traction profile areas being located between the first one of the traction profile areas and the third one of the traction profile areas in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
i. an endless rubber body having an inner side for facing a plurality of wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground; and ii. a plurality of traction profile areas located on the ground-engaging outer side and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, each of the traction profile areas extending across a width of the endless track from a first lateral edge of the endless track to a second lateral edge of the endless track and containing outwardly-projecting rubber material forming at least one rubber traction projection, wherein an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a first one of the traction profile areas is greater than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a second one of the traction profile areas and the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas is lower than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a third one of the traction profile areas, the second one of the traction profile areas being located between the first one of the traction profile areas and the third one of the traction profile areas in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
53.The endless track of claim 52, wherein the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the third one of the traction profile areas is greater than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a fourth one of the traction profile areas, the fourth one of the traction profile areas being located between the second one of the traction profile areas and the third one of the traction profile areas in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
54. The endless track of claim 53, wherein the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the third one of the traction profile areas is greater than an average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in a fifth one of the traction profile areas, the fifth one of the traction profile areas being located between the third one of the traction profile areas and the fourth one of the traction profile areas in the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
55.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 54, wherein the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the first one of the traction profile areas corresponds to the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the third one of the traction profile areas.
56.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 55, wherein the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas corresponds to a hardness of rubber material of the endless rubber body.
57. The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 56, wherein the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the first one of the traction profile areas is between 75 duro A and 90 duro A.
58.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 57, wherein the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas is between 55 duro A and 75 duro A.
59. The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 58, wherein the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the third one of the traction profile areas is between 75 duro A and 90 duro A.
60. The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 59, wherein a ratio of (i) the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the first one of the traction profile areas over (ii) the average hardness of all the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas is greater than 1 and less than 1.7.
61.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 60, wherein a height of each of the rubber traction projections is greater than a thickness of the endless rubber body.
62. The endless track of claim 61, wherein the height of each of the rubber traction projections is at least twice the thickness of the endless rubber body.
63.The endless track of claim 62, wherein the height of each of the rubber traction projections is at least three times the thickness of the endless rubber body.
64. The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 63, comprising a plurality of rubber wheel-contacting projections projecting inwardly on the inner side and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track to contact the wheels of the vehicle.
65.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 64, comprising a plurality of transversal rods embedded in the endless rubber body, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the endless track, and extending transversally to the longitudinal direction of the endless track.
66. The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 65, wherein the endless rubber body includes a first series of openings which extend from the inner side to the ground-engaging outer side and a second series of openings which extend from the inner side to the ground-engaging outer side, the first series of openings and the second series of openings extending in the longitudinal direction of the endless track and being spaced apart in a widthwise direction of the endless track.
67. The endless track of claim 66, wherein the endless track has a central region between the first series of openings and the second series of openings, at least part of the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the first one of the traction profile areas being located in the central region of the endless track, at least part of the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas being located in the central region of the endless track, at least part of the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the third one of the traction profile areas being located in the central region of the endless track.
68.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 67, wherein the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas is disposed to flatten a ground area subsequently engaged by the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the third one of the traction profile areas.
69. The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 68, wherein the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the second one of the traction profile areas has greater adherence than the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the first one of the traction profile areas and the outwardly-projecting rubber material in the third one of the traction profile areas.
70. The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 69, wherein each of at least two of the traction profile areas has no rubber traction projection extending to the first lateral edge of the endless track.
71.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 70, wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile.
72.The endless track of any one of claims 52 to 70, wherein the vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2490127A CA2490127C (en) | 2004-02-02 | 2004-12-13 | Endless track with various hardnesses for a recreational vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002456622A CA2456622A1 (en) | 2004-02-02 | 2004-02-02 | Track with various hardnesses |
| CA2,456,622 | 2004-02-02 | ||
| CA2490127A CA2490127C (en) | 2004-02-02 | 2004-12-13 | Endless track with various hardnesses for a recreational vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2490127A1 CA2490127A1 (en) | 2005-08-02 |
| CA2490127C true CA2490127C (en) | 2012-03-06 |
Family
ID=34888081
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2490127A Active CA2490127C (en) | 2004-02-02 | 2004-12-13 | Endless track with various hardnesses for a recreational vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2490127C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10501131B2 (en) | 2016-01-04 | 2019-12-10 | Soucy International Inc. | Track for a vehicle |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20110074210A1 (en) * | 2006-09-22 | 2011-03-31 | Michel Paradis | Noiseless Elastomeric Tracks For Tracked Vehicles |
-
2004
- 2004-12-13 CA CA2490127A patent/CA2490127C/en active Active
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10501131B2 (en) | 2016-01-04 | 2019-12-10 | Soucy International Inc. | Track for a vehicle |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2490127A1 (en) | 2005-08-02 |
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