FR2495562A1 - TRACK FOR TRACKED VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY FOR ARMORED TANKS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION ALLOWS THE SUPPORT RINGS OF THE TRACKS ON WHICH THEY RESIST AND WHICH ARE ARRANGED BETWEEN THE DRIVE CROWNS. TO DO THIS, THE TRACK TAKES SUPPORT ON THESE CROWNS 24 BY ITS LINKS 2 WITHOUT TEETH INPUTS, ONE LINK 1 ON TWO IS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH INPUTS. AT THE PLACES WHERE THE LINKS 2 WITHOUT THE TOOTH INPUTS TOUCH THE DRIVE CROWN 24 BETWEEN THE TEETH OF THE latter, THESE LINKS INCLUDE A SHOCK-ABSORBING TRIM 20, PREFERREDLY RECESSED.

Description

- 1 - The present invention relates to a track for vehicles)

  tracks, in particular for armored tanks, composed of links which interpenetrate - in the manner of hinges with protruding parts and re-entrant parts connected together by pins, this caterpillar comprising teeth

  guidance on its longitudinal axis and, on both sides

  be of it, tooth entries for its entry; -

drive crowns.

  This type of caterpillar, called a hinged caterpillar, has, in relation to the caterpillars, the links of which do not connect directly to each other.

  but through intermediaries, rather

  several advantages including a lower weight,

  reduced maintenance and less costly manufacturing.

  Usually, in known tracks, there are generally, between the drive crowns associated two by two, support rings on which the chain rests, while the crowns

  only have the role of ensuring the growth

  if we. The reason why such rings are provided is that the transmission of force to the tooth inlets and the movement of the teeth which takes place in these inlets during this transmission causes very rapid and very heavy wear of the driving crowns.

  i back of teeth. That is why it is not possible to

  ble that the caterpillar is supported in this place: so that the caterpillar does not take up slack, it should somehow be tightened from time to time, this

that it is not possible to do.

  The problem to which the invention has provided a solution

  tion then consisted in ensuring that the caterpillar

  of the kind defined in the preamble builds on the

driving forces.

  , a compliant solution. the invention consists in that only one link in two has entries of the tooth, while each of the other links is supported on the drive rings between the teeth

of these.

  The links without tooth inlets are not in contact with the teeth but each of these links rests between the teeth, where o no motor force is transmitted, or where these links do not take place on the contour of the teeth and therefore li o it practically does not occur

  of wear. This is why the caterpillar can be easily

  outfit s. this place, between the teeth, all the more since this is made easier according to the invention by the fact that the absence of a tooth in every second link results in a greater spacing of the teeth on the driving crown. The interval between these teeth does not become double, because on the other hand in the arrangement according to the invention the pitch of the links of the track can and must be reduced. But at

  crown diameter equal the number of teeth of it

  for example, it goes from Il to 9, which makes it possible to create the desired support between the teeth for the links without tooth inlets. This support can be either curvilinear, generally concentric with the toothed crown, or flat or adapted to any other shape of the surface of the links; it no longer uses the support rings previously used and

  thus represents an improvement and a simplification-

considerable.

  Thanks to the reduction in track pitch,

  that is to say the extent of each of its links in the longitudinal direction of the track, the latter

  much more closely hugs the edges of the

  driving nuns, which standardizes the passage of the

caterpillar on these crowns.

  Preferably, the links without tooth inlets are provided, at the places where they touch the drive crowns, with linings damping the

  shocks, preferably recessed. The materials used

  -3 - properties for this use, since the

  rubber up to the materials used to make

  kill the brake pads. If the chosen material is rubber, it could be vulcanized on the links at the same time as pads or se-

  rolling bearings. The driving crowns for-

  may also be fitted with such fittings

shock absorption.

  According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, it is recommended that the tooth inlets are each provided between two

  protruding parts of the mail located in the extension

  lengthwise from each other in the longitudinal direction

  of the caterpillar. This provision, which also deviates

  ment of hinged tracks known in the sense that the links are now of two different kinds, different with regard to their overall shape, does not however constitute a complication within the framework of the invention, since the latter provides for anyway two different links, one with inputs of

tooth, the other without.

  Having the tooth inlets between two projecting parts makes it possible to reduce the pitch of the caterpillar quite considerably, and therefore

  Therefore, improve the guidance of the track

drive crown tower.

  Finally, the invention also allows a particularly advantageous arrangement, thanks to the fact that the

  mailbns of the hinged track which, before the invention

  tion, were always identical, are now subdivided into links with tooth entries and

  links without dnt entries. Indeed, there are many

  enough space on them, so on

  one link in two, to have in each of the

  lateral links of these meshes. a thick, large surface grooving sole, and the two soles of these links without tooth inlets alternate

  with also thick soles and great over-

  - 4 - face each provided centrally under the links provided with tooth inlets, the arrangement of all these soles being such that, viewed in the direction

  longitudinal of the track, they can overlap

  to mow down. This arrangement of the soles provides the caterpillar with improved and simplified support, in particular uniform, more regular, even on the ground and after long use; the same applies to

  the support of the rollers on the track.

  The combination of this arrangement and the support, according to the invention, of the track on the crowns

  drive, gives the vehicle regular rolling through

  particularly free of jerks and vibrations.

  An example of execution of a track according to the

  vention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing; on the latter - FIG. 1 is a plan view of a section of track made up of four links,

  - Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevation

  the link which, in fig.1, is at the very bottom, - Figure 3 is a left side view, on a larger scale, of the two links which, in fig.1 are located at the top, - Figure E4 shows, in section along the line IV-IV traced in fig.1, - - larger scale than on the latter, the same two links as the

fig. 3, -

  - Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig.4, but along the line VV drawn in Fig.1, and - Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a driving ring with, around it, a section

  track longer than that according to fig. 1, but -

without running soles.

  The track links 1 alternate with the

  links 2 with which they interpenetrate

  hinged like hinges with pins 3.

  - 5 - The two types of link, 1 and 2, each have

  a symmetrical shape both with respect to the longitu-

  of the track only with respect to its own longitudinal axis, perpendicular to that of the track, of each of the maiflons. The links 1 comprise, along each of their large ribs, four projecting parts including two central 4 and two lateral 5 delimiting five re-entrant parts 6,7 and 8. These projecting parts 4 and 5 are crossed by coaxial cylindrical cavities 9. Between two lateral projecting parts located on the same side of the link in the extension of one another and whose width is a little greater than that of the central projecting parts' 4 is provided a tooth entry 10. As the clearly shows fii.5, the material surrounding the cylindrical cavity has an extra thickness in part II intended to come into contact with the teeth of the driving crowns. Below links 1, practically the entire range included

  between the external angles of the four sail-

  the central lantes 4 is occupied by a running sole 12; the re-entrant parts 6 between these projecting parts are delimited downwards by a support web 13 which is located above the sole 12. my links 2 have, along each of their long sides, five projecting parts, of which

  a central 14, two intermediaries 15 and two lateral-

  rails 16. Like the projecting parts 4 and 5 of the links 1, these projecting parts 14, 15 and 16 are

  crossed by coaxial cylindrical cavities 9.

  In the middle of each of the links 2 rises a guide tooth 19. Between the two re-entrant parts 18 comprised between four projecting parts 15 and 16 is disposed a trim plate 20 which absorbs the -6 shocks. As can be seen in fig.5, this lining is recessed so that its upper face is flush with the upper surface of the link 2. Below the latter are arranged two rolling soles 21, each of them occupying substantially all the range between the four external angles of the four projecting parts 15 and 16 and bearing, under the re-entrant parts 18 included between these projecting parts, against

  a support core 22. The trim plates 20 pour-

  should, like the running shoes 21, be vulcanized rubber at the link at the same time as these shoes; for this purpose, the support core 22 could have a recess connecting the lining

20 to sole 21.

  The links 1 and 2 interpenetrate by their projecting and re-entrant parts as shown in. fig. 1. The pins 3 pass through the cylindrical cavities 9 alternately with a link 1 and a link 2. In each of the cavities 9 the pin 3 is received in a bearing 23 for example made of manganese steel or of a material? 1 low coefficient

friction.

  The driving crown 2> i shown in fig.

  has, between all of its teeth 25 which are relatively distant from one another, arcuate sections

  26 centered on the axis of the crown.

  The teeth 25 of this crown penetrate into the tooth inlets 10 of the links 1 and thus drive the track. The links 2 then rest by their fittings 20 on these sections in an arc of a circle 26

  of the driving crown 24 and thus give -i ln che-

nille a precise seat.

-7 -

Claims (3)

  1. Track for tracked vehicles, in particular   for armored tanks, composed of links which   penetrate in the manner of hinges with projecting parts and re-entrant parts connected together by pins, this track having guide teeth on its longitudinal axis and, on either side thereof, tooth inlets for its drive by drive crowns, this track being remarkable in that only one link (1) in two has tooth inlets (10), while each of the other links (2) is supported (20; 26) on the crowns drive (24) between teeth (25) thereof.   2. Track according to claim 1, remarks-   quable in that the links (2) without tooth inlets are provided, at the places where they touch the   driving crowns (24), of linings (20) damped   health impact, preferably recessed.   3. Track according to claim 1 or 2, remarkable in that the tooth inlets (10) are each provided between two projecting parts (5) of the link (1) located in the extension one   of the master in the longitudinal direction of the che- nille.   +. Caterpillar according to any one of the claims   cations 1 to 3, remarkable in that a central bearing sole (12) is arranged on the links (1) having tooth inlets (10), while on each of the other links (2) two bearing soles ( 21) lateral are arranged on each side,   preferably overlapping, in the longi-   tudinal of the caterpillar, the running sole cen- trale (12).