US1947474A

US1947474A - Flexible band track

Info

Publication number: US1947474A
Application number: US662259A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry A Knox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-03-23
Filing date: 1933-03-23
Publication date: 1934-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1951-02-20

Description

4Feb. 20, 1934.` H. A. KNOX FLEXIBLE BAND TRACK Filed March 25, y1953 fI-l- IN VEN TOR.

Ew A-Kwx /0 BY W A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

5 This invention relates to a flexible band track for track-laying vehicles.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a exible band track in which endless bands formed of a material such as rubber are 10 strengthened, supported and held in spaced relation by means of transversely extending, rigid members constituting driving lugs and wheel guides.

To these and other ends, the invention conlll sists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specication.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- 1n:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section and taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of a portion of the lower flight of a track constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view taken on the line 3-,-3 of Fig. 2.

The track consists of two endless, laterally spaced

bands

5 and 6 formed of a flexible material such as rubber. The bands are each reinforced by means of a plurality of endless cords or rubberized steel cables 7, disposed laterally of each band on an approximately center line.

The spaced

bands

5 and 6 are rigidly interconnected by means of rigid members A extending transversely across the bands and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the track. The members A are all identical and each one consists of a central semi-circular part 8 constituting a driving lug, a pair of laterally spaced upstanding 4arms 9-9 constituting 'guide lugs, and two sets of laterally extending, vertically spaced arms 10-10. The spaced arms 10 of each set are positioned above and below the row of cables 7 in one of the bands, and are embedded in the band. The arms 10 on each side of the member A are connected by a plate 11 (Fig. 3) which closes the end of the semi-circular part 8.

The bands are resiliently interconnected by transversely extending portions 12 underlying n the rigid members A. These portions are composed of the same material as the bands and are integral therewith. They extend into the semlcylindrical space of the part 8.

The outer tread portion of the track is formed to provide cleats 13 extending transversely of the track and lying substantially in the trace of the rigid members A. As seen in Fig. 2, the additional height or thickness of the bands at this portion compensates for the volumetric displacement of the arms 10.

The arms also serve to transmit the pressure exerted by the weight of the vehicle in a more or less uniform manner through the entire thickness of the bands.

I claim:

1. A track for track-laying vehicles comprising laterally spaced, endless bands formed of a iiexible material such as rubber, spaced rigid members extending transversely of the bands, each member including a central, semi-cyliny drical part disposed between the bands and constituting a driving lug, a pair of laterally spaced arms extending vertically from the central part 4and constituting guide lugs, and pairs of vertically spaced arm's extending laterally from the sides of the central part and embedded in the bands, transversely extending members of the same material as the bands connecting the spaced bands and underlying the rigid members, reinforcing cables embedded in the bands and passing between the vertically spaced arms, and the bands having a greater thickness in the trace of the rigid members to providetransverse cleats.

2. A track for track-laying vehicles comprising laterally spaced, endless bands formed of a flexible material such' as rubber, spaced rigid members extending transversely of the bands, each member including a central, semi-cylindrical part disposed between the bands and constituting a driving lug, and pairs of vertically spaced arms extending laterally from the sides of the central part and embedded in the bands, transversely extending members of the same material as the bands connecting the spaced bands and underlying the rigid members, reinforcing cables embedded in the bands and passing between the vertically spaced arms.

3. A track for track-laying vehicles comprising laterally spaced endless bands formed of a resilient material such' as rubber, spaced rigid members extending transversely of the bands, each member including a central semi-cylindrical part having closed ends and disposed between the bands, arms extending laterally from the closed ends of the central part and embedded in the bands, transversely extending members of the same material as the bands and connecting the spaced bands, each of said members underlying the central part of one of the rigid members and having a portion disposed within the semi-cylindrical part of the rigid member.

4. A track for track-laying vehicles comprising laterally spaced endlessbands formed of a flexible material such as rubber, spaced rigid members extending transversely of the bands, each member including a central part disposed between the bands and constituting a driving lug, a pair of laterally spaced arms extending vertically from the central part and constituting guide lugs, pairs of vertically spaced arms extending laterally from the central part and em-