US20010054845A1 - Elastic crawler - Google Patents
Elastic crawler Download PDFInfo
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- US20010054845A1 US20010054845A1 US09/854,485 US85448501A US2001054845A1 US 20010054845 A1 US20010054845 A1 US 20010054845A1 US 85448501 A US85448501 A US 85448501A US 2001054845 A1 US2001054845 A1 US 2001054845A1
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- Prior art keywords
- crawler
- ground
- contacting
- longitudinal direction
- lugs
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- 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
-
- 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
- B62D55/20—Tracks of articulated type, e.g. chains
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an elastic crawler for endless crawler vehicles for use in the fields of construction, engineering, agriculture and the like.
- An elastic crawler in which a plurality of core metals having right and left wings, respectively, are provided laterally and in parallel with a space in the longitudinal direction of the crawler between the core metals in a crawler body formed of an elastic material into a band shape with no end, and right and left lugs are provided so as to be raised on positions overlapping projected planes of the above right and left wings on a ground-contacting surface side of the above crawler body and allotted to right and left of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler body, is known in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Hei-79549 and publications of Japanese patents No. 2654926 and No. 2609801, for example.
- the above conventional elastic crawler has a basic structure in which lugs having a ground-contacting surface having a length in a circumferential direction covering (extending to) projected planes of two core metal wings adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler on a ground-contacting surface side of the crawler body, are allotted to right and left of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler body.
- the lugs are formed as raised portions allotted to right and left extend to the wings of the core metals adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler so that the rigidity of the crawler body is redoubled, so as to improve endurance of the lugs, thereby improving endurance of the crawler itself.
- An object of the invention is to improve flexing properties at a wrapping section by contriving an arrangement of lugs with respect to core member wings to avoid a cause of a crack at a root of a lug as well as reduce a cause of vibration, so that endurance of an elastic crawler is greatly improved as a whole.
- An elastic crawler comprises a crawler body formed of an elastic material into an endless band shape, a plurality of core members having right and left wings, respectively, provided in the crawler body laterally relative to the crawler and in parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, and right and left lugs provided so as to be raised at positions overlapping projected planes of the right and left wings on a ground-contacting surface of the crawler body on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler.
- one of the right and left lugs has a ground-contacting surface extending to and overlapping projected planes of a plurality of wings on the same side as the lug adjacent each other in a longitudinal direction of the crawler and having a ground-contacting length in a circumference direction, while the other lug has a ground-contacting surface overlapping a projected plane of a wing on the same side as the lug and having another ground-contacting length in the circumference direction.
- the ground-contacting length of the latter lug is formed shorter than that of the former lug so that the right and left ground-contacting surfaces are different in the ground-contacting length, and the right and left lugs having the ground-contacting surfaces different in the ground-contacting length are arranged as a pair on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler to be staggered along the crawler.
- one of the above right and left lugs has a ground-contacting surface extending to and overlapping projected planes of two wings of the same side as the lug adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler and having a ground-contacting length in a circumferential direction, while the other lug has a ground-contacting surface overlapping a projected plane of a wing on the same side as the lug and having another ground-contacting length in the circumference direction.
- the ground-contacting length of the latter lug is formed shorter than that of the former lug so that the right and left ground-contacting surfaces are different in the ground-contacting length, and the right and left lugs having the ground-contacting surfaces different in the ground-contacting length are arranged as a pair on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler to be staggered along the crawler.
- the projected planes of the right and left wings are overlapped entirely or a part of the width of the wings (length in the longitudinal direction of the crawler).
- the ground-contacting length in the circumferential direction of the ground-contacting surface of one of the lugs extends to two adjacent core member wings disposed forwardly and rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the crawler while the ground-contacting length in the circumferential direction of the ground-contacting surface of the other lug overlaps one core member wing, and the ground-contacting surface of the above other lug is shifted forwardly or rearwardly from a corresponding core member wing in order to form a continuous ground-contacting surface in the longitudinal direction of the crawler with the ground-contacting surfaces of the right and left lugs.
- right and left protrusions for preventing come-off of the crawler are formed on the right and left sides in the center part in the widthwise direction of the crawler on a no-ground-contacting surface of each core member, the right and left protrusions being arranged to be offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler so as to be staggered along the crawler, and right and left grooves for flexion laterally extending in the widthwise direction of the crawler between core member wings adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, are formed on the no-ground-contacting surface of the crawler body.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a ground-contacting surface of a crawler body in a basic structure of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of a no-ground-contacting surface of the crawler body in the basic structure of the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A shown in FIG. 2.
- FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the crawler body in the basic structure of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 1 to 4 show a basic structure of an elastic crawler 1 having a crawler body 2 formed of an elastic material (elastomer) such as rubber into an endless band shape, and a plurality of core iembers 3 having right and left wings 3 R and 3 L, respectively, provided laterally relative to the crawler and in parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the crawler.
- an elastic material elastomer
- core iembers 3 having right and left wings 3 R and 3 L, respectively, provided laterally relative to the crawler and in parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the crawler.
- right and left lugs 4 R and 4 L are provided so as to be raised at positions overlapping projected planes of the right and left wings 3 R and 3 L on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler body 2 .
- the core member 3 is preferably formed of metal castings or a sheet metal (pressed), but may be formed of resin such as rigid resin mixed with reinforcing fiber, for example.
- the core member 3 is also provided with right and left protrusions 5 R and 5 L for preventing come-off of the crawler on the right and left sides in the center part in the widthwise direction of the crawler on a no-ground-contacting surface thereof.
- the right andleftprotrusions 5 Rand 5 L arearranged to be offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler so as to be staggered along the crawler, as shown in FIG. 2.
- the core member 3 in the basic structure shown in the drawings is made of metal castings and the top surfaces of the right and left protrusions 5 R and 5 L are formed into a flat plane since when a center-rib wheel passes on the core member 3 , the right and left portions of the rotary shaft of the wheel roll on the top surfaces.
- the right and left protrusions 5 R and 5 L are arranged to be offset from each, as shown in FIG. 2, so as to be substantially continuously provided in the longitudinal direction of the crawler and exclude a cause of vibration of a center-rib rolling wheel.
- the roots of the right and left protrusions 5 R and 5 L are connected to each other through a connecting portion 3 A which engages a claw of a driving wheel (a sprocket claw), not shown.
- the connecting portion 3 A has an inner peripheral surface 3 A- 1 formed into an arcuate shape along a concave portion of the claw as shown in FIG. 4 so as to be smoothly engaged with and released from the claw, and an outer peripheral surface substantially covered with a cover portion 3 A- 2 made of rubber so as to prevent rusting.
- the crawler body 2 defines engagement apertures 6 to be engaged with and released from a claw of a driving wheel at the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler, which are spaced to each other so as to be positioned forwardly and reawardly in the longitudinal direction of the crawler.
- Tension resistance members 8 R and 8 L comprising stacks of steel wire are embedded in the crawler body 2 on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction thereof on the ground-contacting surface side of the right and left wings 3 R and 3 L of the core member 3 , as shown in FIG. 3.
- the tension resistance members 8 R and 8 L are formed to be substantially endless so as to prevent the crawler body 2 from extending.
- one of the right and left lugs 4 R and 4 L has a ground-contacting surface 4 A extending to and overlapping projected planes of a plurality of (two, in the case of FIG. 1) left or right wings on the same side as the lug adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler and having ground-contacting length LI in the circumference direction of the crawler.
- the other one of the lugs 4 R and 4 L has a pair of ground-contacting surfaces 4 B adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, each of which overlaps a projected plane of a left or right wing located on the opposite side of the lug having the surface 4 A and has ground-contacting length L 2 in the circumference direction.
- the ground-contacting length L 2 of the ground-contacting surface 4 B in the latter lug 4 R 4 L is formed shorter than the ground-contacting length Li of the ground-contacting surface 4 A in the formaer lug 4 R or 4 L, so that the ground-contacting surfaces 4 A and 4 B having different ground-contacting lengths L 1 and L 2 are arranged on the right and left sides.
- the right and left lugs 4 R and 4 L having the ground-contacting surfaces 4 A and 4 B, respectively, in which the ground-contacting lengths L 1 and L 2 are different, are disposed on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler body 2 to be staggered along the crawler.
- the lug 4 L having the longer ground-contacting length L 1 will be referred to as a large lug 4 L
- the lug 4 R having the shorter length L 2 will be referred to as a small lug 4 R hereinafter.
- the large lug 4 L is disposed so as to extend to the projected planes of the two adjacent wings 3 L in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, while a pair of small lugs 4 R are respectively disposed on the projected plane of each one of the two wings 3 R and 3 R adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler.
- the one large lug 4 L and the pair of small lugs 4 R are arranged as a group alternately so as to be staggered along the crawler.
- the one large lug 4 L is protrusively formed on one of the right and left side peripheries 6 L of the engagement aperture 6 while the pair of small lugs 4 R are protrusively formed on the other side periphery 6 R at forward and rearward positions in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, so that the respective lugs are raised at positions arranged to be staggered along the crawler.
- the ground-contacting surfaces 4 B of the pair of small lugs 4 R are shifted (expanded) toward opposite directions so that the front one is forwardly expanded while the rear one is rearwardly expanded in the longitudinal direction from the positions of the corresponding core member wings 3 R or 3 L.
- Reference numerals 4 B- 1 and 4 B- 2 denote the expanded portions.
- the large lug 4 L extends so as to cover around a half of the projected plane of each of the two wings 3 L adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, while the pair of small lugs 4 R are arranged so that their phases are shifted forwardly and rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the crawler from each of the right wings 3 R.
- Each of the ground-contacting surfaces 4 A and 4 B of the large and small lugs 4 L and 4 R has an end portion having the largest width (length in the longitudinal direction of the crawler) at the center of the crawlerinthewidthwisedirectionthereof, thewidthgradually becomes smaller toward the side edges of the crawler in the widthwise direction thereof, so that there is provided earth removing portions 9 R and 9 L outwardly flared in the widthwise direction of the crawler at the spaces between the lugs.
- each of the grooves 10 R and 10 L is formed into an arc shape as shown in FIG. 4 so as to prevent concentration of stress.
- reference numbers 11 L and 11 R denote protectors in the right and left outer peripheries of the right and left tension resistance members (tension resistance bands) 8 R and 8 L, which are formed into a band shape by raising a portion between the lugs.
- the large and small lugs 4 L and 4 R outwardly extend beyond the length of the right and left wings 3 R and 3 L in the widthwise direction of the crawler.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 show other embodiments of the invention.
- relation in an arrangement of the core member 3 , the large and small lugs 4 L and 4 R, and the engagement aperture 6 is shown.
- the large lug 4 L has the ground-contacting surface 4 A extending to the three wings 3 L or 3 R while the small lug 4 R has the ground-contacting surface 4 B covering the projected plane of each one of the wing 3 R or 3 L.
- the large and small lugs 4 L and 4 R are arranged as a group alternately so as to be staggered along the crawler.
- the small lug 4 R is disposed correspondingly to one core member wing 3 R or 3 L and the middle lug 4 X is disposed so as to extend to the other two wings 3 R or 3 L, when the large lug 4 L is disposed so as to extend to the three core member wings 3 L or 3 R.
- the large lug 4 L of these embodiments having greater volumes than the embodiment (basic embodiment) shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 may have slightly inferior flexing properties at the wrapping section.
- the elastic crawler according to the present invention has improved flexing properties at the wrapping section which ensures prevention of come-off of the crawler, reduces vibration, as well as improves durability.
Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to an elastic crawler for endless crawler vehicles for use in the fields of construction, engineering, agriculture and the like.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- An elastic crawler (rubber crawler), in which a plurality of core metals having right and left wings, respectively, are provided laterally and in parallel with a space in the longitudinal direction of the crawler between the core metals in a crawler body formed of an elastic material into a band shape with no end, and right and left lugs are provided so as to be raised on positions overlapping projected planes of the above right and left wings on a ground-contacting surface side of the above crawler body and allotted to right and left of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler body, is known in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Hei-79549 and publications of Japanese patents No. 2654926 and No. 2609801, for example.
- The above conventional elastic crawler has a basic structure in which lugs having a ground-contacting surface having a length in a circumferential direction covering (extending to) projected planes of two core metal wings adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler on a ground-contacting surface side of the crawler body, are allotted to right and left of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler body.
- In the elastic crawler (rubber crawler) disclosed in the aforementioned publications, the lugs are formed as raised portions allotted to right and left extend to the wings of the core metals adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler so that the rigidity of the crawler body is redoubled, so as to improve endurance of the lugs, thereby improving endurance of the crawler itself.
- In the above elastic crawler, however, since all the lugs allotted to right and left are configured to extend to (cover) the two core metal wings adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, flexing properties at a wrapping section (a section for wrapping the crawler around a driving wheel, for example) are deteriorated due to the lugs. This results in an insufficient engagement with a driving claw, causing a risk of come-off of the crawler from wheels.
- Furthermore, in the crawler body, since the rigidity at portions on which lug are formed is large while the rigidity at portions without lugs between the lugs in a longitudinal direction of the band of the crawler body is small. Since the rigidity at the portions with lugs and that at the portions without lugs are remarkably different, and the large and small rigidity portions are arranged in turn across a whole length of the crawler, a crack at a root of the lugs may be caused by a large distortion centered. When the crack becomes large, water or the like penetrated through the crack rusts the core metal or a steel code as a tension resistance body, deteriorating the endurance of the crawler.
- The above problem can be solved to a certain degree by forming a concave groove corresponding to a portion between the core metal wings of the lugs (refer to Japanese Patent No. 2654926).
- Forming a concave groove on a ground-contacting surface of the lugs, however, causes vibration. The vibration transmitted to and felt by an operator (a driver) may not only cause fatigue, but also have a bad influence on every kind of mounted equipments, components and the like.
- An object of the invention is to improve flexing properties at a wrapping section by contriving an arrangement of lugs with respect to core member wings to avoid a cause of a crack at a root of a lug as well as reduce a cause of vibration, so that endurance of an elastic crawler is greatly improved as a whole.
- In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the following technical ways are taken in the present invention. An elastic crawler comprises a crawler body formed of an elastic material into an endless band shape, a plurality of core members having right and left wings, respectively, provided in the crawler body laterally relative to the crawler and in parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, and right and left lugs provided so as to be raised at positions overlapping projected planes of the right and left wings on a ground-contacting surface of the crawler body on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler.
- In an elastic crawler according to the invention, one of the right and left lugs has a ground-contacting surface extending to and overlapping projected planes of a plurality of wings on the same side as the lug adjacent each other in a longitudinal direction of the crawler and having a ground-contacting length in a circumference direction, while the other lug has a ground-contacting surface overlapping a projected plane of a wing on the same side as the lug and having another ground-contacting length in the circumference direction. The ground-contacting length of the latter lug is formed shorter than that of the former lug so that the right and left ground-contacting surfaces are different in the ground-contacting length, and the right and left lugs having the ground-contacting surfaces different in the ground-contacting length are arranged as a pair on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler to be staggered along the crawler.
- Further, in an elastic crawler according to the invention, one of the above right and left lugs has a ground-contacting surface extending to and overlapping projected planes of two wings of the same side as the lug adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler and having a ground-contacting length in a circumferential direction, while the other lug has a ground-contacting surface overlapping a projected plane of a wing on the same side as the lug and having another ground-contacting length in the circumference direction. The ground-contacting length of the latter lug is formed shorter than that of the former lug so that the right and left ground-contacting surfaces are different in the ground-contacting length, and the right and left lugs having the ground-contacting surfaces different in the ground-contacting length are arranged as a pair on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler to be staggered along the crawler.
- As a result of adopting above structures in which the right and left lugs having the ground-contacting surfaces different in the ground-contacting length are staggered along the crawler and overlap the projected planes of the wings, the flexing properties at the wrapping section are improved and come-off of the crawler can be prevented.
- Here, the projected planes of the right and left wings are overlapped entirely or a part of the width of the wings (length in the longitudinal direction of the crawler).
- For circulating a crawler body in the longitudinal direction thereof, frictional drive by means of a driving drum provided at the wrapping section may be adopted. Alternately, a claw of a driving wheel for engaging the crawler body (driving sprocket) may be provided at the wrapping section.
- In the case of adopting the latter means, it is recommended to form an engagement aperture for engaging a driving wheel at the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler body and between the core members adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, and to protrusively form one of the lugs on one of right and left side peripheries of the engagement aperture and protrusively form the other lug on the other side periphery of the aperture at a position forward or rearward from the aperture in the longitudinal direction of the crawler.
- It is also recommended that the ground-contacting length in the circumferential direction of the ground-contacting surface of one of the lugs extends to two adjacent core member wings disposed forwardly and rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the crawler while the ground-contacting length in the circumferential direction of the ground-contacting surface of the other lug overlaps one core member wing, and the ground-contacting surface of the above other lug is shifted forwardly or rearwardly from a corresponding core member wing in order to form a continuous ground-contacting surface in the longitudinal direction of the crawler with the ground-contacting surfaces of the right and left lugs.
- As a result of adopting such structure, vibration during driving can be restrained, thereby reducing vibration of a machine body, providing a driver with comfortable driving operation with no fatigue, and preventing troubles in equipment.
- Furthermore, it is recommended that right and left protrusions for preventing come-off of the crawler are formed on the right and left sides in the center part in the widthwise direction of the crawler on a no-ground-contacting surface of each core member, the right and left protrusions being arranged to be offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler so as to be staggered along the crawler, and right and left grooves for flexion laterally extending in the widthwise direction of the crawler between core member wings adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, are formed on the no-ground-contacting surface of the crawler body.
- As a result of adopting such structure, the flexing properties at the wrapping section are further improved, so that come-off of the crawler from rolling wheels can be surely prevented also with the right and left protrusions.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a ground-contacting surface of a crawler body in a basic structure of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of a no-ground-contacting surface of the crawler body in the basic structure of the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A shown in FIG. 2.
- FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the crawler body in the basic structure of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the invention.
- A structure and operation of an
elastic crawler 1, a rubber crawler in this embodiment, according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. - FIGS.1 to 4 show a basic structure of an
elastic crawler 1 having acrawler body 2 formed of an elastic material (elastomer) such as rubber into an endless band shape, and a plurality ofcore iembers 3 having right andleft wings - On a ground-contacting surface of the
crawler body 2, right andleft lugs left wings crawler body 2. - The
core member 3 is preferably formed of metal castings or a sheet metal (pressed), but may be formed of resin such as rigid resin mixed with reinforcing fiber, for example. - The
core member 3 is also provided with right andleft protrusions - The
core member 3 in the basic structure shown in the drawings is made of metal castings and the top surfaces of the right andleft protrusions core member 3, the right and left portions of the rotary shaft of the wheel roll on the top surfaces. The right andleft protrusions left protrusions portion 3A which engages a claw of a driving wheel (a sprocket claw), not shown. The connectingportion 3A has an innerperipheral surface 3A-1 formed into an arcuate shape along a concave portion of the claw as shown in FIG. 4 so as to be smoothly engaged with and released from the claw, and an outer peripheral surface substantially covered with acover portion 3A-2 made of rubber so as to prevent rusting. - The
crawler body 2 definesengagement apertures 6 to be engaged with and released from a claw of a driving wheel at the center in the widthwise direction of the crawler, which are spaced to each other so as to be positioned forwardly and reawardly in the longitudinal direction of the crawler. - When a straddle wheel passes on the no-ground-contacting surface of the
crawler body 2, the wheels roll on band-shaped guide surfaces (rail surfaces) 7R and 7L provided on each outer side part of the right andleft protrusions -
Tension resistance members crawler body 2 on the right and left sides of the center in the widthwise direction thereof on the ground-contacting surface side of the right andleft wings core member 3, as shown in FIG. 3. Thetension resistance members crawler body 2 from extending. - As shown in FIG. 1, one of the right and
left lugs surface 4A extending to and overlapping projected planes of a plurality of (two, in the case of FIG. 1) left or right wings on the same side as the lug adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler and having ground-contacting length LI in the circumference direction of the crawler. The other one of thelugs surfaces 4B adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, each of which overlaps a projected plane of a left or right wing located on the opposite side of the lug having thesurface 4A and has ground-contacting length L2 in the circumference direction. The ground-contacting length L2 of the ground-contactingsurface 4B in thelatter lug 4Rsurface 4A in theformaer lug surfaces left lugs surfaces crawler body 2 to be staggered along the crawler. - For the purpose of easy understanding, in the basic structure shown in FIG. 1, the
lug 4L having the longer ground-contacting length L1 will be referred to as alarge lug 4L, while thelug 4R having the shorter length L2 will be referred to as asmall lug 4R hereinafter. Thelarge lug 4L is disposed so as to extend to the projected planes of the twoadjacent wings 3L in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, while a pair ofsmall lugs 4R are respectively disposed on the projected plane of each one of the twowings large lug 4L and the pair ofsmall lugs 4R are arranged as a group alternately so as to be staggered along the crawler. - As shown in FIG. 1, the one
large lug 4L is protrusively formed on one of the right andleft side peripheries 6L of theengagement aperture 6 while the pair ofsmall lugs 4R are protrusively formed on theother side periphery 6R at forward and rearward positions in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, so that the respective lugs are raised at positions arranged to be staggered along the crawler. In order to form a continuous ground-contacting surface in the longitudinal direction of the crawler with the ground-contactingsurfaces small lugs surfaces 4B of the pair ofsmall lugs 4R are shifted (expanded) toward opposite directions so that the front one is forwardly expanded while the rear one is rearwardly expanded in the longitudinal direction from the positions of the correspondingcore member wings Reference numerals 4B-1 and 4B-2 denote the expanded portions. - The above described combination in the arrangement among the right and
left wings core member 3, theengagement aperture 6, and the left and right large andsmall lugs lugs crawler body 2, ensures preferable flexing properties at the wrapping section, and restrains vibration. - In the basic structure shown in FIG. 1, the
large lug 4L extends so as to cover around a half of the projected plane of each of the twowings 3L adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, while the pair ofsmall lugs 4R are arranged so that their phases are shifted forwardly and rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the crawler from each of theright wings 3R. Each of the ground-contactingsurfaces small lugs earth removing portions - Moreover, in order to further improve flexing properties of the crawler at the wrapping section, there is provided right and left grooves for
flexion crawler body 2, as shown in FIG. 2. A bottom of each of thegrooves - In FIGS. 1 and 3,
reference numbers small lugs left wings - FIGS. 5 and 6 show other embodiments of the invention. In FIGS. 5 and 6, relation in an arrangement of the
core member 3, the large andsmall lugs engagement aperture 6 is shown. - In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the
large lug 4L has the ground-contactingsurface 4A extending to the threewings small lug 4R has the ground-contactingsurface 4B covering the projected plane of each one of thewing small lugs - In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, totally three kinds (large, middle and small) of lugs, namely, each one of the large and
small lugs middle lug 4X are arranged as a group alternately so as to be staggered along the crawler. - That is, the
small lug 4R is disposed correspondingly to onecore member wing middle lug 4X is disposed so as to extend to the other twowings large lug 4L is disposed so as to extend to the threecore member wings - Though the embodiments exemplified in FIGS. 5 and 6 can achieve the intended object, the
large lug 4L of these embodiments having greater volumes than the embodiment (basic embodiment) shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 may have slightly inferior flexing properties at the wrapping section. - In order to avoid the above problem, it is preferred to provide a concave groove extending in the widthwise direction of the crawler on the ground-contacting surface of the lug, as shown by a
reference number 12 in FIGS. 5 and 6, so as to improve flexing. - While the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, as will be apparent with those familiar with the art, various variations and modifications can be made in embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims. For example, it is possible to modify the design as follows: (1) one or both of the right and left
protrusions - As described above, the elastic crawler according to the present invention has improved flexing properties at the wrapping section which ensures prevention of come-off of the crawler, reduces vibration, as well as improves durability.
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2000-190039 | 2000-06-23 | ||
JP2000190039A JP3658536B2 (en) | 2000-06-23 | 2000-06-23 | Elastic crawler |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010054845A1 true US20010054845A1 (en) | 2001-12-27 |
US6422666B2 US6422666B2 (en) | 2002-07-23 |
Family
ID=18689574
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/854,485 Expired - Lifetime US6422666B2 (en) | 2000-06-23 | 2001-05-15 | Elastic crawler |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6422666B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1167169B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3658536B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100430066B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60118273T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2261294T3 (en) |
Cited By (2)
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US20070114845A1 (en) * | 2003-12-04 | 2007-05-24 | Choi Yong J | Elastic crawler |
CN100465047C (en) * | 2003-12-04 | 2009-03-04 | 杰尼士产业株式会社 | Elastic pedrail |
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WO2002046029A1 (en) * | 2000-12-07 | 2002-06-13 | Bridgestone Corporation | Rubber crawler |
JP4181314B2 (en) * | 2001-04-16 | 2008-11-12 | 株式会社ブリヂストン | Rubber crawler |
JP4087619B2 (en) * | 2002-02-27 | 2008-05-21 | 住友ゴム工業株式会社 | Elastic crawler |
JP4392699B2 (en) * | 2002-05-14 | 2010-01-06 | 株式会社ブリヂストン | Rubber crawler |
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JP5273937B2 (en) | 2007-04-03 | 2013-08-28 | ゼニス産業株式会社 | Elastic crawler |
WO2012137887A1 (en) * | 2011-04-05 | 2012-10-11 | 株式会社ブリヂストン | Crawler travel device and elastic crawler |
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JP5726224B2 (en) * | 2013-03-05 | 2015-05-27 | ゼニス産業株式会社 | Elastic crawler |
JP6499010B2 (en) * | 2015-05-21 | 2019-04-10 | 株式会社ブリヂストン | Elastic crawler and elastic crawler device |
US9855985B2 (en) * | 2015-06-11 | 2018-01-02 | Srj, Inc. | Endless track tread pattern |
KR101670680B1 (en) * | 2016-05-03 | 2016-10-31 | 티알벨트랙 주식회사 | Crawler with wear indicator |
JP6797743B2 (en) * | 2017-04-17 | 2020-12-09 | 株式会社ブリヂストン | Elastic crawler |
US11572115B2 (en) * | 2019-07-17 | 2023-02-07 | Srj, Inc. | Tread pattern |
Family Cites Families (12)
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JPS5555065A (en) * | 1978-10-14 | 1980-04-22 | Iseki & Co Ltd | Core metal for rubber crawler |
JPS6479549A (en) | 1987-09-18 | 1989-03-24 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Heat pump device |
JPH01223086A (en) * | 1988-03-02 | 1989-09-06 | Ohtsu Tire & Rubber Co Ltd :The | Rubber crawler |
JPH0648333A (en) * | 1991-05-31 | 1994-02-22 | Fukuyama Rubber Kogyo Kk | Highly elastic rubber crawler |
US5368376A (en) * | 1991-08-26 | 1994-11-29 | Edwards, Harper, Mcnew & Company | Replacement endless vehicle tracks |
JP2601638Y2 (en) * | 1992-04-30 | 1999-11-29 | 福山ゴム工業株式会社 | Rubber track |
JP2609801B2 (en) | 1993-10-25 | 1997-05-14 | オーツタイヤ株式会社 | Elastic crawler |
JP3348747B2 (en) * | 1994-04-26 | 2002-11-20 | 株式会社小松製作所 | Rubber track core metal, rubber track and winding method thereof |
JP2654926B2 (en) | 1994-11-07 | 1997-09-17 | 福山ゴム工業株式会社 | Rubber track |
US5997110A (en) * | 1997-04-08 | 1999-12-07 | Fukuyama Gomu Kogyo Kabushiki Gaisha | Core metal for rubber crawler |
US6170925B1 (en) * | 1997-10-29 | 2001-01-09 | Bridgestone Corporation | Rubber crawler |
JP4220602B2 (en) * | 1998-10-06 | 2009-02-04 | 株式会社ブリヂストン | Rubber crawler with anti-derailing function |
-
2000
- 2000-06-23 JP JP2000190039A patent/JP3658536B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-05-15 US US09/854,485 patent/US6422666B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-05-17 EP EP01112170A patent/EP1167169B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-05-17 DE DE60118273T patent/DE60118273T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-05-17 ES ES01112170T patent/ES2261294T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-06-08 KR KR10-2001-0032182A patent/KR100430066B1/en active IP Right Grant
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070114845A1 (en) * | 2003-12-04 | 2007-05-24 | Choi Yong J | Elastic crawler |
CN100465047C (en) * | 2003-12-04 | 2009-03-04 | 杰尼士产业株式会社 | Elastic pedrail |
US20090102283A1 (en) * | 2003-12-04 | 2009-04-23 | Xenith Track Co., Ltd | Elastic crawler |
US7547079B2 (en) | 2003-12-04 | 2009-06-16 | Xenith Track Co., Ltd. | Elastic crawler |
US7841675B2 (en) | 2003-12-04 | 2010-11-30 | Xenith Track Co., Ltd | Lug arrangement for elastic crawler |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP3658536B2 (en) | 2005-06-08 |
ES2261294T3 (en) | 2006-11-16 |
DE60118273T2 (en) | 2006-08-31 |
EP1167169A2 (en) | 2002-01-02 |
DE60118273D1 (en) | 2006-05-18 |
EP1167169B1 (en) | 2006-03-29 |
JP2002029461A (en) | 2002-01-29 |
EP1167169A3 (en) | 2004-04-21 |
US6422666B2 (en) | 2002-07-23 |
KR100430066B1 (en) | 2004-05-04 |
KR20020001525A (en) | 2002-01-09 |
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