Patent ID: 6051178
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29K

Abstract:
A method of making an endless tractor track having treads on its outer portion from an initially uncured rubber belt and a plurality of rough-formed drive lugs, such method including the steps of:providing outer molding segments having recesses to form treads on the outer portion of the belt;providing inner molding segments having drive lug cavities on their outer sides;positioning the uncured belt between the molding segments;providing a drive lug support that removably receives the drive lugs;positioning such drive lug support radially outwardly of the inner molding segments;urging the drive lugs out of the drive lug support into the drive lug cavities of the inner segments;advancing the inner molding segments against the inner periphery of the uncured belt to partially form and secure the drive lugs to the inner periphery of the uncured belt;heating the outer and inner molding segments to cure the belt while molding treads on the outer portion of the belt and final forming and bonding the drive lugs to the inner portion of the belt to form the endless tractor track; andremoving the completed tractor track from between the molding segments.