Patent ID: 6139121
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A positive drive endless rubber track system for an undercarriage of a vehicle including an endless rubber track having an inner surface with spaced guide lugs projecting inwardly therefrom and having a steel cord reinforcement integrally formed on the interior thereof, the undercarriage including a drive wheel, having spaced sprocket pins thereon for engaging said spaced guide lugs, idler wheels, and tension adjusting wheels around which the endless rubber track is guided and driven by said drive wheel, the system including:said drive wheel being attached to said vehicle;said drive wheel having an up-ratio, Ur=[(Ps/Pc)-1].times.100(%) in the range of about 0.5% to about 4.0% and where Ps=said spacing of said sprocket pins on said drive wheel, and Pc=said spacing of said guide lugs on said rubber track;said spaced guide lugs having a driving wall and an opposite braking wall; andsaid up-ratio, Ur, enabling an engaging sprocket pin to enter between adjacent guide lugs without contacting either the driving wall or the braking wall of the adjacent guide lugs, to subsequently move toward and engage the driving wall of one of said adjacent guide lugs to drive the one adjacent guide lug, and to disengage the one adjacent guide lug as the drive wheel rotates.