Abstract:
The invention provides a detachable traction system for track vehicles comprising a multiplicity of gripping bars each of which is bolted through a tread of a corresponding multiplicity of treads on each track of an endless track vehicle. The ice traction components include gripping bars each having a gripping surface comprising a patch of durable rough protrusive material. The mud or snow traction components include gripping bars each having a compression trough. In combination with the gripping bars being angled across their respective treads toward ensuring stability of steering and direction of travel of the vehicle, the tapering of the compression troughs reduces or eliminates clogging of the compression bars with mud or snow during travel thereby increasing performance through snowy, slushy, or semi-liquid terrain.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a novel device in the general field of traction improvements for flexible or endless tracked vehicles, and more specifically to a detachable traction system that ensures stable and efficient travel over slippery ice/snow and deep rut-forming slush/mud surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The known prior art will now be discussed and critiqued. Three general categories of traction devices are known to be used with tracked vehicles; namely studs or detachable chains for ice/snow, and detachable bars for mud/slush. 
         [0003]    Studs, as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,741, are often embedded into the rubber material of a track, protruding into the slippery surface. Unfortunately, studs are often not removable, and if they are torn free from the track, the damage created can entail replacing the entire track. Also, studs flex with the track because they are embedded into its resilient material, but they do not attach to the track as securely as they could be if they were affixed completely through the entire track. 
         [0004]    Detachable chains, as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,369, are used with specialized track designs, which enable them to be secured as shown and removed when not needed. However, chains tend to get clogged with ice/snow, tend to fall off when needed most, and often do not prevent sideways motion when traversing inclines. 
         [0005]    Detachable bars, as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,967,737 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,981, have been used to improve traction in deep slushy &amp; muddy terrains, but they do not prevent sideways motion when traversing inclines, they can get clogged like chains, and they act more like paddles, which don&#39;t work unless you are going in a perfectly straight line. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The Detachable Traction System for Endless Track Vehicles is designed to provide improved stability in all directions, and increased traction on both ice/snow as well as deep mud/slush, and comprises gripping bars that are bolted completely through selected treads of each track, angled to prevent sideways slippage, and with a gripping surface comprising a patch of durable rough protrusive material designed to claw into ice or hard-packed snow and ensure traction. Each component of the Detachable Traction System is detachable for each replacement of parts that become damaged, or to switch from an ice system to a snow/mud system, or from either of those to both ice and mud/snow traction. 
         [0007]    The invention provides a detachable traction system for track vehicles comprising a multiplicity of gripping bars each of which is bolted through a tread of a corresponding multiplicity of treads on each track of an endless track vehicle. The ice traction components include gripping bars each having a gripping surface comprising a patch of durable rough protrusive material. The mud or snow traction components include gripping bars each having a compression trough. Importantly, the gripping bars having compression troughs are tapered from a narrow end mounted adjacent to an inner area of a track on the vehicle to a wider end mounted adjacent to an outer area of the track, such that mud or snow is thrown down the trough and clear of the vehicle as it moves, rather than clogging the trough and reducing the traction effect of the compression trough of the respective gripping bar. In combination with the gripping bars being angled across their respective treads toward ensuring stability of steering and direction of travel of the vehicle, the tapering of the compression troughs reduces or eliminates clogging of the compression bars with mud or snow during travel thereby increasing performance through snowy, slushy, or semi-liquid terrain. 
         [0008]    The gripping bars are bolted completely through and across selected treads of each track. Strength and durability of the position of each gripping bar is obtained by having gripping bars that extends perpendicularly at each end thereof into bolts mounted through holes in the treads, secured therein with nuts screwed onto the bolts. In a preferred embodiment capable of providing enhanced traction in icy, snowy and muddy terrain, the system comprises a first plurality of gripping bars each have a gripping surface comprising a patch of durable rough protrusive material, and a second plurality of gripping bars each having a compression trough formed by flanges perpendicular to a bar base. Each compression trough of the second plurality of gripping bars is tapered from a narrow-trough end of a bar base of a gripping bar to a wider-trough end of the bar base of the gripping bar. The gripping bars on a first track of the vehicle are mounted at an angle to an edge of each tread of the first track, and the gripping bars on a second track of the vehicle are mounted at a mirror-image angle to an edge of each tread on the second track. The gripping bars each having a gripping surface comprising a patch of durable rough protrusive material alternate with gripping bars each having a compression trough, forming a pattern of gripping bars mounted to each track of the vehicle. The gripping bars having compression troughs each extend perpendicularly into a pair of bolts at each end of a bar base of the respective gripping bar, each such bolt being mounted through holes in the treads and secured therein with nuts screwed onto the bolts. The system provides an effective and durable traction system as each gripping bar is clamped across and through its respective tread, distributing forces exerted on each gripping bar across the tread as the vehicle travels in rough and slippery terrain. 
         [0009]    The Detachable Traction System allows the operator of a tracked vehicle to select the appropriate traction element to match the terrain conditions, gripping bars for ice/hard snow, and compression troughs for slush/mud, or both for mixed conditions. The angled traction elements ensure sideways stability when navigating uneven or inclined terrain. The securement means ensures that the traction systems will not damage the track by ripping free, which ensures consistent traction when needed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a Side view of an Endless Tracked Vehicle with Gripping bar and Compression Trough aspects of the Detachable Traction System. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2 a    shows a Side closeup view of a right side track portion with an angled gripping bar being installed.  FIG. 2 b    shows a Facing view of an Gripping Bar, where  FIG. 2 c    shows a Top view of same with its protrusive surfacing. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3 a    shows a Top view of a Compression Trough;  FIG. 3 b    a Side view;  FIG. 3 c    an End view with attachment hardware; and  FIG. 3 d    a Facing view of a Trough Plate. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a Side view of a right side track section with Gripping bars installed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5 a    shows a Top view of a Track section with Gripping bars installed,  FIG. 5 b    shows a Bottom view of a Track section with cleat attachment hardware, and  FIG. 5 c    shows a Closeup view of said hardware. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a Side view of a Track section with Compression Troughs installed.  FIG. 7 a    shows a Top view of a right side Track section with angled Compression Troughs,  FIG. 7 b    shows a Bottom view of a Track section with trough attachment hardware, and  FIG. 7 c    shows a Closeup view of said hardware. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Drawing elements will now be introduced by reference to figures, then how each element functions and interacts with each other element will be described where necessary. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an endless tracked vehicle  12  with gripping bar  22  and compression trough  36  aspects of the detachable traction system  10 , which are attached to treads  16  of the track  14  which is rotated by the drive assembly  20 , enabling stable traction through low-friction  46  and semi-liquid  48  terrains. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2 a    shows a side closeup view of a right side track  14  portion with an angled gripping bar  22  installed through mounting holes  44  in a tread  16 , and secured by nut  28  and washer  30  to its threading  26 .  FIG. 2 b    shows a facing view of an gripping bar  22  with its protrusive surfacing  24 , and  FIG. 2 c    shows a top view of same. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3 a    shows a top view of a compression trough  36  with its non-parallel flanges  38 .  FIG. 3 b    shows a side view of a compression trough  36  with its trough bolts  40  and threading  26 .  FIG. 3 c    shows an end view of a compression trough  36  with its tapering flanges  38 , trough bolts  40 , threading  26 , trough plate  42 , washers  30  and nuts  28 .  FIG. 3 d    shows a facing view of a trough plate  42 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of a right side track  14  section with angled gripping bars  22  installed through selected treads  16  and secured to the threaded ends  26  by nuts  28  and washers  30 . Optionally, one may use a cleat plate  34 , which uses the same outline as a trough plate  42 , in place of washers  30 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5 a    shows a top view of a track  14  section with gripping bars  22  installed on an angle through selected treads  16  separated by tread gaps  18 , and on both sides of the track gap as shown.  FIG. 5 b    shows a bottom view of the same track  14  section with corresponding cleat attachment hardware, with  FIG. 5 c    showing a closeup view of said hardware, namely nuts  28 , and washer  30  or optional cleat plate  34  secured to each cleat bolt  32 . Hatched lines represent treads  16  from topside of track  14 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a right side track  14  section with angled compression troughs  36  installed through selected treads  16  and secured to threading  26  of trough bolts  40  (see  FIG. 3 c   ) by nuts  28  and trough plate  42 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 7 a    shows a top view of a right side track  14  section with angled compression troughs  36  with tapering flanges  38  spanning across the track gap  19  and secured by trough bolts  40  through selected treads  16  as shown.  FIG. 7 b    shows a bottom view of a track  14  section with corresponding trough attachment hardware, with  FIG. 7 c    showing a closeup view of said hardware, namely nuts  28 , optional washers  30 , and trough plate  42  secured to each trough bolt  40 . Hatched lines represent treads  16  and compression troughs  36  from topside of track  14 . 
         [0024]    The preferred embodiment of the Detachable Traction System for Endless Track Vehicles will now be described in detail. Each complementary aspect of the traction system will be discussed separately as follows: 
       Gripping Bars: 
       [0025]    The functionality of a traction system necessarily requires aspects that improve gripping that match the terrain it is employed upon. In this aspect, an gripping bar  22  is used to increase traction on low friction terrain  46  such as ice &amp; hardened snow. A key aspect of the gripping bar  22  is the creation of a roughened, claw-like protrusive surfacing  24  on the low friction terrain  46  (ice/hard snow) engaging section of the cleat  22 . ( FIG. 2 b   ) The protrusive surfacing  24  is created by running an irregularly welded carbon steel bead along the top surface of the metal cleat  22 , which creates a strong ice crushing and snow gripping protrusion area that bites into ice or compacted snow, thereby improving traction. 
         [0026]    An additional aspect of gripping bars  22  is their length and orientation. Studs are singular points of contact with low friction terrain  46 , whereas gripping bars  22  are elongated areas of contact with multiple points of gripping contact. Another aspect of gripping bars  22  is their angled orientation (see  FIG. 5 a   ) which prevents the tracked vehicle  12  from slipping sideways on low friction terrain  46 , or while ascending inclines or uneven terrain. The orientation angle and elongated area of the gripping bars  22  allow the track  14  to grip low friction terrain  46  more reliably than uncleated vehicles  12 , and can even marginally improve grip on mixed terrains that include mud/slush. 
         [0027]    The gripping bar  22  as shown in  FIGS. 2 a - c    bolts entirely through the track  14  and its tread  16 , thereby increasing its securement over prior art studs or removable chains. The gripping bar  22  is secured with two bolts  32  running completely through the track  14 , and this provides a strength against being torn out much greater than if a stud was merely mounted part way into the track  14  belt. In addition, a cleat plate  34  can be used in place of washers  30  to secure each gripping bar  22  even more robustly to the track, spreading the torquing forces across a greater area, and thereby ensuring the longevity and utility of this aspect of the traction system. 
       Compression Troughs: 
       [0028]    In this aspect of the detachable traction system, a compression trough  36  is used to increase traction on semi-liquid terrain  48  such as mud &amp; slush. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 a    &amp;  3   c , the bar-like compression trough  36  is unlike the prior art described above, and these aspects are critical to its utility. The compression trough  36  does not have parallel flanges  38  (i.e. sidewalls), and when employed as shown in  FIG. 7 a    with a mirror image orientation for the left track, the unique utility of this aspect of the traction system becomes apparent. Angular orientation of the compression troughs  36  function in a similar way to the angled cleats  22  above, preventing sideways slippage as the vehicle operates on semi-liquid terrain  48 . A key aspect of the compression troughs  36  are its tapering flanges  38  as shown in the figures. Unlike ice, where all one needs to do it break into and grip the rigid surface of a low friction terrain  46  to achieve traction, the semi-liquid nature of mud/slush creates a frictionless barrier that prevents traction. Prior art has attempted to solve this problem by using paddle-like bars that may work in one direction, after a fashion, but not reliably when turning or taking inclines. 
         [0029]    The compression trough  36  overcomes this issue by temporarily trapping a section of mud/slush between the flanges  38  of the trough  36 , which creates the equivalent of an extended track length tread that grips the underlying mud/slush. Instead of mud/slush smearing out as it slides over itself when pushed by a normal track, the compressed mud in compression troughs  36  stick to the mud/slush in the immediate area around each trough  36  and thereby create a temporary adhesion zone as long as the mud/slush is held between the flanges  38  of the trough  36 . This solution is unlike the prior art, and enables the operator to navigate semi-liquid terrain safely and reliably without becoming bogged down. 
         [0030]    An additional aspect of the compression trough  36  is its tapered flanges  38  as shown in  FIG. 7 a   , with the narrow end towards the inside of the track  14 , nearest the vehicle, and the wider end towards the edge of the track  14 .  FIG. 7 a    shows a right side track  14 , and a mirrored orientation is used for the left side track. By this means mud/slush is temporarily compressed into the compression troughs  36 , but as the vehicle  12  moves the mud/slush should be removed from the troughs  36  or it will build up and the vehicle  12  will bog down. The widening of the troughs  36  towards the outside edges of the tracks allows the mud/slush to flow away from the vehicle  12  instead of becoming trapped between the flanges  38  of each trough  36 . By this means the troughs  36  allow the vehicle  12  to compress and grip the mud/slush momentarily for traction, and then shed the mud/slush away from its sides to prevent clogging the troughs  36  as it moves. Other embodiments are not ruled out or similar methods leading to the same result. 
         [0031]    The preferred materials for constructing said novel traction elements include, but may not be limited to, any metal strong enough to withstand the forces of the terrain, including carbon steel, stainless steel, composites, or any other material that leads to the same performance objectives outlined above. 
         [0032]    The foregoing was disclosed in Canadian patent application CA  2881247  filed Feb. 4, 2015 which forms the basis for the (partial) priority claim in the present application. The following supplementary disclosure comprises an alternate mounting system for threads  26  of the cleat bolts  32  of the adhesion cleats  22  and the trough bolts  40  of the compression troughs  36 . 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLEMENTARY DRAWINGS 
       [0033]      FIG. 8 a    shows a front isometric view of the flange nut,  FIG. 8 b    the nut driver, and  FIG. 8 c   , flange pin insertion. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9 a    shows a front isometric view of the nut driver engaging the flange nut, while  FIG. 9 b    shows the driver rotating the flange nut around the threads of either a cleat bolt or a trough bolt. 
         [0035]      FIG. 10 a    shows a front isometric view of a threaded flange nut with its exposed bolt end, while  FIG. 10 b    shows the end after trimming  FIG. 10 c    shows how the trimmed flange nut and bolt end would appear on the surface of a track. 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  shows a side cutaway view of flange nuts being employed to secure a cleat bolt to a track. 
         [0037]      FIG. 12 a    shows a Top view of a Track section with Mini Cleat/Troughs installed on alternate treads. 
         [0038]      FIG. 12 b    shows a Top view of a Mini Cleat/Trough. 
         [0039]      FIG. 12 c    shows a Side view of a Mini Cleat/Trough installed into the tread of a track. 
         [0040]      FIG. 12 d    shows the End view of a Mini Cleat/Trough with an adhesion cleat used as a securement means as well as a concurrent traction functionality. 
       SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    This supplementary submission comprises combined traction elements directly derived from the prior related disclosure regarding the use of both adhesion cleats and compression troughs as a dual use unit to provide advantages of both traction solutions on terrains which require multiple options. 
         [0042]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 a    in the previous disclosure, the use of self locking nuts  28  and washers  30  present problems during use and deployment of the traction system. Because the mounting method is exposed, i.e. not flush to the surface of the (treads of the) track  14 , it can snag debris during use which can cause cleats  22  or troughs  36  to work loose due to the abrasion of the bolt threads  26  on the inside of the rubber mounting hole  44 . This wear can also be caused by continuous flexing of said holes as the track  14  is rotated around the wheels of the drive assembly  20 . 
         [0043]    These problems are solved by the use of a flange nut  50  instead of nuts  28  and washers  30 , as shown in  FIG. 8 a   . Flange nuts  50  are secured to bolt ends ( 32 / 40 ) by means of a special tool for this purpose, namely a flange driver  50 , as shown in  FIG. 8   b.    
         [0044]      FIG. 8 a    includes the flange nut  50 , with its flange  52  and pin holes  54 , a bolt sheath  56  with internal nut threading  58 .  FIG. 8 b    includes the nut driver  60  with its flange pins  62 , a bolt tube  66  (to receive the protruding end of a bolt as it is threaded), and the driven end  68  (hexagonal to fit a common socket). While the nut driver may be machined entirely, including the flange pins  62 ,  FIG. 8 c    shows an alternate option whereby flange pins  62  are inserted into pin receivers  64 , thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and potential repair costs if the pins should break.  FIG. 9 a    shows how the flange pins  62  of the nut driver  60  seat into the pin holes  54  of the flange nut  50 , thereby allowing rotation of the nut  50  onto a bolt  32 / 40  by means of the tool  60 , as shown by the broken arrow in  FIG. 9   b.    
         [0045]      FIG. 10 a    shows the flange nut  50  after threading, with some remainder of exposed bolt  32 / 40 .  FIG. 10 b    shows the exposed bolt  32 / 40  after being trimmed (by angle grinder or similar) such that the resulting threaded nut is flush with the surface of a track, as shown in  FIG. 10 c   . The remaining flange nut  50  and its trimmed bolt  32 / 40  integrate with the track and provide clamping and additional strength of attachment compared to using an unflanged nut. The flanged nut being flush with the surface of the material to which it is mounted and its bolt being trimmed enables use on a great variety of tracked vehicles, including those that have rollers or tires around which a track may be mounted, which would not operate satisfactorily if the flanged nut and bolt were protruding between the track and a roller or tire. The exposed bolts in the flange nuts are trimmed such that the flange nuts are flush with the surface of a track, in order to allow rollers or tires within the track to run over the flange nut surface without damaging the rollers or tires. When the bolts are trimmed and the flange nuts are flush with the inner surface of the track, there is still pressure on and vibration transmitted to the flange nuts from the rollers or tires within the track, which assists in shaking clogged mud or snow from the Mini-Cleat Troughs. 
         [0046]      FIG. 11  is similar to  FIG. 2 a   , but in this case the flange nut  50  mounting method is shown resulting in flanges  52  that are flush with the track  14  and with bolts  32  that do not abrade the inside of the mounting hole  44 . 
         [0047]    A combined Cleat/Trough embodiment provides more versatile traction options, enabled by the use of reduced flange height, a shorter trough length, the use of a single cleat to secure the trough to a tread (reducing parts), and allowing both flanges &amp; cleats to contact the terrain surface simultaneously. By this means, the machine operator has dual use capabilities and improved traction on both low friction terrain (ice &amp; snow &amp; oily asphalt) and semi-liquid terrain (mud &amp; sand) without needing to stop and change traction systems. 
         [0048]      FIG. 12 a    shows a top view of a right track  14  section with Mini Cleat/Troughs  70  installed on alternate treads  16 . Each Mini Cleat/Trough  70  includes shortened mini (side) flanges  72  as described below. 
         [0049]      FIG. 12 b    shows a top closeup view of a Mini Cleat/Trough  70  with an adhesion cleat  22  inserted through cleat mounting holes  74  at the bottom of the trough between its flanged sides  72 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 12 c    shows a side view of a Mini Cleat/Trough  70  installed into the tread  16  of a track  14  with the bolts  32  of the adhesion cleat  22  used to secure the mini trough  70  to the track  14 . In addition, the height of both the cleat  22  and the mini trough flanges is designed so that the adhesion surfacing  24  of the cleat  22  always just clears the top of the flanges  72 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 12 d    shows an end view of a Mini Cleat/Trough  70  with an adhesion cleat  22  inserted through the trough&#39;s cleat mounting holes  74  to enable securement, as well as provide concurrent traction functionality. 
         [0052]    Materials and methods used to construct the Mini-cleat are the same as those described in the primary disclosure. Materials used for flange nuts and nut driver include, but are not limited to, rust resistant steel that is strong enough to reliably secure cleat of trough bolts to the treads of a track which is constantly moving through low friction (icy) or semi-liquid (muddy) terrain. 
         [0053]    The resulting mounting system ensures improved securement of the detachable traction system to the vehicle tracks, less likelihood of debris accumulation due to protruding mounting nuts, and prevention of internal abrasion of mounting holes which can lead to cleat and trough movement and potential unwanted traction system detachment. 
         [0054]    The foregoing description of the preferred apparatus and method of installation should be considered as illustrative only, and not limiting. Other forming techniques and other materials may be employed towards similar ends. Various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the above disclosure, and the following general claims.