Abstract:
A grouser for crawler vehicle tracks defined by a fastening member which extends in a first direction substantially crosswise to a second traveling direction of a track, is fixed to at least one supporting belt of the track, and has an inner cavity open laterally in the first direction. The grouser includes a toothed gripping member projecting from the fastening member to grip the terrain. The grouser also includes two plugs for closing the inner cavity laterally in the first direction.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application is a national stage application of PCT/EP2008/057915, filed Jun. 20, 2008, which claims the benefit of and priority to Italian Patent Application No. MI2007A 001249, filed on Jun. 21, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a crawler vehicle track grouser and particularly to a track grouser for snow groomers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Snow groomers are known to comprise a track in turn comprising a number of grousers extending in a first direction substantially crosswise to a second traveling direction of the track, and fixed to a number of parallel flexible supporting belts looped about a number of pulleys. 
         [0004]    Certain known grousers include a fastening member extending in the first direction, fixed to at least one supporting belt, and having an inner cavity open laterally in the first direction; and a toothed gripping member extending along at least part of, and projecting from, the fastening member, and by which the grouser grips the terrain. 
         [0005]    These known tracks have various drawbacks, mainly due to the inner cavities of the fastening members filling with snow and/or ice on the ski runs, thus increasing the weight of the grousers and impairing operation of the tracks. 
         [0006]    Moreover, when the fastening members are made of steel, these known tracks have the further drawback of the snow and/or ice inside the inner cavities of the fastening members corroding the grousers, and so fouling the ski runs with rust-colored liquid. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a crawler vehicle track grouser, particularly for snow groomers, designed to eliminate the above drawbacks, and which is inexpensive and easy to produce. 
         [0008]    According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a crawler vehicle track grouser, particularly for snow groomers, including a fastening member fixed to at least one supporting belt of a track, the fastening member extending in a first direction substantially crosswise to a second traveling direction of the track, and having an inner cavity open laterally in the first direction. The crawler vehicle track grouser also includes two plugs configured to close the inner cavity laterally in the first direction; and a toothed gripping member configured to grip terrain, the toothed gripping member extending along at least part of the fastening member and projecting from the fastening member. 
         [0009]    Additional features and advantages are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of a snow groomer featuring one embodiment of the track grouser according to the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic cross section of a detail in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a first schematic view in perspective of a detail in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a partly sectioned second schematic view in perspective of the  FIG. 3  detail; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a view in perspective of a detail in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to the example embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , number  1  in  FIG. 1  indicates as a whole a snow groomer comprising a cab  2 , and a track  3  by which to propel groomer  1 . 
         [0017]    Track  3  comprises a number of flexible supporting belts  4  (only one shown in  FIG. 1 ), which are normally made of rubber, extend in respective substantially parallel vertical planes, and are looped about a number of pulleys  5  rotated, by a known drive device (not shown), about respective axes  6  parallel to one another and to a direction  7  substantially crosswise to the traveling direction  8  of track  3 . 
         [0018]    Track  3  also comprises a number of substantially parallel grousers  9 , which extend in direction  7 , and are equally spaced along and fastened to belts  4 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , each grouser  9  comprises an elongated fastening member  10  defined by a contoured bar  11 , which extends in direction  7 , is normally made of steel or aluminum, is bounded by an outer surface  12  comprising a substantially flat portion  13  resting on a number of belts  4 , depending on the length of bar  11 , and has an inner cavity  14  open laterally in direction  7  and bounded by a contoured inner surface  15 . 
         [0020]    Cavity  14  comprises a central portion  16  closed in a direction  17  substantially perpendicular to portion  13  and to directions  7  and  8 ; and two lateral portions  18  located on opposite sides of central portion  16  in direction  7  and open in direction  17 . 
         [0021]    Bar  11  is fixed to belts  4  by a fastening device  19  comprising an elongated tooth  20 , which extends inside cavity  14 , at portion  13  and in direction  7 , projects in direction  17  from surface  15 , is formed in one piece with bar  11  in the example shown, is bounded by a substantially flat free surface  21  parallel to and opposite portion  13 , and has a number of knurled holes  22  formed through tooth  20  in direction  17 . 
         [0022]    Device  19  also comprises a plate  23  resting on belts  4 , on the opposite side to bar  11 , and which is secured to belts  4  and bar  11  by a number of bolts  24  locked axially inside knurled holes  22  in direction  17  and having respective heads  25  substantially contacting surface  21 . 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , cavity  14  is closed laterally in direction  7  by two plugs  26 , each of which comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped portion  27  with two opposite grooves or engagers  28  parallel to direction  7 ; and a substantially triangular sloping portion  29  projecting from portion  27  at an angle of other than 90 degrees. 
         [0024]    The two grooves  28  engage and slide along respective runners  30  formed parallel to direction  7  on surface  15 , to slide relative plug  26  into a closed position ( FIG. 4 ) in which plug  26  is positioned between central portion  16  and a relative lateral portion  18  to close cavity  14 . 
         [0025]    Each plug  26  is locked in the closed position by a locking member, such as one or more fasteners or screws (not shown) engaging a hole  31  formed through portion  27  and parallel to direction  17 , and has a flat flange  32  which rests on head  25  of a bolt  24 . 
         [0026]    Central portion  16  and the two plugs  26  define a substantially closed chamber  33  communicating with the outside via two relief conduits  34 , each of which is formed through portion  29  of a relative plug  26  in direction  7 , and communicates externally with the interposition of a flap  35  formed on portion  29  and movable into an open position opening conduit  34  by the air inside chamber  33 . 
         [0027]    In a variation not shown, the open lateral portions  18  are eliminated, cavity  14  is defined solely by closed central portion  16 , and plugs  26  are fitted to the free ends of central portion  16 . 
         [0028]    Bar  11  also has a cavity  36 , which is located opposite the portion fastening bar  11  to belts  4 , extends along central portion  16  in direction  7 , opens outwards at surface  12 , and is bounded laterally in direction  8  by two flat ribs  37  substantially parallel to each other and to direction  7 . 
         [0029]    Cavity  36  houses an elongated gripping member  38  defined in the example shown by a substantially flat plate  39 , which is connected in known manner to bar  11 , projects outwards of cavity  36 , and has a toothed edge  40  for improving grip of grouser  9  to the terrain. 
         [0030]    In variations not shown, cavity  36  is replaced by a seat formed directly on surface  12 , or fastening member  10  and gripping member  38  are formed in one piece. 
         [0031]    Plugs  26  prevent cavity  14  from filling with snow and/or ice on the ski runs, and so prevent increasing the weight of grouser  9 , as well as corrosion of grouser  9  resulting in fouling of the ski runs with rust-colored liquid. 
         [0032]    It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.