Abstract:
A track system for use with multiple in-line wheels of a vehicle is disclosed. The track includes a plurality of track members linked together forming a loop encircling the wheels. The track members each include a base, sidewalls, and a removable shoe. The shoe can be bolted to the base and can be removed from the base. The shoe can have a rubber pad, a grouser, or another tread.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/295,662 filed Jan. 15, 2010 and titled TRACK SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH RUBBER TIRE EQUIPMENT, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed to track systems having removable grousers for use with rubber tire equipment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various tire chains and track systems have been used to improve vehicle and equipment control over soft, slippery, or uneven terrain. Excavators, Skid loader equipment such as the BOBCAT®, and other such equipment are typically equipped with large rubber tires that offer sufficient traction for many circumstances. For extremely rough terrain, a track system can be used around the tires as a continuous-loop tread similar to a tank tread. Some track systems include contoured contact surfaces having cleats, treads, or other traction-enhancing features. Some of this equipment may damage the ground beneath the vehicle, making these track systems unsuitable for operation on more delicate surfaces such as landscaped lawns, sidewalks, and even paved streets. Many existing track systems are not equipped to operate on both types of surfaces without either giving up maneuverability on rough terrain or damaging more delicate surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a track system in place on a pair of vehicle tires according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a track member of a track system, including a base, sidewalls, and a removable shoe according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric top view of a track member of a track system, including a base, sidewalls, and a removable shoe according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of a track member and removable shoe according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of a track member and shoe according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an unassembled track system according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes systems and methods for providing a track system for use with vehicles having rubber tires. The track system includes a series of track members linked together to form a continuous loop positioned over at least two tires of the vehicle to improve traction. The disclosure is directed to tracks and track systems including removable shoes removably attached to the track members. 
     Certain details are set forth in the following description and in  FIGS. 1-6  to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure. However, other details describing well-known structures and systems often associated with vehicles and track systems are not set forth below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of various embodiments of the disclosure. Thus, it will be appreciated that several of the details set forth below are provided to describe the following embodiments in a manner sufficient to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the disclosed embodiments. Several of the details and advantages described below, however, may not be necessary to practice certain embodiments of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure including a track  100  for a vehicle comprising several track members  110  linked together by links  120 . The track members  110  and links  120  form a continuous loop positioned around wheels and tires  130  of the vehicle. The track  100  can be large enough to contain the tires  130  with a slight degree of slack. The slack is visible at the top of the track  100  between the tires  130 . The track members  110  include a removable shoe  140  (i.e. grouser) that contacts the ground as the vehicle moves along the ground. The track members  110  also include sidewalls  118  extending inward toward the tires  130  and surrounding a portion of the tires  130  to maintain the track  100  in position on the tires  130 . The links  120  connect adjacent track members  110  loosely to permit the track members  110  to flex around the tires  130  as the vehicle travels. The links  120  can include exterior links  120   a  and interior links  120   b  on either side of the tires  130 . The track  100  provides improved traction and maneuverability in rough terrain. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a single track member  110  according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  illustrates the track member  110  from an elevated, isometric view. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the track member  110  comprises a base  116 , sidewalls  118 , links  120  connected to the sidewalls  118 , and a shoe  140  attached to the base  116 . The base  116  has an interior surface  116   a  facing inwardly, toward the tires when the track  100  is assembled, and an exterior surface  116   b  facing outwardly, away from the tires. The interior surface  116   a  can include a contoured surface, such as ridges  123 , to improve traction between the tire and the track member  110 . Other surface features can be used, including non-linear ridges, knurling, studs, or any other type of traction-improving texture. The surface texture of the interior surface  116   a  can be chosen based in part upon the size, type, and tread of the tires. 
     The base  116  includes through-holes  117 , and the shoe  140  is attached to the exterior surface  116   b  by bolts (shown in place but not tightened) passing through the holes  117 . The shoe  140  includes blind, tapped holes as well that receive the bolts through the holes  117  to secure the shoe  140  to the base  116 . The blind holes in the shoe  140  prevent the bolts from protruding through the shoe  140  and contacting the ground. Other fastening mechanisms can be used to secure the shoe  140  to the base  116 . The bolts can be removed from the base  116 , and the shoe  140  can therefore be removed from the track member  110  and replaced with a different shoe  140  having a different surface aspect as needed. In some embodiments, the shoe  140  includes a contact surface made of rubber, metal, or another suitable material. Some shoes  140  can include a textured surface having ridges, cleats, or other high traction surfaces. A flat, rubber contact surface on the shoe  140  can provide improved traction compared with standard tires, but is also able to traverse more delicate surfaces such as sidewalks, pavement, and landscaped lawns. The shoe  140  can also be replaced after being worn from extended use. Also, if a single shoe  140  in the track  100  is damaged, it can be replaced with a fresh shoe  140  without needing to remove the track  100  from the tires, and at minimal expense. 
     The sidewalls  118  extend from the base  166  upwardly and outwardly in a manner to receive a tire. In some embodiments, the sidewalls  118  include a first, proximal portion  118   a  that extends generally perpendicularly to the base  116 , and a second, distal portion  118   b  that extends slightly outwardly. The degree of outward slope can be determined based on the profile of tires with which the track  100  is to be used. The dimensions of the sidewalls  118  can also be chosen to properly hold the track member  110  in place relative to the tire without adding unnecessary weight or interfering with the movement as the track  100  rolls around the tires. 
     The sidewalls  118  include slots  119  that are configured to receive the links  120 . Bolts  120   c  can extend through holes in the sidewalls  118  and through the links  120 . The bolts  120   c  can be threaded at an end to fasten to a nut  120   d , but rounded through most of the bolt shaft to permit the links  120  to rotate relative to the sidewalls  118  as the track  100  rolls around the tires. The bolts  120   c  can include a flat, low-profile head  120   e  on an interior surface of the sidewalls  118  to avoid damaging the tires. 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of a track member  110  and shoe  140  according to several embodiments of the present disclosure. The exterior surface  116   b  of the base  116  can have a recess  124 , and the shoe  140  can have a matching, opposite protrusion  142  configured to fit within the recess  124 . The non-planar profiles of the base  116  and the shoe  140  can secure the shoe  140  in contact with the base  116 . Other recess/protrusion paired profiles can be used, including non-linear and/or multiple discrete recesses and protrusions. In other embodiments the base  116  can have the protrusion and the shoe  140  can have the recess. 
     The sidewalls  118  can include strengthening members  125  at a proximal portion  118   a  of the sidewalls  118 . These members  125  can be relatively thin in a dimension T, but can be larger in a perpendicular direction parallel with the base  116 . The strengthening members  125  therefore act like buttresses to support the upwardly extending sidewalls  118 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of a track member  150  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the shoe  140  includes a tab  152  having holes  154  and bolts  156  to secure the shoe  140  to the base  116 . The tab  152  extends around the ends of the base  116 . The base  116  includes tapped holes to receive the bolts  156  through the tabs  152 . The bolts  156  extend at least generally parallel to the base  116  and to the ground.  FIG. 5  also shows the link  120  in a rotated position relative to the track member  110 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a track  100  according to several embodiments of the present disclosure. The track  100  is open at one end to allow a vehicle to drive onto the track  200 , which can then be looped around the wheels and linked together to form a continuous track loop. The sidewalls  118  are rounded or sloped so that when the track members  110  rotate relative to adjacent track members  110  the sidewalls  118  do not touch. The track members  110  can have shoes  140  attached via the vertical bolts and bolt holes  117  passing through the base  116  and transverse to the interior surface  116   a , or they can be attached via the lateral bolt arrangement shown in  FIG. 5 . In some embodiments, the shoes  140  can be attached to the base  116  using both bolt arrangements. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the disclosure. In addition, many of the elements of one embodiment may be combined with other embodiments in addition to or in lieu of the elements of the other embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited except as by the appended claims.