CONNECTED LINK TYPE RUBBER CRAWLER

Abstract: A connected link type rubber crawler for use in a mobile construction machine has as its object the provision of a crawler wherein the advantages of an iron crawler are incorporated in a rubber crawler, so that a crawler being low in vibrations, excellent in strength and manufactured relatively inexpensively can be provided. The significant characteristics of the present invention reside in that track links (6 or 61) are connected on the inner periphery of the main body (3 or 31) of the crawler made of rubber (or an analogous article) to thereby form a continuous wheel turning track, and in that the main body (3 or 31) of the crawler and the track links (6 or 61) can be easily and rigidly connected to each other. In this case, in order to connect the track link (6 or 61) to the main body (3 or 31) of the crawler: a pin (1) is inserted through a hollow hole (H) in an embedded member (2) embedded and fixed into the main body (3) of the crawler, inserted through a pin hole (H') in the track link (6) and locked against dislodging; the pin (1) inserted through the pin hole (H') in the track link (6) is directly embedded and fixed into the main body (3) of the crawler; or the track link (61) is fixed to an embedded member (21) through bolting.

Description: Field of the art The present invention relates to a rubber crawler to be mounted in a transportable type construction machine, etc., especially a preferable combination linkage type rubber crawler which is mounted in a vehicle of such a type as both a steel crawler and a rubber crawler are concurrently used. Background of the invention Mainly, steel crawlers have conventionally been utilized as the crawler mounted in transportable type construction machines, etc. Rubber shoes have been used in some of the steel crawlers. Recently, rubber crawlers are preferably utilized. Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of conventional steel crawlers; 11 is an outer flanged rolling wheel, 12 is a steel crawler shoe, 12a is a shoe plate, 12b is a shoe link, 12c is a linkage pin, and 12d is a lug (steel made). Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of a rubber shoe; 13 is a rubber shoe, 13a is a shoe plate, 13b is a shoe link, 13c is a linkage pin, and 13d is a rubber lug. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a conventional rubber crawler; 14 is a rubber crawler, 14c is a lug, 15 is a core member, and 16 is a steel cord. In Figs. 1 through 3, the same outer flanged rolling wheel can be concurrently used as a rolling wheel in any case. Hence, steel crawlers have the following advantages; (1) its vibration is small because a continuous rolling track is obtained by combination of the track link at the inner circumference, (2) Crawler slip-off is scarce because there is no elongation nor phase error in the circumferential and width directions, and (3) the durability is good because mechanical combination of respective links, etc. is large, On the contrary, the steel crawlers inherently have the following disadvantages; (1) Noise level is high, (2) Cushioning is not good, and an operator is subjected to a great deal of fatigue, and (3) Road surface is much damaged. However, rubber crawlers have such advantages as mentioned below; (1) Noise level is low, (2) Cushioning property is good, and fatigue of an operator is low, (3) Road surface is not damaged, and (4) The weight is comparatively light, and the running speed can be made comparatively high according thereto and in line with the above properties. But, the rubber crawlers have the following shortcomings; (1) Core members which project on the inner circumference at every fixed interval are provided and utilized as rolling track. Accordingly, rolling wheels are likely to drop between the front and back projections, thereby causing the vibration to be made somewhat large, (2) Owing to that steel cords as an elongation resisting member are buried slightly wave-like, and a thin rubber layer intervenes in the intermediate portion in the piled up area at both the ends of these steel cords, the crawler may be elongated when a remarkably high elongating force is given in the circumferential direction or the crawler itself may be distorted between the core members when an external force is given in the lateral width direction or slip-off due to those causes, and (3) The mechanical strength of rubber crawlers is based upon rubber substance, and adhering force between core members and steel cords, and it is influenced upon the adhering force at the boundary between metal and rubber. The mechanical strength is much inferior to that of the steel crawler. Accordingly, the durability of the rubber crawler is inferior to that of the steel crawler. From such circumstances, the rubber shoe is composed so that the rubber lug is provided at the grounding side of shoe plate of the steel crawler. So, it has been partially utilized. As for the rubber shoe, it is made so that a shoe plate and non-vulcanized rubber are arranged in position in a metal mold and are press-vulcanized, and a rubber lug is adhered to the surface of the shoe plate at the same time as that of the vulcanizing molding. However, in such a rubber shoe, (1) The adhering point between the shoe plate and the rubber lug will be the weakest point in the composition of the steel crawlers, (2) As the rubber shoe will be composed so that it is compressed between the shoe plates of steel structure and the ground, and will have no space of escape, damage of the rubber lug will be made large, (3) As the shoe plate is considerably spaced toward the outer circumference to a linkage pin at a part where the shoe plate is wound and turned over, the interval between the front and back shoe plates will be opened. For that reason, it is impossible to continue the rubber lug across the interval of shoe plates, as soil and mud may enter between shoe plates on weak road surfaces to cause a shortage of floating. In order to improve this, if the width of the shoe plate is increased to reduce the ground-contacting pressure, the total weight may be also increased, instead, its bouyancy is lowered and it will be a change for the worse. (4) A method for press-vulcanizing individual shoe plates by metal mold will bring remarkable increase of cost. As a result, such an improved rubber crawler will not be what is superior to mere rubber crawlers. JP-A-49-16579 discloses a combination linkage type rubber crawler having one central line of track links, which is constituted by two kinds of members, wherein the members of one kind are hinged the legs of the general U-shaped other kind of members. The hinge is constituted by pins, inserted through pin holes, formed in the members and extending through the crawler body at both sides of the central line of track links. Outside the crawler body the pins are inserted into holes of two additional lines of links, which are constituted by a third kind of member. The three link lines (members outside the crawler body and members inside the crawler body) form together with the U-shaped, at their free ends outwardly bended members an expensive design. Furthermore, the construction of the central line of track links means that the teeth or the sprocket to drive the crawler body have a large circumferential distance which is disadvantageous with respect to a smooth drive. Disclosure of the invention It is an object of the invention to provide a combination linkage type rubber crawler, which operates reliable also under conditions, at a low noise level, good cushioning, good durability and which is comparatively cheep. Subject matter of the main claim as appended provides a solution to this object. According to the invention, the defects of conventional rubber crawlers can be solved and improved as follows, under such conditions that such advantages provided in conventional rubber crawlers as, namely, lower noise level, good cushioning, and less fatigue of an operator can be maintained. (1) As a track link will be combined and will become a continuous rolling track at the inner circumferential side of the crawler body, vibration will be made smaller during use of a vehicle in which the corresponding crawler is adopted. (2) Such a structure that a pin is fitted and inserted in a pin hole which lies at the front and the back of the respective track links opposed to each other, and that both the side ends of the pins are buried in the crawler body will bring a strong combination of the crawler body with the track link, and at this time, since the track links are mechanically combined strongly, the following advantages can be further obtained. 1 ○ The crawler slip-off will hardly occur during use since almost no elongation of the crawler in the circumferential direction and distortion in the width direction will occur. 2 ○ The strength of the combination of track links will directly constitute strength of the rubber crawler as it is. Accordingly, the durability can be increased. 3 ○ Since sufficient anti-tension force is held in the circumferential direction, and moreover elongation will not occur, the use of steel cords, indispensable for the conventional rubber crawlers, can be excluded. (3) As the track link will be made a rolling track, the use of core members indispensable for the conventional rubber crawler can be excluded. (4) As steel cords and core members are not needed, reduction of cost can be accomplished to a large extent as total. (5) Since a projection of the core member is no longer needed, a metal mold will be made thinner in thickness than the conventional ones. Therefore, further reduction of cost can be attempted at such a standpoint as the heat transmission can be increased. (6) As track links which have been used in a part of conventional steel crawlers can be used as they are, it is very advantageous. (7) As the central portion of the core member can be formed to any sectional shape regardless of the tooth bottom of a drive wheel, production cost of the core member is comparatively cheap. Subclaims 2 to 17, as appended, are directed towards advantageous embodiments of the inventive combination linkage type rubber crawler. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional steel crawler; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional rubber crawler; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional rubber crawler. Fig. 4 through Fig. 9 relate to the first invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a burying member; Fig. 5 shows a rubber crawler in which the burying member is built; Fig. 5A is the plan view thereof; Fig. 5B is the front elevational view thereof; and Fig. 5C is the sectional view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 5A; Fig. 6 shows a track link; Fig 6A is the plan view thereof, Fig.6B is the front elevation view thereof; Fig. 7 is a partially broken perspective view of one of the preferred embodiments, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment, and Fig. 9 is a view showing another preferred embodiment. Fig. 10 through Fig. 20 relate to the second invention, Fig. 10 through Fig. 14 are views for the first preferred embodiment; Fig. 10 shows a burying member to be used in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 10A is a perspective view; Fig. 10B is a side view; Fig. 10C is a top plan view; Fig. 11 shows the crawler body; Fig. 11A is the plan view thereof; Fig. 11B and C are the sectional views taken along the lines X1-X1 and X2-X2 of Fig. 11A; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the rubber crawler body; Fig. 13 shows a track link to be used in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 13A is the front elevational view thereof; Fig. 13B is the bottom view thereof, and Fig. 14 is a view partially showing the status under which the track link is installed on the rubber crawler body; Fig. 14A is the front elevation view thereof, Fig. 14B is the sectional view thereof; Fig. 15 is a view explaining the turning and winding status of a combination linkage type rubber crawler of the present invention onto the drive wheel or the idle wheel; Fig. 15A is the plan view of the burying member to be used in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 15B is the plan view at the outer circumferential side of the rubber crawler side; Fig. 17 shows the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 17A is the plan view of the burying member to be used in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 17B is the plan view at the outer circumferential side of the rubber crawler body; Fig. 18 through Fig. 20 show the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 18 shows the burying member to be used in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 18A is a perspective view thereof; Fig. 18B is the plan view thereof; Fig. 18C is the side view in the width direction thereof; Fig. 18D is the side view in the lengthwise direction thereof; Fig. 19 shows a track link to be used in the preferred embodiment; Fig. 19A is the front elevational view thereof; Fig. 19B is the bottom view thereof; and Fig. 20 shows a rubber crawler body; Fig. 20A is a view of partial status under which the track link is provided; and Fig. 20B is the plan view at the outer circumferential side. A preferred embodiment of the first invention Firstly, a preferred embodiment related to the first invention is described with reference to Fig. 4 through Fig. 9. In Fig. 4, 1 is a pin having screw portions 1a and 1b, 2 is a burying member; 2a and 2a are tubular portions; 2b is the intermediate portion thereof; H is a hollow hole inside the tubular portions 2a, and the outer diameter of pin 1 is designed with such dimensions that it can be promptly fitted to the hollow hole H. Fig. 5 shows a rubber made crawler body 3 in which the above burying member 2 is buried; Fig. 5A is the plan view thereof; Fig. 5B is the front elevational view thereof; Fig. 5C is a sectional side view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 5A, 4 represents a recess groove, 5 is a lug provided corresponding to respective tubular portions 2a at the outer circumferential side of the crawler body 3. In the present preferred embodiment, the width W of the recess groove 4 is made equal to the interval of the intermediate portion 2b of the burying member 2, and a hollow hole H is opened through at the counter faces u, u where the burying member 2 of the recess groove 4 is located, and the length of the burying member 2 is made equal to the lateral width of the rubber crawler 3 and a hollow hole H is opened through at both the sides S, S of the rubber crawler 3. Also, P represents the interval of the burying member 2. Fig. 6 shows a composition of the track link; Fig. 6A is the plan view thereof; Fig. 6B is the front elevational view thereof; H' is a pin hole; g is the upper side edge, t is the thickness, respectively. Herein, the interval ℓ between the right and left pin holes is formed to the dimension equal to the interval P of the burying member 2, and at the same time, the vicinity portion of the pin hole H' is made thinner in the thickness (half the thickness t) in a mutually opposed relationship at the right and left positions, thereby causing a combination of the front and back track links 6 to be made with the same thickness. Also, the upper side edge g is formed to be flat and will act as the rolling track. Fig. 7 is a partially broken perspective view of the present preferred embodiment, track links 6, 6, .... are arranged in a row in the vicinity of both the sides u, u of the recess groove 4, and the pin 1 is penetrated through the pin holes H' and hollow hole H which are piled up in the front and back direction. At that time, E is a bushing externally fitted to the pin between mutually opposed track links 6, 6, and acts as spacing means of the two track links 6, 6. In the present preferred embodiment, this bushing E will be designed to be engaged with the teeth of sprocket. Furthermore, another means may be available as spacing means between the right and left track links. It is necessary to provide an adequate slip-off prevention means in order to prevent the pin 1 from dropping from the hollow hole H of the tubular portions 2a, 2a, but in the present embodiment, a nut is screwed and fixed to a screw portion 1a. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the present preferred embodiment, as shown therein, the upper side edge g of the track link 6 will be a rolling track on which the rolling wheel T rotatingly moves. However, k is a thickness reduced portion which is continuously provided on the upper edge of side u (Refer to C in Fig. 5) of the recess groove 4, and prevents in advance the rubber substance of that area from being scooped out due to that the outer flange of the rolling wheel T is brought into contact with the rubber substance of that area owing to lateral rolling of the equipment body in the case that the thickness-reduced portion k is not provided. In the Figure, N is a nut screwed and fixed to the screw portion 1a. Fig. 9 shows another preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown therein, it is such that a reinforcement core F is buried at the outer circumferential side of the tubular portions 2a of the burying member 2. The point thereof is as follows; Namely, in the preferred embodiment, since the track link 6 is firmly combined with the whole circumference of the crawler body 5, there is no need to bury elongation resisting members like steel cords, etc. which are indispensable to conventional rubber crawlers. Since the crawler body 5 between the front and back burying members 2, 2 is made only of rubber substance and has no reinforcement core, it is because of preventing that portion in advance from being damaged through extraordinary elongation due to riding on obstacles like stones. Furthermore, the reinforcement core F may be of natural or artificial fibers or fabric of metal fibers, or these fiber cords may be used. Moreover, a small quantity of steel cords may be used instead. In the above preferred embodiment, as for the burying member 2, one of the tubular parts of 2a is made shorter, and slip-off prevention means may be installed only at the side S of the crawler body 5 at the side where the longer tubular part is buried. Also, it is all right that pin 1 is directly buried in the crawler body 3, 3 without use of the burying member 2. In this case, a track link 6 in which pin 1 is fitted and inserted is arranged in a long-sized metal mold together with non-vulcanized rubber, and press-vulcanized, thereby causing the pin 1 to be buried at the same time when the crawler body 5 is vulcanized and molded. In the present invention, rubber substance of the crawler body 5 includes usual rubber elastic body, urethane rubber, or urethane resin, other hard rubber, or plastic elastic body. A preferred embodiment of the second invention A preferred embodiment of the second invention is described with reference to Fig. 10 through Fig. 20. Then, the same symbols are given to the parts substantially identical to those in the first invention. Fig. 10 shows a burying member 2 to be used in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10A is a perspective view; Fig. 10B is a side view, and Fig. 10C is the top surface view. In the Figures, 21a, 21a are right and left wing portions, 21b is a recess-shaped central portion, H1, H1 are bolt holes (through holes) provided at both the sides of the central portion 21b, h is a step by which the central portion 21b is located at a lower level than the wing portions 21a. Fig. 11 shows rubber-made crawler bodies 31, 31 in which the burying member 21 is buried;A is the plan view thereof: B and C are the sectional views taken along the lines X1-X1 and X2-X2 of Fig. A. As shown therein, the right and left wing portions 21a, 21a are buried in the rubber substance of the crawler body 31, and at the same time, the periphery of the bolt holes H1, H1 at the central portion 21b is not buried. However, the central portion 21b can be shielded with rubber substance having optional thickness, excluding the periphery of the bolt holes H1, H1 at the inner circumferential side. 22a is a curvature part which the crawler body between the wing portions 21a, 21a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are bent to be high toward the inner circumferential side; 23 is a reinforcement layer continued in the circumferential direction; as shown in the drawing, in the present preferred embodiment, the reinforcement layer 23 is made wave-like as it is buried through the lower side of the wing portion 21a; 24 is a lug projected on the outer circumferential face corresponding to the wing portion 21a. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the above rubber crawler body 31. Fig. 13 shows a piece of the track links 61 to be used in the present preferred embodiment; Fig. 13A is the front elevational view thereof; Fig. 13B is the bottom view thereof; it is the same as that which has been used in a part of the conventional steel crawlers. In the Figure, H' is a pin hole; the interval ℓ between the right and left pin holes H', H' is made with the dimension equal to the interval of the burying member 21; 27 is a window; 28 is a lower frame of the window 27; p1 is a bolt hole for installing the track link 61 at the central part 21b of the burying member 21; As shown in the drawing, the bolt hole p1 is penetrated through the lower face f of the track link from the upper face 28a of the lower frame 28. Furthermore, the upper face g of the track link 61 is made flat and acts as rolling track. The vicinity part around the right and left pin holes H', H' is made thinner in thickness (half the thickness t) in mutually opposed relationship in the right and left positions, thereby causing the combination of the front and back track links 61 to be achieved under the same thickness condition. According to the above combination, a pair of the track links 61, 61 are vertically provided at both the sides of the central part 21b by making the above bolt hole p1 coincide with the bolt hole H1 of the central part 21b of the burying member 21 and fixing the mutually communicated bolt holes p1 and H1 with a bolt, simultaneously respective pin holes of the front and back track links 61, 61 are piled up; a link pin is rotatably inserted in the piled up pin holes H', H', thereby causing the track links to be combined and continued. Thus, the track links can act as rolling track. Fig. 14 is a view of partial status under which the track links 61 are mounted at the crawler body 31 of the present preferred embodiment; Fig. 14A is the front elevational view thereof; Fig. 14B is the sectional view thereof; In the Figure, 29 is a link pin. Furthermore, B1 is a bolt, N1 is a nut. Hereupon, the mounting means of the burying member 21 and the track links 61 may be welding as well as bolt-fastening means, and any other means may be acceptable. The mounting position is not limited to the central position of the track links 61, and the burying member and track links may be mounted at any optional position between the right and left pin holes H', H'. Fig. 15 explains the turning and winding condition on the drive wheel and idle wheel of the combination link type rubber crawler according to the present invention. At the turning and winding portion, the outer circumferential side from the connecting line of link pins 29, 29, ... is elongated, and the ratio of elongation will be made larger toward the outer circumferential side. On the other hand, at the crawler body 31, the burying portion of the burying member is not elongated, and the interval between the burying members is elongated. Accordingly, as the ratio of elongation of this portion becomes large, the fatigue is accumulated due to repeated elongation to spoil its durability. However, in the present preferred embodiment, (1) As step h is provided between the wing portion 21a of the burying member 21 and the central portion 21b to lower the central portion 21b, the track links 61 are designed to be mounted at a comparatively low position, (2) As a curvature 22a is provided between the burying members 21 of the crawler body 31, this portion will be made higher toward the inner circumferential side and its height thereof is made almost equal to that of the link pin 29. For that reason, almost no elongation occurs at the turning and bending portion. Therefore, a problem of fatigue accumulation will not occur. Hereupon, in the case that the crawler body 31 between the above burying member 21 is made of only rubber substance, this portion rides on a projection on the road surface and may be damaged due to being remarkably elongated. In order to prevent this in advance, a reinforcement layer 23 may be buried. Natural or artificial fibers having high strength, or fabrics of metal fibers, or the fiber cords, thereof may be used as reinforcement layer 23; a small quantity of steel cords may be used, too. It is preferable that the burying position of the reinforcement layer 23 is decided to almost the same height of the link pins 29 in the crawler body 31 due to the above reason. If necessary, reinforcement layer may be provided in a plurality, and still furthermore may be buried at the top of the burying members. Fig. 16 shows the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 16A is the plan view of burying member 211 to be used in the present preferred embodiment; Fig. 16B is the plan view at the outer circumferential side of the rubber crawler body 32 according to the present preferred embodiment. As shown in Fig. 16A, in the burying members 211, the right and left wing portions 211a, 211a are shaped so as to be like a sweptback wing to the central portion 211b (Sweptback angle: ). A lug 241 is provided at the outer circumference in response to the wing portion 211a with the burying member 211 buried in the rubber crawler body 32; as shown in Fig. 16B, a part of the lug is designed to be located on the extension line of the centerline O of the link pin 29, and the rolling wheel is almost free from any drop at this portion, thereby causing vibrations during running to be much lightened. Fig. 17 shows the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; As shown in Fig. 17A, the right and left wing portions 212a, 212a of the burying member 212 are formed to be stepped, respectively. A lug 242 is provided at the outer circumference corresponding to the wing portion 212a with these wing portions buried in the rubber crawler body 33 as well as in the above preferred embodiment; as shown in Fig. 17B, a part of the lug 242 is located on the extension line of the centerline O of the link pins 29, thereby causing the same effects as those in the second preferred embodiment to be obtained. Fig. 18 shows a burying member 213 to be used in the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 18A is a perspective view thereof, Fig. 18B is the plan view thereof, Fig. 18C is a side elevational view in the lengthwise direction, and Fig. 18 D is a side elevational view in the width direction. In these Figures, m, m represent projections provided at the side close to the central part of the right and left wing portions 213a, 213a; n, n represent central projections provided at both the sides of the central portion 213b; bolt holes H, H are pierced and provided at both the central projections n. For that reason, as shown therein, bolt holes H, H are provided parallel with the interval ℓ 1 at both the sides of the central portion 213, respectively. Fig. 19 shows a piece of the track links 62 to be used in the present invention; Fig. 19A is the front elevational view thereof; Fig. 19B is the bottom view thereof. As shown in these Figures, bolt holes p2, p2 are provided at two points of the lower frame 28, and the interval ℓ 2 is secured with the dimension equal to the interval ℓ 1 between bolt holes at the central portion 213b of the above burying member 213. Fig. 20 shows a rubber crawler of the above preferred embodiment; Fig. 20A is a view of partial status under which the track links 62 are mounted at the crawler body 34; As shown therein, the track links 62 are fixed with bolts together with the central portions 213b of the burying member at two points. Fig. 20B is the plan view at the outer circumference of the crawler body 62. As shown therein, a lug projection 243a is provided at the side of the lug 243 corresponding to the central projection portion m of the burying member 213, and the lug projection 243 is designed to be located on the extension line of the centerline O of link pin 29 of the track link 62. For that reason, the rolling wheel is free from any drop at the position of the link pins 29, thereby causing vibrations during running to be much reduced. Furthermore, 34a is a portion curved to the inner circumferential side of the crawler body 34. In the above combination linkage type rubber crawler of the present invention, the link pins 29 are engaged with the drive wheel to transmit drive force, and the central portion of the burying members 21, 211, 212, and 213 may be of any optional sectional shape regardless of the tooth bottom of the drive wheel. For that reason, the production cost of burying members will be comparatively cheap. Besides, track links 62, 62 which have been manufactured for the sake of conventional steel crawlers can be utilized as they are. Thus, it is very advantageous. Field of industrial application of the invention As described above, a combination linkage type rubber crawler is utilized for a running device of transportable type construction machines, etc., it is especially most preferable for such a vehicle as in which the steel crawler and the rubber crawler can be concurrently used.

Claims: A combination linkage type rubber crawler having two lines of track links (6, 61, 62) each of which is continued in the circumferential direction at opposed inner circumferences of a recess groove (4) in a crawler body (3, 31, 32, 33, 34), wherein the track links of each line are bendably connected with each other by means of a pin (1, 29) inserted and penetrated through pin holes (H') at the front and back of the respective track links so as to provide a rolling track for a wheel, and burying members (1, 2, 21, 211, 212, 213) for supporting the track links and combining them with the crawler body, which are buried in the crawler body at both sides of the track links and at fixed intervals perpendicularly to the circumferential direction of the crawler body. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in claim 1, wherein the interval (l) between the pin holes (H') of a track link (6) is equal to the interval between the burying members and the thickness of a track link in the vicinity portions of the pin holes (H') is smaller than the thickness (t) of the other part of the track link in a mutually opposed relationship of both pin holes, whereby a line of combined track links is made with the same thickness, and the upper side edges (g) of the track links are formed to be flat so as to act as the rolling track. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein teeth of a sprocket to drive and guide the crawler body are directly engaged with the pin (1, 29), and the sectional shape of the pin coincides with that of the tooth bottom of the sprocket. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a bushing (E) of a certain length is provided outside the pin (1, 29) to be inserted in the coupled pin holes (H') of the track links (6, 61, 62), and two lines of the track links continued in the circumferential direction of the crawler body (3, 31, 32, 33, 34) keep a certain distance therebetween by means of the bushing (E). A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein lugs (5, 24, 241, 242, 243) are provided at the outer circumferential side of the crawler body (3) corresponding to the burying members (2, 21, 211, 212, 213) buried in the crawler body. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein both ends of the pin (1) inserted in the pin hole (H') of the track link (6) are directly buried in the rubber crawler body (3). A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, the burying member (2) comprises two tubular parts (2a) to be buried in the rubber crawler body (3) and an intermediate portion (2b) for supporting the tubular parts (2a) linearly with a fixed interval (w) therebetween, and the pin (1) inserted in the pin hole (H') of the track links (6) is inserted and fixed in each hollow hole (H) of the two tubular parts (2a) so as to bridge over the interval. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in claim 7, wherein the length of each burying member (2) coincides with the lateral width of the crawler body (3), slip-off prevention means are provided to both ends of the pin (1) to be inserted in the hollow holes (H) of the two tubular parts (2a) so as to bridge over the interval therebetween. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein one of the tubular parts (2a) of the burying member (2) is shortened so that its full length becomes shorter than the width of the crawler body, the hollow hole of the shorter tubular part is clogged with crawler body, while the hollow hole (H) of a longer tubular part (2a) is open to the side of the crawler body, and a slip-off prevention means is provided to only one end of the pin (1) inserted in the hollow holes of these two tubular parts (2a) to bridge over the space therebetween. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein a reinforcement core (F) is buried so as to be continued circumferentially on the outer or inner circumferential side of the tubular parts (2a) of the burying member (2) in the crawler body (3). A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein a reduced part (k) is provided so as to be continued circumferentally at the side upper edge of a split groove formed on the intermediate portion (2b) of the burying member (2). A combination linkage type rubber crawler according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the burying members (21, 211, 212, 213) consist of right and left flat-shaped wing portions (21a, 211a, 212a, 213a) and a central portion (21b, 211b, 212b, 213b) having mounting means (H1) to fix the track links (61, 62) on both sides thereof; the right and left wing portions (21a, 211a, 212a, 213a) of the burying member (21, 211, 212, 213) are buried in rubber substance of the crawler body (31, 32, 33, 34), and the mounting means (H1) are exposed at least to the inner circumferential side of the crawler body or shielded with a thin rubber layer; the track links (61, 62) are provided with pin holes (H') at both sides thereof, mounting means (P1, P2) for mounting the track link on the burying member are provided at the underside position between the pin holes (H') and the interval (ℓ) between the pin holes (H') coincides with the interval between the center of adjacent burying members. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in claim 12, wherein the central portion (21b, 211b, 212b, 213b) of the burying member (21, 211, 212, 213) is recessed with regard to the right and left flat-shaped wing portions (21a, 211a, 212a, 213a). A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the crawler body (31, 32, 33, 34) between the burying members (21, 211, 212, 213) is bent and curved (portion 22a) so as to be heightened toward the inner circumference. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the right and left wing portions (211a, 212a) of the burying member (211, 212) are sweptback or alternate for the central portion (211b, 212b), and the lugs (241, 242) are provided at the outer circumferential side of the crawler body (32, 33) corresponding to the right and left wing portions. A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 12 to 15, wherein a reinforcement layer (23) is buried so as to be continued circumferentally above or below the burying members (21, 211, 212, 213) in the crawler body (31, 32, 33, 34). A combination linkage type rubber crawler claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the crawler body (3, 31, 32, 33, 34) is made of either one of rubber elastic body, urethane rubber, urethane resin, hard rubber or plastic elastic body.

Inventors: KATOH YUSAKU, KATOH, YUSAKU
Applicants: FUKUYAMA RUBBER IND, FUKUYAMA GOMU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B62D55
IPC codes: B62D55, E02F9