GROUND ENGAGING MEANS

Abstract: A tyre comprising a body constructed to deform resiliently under load and a tread provided on the body. The tread comprising a plurality of raised portions (29) disposed in circumferential relationship and defining grooves (49) therebetween. Each raised portion (25) comprising a first central section (27) and a pair of lateral sections (29) each extending outwardly from the central section towards one side of the body. The lateral sections (29) define a V formation and the first central section (27) extends from the V formation in a direction away from the outer ends of the lateral sections (29) and towards the V formation of the next adjacent raised portion. The body may be defined by a plurality of segments (11) individually mountable onto a base.

Description: "Ground Engaging Means" FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a ground engaging means for vehicles and is particularly suitable as a tyre or endless track for work vehicles of the skid-steer type. S CE G f iQ VNP 0F THE IN V EN T ION A skid-steer vehicle is self-propelled vehicle which has drive wheels or tracks on two opposed sides of the vehicle and which achieves a steering function by controlled rotation of one of the opposed drive wheels or tracks relative to the other. Relative rotation between the opposed drive wheels or tracks results in a change in direction of the vehicle and so provides a steering function. With such vehicles it is important that the drive wheels or tracks each have a tread formation that provides good traction with the ground and good directional control both in straight-line travel and in turning. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a ground engaging means having a tread formation which provides good traction with the ground and good directional control. In one form the invention resides in a ground engaging means comprising a body constructed to deform resiliently under load and a tread provided on the body, the tread comprising a plurality of raised portions disposed in circumferential relationship and defining grooves therebetween, each raised portion comprising a first central section and a pair of lateral sections each extending outwardly from the central section towards one side of the body, the lateral sections defining a V formation and the first central section extending from the V formation in a direction away from the outer ends of the lateral sections and towards the V formation of the next adjacent raised portion. Preferably, the end of each first central section remote from the lateral sections converges to a point. The first central section of each raised portion may include a pair of generally parallel edges and a pair of converging edges which define said point. For preference, each of the converging edges is generally parallel with a respective one of the lateral sections. Each raised portion may also include a second central section extending from the V formation in a direction opposite to the first central section. The end of each second central section remote from the lateral sections may define a tail formation having a recess. The outer ends of each pair of lateral sections preferably each terminate adjacent the respective side of the body. In one arrangement, the body is annular such that the ground engaging means is in the form of a tyre. For preference, the annular body is of one-piece construction. In such a case, the first and second central sections may co-operate to form a central rib which extends around the body. In another arrangement, the body is defined by a plurality of segments individually mountable onto a base. Where the ground engaging means is for a wheel, the base may be of any suitable form such as the rim of the wheel or a band adapte to be permanently or removably fitted onto the rim. Wher the ground engaging means is for an endless track, the base may comprise a flexible endless band passing around end rollers of the track. Preferably, each segment is configured in a V formation. For preference the V formation defined by the segment generally corresponds to the V formation defined by the lateral sections of the raised portion of the tread. Each segment is preferably hollow. Conveniently, the segment is tubular and is open at its ends. In another form the invention resides in a ground engaging segment comprising a hollow elongated body having an inner longitudinal face, an outer longitudinal face and longitudinal side faces extending between the inner and outer faces, a raised portion provided on the outer face, at least part of said raised portion being spaced inwardly of the longitudinal side faces, said raised portion comprising central section and a pair of lateral sections each extending outwardly from the first central section towards the ends of the body, the lateral sections defining a V formation and the first central section extending from the V formation in the direction away from the outer ends of the lateral sections and towards the adjacent longitudinal side face of the body. The end of the first central section remote from the lateral sections preferably converges to a point. The point defined by the central section may include a pair of converging edges which are generally co-planar with the corresponding longitudinal side face of the body. Each raised portion may include a second central section extending from the V formation in a direction opposite to the first central section. The end of each second central section remote from the lateral sections may define a tail formation having a recess. The tail formation may include a pair of diverging edges which are generally co-planar with the corresponding longitudinal side face of the body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of several specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tyre constructed in accordance with a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a segment which forms part of the tyre of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the underside of the segment of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a tyre according to a second embodiment; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tyre constructed in accordance with a third embodiment; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a segment which forms part of the tyre of Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 is a perspective view from the underside of the segment of Fig. 6. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments shown in the drawings are directed to tyres for use on vehicles of the skid-steer type. The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings is in the form of a tyre comprising a plurality of ground engaging segments 11 adapted to be individually mounted on the periphery of a wheel rim (not shown) to form a wheel. Each segment extends transversely of the direction of travel of the wheel and is configured into a V formation, as shown in the drawings. Each segment 11 comprises a hollow body 13 formed from reinforced, resilient polymeric material such as rubber. The body is tubular and open at its ends to define apertures 15 which provide access to the interior of the hollow body. The hollow body of each ground engaging segment comprises an inner longitudinal face 17 for engagement against the rim, an outer longitudinal face 19 for contacting the ground and two longitudinal side faces 21, 22 extending between the inner and outer faces. The longitudinal body further includes end faces 23 in which the apertures 15 are provided. It has been found that the relationship between the height of the segment (defined as the distance between the inner longitudinal face 17 and the outer longitudinal face 19) and the width of the segment (defined as the distance between the longitudinal faces 21 and 22) influences the load carrying and torque transfer capabilities of the tyre. Although any suitable ratio of height to width may be utilised, it has been found that ratios in the range 0.75 to 1.1 (height:width) exhibit desirable load carrying and torque transfer characteristics. The outer longitudinal face 19 is provided with a raised contacting portion 25 which includes a first central section 27 and two lateral sections 29, all of which are formed integrally with each other. The lateral sections 29 extend outwardly from one end of the central section towards respective end faces 23 and define a V formation which corresponds to the V formation defined by the segment. Each lateral section 29 has longitudinal edges 31 spaced inwardly from the longitudinal side faces 21, 22 of the body so as to define rebates 33 in the body. The central section 27 extends from the base of the V formation defined by the lateral sections 29 to the adjacent longitudinal face 21 of the hollow body, as shown in the drawings. The central section 27 includes a pair of parallel side edges 37 and a pair of converging edges 39 which define a point 40. The converging edges 39 are co-planar with the longitudinal side 21 of the " hollow body. The segments are mounted circumferentially on the rim with neighbouring longitudinal faces confronting one another. The segments are secured to the rim by means of a clamping plate (not shown) located within the cavity 16 in each segment. The clamping plate is secured to the rim by way of fixing bolts which extend through apertures in the clamping plate and corresponding apertures 45 formed in the inner longitudinal face 17 of the segment. The clamping plate has longitudinal sides which are upturned in a curved formation so as to provide some lateral support for the longitudinal side faces of the hollow body and also to avoid presenting a sharp edge which might damage the hollow body. With the segments mounted circumferentially on the rim, the raised portions 25 are in circumferentially spaced relationship and grooves 49 are defined therebetween. Specifically, the grooves are defined by co-operation between the neighbouring rebates 33 of adjacent segments. Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the tyre according to the second embodiment is • similar to the first embodiment with the exception that it is of one-piece construction rather than being formed from a plurality of segments which are assembled onto a wheel rim. In this embodiment, the tyre is in the form of an annular body which can be fitted onto a wheel rim and retained in such position by way of clamping plates as was the case in the first embodiment or any other suitable way such as by bonding. In a similar fashion to the first embodiment, it has been found that the "height to width" ratio of this one-piece construction plays an important role in determining the load carrying and torque transfer characteristics of the tyre. In this case however the "width" would be defined as the annular inner face circumference of the tyre divided by the number of cavities (effectively giving the equivalent segment width as in the first embodiment) . As was noted in the first embodiment, it has been found that ratios in the range of 0.75 to 1.1 (height:width) exhibit the most desirable load carrying and torque transfer characteristics, although any desirable ratio may actually be used. The third embodiment, which is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is similar to the first embodiment with the exception that each raised portion 25 further includes a second central section 51 which extends from the base of the V formation defined by the two lateral sections 29 in the opposite direction to the first central section 27. The free end of the second central section (being the end remote from the lateral sections 29) defines a tail formation 53 having a recess 55. The tail formation 53 has a pair of diverging edges 57 which define the recess 55 and which are co-planar with the longitudinal side 22 of the body. The recess 55 generally conforms with, and receives, the point 40 of a neighbouring segment, as shown in Fig. 5. The first and second central sections 27 and 51 co-operate to form a central circumferential rib on the tyre which is conducive to smooth ride conditions on paved and other hard surfaces. The various embodiments each provide a tyre which is of relatively simple construction but which is highly effective in operation on a skid-steer vehicle. The tread of the tyre provides for good traction with the ground and directional control both in straight-line travel and turning. The tyre has further benefits in that it is resilient so as to provide cushioning and that it is non-pneumatic thereby avoiding problems with puncturing. It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described.

Claims: THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as ollows:- 1. A ground engaging means comprising a body constructed to deform resiliently under load and a tread provided on the body, the tread comprising a plurality of raised portions disposed in circumferential relationship and defining grooves therebetween, each raised portion comprising a first central section and a pair of lateral sections each extending outwardly from the central section towards one side of the body, the lateral sections defining a V formation and the first central section extending from the V formation in a direction away from the outer ends of the lateral sections and towards the V formation of the next adjacent raised portion. 2. A ground engaging means according to claim 1 wherein said raised portions are in a circumferentially spaced relationship one with another. 3. A ground engaging means according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the end of each first central section remote from the lateral sections converges to a point. 4. A ground engaging means according to claim 3 wherein the central section of each raised portion includes a pair of generally parallel edges and a pair of converging edges which define said point. 5. A ground engaging means according to claim 4 wherein said converging edges are each generally parallel with one of the lateral sections. 6. A ground engaging means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each raised portion includes a second central section extending from the V formation in a direction opposite to the first central section. 7. A ground engaging means according to claim 6 wherein the end of each second central section remote from the lateral sections defines a tail formation having a recess. 8. A ground engaging means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer end of each lateral section terminates adjacent a respective side of the body. 9. A ground engaging means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extend across the body in general alignment with, but inwardly spaced from, the lateral sections. 10. A ground engaging means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each body is annular and of one piece construction. 11. A ground engaging means according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said body is defined by a plurality of segments individually mountable onto a base. 12. A ground engaging means according to claim 11 wherein each segment is configured in a V formation. 13. A ground engaging means according to claim 12 wherein the V formation defined by the segment generally corresponds to the V formation defined by the lateral sections of the raised portion of the tread. 14. A ground engaging means according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein each of said segments is hollow. 15. A ground engaging means according to claim 14 wherein each of said segments is tubular and open at its ends. 16. A ground engaging segment comprising a hollow elongate body having an inner ■ longitudinal face, an oute longitudinal face and side faces extending between the inne and outer faces, a raised portion provided on the oute face, at least part of said raised portion being space inwardly of the longitudinal side faces, said raised portio comprising a first central section and a pair of latera sections each extending outwardly from the first central section towards the ends of the body, the lateral sections defining a V formation and the first central section extending from the V formation in the direction away from the outer ends of the lateral sections and towards the adjacent longitudinal side of the body. 17. A ground engaging segment according to claim 16 wherein the end of the central section remote from the lateral sections converges to a point. 18. A ground engaging segment according to claim 17 wherein the point defined by the central section includes a pair of converging edges which are generally co-planar with the corresponding longitudinal side face of the body. 19. A ground engaging segment according to claim 16, 17 or 18 wherein said raised portion includes a second central section extending from the V formation in a direction opposite to the first central section. 20. A ground engaging segment according to claim 19 wherein the end of each second central section remote from the lateral sections defines a tail formation having a recess. 21. A ground engaging segment according to claim 20 wherein the tail formation includes a pair of diverging edges which are generally co-planar with the corresponding longitudinal side face of the body. 22. A ground engaging segment according to any one of claims 16 to 21 wherein said body is configured in a V formation. 23. A ground engaging segment according to claim 22 wherein the V formation defined by said body generally corresponds to the V formation defined by said lateral sections. 24. A ground engaging segment according to any one of claims 16 to 23 wherein said elongated body has a pair of end faces and the outer end of each lateral section terminates adjacent a respective one of said end faces.

Inventors: CHANDLER GRAEME ALFRED, CHANDLER, GRAEME, ALFRED
Applicants: ALTRACK LTD, ALTRACK LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B60C11
IPC codes: B60C7, B60C11, B62D55