GROUND ENGAGING ELEMENT

Abstract: A ground engaging element for a wheel or endless track. The ground engaging element (13) comprises a hollow body of resiliently flexible material. The hollow body having first and second mounting flanges (25, 27). The first mounting flange (25) extends outwardly and has a mounting face (31) adapted to contact a base (11) and a further face (33) spaced from said mounting face. The second mounting flange (27) having a face (35) so disposed as to be spaced from the base (11) when the mounting face (31) of the first mounting flange (25) is in contact with the base (11) whereby the first mounting flange of a similar ground engaging element can be received in said space with the face (35) of said second mounting flange (27) in contact with said further face (33) of the first mounting flange.

Description: "Ground Engaging Element" THIS INVENTION relates to ground engaging elements for wheels and endless tracks for motor vehicles and to wheels and endless tracks incorporating such ground engaging elements. In one form the invention resides in a ground engaging element for mounting on a base, comprising a hollow body of resiliently flexible material, the hollow body having first and second mounting flanges, the first mounting flange extending outwardly and having a mounting face adapted to contact said .base and a further face space from said mounting face, the second mounting flange having a face so in¬ disposed as to be spaced from the base when the mounting face of the first mounting flange is in contact with the base whereby the first mounting flange of a similar ground engaging element can be received in said space with the face of said second mounting flange in contact with said further face of the first mounting flange. With this arrangement, two of said ground engaging elements disposed in side by side relation can be secured to said base with the first mounting flange of one element disposed between the base and the second mounting flange of the other element, and those two mounting flanges being fixed to the base by any suitable fixing means such as one or more fixing bolts passing through aligned holes formed in the two mounting flanges. Preferably the hollow body has a pair of longitudinal side faces, and an outer longitudinal face for contacting the groun . Preferably, said longitudinal side faces are generally planar and so arranged as to be generally normal to the plane of said base. Preferably, the junction between each side wall and the adjacent mounting flange iε curved. Preferably, a stabilising flange is provided on the side of t e body corresponding to said first mounting flange to extend inwardly of the body. Preferably, the hollow body is subεtantially tubular and open along a longitudinal portion thereof, said open longitudinal portion being disposed εo aε to confront said base when the element is fixed to said base. Preferably the ends of the tubular body are open. In circumstances where the ground engaging element forms part of a wheel for a motor vehicle, said base to which the ground engaging element is fixed may be in the form of a rim of the wheel. In circumstances where the ground engaging element forms part of an endless track of a motor vehicle, said base to which the ground engaging element is fixed may comprise an endless band pasεing around spaced end rollerε. The combination of the endless band and the ground engaging elements mounted thereon provide the endless track. In another form the invention resides in a wheel comprising a rim and a plurality of ground engaging elements as aforesaid mounted on the periphery of said rim to provide a ground engaging surface. The resilient nature of the ground engaging elements provides cushioning for the ground engaging surface. In still another form the invention resides in an endless track for a vehicle compriεing an endless band and a plurality of ground engaging elements as aforesaid mounted on the band to provide a ground engaging εurface. The reεilient nature of the ground engaging elementε provideε cuεhioning for the ground engaging εurface. The endless base may be in the form of a continuous flexible band which is able to flex so as to provide further cushioning for the vehicle. Preferably, neighbouring ground engaging elements are cloεely aεsociated with each other to provide mutual support when deflecting under load. The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary schematic εide view of an endless track for a tracked vehicle, showing one ground engaging element in bold lines and neighbouring elementε in phantom lineε . T e embodiment εhown in the drawingε iε directed to an endless track for a tracked vehicle. The endleεε track compriεeε an endless flexible band 11 mounted between a pair of end rollers (not shown) of the track. In this embodiment, the endless band is of one piece construction and is constructed from reinforced, resiliently flexible material. A plurality of ground engaging elements 13 are detachably fixed to the endless band 11 by way of fixing means 15 to be described in more -detail later. Each ground engaging element 13 is in the form of a hollow body of tubular form. The hollow body is elongated and is arranged to extend across the endless band 11 in a direction subεtantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the endless track. The hollow body includes a pair of spaced longitudinal side walls 17 and a longitudinal outer wall 19 which has an outer face 21 arranged for contacting the ground. A tread may be p ovided on the outer face 21 if desired. Each longitudinal side wall 17 has a longitudinal outer face 23 which is substantially normal to the plane of the endless band 11, as εhown in the drawings. Each ground engaging element 13 is provided with a first mounting flange 25 and a second mounting flange 27. The first mounting flange 25 extends outwardly of one longitudinal side wall 17 in the direction away from the cavity 29 defined within the hollow body. The second mounting flange 27 extends inwardly from the other longitudinal side wall 17 towards the cavity 29. The two mounting flanges 25 and 27 also extend along the length of the hollow body. The firεt mounting flange 25 haε a mounting face 31 which is adapted to contact the outer face 12 of the endlesε band 11 when the ground engaging element is in position on the endless band. Additionally, the first mounting flange 25 has a further face 33 spaced from the mounting face 31, said further face 33 being the outer face of the mounting flange. The second mounting flange 27 has a face 35 which is so disposed to be spaced from the endless band 11 when the mounting face 31 of the first mounting flange iε in contact with the endless band whereby a first mounting flange 25' of a neighbouring element 13' can be received in εaid space with the face 35 of said εecond mounting flange in contact with εaid further face 33' of the first mounting flange of said neighbouring element 13' . The co-operating first and second flanges of neighbouring ground engaging elements 13 and 13' are fixed to the base 11 by fixing means 15 as previously mentioned. The fixing means 15 is in the form of a clamping plate 41 which bears against the outer face of the second mounting flange 27 of element 13 and a plurality of bolts 43 each having a head 45 countersunk into the inner face of endless band 11 and a threaded shank 47 which extends through aligned apertures (not shown) in the co-operating firεt and second flanges 25' and 27 as well as in the clamping plate 41 to receive a nut 49 which co-operates with the bolt and clamping plate to retain the co-operating mounting flanges in position. The ground engaging element 13 is provided with a stabiliεing flange 51 which extendε inwardly of the longitudinal side wall 17 on which is provided with the first mounting flange 25. The stabilising flange 51 has an inner face which iε integral with and planar with the mounting face 31 of the firεt mounting flange 33. When the ground engaging elements 13 are secured to the endless band 11, the outer faces 23 of neighbouring longitudinal side walls 17 are in contact with each other so aε to provide mutual support when under load. Aε shown in the drawings, the junctions between the outer wall 21 and the side walls 17 are curved. Similarly, the junctions between the side walls 17 and the respective first and second mounting flangeε 25 and 27 respectively are also curved. The aεεembly of the ground engaging elements 13 and the endless base 12 provide a ground engaging surface for the endless track. The ground engaging surface iε cushioned by virtue of the resilient nature of the ground engaging elements 13. This provides cushioning for the vehicle and additional cushioning is provided by virtue of the resilient nature of the endless band 11. ϊt should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment deεcribed. In particular, while the embodiment has been described in relation to endless tracks for vehicles, it should be appreciated that the invention can also be applied to wheels. In this regard, the ground engaging elements would be mounted around the periphery of a rim to provide a wheel assembly having a ground contacting surface which is cushioned by virtue of the resilient nature of the ground engaging elementε. Additionally, while in the embodiment which haε been deεcribed the elements extend acrosε the track or wheel in a direction which is normal to the direction of travel, it should be understood that the elements could be disposed obliquely with respect to the direction of travel. Furthermore, while in this embodiment described the elements are straight lengthwise, they could be of any suitable shape such as of V-formation to create a chevron pattern when in place on the wheel or track.

Claims: THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows : - 1. A ground engaging element for mounting on a base, comprising a hollow body of resiliently flexible material, the hollow body having first and second mounting flanges, the first mounting flange extending outwardly and having a mounting face adapted to contact said base and a further face space from said mounting face, the second mounting flange having a face so disposed as to be spaced from the base when the mounting face of the first mounting flange is in contact with the base whereby the firεt mounting flange of a similar ground engaging element can be received in said space with the face of said second mounting flange in contact with said further face of the firεt mounting flange. 2. A ground engaging element according to claim 1 wherein the hollow body has a pair of longitudinal side faces, and an outer longitudinal face for contacting the ground. 3. A ground engaging element according to claim 2 wherein said longitudinal side faces are generally planar and so arranged as to be generally normal to the plane of said base. 4. A ground engaging element according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the junction between each εide wall and the adjacent mounting flange is curved. 5. A ground engaging element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a stabilising flange is provided on the side of the body corresponding to said first mounting flange to extend inwardly of the body. 6. A ground engaging element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hollow body is εubεtantially tubular and open along a longitudinal portion thereof, said open longitudinal portion being disposed so aε to confront said base when the element is fixed to said base. 7. A ground engaging element according to claim 6 wherein the endε of the tubular body are open. 8. A wheel compriεing a rim and a plurality of ground engaging elementε as claimed in any one of the preceding claims mounted on the periphery of said rim to provide a ground engaging surface. 9. A wheel according to claim 8 wherein neighbouring ground engaging elements are closely asεociated with each other to provide mutual support when deflecting under load. 10. An endless track for a vehicle comprising an endless band and a plurality of ground engaging elements as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 mounted on the band to provide a ground engaging surface. 11. An endlesε track according to claim 10 wherein neighbouring ground engaging elementε are closely associated with each other to provide mutual support when deflecting under load.

Inventors: ROLLINSON PHILLIP JOHN, ROLLINSON, PHILLIP, JOHN
Applicants: ALTRACK LTD, ALTRACK LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B62D55
IPC codes: B60B9, B60C7, B62D55