Metallic core of rubber track

Abstract: A metallic core (30) for a rubber track includes wing portions (31) to be embedded in an elastic member of the rubber track, an engaging portion (32) at the center of the core for engaging a driving sprocket , and a pair of protrusions (33) provided on both sides of the engaging portion and projecting from the inner circumferential surface of the rubber track. Each of the protrusions (33) is provided with at least one extension (36) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rubber track, and the top surfaces (38,37) at the extension and at the center of the protrusion for rolling an idler (34) thereon are connected to each other with a surface (39) gently inclined downward toward the center of the protrusion, thereby maintaining idlers rolling on the metallic cores of a rubber track at a substantially constant level without upward and downward movements.

Description: This invention relates to a metallic core of a rubber track used for moving construction machinery and construction working machinery. Recently rubber tracks have been progressively widely used for agricultural machinery as well as construction machinery and construction working machinery in place of iron shoe tracks which had been used as travelling devices for construction machinery and construction working machinery. In general, the rubber track includes an endless belt-shaped rubber-like elastic member, a number of metallic cores embedded therein and aligned in the longitudinal direction thereof and extending in traverse directions thereof, and steel cords (tension-resistant members) embedded in the endless elastic member to surround the metallic cores circumferentially outwardly. As such rubber tracks are made of rubber-like materials, vibrations to be transmitted to personnel are mitigated and paved roads are not damaged. Therefore, rubber tracks have been widely used. In recent years, particularly, large type rubber tracks have been developed for use in construction machinery. It is often required to use such rubber tracks in substitution for iron shoe tracks for construction machinery which has been equipped with the iron shoe tracks. In order to fulfill this requirement, therefore, the rubber tracks have become of particular configuration and various developments have been made especially in relation to metallic cores embedded in rubber tracks. In general, a number of metallic cores are embedded in a rubber track with constant intervals, and the metallic cores are provided with protrusions projecting into the inside of the rubber track for rolling thereon lower idlers of the machinery. On the other hand, the machinery body of several tons is supported by ten or more lower idlers so that they are subjected to a heavy weight. With this construction, therefore, the metallic cores are rocked about their longitudinal axes due to the weight every time the lower idlers have just ridden on the protrusions of the metallic cores and transferred onto adjacent metallic cores. As a result, the lower idlers are repeatedly raised and lowered at the metallic cores and between the metallic cores as a whole, so that vibrations are transmitted to personnel on the machinery due to the upward and downward movement of the lower idlers. In view of this, a metallic core 1 as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings has been proposed, whose protrusions 2 have curved top surfaces 3 depressed at their centers, on which the lower idlers roll. This construction is intended to mitigate the vibrations by reducing the difference between the rocking movements of the metallic cores about their axes and the vertical movements of the lower idlers. As shown in a travelling device or a vehicle in Fig. 2 of the drawings, however, the rubber track extends around a driving wheel 4 and an idler 5 to be driven by the driving wheel 4. The upper part of the rubber track moving on the side of the vehicle body 6 is supported by upper idlers 7 mounted on the vehicle body 6. However, the upper idlers 7 are generally metallic rollers which support the metallic cores 1 embedded in the rubber track by contacting the top surfaces 3 of the protrusions 2 of the metallic cores 1. Therefore, if the top surfaces 3 of the protrusions 2 are concave as described above, the upper idlers repeatedly collide against the ends of the protrusions 2 directly to produce annoying noises and cause damage to the protrusions or the upper idlers as the case may be. This failure results from the concave top surfaces 3 of the protrusions 2 taking into consideration the contact only with the lower idlers 8 without taking into account of the upper idlers 7. In this case, the ends of the upper surfaces 3 of the protrusions 2 aid in increasing the violence of collision of the metallic cores 1 against the upper idlers 7. Another example of metallic cores of a rubber track hitherto used for construction machinery and the like is shown in plan view in Fig. 3 and in sectional view in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the metallic core has wing portions 11 to be embedded in a rubber-like elastomer and engaging portions 12 adapted to engage teeth of a sprocket as a driving wheel. The engaging portion 12 is generally rounded so as to match the teeth of the sprocket and in the form of a Quonset-hut whose cross-sectional area is narrower than that of the wing portions 11. The metallic core is formed with a pair of protrusions 13 extending from the inner surface of the rubber track and on both sides of the engaging portion 12. The protrusions 13 serve to prevent the metallic core from removing from an idler 14 provided on the construction machinery, and the top surfaces 15 of the protrusions 13 form travelling surfaces on which the idler 14 rolls. In general, the protrusions 13 are provided with extensions 16 further projecting from the wing portions 11 in longitudinal directions of the rubber track. The top surfaces 17 of the extensions 16 are gently inclined surfaces. The top surfaces 17 may be flat surfaces which are flush with the top surfaces 15 of the protrusions 13. In the metallic cores 11 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the idler 14 arrives at the position A or begins to ride on the top surfaces of the protrusions 13, while rolling on the upper surfaces 15 of the protrusions 13, the weight of the machinery acts on the extensions 16₁ in the form of a cantilever of the protrusions 13. It is unavoidable for the metallic core to tilt (shown in dot-and-dash lines) in the direction shown by an arrow X in Fig. 4. At this moment, the idler 14 tends to sink somewhat, while tilting together with the metallic core. When the idler 14 arrives at the position B or at the center of the upper surfaces 15 of the protrusions 13, the idler 14 returns to its original level. When the idler 14 arrives at the position C or on the extensions 16₂, the metallic core tilts (shown in two-dot-and-dash lines) in the direction shown by an arrow Y due to the weight of the machinery in the same manner as at the point A, and the idler 14 again sinks. The above phenomenon is summarized as follows. The idler 14 rolls on the metallic cores, while moving upwardly and downwardly and hence vibrations always occur which are transmitted to personnel. The prevention of the vibrations has been an urgent problem. Moreover, even if all the top surfaces of metallic cores are flat, the sinking of the idler could not be avoided. In this case, furthermore, when the idler transfers from the upper surfaces of one metallic core to those of the adjacent metallic core, it is impossible to avoid collision of the idler against the ends of the extensions of the metallic core. Therefore, undesirable sounds and additional vibrations are produced by such collisions. A further example of hitherto used metallic cores is shown in plan view in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the metallic core is formed with extensions 26 of protrusions 23 projecting from wing portions 11, one extension 26 in one longitudinal direction of a rubber track and the other extension 26 in the opposite direction thereto. In this example, the top surfaces of the protrusions 23 may be gently inclined as shown in Fig. 4 or may be flat. With this construction, the idler (not shown) preferably continuously rolls alternately on the top surfaces 25 on both sides of the metallic cores. However, there occur the sinking of the idler and collision of the idler against the extensions 26 of the protrusions 23. Therefore, it is still required to prevent vibrations caused by the sinking and collision. As can be seen from the above explanation, in the large type rubber tracks used in large type construction working machinery such as bulldozers and power shovels, metallic cores tend to tilt about their axes when the idler passes on the metallic cores. The repeated tiltings of the cores cause vibrations troublesome to personnel and give rise to cracks in a rubber track made of an elastomer and damage thereof, thereby considerably shortening the service life of the rubber track. It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved metallic core of a rubber track, which eliminates all the disadvantages of the prior art and is substantially free from repeated tilting thereof so that vibrations are prevented to improve the durability of the rubber track. The present invention provides a metallic core for a rubber track including wing portions extending on both sides of the core and to be embedded in an elastic member of the rubber track in width directions thereof, a sprocket engaging portion at the center of the core for engaging a driving sprocket, and a pair of protrusions provided on both sides of the sprocket engaging portion and projecting from the inner circumferential surface of the rubber track, each of the protrusions being provided with at least one extension extending in the longitudinal direction of the rubber track, characterized in that the top surfaces at the extension and at the center of the protrusion for rolling an idler thereon are connected to each other with a surface gently inclined downward toward the center of the protrusion. In a preferred embodiment, each of the protrusions are provided with one extension, respectively, extending in the longitudinal directions opposite to each other, and the top surfaces at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions are flat surfaces and the inclined surfaces are also flat surfaces or smoothly curved surfaces. The top surfaces at the extensions are preferably higher than the top surfaces at the centers of the protrusions substantially by a sunk distance of an idler rolling on the protrusions due to the weight of a vehicle. The invention is more advantageously applicable to metallic cores having extensions extending alternately in opposite directions capable of providing continuous rolling surfaces for idlers. The invention resides in the discovery that an idler rolling on metallic cores of a rubber track can be maintained at a substantially constant level without upward and downward movements by previously lowering the rolling surfaces at the centers of the metallic cores corresponding to the sunk distance of the idler which has just ridden on the extensions of the protrusions of the metallic cores. In the prior art, an idler is sunk at the extensions of protrusions, returned to the initial level at the center of the protrusions and again sunk when leaving the protrusions so that the idler repeatedly undergoes upward and downward movements when rolling on the metallic cores. In contrast therewith, according to the invention the rolling surfaces at the centers of the protrusions are previously lowered by a distance corresponding to the sunk distance of the idler so that the idler rolls on the metallic cores at a substantially constant level. In general, the difference in height between the top surfaces of the extensions and the centers of the protrusions are preferably of the order of 1 to 5 mm although it depends upon weights of vehicles and numbers of idlers. In a further embodiment of the invention, the protrusions are provided on both the ends with extensions, and said protrusions are formed with shoulders along their longitudinal directions and in symmetry with each other to form upper top surfaces which are flat for an upper idler and lower top surfaces for a lower idler, the lower top surfaces at the extensions being higher than those at the centers of the protrusions. According to this embodiment the upper top surfaces are flat rolling surfaces so that upper idlers smoothly contact the upper surfaces. It is therefore possible to eliminate vibrations and undesirable sounds due to metal-to-metal contact at these portions and to drive the rubber track without upward and downward movements. The upper top surfaces may be provided with extensions as in the lower top surfaces or may be devoid of extensions as the case may be. The lower top surfaces are rolling surfaces for lower idlers and comprise the features described above for maintaining the lower idler rolling on the metallic cores at the substantially constant level. The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a metallic core of the prior art; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a vehicle equipped with rubber tracks; Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating another example of metallic cores of the prior art; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cores taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a further example of metallic cores of the prior art; Fig. 6 is a plan view of metallic cores of a first embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the metallic cores taken along the line VII-VII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the relation between the metallic cores shown in Fig. 6 and an idler rolling thereon; Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a second embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a third embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a fourth embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a fifth embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a sixth embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a metallic core of a seventh embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 15 is a sectional view illustrating the metallic core of Fig. 14, on which a lower idler has just ridden; Fig. 16 is a sectional view illustrating the metallic core of Fig. 14, on which the lower idler has arrived at the center thereof; Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a metallic core of an eighth embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 18 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a ninth embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 19 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a tenth embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a metallic core of an eleventh embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 21 is a sectional view of a metallic core of a twelfth embodiment according to the invention; and Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a metallic core of a thirteenth embodiment according to the invention. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate metallic cores of the first embodiment according to the invention. The metallic core includes wing portions 31 to be embedded in the rubber elastomer of a rubber track, an engaging portion 32 integrally formed at the center of the metallic core, and a pair of protrusions 33 provided on both the sides of the engaging portion 32 and having top surfaces 35 on which idlers 34 roll. The protrusions 33 include extensions 36₁ and 36₂ extending beyond the wing portions 31 in opposite directions, respectively. Each of the protrusions 33 has a flat surface 37 at the center and a flat surface 38 at the extension 36₁ or 36₂, the former being higher by D (Fig. 8) than the latter, and a gently inclined flat surface 39 connecting the flat surfaces 37 and 38. The difference D between the flat surfaces 37 and 38 is substantially equal to the sunk distance of idlers. Fig. 8 schematically illustrates the relation between the metallic cores 30 according to the embodiment and the idler 34 rolling thereon. When the idler 34 has arrived at the position P to ride on the top surface 38₁ of the protrusion 33₁ of the metallic core 30₁, the top surface 38₁ of the extension 36₁ of the protrusion 33₁ is inclined due to the weight of a vehicle. The idler 34 then rolls on the inclined surface 39₁ to the top surface 37₁ at the center of the protrusion 33₁. As the top surface 37₁ at the center is at a lower level by the sunk distance of the idler 34 than the top surface 38₁ at extension 36₁, the idler 34 does not move vertically. At the moment, the idler 34 has already ridden on the top surface 37₂ at the center of the other protrusion 33₂ of the core 30₁. When the idler 34 is in the position R or about to leave the metallic core 30₁ and ride on the top surface of the protrusion 33₃ of the adjacent metallic core 30₂, the extension 36₂ is tilted and the idler 34 then rolls on the inclined surface 39₂ to arrive at the flat top surface 38₂ of the extension 36₂. In this case, the idler 34 substantially does not move vertically. At this moment, the idler 34 has already ridden on the top surface 38₃ of the extension 36₃ of the protrusion 33₃ of the metallic core 30₂. Thereafter, the idler 34 rolls on the top surfaces 35 of the protrusions 33 in the same manner without vertical movements. Fig. 9 illustrates the second embodiment of the invention wherein the inclined surface 39 connecting the flat surfaces 37 and 38 is slightly curved. Moreover, Fig. 10 shows the third embodiment of the invention wherein the top surfaces 38 and 37 at the extensions and the centers of protrusions 33 are flat surfaces and connected by concave surfaces. The smooth rolling of idlers are ensured by both the metallic cores according to these embodiments. In the metallic core 30 of the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 11 similar to that of Fig. 10, inclined surfaces of the two protrusions of the core adjacent the flat top surfaces 37 and 38 are connected by V-shaped flat surfaces 39 which meet at a point 39₀ which ensure the smooth rolling of idlers. This metallic core 30 does not have flat surfaces at the center of the protrusions. With the metallic core 30 of the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the top surfaces 38 and 37 at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions are connected by V-shaped flat surfaces 39 having flat bottoms 39₀. In the metallic core of the sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the metallic core 30 shown in Fig. 11 is modified to shift somewhat the V-shaped surfaces of the protrusions relative to each other. These metallic cores also ensure the smooth rolling of idlers. As can be seen from the above description, according to the invention vibrations due to upward and downward movements of the idlers rolling on metallic cores are effectively prevented by successfully modifying the configuration of rolling surfaces of the metallic cores to eliminate the uncomfortableness of personnel due to vibrations during working and travelling of a vehicle equipped with rubber tracks. The invention can provide metallic cores capable of considerably reducing fatigue of the personnel on the vehicle working for a long time. Fig. 14 illustrates in a perspective view a metallic core 40 of the seventh embodiment of the invention. The metallic core 40 includes wing portions 41 extending on both the sides, a pair of protrusions 42 and 43 formed at the center of the core, and a sprocket engaging portion 44 formed between the protrusions 42 and 43. Each of the protrusions 42 and 43 extends beyond the width W of the core to form extensions 42₀ and 42₁ or 43₀ and 43₁. Each of the protrusions 42 and 43 is formed with shoulders on the side of the sprocket engaging portion 44 to form an upper top surface 45 on the outer side and lower top surfaces 46 on the inner side. The upper top surfaces 45 of the protrusions 42 and 43 are rolling surfaces for an upper idler 7 and flat except chamfered portions. On the other hand, the lower top surfaces 46 are rolling surfaces for lower idlers 60. The lower idler 60 consists of a large diameter portion 61 and small diameter portions 62 which roll on the lower top surfaces 46 of the metallic core. The lower top surfaces 46 are highest at the ends of the extensions 42₀, 42₁, 43₀ and 43₁ and progressively lower toward their centers to form V-shaped inclined surfaces on which the lower idlers 60 roll. Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view at the center of the metallic core, illustrating a lower idler 60 in phantom lines which has just ridden on the end of the lower top surface 46 formed on the extension 42₀ or 43₀ of the metallic core shown in Fig. 14. At this moment, the weight of a vehicle acts upon the end of the lower top surface 46 so that the metallic core 40 tilts to the left viewed in Fig. 15. The sunk distance D₀ of the lower idler 60 becomes comparatively large. When the lower idler 60 has reached the center of the metallic core 40 as shown in Fig. 16, the weight of the vehicle acts upon the metallic core 40 uniformly so that the inclination of the core disappears. Therefore, the sunk distance of the lower idler 60 becomes smaller or the lower idler 60 is to be raised. However, as the lower top surfaces 46 are V-shaped surfaces, when the lower idler 60 arrives at the center of the lower top surfaces 46, the lower idler 60 is to be lowered so that the lower idler 60 is maintained at substantially the same level without vertical movement. When the lower idler 60 arrives at the other end of the protrusions, the metallic core 40 is tilted to the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 15 and the sunk distance D becomes larger similar to that D₀ shown in Fig. 15. As can be seen from the above explanation, when the lower idler 60 rolling on the lower top surface is at the proximity of the extensions of the protrusions of the metallic core 40, the sunk distance of the lower idler 60 becomes larger due to the tilting of the metallic core 40, while when the lower idler 60 is at the substantial center of the protrusions, the sunk distance of the lower idler 60 becomes larger owing to the bottom of the particular shape of the lower top surfaces, but the sunk distance due to inclination of the metallic core disappears. Consequently, when the lower idler 60 is rolling on the lower top surfaces 46 of the metallic core 40, the sunk distance is maintained substantially unchanged. Therefore, the upward and downward movements of the lower idler 60 become less and vibrations due to such movements are reduced. As described above, according to this embodiment the rolling surfaces of the metallic core for upper and lower idlers are functionally divided to provide exclusive rolling surfaces for them, respectively. The lower top surfaces 46 may be of various shapes other than the V-shaped surfaces. For example, the flat surfaces are joined by smoothly curved surfaces to form a wholly rounded V-shaped surface as shown in Fig. 17 which is a central cross-sectional view illustrating the eighth embodiment of the invention. Moreover, the ends of the lower top surface at extensions 42₀, 42₁, 43₀ and 43₁ may be flat. Fig. 18 illustrates the ninth embodiment of the invention whose lower top surfaces 46 in the form of an inverted flat trapezoid have flat surfaces 48 at the center in addition to flat surfaces 47 at the ends. Fig. 19 illustrates the tenth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the lower top surface 46₂ of one protrusion 42 has a flat surface 47₁ at the extension 42₀, a downward inclined surface 49 adjacent the flat surface 47₁ and a flat surface 47₂ at the extension 42₁ adjacent the downward inclined surface 49. On the other hand, the lower top surface of the other protrusion 43 has a flat surface 47₃ at the extension 43₀ corresponding to the extension 42₀ at a level substantially the same as that of the flat surface 47₂, an upward inclined surface 49 and a flat surface 47₄ at a level substantially the same as that of the flat surface 47₁ as shown in broken lines. With this embodiment, the same effect as in the preceding embodiment is obtained although the lower idler 60 rolls on the lower top surfaces 46 with slight swinging on both the sides of the longitudinal direction of the rubber truck. In such a case, the flat surfaces 47₁, 47₂, 47₃ and 47₄ may of course be merged with each other to form a smoothly curved surface. Fig. 20 illustrates in a perspective view a metallic core of the eleventh embodiment of the invention, whose extensions 72₀ and 73₁ of protrusions 72 and 73 extend alternately in opposite directions beyond the wing portions 71, which are different from those in the embodiment shown in Fig. 14. In this embodiment, likewise, the upper top surfaces 75 are flat for rolling the upper idlers, while the lower top surfaces 76 are V-shaped surfaces for rolling the lower idlers. Even with this metallic core, the lower top surfaces 76 may be various shapes as described above. A further example is shown as the twelfth embodiment in Fig. 21 which is a cross-sectional view of a metallic core taken along the center of the engaging portion. In this embodiment, the lower top surface 76 of one protrusion 72 has a flat surface 78₁ at the extension 72₀, a downward inclined surface 79 and a flat surface 78₂. On the other hand, the lower top surface of the other protrusion 73 has a flat surface 78₃ at a level substantially the same as that of the flat surface 78₂, an upward inclined surface 79 and a flat surface 78₄ at the extension 73₁ at a level substantially the same as that of the flat surface 78₁ as shown in broken lines. While the lower idler rolling between pairs of protrusions is explained in the above embodiment, the invention is not limited to such a case. The invention is applicable to the case that lower idler is rolling on the outer sides of the pairs of protrusions as shown in Fig. 22 illustrating the thirteenth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the protrusions 82 of the metallic core 80 are formed with upper top surfaces 85 for rolling the upper idlers on the sides of the engaging portion 84 and with lower top surfaces 86 for rolling the lower idlers on the side of the wing portions 81. The same effect can be obtained in this embodiment. As can be seen from the above description, according to the above embodiments the rolling surfaces for upper and lower idlers are divided by their functions to provide top surfaces commensurate with the upper and lower idlers, respectively. As a result, vibrations and undesirable sound caused by the rolling of the upper idlers are considerably reduced, and upward and downward movements of the lower idlers caused by the rolling thereof are mitigated to decrease vibrations to be transmitted to personnel. With the arrangement according to the embodiments, moreover, the lower idlers contact the protrusions of the metallic cores in a deep fitted relationship to contribute to prevention of the idlers from getting off the rubber track. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims: A metallic core (30;40) for a rubber track including wing portions (31;41) extending on both sides of the core and to be embedded in an elastic member of the rubber track in width directions thereof, a sprocket engaging portion (32;44) at the center of the core for engaging a driving sprocket , and a pair of protrusions (33;42,43) provided on both sides of the sprocket engaging portion and projecting from the inner circumferential surface of the rubber track, each of the protrusions (33;42,43) being provided with at least one extension (36₁,36₂;42₀,42₁,43₀,43₁) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rubber track, characterized in that the top surfaces (38,37;45,46) at the extension and at the center of the protrusion for rolling an idler thereon are connected to each other with a surface generally inclined downward toward the center of the protrusion. A metallic core as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of the protrusions (33) of the metallic core (30) is provided with an extension (36₁,36₂) extending in the longitudinal directions opposite to each other. A metallic core as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the top surfaces (38) at the extensions are higher than the top surfaces (37) at the centers of the protrusions (33) substantially by a sunk distance (D) of an idler (34) rolling on the protrusions when the idler has ridden on the extensions. A metallic core as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the top surfaces (38,37) at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions (33) are flat surfaces and the inclined surfaces (39) are also flat surfaces. A metallic core as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the top surfaces (38,37) at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions (33) are flat surfaces and the inclined surfaces (39) are slightly curved surfaces. A metallic core as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the top surfaces (38,37) at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions (33) are flat surfaces and connected by concave surfaces. A metallic core as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the top surfaces (38,37) at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions (33) are connected by V-shaped flat surfaces (39). A metallic core as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the top surfaces (38,37) at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions (33) are connected by V-shaped flat surfaces (39), and the V-shaped flat surfaces are shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction of the rubber track. A metallic core as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the top surfaces (38,37) at the extensions and at the centers of the protrusions (33) are connected by V-shaped flat surfaces (39) having flat bottoms (39₀), respectively. A metallic core as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the protrusions (42,43) are provided on both the ends with extensions (42₀,42₁,43₀,43₁), and said protrusions are formed with shoulders along their longitudinal directions and in symmetry with each other to form upper top surfaces (45) for an upper idler (7) and lower top surfaces (46) for a lower idler (60), the lower top surfaces (46) at the extensions being higher than those at the centers of the protrusions. A metallic core as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said lower top surfaces (46) are formed on the inner side of the upper top surfaces (45). A metallic core as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said lower top surfaces (46) are formed on the outer side of the upper top surfaces (45). A metallic core as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said lower top surfaces (46) are highest at the ends and progressively lower toward their centers to form V-shaped inclined surfaces. A metallic core as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the lower top surfaces (46) are joined by smoothly curved surfaces to form a wholly rounded V-shaped surface. A metallic core as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the lower top surfaces (46) are in the form of an inverted flat trapezoid having flat surfaces (48) at the centers and flat surfaces (47) at the ends. A metallic core as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the said lower top surface (46₂) of the one protrusion (42) includes a first flat surface (47₁) at the first extension (42₀), a downward inclined surface (49) adjacent the first flat surface (47₁), and a second flat surface (47₂) at the second extension (42₁) adjacent the downward inclined surface (49); and the lower top surface of the other protrusion (43) includes a first flat surface (47₃) at the extension (43₀) corresponding to said first extension (42₀) at a level substantially the same as that of the second flat surface (47₂), an upward inclined surface (49) adjacent the first flat surface (47₃), and a second flat surface (47₄) adjacent the upward inclined surface (49) at the other extension corresponding the second extension (42₁). A metallic core as claimed in any of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the upper top surfaces (45) of the protrusions (42,43) for the upper idler (7) are flat except chamfered portions thereof. A metallic core as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said protrusions (72,73) are provided with one extension (72₀,73₁), respectively, extending in opposite directions to each other, and said protrusions are formed with shoulders along their longitudinal directions and in symmetry with each other to form upper top surfaces (75) which are flat for an upper idler and lower top surfaces (76) for a lower idler, the lower top surfaces at the extensions being higher than those at the centers of the protrusions (72,73). A metallic core as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said protrusions (72,73) are provided with one extension (72₀,73₁), respectively, extending in opposite directions to each other, and said protrusions are formed with shoulders along their longitudinal directions and in symmetry with each other to form upper top surfaces (75) which are flat for an upper idler and lower top surfaces (76) for a lower idler, the lower top surface (76) of each of the protrusions (72,73) including a flat surface (78₁,78₄) at the extension, a downward inclined surface (79) adjacent the flat surface and a flat surface (78₂,78₃) adjacent the downward inclined surface.

Inventors: TSURU EIJI, TSURU, EIJI
Applicants: BRIDGESTONE CORP, BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B62D55
IPC codes: B62D55