Patent GB-412956-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in endless tracks for vehicles
IPC: B62D55/22
Filed: 1932-11-05
Abstract: 412,956. Endless-tracks for vehicles. BURGESS, C., 41, St. Vincent Place, Glasgow, and FORGED TRAK CO., 130, North Wells Street, Chicago, U.S.A. Nov. 5, 1932, No. 31276. Addition to 399,989. [Class 79 (i).] The endless track described in the parent Specification comprises shoe plates removably secured to two series of pivoted link elements which carry two series of arms of which the arms of one series interengage with the arms of the other series. According to the present invention (a) each link element is integral with an arm of one series and separate from an arm of the other series, the last-mentioned arm being rigidly secured to the link element, or (b) each link element is separate from the arms and each arm of one series is integral with an arm of the other series to form a pair of integral arms separate from but rigidly secured to a link element. The following constructions are described:-(1) Each shoe plate 112, Figs. 1-4, is secured by bolts 122 to a pair of link elements 114. Each link element is provided with an upstanding truss arm 124 and with bosses 115 127, 116 bored for the reception of pins 131, 132. The two truss arms mounted on a shoe plate are connected together at their upper ends by a pin 126 passed through bosses 125. A separate truss arm 128 is mounted on each shoe plate by means of the pins 131, 132 which pass through holes 129, 130, and each of these truss arms has a groove 134 adapted to engage the pin 126 of the next pair of link elements so as to limit the bending of the track in one direction. The pins 131 have a driving fit in the bosses 127 of the link elements and in the openings 130 of the truss arms 128. Each pin 132 has a driving fit in the bosses 116 of one pair of link elements and a working fit in the bosses 115 and in the holes 129 of the truss arm 128. The track is built up link by link, the parts being pressed on the pins as required. The ends of the track are connected together by a pin 132<1>, Fig. 1, slightly smaller than the pins 132 and secured in place by cotter pins 135 or other suitable means. (2) Figs. 5-10 (not shown), show a construction in which each link arm is separate from the truss arms, an integral pair of the latter being secured to each link element by the pins 131, 132 interconnecting the link elements. (3) In the construction shown in Fig. 13, each link element is formed with a truss arm 328, the truss arms of a pair of link elements being connected together at their upper ends by pins 336 having a driving fit. The second series of truss arms in this construction is formed by links 337, 338 pivoted at one end on a pin 336 of one pair of truss arms and having a slot 341 or 342 passing freely over the pin of the adjacent pair of truss arms. The links 337 are single and are arranged in the central line of the track, while the links 338 are in pairs arranged one on each side of a link 337. (4) In Figs. 15-19 (not shown), the pins 336 on the truss arms 328 of Fig. 13 are connected by two sets of links each pivoted at one end on a pin and having the other or free end adapted to engage the free end of a link mounted on the adjacent pin. (5) The link elements are provided with upstanding truss arms 528, Fig. 22, connected together by pins 536 on which openwork truss elements 537, Figs. 24 and 25, are pivoted. These elements are formed with ends 543 which project between the arms of the adjacent element, a face 545 on one element co-operating with a face 541 on the next element. Lugs 547 on the elements engage the truss arms 528 and prevent the elements from dropping below a predetermined position. (6) In a modification, Figs. 27 and 28 (not shown), the ends of the elements are hooked and engage the pin 536 connecting the truss arms in pairs. (7) Two kinds of links are provided, one 626, Fig. 30, having upstanding plates 629 connected together by pins 631, and the other 619 having plates 620 formed with opposed hooked ends 621 adapted to engage the pins 631 and thereby limit the angular movement of the links about their pivot pins 623. The pins 631 may be allowed to rotate so that wear caused by the hooks 621 is distributed.