Patent ID: 7121636

Claim:
An endless drive track for a wheel train for mobilizing a construction vehicle upon a ground surface, the wheel train including a drive wheel and first and second bogie wheels, the drive track comprising: a generally annular driven portion disposable generally about the wheel train and engageable by the drive wheel such that the drive wheel circulates the track about the wheel train; a first endless rail portion spaced laterally from and connected with the driven portion, the first rail portion having an endless generally annular body with a circumference extending about the entire perimeter of the body, a substantially continuous inner circumferential surface disposed on a first side of the body and contactable with the first bogie wheel, and a substantially continuous outer circumferential surface disposed on a second, opposing side of the body and contactable with the ground surface, the rail body having a thickness with a substantially constant value about the circumference such that a spacing distance between the inner and outer surfaces of the first rail portion at any point on the circumference is substantially equal to the spacing distance between the inner and outer surfaces at any other point on the circumference; and a second endless annular rail portion spaced laterally from the first rail portion such that the driven portion is disposed generally between the first and second rail portions, the second rail portion having an endless, generally annular body with a circumference extending about the entire perimeter of the body, a substantially continuous inner circumferential surface disposed on a first side of the second rail body and contactable with the second bogie-wheel, and a substantially continuous outer circumferential surface disposed on a second, opposing side of the second rail body and contactable with the ground surface, the second rail body having a substantially constant thickness such that a spacing distance between the inner and outer surfaces of the second rail portion at any point on the second rail circumference is substantially equal to the spacing distance between the inner and outer surfaces of the second rail portion at any other point on the second rail circumference; wherein the driven portion further includes a circumferential inner surface and a plurality of lugs spaced circumferentially about and projecting inwardly from the driven portion inner surface, each lug being engageable by the drive wheel to circulate the track about the wheel train and an outer circumferential surface contactable with the ground surface, and a plurality of recesses spaced circumferentially about and extending into the driven portion from the driven portion outer surface, the recesses being configured to increase traction between the driven portion outer surface and the ground surface.