Track system for traction of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11897558-B2
Application number	US-202016989823-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 4, 2015
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A track for traction of a vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, an industrial vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle), a military vehicle, or another off-road vehicle, is provided. The track comprises a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground and a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface and distributed in a longitudinal direction of the track. The traction projections may be designed to enhance their resistance to deterioration during use. For example, a blowout resistance of each traction projection may be enhanced to prevent or at least reduce a potential for blowout of the traction projection under repeated loads which may induce heat buildup within it. Also, a wear resistance of the traction projection may be enhanced such that the traction projection wears less rapidly. A system for protecting a track against potential occurrence of blowout is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A track for a vehicle, the track being mountable around a track-engaging assembly configured to move the track around the track-engaging assembly, the track-engaging assembly comprising a plurality of wheels for engaging the track, the track being elastomeric to flex around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising:
a carcass having a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and
a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface of the carcass and distributed in a longitudinal direction of the track, wherein at least one of the plurality of traction projections comprises:
a first material; and
a second material disposed inwardly of the first material;

wherein at least one of:
a wear resistance of the first material is greater than a wear resistance of the second material;
a modulus of elasticity of the first material is different from a modulus of elasticity of the second material;
a tensile strength of the first material is different from a tensile strength of the second material;
a resistance to heat buildup of the first material is less than a resistance to heat buildup of the second material; and
a crack propagation resistance of the first material is greater than a crack propagation resistance of the second material;

wherein a ratio of a volume of the second material over a volume of the at least one of the plurality of traction lugs is at least 0.3; and
wherein an entirety of the second material projects outwardly from the ground engaging surface of the carcass.

2. The track of claim 1 , further comprising a blowout sensor enclosed in an elastomeric material of the track, wherein the blowout sensor is configured to sense a characteristic of the track that is indicative of a potential deterioration of the track and/or a potential blowout of the track.

3. The track of claim 2 , wherein at least part of the blowout sensor is disposed in a given one of the plurality of traction projections.

4. The track of claim 2 , wherein the blowout sensor is configured to issue a signal processable by a processing apparatus to perform an action relating to the vehicle based on the characteristic of the track.

5. The track of claim 4 , wherein the action relating to the vehicle is at least one of:
an action controlling a powertrain of the vehicle;
an action controlling a speed of the vehicle;
an action limiting the speed of the vehicle;
an action reducing the speed of the vehicle; and
an action causing a communication device to communicate information regarding the vehicle to a user of the communication device.

6. The track of claim 1 , wherein the wear resistance of the first material is an abrasion resistance of the first material and the wear resistance of the second material is an abrasion resistance of the second material.

7. The track of claim 6 , wherein the abrasion resistance of the first material and the abrasion resistance of the second material are expressed as a volumetric loss and a ratio of the abrasion resistance of the second material over the abrasion resistance of the first material is less than or equal to 0.9, less than or equal to 0.7, or less than or equal to 0.5.

8. The track of claim 1 , wherein an abrasion resistance at a periphery of the at least one of the plurality of projections is expressed as a volumetric loss of less than or equal to 110 mm 3 , less than or equal to 90 mm 3 , or less than or equal to 70 mm 3 .

9. The track of claim 1 , wherein a blowout temperature of the at least one of the plurality of projections are at least 180° C., at least 190° C., at least 200° C., or at least 210° C.;
wherein the blowout temperature of the at least one of the plurality of projections is determined by:
subjecting a dimension of the at least one of the plurality of projections having a diameter of 17.8+/−0.1 mm and a height of 25+/−0.15 mm to a preload of 110 pounds conditioned at 100° C. for 25 minutes and repeatedly compressing 0.250 inches in amplitude at a frequency of 30 Hz; and
measuring a temperature of a hottest point of the dimension, wherein the blowout temperature is the temperature of the hottest point of the dimension.

10. The track of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of zones of material extending from an outer layer comprising the first material and an inner layer comprising the second material, wherein at least one of:
a gradient of blowout resistance of the plurality of zones of material increases from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of wear resistance of the plurality of zones of material decreases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of modulus of elasticity of the plurality of zones of material increases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of tensile strength of the plurality of zones of material decreases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of tensile strength of the plurality of zones of material increases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer; and
a gradient of crack propagation resistance of the plurality of zones of material decreases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer.

11. The track of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the gradient of blowout resistance and the gradient of wear resistance is a discrete gradient, a continuous gradient, or at least one discrete gradient and at least one continuous gradient.

12. The track of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of zones of material comprise an interlocking protuberance that engages with a corresponding interlocking groove on an adjacent one of the plurality of zones of material.

13. The track of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of zones of material are equal in thickness.

14. The track of claim 10 , wherein one or more of the plurality of zones of material has a different thickness from a second one or more of the plurality of zones of material.

15. The track of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a thermoplastic and/or the second material comprises metal, a rigid polymer, or a ceramic.

16. The track of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the ratio of the volume of the second material over the volume of the at least one of the plurality of traction lugs is at least 0.4, at least 0.5, or at least 0.6.

17. The track of claim 1 , wherein the modulus of elasticity of the first material is less than the modulus of elasticity of the second material.

18. The track of claim 1 , wherein the tensile strength of the first material is less than the tensile strength of the second material.

19. The track of claim 1 , wherein a blowout temperature of the second material is different than a blowout temperature of the first material;
wherein the blowout temperature of the first material and the blowout temperature of the second material are each determined by:
subjecting a dimension of the first material or the second material to a specified preload conditioned for a specific period of time and repeatedly compressing at a frequency; and
measuring a temperature of a hottest point of the dimension, wherein the temperature of the hottest point of the dimension of the first material is the blowout temperature of the first material and the temperature of the hottest point of the dimension of the second material is the blowout temperature of the second material.

20. The trac

Assignees

• Camso Inc

Inventors

• Boily Patrice
• Bergeron Matthieu
• Richard Simon
• Laperle Ghislain

Classifications

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K28/10

  responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle · CPC title

• B62D55/244 Primary

  Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements · CPC title

• B29D29/00

  Producing belts or bands · CPC title