Track cleat for endless track vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11912355-B2
Application number	US-202017121356-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2020
Priority date	Dec 23, 2019
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

An endless track vehicle with increased traction and/or installation, modification, and/or use of track cleats for traction for the endless track of the endless track vehicle. A body is mountable to the endless track exterior. The body defines bores extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, wherein the bores have counterbores. First and second cleats/bolts respectively having a cleat/bolt heads, the cleats/bolts mounted in respective bores and optional extending out a distance out of the second end of the body, wherein the cleat/bolt heads seat in the respective counterbores. Nuts may be used in the counterbores to optionally extend the cleats/bolts, and/or to secure and fasten the cleats/bolts.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for traction for an endless track of an endless track vehicle comprising:
a body mountable to an endless track exterior;
wherein the body defines a first bore extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, wherein the first bore further has a first counterbore defined by the body;
wherein the body defines a second bore extending from the first end of the body to the second end of the body, wherein the second bore further has a second counterbore defined by the body;
a first slippery condition position wherein a first cleat/bolt having a first cleat/bolt head, wherein a first nut is fastened to or integral with the first cleat/bolt, the first cleat/bolt mounted in the first bore and extending out a distance out of the second end of the body, wherein the first nut seats within the first counterbore, wherein the first cleat/bolt head protrudes out of the first end of the body;
the first slippery condition position further comprising a second cleat/bolt having a second cleat/bolt head, wherein a second nut is fastened to or integral with the second cleat/bolt, the second cleat/bolt mounted in the second bore and extending out a distance out of the second end of the body, wherein the second nut seats within the second counterbore, wherein the second cleat/bolt head protrudes out of the first end of the body;
wherein the first nut and the second nut respectively seat within the first counterbore and second counterbore at a depth D 1 in the first slippery condition position;
a second non-slippery condition position wherein another cleat/bolt, selected from the group consisting of the first cleat/bolt and a third cleat/bolt, is mounted in the first bore and extending out a distance out of the second end of the body, wherein a head of the other cleat/bolt seats within the first counterbore; and
the second non-slippery condition position further comprising wherein an additional cleat/bolt, selected from the group consisting of the second cleat/bolt and a fourth cleat/bolt, is mounted in the second bore and extending out of the second end of the body, wherein the head of the additional cleat/bolt seats within the second counterbore.

2. The apparatus for traction for the endless track of the endless track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first cleat/bolt head and the second cleat/bolt head each protrude out of the first end of the body a distance D 5 in the first slippery condition position.

3. The apparatus for traction for the endless track of the endless track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the head of the other cleat/bolt seats within the first counterbore and the head of the additional cleat/bolt seats within the second counterbore at a depth D 1 in the second non-slippery condition position.

4. The apparatus for traction for the endless track of the endless vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first cleat/bolt head extends a distance in the range of about 0.75 to about 1 inch out of the first end of the body, and wherein the second cleat/bolt head extends a distance in the range of about 0.75 to about 1 inch out of the first end of the body.

5. The apparatus for traction for the endless track of the endless vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the body is made of a recycled material.

6. The apparatus for traction for the endless track of the endless vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the body is t-shaped.

7. A method of modifying an apparatus for traction of an endless track of an endless track vehicle, comprising the steps of:
mounting or integrating a first nut onto and adjacent a first head of a first cleat/bolt;
mounting or integrating a second nut onto and adjacent a second head of a second cleat/bolt;
mounting the first cleat/bolt to a track cleat, wherein a body of the track cleat defines a first bore having a first counterbore, seating the first nut within the first counterbore, and protruding the first cleat/bolt head out of a first end of the body;
mounting the second cleat/bolt to the track cleat, wherein the body of the track cleat defines a second bore having second counterbore, and seating the second nut within the second counterbore, and protruding the second cleat/bolt head out of the first end of the body;
for slippery condition positioning, mounting the track cleat onto a mating channel of the endless track of the endless track vehicle;
for non-slippery condition positioning, dismounting the track cleat from the mating channel of the endless track of the endless track vehicle;
removing the first cleat/bolt from the body of the track cleat;
removing the second cleat/bolt from the body of the track cleat;
mounting another cleat/bolt, selected from the group consisting of the first cleat/bolt and a third cleat/bolt, in the first bore in the track cleat and seating the head of the other cleat/bolt within the first counterbore;
mounting an additional cleat/bolt, selected from the group consisting of the second cleat/bolt and a fourth cleat/bolt, in the second bore in the track cleat and seating the head of the additional cleat/bolt within the second counterbore; and

mounting the track cleat onto the mating channel of the endless track of the endless track vehicle.

8. A method of modifying an apparatus for traction of an endless track of an endless track vehicle, comprising the steps of:
mounting a first cleat/bolt to a track cleat, wherein a body of the track cleat defines a first bore having a first counterbore, and seating a first cleat/bolt head within the first counterbore;
mounting a second cleat/bolt to the track cleat, wherein the body of the track cleat defines a second bore having second counterbore, and seating a second cleat/bolt head within the second counterbore;
for non-slippery condition positioning, mounting the track cleat onto a mating channel of the endless track of the endless track vehicle;
for slippery condition positioning, dismounting the track cleat from the mating channel of the endless track of the endless track vehicle;
removing the first cleat/bolt from the body of the track cleat;
removing the second cleat/bolt from the body of the track cleat;
mounting a first nut onto and adjacent a first head of another cleat/bolt, selected from the group consisting of the first cleat/bolt and a third cleat/bolt;
mounting a second nut onto and adjacent a second head of an additional cleat/bolt, selected from the group consisting of the second cleat/bolt and a fourth cleat/bolt;

mounting the other cleat/bolt in the first bore in the track cleat, seating the first nut within the first counterbore, and protruding the first cleat/bolt head out of a first end of the body;
mounting the additional cleat/bolt in the second bore in the track cleat, seating the second nut within the second counterbore, and protruding the second cleat/bolt head out of a first end of the body; and
mounting the track cleat onto the mating channel of the endless track of the endless track vehicle.

9. A method of modifying an apparatus for traction of an endless track of an endless track vehicle, comprising the steps of:
mounting a first cleat/bolt to a track cleat, wherein a body of the track cleat defines a first bore having a first counterbore, and seating a first cleat/bolt head within the first counterbore;
mounting a second cleat/bolt to the track cleat, wherein the body of the track cleat defines a second bore having second counterbore, and seating a second cleat/bolt head within the second counterbore;
for non-slippery condition positioning, mounting the track cleat onto a mating channel of the endless track of the endless track vehicle;
for slippery condition positioning, dismounting the track cleat from the

Assignees

• Quanta Associates Lp

Inventors

• Berube Daniel Robert

Classifications

• B62D55/286 Primary

  For soft grounds, e.g. consisting of snow or swamp · CPC title

• B62D55/32

  Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems · CPC title