GB2089749A - Endless track for tracked vehicles such as armoured vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

An endless track comprises a plurality of alternately arranged track links 1, 2 pivotally connected to one another by pins 3 engaging in projections 4, 5 and 14, 15, 16. So that the track links 1, 2 are securely and reliably guided over a sprocket wheel of the vehicle, during driving of the vehicle, every track link 1 has openings 10 which can be engaged by teeth on the sprocket wheel, while the remaining track links 2 can each engage an arcuate portion of the sprocket wheel between adjacent teeth of the sprocket wheel. Each track link 2 comprises a guide tooth 19 and pads 20 for engaging the sprocket wheel. Each track link 2 carries two ground-engaging pads 21. Each track link 1 carries a ground-engaging pad 12. The pads 12, 20, 21 maybe made of rubber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Caterpillar track for tracked vehicles such as armoured vehicles This invention relates to a caterpillar (Registered Trade Mark) track for tracked vehicles, more especially armoured vehicles such as a tank, comprising track links which are interlocked in a hinge-like manner by pins extending through projections and recesses formed in the track links, said track links having along their longitudinal axis guide teeth and on two sides therebeside tooth meshes for drive of the track by toothed rims of the vehicle.

This kind of caterpillar track, more commonly known as a hinged track, has, as compared with a so-called connector track whose track links are not connected directly but by way of connection parts, inter alia the advantages of being light in weight, less frequently in need of maintanence and cheaper to produce.

Customarily, in the case of the known tracks, between the driving rims, which are arranged in pairs, there are arranged so-called supporting rings on which the track lies, whilst the driving rims merely have as their function that of the further movement. The reason for the provision of the supporting rings is that the transmission of power at the tooth meshes and the movement, taking place in this respect, of the teeth in the tooth meshes, very rapidly and severely wears the driving teeth at their base and supporting of the track at these locations is therefore not possible. So that the track does not come loose from the driving teeth readjusting would have to be effected again and again, something which cannot, however, be managed.

The problem underlying the invention is to support a caterpillar track, of the aforementioned kind, on driving rims of armoured vehicles.

In accordance with the invention, this problem is solved in that there is provided caterpillar track for tracked vehicles, more especially for armoured vehicles such as a tank, comprising track links which are interlocked in a hinge-like manner by pins extending through projections and recesses formed in the track links, said track links having along their longitudinal axis guide teeth and on two sides therebeside tooth meshes for drive of the track by driving rims of the vehicle, characterised in that only every second track link has tooth meshes and the other track links are supported between the teeth on the driving rims.

The said other track links now do not abut, but in each case between the teeth no driving forces are transmitted and no tooth rolling takes place and accordingly virtually no wear occurs. The track can therefore be supported on the driving rims by means of said other track links since the provision of the tooth mesh at every second track link moves the teeth apart on the toothed rim. The tooth spacing does not increase by double, since in the case of the track construction in accordance with the invention the track pitch can be, and is also intended to be reduced. With a constant diameter, for example, the number of teeth is reduced from 11 to 9 teeth, and thus the desired support can be provided between the teeth. The support may be arcuate, as a rule concentric to the toothed rim, or flat or adapted in some other form to the track link surface.

As well as a reduction in the track pitch, i.e.

expansion of the track links in the longitudinal direction of the track, is a closer adaptation of the track to the driving rims, which makes for uniform travel of the track over the driving rims.

The new supporting along with abolition of the previous supporting rings means a considerable improvement and simplification.

Preferably the said other track links are provided, at their points of contact with the driving rims, with inset, impact-deadening overlays. Asuitable material for the overlays is, for example, rubber such as that used in brake linings. Overlays of rubber can be vulcanised on simultaneously with running pads.

The driving rims can also be provided with impact-deadening overlays.

A particularly further advantageous aspect of the invention is that the tooth meshes can be formed in each case between two projections of the track link, which projections lie opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the track.

The caterpillar track of the invention differs further from the known hinged tracks insofar that there is provided two track links which are different in their overall shape and which are not complex in construction since the invention provides two different track links, with and without tooth mesh.

The arrangement of the tooth meshes between two projections allows a quite considerable reduction in the track pitch and thus an improvement in the track guidance over the toothed rims.

The present invention has yet a further advantage in that the subdivision of the hinged track links into track links having tooth meshes and track links not having tooth meshes provides, with the omission at every second track link, space preferably for two large-area compact running pads in the lateral regions alternate with, and engaging over in the longitudinal direction of the track, similarly largearea compact running pads in the centre of each remaining second track link. With this running pad arrangement, the supporting of the track on the ground is also improved and simplified. Equally the supporting of the tread rollers on the track is more uniform. The combination of this measure with the supporting of the track on the driving rims gives the vehicle a particularly vibration-free and oscillationfree, dead-smooth travel.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a preferred embodiment of the caterpillar track of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the caterpillar track of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of another side of the caterpillartrackof Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged part-sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged part-sectional view along the line V-V of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the caterpillar track of Figure 1 mounted on a driving rim of a tracked vehicle.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 the preferred caterpillar track comprises a plurality alter consecutive track links 1 and 2 interlocked with one another in hinge-like fashion by means of pins 3.

Both types of track links 1 and 2 are symmetrical both with regard to the longitudinal axis of the track and with regard to their own longitudinal axis extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the track.

The track links 1 have, on each of their two longitudinal sides, four projections 4 and 5 which form between them respective recesses 6,7 and 8.

Formed in the projections 4 and 5 are aligned cylindrical spaces 9. Formed between the respectively mutually opposite projections 5, which are somewhat wider than the projections 4, is in each case a tooth mesh 10. As can be seen in Figure 5, the material which surrounds the cylindrical spaces 9 is thickened in a region indicated generally by the reference numeral 11,where it is to come into contact with teeth 25 of a driving rim 24 (Figure 6) of an armoured vehicle. On the underside of the track links I substantially the entire region between the outer corners of the four projections 4 is taken up by a running pad 12. The recesses 6 are each bounded downwardly by a supporting cover 13 over the running pad 12.

The track links 2 have, on their two longitudinal sides, five projections 14,15 and 16 which form between them two recesses 17 and 18. The projec tionsl4, 15 and 16 have, in the same way as the projections 4 and 5, aligned cylindrical spaces 9. In the centre of each track link 2 is a raised guide tooth 19. Arranged between the mutually opposite recesses 18 there is in each case an impact-deadening covering plate 20. As can be seen in Figure 5, the covering plate 20 is flush with the surface of the track link 2. Arranged on the underside of the track link 2 are two running pads 21, which occupy in each case substantially the entire region between the four outer corners of the mutually adjacent projections 15 and 16. Parts of each running pad 21 are disposed under the recesses 18. Each running pad 21 has a supporting cover 22.The covering plates 20 and the running pads 21 can be made of rubber and can be vulcanised onto the track link 2 simultaneously. For this the cover could be given therebetween a perforation.

The track links 1 and 2 intermesh by means of their projections and recesses in the manner evident from Figure 1. The pins 3 extend in this respect through the cylindrical spaces 9 of the track links 1 and 2 alternately. Seated in the spaces 9 in each case is a bush, which consists, for example, of manganese hard steel or any other material having similar sliding contact properties.

The teeth 25 of the driving rim 24 (Figure 6) are spaced apart from one another. Between the teeth 25 are arcuate portions 26 concentric to the axis of the rim 24.

The teeth 25 engage the tooth meshes 10 of the track links 1 and thus drive the track. The track links 2 rest by means of their covering plates 20 on the arcuate portions 26 of the driving rim 24 and give the track a firm hold on the driving rim 24.

Claims (5)

1. A caterpillar (Registered Trade Mark) track for tracked vehicles, more especially for armoured vehicles such as a tank, comprising track links which are interlocked in a hinge-like manner by pins extending through projections and recesses formed in the track links, said track links having along their longitudinal axis guide teeth and on two sides therebeside tooth meshes for drive of the track by driving rims of the vehicle, characterised in that only every second track link has tooth meshes and the other track links are supported between the teeth on the driving rims.

2. Acaterpillartrackas claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the said other track links are provided, at their points of contact with the driving rims, with inset impact-deadening overlays.

3. A caterpillar track as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the tooth meshes are formed in each case between two projections of the track link, which projections lie opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the track.

4. A caterpiller track as claimed in 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that on every second track link a running pad is arranged between the tooth meshes in the centre of the track link, and in that on each of the other track links two running pads are arranged adjacent respective ends thereof so that they overlap with the first running pads in the longitudinal direction of the track.

5. A caterpillar track substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.