Elastic crawler drive mechanism

An elastic crawler drive mechanism, comprising an elastic crawler with a plurality of engaging portions disposed on an endless belt with elasticity, and a sprocket having a plurality of teeth engageable with the engaging portions of the elastic crawler, wherein:

• the engaging portions of the elastic crawler have flat engaging planes in contact with a part of tooth surfaces of the sprocket when the engaging portions come into contact with tooth bottom surfaces of the sprocket, and
• when the engaging portions are in contact with the tooth bottom surfaces, and simultaneously the engaging planes of the engaging portions are in contact with the tooth surfaces of the sprocket, the tooth surfaces of the sprocket and the engaging planes of the engaging portions form gaps between the tooth surfaces of the sprocket and the engaging planes of the engaging portions, on sides closer to the tooth bottom surfaces of the sprocket than contact portions of the engaging planes of the engaging portions and the tooth surfaces of the sprocket,
• wherein the gaps enable the teeth of the sprocket and the engaging portions of the elastic crawler not to contact on the sides closer to the tooth bottom surfaces of the sprocket than the contact portions, from winding of the elastic crawler onto the sprocket to releasing of the elastic crawler from the sprocket.