# US 10,308,297 B2 · Elastic crawler drive mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,297 B2 - Document ID: US10308297B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/531,556 - Filed: 2015-11-04 - Published: 2017-11-16 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-12 - Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation - Applicants: Bridgestone Corporation - Inventors: Takashi Mizusawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308297B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/24: of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts - B62D 55/12: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets - B62D 55/125: Final drives - B62D 55/244: {Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract This disclosure is to provide an elastic crawler drive mechanism including an elastic crawler (20) with engaging portions (22) disposed on an endless belt (21), and a sprocket (10) having teeth (12), wherein: engaging surfaces (F2) of the engaging portions (22) have flat engaging planes (22b) in contact with a part of tooth surfaces (F1) of the sprocket (10) when in contact with tooth bottom surfaces (11a) of the sprocket (10), and when the engaging portions (22) are in contact with the tooth bottom surfaces (11a), and simultaneously the engaging planes (22b) are in contact with the tooth surfaces (F1) of the sprocket (10), at least one of the tooth surfaces (F1) of the sprocket (10) and the engaging planes (22b) of the engaging portions (22) form gaps (C) between the tooth surfaces (F1) and the engaging planes (22b), on sides closer to the tooth bottom surfaces (11a) than contact portions (P) of the tooth surfaces (F1) and the engaging planes (22b). ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the sides of the tooth surfaces of the sprocket closer to the tooth bottom surfaces than the contact portions are curved surfaces recessed to inner sides. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: corner portions of the engaging portions adjacent to tooth root portions of the sprocket are curved surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: sides of the tooth surfaces of the sprocket closer to tooth top surfaces than the contact portions are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: tooth top surfaces of the sprocket are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: at least a part of a tooth shape of the sprocket is involute tooth shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: sides of the tooth surfaces of the sprocket closer to tooth top surfaces than the contact portions are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 7, wherein: the tooth top surfaces of the sprocket are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: tooth top surfaces of the sprocket are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: at least a part of a tooth shape of the sprocket is involute tooth shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: corner portions of the engaging portions adjacent to tooth root portions of the sprocket are curved surfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 11, wherein: sides of the tooth surfaces of the sprocket closer to tooth top surfaces than the contact portions are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 11, wherein: tooth top surfaces of the sprocket are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 11, wherein: at least a part of a tooth shape of the sprocket is involute tooth shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: sides of the tooth surfaces of the sprocket closer to tooth top surfaces than the contact portions are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 15, wherein: the tooth top surfaces of the sprocket are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 15, wherein: at least a part of a tooth shape of the sprocket is involute tooth shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: tooth top surfaces of the sprocket are curved surfaces protruding to outer sides. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 18, wherein: at least a part of a tooth shape of the sprocket is involute tooth shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: at least a part of a tooth shape of the sprocket is involute tooth shape. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The elastic crawler drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein tooth root surfaces of the sprocket respectively have an outer shape of a curved surface.