# US 11,027,788 B2 · Endless track for propelling a vehicle, with lug replacement capability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,788 B2 - Document ID: US11027788B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/173,697 - Filed: 2018-10-29 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-20 - Assignees: Camso Inc. - Applicants: Camso Inc. - Inventors: Marc Delisle; Francois Leblanc; Patrice Boily; Martin Lunkenbein; Greg Thody; Dewaine Kautsch; Jeff Staab; Martin Denis; Jake Dalphond - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027788B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/244: {Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements} - B62D 55/26: Ground engaging parts or elements {(tracks specially adapted for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0015)} - B62D 55/32: Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems - B62D 55/24: of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts - 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 An endless track for a track assembly providing traction to a work vehicle (e.g., an agricultural vehicle, a construction vehicle, etc.). The endless track comprises an elastomeric carcass having an inner side for facing wheels of the work vehicle and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The endless track has a lug replacement capability to facilitate replacement of one or more drive/guide lugs on the inner side and/or one or more traction lugs on the ground-engaging outer side or portions of these lugs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A track for traction of a vehicle, the track being mountable around a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel for driving the track, the track comprising: an elastomeric carcass comprising a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a plurality of elastomeric projections projecting from the elastomeric carcass; wherein the elastomeric carcass comprises a replacement-facilitating portion having predetermined dimensions provisioned during original manufacturing of the track to facilitate replacement of a peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and respective ones of the elastomeric projections molded with and projecting from the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass by a new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and new elastomeric projections molded with and projecting from the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein: the elastomeric projections include wheel-contacting projections projecting from the inner surface of the elastomeric carcass; the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the inner surface of the elastomeric carcass; the respective ones of the elastomeric projections include respective ones of the wheel-contacting projections; the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the inner surface of the elastomeric carcass; and the new elastomeric projections include new wheel-contacting projections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The track of claim 2, wherein: the elastomeric projections include traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the respective ones of the elastomeric projections include respective ones of the traction projections; the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; and the new elastomeric projections include new traction projections. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein: the elastomeric projections include traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the respective ones of the elastomeric projections include respective ones of the traction projections; the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; and the new elastomeric projections include new traction projections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the respective ones of the elastomeric projections comprises at least five elastomeric projections. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass is a band of elastomeric material narrower than a width of the track. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The track of claim 6, wherein the elastomeric carcass comprises a recess receiving the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric carcass comprises a recess receiving the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein a dimension of the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass in a widthwise direction of the track is greater than a dimension of each of the elastomeric projections in the widthwise direction of the track. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises a recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises a hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises an element embedded in the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The track of claim 12, wherein the element embedded in the elastomeric carcass is a threaded element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises an aligner configured to align at least one of the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the new elastomeric projections when the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections are provided on the elastomeric carcass to replace the peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass is configured such that a thickness of the elastomeric carcass before replacement of the peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections by the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections corresponds to a thickness of the elastomeric carcass after replacement of the peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections by the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The track of claim 1, wherein the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections are fastened to the elastomeric carcass using a fastener. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The track of claim 16, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The track of claim 16, wherein the fastener intersects a given one of the new elastomeric projections. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The track of claim 16, wherein the fastener intersects the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the track of claim 1. ### Claim 21 A method of providing a track for traction of a vehicle, the track being mountable around a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel for driving the track, the method comprising: performing original manufacturing of the track such that the track comprises: an elastomeric carcass comprising a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a plurality of elastomeric projections projecting from the elastomeric carcass; and provisioning a replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass during the original manufacturing of the track to facilitate replacement of a peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and respective ones of the elastomeric projections molded with and projecting from the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass by a new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and new elastomeric projections molded with and projecting from the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion has predetermined dimensions. ### Claim 22 A method of providing a track for traction of a vehicle, the track being mountable around a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel for driving the track, the track comprising: an elastomeric carcass comprising a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a plurality of elastomeric projections projecting from the elastomeric carcass, the method comprising: removing a peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and respective ones of the elastomeric projections molded with and projecting from the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass; and replacing the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections by a new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and new elastomeric projections molded with and projecting from the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass; wherein the replacing comprises using a replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass provisioned during original manufacturing of the track to facilitate replacement of the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections by the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion has predetermined dimensions. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein: the elastomeric projections include wheel-contacting projections projecting from the inner surface of the elastomeric carcass; the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the inner surface of the elastomeric carcass; the respective ones of the elastomeric projections include respective ones of the wheel-contacting projections; the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the inner surface of the elastomeric carcass; and the new elastomeric projections include new wheel-contacting projections. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein: the elastomeric projections include traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the respective ones of the elastomeric projections include respective ones of the traction projections; the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; and the new elastomeric projections include new traction projections. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein: the elastomeric projections include traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; the respective ones of the elastomeric projections include respective ones of the traction projections; the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass includes at least part of the ground-engaging outer surface of the elastomeric carcass; and the new elastomeric projections include new traction projections. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the respective ones of the elastomeric projections comprises at least five elastomeric projections. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass is a band of elastomeric material narrower than a width of the track. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the elastomeric carcass comprises a recess receiving the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the elastomeric carcass comprises a recess receiving the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein a dimension of the peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass in a widthwise direction of the track is greater than a dimension of each of the elastomeric projections in the widthwise direction of the track. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises a recess. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises a hole. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises an element embedded in the elastomeric carcass. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein the element embedded in the elastomeric carcass is a threaded element. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass comprises an aligner configured to align at least one of the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the new elastomeric projections when the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections are provided on the elastomeric carcass to replace the peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections. ### Claim 36 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the replacement-facilitating portion of the elastomeric carcass is configured such that a thickness of the elastomeric carcass before replacement of the peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections by the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections corresponds to a thickness of the elastomeric carcass after replacement of the peripheral layer of the elastomeric layer and the respective ones of the elastomeric projections by the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections. ### Claim 37 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass and the new elastomeric projections are fastened to the elastomeric carcass using a fastener. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the fastener intersects a given one of the new elastomeric projections. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the fastener intersects the new peripheral layer of the elastomeric carcass.