# US 11,897,558 B2 · Track system for traction of a vehicle

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,897,558 B2
- Document ID: US11897558B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/989,823
- Filed: 2020-08-10
- Published: 2021-01-28
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-04
- Assignees: Camso Inc.
- Applicants: Camso Inc.
- Inventors: Patrice Boily; Matthieu Bergeron; Simon Richard; Ghislain Laperle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897558B2

## CPC

- B62D 55/244: {Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements}
- B60K 28/10: responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B29D 29/00: Producing belts or bands
- B29K 2995/0087: Wear resistance
- B29L 2029/00: Belts or bands {(conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733)}
- G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)}
- G07C 5/0825: {using optical means}
- 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)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A track for traction of a vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, an industrial vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle), a military vehicle, or another off-road vehicle, is provided. The track comprises a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground and a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface and distributed in a longitudinal direction of the track. The traction projections may be designed to enhance their resistance to deterioration during use. For example, a blowout resistance of each traction projection may be enhanced to prevent or at least reduce a potential for blowout of the traction projection under repeated loads which may induce heat buildup within it. Also, a wear resistance of the traction projection may be enhanced such that the traction projection wears less rapidly. A system for protecting a track against potential occurrence of blowout is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A track for a vehicle, the track being mountable around a track-engaging assembly configured to move the track around the track-engaging assembly, the track-engaging assembly comprising a plurality of wheels for engaging the track, the track being elastomeric to flex around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising:
a carcass having a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and
a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface of the carcass and distributed in a longitudinal direction of the track, wherein at least one of the plurality of traction projections comprises:
a first material; and
a second material disposed inwardly of the first material;
wherein at least one of:
a wear resistance of the first material is greater than a wear resistance of the second material;
a modulus of elasticity of the first material is different from a modulus of elasticity of the second material;
a tensile strength of the first material is different from a tensile strength of the second material;
a resistance to heat buildup of the first material is less than a resistance to heat buildup of the second material; and
a crack propagation resistance of the first material is greater than a crack propagation resistance of the second material;
wherein a ratio of a volume of the second material over a volume of the at least one of the plurality of traction lugs is at least 0.3; and
wherein an entirety of the second material projects outwardly from the ground engaging surface of the carcass.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, further comprising a blowout sensor enclosed in an elastomeric material of the track, wherein the blowout sensor is configured to sense a characteristic of the track that is indicative of a potential deterioration of the track and/or a potential blowout of the track.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The track of claim 2, wherein at least part of the blowout sensor is disposed in a given one of the plurality of traction projections.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The track of claim 2, wherein the blowout sensor is configured to issue a signal processable by a processing apparatus to perform an action relating to the vehicle based on the characteristic of the track.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The track of claim 4, wherein the action relating to the vehicle is at least one of:
an action controlling a powertrain of the vehicle;
an action controlling a speed of the vehicle;
an action limiting the speed of the vehicle;
an action reducing the speed of the vehicle; and
an action causing a communication device to communicate information regarding the vehicle to a user of the communication device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein the wear resistance of the first material is an abrasion resistance of the first material and the wear resistance of the second material is an abrasion resistance of the second material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The track of claim 6, wherein the abrasion resistance of the first material and the abrasion resistance of the second material are expressed as a volumetric loss and a ratio of the abrasion resistance of the second material over the abrasion resistance of the first material is less than or equal to 0.9, less than or equal to 0.7, or less than or equal to 0.5.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein an abrasion resistance at a periphery of the at least one of the plurality of projections is expressed as a volumetric loss of less than or equal to 110 mm3, less than or equal to 90 mm3, or less than or equal to 70 mm3.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein a blowout temperature of the at least one of the plurality of projections are at least 180° C., at least 190° C., at least 200° C., or at least 210° C.;
wherein the blowout temperature of the at least one of the plurality of projections is determined by:
subjecting a dimension of the at least one of the plurality of projections having a diameter of 17.8+/−0.1 mm and a height of 25+/−0.15 mm to a preload of 110 pounds conditioned at 100° C. for 25 minutes and repeatedly compressing 0.250 inches in amplitude at a frequency of 30 Hz; and
measuring a temperature of a hottest point of the dimension, wherein the blowout temperature is the temperature of the hottest point of the dimension.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of zones of material extending from an outer layer comprising the first material and an inner layer comprising the second material, wherein at least one of:
a gradient of blowout resistance of the plurality of zones of material increases from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of wear resistance of the plurality of zones of material decreases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of modulus of elasticity of the plurality of zones of material increases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of tensile strength of the plurality of zones of material decreases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer;
a gradient of tensile strength of the plurality of zones of material increases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer; and
a gradient of crack propagation resistance of the plurality of zones of material decreases incrementally from the outer layer to the inner layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The track of claim 10, wherein at least one of the gradient of blowout resistance and the gradient of wear resistance is a discrete gradient, a continuous gradient, or at least one discrete gradient and at least one continuous gradient.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The track of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of zones of material comprise an interlocking protuberance that engages with a corresponding interlocking groove on an adjacent one of the plurality of zones of material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The track of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of zones of material are equal in thickness.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The track of claim 10, wherein one or more of the plurality of zones of material has a different thickness from a second one or more of the plurality of zones of material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a thermoplastic and/or the second material comprises metal, a rigid polymer, or a ceramic.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein at least one of:
the ratio of the volume of the second material over the volume of the at least one of the plurality of traction lugs is at least 0.4, at least 0.5, or at least 0.6.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the first material is less than the modulus of elasticity of the second material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein the tensile strength of the first material is less than the tensile strength of the second material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The track of claim 1, wherein a blowout temperature of the second material is different than a blowout temperature of the first material;
wherein the blowout temperature of the first material and the blowout temperature of the second material are each determined by:
subjecting a dimension of the first material or the second material to a specified preload conditioned for a specific period of time and repeatedly compressing at a frequency; and
measuring a temperature of a hottest point of the dimension, wherein the temperature of the hottest point of the dimension of the first material is the blowout temperature of the first material and the temperature of the hottest point of the dimension of the second material is the blowout temperature of the second material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The track of claim 19, wherein the blowout temperature of the second material is higher than the blowout temperature of the first material.