# US 11,999,421 B2 · Track system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,421 B2 - Document ID: US11999421B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/964,262 - Filed: 2022-10-12 - Published: 2023-02-02 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-22 - Assignees: Soucy International Inc. - Applicants: Soucy International Inc. - Inventors: Patrick L'Herault; Louis-Frederic Marchildon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999421B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/15: Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings {(with lubrication means B62D55/092)} - B62D 55/04: with tracks and alternative ground wheels, e.g. changeable from endless track vehicle into wheeled vehicle and vice versa {(for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635)} - B62D 55/06: with tracks without ground wheels - B62D 55/065: Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks {(soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C)} - B62D 55/084: Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence) - B62D 55/12: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets - B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers - B62D 55/244: {Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements} - B62D 55/30: Track-tensioning means - B62D 55/0847: {Track blocking devices mounted on the frame; Track guides} - 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 Track system to be mounted on a vehicle in place of a rotatable OEM tire/wheel assembly, including: A frame. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame, operatively connectable to the drive shaft of the vehicle, and has a diameter of between 65% and 100% of the OEM tire diameter. Leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies are mounted on the frame. An endless track having an inner surface is disposed around the drive wheel, the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The endless track has an unsupported portion between the drive wheel and one of the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The unsupported portion has a length and a center. The unsupported portion deflects a distance of between 8% and 12% of its length on application of a 25-lb. force at its center. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endless track disposed onto a track system, the track system to be mounted on a vehicle, the endless track having: an inner surface to be disposed around a drive wheel of the track system, a leading idler wheel assembly of the track system, and a trailing idler wheel assembly of the track system, the endless track having an unsupported portion between the drive wheel and one of the leading idler wheel assembly and the trailing idler wheel assembly, the unsupported portion having a length and a center, the unsupported portion deflecting a distance of between 8% and 12% of its length on application of a 25-lb. force at its center, as measured by placing a straight object on the endless track between the drive wheel and the one of the leading idler wheel assembly and the trailing idler wheel assembly and placing a tension measuring tool at the center of the unsupported portion between the drive wheel and the one of the leading idler wheel assembly and the trailing idler wheel assembly so as to create the 25-lb. force at the center. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endless track of claim 1, wherein the endless track has a plurality of spaced-apart apertures dimensioned and longitudinally-positioned along the endless track suitable for intermeshing with teeth of the drive wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The endless track of claim 2, wherein the endless track has a plurality of metallic clips longitudinally-positioned along the inner surface of the endless track between the plurality of apertures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The endless track of claim 3, wherein the plurality of metallic clips is suitable to contact a slide rail disposed along a lower run of the endless track. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The endless track of claim 4, wherein the plurality of metallic clips is suitable to contact a slide rail disposed along a lower run of the endless track such that as the endless track rotates the clips contact the slide rail along a lower run of the track. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endless track of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the endless track comprises: a first plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an inner side of the drive wheel, and a second plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an outer side of the drive wheel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endless track of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the endless track has a first plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an outer side of an outer leading idler wheel and an outer side of an outer trailing idler wheel; the inner surface of the endless track has a second plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an inner side of an inner leading idler wheel and an inner side of an inner trailing idler wheel; the inner surface of the endless track has a third plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an inner side of the outer leading idler wheel and an inner side of the outer trailing idler wheel; the inner surface of the endless track has a fourth plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an outer side of the inner leading idler wheel and an outer side of the inner trailing idler wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The endless track of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs and the second plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs have a same lug spacing, being a first lug spacing; the third plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs and the fourth plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs have a same lug spacing, being a second lug spacing; and the second lug spacing is greater than the first lug spacing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The endless track of claim 8, wherein the second lug spacing is twice the first lug spacing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The track system of claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the endless track has a first plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an inner side of the drive wheel; a second plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an outer side of the drive wheel; the first plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs and the second plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs have a same lug spacing, being a third lug spacing; and the third lug spacing is equal to the second lug spacing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The endless track of claim 10, wherein the endless track has a plurality of spaced-apart apertures dimensioned and longitudinally-positioned along the endless track suitable for intermeshing with teeth of the sprocket wheel; and the first plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs and the second plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs are positioned to be longitudinally spaced apart from the apertures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The endless track of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs are positioned along an edge of the endless track; and the second plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs are positioned along an opposite edge of the endless track. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The endless track of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs, the second plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs, the third plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs, and the fourth plurality of longitudinally-spaced idler-wheel-contacting guide lugs are each suitable for engagement with a side of a support roller of a support roller assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The endless track of claim 1, the endless track having a width of between about 75% and about 125% of an OEM tire width. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The endless track of claim 14, wherein the width of the endless track is less than 11½ inches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The endless track of claim 1, wherein the unsupported portion has a length of about 15⅜ inches and the unsupported portion deflects a distance of between about 1¼ inches and about 1¾ inches on application of the 25-lb. force. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The endless track of claim 7, the inner surface of the endless track further having a fifth plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an outer side of the drive wheel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The endless track of claim 17, the inner surface of the endless track further having a sixth plurality of longitudinally-spaced drive-wheel-contacting guide lugs positioned to engage an inner side of the drive wheel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The endless track of claim 1, wherein the track system is to be mounted on the vehicle in place of a rotatable wheel assembly.