Elastic endless crawler and method of producing the same
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorEiji Tsuru
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An elastic endless crawler according to the present invention comprises an annular belt-shaped elastic crawler body and a plurality of cords with ends, said cords being disposed substantially parallel with one another at predetermined intervals and embedded in the crawler body, wherein one end and the other end of each cord are overlapped, as seen from the belt side. Further, at at least one of a crawler inner peripheral side and a crawler outer peripheral side, there are provided a plurality of members for holding the cord ends within the crawler body. As a result, a chance of free ends of embedded steel cords protruding out from the rubber body during use of the rubber crawler and a chance of the rubber crawler running off of a unit for driving for rotation thereof can be eliminated.
Claims25
An elastic endless crawler comprising an annular belt-shaped elastic crawler body and cords having ends, said cords being disposed substantially parallel with one another at predetermined intervals and embedded in the crawler body, such that the one end and the other end of each cord overlap, as seen from the belt side.
An elastic sheet used for manufacturing an annular belt-shaped elastic crawler in which cords having ends are embedded within the crawler body such that one end and the other end of each cord are overlapped, as seen from the belt side, the sheet comprising:
- a sheet body;
- and
- cords having ends, which cords are embedded within the sheet body such that the cords are disposed substantially parallel with one another at a predetermined pitch.
A method of manufacturing an elastic endless crawler, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) forming an elastic sheet, which includes a sheet body and cords having ends embedded within the sheet body, said cords being disposed substantially parallel with one another at predetermined pitches;
- (B) forming a non-endless belt which includes two end portions of the elastic sheet and the remaining portion of the elastic sheet, with said remaining portion being coated with a predetermined material;
- and
- (C) overlapping the two end portions of the non-endless belt and then applying pressure to them such that they are integrated and that one end and the other end of each cord are overlapped, as seen from a side of the belt.
A method of manufacturing an elastic endless crawler, comprising the steps of:
- (A) forming an elastic sheet, which includes a sheet body and cords having ends embedded within the sheet body, said cords being disposed substantially parallel with one another at predetermined pitches;
- (B) overlapping the two end portions of the non-endless belt and then applying pressure to integrate the end portions, while simultaneously making the one end and the other end of each cord are overlap, as seen from the belt side;
- and
- (C) forming an annular belt, in which the elastic sheet is entirely coated with a predetermined material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.