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US 2004/0104621 A1Published application
Rubber crawler and its manufacture method
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorEiji Tsuru
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AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorEiji Tsuru
Estimating the term…
The object of the invention is to provide a rubber crawler which has an excellent driving performance without rubber breakage and a process for manufacturing the same. The object is attained by firstly obtaining a small bending rigidity of a joint part and eliminating disproportional arrangement of main cord embedded in the rubber crawler in a widthwise direction for obtaining durability, and uniform revolution. In a rubber crawler 1 in the form of an endless belt having an inserting joint structure S wherein ends of a number of parallel reinforcing cords 3 as main cords embedded in the rubber crawler are inserted between each other, the number of reinforcing cords are divided in an even number (2 in the embodiments shown with figures) parts, the ends parts 3A1 to 3A6 and 3B1 to 3B6 extending in both directions are arranged axisymmetrically about the dividing line L. Accordingly, the inserting joint structure S is obtained as a prerequisite which is on a same plane when viewed from the side. Furthermore, it is possible to eliminate disproportional arrangement of the main cords to be embedded. As a result, driving performance is improved, and rubber breakage is prevented, whereby it is possible to further increase the durability.
A rubber crawler in the form of an endless belt having an inserting joint structure wherein a number of parallel reinforcing cords as main cords having ends extending in both directions are embedded in the rubber crawler, said ends connected by being inserted between each other, characterized in that said number of reinforcing cords are divided into even number parts in a widthwise direction based on a dividing line as a centerline, and said ends, which are extending in both directions and inserted between each other, are arranged to be axisymmetrical about said dividing line.
A process for manufacturing a rubber crawler in the form of an endless belt having an inserting joint structure wherein a number of parallel reinforcing cords as main cords having ends extending in both directions are to be embedded in a rubber crawler, said ends connected by being inserted between each other, characterized in that said ends extending in both directions are firstly connected by being inserted between each other, said ends being divided into even number parts in a widthwise direction based on a dividing line as a centerline, and arranged axisymmetrically on both sides of said dividing line, and thereafter said rubber crawler is formed with heat applied thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.