Resilient wheel with low-friction and wear resistant sidewall and track system having same
AssigneeSoucy International Inc.
InventorsJeremie AUBIN-MARCHAND, Marc NADEAU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A resilient component for a wheel of a track system is disclosed. The resilient component includes a resilient body and a wear element. The resilient body defines a hub aperture for at least partially receiving a hub component. The resilient body extends radially outwardly from the hub aperture, and defines a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall, the first and second lateral sidewalls being spaced apart. The wear element is connectable to one of the first and second lateral sidewalls, and at least partially surrounds the hub aperture. A wheel having the resilient component and the hub component is also disclosed. A track assembly having the wheel is also disclosed.
Claims20
A resilient component for a wheel of a track system, the resilient component comprising:
- a resilient body defining a hub aperture for at least partially receiving a hub component, the resilient body extending radially outwardly from the hub aperture, and defining a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall, the first and second lateral sidewalls being spaced apart;
- and
- a wear element connectable to one of the first and second lateral sidewalls, the wear element at least partially surrounding the hub aperture and projecting at least partially from the one of the first and second lateral sidewalls.
The resilient component of claim 6, wherein the anchoring portion extends in at least one of a radial direction of the resilient component and an axial direction of the resilient component.
The resilient component of claim 10, wherein the wear ring has one of:
- a circular cross-section and a rectangular cross-section.
A track system comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one idler wheel assembly connected to the frame, the at least one idler wheel assembly including at least one resilient wheel including:
- a first hub component;
- and
- a first resilient component including:
- a first resilient body defining a first hub aperture for receiving the first hub component, the first resilient body extending radially outwardly from the first hub aperture so as to define a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall, the first and second lateral sidewalls being spaced apart;
- and
- a first wear element connected to one of the first and second lateral sidewalls, the first wear element surrounding, at least partially, the first hub aperture and projecting at least partially from the one of the first and second lateral sidewalls;
- at least one support wheel assembly connected to the frame, the at least one idler wheel assembly including at least one resilient wheel including:
- a second hub component;
- and
- a second resilient component including:
- a second resilient body defining a second hub aperture for receiving the second hub component, the second resilient body extending radially outwardly from the second hub aperture so as to define a third lateral sidewall and a fourth lateral sidewall, the third and fourth lateral sidewalls being spaced apart;
- and
- a second wear element connected to one of the third and fourth lateral sidewalls, the second wear element surrounding, at least partially, the second hub aperture and projecting at least partially from the one of the third and fourth lateral sidewalls.
- an endless track surrounding the frame, the at least one idler wheel assembly and the at least one support wheel assembly, the endless track comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced lugs,
- a lateral distance between one of first and second lateral sidewalls and a corresponding lateral surface of one of the plurality of lugs is less than a lateral distance between a corresponding one of the third and fourth lateral sidewalls and a corresponding lateral surface of one of the plurality of lugs.
A method for manufacturing a resilient component for a resilient wheel of a track system, the method comprising:
- forming a resilient body configured to be connectable to a hub component;
- connecting a wear element to the resilient body;
- and
- connecting the resilient body to a hub component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.