Track wheel
AssigneeNational Research Council Canada/Conseil National de Recherches Canada
InventorJoost Batelaan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A track wheel consisting of a longitudinal curved track mounted in an oval eometry on two support rollers. The track wheel is in effect an oval wheel with two axles. The axles of the two support rollers are mounted either directly or indirectly to the vehicle. The rollers support and guide both ends of the track in the small curvatures and transfers vehicle load to a surface at the lower curved part of the track. The track will withstand a high bending load in one direction, where it engages a surface, but it will also bend easily in the other direction, as it is guided over the two support rollers.
Claims6
A self supporting track for mounting on a pair of load bearing rollers, said track comprising a continuous resilient band having longitudinal curvature limiting means for resisting flattening beyond a predetermined maximum radius under load, but substantially free to bend to a smaller radius of curvature for passage around said rollers, said longitudinal curvature limiting means being defined by a preformed longitudinal and transverse curvature whereby the unmounted track defines two opposite large radius arc portions and two smaller radius arc portions, said large radius arc portions between the rollers defining an arc of between 15 to 120 degrees, in an unloaded condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.