US 6,406,655 B1 · Method of making a molded track for use with a snowmobile

Abstract

A method of making a molded track for use with a snowmobile having a suspension system equipped with slide rails consists of a series of steps that include preparing a mold press having a stationary inner mold and a movable outer mold with the inner mold displaying one or more rows of peripherally spaced recesses having a given shape, inserting in the recesses a series of slide bearing elements each having a generally flat portion having a shape corresponding to the shape of the recesses, laying one or more layers of rubber and fabrics on the inner mold and vulcanizing the rubber to form a molded track whereby the slide bearing elements are integrally formed with the molded track with one face of the flat portion of the elements being exposed so that it is frictionally contacted by a slide rail during use of the snowmobile.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of making a molded track for use with a snowmobile comprising:

positioning, in peripherally spaced recesses of a stationary inner mold, a series of metallic elements having a base and opposite bent wings;
placing a first layer of rubber on said inner mold in areas other than where said wings are present;
placing on said first layer of rubber a first layer of fabrics;
placing a reinforcing rod transversely of said first layers of rubber and fabrics and between said wings of said elements;
placing a second layer of fabrics over said first layer of fabrics and over said rods;
placing a second layer of rubber over said second layer of fabrics to form an assembly of track components;
and
pressing a movable outer mold onto said assembly and vulcanizing said rubber such that vulcanized rubber will flow about said rods and between said wings to integrally form said elements and said rods to said molded track.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of making a molded track for use with a snowmobile

Life of this patent

Method of making a molded track for use with a snowmobile

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15