Flexible sealed track belt

Claim 2

A sealed track belt for use around circular pneumatic carcasses comprising: an integrally cured cylindrical elastomer belt means having at least one cylindrical reinforcing ply centrally located therein so integral inner and outer elastomer layers respectively cover the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of said cylindrical reinforcing ply, said reinforcing ply being substantially inextensible and said outer elastomer layer having a plurality of permanently formed rectangular flat track shoe sites having a flat surface oriented transversely to said belt means surface and disposed circumferentially about its outer circular periphery whereby its outer circular periphery has a polygonal configuration when the inner diameter of said belt means is in a circular configuration; a plurality of rectangular track shoes, having an underside surface substantially mating with the flat surface of said flat traCk shoe sites, one of said track shoes disposed transversely to said cylindrical reinforcing ply on each of said flat track shoe sites; a plurality of keeper bars, one of said keeper bars disposed under each track shoe so said cylindrical reinforcing ply is between said track shoe and said keeper bar; and attaching means connecting each track shoe with its keeper bar so said elastomer belt means is clamped therebetween.

Claim 3

The sealed track belt defined in claim 1 wherein the flat track shoe sites in the outer periphery of the elastomer belt means are separated from one another by a transverse ridge of elastomer integrally formed in the outer surface of said elastomer belt, each of said ridges forming a seal between edges of adjacent track shoes.

Claim 4

The sealed track belt defined in claim 2 wherein the cylindrical reinforcing ply is formed by circular loops of reinforcing filament arranged in a side-by-side relationship to form each ply.

Claim 5

The sealed track belt defined in claim 3 wherein each keeper bar is channel-shaped to prevent lateral extrusion of elastomer in the elastomer belt means when it is attached to its track shoe and clamps said elastomer belt means therebetween.

Claim 6

The sealed track belt defined in claim 4 wherein each track shoe includes spaced grousers on its outer working surface.

Claim 7

The sealed track belt defined in claim 5 wherein the keeper bars are integrally formed in the elastomer belt means.

Claim 8

The sealed track belt defined in claim 1 wherein the elastomer belt means has at least two concentric cylindrrical reinforcing plies.

Claim 9

The sealed track belt defined in claim 1 wherein each cylindrical reinforcing ply is formed with a substantially inextensible metal filament.

Claim 10

A sealed track belt for use around circular pneumatic carcasses comprising: an integrally cured cylindrical elastomer belt means having a plurality of substantially inextensible reinforcing loops arranged in a side-by-side relationship in its central core to form at least one cylindrical reinforcing ply therein so integral inner and outer elastomer layers respectively cover the inner and outer surfaces of said reinforcing ply, said outer elastomer layer having a plurality of flat track shoe sites permanently formed in its outer periphery at equally spaced intervals about its outer circumference causing said track belt to have a polygonal outer configuration when the inner surface of said track belt is cylindrical and a transverse raised ridge of elastomer formed between each of said flat track shoe sites; a plurality of rectangular track shoes, each having an underside surface conforming to the surface of said track shoe site so its leading and trailing edges will respectively abut against said raised ridge on opposite sides of said associated track shoe site, one of said rectangular track shoes transversely disposed on each said track shoe site; a plurality of keeper bars, one of said keeper bars located beneath each track shoe positioned on each flat track shoe site with said cylindrical reinforcing ply disposed therebetween; and a plurality of attaching means with one of said attaching means associated with each track shoe and associated keeper bar and operable to pull them together whereby the portion of said elastomer belt means between them is clamped therebetween and open gaps are avoided between the outer surface of said elastomer belt means and said track shoes attached thereto as well as between the edges of adjacent track shoes when the track belt is supported on a circular tire carcass.

Claim 11

A sealed track belt for use around circular pneumatic carcasses comprising: an integrally cured cylindrical elastomer belt means having a plurality of substantially inextensible reinforcing loops arranged in a side-by-side relationship in its central core to form at least one cylindrical reinforcing ply therein so integral inner and outer elastomer layers respectively cover the inner and outer surfaces of said reinforcing ply, said outer elastomer layer having a plurality of flat track shoe sites permanently formed in its outer periphery at equally spaced intervals about its outer circumference causing said track belt to have a polygonal outer configuration when the inner surface of said track belt is cylindrical and a transverse raised ridge of elastomer formed between each of said flat track shoe sites; a plurality of rectangular track shoes, each having an underside surface conforming to the surface of said track shoe site so its leading and trailing edges will respectively abut against said raised ridge on opposite sides of said associated track shoe site, one of said rectangular track shoes transversely disposed on each said track shoe site; a plurality of keeper bars, one of said keeper bars located beneath each track shoe positioned on each flat track shoe site with said cylindrical reinforcing ply disposed therebetween; and a plurality of attaching means with one of said attaching means associated with each track shoe and associated keeper bar and operable to pull them together whereby the portion of said elastomer belt means between them is clamped therebetween and open gaps are avoided between the outer surface of said elastomer belt means and said track shoes attached thereto as well as between the edges of adjacent track shoes when the track belt is supported on a circular tire carcass.

Claim 12

The sealed track belt defined in claim 9 wherein the keeper bars are channel-shaped to prevent lateral extrusion of elastomer when the elastomer belt means is clamped against the underside surface of a track shoe by said keeper bar.

Claim 13

In combination with a circular pneumatic carcass a cylindrical track belt mounted around the circular periphery of said carcass, said track belt having a cylindrical elastomer belt means with a Central inextensible cylindrical reinforcing ply so an integral inner and outer layer of elastomer respectively cover the inner and outer surfaces of said cylindrical reinforcing ply said outer layer of elastomer of said elastomer belt means having a plurality of circumferentially disposed flat track shoe sites permanently formed in its outer periphery so its outer periphery is polygonally configured when said track belt is supported on said carcass and a plurality of track shoes, one of said track shoes clamped against each flat track shoe site with a keeper bar located beneath its track shoe and operable to clamp said belt therebetween.

Claim 14

In combination with a circular pneumatic carcass a cylindrical track belt mounted around the circular periphery of said carcass, said track belt having a cylindrical elastomer belt means with a Central inextensible cylindrical reinforcing ply so an integral inner and outer layer of elastomer respectively cover the inner and outer surfaces of said cylindrical reinforcing ply said outer layer of elastomer of said elastomer belt means having a plurality of circumferentially disposed flat track shoe sites permanently formed in its outer periphery so its outer periphery is polygonally configured when said track belt is supported on said carcass and a plurality of track shoes, one of said track shoes clamped against each flat track shoe site with a keeper bar located beneath its track shoe and operable to clamp said belt therebetween.

Claim 15

The sealed track belt as defined in claim 1 wherein each flat track shoe site includes a plurality of transverse sealing strips adjacent to its several connections to adjacent flat track shoe sites.

Claim 16

The sealed track belt as defined in claim 1 wherein each flat track shoe site includes a plurality of transverse sealing grooves adjacent to its several connections to adjacent flat track shoe sites.

Claim 17

The sealed track belt as defined in claim 2 wherein each flat track shoe site includes a plurality of transverse sealing strips adjacent to its several connections to adjacent flat track shoe sites.

Claim 18

The sealed track belt as defined in claim 2 wherein each flat track shoe site includes a pluraltiy of transverse sealing grooves adjacent to its several connections to adjacent flat track shoe sites.

Claim 19

The sealed track belt defined in claim 1 wherein the underside surface of each track shoe includes a plurality of transverse raised sealing strips adjacent to its opposite edges.

Claim 20

The sealed track belt defined in claim 1 wherein the underside surface of each track shoe includes a plurality of transverse sealing grooves adjacent to its opposite edges.

Claim 21

The sealed track belt defined in claim 9 wherein the underside surface of each track shoe includes a plurality of transverse raised sealing strips adjacent to its opposite edges.

Claim 22

The sealed track belt defined in claim 18 wherein the transverse raised sealing strips on the underside surface of each track shoe are located adjacent and parallel to its leading and trailing edges.

Claim 23

The sealed track belt defined in claim 19 wherein each flat track shoe site has a plurality of transverse sealing grooves arranged to receive the sealing strips on its associated track shoe.