CA2369265A1 - Multiple-metal crosspiece - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiple-piece crosspiece for a track of a tracked vehicle includes a base with vertical through-holes, a tip disposed above the base having a vertical through-hole aligned with each vertical through-hole of the base, and fasteners extending through the vertical through-holes of the base and tip to connect the base and tip. The two-piece construction permits the use of materials having the best physical properties in the most advantageous places.
The tip is preferably steel, while the base is preferably extruded aluminum. The fastener may be a bolt and nut, which may also fasten the crosspiece to the track of the tracked vehicle and thereby reduce the number of components. The crosspiece permits easy access to the nut and easy replacement of the tip and/or base. Because the bolt extends vertically, the top of the crosspiece remains narrow.

Description

MULTIPLE-METAL CROSSp~CE
Field of the Invention [0001 ] The present invention relates generally to a crosspiece of a track of a track-type vehicle, and more specifically to a multiple-piece (or multiple-rrtetal) crosspiece.
Back;~und of the Tnvention [0002] Track-type vehicles typically comprise a powered frame with two parallel tracks aligned in the direction of motion of the vehicle. Tracked vehicles are often used in such applications as ski slope grooming, where the slippery snowlice and steep terrain make traction between the tracks and the ground critical. For this reason, a plurality of traction enhancing crosspieces are secured to the outer surface of each track.

[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates one conventional type of crosspiece 300, which comprises a single elongated "U" shaped steel piece. The steel cmsspieee can be easily bolted to the track 6.
While steel is strong and malleable enough to handle the higb forces experienced at the tip of such crosspieces, steel rusts, becomes unsightly, and is heavy. Additionally, snow and other debris can accumulate on the inside of the opening 302 of the 'nJ" during use, only to melt and form puddles under the vehicle during storage.

[0004] FIG. 2 illustrates another conventional crosspiece 310, which has an enclosed interior hole 312 that prevents the accumulation of debris therein. However, such a construction severely restricts access to the nuts 314 of the bolts 316 used to secure the crosspiece to the track because the nuts 314 must be disposed within the enclosed interior hole 312.
To do this, the nuts 314 must be positioned on a strip that is disposed within the hole 312. The strip may be removed once the nuts are fastened.

[0005] The conventional crosspiece 310 may be extruded aluminum. While an aluminum crosspiece 310 is aesthetically appealing, does not rust, is lighter, and has better climbability in wet SiIOW, an all-ahuninum crosspiece 310 is extremely expensive. Further, aluminum is more brittle than steel, As a result, the tip of an all-aluminum crosspiece is more prone to chipping than the tip of a steel crosspiece. This results in more frequent replacement of the all-aluminum crosspieces.

[0006] While in the conventional crosspiece 310, the bolts 316 are fed through smooth holes 318 and threaded onto the nuts 314, other conventional crosspieces utilize threaded holes within the crosspiece in order to eliminate the need for additional nuts 314.
While the elirnunation ofthe nuts 314 solves the problem of access to the nuts 314, threaded holes wear quickly if the crosspiece is made of aluminum.

[0007] As illustrated in FIG. 3, U.S. Patent No. 5,265,949 discloses another conventional crosspiece 320. The crosspiece 320 comprises sheet steel that is bent to form an enclosed interior hole 322. As that patent describes, the crosspiece 320 is bolted to the track 6 through hole 324, which may or may not be threaded, a nut being used if the bolt hole is not threaded. A spike 326 may be optionally bolted (via bolt 328) to the crosspiece 320. Y.ike the crosspiece 300, the steel crosspiece 320 disadvantageously rusts, becomes unsightly, and is heavy.

[0008] U:S. Patent No. 4,218,1 Ol discloses a crosspiece that is similar to the crosspiece 320, except that instead of attaching a spike 326 to the crosspiece, hardened steel ice talks axe intermittently welded to the crosspiece.

[0009) FIG. 4 illustrates yet another conventional crosspiece 430, which utilizes an aluminum base 432 and a steel tip 434. The tip 434 and base 432 are secured together using horizontally extending bolts 436. While such a design advan#a,geously uses malleable steel at the tip 432, where stress on the crosspiece 430 is the greatest, the horizontally extending bolts 436 significantly widen the tip portion and reduce the crosspiece's ability to peneteate the snore. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the crosspiece 320 suffers from the same drawback when the spike 326 is attaches using horizontal bolts 328.

Summary of the Invention [0010] In view of the foregoing, it is an aspect of the gresent invention to provide a durable easily-replaceable crosspiece.
[0011 ] It is a farther aspect of the present invention to provide a crosspiece having a malleable replaceable narrow tip_ [0012] It is yet a further aspect of the present invention to provide an inexpensive crosspiece.
[0013] It is yet a fiu ther aspect of the present invention to provide a crosspiece that prevents (or at least minimizes} the accumulation of debris therein.
[0014] It is yet a further aspect of the present invention to provide a tracked vehicle having crosspieces that possess the above aspects.
[0015] The crosspiece and tracked vehicle of the present invention accomplish these and other objects, which will become apparent in the discussion that follows.
[OOI6~ In accordance with the present invention, a crosspiece is provided that comprises a base having longitudinal and vertical axes, a tip disposed above the base, at least one vertical through-hole extending through both the base and the tip, and at least one fastener extending through the at least one vertical through-hole to connect the tip to the base.
The base is extruded aluminum and the tip is steel. The base has a longitudinal through-hole. The at least one through-hole comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced through-holes in the base and tip.
The at least one fastener comprises a fastener for each of the plurality of through-holes. The fasteners are nuts and bolts and are mounted such that the nuts axe disposed above the base so as to be accessible from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base. The tip has a vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion that is positioned on top of a top portion of the base. The substantially horizontal portion includes a downwardly extending portion an an opposite side of the substantially horizontal portion from the vertical portion, and the base includes a recess to accommodate the downwardly extending portion. An outer side of the downwardly extending portion is flash with an exterior surface of the base.
The base has an upwardly projecting portion defining a projecting lateral surface. that is flush witl3 a surface of the tip at a location of the upwardly projecting portion.
[0017) A tracked vehicle embodying the present invention comprises a powered frame, at least one track mounted to the powered frame for propulsion of the vehicle, and at least one of the above~described crosspieces mounted on the track such that a bottom of the base is connected to an outer surface ofthe at least one track. Each bolt and nut simultaneously secures the tip to the base and the base to the track: A plurality of crosspieces are mounted to the track in a laterally spaced relationship.
Brief Description of the Drawings [0018) For a better understanding ofthe present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with tl3e accompanying drawings, where:
FIGS. 1-4 are cross-sectional views ofvarious conventional crosspieces;
FIG. 5 is a side view of a tracked vehicle according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a top detail view of a track including crosspieces of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the track and crosspiece according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments j0019] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the tracked vehicle 2 of the present invention has a powered frame 4 and two parallel tracks 6 mounted to the powered frame 4 for propulsion of the vehicle 2.
[0020] To simplify the explanation of the present invention, the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical reference axes will be defined relative to the crosspiece as follows (See FIGS. 6 and 7).
The longitudinal axis extends in a direction that is parallel to the outer surface 6a of the track 6 where the crosspiece 100 is mounted on the track 5 and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle 2. The lateral axis is parallel to the track 6 and is parallel to the direction of travel of the track 6. The vertical axis is perpendicular to the outer surface fa of the track, the positive direction extending upwardly away from the outer surface da.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a detailed top view ofthe tracks. The track 6 comprises a plurality of endless bands 8. A plurality of crosspieces I00 are mounted on the outer surface 6a of the track 6 to provide traction. Each longitudinally elongated crosspiece 100 is mounted such that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the track 6. The crosspieces 100 are laterally spaced from each other and may be alternately longitudinally staggered from each other as shown in FiG. 6.
[0022] FIG: 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a crosspiece loo according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Each crosspiece 100 comprises a tip 120 and a base 140.
[0023] Hereinafter, the tip 120 will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
The tip 120 is longitudinally elongated and has a horizontal portion 122 through which a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical through-holes 124 extend. A vertical portion 126 extends upwardly from a forward lateral side of the ho~zontal portion 122 to form a narrow top 128 that is adapted to penetrate the snow/loose ground and provide traction for the track 6. A

downwardly extending portion 130 extends downwardly from the backward lateral side of the horizontal portion 122.
[0024] The tip 120 is preferably made of steel because steel is strong and malleable.
However, any other suitable material that would be known to one skilled in the art could also be used.
[0025] Hereinafter, the base 140 will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
The base 140 is longitudinally elongated. A plurality of vertical through-holes 142 that align with the plurality of vertical through-holes 124 of the tip extend between a top portion 144 of the base and a bottom 146 of the base. The top portion 144 abuts (or mates with) the horizontal portion 122 of the tip.
[0026] A forward lateral side 148 of the base includes an upwardly projecting portion 150 that defines a projecting lateral surface 152 that is flush with a surface 154 of the vertical portion of the tip 120 in the vicinity of the upwardly projecting portion 150.
The flush interface prevents debris from wedging between the tip i20 and base 140 <~nd prying the tip 120 from the base 140 when the forward lateral side 148 pushes against the ground when the vehicle is moving. Depending on the desired lateral orientation of each crosspiece 100;
debris will be pushed against the interface in one of the forward and reverse travel directions.
j0027] Similarly, a backward lateral side I 56 of the base includes a recess 158 to accommodate the downwardly extending portion 13 0 of the tip 120. As with the forward projecting lateral surface 152, a flush interface between an outer surface 160 of the downwardly extending pprtion 130 and an outer surface 162 of the backward lateral side 156 prevents debris from wedging between the tip 120 and base 140 when the backward lateral side I56 pushes against the ground.
[0028] While any suitable material known to one skilled in the art would be suitable for the base 140, extruded aluminum is preferred because of its resistance to corrosion, lightness, and aesthetic appeal. Other materials containing aluminum are also preferable.

[0029] To reduce the weight and expense (of manufacture) of the base 140, a longitudinal through-hole 164 may be provided in the base 140. Unlike the open inside 302 of the conventional "U" shaped crosspiece 3f30, the longitudinal through-hole 164 is not open to the environment in the vertical and lateral directions (or a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) and therefore prevents debris from accumulating therein.
[0030] Hereinafter, the connection between the tip 120, base 140, and track 6 will be described with reference to FTGS. 6 and 7. The bands 8 of the track 6 are provided with vertical through-holes 166 that align with the vertical through-holes 12;4, 142 of the tip 120 and base 140;
respectively, when the crosspiece 100 is properly positioned on the track 6. A
bolt 168 extends through each set of through-holes 124, 142, 166 in the tip 120, base 140, and track 6, respectively, to securely fasten both the tip 120 to the base 140 and the base 140 to the track 6.
The dual use of each bolt 168 advantageously reduces the number of components of each crosspiece 100 relative to conventional two-piece crosspieces :~20, 430 that use separate bolts to attach the tip to he base and the base to the track.
[0031] Preferably, the bolt 168 is fed upwardly through the through-holes 124, 142, 1G6 from an inside surface 6b of the track such that each nut 170 is attached to each bolt 168 above the base 140. Because each nut 170 is accessible from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each nut 170 is easily removable. Consequently, tips 120 andlor bases 140 can be easily replaced. The use of a nut 170 also improves upon conventional crosspieces that utilize internally threaded holes, instead, because such conventional crosspieces are more expensive to manufacture and quickly wear if the crosspiece is aluminum.
[0032) Because the bolt 168 that attaches the base I40 to the tip 120 extends vertically, not horizontally as in the conventional two-piece crosspieces 320, 430, the narrow top 128 of the tip 120 is not disadvantageously widened. Consequently, the narrow top 228 of the crosspiece 100 of the present invention can more effectively penetrate the ground.

[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a crosspiece 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is generally similar to the crosspiece 100. However, several differences are noted below.
[0034] The tip 220 according to the second embodimeW differs from the tip 120 of the first embodiment in that the tip 220 does not include the downwardly extending portion 130 that the tip 120 of the first embodiment includes.
[0035] The base 240 of the second embodiment differs from the base 140 of the first embodiment in several aspects. First, the outer surface 262 and longitudinal through-hole 264 of the base 240 is generally more rounded than in the first embodiment. Second, because the tip 220 does not include a downwardly extending portion lie the downwardly extending portion 130 in the first embodiment, a corresponding mating recess in the base 240 is not used. Third, the base 240 does not include an upwardly pmj ecting portion Like the upwardly proj ectixxg portion 150 in the first embodiment. While the absence of downwardly and upwardly projecting portions in the base 240 of the second embodiment may disadvantageously allow debris to wedge between the tip 220 and base 240, the construction is sinzpli$ed with respect to the embodiment illustrated in F1G. 7.
[0036] While the invention t~s been d~eseribed with reference to two sp~ific preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, any combination of the specif c aspects identified in the embodiments may be utili2ed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, componem, or material to the teachings ofthe present invention without departing from its teachings as claimed.

Claims (12)

1. A crosspiece for a track of a tracked vehicle, comprising:
an elongated base with a first longitudinal axis having at least one vertical through-hole;
an elongated tip with a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the tip being disposed above the base and having at least one vertical through-hole aligned with the at least one vertical through-hole of the base; and at least one fastener extending through the vertical through-holes of the base and tip to connect the base to the tip.

2. The crosspiece of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one of aluminum and a material containing aluminum.

3. The crosspiece of claim 2, wherein the base is an extrusion.

4. The crosspiece of claim 1, wherein the base has a longitudinal through-hole.

5. The crosspiece of claim 1, wherein the tip is steel.

6. The crosspiece of claim 1, wherein the at least one vertical through-hole of the tip comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical through-holes, wherein the at least one vertical through-hole of the base comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical through-holes that are aligned with the plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical through-holes of the tip, and wherein the at least one fastener comprises a fastener for each aligned pair of through-holes in the base and tip.

7. The crosspiece of claim 6, wherein each of the fasteners comprises a bolt and nut.

8. The crosspiece of claim 7, wherein each nut is disposed above the base.

9. The crosspiece of claim 8, wherein the nut is accessible from a direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis.

The crosspiece of claim 1, wherein the tip has a vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion, the base has a tap portion, and the horizontal portion is positioned on top of the top portion.

11. The crosspiece of claim 10, wherein the substantially horizontal portion includes a downwardly extending portion on an opposite lateral side of the substantially horizontal portion from the vertical portion, and wherein the base includes a recess to accommodate the downwardly extending portion.

12. The crosspiece of claim 11, wherein an outer side of the downwardly extending portion is flush with an exterior surface of the base.

13. The crosspiece of claim 10, wherein the base has an upwardly projecting portion defining a projecting lateral surface that is flush with a surface of the tip at a location of the upwardly projecting portion.

14. A tracked vehicle comprising:
a powered frame;
at least one track mounted to the powered frame for propulsion of the vehicle;
and at least one crosspiece mounted on the track comprising

10 an elongated base with a first longitudinal axis, the base having a bottom connected to an outer surface of the at least one track and at least one vertical through-hole, an elongated tip with a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the tip being disposed above the base and having at least one vertical through-hole aligned with the at least one vertical through-hole of the base, and at least one fastener extending through the vertical through-holes of the base and tip to connect the base to the tip.

15. The tracked vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one bolt and nut, and wherein the at least one bolt and nut connects the base to the track.

16. The tracked vehicle of claim 15, wherein the at least one vertical through-hole of the tip comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical through-holes, wherein the at least one vertical through-hole of the base comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical through-holes that are aligned with the plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical through-holes of the tip, and wherein the at least one bolt and nut comprises a bolt and nut for each aligned pair of vertical through-holes in the base and tip.

17. The tracked vehicle of claim 16, wherein each nut is disposed above the base.

18. The tracked vehicle of claim 17, wherein each nut is accessible from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

19. The tracked vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one crosspiece comprises a plurality of laterally spaced crosspieces.

11 20. The tracked vehicle of claim 14, wherein the base comprises at least one of aluminum and a material containing aluminum.

21. The tracked vehicle of claim 20, wherein the base is an extrusion.

22. The tracked vehicle of claim 14, wherein the base has a longitudinal through-hole.

23. The tracked vehicle of claim 14, wherein the tip is steel.

24. The tracked vehicle of claim 14, wherein the tip has a vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion, and wherein the base has a top portion, and wherein the horizontal portion is positioned on top of the top portion.

25. The tracked vehicle of claim 24, wherein the substantially horizontal portion includes a downwardly extending portion on an opposite side of the substantially horizontal portion from the vertical portion, and wherein the base includes a recess to accommodate the downwardly extending portion.

26. The tracked vehicle of claim 25, wherein an outer side of the downwardly extending portion is flush with an exterior surface of the base.

27. The tracked vehicle of claim 24, wherein the base has an upwardly projecting portion defining a projecting lateral surface that is flush with a surface of the tip at a location of the upwardly projecting portion.

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