TRACK SECTION WITH CROSSBAR AND TRACK BELT FORMED BY SUCH TRACK SECTIONS

20220355875

17/764776

September 22, 2020

A track section (1) adapted to be linked to a plurality of similar track sections to form a track belt for mounting around the outer periphery of vehicle tyres. The track section comprises a crossbar (11) and two lateral support members (126a, 12b). The crossbar is lattice-like and formed by two or more flat, upright and elongated crossbar elements (16) and two or more connecting elements (17). The crossbar elements (16) extend in parallel with each other and empty spaces are provided between them. Each connecting element (17) extends across and is fixed to the crossbar elements (16) in order to act as a spacer between the crossbar elements. Each connecting element (17) projects from the crossbar elements (16) on the outer side (14) of the crossbar (11).

1. A track section adapted to be linked to a plurality of similar track sections to form a track belt (1) for mounting around the outer periphery of vehicle tyres, wherein the track section (10) comprises: an elongated crossbar (11) having a tyre-facing inner side (13) and a ground engageable outer side (14) opposite to the inner side; a first lateral support member (12a) mounted to the crossbar (11) at first end section (11a) thereof; and a second lateral support member (12b) mounted to the crossbar (11) at an opposite second end section (11b) thereof, the first and second lateral support members (12a, 12b) protrude on the inner side (13) of the crossbar (11) and are spaced apart to allow a tyre (2) to be received between the first and second lateral support members (12a, 12b) with the crossbar (11) extending across and being in contact with the envelope surface (3) of the tyre, the crossbar (11) is lattice-like and is formed by two or more flat, upright and elongated crossbar elements (16) and two or more connecting elements (17), each crossbar element (16) has a longitudinal inner edge (18) on the inner side (13) of the crossbar and a longitudinal outer edge (19) on the outer side (14) of the crossbar, the crossbar elements (16) extend in parallel with each other in the longitudinal direction of the crossbar (11) and are spaced apart in the cross-direction of the crossbar, empty spaces (21) are provided between the crossbar elements (16), the connecting elements (17) are arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the crossbar (11), each connecting element (17) extends across and is fixed to the crossbar elements (16) to act as a spacer between the crossbar elements, and each connecting element (17) is configured to project from the crossbar elements (16) on the outer side (14) of the crossbar (11).

2. A track section according to claim 1, wherein the outer edge (19) of at least one of the crossbar elements (16), preferably of each crossbar element, is toothed over at least one part of its longitudinal extension.

3. A track section according to claim 2, wherein said toothed outer edge (19) comprises two toothed edge sections (19a, 19b) and an intermediate non-toothed edge section (19c), and the toothed edge sections (19a, 19b) are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the associated crossbar element (16) and separated from each other by the intermediate non-toothed edge section (19c), which is located in the middle of the associated crossbar element (16), as seen in the longitudinal direction thereof.

4. A track section according to claim 3, wherein each one of said toothed edge sections (19a, 19b) is provided with at least two teeth (24).

5. A track section according to claim 3, wherein said intermediate non-toothed edge section (19c) is convex.

6. A track section according to claim 1, wherein each connecting element (17) is flat and fixed to the crossbar elements (16) in an upright position, and each connecting element (17) has an inner edge (25) facing the crossbar elements (16) and a opposite outer edge (26).

7. A track section according to claim 6, wherein the outer edge (26) of each connecting element (17) is toothed.

8. A track section according to claim 1, wherein the inner edge (18) of each crossbar element (16) has a concave edge section (18a) at its middle.

9. A track section according to claim 1, wherein the crossbar (11) comprises three such crossbar elements (16).

10. A track section according to claim 1, wherein the connecting elements (17) are fixed to the crossbar elements (16) by welding.

11. A track section according to claim 1, wherein each crossbar element (16) has a thickness of 12-20 mm.

12. A track section according to claim 1, wherein each connecting element (17) has a thickness of 12-20 mm.

13. A track section according to claim 1, wherein the first lateral support member (12a) is mounted to the first end section (11a) of the crossbar (11) through a C-shaped first connection member (28a), which has a flat base part (29), each crossbar element (16) at a first end is secured by welding to a first side of the base part (29) of the first connection member (28a) and the first lateral support member (12a) is secured by welding to an opposite second side of the base part (29) of the first connection member (28a), the second lateral support member (12b) is mounted to the second end section (11b) of the crossbar (11) through a C-shaped second connection member (28b), which has a flat base part (29), each crossbar element (16) at a second end is secured by welding to a first side of the base part (29) of the second connection member (28b), and the second lateral support member (12b) is secured by welding to an opposite second side of the base part (29) of the second connection member (28b).

14. A track section according to claim 1, wherein the crossbar (11) has a length of 600-1400 mm.

15. A track belt for mounting around the outer periphery of vehicle tyres, wherein the track belt (1) is formed by several track sections (10) according to claim 1 connected to each other by link elements (32).

16. A track section according to claim 4, wherein said intermediate non-toothed edge section (19c) is convex.

17. A track section according to claim 16, wherein each connecting element (17) is flat and fixed to the crossbar elements (16) in an upright position, and each connecting element (17) has an inner edge (25) facing the crossbar elements (16) and a opposite outer edge (26).

18. A track section according to claim 5, wherein each connecting element (17) is flat and fixed to the crossbar elements (16) in an upright position, and each connecting element (17) has an inner edge (25) facing the crossbar elements (16) and a opposite outer edge (26).

19. A track section according to claim 4, wherein each connecting element (17) is flat and fixed to the crossbar elements (16) in an upright position, and each connecting element (17) has an inner edge (25) facing the crossbar elements (16) and a opposite outer edge (26).

20. A track section according to claim 3, wherein each connecting element (17) is flat and fixed to the crossbar elements (16) in an upright position, and each connecting element (17) has an inner edge (25) facing the crossbar elements (16) and a opposite outer edge (26).

62; 62; 62

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