A track drive for outdoor power equipment has a support frame with a centerline and a hub bearing attached to the support frame. A drive sprocket having a nesting interior half and exterior half is attached to the hub bearing, which enables the drive sprocket to rotate relative to the support frame. The drive sprocket is attached to an associated drive hub of a piece of outdoor power equipment. Drive sprocket teeth are spaced radially about the drive sprocket, with a first set of drive teeth attached to the interior half sprocket and located on an interior side of the support frame. A second set of drive teeth are attached to the exterior half sprocket and located on an exterior side of the support frame. The drive sprocket transmits a rotational force to an endless track to rotate the endless track and propel the outdoor power equipment.

A track drive for outdoor power equipment has a support frame with a centerline and a hub bearing attached to the support frame. A drive sprocket having a nesting interior half and exterior half is attached to the hub bearing, which enables the drive sprocket to rotate relative to the support frame. The drive sprocket is attached to an associated drive hub of a piece of outdoor power equipment. Drive sprocket teeth are spaced radially about the drive sprocket, with a first set of drive teeth attached to the interior half sprocket and located on an interior side of the support frame. A second set of drive teeth are attached to the exterior half sprocket and located on an exterior side of the support frame. The drive sprocket transmits a rotational force to an endless track to rotate the endless track and propel the outdoor power equipment.

A seal protection mechanism for a shaft seal of a land-based vehicle is described. The seal protection mechanism comprises a fixed part and a rotary part. The fixed part is fixed relative to the vehicle. The rotary part is rotatable relative to the fixed part about an axis. The rotary part is configured to rotate with a shaft about which the shaft seal is disposed. One of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises an axial opening. The other of the fixed part and the rotary part is at least partly received in the axial opening. The fixed part and the rotary part define a passageway. At least one of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises a debris breaking portion. The debris breaking portion is disposed in the passageway. In use, rotation of the rotary part relative to the fixed part causes the debris breaking portion to break apart any debris passing through said passageway towards the shaft seal. The seal protection mechanism therefore acts to protect the shaft seal by breaking apart debris before said debris can reach the shaft seal. This is beneficial because the shaft seal is a vulnerable component which can be damaged by debris.

A seal protection mechanism for a shaft seal of a land-based vehicle is described. The seal protection mechanism comprises a fixed part and a rotary part. The fixed part is fixed relative to the vehicle. The rotary part is rotatable relative to the fixed part about an axis. The rotary part is configured to rotate with a shaft about which the shaft seal is disposed. One of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises an axial opening. The other of the fixed part and the rotary part is at least partly received in the axial opening. The fixed part and the rotary part define a passageway. At least one of the fixed part and the rotary part comprises a debris breaking portion. The debris breaking portion is disposed in the passageway. In use, rotation of the rotary part relative to the fixed part causes the debris breaking portion to break apart any debris passing through said passageway towards the shaft seal. The seal protection mechanism therefore acts to protect the shaft seal by breaking apart debris before said debris can reach the shaft seal. This is beneficial because the shaft seal is a vulnerable component which can be damaged by debris.

Track system to be mounted on a vehicle in place of a rotatable OEM tire/wheel assembly, including: A frame. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame, operatively connectable to the drive shaft of the vehicle, and has a diameter of between 65% and 100% of the OEM tire diameter. Leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies are mounted on the frame. An endless track having an inner surface is disposed around the drive wheel, the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The endless track has an unsupported portion between the drive wheel and one of the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The unsupported portion has a length and a center. The unsupported portion deflects a distance of between 8% and 12% of its length on application of a 25-lb. force at its center.

Track system to be mounted on a vehicle in place of a rotatable OEM tire/wheel assembly, including: A frame. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame, operatively connectable to the drive shaft of the vehicle, and has a diameter of between 65% and 100% of the OEM tire diameter. Leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies are mounted on the frame. An endless track having an inner surface is disposed around the drive wheel, the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The endless track has an unsupported portion between the drive wheel and one of the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The unsupported portion has a length and a center. The unsupported portion deflects a distance of between 8% and 12% of its length on application of a 25-lb. force at its center.

A track system for traction of a vehicle comprising a track to engage the ground and comprising elastomeric material, a ground-engaging outer side and an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging outer side. The track system also comprises a track-engaging arrangement for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging arrangement, which comprises: a drive wheel for movement of the track; a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track system, and a plurality of roller wheels between the idler wheels. The track system also comprises a frame supporting the idler and roller wheels. The track system also comprises a plurality of mounts spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the track system to interconnect the frame of the track system to the vehicle frame, and allow movement of the frame of the track system relative to the vehicle frame.

A track system for traction of a vehicle comprising a track to engage the ground and comprising elastomeric material, a ground-engaging outer side and an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging outer side. The track system also comprises a track-engaging arrangement for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging arrangement, which comprises: a drive wheel for movement of the track; a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track system, and a plurality of roller wheels between the idler wheels. The track system also comprises a frame supporting the idler and roller wheels. The track system also comprises a plurality of mounts spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the track system to interconnect the frame of the track system to the vehicle frame, and allow movement of the frame of the track system relative to the vehicle frame.

Track system to be mounted on a vehicle in place of a rotatable OEM tire/wheel assembly, including: A frame. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame, operatively connectable to the drive shaft of the vehicle, and has a diameter of between 65% and 100% of the OEM tire diameter. Leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies are mounted on the frame. An endless track having an inner surface is disposed around the drive wheel, the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The endless track has an unsupported portion between the drive wheel and one of the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The unsupported portion has a length and a center. The unsupported portion deflects a distance of between 8% and 12% of its length on application of a 25-lb. force at its center.

Track system to be mounted on a vehicle in place of a rotatable OEM tire/wheel assembly, including: A frame. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame, operatively connectable to the drive shaft of the vehicle, and has a diameter of between 65% and 100% of the OEM tire diameter. Leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies are mounted on the frame. An endless track having an inner surface is disposed around the drive wheel, the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The endless track has an unsupported portion between the drive wheel and one of the leading and trailing idler wheel assemblies. The unsupported portion has a length and a center. The unsupported portion deflects a distance of between 8% and 12% of its length on application of a 25-lb. force at its center.