In some embodiments, a wear pad comprises a polyurethane pad, a reinforcing member, and at least one first fastener. The polyurethane pad may have a first surface region that is adapted to engage a contact patch between the polyurethane pad and a ground region, the first surface region having a first area. The reinforcing member may be at least partially embedded within the polyurethane pad and have a second surface region that faces the first surface region and to which polyurethane of the polyurethane pad is bonded, wherein a second area of the second surface region is greater than fifty percent of the first area. The at least one first fastener may be associated with the reinforcing member and may be adapted to engage at least one second fastener associated with a grouser plate of a track-type vehicle so as to secure the wear pad to the grouser plate.

In some embodiments, a wear pad comprises a polyurethane pad, a reinforcing member, and at least one first fastener. The polyurethane pad may have a first surface region that is adapted to engage a contact patch between the polyurethane pad and a ground region, the first surface region having a first area. The reinforcing member may be at least partially embedded within the polyurethane pad and have a second surface region that faces the first surface region and to which polyurethane of the polyurethane pad is bonded, wherein a second area of the second surface region is greater than fifty percent of the first area. The at least one first fastener may be associated with the reinforcing member and may be adapted to engage at least one second fastener associated with a grouser plate of a track-type vehicle so as to secure the wear pad to the grouser plate.

An endless track belt for a submersible, autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The track belt includes an outer surface with raised track elements that are configured to both engage a supporting surface and selectively receive external grip elements configured to engage the supporting surface. The track belt also includes an inner surface with continuous, annular ridges. The continuous ridges are configured to secure the endless track belt to a drive pulley in a manner that prevents lateral movement while allowing for some longitudinal slip during rotational movement of the belt.

An endless track belt for a submersible, autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The track belt includes an outer surface with raised track elements that are configured to both engage a supporting surface and selectively receive external grip elements configured to engage the supporting surface. The track belt also includes an inner surface with continuous, annular ridges. The continuous ridges are configured to secure the endless track belt to a drive pulley in a manner that prevents lateral movement while allowing for some longitudinal slip during rotational movement of the belt.

A track joint assembly includes adjacent first and second track links each having an elongate link body with an upper rail surface located in part upon first and second link body ends and in part upon a middle section of the link. The upper rail surface forms part of a track rail having a segment formed by each of the middle sections of the elongate link bodies of the first and second track links and a compound segment formed by the two adjacent track links. The upper rail surface is formed of a sacrificial wear material that has a varying cross-sectional area structured to limit scalloping of the track links

A traction stud for endless tracks. The traction stud comprises a base and the base has a center point on a top surface and a center point on a bottom surface. There is an elongated shank rigidly surmounted on the top surface at the center point. The shank has a distal end. The distal end has at least one cutting flute located in it. The shank has a threaded surface. The base has, at the center point of the bottom, a means for torqueing the traction stud.

A traction stud for endless tracks. The traction stud comprises a base and the base has a center point on a top surface and a center point on a bottom surface. There is an elongated shank rigidly surmounted on the top surface at the center point. The shank has a distal end. The distal end has at least one cutting flute located in it. The shank has a threaded surface. The base has, at the center point of the bottom, a means for torqueing the traction stud.

In some examples, a shoe pad for a grouser of a vehicle track defines a slot configured to receive a bracket that is configured to attach the shoe pad to a grouser. For example, a first arm of a bracket may be inserted into the slot and a second arm of the bracket may be configured to contact an interior side of a grouser of a vehicle track to attach the shoe pad to the grouser. In some examples, the shoe pad and the bracket may be held to the grouser with the aid of a bolt, which bolt may not extend through the grouser, but, rather, may merely engage with an exterior side of the grouser. In this way, the shoe pad may be able to be attached to a grouser without requiring one or more holes to be present in the grouser, while still providing a relatively tight fit with the grouser the shoe pad is configured to cover.

In some examples, a shoe pad for a grouser of a vehicle track defines a slot configured to receive a bracket that is configured to attach the shoe pad to a grouser. For example, a first arm of a bracket may be inserted into the slot and a second arm of the bracket may be configured to contact an interior side of a grouser of a vehicle track to attach the shoe pad to the grouser. In some examples, the shoe pad and the bracket may be held to the grouser with the aid of a bolt, which bolt may not extend through the grouser, but, rather, may merely engage with an exterior side of the grouser. In this way, the shoe pad may be able to be attached to a grouser without requiring one or more holes to be present in the grouser, while still providing a relatively tight fit with the grouser the shoe pad is configured to cover.

A method for securing a wear resistant body to a steel base comprise locating a body of tungsten carbide on a surface of the steel base, surrounding the body of tungsten carbide with a weld pool and while the weld pool is hot, slowly cooling the weld pool so as to assist with adhesion of the weld pool to the body of tungsten carbide by the application of head from frictional contact with a rotary wire brush.