CRAWLER TRACK, IN PARTICULAR RUBBER CRAWLER TRACK

Abstract

The present invention relates to a caterpillar track (2), in particular a rubber caterpillar track (2), with a track body (20) and with at least one outer profiling element (22), preferably with a plurality of outer profiling elements (22), which are directed outwardly away from the track body (20). The caterpillar track (2) is characterized in that the outer profiling element (22) has an outwardly directed grouser body (23) and a grouser root (24), which connects the grouser body (23) to the track body (20), wherein the grouser body (23) and the grouser root (24) comprise different materials, preferably consist of different materials.

Claims

1.-5. (canceled)

6. A rubber caterpillar track comprising a track body having a plurality of outer profiling elements which are directed outwardly away from the track body, wherein each of the plurality of outer profiling elements comprises an outwardly directed grouser body and a grouser root, wherein the grouser root connects the grouser body to the track body, and wherein the grouser body and the grouser root comprise different materials.

7. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the grouser body and the grouser root consist of different materials.

8. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the grouser body comprises a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root.

9. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 8, wherein the grouser body consists of a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root.

10. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the grouser root comprises a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.

11. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 10, wherein the grouser root consists of a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.

12. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the material of the grouser body comprises an elastomeric material.

13. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 12, wherein the material of the grouser body consists of an elastomeric material.

14. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the material of the grouser root comprises an elastomeric material.

15. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 14, wherein the material of the grouser root consists of an elastomeric material.

16. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of tension members embedded in the track body.

17. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of tension members are steel cables.

18. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the material comprised in the grouser body is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, mixture of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber, or mixture of natural rubber and isoprene rubber.

19. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the material comprised in the grouser root is natural rubber mixed with one or more of carbon black and silica.

20. A rubber caterpillar track comprising a track body having a plurality of outer profiling elements which are directed outwardly away from the track body, wherein each of the plurality of outer profiling elements comprises an outwardly directed grouser body and a grouser root, wherein the grouser root connects the grouser body to the track body; wherein the material comprised in the grouser body is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, mixture of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber, or mixture of natural rubber and isoprene rubber; wherein the material comprised in the grouser root is natural rubber mixed with one or more of carbon black and silica; and, wherein the grouser body and the grouser root consist of different materials.

21. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20, wherein the grouser body comprises a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root.

22. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20, wherein the grouser root comprises a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.

23. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20, wherein the grouser body comprises a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root; and, wherein the grouser root comprises a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.

24. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a plurality of tension members embedded in the track body.

25. The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 24, wherein the plurality of tension members are steel cables.

Description

[0021] An exemplary embodiment and further advantages of the invention are explained below in conjunction with the following FIGURE, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section through a caterpillar track according to the invention in a production device prior to a vulcanization.

[0023] The description of FIG. 1 is given in Cartesian coordinates with a transverse direction Y and a vertical direction Z, which is aligned perpendicularly to the transverse direction Y and which may also be referred to as the height Z. In each case, a longitudinal direction is aligned perpendicularly thereto (not shown).

[0024] A caterpillar track 2 in the form of a rubber caterpillar track 2 is produced in an apparatus 1 for producing rubber caterpillar tracks 2 according to DE 10 2015 205 071 A1. The production apparatus 1 has an inner mold 10, an outer mold 11 and a plurality of grouser molds 12, which are formed and arranged as described in DE 10 2015 205 071 A1.

[0025] The rubber caterpillar track 2 is arranged between the inner mold 10, at the bottom in the vertical direction Z, and the outer mold 11 and the grouser molds 12, at the top in the vertical direction Z. The rubber caterpillar track 2 has a track body 20, which may also be referred to as a carcass 20. The track body 20 is arranged with its underside lying on the inner side or upper side of the inner mold 10. From above, the grouser molds 12 rest with their undersides on the upper side of the track body 20. Embedded within the track body 20 are a plurality of steel cables 21, which run in the longitudinal direction. Both the track body 20 and the steel cables 21 are endlessly closed in the longitudinal direction as the circumferential direction.

[0026] Directed outward, a plurality of outer profiling elements 22, which may also be referred to as external teeth 22 or grousers 22, rest on the upper side of the track body 20. The outer profiling elements 22 are respectively surrounded obliquely laterally in the transverse direction Y by the grouser molds 12 and from above by the outer mold 11.

[0027] According to the invention, the grousers 22 are formed from two different elastomeric materials. Thus, the grouser bodies 23, which form the upwardly projecting points of the grousers 22, comprise a comparatively abrasion-resistant material, which can also bring about a comparatively good grip with the underlying surface. By contrast to this, the grouser roots 24, which form the regions between the grouser bodies 23 and the track body 20, comprise a material which has less heat build-up, a greater dynamic strength and better bonding to the material of the track body 20 than the material of the grouser body 23. The conflicts between the opposing requirements for the grouser bodies 23 and the grouser roots 24 can in this way be overcome according to the invention in that the materials are respectively chosen or formed in such a way that they are designed as well as possible for the respective requirements. As a result, the lifetime and/or the load-bearing capacity of the rubber caterpillar track 2 can be improved.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS (PART OF THE DESCRIPTION)

[0028] Y transverse direction

[0029] Z vertical direction; height

[0030] 1 production apparatus

[0031] 10 inner mold

[0032] 11 outer mold

[0033] 12 grouser mold

[0034] 2 (rubber) caterpillar track

[0035] 20 track body; carcass

[0036] 21 tension member; steel cables

[0037] 22 outer profiling elements; external teeth; grousers

[0038] 23 grouser body

[0039] 24 grouser root