Abstract
A spike device for a tracked vehicle, in particular a snow groomer vehicle, provided with at least one track having a longitudinal extent and comprising at least a plurality of transverse bars configured for acting against the ground during the movement of the tracked vehicle; the spike device comprising: a support configured for being coupled to one of the transverse bars; a spike supported by the support and configured for acting against the ground during the movement of the tracked vehicle; wherein the spike is supported by the support in a selectively releasable manner so that in case of breakage or damage the spike can be replaced without removing the support from the transverse bar.
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10: A tracked vehicle comprising: a track provided with a transverse bar configured to act against a ground during a movement of the tracked vehicle, the transverse bar comprising a base configured to be coupled to a track belt, a free edge and two lateral walls; and a spike device configured to act against the ground during the movement of the tracked vehicle, the spike device comprising: a first support comprising a cylindrical body coupled to the transverse bar at the free edge of the transverse bar; and a spike supportable by the first support and configured to act against the ground during the movement of the tracked vehicle, wherein a threaded coupling between the first support and the spike is selectively releasable and extends about an axis orthogonal to the track belt.
11: The tracked vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first support is non-releasably coupled to the transverse bar.
12: The tracked vehicle of claim 10, wherein the spike comprises a spike tip non-releasably coupled to a second support selectively releasably coupled to the first support.
13: The tracked vehicle of claim 12, wherein the spike tip is non-releasably coupled to the second support by any of welding, bonding and a mechanical interference.
14: The tracked vehicle of claim 12, wherein the selectively releasable coupling between the second support and the first support comprises a threaded coupling and the second support comprises a tightening nut.
15: The tracked vehicle of claim 14, wherein the second support comprises a sleeve and the cylindrical body of the first support defines a seat configured to receive the second support.
16: The tracked vehicle of claim 10, wherein the transverse bar comprises a single body and the free edge is formed in one piece with the lateral walls.
17: The tracked vehicle of claim 10, wherein the transverse bar is formed as a union of two separate bodies, one of which is the free edge.
18: The tracked vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first support comprises two lip portions diametrically opposite with respect to the cylindrical body and configured to follow a shape of the lateral walls of the transverse bar.
19: A tracked vehicle track comprising: a transverse bar configured to act against a ground during a movement of a tracked vehicle, the transverse bar comprising a base configured to be coupled to a track belt, a free edge and two lateral walls; and a spike device configured to act against the ground during the movement of the tracked vehicle, the spike device comprising: a first support comprising a cylindrical body coupled to the transverse bar at the free edge of the transverse bar; and a spike supportable by the first support and configured to act against the ground during the movement of the tracked vehicle, wherein a threaded coupling between the first support and the spike is selectively releasable and extends about an axis orthogonal to the track belt.
20: The tracked vehicle track of claim 19, wherein the first support is non-releasably coupled to the transverse bar.
21: The tracked vehicle track of claim 19, wherein the spike comprises a spike tip non-releasably coupled to a second support selectively releasably coupled to the first support.
22: The tracked vehicle track of claim 21, wherein the spike tip is non-releasably coupled to the second support by any of welding, bonding and a mechanical interference.
23: The tracked vehicle track of claim 21, wherein the selectively releasable coupling between the second support and the first support comprises a threaded coupling and the second support comprises a tightening nut.
24: The tracked vehicle track of claim 23, wherein the second support comprises a sleeve and the cylindrical body of the first support defines a seat configured to receive the second support.
25: The tracked vehicle track of claim 19, wherein the transverse bar comprises a single body and the free edge is formed in one piece with the lateral walls.
26: The tracked vehicle track of claim 19, wherein the transverse bar is formed as a union of two separate bodies, one of which is the free edge.
27: The tracked vehicle track of claim 19, wherein the first support comprises two lip portions diametrically opposite with respect to the cylindrical body and configured to follow a shape of the lateral walls of the transverse bar.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a snow groomer vehicle (i.e., a tracked vehicle which can be equipped with a plurality of spike devices);
[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a portion of a track of the snow groomer vehicle in FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the track in FIG. 2 (i.e., a portion of a transverse bar of the track in FIG. 2);
[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a transverse bar according to the present disclosure for a track of a tracked vehicle, such as for a snow groomer vehicle;
[0032] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the detail in FIG. 4 indicated with the reference V (i.e., an enlarged schematic view of a first example of a spike device coupled to the respective transverse bar);
[0033] FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of a second example of a spike device coupled to the respective transverse bar;
[0034] FIG. 7 is an exploded schematic view of the spike device in FIG. 6;
[0035] FIGS. 8 and 9 show schematic views of a first component of the spike device in FIGS. 6 and 7 (i.e., an example of a support for a spike configured to be coupled to the respective transverse bar); and
[0036] FIGS. 10 and 11 show schematic views of a second and a third component of the spike device in FIGS. 6 and 7 (i.e., a spike tip coupled to the respective sleeve, in turn configured to be coupled to the support of FIGS. 8 and 9).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] With reference to the figures listed above, two embodiments of a spike device for a tracked vehicle will be described below. A snow groomer vehicle will also be described as one example of a tracked vehicle integrated with a plurality of spike devices (however, the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited to the example snow groomer vehicle described).
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, this figure shows a schematic view of a snow groomer vehicle (i.e., a tracked vehicle which can be equipped with a plurality of spike devices according to the present disclosure). This groomer vehicle 1 is a tracked vehicle and is motorized to move on the ground 2 in a direction of movement 3. As previously indicated, the term “ground” refers to a multiplicity of different surfaces on which the snow groomer vehicle travels. Usually, that is, during normal use, the ground is a snow cover, but however the ground could be a different contact surface, even for example a hard surface such as asphalt. That is, usually, the snow groomer vehicle at certain times is on the snow in an ideal condition for its operation, at other times it can be on an icy surface, so the snow groomer vehicle needs a plurality of spike devices, and at other times still (for example during storage) the snow groomer vehicle travels on concrete, and in such a condition, the aforementioned spike devices can be damaged or broken. Incidentally, the present disclosure fits in this circumstance so that the breaking and the related fixing of the damaged spike device can also take place in a relatively simple and quick manner. It should be appreciated that the direction of movement 3 can also be different from the indicated direction (i.e., for example, the groomer vehicle 1 can also move in reverse). The snow groomer vehicle 1 in FIG. 1 comprises a milling cutter 30 configured to work the snow cover 2, a shovel 29 configured to move masses of snow and a winch assembly 31. The snow groomer vehicle 1 in FIG. 1 further comprises a support frame 4, a driver's cabin 5 mounted on the support frame 4 and two tracks 6 mounted on opposite sides of the support frame 4. Each track 6 comprises a plurality of belts 10 looped between a front wheel 9 and a rear wheel 8. Furthermore, each track 6 comprises a plurality of transverse bars 11 fixed to the belts 10. The direction of movement of the belts 10 defines the direction that will be indicated in the following description as the longitudinal direction 3, whereas the axes of rotation of the wheels 8, 9 define the transverse direction 7 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 3.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a portion of a track of the snow groomer vehicle in FIG. 1. It should be appreciated that the track in FIG. 2 can also be mounted on snow groomer vehicles other than the example shown in FIG. 1. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a track 6 comprising a plurality of longitudinal belts 10 and a plurality of transverse bars 11 (i.e., along the transverse direction 7) parallel to each other and arranged in a staggered manner 11 along the longitudinal direction 3 with respect to the belts 10. This example is not limiting, and the tracked vehicle of the present disclosure can even comprise a single belt and transverse bars which extend along the entire transverse length of said belt.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the track in FIG. 2 (i.e., a perspective view of a portion of one end of a transverse bar of the track in FIG. 2). According to the example in FIG. 3, the bar 11 is fixed to the belt 10 by screws 17. In particular, the bar 11 comprises a section bar 12 equipped with a cavity 13 inside which a plate 14 is inserted. On the opposite side of the belt 10 and next to the position of this plate 14 a counter plate 15, or outer plate, is provided. The plates 14, 15, the section bar 12 and the belt 10 are provided with respective holes 16 which, when aligned, can accommodate the screws 17 to tighten the structure into a pack. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the section bar 12 has a substantially triangular shape comprising a base 18 configured to couple to the belt 10, two opposite inclined lateral walls 19, 20, and a tip 21 (actually a tip edge 21 along the transverse direction). In this example, the tip edge 21 is in one piece with the rest of the section bar and follows a straight line. However, the tip edge 21 could also be a separate body made integral with the section bar 12 by screws passing through at least one lateral wall. This embodiment enables the edge 21 to be replaced without requiring the complete removal of the bar.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a transverse bar as just described in which the edge 21 is a separate body joined later to the rest of the bar 11. Furthermore, according to the example in FIG. 4, the edge 21 has a saw-tooth shape. The bar in FIG. 3 and that in FIG. 4 are just two different examples of bars on which the spike devices 22 can be mounted. The spike devices for tracked vehicles of this type are bodies which have a pointed end which protrudes locally beyond the edge 21 of the bar and are kept in position by supports, which are in turn fixed to the section bar 12 (usually a lateral wall).
[0042] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the detail in FIG. 4 indicated with the reference V (i.e., an enlarged schematic view of an example of a spike device coupled to the respective transverse bar). As seen, the spike device 22 in FIG. 5 comprises a support 23 coupled to the bar 11 in an irreversible manner (sch as by welding). According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the support 23 is not coupled to the lateral walls 19, 20, but is coupled to the edge of the bar, in this case to the saw-toothed upper edge 21. As can be seen, the support 23 comprises a cylindrical body 24 which serves as a seat for a spike 25 and which in turn is housed in a seat formed on the edge 21 in the form of a depressed split, so that the axis of the cylindrical body 24 is substantially vertical. According to this example, the cylindrical body 24 is welded to the edge 21, but other types of fastenings could also be provided. Furthermore, as shown in the example, the support 23 also comprises a V-shaped plate defining two wings or lips 27, 28, opposite to each other and extending substantially vertically. These lips 27, 28 have an internal shape configured to be coupled (i.e., to follow the shape without interference) to the lateral walls 19, 20 of the bar 11. According to this example, the cylindrical body 24 is supported at the front by the plate (i.e., along the transverse direction 7). In this example, the spike 25 can be a single piece and is coupled (according to the main aspect of the present disclosure) in a releasable manner to the cylindrical body 24.
[0043] FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of a second embodiment of a spike device 22. In particular, this example differs from the previous one in the shape of the support and of the spike 25. This spike device also comprises a support 23 coupled to the bar 11 in an irreversible manner (by welding). According to the present disclosure (and therefore as can also be seen in FIG. 6), the support 23 is not coupled to the lateral walls 19, 20, but is coupled to the upper edge 21 of the bar 11, in this case too, a saw-toothed edge. As can be seen, the support 23 comprises a cylindrical body 24 which serves as a seat for the spike 25 and which in turn is housed in a seat 26 formed on the edge 21 in the form of a depressed split, so that the axis 32 of the cylindrical body 24 is substantially vertical. As can be seen in this example, the support 23 also comprises two substantially vertically extending wings or lips 27, 28 connected to the cylindrical body 24 in diametrically opposite positions. These lips 27, 28 have an internal shape 33, 34 configured to be coupled (i.e., to follow the shape without interference) to the lateral walls 19, 20 of the bar 11. FIGS. 7 and 8 enable what is described in relation to the example of the support 23 in FIG. 6 to be verified in greater detail.
[0044] In this example too, according to the main aspect of the present disclosure, the spike 25 is coupled to the seat 35 of the cylindrical body 24 in a releasable manner in a threaded manner.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the spike device in FIG. 6 wherein the spike 25 is made by joining two pieces and comprises a bush or sleeve 36 (such as closed on one side) and a spike tip 37. The bush 36 is a cylindrical body having an outer surface 38 configured to be coupled in a releasable manner to the cylindrical body 24 of the support 23 (for example by a thread on the external surface 38 of the sleeve 36 and a counter thread on the external surface of the seat 35 of the cylindrical body 24 of the support 23) and an inner surface 39 configured to be coupled in a non-releasable manner (for example by welding, bonding or mechanical interference) to the spike tip 37 (i.e., a cylindrical body with a pointed free end). FIGS. 10 and 11 enable what is described in relation to the example of the spike 25 in FIG. 7 to be verified in greater detail. It should be appreciated that a spike 25 as shown in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11 can also be coupled to supports having different shapes. For example, the two-piece spike 25 in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11 can be coupled to the support in FIG. 5, and vice versa. Finally, the sleeve 36 of the two-piece spike 25 in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11 comprises an outer nut-shaped ring 40 configured to be coupled to coupling aids and a threaded release in the seat 35 of the cylindrical body 24 of the support 23.
[0046] Lastly, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the disclosure described herein without departing from the scope of the appended claims. That is, the present disclosure also covers embodiments that are not described in the detailed description above as well as equivalent embodiments that are part of the scope of protection set forth in the claims. Accordingly, various changes and modifications to the presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
