GB2225991A - Explosion resistant track shoe for track-laying vehicles - Google Patents

Description

1 1 i 1 EXPLOSION RESISTANT TRACK SHOE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to track-laying vehicles, and more particularly, to inexpensive explosion resistant track shoes for use on a variety of track-laying machines.

Track-laying crawler vehicles, such as military tanks each use a pair of endless tracks which provide a large area of support contact with the terrain so the vehicles can be used on relatively soft ground. The tracks comprise a series of segments or shoes interconnected by a pair of pivot pins mounted in bushings in the shoes. Prior art shoes are essentially integral structures; being rough castings with portions, such as holes for bushings subsequently machined to proper size. Such a manufacturing procedure is time consuming and expensive. Such prior art shoes are subject to damage by land mine explosions which may damage one or more shoes to cause the endless track to separate and prevent the vehicles from moving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an explosion resistant track shoe for interconnection with a number of like shoes by means of pivot pins to form an endless track of a track laying vehicle, wherein the track shoe comprises a framework of explosionresistant material arranged to link a pair of pivot pins in parallel, the track shoe being provided with paired connectors whereby, in use, a pivot pin of one track shoe can be maintained parallel with the adjacent pivot pin of a neighbouring track shoe; and other, non-critical, parts of the track shoe are added to the framework.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an explosion resistant track shoe for interconnection with a number of like shoes by means of pivot pins to form an endless track of a tracklaying vehicle, wherein the track shoe comprises an explosion-resistant framework linking a pair of said pivot pins in parallel and k - 2 which is provided with paired connectors whereby, in use, a pivot pin of one track shoe can be maintained parallel with the adjacent pivot pin of a neighbouring track shoe; the framework comprising a guide body having a pair of through bores extending transversely of the endless track when assembled, a pair of tubes, each mounted in a respective one of the bores of the guide body with corresponding ends extending on either side of said guide body, the pivot pins of the track shoe being mounted in corresponding ones of said tubes, and a pair of end plates each having a pair of bores in which the corresponding ends of said tubes are received.

The present invention reduces the time and expense of making track shoes by disclosing a track shoe which may use a plurality of extruded tubes and sections which need only to be parted off from the raw material. Common parts can be used for different track shoes having a wide variety of shoe widths to further reduce costs. In the preferred embodiment, only the guide body requires any amount of machining. The guide body, tubes, pins and connectors are preferably made of steel and comprise a shoe framework which is highly resistant to mine explosions. other optional parts of the shoe which are more easily damaged by explosions improve the operation of the endless track, but are not essential to preserving the integrity of the endless track. These noncritical parts can be made of lighter material to reduce overall weight of the endless track. If these noncritical parts are damaged the framework portion of the shoes can hold the endless track together so the vehicle can be driven to safety and the damaged shoes replaced.

A pair of steel track pins are preferably mounted with a corresponding pin inside each of the tubes and a pair of donnectors are connected to the ends of each track pin and each connector is connected to the end of a track pin in an adjacent track shoe to interconnect the track shoes. The pivot pins and the connectors may be secured together to prevent rotational movement of the pins relative to the connectors and thus reduce the possibility of a threaded nut 01 c 3 from becoming disconnected from the pins.

Other advantages and preferred features of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims and from the following description of an exemplary embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is an isometric drawing, partly in section of a top view of a track shoe according to the present invention without the connectors for interconnecting adjacent shoes.

Figure 2 is a partially exploded isometric drawing of a bottom view of the track shoe of Figure 1 and includes the connectors for connecting to a pair of adjacent shoes.

Figure 3 is a top view of a pair of adjacent track shoes interconnected by a pair of connectors.

Figure 4 is an isometric drawing of the framework portion of a track shoe according to the present invention.

DESCRIETION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A track shoe 10 (Figs. 1- 4) of the present invention includes a center guide body 11 having a vertical guide horn 12 and pair of bores 16a, 16b (Figs. 3, 4) extending horizontally through guide body 11. A pair of seamless steel tubes 171, 17b (Figs. 1 - 4) each extend through a corresponding one of the bores 16a, 16b into a respective pair of bores 18a, 18b (Figs. 2, 4) in a pair of end plates 22a, 22b. A pair of steel pivot pins or track pins 23a, 23b are each mounted in a corresponding one of the seamless tubes 17a, 17b. A plurality of rubber bushings 24 (Fig. 3) are molded to the central portion of track pins 23a, 23b and the bushings are compressed inside tubes 17a, 17b. Bushings 24 retain track pins 23a, 23b in position in tubes 17a, 17b and prevent dirt from getting inside the tubes.

A pair of light-weight body sections 28a, 28b (Figs 1 3) each include a pair of horizontal bores 29a, 29b for mounting the body sections about seamless tubes 17a, 17b. Body sections 28a, 28b each include an upper recessed portion 30 (Fig. 1) for retaining a pair of molded rubber pads 34. A larger lower rubber pad 35 is mounted in a lower recessed portion 36 of body sections 28a, 28b and is retained in position by a bolt 37 which extends through a vertical hole 41 4 in guide body 11. A nut 42 on the upper end of bolt 37 secures the rubber pad 35 in position. A cavity 43 (Figs. 1, 2) in body sections 28a, 28b is filled with a plastic foam to keep water and dirt out of the cavity and provide a degree of buoyancy to aid a military tank in moving across rivers and streams.

A pair of connectors 47a, 47b (Figs. 2, 3) interconnect an adjacent pair of track shoes 10, 10a. Each of the connectors 47a, 47b includes a body portion 48 having a pair of octagonal bores 49a, 49b (Fig. 3) extending through the body portion with an enlarged bore 53a, 53b outwardly of bore 49a, 49b. A generally S-shaped wing 54, welded or molded on an outward portion of body 48 aids in propelling a tracked vehicle through water or mud. The left outer end portion of track pin 23c mounted in seamless tube 17c (Figs. 2, 3) extends through bore 49a of connector 47a, and a lock washer 55a and a nut 56a in bore 53a secure connector 47a to track shoe 10a. The right outer end portion of track pin 23c extends through bore 49a of connector 47b, and lock washer 55a and nut 56a secure connector 47b to track shoe 10a. An octagon shaped end portion 50 of each of the pins 23a, 23b mates with the octagon shaped holes 49a, 49b in connectors 47a - 47e to prevent pins 23a, 23b from rotating relative to connectors 47a, 47e and thereby keep nuts 56 from becoming unthreaded from pins 23a, 23b.

The seamless tubes 17a, 17b and the body sections 28a, 28b are available in long tubular form, and various length sections can be parted from the long forms to make track shoes of various widths. The length of the track pins 23 must be chosen to fit the length of the seamless tubes. The use of standard seamless tubes and tubular body sections greatly reduces the expense of making track shoes. The length of the connectors 47 can also be adjusted to adjust the width of the track shoes. Automated machinery can be used to part the seamless tubes and body sections from tubular stock to further reduce cost of manufacture of the track shoes.

The body sections 28a, 28b can be parted from a lightweight tubular stock, such as aluminum, to provide a 1 serviceable light-weight shoe. However, aluminium is easily damaged by an explosion, such,as by a land mine. When the guide body 11 (Fig. 4), seamless tubes 17a, 17b, track pins 23a, 23b, end plates 22a, 22b and connectors 47a - 47d are made of steel, a framework as shown in Figure 4 with its associated connectors can often survive an explosion to preserve the integrity of an endless track on a vehicle.

Thus, the present invention is relatively inexpensive to build due to the use of stock parts and is especially rugged. In addition, the same tubular stock can be used to build track shoes having a variety of widths.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from which is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

0" '41 6

Claims (14)

1. An explosion resistant track shoe for interconnection with a number of like shoes by means of pivot pins to form an endless track of a track laying vehicle, wherein the track shoe comprises a framework of explosionresistant material arranged to link a pair of pivot pins in parallel, the track shoe being provided with paired connectors whereby, in use, a pivot pin of one track shoe can be maintained parallel with the adjacent pivot pin of a neighbouring track shoe; and other, non-critical, parts of the track shoe are added to the framework.

2. An explosion resistant track shoe for interconnection with a number of like shoes by means of pivot pins to form an endless track of a tracklaying vehicle, wherein the track shoe comprises an explosion-resistant framework linking a pair of said pivot pins in parallel and which is provided with paired connectors whereby, in use, a pivot pin of one track shoe can be maintained parallel with the adjacent pivot pin of a neighbouring track shoe; the framework comprising a guide body having a pair of through bores extending transversely of the endless track when assembled, a pair of tubes, each mounted in a respective one of the bores of the guide body with corresponding ends extending on either side of said guide body, the pivot pins of the track shoe being mounted in corresponding ones of said tubes, and a pair of end plates each having a pair of bores in which the corresponding ends of said tubes are received.

3. A track shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein said tubes are parted from a longer tubular form, and wherein the transverse width of said endless track can be selected by selecting the lengths of the parted tubes and pivot pins.

4. A track shoe as claimed in claim 2 or-3 wherein the tubes are seamless extrusions.

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5. A track shoe as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the guide body, the tubes, the track pins, the end plates and the connectors are made of steel to provide said explosion resistance.

6. A track shoe as claimed in any of claims 1 - 5 wherein the end of the pivot pins extend outwardly of the framework and each of the connectors is provided with a pair of bores, in one of which is secured a said pivot pin end, and in the other of which the end of the adjacent pivot pin of a neighbouring track shoe is securable to assemble said endless track.

7. A track shoe as claimed in claim 6 wherein said connectors each include a body portion having said pair of bores for receiving said pivot pin ends, and a wing connected to an outward portion of said body portion, said wing aiding in propelling a vehicle through water and mud.

8. A track shoe as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein said pivot pins each include portions of non-circular cross-section adjacent to each end, and wherein said bores in said connectors have a complimentary cross-section to prevent relative motion between said pins and said connectors, each connector being provided with nuts, receivable upon a pivot pin end and securing it to the connector.

9. A track shoe as claimed in any preceding claim including body sections mounted to said framework, each of said sections having a pair of- bores for receiving portions of said framework.

10. A track shoe as claimed in claim 9 when dependent upon clain 2, wherein a first of said body sections is mounted between said guide body and one said end plate with said tubes mounted in said first body section bores, a second of said body sections being mounted between said guide body and the 8 other end plate with said tubes mounted in said second body section bores.

11. A track shoe as claimed in claim 9 or 10 including a lower rubber pad connected to the bottoms of said body sections and upper rubber pads connected to the tops of said body sections.

12. A track shoe as claimed in any of claims 9 - 11 wherein said body sections are hollow extrusions cut to the required length from stock material.

13. A track shoe as claimed in claim 12, wherein cavities in the body sections are filled with plastics foam to seal the cavity and provide buoyancy.

14. An explosion resistant track shoe substantially as described with reference to or as shown by the accompanying drawings.

Published 1990 atThe Patent Office. State House. 6671 High Holborn. London WC1R4TP. Further copies mkybe obtainedfrorn. The PatentOfficc SaJes Branch. St Mar3r Cray. Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Crky. Kent. Cor 187, 1