Drive sprocket, drive lug configuration and track drive arrangement for an endless track vehicle

Abstract

A sprocket for a tracked vehicle. The sprocket has a plurality of sockets for engaging drive lugs on an inner surface of a track driven by the sprocket. The sprocket also including a support surface for engaging with an inner surface of the track and which is in rolling contact with the inner surface of the track.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A track system for a vehicle, the track system comprising:
 a plurality of wheels; and   a track disposed around the wheels, the track including elastomeric material to flex about the wheels, the track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage a ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   wherein the track system comprises a sensor configured to sense a load in the track system.   
     
     
         3 . The track system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is part of the track. 
     
     
         4 . The track system of  claim 3 , wherein the track comprises a plurality of projections projecting from a given one of the ground-engaging outer surface and the inner surface of the track. 
     
     
         5 . The track system of  claim 4 , wherein the given one of the ground-engaging outer surface and the inner surface of the track is the inner surface of the track. 
     
     
         6 . The track system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is part of a given one of the wheels. 
     
     
         7 . The track system of  claim 6 , wherein the given one of the wheels is a drive wheel configured to drive the track. 
     
     
         8 . The track system of  claim 2 , wherein: the wheels include a drive wheel configured to drive the track; and the sensor is located to overlap the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track system. 
     
     
         9 . The track system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is part of a pin substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of a given one of the wheels. 
     
     
         10 . The track system of  claim 9 , wherein the given one of the wheels is a drive wheel configured to drive the track. 
     
     
         11 . The track system of  claim 10 , wherein the pin is part of the drive wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The track system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor and the load is pressure between the track and a given one of the wheels. 
     
     
         13 . The track system of  claim 12 , wherein the given one of the wheels is a drive wheel configured to drive the track. 
     
     
         14 . The track system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is configured to cause issuance of a signal processable by a processing apparatus to perform an action related to controlling the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The track system of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the signal. 
     
     
         16 . The track system of  claim 14 , wherein the action related to controlling the vehicle is an action controlling the track system. 
     
     
         17 . The track system of  claim 14 , wherein: the wheels include a drive wheel configured to drive the track; and the action controlling the track system is an action controlling the drive wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The track system of  claim 17 , wherein: the drive wheel comprises a plurality of drive members spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the drive wheel to engage the track and a friction drive surface extending along the circumferential direction of the drive wheel to engage the track; and the action controlling the drive wheel is an action causing engagement of the friction drive surface of the drive wheel with the inner surface of the track. 
     
     
         19 . The track system of  claim 14 , wherein the load is indicative of loading on the track and the action related to controlling the vehicle is based on the loading on the track. 
     
     
         20 . The track system of  claim 7 , wherein: the track comprises a plurality of drive lugs projecting from the inner surface of the track to engage the drive wheel; the drive wheel comprises a plurality of drive members spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the drive wheel to engage the drive lugs of the track; and the sensor is disposed in a given one of the drive members of the drive wheel. 
     
     
         21 . The track system of  claim 2 , wherein: the sensor is a first sensor; and the track system comprises a second sensor. 
     
     
         22 . A wheel for a track system for a vehicle, the track system comprising a track configured to be disposed around a plurality of wheels that includes the wheel, the track including elastomeric material to flex about the wheels, the track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage a ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface, the wheel comprising a sensor configured to sense an interaction between the wheel and the track. 
     
     
         23 . The wheel of  claim 22 , wherein the interaction between the wheel and the track is a load between the wheel and the track. 
     
     
         24 . The wheel of  claim 22 , wherein the wheel is a drive wheel configured to drive the track. 
     
     
         25 . The wheel of  claim 22 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor and the interaction is pressure between the wheel and the track. 
     
     
         26 . The wheel of  claim 22 , wherein the sensor is configured to cause issuance of a signal processable by a processing apparatus to perform an action related to controlling the vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The wheel of  claim 26 , wherein the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the signal. 
     
     
         28 . The wheel of  claim 26 , wherein the action related to controlling the vehicle is an action controlling the track system. 
     
     
         29 . The wheel of  claim 26 , wherein: the wheel is a drive wheel configured to drive the track; and the action controlling the track system is an action controlling the drive wheel. 
     
     
         30 . The wheel of  claim 29 , wherein: the drive wheel comprises a plurality of drive members spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the drive wheel to engage the track and a friction drive surface extending along the circumferential direction of the drive wheel to engage the track; and the action controlling the drive wheel is an action causing engagement of the friction drive surface of the drive wheel with the inner surface of the track. 
     
     
         31 . The wheel of  claim 26 , wherein the interaction is indicative of loading on the track and the action related to controlling the vehicle is based on the loading on the track. 
     
     
         32 . The wheel of  claim 24 , wherein: the track comprises a plurality of drive lugs projecting from the inner surface of the track to engage the drive wheel; the drive wheel comprises a plurality of drive members spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the drive wheel to engage the drive lugs of the track; and the sensor is disposed in a given one of the drive members of the drive wheel. 
     
     
         33 . The wheel of  claim 22 , wherein: the sensor is a first sensor; and the wheel comprises a second sensor. 
     
     
         34 . A track system comprising the wheel of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         35 . A track system for a vehicle, the track system comprising:
 a plurality of wheels; and   a track disposed around the wheels, the track including elastomeric material to flex about the wheels, the track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage a ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   wherein the track system comprises a sensor configured to sense a physical characteristic dependent on contact between the track and the wheels.