Track system for traction of a vehicle

Abstract

A track system for traction of a vehicle (e.g., a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) etc.). The track system comprises a track and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly. The track system may have various features to enhance its traction, floatation, and/or other aspects of its performance, including, for example, a lightweight design, enhanced tractive effects, an enhanced heat management capability, an enhanced resistance to lateral skidding (e.g., on a side hill), an adaptive capability to adapt itself to different conditions (e.g., ground conditions, such as different types of snow, soil, etc.; and/or other conditions), an adjustability of a contact area of its track with the ground, and/or other features.

1 . A track for traction of a vehicle, the track being movable around a track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel to drive the track, the track comprising:
 a carcass comprising a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface;   
       wherein: a thickness of the carcass from the ground-engaging outer surface to the inner surface is no more than 0.20 inches; and a ratio of a widthwise rigidity of the carcass over a longitudinal rigidity of the carcass is at least 1.5. 
     
     
         2 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the carcass is no more than 0.18 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the carcass is no more than 0.16 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the widthwise rigidity of the carcass over the longitudinal rigidity of the carcass is at least 2. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the widthwise rigidity of the carcass over the longitudinal rigidity of the carcass is at least 3. 
     
     
         7 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein: the carcass comprises elastomeric material and a reinforcement disposed within the elastomeric material; and a ratio of a bending stiffness of the reinforcement in a widthwise direction of the track over a bending stiffness of the reinforcement in a longitudinal direction of the track is at least 2. 
     
     
         8 . The track of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the bending stiffness of the reinforcement in the widthwise direction of the track over the bending stiffness of the reinforcement in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least 3. 
     
     
         9 . The track of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the bending stiffness of the reinforcement in the widthwise direction of the track over the bending stiffness of the reinforcement in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least 4. 
     
     
         10 . The track of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the bending stiffness of the reinforcement in the widthwise direction of the track over the bending stiffness of the reinforcement in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least 5. 
     
     
         11 . The track of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement comprises a layer of reinforcing cables. 
     
     
         12 . The track of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement comprises a layer of reinforcing fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The track of  claim 1 , wherein: the carcass comprises elastomeric material and a reinforcement disposed within the elastomeric material; a ratio of a modulus of elasticity of the reinforcement in a longitudinal direction of the track over the thickness of the track is at least 1 GPa/in; and a ratio of a modulus of elasticity of the reinforcement in a widthwise direction of the track over the thickness of the track is at least 5 GPa/in. 
     
     
         14 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A track for traction of a vehicle, the track being movable around a track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel to drive the track, the track comprising:
 a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of slide members for sliding against the track-engaging assembly;   
       wherein a spacing of longitudinally-adjacent ones of the slide members in a longitudinal direction of the track is at least one-fifth of a length of the track. 
     
     
         42 . The track of  claim 41 , wherein the spacing of longitudinally-adjacent ones of the slide members in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least one-quarter of the length of the track. 
     
     
         43 . The track of  claim 41 , wherein the spacing of longitudinally-adjacent ones of the slide members in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least one-third of the length of the track. 
     
     
         44 . The track of  claim 41 , wherein the spacing of longitudinally-adjacent ones of the slide members in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least half of the length of the track. 
     
     
         45 . The track of  claim 41 , wherein the slide members are arranged such that no more than three of the slide members can contact the track-engaging assembly at any given instant. 
     
     
         46 . The track of  claim 41 , wherein the slide members are arranged such that no more than two of the slide members can contact the track-engaging assembly at any given instant. 
     
     
         47 . The track of  claim 41 , wherein the slide members are arranged such that no more than one of the slide members can contact the track-engaging assembly at any given instant. 
     
     
         48 .- 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A track for traction of a vehicle, the track being movable around a track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel to drive the track, the track comprising:
 a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of drive/guide projections projecting from the inner surface;   
       wherein a spacing of adjacent ones of traction projections in a longitudinal direction of the track is greater than a spacing of adjacent ones of the drive/guide projections in the longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         61 .- 188 . (canceled)