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 .- 188 . (canceled) 
     
     
         189 . A track for traction of a vehicle on a ground, 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; and   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface, each traction projection comprising a containment recess to cup and contain ground matter from the ground when the traction projection engages the ground.   
     
     
         190 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the traction projection is configured to compact the ground matter contained in containment recess. 
     
     
         191 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection is configured to scoop the ground matter. 
     
     
         192 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the traction projection comprises a plurality of propulsive protrusions and the containment recess of the traction projection is defined by a respective one of the propulsive protrusions. 
     
     
         193 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the containment recess is a first containment recess and the traction projection comprises a second containment recess spaced from the first containment recess in a longitudinal direction of the traction projection. 
     
     
         194 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection occupies at least a majority of a length of the traction projection. 
     
     
         195 . The track of  claim 194 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection occupies at least 90% of the length of the traction projection. 
     
     
         196 . The track of  claim 194 , wherein the containment space of the traction projection occupies substantially an entirety of the length of the traction projection. 
     
     
         197 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection occupies at least a majority of a height of the traction projection. 
     
     
         198 . The track of  claim 197 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection occupies at least 90% of the height of the traction projection. 
     
     
         199 . The track of  claim 197 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection occupies substantially an entirety of the height of the traction projection. 
     
     
         200 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein a ratio of a volume of the containment recess of the traction projection over a length of the traction projection is at least 0.3 in 3 /in. 
     
     
         201 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein a ratio of a volume of the containment recess of the traction projection over a length of the traction projection is at least 0.8 in 3 /in. 
     
     
         202 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein a volume of the containment recess of the traction projection is at least 0.8 in 3 . 
     
     
         203 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein a volume of the containment recess of the traction projection is at least 1.2 in 3 . 
     
     
         204 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein a volume of the containment space of the traction projection is at least 1.4 in 3 . 
     
     
         205 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the traction projection is curved in a widthwise direction of the track to define the containment recess of the traction projection. 
     
     
         206 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection is U-shaped. 
     
     
         207 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the containment recess of the traction projection is open facing the ground as the traction projection approaches the ground while the track moves around the track-engaging assembly when the vehicle travels forward. 
     
     
         208 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the traction projection tapers in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         209 . The track of  claim 208 , wherein a top portion of the traction projection is smaller in a longitudinal direction of the track than a bottom portion of the traction projection. 
     
     
         210 . The track of  claim 209 , wherein a ratio of a dimension of the bottom portion of the traction projection in the longitudinal direction of the track over a dimension of the top portion of the traction projection in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least 1.1. 
     
     
         211 . The track of  claim 209 , wherein a ratio of a dimension of the bottom portion of the traction projection in the longitudinal direction of the track over a dimension of the top portion of the traction projection in the longitudinal direction of the track is at least 1.5. 
     
     
         212 . The track of  claim 193 , wherein the traction projection comprises a lateral stabilizer disposed between the propulsive protrusions in a widthwise direction of the track and larger than the propulsive protrusions in a longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         213 . The track of  claim 193 , wherein the traction projection comprises a strengthener configured to reinforce a given one of the propulsive protrusions. 
     
     
         214 . The track of  claim 213 , wherein the strengthener is positioned such as to face away from the ground as the traction projection approaches the ground while the track moves around the track-engaging assembly when the vehicle travels forward. 
     
     
         215 . The track of  claim 213 , wherein the strengthener is disposed on a side of the traction projection that is opposite to the containment recess of the traction projection. 
     
     
         216 . The track of  claim 213 , wherein the strengthener comprises an elongated rib extending in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         217 . The track of  claim 216 , wherein a height of the strengthener occupies at least a majority of a height of the traction projection. 
     
     
         218 . The track of  claim 213 , wherein the strengthener is a first strengthener, the given one of the propulsive protrusions is a first one of the propulsive protrusions, and the traction projection comprises a second strengthener configured to reinforce a second one of the propulsive protrusions. 
     
     
         219 . The track of  claim 189 , wherein the containment recess is configured to expand when the traction projection deforms as the traction projection engages the ground. 
     
     
         220 . A snowmobile track for traction of a snowmobile, the snowmobile track being movable around a track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel to drive the snowmobile track, the snowmobile track comprising:
 a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface, each traction projection comprising a cupped portion that is curved in a widthwise direction of the snowmobile track and configured to cup snow as the snowmobile travels.   
     
     
         221 . A snowmobile track for traction of a snowmobile, the snowmobile track being movable around a track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel to drive the snowmobile track, the snowmobile track 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, each traction projection comprising:
 a cupped portion curved in a widthwise direction of the snowmobile track and configured to cup snow as the snowmobile travels; and 
 a strengthener comprising a rib configured to reinforce the cupped portion of the traction projection.