Endless drive system

Abstract

An endless drive system suitable for use, for example, as a tracked vehicle drive system, an endless belt or an endless chain drive system. A number of endless drive sections are interconnected by cable connector sections. The cable connector sections include cables which can be encased in rubber. The cables can be provided with end retaining members which aid in retaining the cable connector sections and the endless drive sections together and which prevent expanding, fraying or unwinding of the cable ends. Special end retaining members can be utilized to aid self-alignment of the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An endless drive system comprising: a plurality of endless drive sections each including a substantially closed shoe portion having first and second side edges, first and second substantially closed side walls extending from the first and second side edges of the shoe portion and sloping inwardly therefrom toward the center of the endless drive section, and a central surface joining the first and second side walls to define therewith and with the shoe portion a chamber open at its end faces; and   a like plurality of cable connector sections, each including at least one cable member and means to attach one end of the cable connector section to the shoe portion of a first one of the endless drive sections and the other end of the cable connector section to the shoe portion of a second one of the endless drive sections, such attachments being within the chambers of the endless drive sections, to cause the plurality of cable connector sections to join the plurality of endless drive sections in a closed loop as an endless drive system.   
     
     
       2. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each endless drive section further includes a pair of wear pads and means to attach one wear pad to each side wall. 
     
     
       3. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 2 in which said wear pads are polyurethane. 
     
     
       4. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each endless drive section further includes a tread member attached to the shoe portion thereof. 
     
     
       5. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 4 in which each tread member includes a grouser. 
     
     
       6. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each cable connector section attaching means comprises a first cable clamp fastened to each cable member of the cable connector section, a second cable clamp fastened to each cable member of the cable connector section, means for fastening the first cable clamp to the shoe portion of the first one of the endless drive sections and means for fastening the second cable clamp to the shoe portion of the second one of the endless drive sections. 
     
     
       7. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 6 in which each cable clamp comprises a pair of cable clamp halves and means for fastening the pair of cable clamp halves together on the corresponding cable members. 
     
     
       8. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 7 in which each cable clamp half includes at least one recess for receipt of the at least one cable member. 
     
     
       9. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 8 in which each cable member is a discrete cable piece extending from the first cable clamp to the second cable clamp. 
     
     
       10. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 9 in which each cable piece has a retaining member on each end thereof. 
     
     
       11. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 10 in which the cable clamp recesses are shaped to permit passage of the cable members through the cable clamp and the retaining members are positioned outside the cable clamp to prevent the cable from pulling out of the cable clamps. 
     
     
       12. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 10 in which the cable clamp recesses are shaped to receive and retain the retaining members within the cable clamp. 
     
     
       13. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 12 in which the retaining members are spherical. 
     
     
       14. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 12 in which the retaining members are cylindrical members swaged onto the cable ends. 
     
     
       15. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each cable member includes a multi-strand cable. 
     
     
       16. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 15 in which each multi-strand cable is covered by a resilient coating to prevent foreign objects from reaching the cable strands. 
     
     
       17. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 16 in which the resilient coating is rubber. 
     
     
       18. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each cable connector section further includes a resilient housing encasing the at least one cable and the attaching means. 
     
     
       19. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 18 in which the housing is spaced from the side walls and the central surface to permit foreign objects to fall therefrom. 
     
     
       20. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 18 in which each housing has an opening therethrough to increase flexibility. 
     
     
       21. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 18 in which the resilient housings are rubber. 
     
     
       22. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a drive wheel including: an axle-like central portion; and   first and second side portions, each side portion having an exterior surface with a periphery and having an interior surface formed of a plurality of wheel drive sectors, each wheel drive sector having a first end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and sloping inwardly to a second end adjacent and connected to one end of said central portion to cause said central portion to connect said first and second side portions, the slopes of said wheel drive sectors substantially matching the slopes of said endless drive section side walls; said closed loop looping about said drive wheel with at least some of the endless drive sections contacting at least some of the wheel drive sectors.   
     
     
       23. An endless drive section as claimed in claim 22 in which each wheel drive sector is wedge-shaped with the wedge wide end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and the narrow end adjacent and connected to the central portion. 
     
     
       24. An endless drive section as claimed in claim 23 in which each wedge-shaped wheel drive sector has a truncated triangular shape. 
     
     
       25. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which said cable member has sufficient length to provide a space of about one inch between shoe portions of adjacent endless drive sections. 
     
     
       26. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 25 in which each endless drive section further includes first and second side walls extending from the first and second side edges of the shoe portion and sloping inwardly therefrom and means joining said side walls at the center of the endless drive system. 
     
     
       27. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 26 in which said means to attach one end of the cable connector sections to the shoe portion of one endless drive section is a cable clamp bar integral with said first and second side walls. 
     
     
       28. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 27 in which said cable clamp bar and said shoe portion have opposed complementary grooves to receive said cable member. 
     
     
       29. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 26 in which said first and second side walls are trapezoidal. 
     
     
       30. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said endless drive sections includes a grouser bar having a portion extending laterally beyond the closed shoe portion. 
     
     
       31. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 30 in which said grouser bar is V-shaped. 
     
     
       32. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 30 in which said grouser bar has holes therethrough in the portion thereof extending laterally beyond the closed shoe portion to permit the escape of dirt and debris. 
     
     
       33. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 30 in which each endless drive section further includes wear pads for the laterally extending portions of said grouser bars and means for attaching said wear pads to said portions. 
     
     
       34. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 33 in which said wear pads are polyurethane. 
     
     
       35. An endless drive system as claimed in claim 33 in which at least a portion of at least some of said wear pads extends longitudinally to lap onto the grouser bar portion of an adjacent endless drive section. 
     
     
       36. A drive wheel for an endless drive system in which the endless drive system includes a plurality of endless drive sections .[.each including a substantially closed shoe portion having first and second side faces which sections are.]. linked to adjacent sections to form .[.a gap.]. .Iadd.gaps .Iaddend.therebetween, said drive wheel comprising first and second side portions and axle means joining said first and second side portions, each side portion including a plurality of wedge-shaped sectors and ridge means between said sectors adapted to fit into .[.a gap.]. .Iadd.said gaps .Iaddend.between .[.adjacent.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.endless drive sections .[.in an.]. .Iadd.of said .Iaddend.endless drive system trained over said drive wheel. 
     
     
       37. A drive wheel as claimed in claim 36 in which said ridge means are rounded bars. 
     
     
       38. A drive wheel as claimed in claim 36 in which said sectors are flat trapezoids and said ridge means are formed by joined adjacent edges of said trapezoidal sectors. 
     
     
       39. A drive wheel as claimed in claim 36 in which said sectors are flat trapezoids and said ridge means are rounded bars located at intersections of adjacent trapezoidal sectors. 
     
     
       40. A drive wheel for an endless drive system .Iadd.in which the endless drive system includes a plurality of endless drive sections connected in such a way that gaps are formed therebetween.Iaddend., said drive wheel comprising: an axle-like central portion; and   first and second side portions, each side portion having an exterior surface with a periphery and having an interior surface formed of a plurality of wheel drive sectors .Iadd.with ridge means therebetween.Iaddend., each wheel drive sector having a first end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and sloping inwardly to a second end adjacent and connected to one end of said central portion to cause said central portion to connect said first and second side portions.Iadd., each wheel drive sector adapted to engage said endless drive sections of said endless drive system, and each ridge means adapted to fit into said gaps between endless drive sections.Iaddend..   
     
     
       41. A drive wheel as claimed in claim 40 in which each wheel drive sector is wedge-shaped with the wedge wide end adjacent and connected to the periphery of the associated side portion exterior surface and the narrow end adjacent and connected to the central portion. 
     
     
       42. A drive wheel as claimed in claim 41 in which each wedge-shaped wheel drive sector has a truncated triangular shape. 
     
     
       43. A drive wheel as claimed in claim 40 .[.further comprising.]. .Iadd.in which said ridge means comprise .Iaddend.ridge members extending from the peripheries of the side portions to said central portion between adjacent ones of said wheel drive sectors. 
     
     
       44. A drive wheel as claimed in claim 40 in which said central portion includes a plurality of recesses for receiving drive pins from .Iadd.said .Iaddend.endless drive sections to provide positive drive engagement between said drive wheel and .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.endless drive sections. .Iadd. 
     
     
       45.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least one lateral polymeric frictional drive face extending from said base portion for driving said drive section; and   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       46.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 45, said at least one lateral polymeric frictional drive face sloping inwardly from said base portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 45, said at least one lateral polymeric frictional drive face sloping outwardly from said base portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least one lateral polymeric frictional drive face extending from said base portion for driving said drive section; and   a plurality of connector sections connecting said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of an adjacent pair of said drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 48, said at least one lateral polymeric frictional drive face sloping inwardly   
     
     
        from said base portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 48, said at least one lateral polymeric frictional 
     
     
        drive face sloping outwardly from said base portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 48, each connector 
     
     
        including at least one cable member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 51, each cable member of each connector section being integrally formed with a cable member of each adjacent connector section to provide at least one continuous cable joining the plurality of drive sections to one another to form said endless vehicle 
     
     
        track. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section; and   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.54.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 53, each said drive section including at least two side wall portions sloping inwardly from said base portion, said at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces being supported by said at least two side wall portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 53, at least one of said drive sections having a triangular transverse cross-section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 53, at least one of said drive sections having a truncated triangular transverse cross-section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 53, at least one of said drive sections having a rounded-off truncated triangular transverse cross-section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 53, said base portion extending beyond said inwardly 
     
     
        sloping side walls to form flanges. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 58, said flanges including holes for 
     
     
        permitting escape of debris. .Iaddend. .Iadd.60.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 53, comprising a plurality of connector sections connecting said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector connecting an adjacent pair of said 
     
     
        drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.61.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least one lateral polymeric frictional drive face sloping outwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section; and   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.62. An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising:   a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping outwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section; and   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.63.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 62, each said drive section including at least two side wall portions sloping outwardly from said base portion, said at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces being supported by said at least two side wall 
     
     
        portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.64.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly toward one another from said base portion for driving said drive section, said base portion including a medial portion between said sloping drive faces and first and second flanges extending beyond said sloping drive faces; and   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.65.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 64, said first and second flanges including holes for permitting escape of 
     
     
        debris. .Iaddend. .Iadd.66.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section;   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections; and   a drive wheel for driving said endless vehicle track, said drive wheel comprising at least two lateral frictional drive surfaces for engaging with the at least two lateral polymeric functional drive faces of each   
     
     
        said drive section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.67.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section;   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections; and   a drive wheel for driving said endless vehicle track, said drive wheel including a plurality of lateral frictional drive surfaces, said lateral frictional drive surfaces being shaped to substantially match the shape of said lateral polymeric frictional drive faces of said drive sections.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.68.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 67, comprising a plurality of connector sections connecting said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section connecting an adjacent pair of said drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.69. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 67, wherein when said drive wheel is driving said endless track, said base portions of said drive sections extend beyond the radial periphery of said drive wheel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.70. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 67, said drive wheel including first and second side portions and an axle portion connecting said first and second side portions, and said axle portion of said drive wheel including additional frictional drive surfaces shaped to substantially match and engage with another polymeric frictional drive face on each drive section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.71. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 67, said drive wheel further comprising sprocket means for further driving said drive sections. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.72.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 71, said sprocket means comprising rounded bars between adjacent lateral frictional drive surfaces of said drive wheel, which rounded bars interfit between and engage with said drive sections of said endless track drive system. .Iaddend. .Iadd.73. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 71, said drive wheel including first and second side portions and an axle portion connecting said first and second side portions, and said sprocket means comprising recesses in said axle portion which engage with drive pins extending from said drive sections of said endless track drive 
     
     
        system. .Iaddend. .Iadd.74.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping outwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section;   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections; and   a drive wheel for driving said endless vehicle track, said drive wheel including at least two frictional drive surfaces for engaging with said at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces of each said drive   
     
     
        section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.75.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping outwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section;   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections; and   a drive wheel for driving said endless vehicle track, said drive wheel including a plurality of lateral frictional drive surfaces, said lateral frictional drive surfaces being shaped to substantially match the shape of said lateral polymeric frictional drive faces of said drive sections.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.76.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 75, comprising a plurality of connector sections connecting said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section connecting an adjacent pair of said drive sections. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.77.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 75, wherein when said drive wheel is driving said endless vehicle track, said base portions of said drive sections extend beyond the radial periphery of said drive wheel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.78. A sprocketless endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly from said base portion for sprocketless frictional driving of said drive section; and   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.79. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 78, comprising a plurality of connector sections connecting said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section connecting an adjacent pair of said drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.80. An endless track drive system comprising:   a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly from said base portion for driving said drive section; and   a plurality of cables connecting said drive sections to one another, each said cable having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of adjacent pairs of drive sections to   
     
     
        form an endless track. .Iaddend. .Iadd.81.  An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 80, further comprising retaining members on each of said first and second cable ends, and first and second cable clamps with first and second fastening means for connecting said retaining members to a drive section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.82. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 81, each said cable clamp comprising a pair of cable clamp halves with cooperating recesses for receiving at least one retaining member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.83. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 80, each said cable further comprising a medial portion located between said first and second ends, said medial portion being encased in a polymeric material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.84. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 80, further comprising retaining members on each of said first and second cable ends, and means for connecting the retaining members of each cable to respective ones of an adjacent pair of drive sections, each said connecting means including first and second cable clamps with first and second fastening means, the first cable clamp with the first fastening means connecting the retaining member on said first end of a given cable to one of said adjacent pair of drive sections, and the second cable clamp with the second fastening means connecting the retaining member on said second end of said given cable to the other of said adjacent pair of drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.85. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 84, each said cable clamp comprising a pair of cable clamp halves with cooperating recesses for receiving at least one retaining member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.86. An endless track drive system comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least one lateral polymeric frictional drive face sloping inwardly from said base portion;   a plurality of connector sections connecting said drive sections to one another to form an endless track, each said connector section comprising at least one cable having a first end and a second end, a retaining member on each of said first and second ends, and means for connecting said retaining members to respective ones of an adjacent pair of drive sections to form an endless track; and   a drive wheel for driving said endless track, said drive wheel including a plurality of lateral frictional drive surfaces, said lateral frictional drive surfaces being shaped to substantially match the shape of said lateral polymeric frictional drive faces of said drive sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.87. An endless track drive system as claimed in claim 86, each said drive section including a base portion, at least two side wall portions sloping inwardly from said base portion, and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly from said base portion and supported by said at least two side wall portions, and said connecting means comprising first and second cable clamps with first and second fastening means, the first cable clamp with the first fastening means connecting the retaining member on said first end of said at least one cable to one of said adjacent drive sections, and the second cable clamp with the second fastening means connecting the retaining member on said second end of said at least one cable to the other of said adjacent drive   
     
     
        sections. .Iaddend. .Iadd.88.  An endless track drive system for a tracked vehicle comprising: a plurality of drive sections, each said drive section including a base portion and at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces sloping inwardly from said base portion in a transverse direction with respect to said endless track drive system for driving said drive sections;   at least one connector section connecting a pair of said drive sections to one another to form an endless vehicle track, each said connector section having a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being connected to respective ones of said pair of said drive sections; and   a drive wheel for driving said endless vehicle track, said drive wheel including at least two lateral frictional drive surfaces for engaging with said at least two lateral polymeric frictional drive faces of each said drive section;   side edges of the drive faces of each said drive section sloping inwardly from said base portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of said endless track drive system so that the side edges of drive faces of drive sections which are in contact with the drive wheel are substantially parallel to the side edges of drive faces of adjacent drive sections thereby minimizing any gaps therebetween. .Iaddend.