CRAWLER TRACK, IN PARTICULAR RUBBER CRAWLER TRACK
The present invention relates to a caterpillar track ( 2 ), in particular a rubber caterpillar track ( 2 ), with a track body ( 20 ) and with at least one outer profiling element ( 22 ), preferably with a plurality of outer profiling elements ( 22 ), which are directed outwardly away from the track body ( 20 ). The caterpillar track ( 2 ) is characterized in that the outer profiling element ( 22 ) has an outwardly directed grouser body ( 23 ) and a grouser root ( 24 ), which connects the grouser body ( 23 ) to the track body ( 20 ), wherein the grouser body ( 23 ) and the grouser root ( 24 ) comprise different materials, preferably consist of different materials.
1 .- 5 . (canceled)
6 . A rubber caterpillar track comprising a track body having a plurality of outer profiling elements which are directed outwardly away from the track body, wherein each of the plurality of outer profiling elements comprises an outwardly directed grouser body and a grouser root, wherein the grouser root connects the grouser body to the track body, and wherein the grouser body and the grouser root comprise different materials.
7 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the grouser body and the grouser root consist of different materials.
8 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the grouser body comprises a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root.
9 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the grouser body consists of a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root.
10 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the grouser root comprises a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.
11 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the grouser root consists of a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.
12 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the material of the grouser body comprises an elastomeric material.
13 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the material of the grouser body consists of an elastomeric material.
14 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the material of the grouser root comprises an elastomeric material.
15 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the material of the grouser root consists of an elastomeric material.
16 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of tension members embedded in the track body.
17 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the plurality of tension members are steel cables.
18 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the material comprised in the grouser body is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, mixture of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber, or mixture of natural rubber and isoprene rubber.
19 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the material comprised in the grouser root is natural rubber mixed with one or more of carbon black and silica.
20 . A rubber caterpillar track comprising a track body having a plurality of outer profiling elements which are directed outwardly away from the track body, wherein each of the plurality of outer profiling elements comprises an outwardly directed grouser body and a grouser root, wherein the grouser root connects the grouser body to the track body;
wherein the material comprised in the grouser body is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, mixture of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber, or mixture of natural rubber and isoprene rubber;
wherein the material comprised in the grouser root is natural rubber mixed with one or more of carbon black and silica; and,
wherein the grouser body and the grouser root consist of different materials.
21 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the grouser body comprises a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root.
22 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the grouser root comprises a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.
23 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the grouser body comprises a material which provides one or more of higher abrasion-resistance, higher grip, and damping with respect to the underlying surface, in comparison to the material of the grouser root; and,
wherein the grouser root comprises a material which provides one or more of less heat build-up, greater dynamic strength, and better bonding to the material of the track body, in comparison to the material of the grouser body.
24 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a plurality of tension members embedded in the track body.
25 . The rubber caterpillar track as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the plurality of tension members are steel cables.