Self aligning idler wheel design for rubber tracks
A vehicle track assembly includes an endless track having a first surface displaying a series of ground engaging profiles longitudinally spaced along the first surface and a second surface displaying a series of wheel engaging drive lugs spaced longitudinally along the second surface, a drive wheel for engaging the drive lugs and at least one idler wheel defining an inside diameter and an outside diameter, where the inside diameter of the at least one first idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width. The at least one idler wheel is a plurality of idler wheels, which may include a first idler wheel and a second idler wheel. The first and second idler wheels may be parallel one another, and may be separated by a distance of greater than the width of the drive lugs.
1. A vehicle track assembly to facilitate track alignment comprising:
an endless track having a first surface displaying a series of ground engaging profiles longitudinally spaced along the first surface and a second surface displaying a series of wheel engaging drive lugs spaced longitudinally along the second surface;
a drive wheel for engaging the drive lugs; and,
at least one idler wheel defining an inside diameter and an outside diameter, wherein the inside diameter of the at least first idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the at least one idler wheel, wherein the inside diameter faces toward the drive lugs and the outside diameter faces away from the drive lugs.
2. The vehicle track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one idler wheel is a plurality of idler wheels.
3. The vehicle track assembly of claim 2 , wherein the a plurality of idler wheels is an idler wheel set comprised of a first idler wheel and a second idler wheel, wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, and wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
4. The vehicle track assembly of claim 3 , wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is 5 mm to 35 mm greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is 5 mm to 35 mm greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
5. The vehicle track assembly of claim 4 , wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is 10 mm to 30 mm greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is 10 mm to 30 mm greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
6. The vehicle track assembly of claim 5 , wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is 15 mm to 25 mm greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is 15 mm to 25 mm greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
7. The vehicle track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endless track comprises an elastomeric material.
8. The vehicle track assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the inside diameter of the at least one idler wheel faces towards the drive lugs, and wherein the outside diameter of at least one idler wheel faces away from the drive lugs.
9. The vehicle track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one idler wheel comprises an outer surface extending between the inside diameter and the outside diameter and has a substantially convex profile shape.
10. The vehicle track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one idler wheel is configured to carry the endless track from the ground toward a drive wheel.
11. A vehicle track assembly comprising:
an endless track having a first surface displaying a series of ground engaging profiles longitudinally spaced along the first surface and a second surface displaying a series of wheel engaging drive lugs spaced longitudinally along the second surface;
a drive wheel for engaging the drive lugs;
at least one idler wheel defining an inside diameter and an outside diameter, wherein the inside diameter of the at least one idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the at least one idler wheel, wherein the inside diameter faces toward the drive lugs and the outside diameter faces away from the drive lugs; and,
wherein the at least one idler wheel comprises an outer surface extending between the inside diameter and the outside diameter.
12. The vehicle track assembly of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface has a substantially flat profile shape.
13. The vehicle track assembly of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface has a substantially convex profile shape.
14. The vehicle track assembly of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface has a substantially concave profile shape.
15. The vehicle track assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one idler wheel is a plurality of idler wheels.
16. The vehicle track assembly of claim 15 , wherein the a plurality of idler wheels is an idler wheel set comprised of a first idler wheel and a second idler wheel, wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, and wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
17. The vehicle track assembly of claim 16 , wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is 5 mm to 35 mm greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is 5 mm to 35 mm greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
18. The vehicle track assembly of claim 17 , wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is 10 mm to 30 mm greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is 10 mm to 30 mm greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
19. The vehicle track assembly of claim 18 , wherein the inside diameter of the first idler wheel is 15 mm to 25 mm greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, wherein the inside diameter of the second idler wheel is 15 mm to 25 mm greater than the outside diameter of the second idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width.
20. The vehicle track assembly of claim 11 , wherein the endless track comprises an elastomeric material.
21. A vehicle track assembly comprising:
an endless track having a first surface displaying a series of ground engaging profiles longitudinally spaced along the first surface and a second surface displaying a series of wheel engaging drive lugs spaced longitudinally along the second surface;
a drive wheel for engaging the drive lugs; and,
at least one idler wheel defining an inside diameter and an outside diameter, wherein the inside diameter of the at least one first idler wheel is greater than the outside diameter of the first idler wheel per meter of idler wheel width, and the inside diameter faces toward the series of wheel engaging drive lugs and the outside diameter faces away from the series of wheel engaging drive lugs,
wherein the at least one idler wheel is an idler wheel set having a first idler wheel disposed essentially parallel to a second idler wheel, and wherein the first idler wheel and the second idler wheel are separated by a distance of greater than the width of the drive lugs.
22. The vehicle track assembly of claim 21 , wherein the first and the second idler wheels are connected to one another and move together.
23. The vehicle track assembly of claim 21 , wherein the first and the second idler move independently.