Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Russell C Savage

Martin Dirk Skirha

Gary P Zeller

A composite tread member used in a track for a track-laying vehicle. The tread member is molded of a polymeric material reinforced with abrasion resistant fibers. It can be molded in a reaction injection molding process or in a resin transfer molding process by first placing a metal support member and a plurality of reinforcing fiber bundles in the mold and then inject a polymeric matrix material into the mold. The reinforcing fiber bundles used in our novel composite tread member can be first interwoven with polyester fiber bundles into narrow webbing and then rolled up in elongated rolls or pleated in pleats of predetermined width and thickness. The polymeric matrix material used in the composite tread member can be either a Nylon 6 RIM, a polyurethane RIM, or a polyurea RIM material. Our novel composite tread members have superior abrasion resistant properties and durability when compared to a conventional unreinforced tread member.

Method for making composite tread for track-laying vehicles

A composite tread member used in a track for a track-laying vehicle. The tread member is molded of a polymeric material reinforced with abrasion resistant monofilaments. It can be molded in a reaction injection molding process or in a resin transfer molding process by first placing a metal support member and a plurality of reinforcing monofilaments in the mold and then inject a polymeric matrix material into the mold. The reinforcing monofilaments used in our novel composite tread member can be a silicon carbide particle filled Nylon 12 monofilament or a monofilament formed by polyaramid fiber bundles extrusion coated with a polyamide material. The polymeric matrix material used in the composite tread member can be either a Nylon 6 RIM, a polyurethane RIM, or a polyurea RIM material. Our novel composite tread members have superior abrasion resistant properties and durability when compared to a conventional unreinforced tread member.

Method for making a composite tread for track-laying vehicles

A composite tread member used in a track for a track-laying vehicle. The tread member is molded of a polymeric material reinforced with abrasion resistant fibers. It can be molded in a reaction injection molding process or in a resin transfer molding process by first placing a metal support member and a plurality of reinforcing fiber bundles in the mold and then inject a polymeric matrix material into the mold. The reinforcing fiber bundles used in or novel composite tread member can be first interwoven with polyester fiber bundles into narrow webbing and then rolled up in elongated rolls or pleated in pleats of predetermined width and thickness. The polymeric matrix material used in the composite tread member can be either a Nylon 6 RIM, a polyurethane RIM, or a polyurea RIM material. Our novel composite tread members have superior abrasion resistant properties and durability when compared to a conventional unreinforced tread member.

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Anderson, IN, United States of America

Russell C Savage