Soucy International Inc.

Yves St-Pierre

Claude Faucher

Gilles Soucy

Andr&eacute; Deland

Marc-André Lemaire

Normand Roy

André Deland

Chad M Olson

Marc-Antoine Leblanc

Danny Roy

Tommy Marcotte

Vincent Blouin

François Duquette

Roméo Lussier

Éric Blais

Hugo Bastien

Fran&ccedil;ois Chapdelaine

Andr{acute Over (e)} Deland

A segmented track made of a plurality of elastomeric track segments is disclosed. Each track segment is made of reinforced elastomeric material and is provided, at each end thereof, with a joint element adapted to be connected to the joint element of adjacent track segments. Each track segment generally comprises alternating series of substantially rigid sections and substantially flexible sections. The joint elements of the track segments are substantially located within rigid sections located at the extremities of the track segments. The segment track also comprises inner and outer plates configured to secure the joint elements of adjacent track segments together.

Segmented track and track segment therefor

A traction band substantially made from elastomeric material is disclosed. The traction band comprises a main band body divided into a plurality of sections connected together along laterally extending pitch lines. The band body has an interior wheel-engaging surface, adapted to cooperate with the various wheels of a track system, and an exterior ground-engaging surface adapted to engage the ground. The wheel-engaging surface comprises one or more rows of longitudinally spaced-apart drive lugs and/or guide lugs typically disposed on each of the band sections. The ground-engaging surface comprises traction lugs extending longitudinally across more than one band section, these traction lugs comprising laterally extending bending regions where the traction lugs are thinner. These bending regions are substantially aligned with regions on the interior surface which are devoid of drive lugs and guide lugs.

Traction band

This invention relates to an endless traction band that is used to propel band laying vehicles [i.e., vehicles which use endless traction bands rather than tires to contact the terrain over which they are driven, e.g., tractors, tanks, bulldozers, etc.]. A novel sprocket wheel having a plurality of radially extending and offset teeth cooperates with an endless traction band having a plurality of holes. Longitudinally consecutive holes define either meshing areas or clip areas. The meshing areas are adapted to be engaged by the sprocket wheel and the clip areas are adapted to support clips.

Traction band and sprocket for vehicles

This invention relates to an endless traction band that is used to propel snowmobiles and more particularly, to an improved ground-engaging side of the traction band, which helps reduce the noise and vibration levels during the operation of the snowmobile. The various protruding lug configurations defines a predetermined number of different lug profiles, from which the sequence of profiles on the endless band are generated in such a way so that every sequence of profiles is different from one another.

Non-repeating sequence of profiles

The endless track is made of a reinforced rubber material with longitudinally spaced and transversely disposed stiffeners embedded in the rubber material. The body defines a central band portion and opposite lateral band portions that are located on the sides of the central band portion. The central band portion is delimited from the two lateral band portions by two corresponding suspension bearing portions, each defining a plurality of clipping sites that are adapted to receive a metallic clip. The track is characterized in that the clips that are mounted in an arrangement of mixed clip sequences on each suspension bearing portion. Each &lsqb;&lsqb;c lip&rsqb;&rsqb; clip sequence comprises one or more successive clipping sites with clips immediately followed by one or two successive clipping sites without a clip. This arrangement of mixed clip sequences lowers the overall noise level generated by the track while rotating. It also lowers the overall weight of the track and the manufacturing costs thereof.

Track with clips in a non-sequential arrangement

The endless track is made of a reinforced rubber material with longitudinally spaced and transversely disposed ridges or lugs. It is particularly well-adapted for recreational snowmobiles having a single track. The ground-engaging side of the track features a tread pattern that is repeated uniformly or not over the entire length of the track. The tread pattern comprises a plurality of projecting traction lugs each having an upper edge. The internal side of the track features a plurality of protuberances called drive lugs which engage in the sprockets. These sprockets are driven by the snowmobile engine and transmit its power to the endless track. The braking power is also transmitted by the sprockets to the track. It is characterized in that the drive lugs have a pitch distance half of the pitch distance of the tread pattern therefore doubling the number of lugs engaged in the sprocket. Such tracks reduce noise and rolling resistance.

Variable pitch track

The endless track is made of a reinforced rubber material with longitudinally spaced and transversely disposed ridges or lugs. It is particularly well-adapted for recreational snowmobiles having a single track. The track is characterized in that the rubber material of the central portion of the body has a hardness of between 75 and 90 duro A while the rubber material of the opposite band portions of the body has a hardness between 55 and 75 duro A. Such track facilitates the steering capabilities of a snowmobile, particularly when the snowmobile is traveling on hard and abrasive surfaces. It also improves the durability of the track.

Rubber-band track with various hardness

The assembly (,) is for use with a mechanical leverage system (,) mounted on a frame (,), for instance the frame of a vehicle (,), to move an implement (,) between a lowered position and a lifted position. The assembly (,) comprises an elongated first lever arm (,) and a second lever arm (,) that is in motion-transmitting engagement with a lower end (,) of the first lever arm (,). A detent member (,) is provided to lock the second lever arm (,) in an intermediary position located between a first and a second limit position thereof. The intermediary position corresponds to the lifted position of the implement (,). The detent member (,) is released by further pivoting the first lever arm (,) so as to move the second lever arm (,) from its intermediary position to its second limit position. The detent member (,) is then released without having to independently operate a locking mechanism or to move the first lever arm (,) sidewards.

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Wickham, Canada

Yves St-Pierre