Track system for traction of an off-road vehicle such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle (atv)

Abstract

A track system for traction of an off-road vehicle such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The track system comprises a track-engaging assembly and a track disposed around the track-engaging assembly. The track system may be configured to have a reduced noise profile so as to generate less noise, enhanced track rigidity characteristics to improve its traction and floatation, and/or other features improving use and performance of the off-road vehicle.

1 . A track for traction of an off-road vehicle, the track being mountable around a track-engaging assembly of the off-road vehicle, the track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel for driving the track, the track being elastomeric to be flexible around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising:
 an inner surface for facing the track-engaging assembly;   a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground;   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to a longitudinal direction of the track, each stiffening rod of the plurality of stiffening rods having a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stiffening rod, the cross-section of the stiffening rod being elongate.   
     
     
         2 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the stiffening rod has an aspect ratio of at least 4. 
     
     
         3 . The track claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the aspect ratio of the cross-section of the stiffening rod is at least 6. 
     
     
         4 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the stiffening rod is substantially flat. 
     
     
         5 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the stiffening rod is oblong. 
     
     
         6 . The track claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the cross-section of the stiffening rod is oblong rectangular. 
     
     
         7 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening rod is plate-like. 
     
     
         8 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the stiffening rod is constant along at least a majority of a length of the stiffening rod. 
     
     
         9 . The track claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the cross-section of the stiffening rod is constant along an entirety of the length of the stiffening rod. 
     
     
         10 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of reinforcing cables extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         11 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of stiffening cables extending transversally to the longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         12 . The track claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing cables are located between the stiffening rods and the inner surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         13 . The track claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing cables are located between the stiffening rods and the ground-engaging outer surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         14 . The track claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the stiffening cables are located between the stiffening rods and the ground-engaging outer surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         15 . The track claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the stiffening cables are located between the stiffening rods and the inner surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         16 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of drive/guide projections projecting from the inner surface. 
     
     
         17 . The track claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the drive/guide projections are configured for engaging the drive wheel to drive the track. 
     
     
         18 . An off-road vehicle comprising the track claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The off-road vehicle claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the off-road vehicle is a snowmobile. 
     
     
         20 . A track for traction of an off-road vehicle, the track being mountable around a track-engaging assembly of the off-road vehicle, the track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel for driving the track, the track being elastomeric to be flexible around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising:
 an inner surface for facing the track-engaging assembly;   a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground;   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to a longitudinal direction of the track, each stiffening rod of the plurality of stiffening rods having a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stiffening rod, the cross-section of the stiffening rod having an aspect ratio of at least 4.   
     
     
         21 . A track for traction of an off-road vehicle, the track being mountable around a track-engaging assembly of the off-road vehicle, the track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel for driving the track, the track being elastomeric to be flexible around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising:
 an inner surface for facing the track-engaging assembly;   a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground;   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to a longitudinal direction of the track, each stiffening rod of the plurality of stiffening rods having a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stiffening rod, a ratio of (i) a thickness of the cross-section of the stiffening rod in a thickness direction of the track over (ii) a thickness of a carcass of the track from the inner surface to the ground-engaging outer surface in the thickness direction of the track is less than 0.7.   
     
     
         22 . A track for traction of an off-road vehicle, the track being mountable around a track-engaging assembly of the off-road vehicle, the track-engaging assembly comprising a drive wheel for driving the track, the track being elastomeric to be flexible around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising:
 an inner surface for facing the track-engaging assembly;   a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground;   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; and   a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to a longitudinal direction of the track, each stiffening rod of the plurality of stiffening rods having a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stiffening rod, a thickness of the cross-section of the stiffening rod in a thickness direction of the track being less than 3.5 mm.