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; and   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface;   
       wherein the track is free of reinforcing fabric between the inner surface and the ground-engaging outer surface along at least part of a length of the track. 
     
     
         2 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the track is free of reinforcing fabric between the inner surface and the ground-engaging outer surface along at least a majority of the length of the track. 
     
     
         3 . The track claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the track is free of reinforcing fabric between the inner surface and the ground-engaging outer surface along an entirety of the length of the track. 
     
     
         4 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the track is free of reinforcing fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of reinforcing cables extending generally in a longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         6 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to a longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         7 . The track claimed in  claim 5 , comprising a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to the longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         8 . The track claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing cables are located between the stiffening rods and the inner surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         9 . The track claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing cables are located between the stiffening rods and the ground-engaging outer surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         10 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, when operated at a given speed, the track consumes less power than if the track had a reinforcing fabric layer disposed between the inner surface and the ground-engaging surface and extending along at least a majority of the length of the track but was otherwise identical. 
     
     
         11 . The track claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the given speed is above  40  miles per hour. 
     
     
         12 . The track claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the given speed is above  60  miles per hour. 
     
     
         13 . The track claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of drive/guide projections projecting from the inner surface. 
     
     
         14 . The track claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the drive/guide projections are configured for engaging the drive wheel to drive the track. 
     
     
         15 . An off-road vehicle comprising the track claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The off-road vehicle claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the off-road vehicle is a snowmobile. 
     
     
         17 . 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; and   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface;   
       wherein the track is free of reinforcing fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The track claimed in  claim 17 , comprising a plurality of reinforcing cables extending generally in a longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         19 . The track claimed in  claim 17 , comprising a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to a longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         20 . The track claimed in  claim 18 , comprising a plurality of stiffening rods extending transversally to the longitudinal direction of the track. 
     
     
         21 . The track claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the reinforcing cables are located between the stiffening rods and the inner surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         22 . The track claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the reinforcing cables are located between the stiffening rods and the ground-engaging outer surface in a thickness direction of the track. 
     
     
         23 . The track claimed in  claim 17 , wherein, when operated at a given speed, the track consumes less power than if the track had a reinforcing fabric layer disposed between the inner surface and the ground-engaging surface and extending along at least a majority of the length of the track but was otherwise identical. 
     
     
         24 . The track claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the given speed is above  40  miles per hour. 
     
     
         25 . The track claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the given speed is above  60  miles per hour. 
     
     
         26 . The track claimed in  claim 17 , comprising a plurality of drive/guide projections projecting from the inner surface. 
     
     
         27 . The track claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the drive/guide projections are configured for engaging the drive wheel to drive the track. 
     
     
         28 . An off-road vehicle comprising the track claimed in  claim 17 . 
     
     
         29 . The off-road vehicle claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the off-road vehicle is a snowmobile. 
     
     
         30 . 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; and   a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface;   
       wherein: a thickness of the track from the inner surface to the ground-engaging outer surface is no more than 0.25 inches; and the track is free of reinforcing fabric between the inner surface and the ground-engaging outer surface along at least part of a length of the track.