Drive track for a tracked vehicle

Abstract

A drive track for a tracked vehicle comprises a belt having an inner side, an outer side, and two lateral sides. The belt has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. A plurality of internal lugs is distributed on the inner side of the belt. At least some of the plurality of internal lugs form two outer longitudinal rows, which are disposed next to a corresponding one of the two lateral sides of the belt. Regions of the belt disposed outwardly of the two outer longitudinal rows are deprived of internal lugs. A plurality of lateral rods is embedded within the belt. The plurality of lateral rods is extending in the lateral direction. Both ends of at least some of the plurality of lateral rods is disposed laterally inwardly of the regions of the belt disposed laterally outwardly of the two outer longitudinal rows. A tracked vehicle is also presented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drive track for a tracked vehicle, the drive track comprising:
 a belt having an inner side and an outer side, the belt having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the belt having two lateral sides;   a plurality of external lugs distributed on the outer side of the belt, the plurality of external lugs being adapted to be in contact with a ground;   a plurality of internal lugs distributed on the inner side of the belt, the plurality of internal lugs being adapted to be at least partially in contact with at least one drive sprocket of the tracked vehicle, at least some of the plurality of internal lugs forming two outer longitudinal rows, each of the two outer longitudinal rows being disposed next to a corresponding one of the two lateral sides of the belt, regions of the belt disposed outwardly of the two outer longitudinal rows being deprived of internal lugs;   a plurality of apertures disposed laterally between the at least two outer longitudinal rows;   a plurality of alignment cleats disposed laterally between the at least two outer longitudinal rows, the plurality of alignment cleats forming two cleat longitudinal rows; and   a plurality of lateral rods embedded within the belt, the plurality of lateral rods extending in the lateral direction, both ends of at least some of the plurality of lateral rods being disposed laterally inwardly of the regions of the belt disposed laterally outwardly of the two outer longitudinal rows.   
     
     
         2 . The drive track of  claim 1 , wherein the regions of the belt disposed laterally outwardly of the two outer longitudinal rows are adapted to each receive a corresponding idler wheel of the tracked vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The drive track of  claim 1 , wherein each end of the at least some of the plurality of lateral rods is laterally aligned with a corresponding one of the two cleat longitudinal rows. 
     
     
         4 . The drive track of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the lateral rods is embedded in the belt between the inner side and the outer side of the belt. 
     
     
         5 . The drive track of  claim 1 , wherein each end of at least some of the plurality of lateral rods is laterally aligned with a corresponding one of the two outer longitudinal rows. 
     
     
         6 . The drive track of  claim 5 , wherein the two outer longitudinal rows of internal lugs each have an outer edge, and
 each end of at least some of the plurality of lateral rods is laterally aligned with a corresponding one of the outer edges.   
     
     
         7 . The drive track of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alignment cleats is adapted to be contacting sliding rails of the tracked vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The drive track of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alignment cleats is disposed over every other portion extending longitudinally between two apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The drive track of  claim 1 , wherein the regions of the belt disposed outwardly of the two outer longitudinal rows are adapted to contact idler wheels of the tracked vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . A tracked vehicle comprising:
 a frame;   a straddle seat connected to the frame;   an engine mounted on an engine cradle portion of the frame;   a pair of slide rails connected to a bottom of the frame;   at least two idler wheels;   at least one drive sprocket operatively connected to the engine;   a drive track operatively connected to the at least one drive sprocket for propelling the snowmobile, the drive track comprising:
 an endless belt having an inner side and an outer side, the belt having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the belt having two lateral sides; 
 a plurality of external lugs distributed on the outer side of the belt, the plurality of external lugs being adapted to be in contact with a ground; 
 a plurality of internal lugs distributed on the inner side of the belt, the plurality of internal lugs being at least partially in contact with the at least one drive sprocket, at least some of the plurality of internal lugs forming two outer longitudinal rows, the two outer longitudinal rows being disposed near to a corresponding one of the two lateral sides of the belt, the belt having at least two contact surfaces, each contact surface being a surface where a corresponding one of the at least two idler wheels is in contact with the belt; 
 a plurality of apertures disposed between the at least two outer longitudinal rows; 
 a plurality of alignment cleats disposed between the at least two outer longitudinal rows, the plurality of alignment cleats forming two cleat longitudinal rows, the slide rails contacting the plurality of alignment cleats; and 
 a plurality of lateral rods embedded within the belt, each of the plurality of lateral rods extending in the lateral direction, both ends of at least some of the plurality of lateral rods being disposed inwardly of the contact surfaces. 
   
     
     
         11 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein regions of the belt outwardly of the contact surfaces are deprived of internal lugs. 
     
     
         12 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein each end of each of the plurality of lateral rods is laterally aligned with a corresponding one of the two cleat longitudinal rows. 
     
     
         13 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of lateral rods is embedded in the belt between the inner side and the outer side of the belt. 
     
     
         14 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein each end of each the plurality of lateral rods is laterally aligned with a corresponding one of the outer longitudinal rows. 
     
     
         15 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the outer longitudinal rows of internal lugs each have an outer edge, and
 each end of the at least some of the plurality of lateral rods is laterally aligned with a corresponding one of the outer edges.   
     
     
         16 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two idler wheels is connected to a rear of a corresponding one of the slide rails. 
     
     
         17 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of alignment cleats is disposed over every other portion extending longitudinally between two apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The tracked vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile, the snowmobile having at least one ski connected to the frame, the at least one ski being disposed forward of the drive track.