Traction cleats for tracked construction equipment

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/896,611, filed Mar. 23, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Track systems are often employed on mobile construction equipment to distribute the weight of the machine over a larger area and thereby enhance flotation and minimize ground disturbance. Metal tracks have been in widespread use on larger construction equipment for many years. Rubber tracks have gained popularity over recent years, particularly on smaller construction equipment.

Traction is often a concern when smaller construction equipment is used in muddy and/or icy conditions due to the lighter weight of the smaller equipment.

Accordingly, a need exists for a cost effective traction enhancement attachment for mobile construction equipment track systems capable of being quickly, easily and safely attached and detached from the track system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention is a cleat for releasable clamped engagement to a continuous rubber track on a mobile construction unit for improving traction. The cleat includes a body, at least one traction enhancing projection, and a manually operable repositioning assembly. The body has downwardly extending, inwardly facing and laterally spaced end hooks, wherein at least one of the end hooks is laterally repositionable relative to the other end hook as between an open position and a closed position. The projection extends upward from the body for biting engagement with a surface upon which the track is supported. The manually operable repositioning assembly is effective for reversibly driving the at least one laterally repositionable end hook towards the other end hook, whereby the body may be clamped onto a rubber track on a mobile construction unit.

A second aspect of the invention is a method for enhancing the traction of a tracked mobile construction unit. The method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a mobile construction unit equipped with a pair of tracks, wherein each track has an outward facing major surface and lateral sides, (b) obtaining a plurality of cleats, each comprising at least: (i) a body with downwardly extending, inwardly facing and laterally spaced end hooks, wherein at least one of the end hooks is laterally repositionable relative to the other end hook as between an open position and a closed position, (ii) at least one projection extending upward from the body effective for biting engagement with a supporting surface, and (iii) a manually operable repositioning assembly for reversibly driving the at least one laterally repositionable end hook towards the other end hook, (c) clamping a cleat onto the track by: (i) positioning the laterally repositionable end hook into the open position, (ii) laying the body onto the outward facing major surface of the track with the end hooks extending over the sides of the track and the at least one projection extending away from the outward facing major surface of the track, and (iii) actuating the repositioning assembly to move the repositionable end hook towards the closed position, thereby clamping the cleat to the track by catching the sides of the track within the end hooks and squeezing the track between the end hooks, (d) repeating step (c) to attach a plurality of longitudinally spaced cleats around the track, and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for the other track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an upward perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 5 with the end hooks laterally telescoped away from the main body.

FIG. 6 is a downward perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a first perspective view of an end hook shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a second perspective view of the end hook shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a third perspective view of the end hook shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fourth perspective view of the end hook shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 11-18 are perspective views of a set of cleats in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention being attached to a rubber track on a track loader.

FIG. 19 is a perspective side view of the track loader depicted in FIGS. 11-18 after the set of cleats has been attached to the track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Nomenclature

A first aspect of the invention is a cleat 100 configured and arranged for detachable attachment in spaced arrangement around the rubber tracks 200 on a mobile construction unit 300 (e.g., skid steer loaders) in order to enhance fraction.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the cleat 100 includes a body 120 with downwardly z₂ extending, inwardly facing and laterally x spaced end hooks 140. At least one of the end hooks 140, and preferably both end hooks 141 and 142, are laterally x repositionable relative to the other end hook 140 as between an open position (as shown in FIG. 5) in which the lateral distance x₃ between the end hooks 140 is larger, and a closed position (as shown in FIG. 4) in which the lateral distance x₃ between the end hooks 140 is smaller.

The embodiment of the cleat 100 shown in FIGS. 1-6 have a main body 120 with separate and independent end hooks 141 and 142, both of which are independently laterally x repositionable relative to the main body 120.

The embodiment of the cleat 100 shown in FIGS. 11-18 have a main body 120 with a single end hook 140 which can be laterally x repositioned relative to the main body 120.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 120 has a top 120a, a bottom 120b, a front 120c, a back 120d, a first end 120e and a second end 120f.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the end hooks 140 each have a top 140a, a bottom 140b, a front 140c, a back 140d, an inside end 140e and an outside end 140f. Each end hook 140 defines an inwardly facing retention channel 148 extending from the bottom 140b of the end hook 140. The retention channel 148 is configured and arranged to hook onto a side edge 200e or 200f of a track 200 on a mobile construction unit 300. A pair of longitudinally y spaced fingers 145 project inward from the inside end 140e of the end hook 140 above the retention channel 148 for telescoping engagement with corresponding channels (not shown) in the ends 120e and 120f of the main base 120.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a stabilizing fin 146 projects transversely downward z₂ from the bottom 140b of each end hook 140 into the retention channel 148 defined by the end hook 140. The stabilizing fin 146 is configured and arranged to fit within a groove 201 in the tread on a track 200 for providing stability against sliding of the cleat 100 along the length of the track 200.

Referring to FIG. 10, a lateral bore 149 is provided through each end hook 140. The bore 149 is sized to accommodating passage of the shaft (not numbered) of a shoulder bolt 150 (depicted in FIGS. 1-6 and 11-18) while preventing passage of the head (not numbered). An axially aligned threaded bore (not shown) is provided in the ends 120e and 120f of the main base 120 for threadably engaging the shaft (not numbered) of the shoulder bolt 150. Hence, clockwise rotation of a shoulder bolt 150 within a threaded bore (not shown) in the main base 120 is effective for driving the associated end hook 140 inward towards the other end hook 140 towards a closed position, while counter clockwise rotation of the shoulder bolt 150 “releases” the associated end hook 140 and permits the end hook 140 to be slid along the shaft (not numbered) of the shoulder bolt 150 towards an open position.

Other repositioning mechanisms are known to those of routine skill in the art and may be usefully employed in the present invention, including a pawl and ratchet system, a worm screw and traveler pin system, etc. However, due to the high shear forces and muddy conditions to which the cleat 100 will be exposed, the system employing a shoulder bolt 150 threadably engaged to the main base 120 is the preferred option.

Projections extend transversely upward z₁ from the top 120a of the main body 120 and/or the top 140a of the end hooks 140 for biting engagement with a supporting surface (not shown) (e.g., dirt, mud, snow, ice, etc.). Any number of traction enhancing projections are known to those of ordinary skill in the art and may be usefully employed on the present invention. One suitable traction enhancing projection is a replaceable metal stud 160 as shown in FIGS. 1-6. Another suitable traction enhancing projection is a laterally x extending blade 170 as shown in FIGS. 11-19.

Use

The traction provided by the tracks 200 on a mobile construction unit 300 can be enhanced by attaching a set of cleats 100 in spaced relationship along the length of the tracks 200 as shown in FIG. 18. Each cleat 100 can be attached by (i) positioning the laterally x repositionable end hook(s) 140 into the open position, (ii) laying the body 120 onto the outward facing major surface 200a of the track 200 with the end hooks 140 extending over the sides 200e and 200f of the track 200 and projection(s) 160 and/or 170 extending away from the outward facing major surface 200a of the track 200, and (ii) actuating the repositioning assembly to move the repositionable end hook 140 towards the closed position (i.e., sliding the repositionable end hook 140 along the length of the shoulder bolt 150 until the end hook 140 engages the side 200e or 200f of the track 200 and then rotating the shoulder bolt 150 clockwise to forcibly drive the end hook 140 into the side 200e or 200f of the track 200). The cleat 100 needs to be positioned on the track 200 so that the stabilizing fins 146 on the cleat 100 can extend into a groove 201 in the outward facing major surface 200a of the track 200.