belt track

belt track (plural belt tracks)

1. (mechanics, engineering) A continuous track used to propel vehicles that drive on difficult terrain.
   • 1954, Interavia - Volume 9, page 630:

     It has been found that by simply substituting a belt track for an undercarriage with wheels in tandem, the unit load on the ground can be halved without increasing the bulk of the undercarriage.

   • 1962, Science, Technology, and Development, page 141:

     Figure III shows the Terrapin, a belt-track vehicle designed to transport cargo over very difficult terrain.

   • 2017, Owen C. Duffy, Gus Wright, Scott A. Heard, Fundamentals of Mobile Heavy Equipment:

     Comparing the traction capabilities of a rubber belt track with wheeled equipment tires.

2. A railroad track the traces a path around a city or other area.
   • 1904, Thomas H. Thorpe, Charles G. Gill, Louisiana Reports, page 921:

     The roadbed of this company (the Shreveport & Red River Valley Railroad Company) being entirely within the state of Louisiana, if it is required to pay the sum of $330,000, or an ammount necessarily expended in the construction of the belt track down to Henderson street, it would be practically denied the benefit of this belt system, and an entrance into the city of New Orleans.

   • 1906, Corporate History of the Pennsylvania Lines West of Pittsburgh, page 765:

     Said connection between the South Akron belt track and the canal yard tracks to cross Medsker street at grade.

   • 1906, The South Western Reporter - Volume 96, page 377:

     We think that the testimony of the plaintiff shows plainly that he did not look or listen for approaching trains after he crossed the belt track.

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see belt,‎ track.; a track used in for aligning and controlling a belt, such as a conveyor belt.
   • 1996, James S. Johnson, Seymour Zack Mansdorf, Performance of Protective Clothing, page 63:

     The graph of the actual abrasion time of the cotton canvas reference material against the number of samples abraded on the belt track is used to provide the reference abrasion time for canvas.

   • 2003, Daniel J Holt, Design of Racing and High-Performance Engines 1998-2003, page 43:

     The XLR system has a rear belt track that drives the power steering pump and the air conditioning compressor mounted to the right side of the engine, and a forward belt track that drives the generator and water pump mounted on the left side of the engine.