Lightweight track shoe and manufacturing process thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of track shoes, in particular to a lightweight track shoe and a manufacturing process thereof.The lightweight track shoe comprises a shoe body part, a connecting part, a rotating hole, a connecting notch and a rotating shaft; a main body of the light-weight track shoe is arranged to be the plate body part, the connecting part is installed on the side face of the plate body part, the rotating hole is formed in the middle of the connecting part, the connecting notch is formed in the other side face of the plate body part, and the rotating shaft is installed in the middle of the connecting notch. Through the arrangement of the center groove and the damping cavity, the weight of the track shoe is reduced, meanwhile, the structural strength of the track shoe is guaranteed, and the trafficability of the track is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of crawler shoes, and particularly to lightweight crawler shoes and their manufacturing processes. Background Art

[0002] Crawler shoes are essential key components in construction machinery, agricultural equipment, military vehicles, and other heavy equipment, mainly used to provide stable moving support and power transmission. Traditional crawler shoes are usually made of high-strength metal materials such as steel or cast iron to ensure that they can withstand high loads and the impacts of complex terrains. However, with the increasing demands of modern industry for equipment lightweighting, high efficiency, and energy conservation, the design of traditional crawler shoes has gradually exposed some problems.

[0003] Firstly, the weight of traditional crawler shoes is relatively large, resulting in an increase in the overall weight of the equipment. This not only reduces the mobility of the equipment but also increases energy consumption and operating costs. Secondly, when traditional crawler shoes operate on complex terrains, they are prone to significant wear due to friction and impact, shortening their service life and increasing the frequency of maintenance and replacement. In addition, the shock absorption performance of traditional crawler shoes is poor, and when driving on rough roads, it is easy to cause significant vibrations and discomfort to the equipment structure and operators.

[0004] To solve these problems, in recent years, lightweighting, high strength, and wear resistance have become the main directions of the development of crawler shoe technology. By adopting new materials and optimizing the structural design, modern crawler shoes have significantly improved their strength, wear resistance, and shock absorption performance while reducing weight. These improvements not only enhance the operating efficiency and service life of the equipment but also reduce the pressure on the environment, meeting the requirements of modern industry for high efficiency, energy conservation, and environmental protection. Therefore, the innovation and improvement of crawler shoe technology have important practical significance and broad application prospects.

[0005] In the process of lightweight design of existing crawler shoes, they often face problems such as deteriorated passability and decreased structural strength, which limit their application scope and make them only applicable to specific usage scenarios. Lightweighting is usually achieved by reducing material usage or using low-density materials, but this may cause crawler shoes to perform poorly under complex terrains or high-load working conditions. For example, lightweighted crawler shoes may not be able to withstand the huge pressure of heavy equipment, or are prone to deformation or fracture on rough roads. In addition, lightweight design may reduce the wear resistance and impact resistance of crawler shoes, resulting in a shortened service life and increased maintenance and replacement costs.

[0006] In view of the above situation, in order to overcome the above technical problems, the present invention designs lightweight crawler shoes and their manufacturing processes, solving the above technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical objective to be achieved by the present invention is: by providing a central groove and a shock-absorbing cavity, while reducing the weight of the track shoe, ensuring its structural strength, and improving the passability of the track.

[0008] To achieve the above technical objective, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0009] The lightweight track shoe is a key component for heavy equipment such as construction machinery, agricultural machinery, and military vehicles, aiming to reduce the overall weight and improve the mobility and fuel efficiency of the equipment. The track shoe mainly consists of a plate body part, a connecting part, a rotating hole, a connecting slot, and a rotating shaft, etc. The plate body part is the main structure of the track shoe, undertaking the main functions of supporting and transmitting loads. To further optimize the design, the plate body part usually adopts high-strength lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy or composite materials to ensure sufficient strength and durability while reducing the weight.

[0010] The connecting part is installed on the side of the plate body part and is used to connect multiple track shoes together to form a continuous track chain. A rotating hole is provided in the middle of the connecting part, and the design of this hole enables the track shoe to rotate flexibly during movement, thus adapting to complex terrains and working conditions. On the other side of the plate body part, a connecting slot is provided for mating with the connecting part of the adjacent track shoe. A rotating shaft is installed in the middle of the connecting slot, and the function of the rotating shaft is to ensure that the track shoe can rotate smoothly during movement, reduce friction and wear, and extend the service life of the track shoe.

[0011] Through this structural design, the lightweight track shoe not only achieves weight reduction but also improves the overall flexibility and durability, and is suitable for various harsh working environments. In addition, the lightweight design helps to reduce the energy consumption of the equipment and the pressure on the ground, thereby further enhancing the comprehensive performance of the equipment.

[0012] Side grooves are provided at the transverse two ends of the plate body part, and wear-resistant rolling balls are arranged inside the side grooves. The wear-resistant rolling balls are made of high-strength wear-resistant materials and can roll freely inside the plate body part. Through this design, when the plate body part is in motion, the wear-resistant rolling balls on both sides can effectively reduce the direct contact with adjacent components or the ground, thereby significantly reducing friction and wear. This not only improves the movement flexibility of the track shoe but also extends its service life, while reducing energy loss and enhancing the overall operation efficiency of the equipment. In addition, the free rolling characteristic of the wear-resistant rolling balls can adapt to complex terrains and further enhance the adaptability and stability of the track shoe.

[0013] A hollow groove is formed in the middle of the plate body part. The hollow groove is symmetrically designed and runs through the central area of the plate body part, which can effectively reduce the overall weight of the track shoe while maintaining its structural strength and load-bearing capacity. On both sides of the hollow groove, two shock-absorbing cavities are respectively formed. The shock-absorbing cavities are designed as semi-open structures, and the opening directions of the two cavities are the same. This design not only further reduces the weight of the track shoe but also enhances its impact resistance and shock-absorbing performance. When the track shoe operates under complex terrains or high-load conditions, the shock-absorbing cavities can absorb and disperse external impact forces, reducing the direct stress on the plate body part, thereby extending the service life of the track shoe. In addition, the combined design of the hollow groove and the shock-absorbing cavities optimizes the material distribution, ensuring the stability and reliability of the track shoe under extreme working conditions while achieving lightweight, and is applicable to various fields such as construction machinery, agricultural equipment, and military vehicles.

[0014] A limiting ring is provided at the upper edge of the inner side surface of the shock-absorbing cavity. The limiting ring is made of high-strength material and is designed as a square frame structure. The main function of the limiting ring is to clamp the telescopic plate and limit its movement range to ensure that the telescopic plate does not deviate from the preset track during movement. Under normal conditions, the limiting ring can keep the telescopic plate level with the surface of the plate body part, thus ensuring the overall stability of the track shoe and the smoothness of operation. This design not only improves the impact resistance of the track shoe but also enhances its adaptability under complex working conditions and extends its service life.

[0015] A telescopic plate is arranged in the shock-absorbing cavity. The lower part of the telescopic plate is designed as a protruding structure, which can effectively enhance the fitting degree and stability with the external contact surface. The surface of the telescopic plate is provided with anti-slip patterns. The anti-slip patterns are designed in a wavy shape. Such patterns not only increase the surface friction to prevent slipping but also disperse stress during movement to reduce wear. The unique design of the wavy anti-slip patterns further improves the durability and impact resistance of the telescopic plate, enabling it to maintain efficient operation under complex working conditions. In addition, the combination of the protruding lower part of the telescopic plate and the anti-slip patterns ensures its flexible movement in the shock-absorbing cavity while enhancing the stability and reliability of the overall structure.

[0016] Shock-absorbing springs are arranged under the telescopic plate. The shock-absorbing springs are made of high-strength alloy materials and are evenly distributed in a rectangular array. This arrangement can ensure uniform force and effectively absorb and disperse the impact forces from the ground. When the track shoe travels on a rough road surface, the shock-absorbing springs buffer the vibration through elastic deformation, significantly improving the passability and stability of the track shoe. At the same time, the design of the shock-absorbing springs can also reduce the direct impact on the plate body part and extend the service life of the track shoe. In addition, the setting of the rectangular array optimizes the space utilization rate, further reducing the overall weight while ensuring the shock-absorbing effect, making the track shoe more adaptable to complex terrains and high-load working conditions.

[0017] Both sides of the plate part are provided with arc surfaces, and the arc surfaces are set as semi-circular arcs, and the radian values of the arc surfaces on both sides are the same.

[0018] A lightweight crawler plate manufacturing process, and the steps of the process are as follows:

[0019] Step 1: The first step in manufacturing the crawler plate is to strictly screen the raw materials. To ensure that the crawler plate has excellent wear resistance, impact resistance and fatigue resistance. After the raw materials enter the factory, strict chemical composition analysis and mechanical property tests are required to ensure compliance with the standards. Subsequently, according to the size and shape requirements of the crawler plate, the steel plate is cut into blanks using a sawing machine or a shearing machine. In order to eliminate internal stress and improve the cutting performance, the blanks also need to be normalized or annealed. The surface of the pre-treated blank should be flat and smooth, without cracks, slag inclusions and other defects, laying a good foundation for subsequent processing.

[0020] Step 2: Forging is a key process in the manufacture of the crawler plate, which directly affects its final performance. Heat the pre-treated blank to the forging temperature (about 1100 - 1200 °C), and use forging equipment (such as die forging hammers, presses, etc.) to carry out plastic deformation to initially form the shape of the crawler plate. During the forging process, the temperature, deformation amount and forging ratio need to be strictly controlled to ensure a dense structure and reasonable streamline. After forging, punch holes in the middle part of the plate part to form a hollow groove, punch holes in the upper surface of the plate part to form a shock-absorbing cavity, trim the two ends of the plate part to form side grooves, and drill holes to install wear-resistant balls; remove the excess material and form the basic contour. The initially processed crawler plate needs to be subjected to flaw detection to ensure that there are no cracks, pores and other defects inside.

[0021] Step 3: Heat treatment is the core link to improve the performance of the crawler plate. According to the material and usage requirements, a heat treatment process of quenching + tempering is usually adopted. Heat the initially processed crawler plate to the austenitizing temperature (about 850 - 950 °C), hold for a period of time and then quickly cool (such as water quenching, oil quenching, etc.) to obtain a high-hardness martensite structure. Subsequently, tempering treatment is carried out to adjust the hardness and toughness, eliminate the quenching stress, and improve the comprehensive mechanical properties. During the heat treatment process, the heating temperature, holding time and cooling rate need to be strictly controlled to ensure uniform structure and stable performance. The heat-treated crawler plate needs to be subjected to hardness testing and metallographic analysis to ensure that it meets the design requirements.

[0022] Step 4: The heat-treated crawler shoes need to be finely processed to achieve precise dimensions and geometric tolerances. Use equipment such as CNC milling machines and lathes to finely mill and turn each surface of the crawler shoes to ensure the fitting accuracy with components such as chain links and pins. At the same time, perform grinding on key parts such as the meshing surface and guiding surface of the crawler shoes to improve the surface finish and wear resistance. After the fine processing is completed, perform surface treatment on the crawler shoes, such as shot peening, carburizing, galvanizing, etc., to further improve their wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and fatigue strength. After the surface treatment, conduct appearance inspection and dimensional re-measurement on the crawler shoes to ensure compliance with quality standards.

[0023] Step 5: The last step is to conduct a comprehensive quality inspection on the crawler shoes. This includes appearance inspection, dimensional measurement, hardness testing, flaw detection, metallographic analysis, etc., to ensure that all indicators meet the design requirements and usage standards. For key parts, such as pin holes and meshing surfaces, coordinate measuring machines need to be used to ensure that the accuracy meets the standards. The qualified crawler shoes after inspection need to be subjected to rust prevention treatment and sprayed with markings (such as model, batch, etc.). Finally, according to the customer's requirements, they are usually packaged in wooden boxes or iron boxes, with shock-absorbing materials filled inside to ensure that they are not damaged during transportation. The packaged crawler shoes need to be accompanied by documents such as certificates of conformity and inspection reports before they can be delivered from the factory for use.

[0024] In Step 2, the design of the punching area is a key link, which directly affects the overall performance of the lightweight crawler shoes. The punching area should be set to 60 - 80% of the total area of the plate part. This range has been scientifically calculated and verified by practice, which can ensure sufficient structural strength and load-bearing capacity while guaranteeing lightweight. By reasonably controlling the punching area, the weight of the crawler shoes can be effectively reduced, the energy consumption during equipment operation can be lowered, and at the same time, the problem of insufficient structural strength caused by excessive punching can be avoided. In addition, this design can also optimize the stress distribution of the material, enhance the impact resistance and durability of the crawler shoes, enabling them to maintain stable operation under complex terrains and high-load working conditions. Therefore, a punching area of 60 - 80% is the best choice to achieve the balance between lightweight and strength.

[0025] Set the upper part of the telescopic plate as rubber material and the lower part as aluminum alloy material. This combined design brings multiple benefits to the lightweight crawler shoes. First of all, the rubber material has excellent elasticity and shock-absorbing performance, which can effectively absorb and disperse the impact force from the ground, reduce the direct stress on the overall structure of the crawler shoes, thereby extending the service life and improving the smoothness of driving. Secondly, the aluminum alloy material has the characteristics of high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance. As the lower part of the telescopic plate, it can significantly reduce the weight while ensuring the structural strength, further achieving the lightweight goal. In addition, the combination of rubber and aluminum alloy optimizes the comprehensive performance of the telescopic plate, making it flexible, durable, and stable under complex terrains and high-load working conditions, thus improving the overall efficiency and adaptability of the crawler shoes.

[0026] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0027] (1) Through the design of the hollow groove and the shock-absorbing cavity, the present invention significantly reduces the raw material usage of the crawler plate, thus achieving a lightweight design. The hollow groove runs through the central area of the plate body, and the shock-absorbing cavities are distributed on both sides of the hollow groove. This structure not only reduces the overall weight of the crawler plate but also optimizes the material distribution, reducing the manufacturing cost and energy consumption while ensuring the structural strength. The lightweight design makes the crawler plate more suitable for applications in equipment that requires high mobility and low energy consumption, such as construction machinery, agricultural equipment, and military vehicles.

[0028] (2) By setting up wear-resistant balls and telescopic plates, the present invention further improves the passability and adaptability of the crawler plate. The wear-resistant balls are installed in the side grooves of the plate body and can roll freely during the movement of the crawler plate, reducing friction with the ground or adjacent components, thereby reducing wear and extending the service life. The telescopic plate, through its elastic structure and anti-slip pattern design, enhances the stability and grip of the crawler plate on rough terrain. The combination of the telescopic plate and the shock-absorbing spring further improves the shock-absorbing performance of the crawler plate, enabling it to better handle complex terrains and high-load working conditions. The design of the present invention not only reduces the weight and energy consumption of the crawler plate through lightweight design but also significantly improves its passability, durability, and adaptability through the setting of wear-resistant balls and telescopic plates, enabling it to maintain efficient and stable operation in various harsh environments, with broad application prospects and practical value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the following drawings are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0030] Now, the above and other aspects of the present invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings, where:

[0031] Figure 1 is the overall external view schematic diagram after the installation of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 is the overall structure schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 is the sectional view of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 is the internal structure schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the telescopic plate of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 It is a schematic flow diagram of the method of the present invention.

[0037] In the figure: 1. Plate body part; 2. Side groove; 3. Wear-resistant rolling ball; 4. Connection part; 5. Rotation hole; 6. Connection slot; 7. Rotation shaft; 8. Hollow groove; 9. Arc surface; 10. Shock-absorbing cavity; 11. Limit ring; 12. Telescopic plate; 13. Anti-slip pattern; 14. Shock-absorbing spring. Detailed implementation manners

[0038] In order to better understand the above technical solution, the above technical solution will be described in detail below in conjunction with the specification drawings and specific implementation manners.

[0039] As Figures 1-6 shown, the lightweight track shoe is a key component for heavy equipment such as construction machinery, agricultural machinery, and military vehicles, aiming to reduce the overall weight and improve the mobility and fuel efficiency of the equipment. The track shoe mainly consists of structures such as a plate body part 1, a connection part 4, a rotation hole 5, a connection slot 6, and a rotation shaft 7. The plate body part 1 is the main structure of the track shoe, undertaking the main functions of support and load transmission. To further optimize the design, the plate body part 1 is usually made of high-strength lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy or composite materials to ensure sufficient strength and durability while reducing weight.

[0040] The connection part 4 is installed on the side of the plate body part 1 and is used to connect multiple track shoes together to form a continuous track chain. A rotation hole 5 is provided in the middle of the connection part 4, and the design of this hole enables the track shoe to rotate flexibly during movement, thereby adapting to complex terrains and working conditions. On the other side of the plate body part 1, a connection slot 6 is provided for mating with the connection part 4 of the adjacent track shoe. A rotation shaft 7 is installed in the middle of the connection slot 6, and the function of the rotation shaft 7 is to ensure that the track shoe can rotate smoothly during movement, reduce friction and wear, and extend the service life of the track shoe.

[0041] Through this structural design, the lightweight track shoe not only realizes weight reduction but also improves the overall flexibility and durability, and is suitable for various harsh working environments. In addition, the lightweight design helps to reduce the energy consumption of the equipment and the pressure on the ground, thereby further enhancing the comprehensive performance of the equipment.

[0042] The lateral ends of the plate body part 1 are provided with side grooves 2, and wear-resistant balls 3 are arranged inside the side grooves 2. The wear-resistant balls 3 are made of high-strength wear-resistant materials and can roll freely inside the plate body part 1. Through this design, when the plate body part 1 is in motion, the wear-resistant balls 3 on both sides can effectively reduce the direct contact with adjacent components or the ground, thereby significantly reducing friction and wear. This not only improves the movement flexibility of the track shoe but also extends its service life. At the same time, it reduces energy consumption and improves the overall operation efficiency of the equipment. In addition, the free-rolling characteristics of the wear-resistant balls 3 can adapt to complex terrains, further enhancing the adaptability and stability of the track shoe.

[0043] A hollow groove 8 is provided in the middle of the plate body part 1. The hollow groove 8 is symmetrically designed and runs through the central area of the plate body part 1, which can effectively reduce the overall weight of the track shoe while maintaining its structural strength and load-bearing capacity. On both sides of the hollow groove 8, two shock-absorbing cavities 10 are respectively provided. The shock-absorbing cavities 10 are set as semi-open structures, and the opening directions of the two cavities are the same. This design not only further reduces the weight of the track shoe but also enhances its anti-impact and shock-absorbing performance. When the track shoe operates under complex terrains or high-load conditions, the shock-absorbing cavities 10 can absorb and disperse external impact forces, reducing the direct stress on the plate body part 1, thereby extending the service life of the track shoe. In addition, the combined design of the hollow groove 8 and the shock-absorbing cavities 10 optimizes the material distribution, ensuring the stability and reliability of the track shoe under extreme working conditions while achieving lightweight, and is applicable to various fields such as construction machinery, agricultural equipment, and military vehicles.

[0044] As Figure 3 shown, a limiting ring 11 is provided at the upper edge of the inner side surface of the shock-absorbing cavity 10. The limiting ring 11 is made of high-strength materials and is designed as a square frame structure. The main function of the limiting ring 11 is to clamp the telescopic plate 12 and limit its movement range to ensure that the telescopic plate 12 does not deviate from the preset track during movement. Under normal conditions, the limiting ring 11 can keep the telescopic plate 12 horizontal with the surface of the plate body part 1, thus ensuring the overall stability and smooth operation of the track shoe. This design not only improves the anti-impact ability of the track shoe but also enhances its adaptability under complex working conditions, while extending the service life.

[0045] A telescopic plate 12 is arranged in the shock-absorbing cavity 10. The lower part of the telescopic plate 12 is designed as a protruding structure, which can effectively enhance the fitting degree and stability with the external contact surface. The surface of the telescopic plate 12 is provided with anti-slip lines 13, and the anti-slip lines 13 are designed in a wavy shape. This kind of line not only increases the surface friction to prevent slipping, but also can disperse stress during movement and reduce wear. The unique design of the wavy anti-slip lines 13 further improves the durability and impact resistance of the telescopic plate 12, enabling it to maintain efficient operation under complex working conditions. In addition, the combination of the protruding lower part of the telescopic plate 12 and the anti-slip lines 13 ensures its flexible movement in the shock-absorbing cavity 10, while enhancing the stability and reliability of the overall structure.

[0046] As Figure 4 shown, a shock-absorbing spring 14 is arranged below the telescopic plate 12. The shock-absorbing spring 14 is made of high-strength alloy material and is evenly distributed in a rectangular array. This arrangement can ensure uniform force and effectively absorb and disperse the impact force from the ground. When the track plate travels on a rough road surface, the shock-absorbing spring 14 buffers the vibration through elastic deformation, significantly improving the passability and stability of the track plate. At the same time, the design of the shock-absorbing spring 14 can also reduce the direct impact on the plate body part 1 and extend the service life of the track plate. In addition, the setting of the rectangular array optimizes the space utilization rate, while ensuring the shock-absorbing effect, further reducing the overall weight and making the track plate more adaptable to complex terrains and high-load working conditions.

[0047] Arc surfaces 9 are arranged on both sides of the plate part. The arc surfaces 9 are set as semi-circular arcs, and the radian values of the arc surfaces 9 on both sides are the same. This can ensure that adjacent track plates do not collide during movement.

[0048] As Figure 6 shown, a lightweight track plate manufacturing process, and the steps of the process are as follows:

[0049] Step 1: The first step in manufacturing the track plate is to strictly screen the raw materials to ensure that the track plate has excellent wear resistance, impact resistance, and fatigue resistance. After the raw materials enter the factory, they need to undergo strict chemical composition analysis and mechanical property tests to ensure compliance with the standards. Subsequently, according to the size and shape requirements of the track plate, the steel plate is cut into blanks using a sawing machine or a shearing machine. In order to eliminate internal stress and improve the cutting performance, the blanks also need to be normalized or annealed. The surface of the pretreated blanks should be flat and smooth, without defects such as cracks and slag inclusions, laying a good foundation for subsequent processing.

[0050] Step 2: Forging is a key process in the manufacture of track shoes, directly affecting their final performance. Heat the pre-treated blank to the forging temperature (about 1100 - 1200 °C), and use forging equipment (such as die forging hammers, presses, etc.) to perform plastic deformation to initially form the shape of the track shoe. During the forging process, it is necessary to strictly control the temperature, deformation amount, and forging ratio to ensure a dense structure and reasonable streamline. After forging, punch holes in the middle part of the plate body 1 to form a hollow groove 8, punch holes on the upper surface of the plate body 1 to form a shock-absorbing cavity 10, trim the two ends of the plate body 1 to form side grooves 2, and drill holes for installing wear-resistant balls 3; remove the excess material and form the basic contour. The preliminarily processed track shoe needs to be inspected by flaw detection to ensure that there are no defects such as cracks and pores inside.

[0051] Step 3: Heat treatment is the core link to improve the performance of track shoes. According to the material and usage requirements, a heat treatment process of quenching + tempering is usually adopted. Heat the preliminarily processed track shoe to the austenitizing temperature (about 850 - 950 °C), keep it warm for a period of time and then quickly cool (such as water quenching, oil quenching, etc.) to obtain a high-hardness martensite structure. Subsequently, perform a tempering treatment to adjust the hardness and toughness, eliminate the quenching stress, and improve the comprehensive mechanical properties. During the heat treatment process, it is necessary to strictly control the heating temperature, holding time, and cooling rate to ensure a uniform structure and stable performance. After heat treatment, the track shoe needs to be tested for hardness and metallographic analysis to ensure that it meets the design requirements.

[0052] Step 4: The heat-treated track shoe needs to be finely processed to achieve precise dimensional and geometric tolerances. Use equipment such as CNC milling machines and lathes to finely mill and turn each surface of the track shoe to ensure the fitting accuracy with components such as chain links and pins. At the same time, perform grinding on key parts such as the meshing surface and guiding surface of the track shoe to improve the surface finish and wear resistance. After fine processing, perform surface treatment on the track shoe, such as shot peening, carburizing, galvanizing, etc., to further improve its wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and fatigue strength. After surface treatment, the track shoe needs to be inspected for appearance and re-measured for dimensions to ensure compliance with the quality standards.

[0053] Step 5: The last step is to conduct a comprehensive quality inspection of the track shoe. This includes appearance inspection, dimensional measurement, hardness testing, flaw detection, metallographic analysis, etc., to ensure that all indicators meet the design requirements and usage standards. For key parts, such as pin holes and meshing surfaces, coordinate measuring machines are required to ensure that the accuracy meets the standards. The qualified track shoes need to be rust-proofed and sprayed with markings (such as model, batch, etc.). Finally, according to the customer's requirements, they are usually packaged in wooden boxes or iron boxes, with shock-absorbing materials filled inside to ensure that they are not damaged during transportation. The packaged track shoes need to be accompanied by documents such as certificates of conformity and inspection reports before they can be delivered from the factory for use.

[0054] In Step 2, the design of the punching area is a crucial link, directly affecting the overall performance of the lightweight track shoe. The punching area should be set to 60 - 80% of the total area of the plate part. This range has been scientifically calculated and verified through practice, which can ensure both lightweight and sufficient structural strength and load-bearing capacity of the track shoe. By reasonably controlling the punching area, the weight of the track shoe can be effectively reduced, the energy consumption during equipment operation can be lowered, and the problem of insufficient structural strength caused by excessive punching can be avoided. In addition, this design can also optimize the stress distribution of the material, enhance the impact resistance and durability of the track shoe, enabling it to maintain stable operation under complex terrains and high-load working conditions. Therefore, a punching area of 60 - 80% is the best choice to achieve the balance between lightweight and strength.

[0055] The upper part of the telescopic plate 12 is made of rubber material, and the lower part is made of aluminum alloy material. This combined design brings multiple benefits to the lightweight track shoe. Firstly, the rubber material has excellent elasticity and shock absorption performance, which can effectively absorb and disperse the impact force from the ground, reduce the direct stress on the overall structure of the track shoe, thereby extending the service life and improving the riding smoothness. Secondly, the aluminum alloy material has the characteristics of high strength, light weight and corrosion resistance. As the lower part of the telescopic plate 12, it can significantly reduce the weight while ensuring the structural strength, further achieving the lightweight goal. In addition, the combination of rubber and aluminum alloy optimizes the comprehensive performance of the telescopic plate 12, making it flexible, durable and stable under complex terrains and high-load working conditions, thus improving the overall efficiency and adaptability of the track shoe.

[0056] As Figure 1 shown, during the working process of the present invention, first, a batch of lightweight track shoes are manufactured through the lightweight track shoe manufacturing process. Then, an appropriate number of lightweight track shoes are selected, and the rotating shaft 7 is installed in the rotating hole 5 so that multiple track shoes are connected end to end to form a ring structure. This ring-structured lightweight track shoe is installed on the machine that needs to be used. During the movement of the machine, the wear-resistant rolling balls 3 can share a part of the frictional force, the telescopic plate 12 is stressed and shrinks, and the shock-absorbing spring 14 is used for shock absorption, thereby improving the passability of the track.

[0057] For those of ordinary skill in the art, various modifications to the present disclosure will be obvious, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be given the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Although one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Lightweight track shoe, characterized in that, It includes a lightweight track shoe, which includes a plate body part (1), a connecting part (4), a rotating hole (5), a connecting notch (6), and a rotating shaft (7); The main body of the lightweight track shoe is set as the plate body part (1), the connecting part (4) is installed on the side surface of the plate body part (1), the rotating hole (5) is opened in the middle of the connecting part (4), the connecting notch (6) is opened on the other side surface of the plate body part (1), and the rotating shaft (7) is installed in the middle of the connecting notch (6).

2. The lightweight crawler plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: Side grooves (2) are opened at the transverse two ends of the plate body part (1), wear-resistant rolling balls (3) are arranged inside the side grooves (2), and the wear-resistant rolling balls (3) roll freely inside the plate body part (1).

3. The lightweight track shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that: A hollow groove (8) is opened in the middle of the plate body part (1), two shock-absorbing cavities (10) are opened on both sides of the hollow groove (8), the shock-absorbing cavities (10) are set as semi-open type, and the openings of the two shock-absorbing cavities (10) face the same direction.

4. The lightweight crawler plate according to claim 3, characterized in that: A limiting ring (11) is arranged on the upper edge of the inner side surface of the shock-absorbing cavity (10), and the limiting ring (11) is set as a square frame shape.

5. The lightweight track shoe according to claim 3, wherein: A telescopic plate (12) is arranged inside the shock-absorbing cavity (10), the lower part of the telescopic plate (12) is set as a protruding shape, anti-slip patterns (13) are arranged on the surface of the telescopic plate (12), and the anti-slip patterns (13) are set as wavy shapes.

6. The lightweight track shoe according to claim 5, characterized in that: A shock-absorbing spring (14) is arranged below the telescopic plate (12), and the shock-absorbing springs (14) are arranged in a rectangular array.

7. The lightweight crawler plate manufacturing process according to claim 5, characterized in that: The upper part of the telescopic plate (12) is made of rubber material, and the lower part of the telescopic plate (12) is made of aluminum alloy material.

8. The lightweight crawler shoe manufacturing process according to claim 1, characterized in that: Arc surfaces (9) are arranged on both sides of the plate body part (1), the arc surfaces (9) are set as semi-circular arcs, and the radian values of the arc surfaces (9) on both sides are the same.

9. A manufacturing process for lightweight track shoes, which is used to cooperate with the lightweight track shoes described in any one of claims 1-8; characterized in that: The steps of the process are as follows: Step 1: Screen raw materials. High-strength alloys are used. After the raw materials enter the factory, strict chemical composition analysis and mechanical property tests are required. According to the size and shape requirements of the track shoe, the steel plate is cut into blanks using a sawing machine or a shearing machine. The blanks also need to be normalized or annealed. The surface of the pre-treated blanks should be flat and smooth, without defects such as cracks and slag inclusions; Step 2: Heat the pre-treated blanks to the forging temperature (about 1100 - 1200 °C), and use forging equipment (such as die forging hammers, presses, etc.) to perform plastic deformation to initially form the shape of the plate body part (1). Punch holes in the middle part of the plate body part (1) to form the hollow groove (8), punch holes in the upper surface of the plate body part (1) to form the shock-absorbing cavities (10), trim the two ends of the plate body part (1) to form the side grooves (2), and drill holes to install the wear-resistant rolling balls (3); Step 3: Adopt a heat treatment process of quenching + tempering. Heat the preliminarily processed track shoe to the austenitizing temperature (about 850 - 950 °C), keep it warm for a period of time and then quickly cool (such as water quenching, oil quenching, etc.), and then perform tempering treatment to adjust the hardness and toughness, eliminate the quenching stress, and improve the comprehensive mechanical properties; Step 4: Use equipment such as CNC milling machines and lathes to perform precision milling and turning on each surface of the track shoe, and perform grinding on key parts such as the meshing surface and guiding surface of the track shoe to improve surface finish and wear resistance. Perform surface treatment on the track shoe, such as shot peening, carburizing, galvanizing, etc.; Step 5: Conduct a comprehensive quality inspection on the track shoe, including appearance inspection, dimension measurement, hardness test, flaw detection, metallographic analysis, etc., to ensure that all indicators meet the design requirements and usage standards. The qualified track shoes need to be subjected to rust prevention treatment and sprayed with markings (such as model, batch, etc.) before they can be delivered for use after leaving the factory.

10. The lightweight crawler plate manufacturing process according to claim 9, characterized in that: The punching area in Step 2 should be set to 60 - 80% of the area of the plate part (1).

Images