Steering mechanism of crawler

Abstract

The invention discloses a steering mechanism of a crawler. Comprising a shell, a driven bevel gear shaft, a driven bevel gear, output half shafts, output gears arranged on the output half shafts, planetary steering mechanisms arranged on the two output half shafts correspondingly, an input shaft assembly, a first auxiliary power shaft, an auxiliary power flow gear arranged on the first auxiliary power shaft and a first auxiliary power flow bevel gear. The first auxiliary power shaft is arranged on the input shaft assembly, the second auxiliary power shaft is perpendicular to the first auxiliary power shaft, the second auxiliary power flow bevel gear is arranged on the second auxiliary power shaft, the hydraulic motor is coaxially connected with the second auxiliary power shaft, the driven bevel gear is in meshed connection with an input bevel gear of the input shaft assembly, and the output gear is in meshed connection with the auxiliary power flow gear. The first auxiliary power flow bevel gear is in meshed connection with the second auxiliary power flow bevel gear; main power flow and auxiliary power flow are adopted at the same time, and the functions of steering and zero-position steering of the tracked vehicle during advancing can be achieved through the hydraulic motor and differential speed or forward and reverse rotation of the tracks on the two sides.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of track vehicle steering machines, and particularly to a track vehicle steering mechanism. Background Art

[0002] Tracked vehicles are widely used in the military, engineering, and special transportation fields due to their low ground pressure and strong off-road capabilities. Different from traditional wheeled vehicles, tracked vehicles need to achieve steering through the speed difference between the two tracks on both sides, and their steering performance directly affects mobility, stability, and energy consumption efficiency. In actual working conditions, vehicles need to meet three typical steering requirements:

[0003] Steering while moving: While maintaining continuous power output, dynamically adjust the speed ratio of the two tracks on both sides (such as avoiding obstacles during high-speed driving); zero-position steering (central steering): Rotate in place with the geometric center of the vehicle body as the axis, which is suitable for quickly adjusting the direction in a narrow space; small-radius steering: Achieve the minimum turning radius at low speed or in complex terrains to reduce steering slip loss.

[0004] Traditional Steering Technologies and Their Limitations

[0005] Existing technologies mainly achieve tracked vehicle steering through mechanical, hydraulic, or electric drive solutions, but all have significant defects:

[0006] Clutch-brake steering system: During steering, the power is interrupted, resulting in a sudden drop in vehicle speed and poor stability; the braking energy is dissipated in the form of heat, with low efficiency; it cannot achieve zero-position steering and continuous speed ratio adjustment, and is only suitable for low-speed and light-load scenarios.

[0007] Planetary differential steering system: Principle: Use a planetary gear set to distribute the torque on both sides and adjust the speed ratio through a differential. Defects: The structure is complex, the planetary row needs to bear high loads, and the reliability is low; the speed ratio adjustment range is limited, and an additional locking mechanism is required for zero-position steering; there is a power cycle during the steering process, and the transmission efficiency drops by 10%-30%.

[0008] Double-flow hydraulic-mechanical compound steering system: Principle: Combine the mechanical straight-ahead and hydraulic steering circuits, and adjust the speed of the outer track through a hydraulic motor. Defects: The hydraulic system has a response delay (>200ms), and the high-speed steering accuracy is insufficient; zero-position steering requires reverse driving of the hydraulic motors on both sides, resulting in a sharp increase in power demand; the system has a large volume, high energy consumption, and it is difficult to adapt to compact vehicles.

[0009] Existing technologies generally have problems such as power interruption, efficiency loss, difficulty in achieving zero-position steering, and insufficient dynamic response, and it is difficult to meet the requirements of modern tracked vehicles for high mobility, high energy efficiency, and full-condition adaptability. There is an urgent need for a new type of steering mechanism that can seamlessly switch between mechanical and hydraulic / electric drive modes, while achieving precise speed ratio control and energy optimization management. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a steering mechanism for a crawler vehicle, which realizes the functions of in-motion steering and zero-position steering of the crawler vehicle through a hydraulic motor and differential speed or forward and reverse rotation of the two crawlers.

[0011] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0012] A steering mechanism for a crawler vehicle, comprising a housing, a driven bevel gear shaft arranged in the housing, a driven bevel gear arranged on the driven bevel gear shaft, output half shafts arranged on both sides of the driven bevel gear shaft and coaxially connected to the driven bevel gear shaft, output gears arranged on the output half shafts, planetary steering mechanisms respectively arranged on the two output half shafts, an input shaft assembly, a first auxiliary power shaft, an auxiliary power flow gear and a first auxiliary power flow bevel gear arranged on the first auxiliary power shaft, a second auxiliary power shaft perpendicular to the first auxiliary power shaft, a second auxiliary power flow bevel gear arranged on the second auxiliary power shaft, and a hydraulic motor coaxially connected to the second auxiliary power shaft. The driven bevel gear is meshed and connected with an input bevel gear of the input shaft assembly, the output gear is meshed and connected with the auxiliary power flow gear, and the first auxiliary power flow bevel gear is meshed and connected with the second auxiliary power flow bevel gear.

[0013] Preferably, the driven bevel gear is arranged between the two planetary steering assemblies.

[0014] Preferably, two first auxiliary power shafts are provided and are respectively arranged on both sides of the second auxiliary power shaft.

[0015] Preferably, the planetary steering mechanism includes a ring gear fixing frame, a ring gear fixing frame connecting shaft, a sun gear, a planetary gear, a ring gear, a planetary shaft, a planet carrier and a planet carrier half shaft. The sun gear is key-connected to the driving rear axle as a power input end. A planetary gear is meshed between the sun gear and the ring gear. The sun gear and the planetary gear are limited by the planetary shaft, the planet carrier and the planet carrier half shaft. The planet carrier half shaft is key-connected to the driving wheel as a power output end. The ring gear is limited by the ring gear fixing frame and the ring gear fixing frame connecting shaft. The ring gear fixing frame connecting shaft is key-connected to a large gear as another power input end.

[0016] The present invention has achieved the following technical effects compared with the prior art:

[0017] The present invention simultaneously adopts a main power flow and an auxiliary power flow, enhances the stability and reliability of transmission, improves the load-bearing capacity, has a compact structure, high space utilization rate, good balance, improves the transmission efficiency, adapts to multi-directional force impacts, enhances the service life of components, and realizes in-motion steering and zero-position steering of the vehicle through hydraulic motor drive. The above components are all placed in the steering gear housing, and the in-motion steering and zero-position steering of the vehicle can be realized through the hydraulic motor. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention showing the input shaft assembly and the driven bevel gear shaft;

[0021] Figure 3 is a front structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 is a rear structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0023] Among them, 1, output half shaft; 2, planetary steering mechanism; 3, driven bevel gear shaft; 4, input shaft assembly; 5, auxiliary power flow gear; 6, first auxiliary power shaft; 7, first auxiliary power flow bevel gear; 8, second auxiliary power flow bevel gear; 9, hydraulic motor. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0024] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] The object of the present invention is to provide a steering mechanism for a tracked vehicle, which realizes the functions of in-motion steering and zero-position steering of the tracked vehicle through a hydraulic motor and differential speed or forward and reverse rotation of the two tracks.

[0026] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0027] Reference Figures 1 to 4, a steering mechanism for a crawler vehicle, comprising a housing, a passive bevel gear shaft disposed within the housing, a passive bevel gear disposed on the passive bevel gear shaft, output half shafts disposed on both sides of the passive bevel gear shaft and coaxially connected to the passive bevel gear shaft, output gears disposed on the output half shafts, planetary steering mechanisms respectively disposed on the two output half shafts, an input shaft assembly, a first auxiliary power shaft, an auxiliary power flow gear and a first auxiliary power flow bevel gear disposed on the first auxiliary power shaft, a second auxiliary power shaft perpendicular to the first auxiliary power shaft, a second auxiliary power flow bevel gear disposed on the second auxiliary power shaft, and a hydraulic motor coaxially connected to the second auxiliary power shaft. The passive bevel gear is meshed and connected to the input bevel gear of the input shaft assembly, the output gear is meshed and connected to the auxiliary power flow gear, and the first auxiliary power flow bevel gear is meshed and connected to the second auxiliary power flow bevel gear. The present invention simultaneously adopts a main power flow and an auxiliary power flow, and can realize the functions of in-motion steering and zero-position steering of the crawler vehicle through the hydraulic motor and the differential speed or forward and reverse rotation of the two tracks.

[0028] Reference Figures 1 to 2 , the passive bevel gear is disposed between the two planetary steering assemblies.

[0029] Reference Figures 1 to 2 , two first auxiliary power shafts are provided and are respectively arranged on both sides of the second auxiliary power shaft.

[0030] Further, the planetary steering mechanism includes a ring gear fixing bracket, a ring gear fixing bracket connecting shaft, a sun gear, planet gears, a ring gear, a planetary shaft, a planet carrier, and a planet carrier half shaft. The sun gear, as a power input end, is key-connected to the drive rear axle. Planet gears are meshed between the sun gear and the ring gear. The sun gear and the planet gears are limited by the planetary shaft, the planet carrier, and the planet carrier half shaft. The planet carrier half shaft, as a power output end, is key-connected to the drive wheel. The ring gear is limited by the ring gear fixing bracket and the ring gear fixing bracket connecting shaft. The ring gear fixing bracket connecting shaft, as another power input end, is key-connected to a large gear.

[0031] The operation mode of the present invention is as follows:

[0032] When the vehicle is traveling in a straight line, the input shaft assembly transmits the engine power to the passive bevel gear shaft, the passive bevel gear shaft transmits the power to the planetary steering mechanism, and then the planetary steering mechanism transmits the power to the wheels on both sides.

[0033] When zero-position steering is performed, the engine has no power output. The power output by the hydraulic motor is transmitted to the second auxiliary power flow bevel gear, which transmits the power to the first auxiliary power flow bevel gear. The first auxiliary power flow bevel gear then transmits the power to the first auxiliary power shaft, which transmits the power to the auxiliary power flow gear. The auxiliary power flow gear transmits the power to the planetary steering mechanism, which then transmits the power to the output half shaft. The output half shaft then transmits the power to the wheels, enabling the two wheels to rotate in different directions to achieve zero-position steering.

[0034] The principle of in-motion steering is the same as that of zero-position steering. The difference is that at this time, the engine outputs power. By achieving different rotational speeds of the two planetary steering mechanisms, a rotational speed difference appears between the two wheels, and finally in-motion steering is achieved.

[0035] In the present invention, specific examples are used to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering mechanism for a crawler vehicle, characterized in that, It includes a housing, a passive bevel gear shaft disposed within the housing, a passive bevel gear disposed on the passive bevel gear shaft, output half shafts disposed on both sides of the passive bevel gear shaft and coaxially connected to the passive bevel gear shaft, output gears disposed on the output half shafts, planetary steering mechanisms respectively disposed on the two output half shafts, an input shaft assembly, a first auxiliary power shaft, an auxiliary power flow gear and a first auxiliary power flow bevel gear disposed on the first auxiliary power shaft, a second auxiliary power shaft perpendicular to the first auxiliary power shaft, a second auxiliary power flow bevel gear disposed on the second auxiliary power shaft, and a hydraulic motor coaxially connected to the second auxiliary power shaft. The passive bevel gear is meshed and connected with an input bevel gear of the input shaft assembly. The output gear is meshed and connected with the auxiliary power flow gear. The first auxiliary power flow bevel gear is meshed and connected with the second auxiliary power flow bevel gear.

2. The crawler vehicle steering machine according to claim 1, wherein The passive bevel gear is disposed between the two planetary steering assemblies.

3. The steering gear of the crawler vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two first auxiliary power shafts are provided and are respectively arranged on both sides of the second auxiliary power shaft.

4. The steering gear for a crawler vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The planetary steering mechanism includes a ring gear fixing frame, a ring gear fixing frame connecting shaft, a sun gear, planet gears, a ring gear, planet shafts, a planet carrier and a planet carrier half shaft. The sun gear is key-connected to the drive rear axle as a power input end. Planet gears are meshed between the sun gear and the ring gear. The sun gear and the planet gears are limited by the planet shafts, the planet carrier and the planet carrier half shaft. The planet carrier half shaft is key-connected to the drive wheel as a power output end. The ring gear is limited by the ring gear fixing frame and the ring gear fixing frame connecting shaft. The ring gear fixing frame connecting shaft is key-connected to a large gear as another power input end.

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