Puller and padding machine for track chains

Abstract

A track chain peeling and padding machine is presented, comprising a base frame, a positioning device and a linear peeling device, characterized in that the base frame is movable along the track chain, the positioning device engages at defined points on the track chain and moves the base frame along the track chain, the linear peeling device is equally suitable for peeling and pushing on the track pads, has an independently movable tongue lifter and loads the track pads from a track pad magazine, and the peeling and padding machine has a track pad magazine.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a stripping and padding machine for track chains, in particular for military tracked vehicles.

[0002] Unlike construction machinery, the tracks of military tracked vehicles must not only provide good traction off-road, but also ensure safe operation on public roads. To minimize damage to conventional asphalt roads during travel, the track links of military tracked vehicles are equipped with track pads. These pads are subject to constant wear and tear and must be replaced regularly.

[0003] Replacing the chain pads is very laborious, on the one hand because of the high number per vehicle and, on the other hand, because of the precisely fitting connection, which must withstand the high acceleration and transmission forces.

[0004] Therefore, various devices are known from the state of the art that make changing the chain pads easier.

[0005] From European patent EP 2 957 487 B1, a repair device for a vehicle track is known, comprising a chassis supporting a movable reel with a rotation axis, and comprising a drum designed to wind and unwind the track around the rotation axis of the movable reel thanks to a first drive, wherein the movable reel comprises a plate designed to guide the track and to hold it by resting the section of the track against the plate, wherein the plate supporting the reel is mounted relative to the chassis on joints whose axis (referred to as the transverse return axis) is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the reel, wherein a second drive allows the plate to pivot about the transverse return axis to make the rotation axis of the movable reel extend between a horizontal position and a vertical position, characterized in thatthat the chassis comprises rollers designed to enable the movement of the repair device.,

[0006] The disadvantage of this invention is that the roller chain must first be wound onto a spool before being pivoted and subsequently repaired. The drum could be dispensed with if the roller chain could be serviced in its intended horizontal position.

[0007] For example, European Patent Application EP 3 388 200 A1 discloses a chain repair device for processing track chains, comprising a passive upper roller conveyor and a passive lower roller conveyor arranged underneath, a first deflection device for deflecting the track chain from the lower roller conveyor to the upper roller conveyor and vice versa with an associated drive unit, a second deflection device for deflecting the track chain from the upper roller conveyor to the lower roller conveyor and vice versa with an associated drive unit, a feed and discharge area for the track chain extending the lower roller conveyor and having an associated drive unit, wherein the upper and lower roller conveyors with the deflection devices are designed to form a track chain conveying circuit and that at least one work station for assembling and disassembling components of the track chain is arranged within the track chain conveying circuit.

[0008] The disadvantage of this invention is that the roller conveyor is divided into two levels and a complex deflection of the track chain is necessary.

[0009] Another useful device is known from published patent application DE 103 12 293 A1. In a method for removing track pads from a track, particularly from tracked vehicles, the track pad engages behind a stop with a spring tongue and is guided in lateral grooves, and a push arm engages over and behind the track pad. The push arm is to be actuated, and by actuating the push arm, a chisel is to be guided under the spring tongue, which unlocks the spring tongue, so that by further actuation of the push arm, the track pad is pushed out, guided in the lateral grooves.

[0010] For the direct removal of worn chain pads, a device for removing the chain pads of a track chain is also known from the utility model DE 20 2009 002 521 U1, comprising a frame for enclosing a chain pad in a track chain made of two parallel guide rods on each side of the chain pad, held at the front ends of the guide rods by a crossbar with contact means on a front edge of the chain pad and at the rear ends of the guide rods by a transverse support plate, a carriage guided on the guide rods for support, in particular on an edge of the track chain, and pressure means for bringing about a relative movement between the carriage and the guide rods from their front to the rear ends.

[0011] The disadvantage of both of the above solutions is that they only describe one step in the repair of a roller chain and do not provide any information on an automatic repair device.

[0012] Based on the repair device for a vehicle track chain of the European patent EP 2 957 487 B1, the object of the invention is to propose a stripping and padding machine that is portable and carries out all the work steps for renewing chain pads.

[0013] This object is achieved by the characterizing features of the main claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0014] The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the base frame has a surface area of ​​only approximately 1200 mm x 1600 mm, and the stripping and upholstering machine weighs only 2500 kg. The base frame features both attachment points for suspension devices and pockets for forklift forks.

[0015] The puller is designed to simultaneously pull two opposing chain pads outward and push two chain pads in at a time. This achieves a high degree of speed, eliminating the need to rotate the puller and padding machine or the track. Furthermore, the puller can be moved vertically relative to the base frame to raise or lower the chain pads during the puller or padding process.

[0016] A further advantage of the invention is that the heavy, articulated, and thus difficult-to-manipulate track is laid out, and the track stripping and cushioning machine is moved along the laid out track. The base frame has rollers or wheels. A walking or sliding system without wheels is also conceivable. This solution renders existing spools and deflection devices obsolete.

[0017] Due to its repeating design, the designed track offers a good option for positioning the screeding and cushioning machine for tracks. This suitability is utilized according to the invention by the positioning device engaging at defined points on the track and moving the base frame along the track. The mechanical connection of all components of the screeding and cushioning machine allows for simple and precise positioning due to the precise position of the positioning device compared to constantly recurring components of the track. At the same time, the feed of the screeding and cushioning machine is implemented in a simple manner by the positioning device engaging in the track and its drive.

[0018] To increase the process speed and enable continuous operation, a supply of new chain pads is also provided in a magazine. Removal is carried out automatically by the removal device. The magazine has the advantage of forming a buffer into which chain pads can be reloaded independently of the process.

[0019] A particularly advantageous embodiment is described in subclaim 2. A rail system serves, on the one hand, to ensure easy and trouble-free movement of the base frame and, on the other hand, to center the tracks. For this purpose, recesses are provided in the center of the rail system for simplicity, into which the center guide tooth of the track is inserted, thus centering the track on the rail system.

[0020] The evenly spaced components, such as guide teeth, center connectors, or end connectors, are ideal for enabling tight-tolerance positioning. A stepped movement of the squeezing and cushioning machine across the track chain can also be advantageously achieved by the positioning device engaging the constantly repeated components in the track chain structure, such as guide teeth, center connectors, or end connectors. The step length of the positioning device only needs to be slightly longer than the spacing of identical components on the track in order to be able to engage from assembly to assembly and pull the squeezing and cushioning machine across the track and position it at the intended assembly location.

[0021] A modern main battle tank's track requires more than 160 track pads. The pads are approximately 80 mm high, meaning a single magazine would be over 12 m high. Such an arrangement is unacceptable for a mobile machine. Advantageously, the magazine according to the invention is divided between the two sides of the track and arranged in a battery, one behind the other. Each individual slot can accommodate up to 15 track pads, so the required overall height is only approximately 1.2 m.

[0022] In addition, the chain pads are thicker on one side due to their locking spring. The change in cross-section is accommodated by the slightly curved design of the magazines.

[0023] The following functional sequence is described for better understanding. To replace worn track pads on the track of a tracked vehicle, a rail system is first laid out on a flat surface. The surface must be at least as long as the opened, laid out track, and the rail system must also be of a corresponding length. The track is placed in the rail system by positively inserting the middle guide tooth of each track link into a recess in the rail system. The track pads then point upwards. The stripping and padding machine is positioned onto the rail system via the track. Positioning is achieved by lifting the track out of the rail system and inserting it into the stripping and padding machine. As the process progresses, the raised end is placed back in the rail system after processing.The stripping and padding machine has a base frame to which the positioning device, the stripping device and the padding magazine, as well as all cover elements and the power supply device are directly or indirectly attached. The positioning device is positioned in, on or between continuously repeating components in the track structure, such as guide teeth, center connectors or end connectors. The padding magazine is equipped with chain pads, the number of which corresponds to the chain pad requirements for a track. The stripping and padding machine is started and automatically, with the help of the stripping device, at least one chain pad, preferably one chain pad per track side, is stripped. If necessary, the stripping device can be moved vertically in the base frame. The worn chain pad is dropped from the stripping device and caught or placed on the floor.A new chain pad is loaded into the positioning device from the magazine. The chain pad is inserted into the track with a counterstroke. The chain pads are automatically locked into the track by mechanical pretension. The counterstroke is advantageously generated simultaneously from two opposite sides of the track to largely compensate for any frictional forces that may occur. The positioning device engages in, on, or between the next component and positions the stripping and padding machine over the next chain pad. This process is repeated until all chain pads have been replaced. The process can be automatic or manually controlled.

[0024] During the process, the chain pads are mechanically tensioned in the puller during the pull-off and counter-stroke, and the magazine is monitored by proximity switches to detect malfunctions at an early stage. It shows Fig. 1 a three-dimensional representation of a stripping and cushioning machine for track chains according to the invention. It shows Fig. 2 a section of a stripping and cushioning machine for track chains according to the invention in three-dimensional representation.

[0025] It shows Fig. 1 a pull-off and cushioning machine 1 for track chains. Part of the machine is a rail system 2 with recesses 3 for guide teeth. A base frame 4 is mounted on the rail system 2. A positioning device 5 is attached to the base frame 4, which moves and positions the pull-off and cushioning machine 1 along the inserted track chain using engagement elements 6 and a first linear cylinder 7. A pull-off device 8 is suspended vertically in the base frame 4. Positioned above the pull-off device 8 are curved cushioning magazines 9 with six shafts 10 for the track cushions, each for one side of the track chain. The cushioning magazines are movable on a base plate 11 in order to position the shafts with the track cushions above the pull-off device. To provide the drive power, an electro-hydraulic energy and control unit 12 is also attached to the base frame.

[0026] It shows Fig.2 shows a section of a pull-off and padding machine 1 for track chains. It shows a rail system 2, a base frame 4, and parts of the magazines 9. Below the base plate 11, a loading device 13 is shown for loading the pull-off device 8 with new chain pads. The loading device 13 transfers the chain pads to a frame 14 with clamping jaws 15, which is linearly movable by a second linear cylinder 16. A third linear cylinder 17 is arranged below the second linear cylinder 16, which operates a tongue lifter 18 for unlocking the chain pads. The pull-off device 8 is constructed in a mirror image along the longitudinal axis of the rail system 2 in order to allow two chain pads to be changed simultaneously. List of reference symbols 1 stripping and upholstering machine 2 rail system 3 recesses 4 base frames 5 Positioning device 6 engagement elements 7 First linear cylinder 8 Puller 9 curved padded magazines 10 shafts 11 Base plate 12 electro-hydraulic energy and control unit 13 Loading device 14 frames 15 clamping jaws 16 second linear cylinder 17 third linear cylinder 18 tongue elevators

Claims

[1] Pulling and cushioning machine (1) for track chains with chain cushions, comprising a base frame (4), a positioning device (5) and a pulling device (8), characterized by , that - the base frame (4) can be moved along the track, - the positioning device (5) o intervenes at defined points on the track chain and o moves the base frame (4) along the track, - the puller (8) o is equally suitable for removing and sliding the chain pads, o has an independently movable tongue lifter (18) and loads the chain cushions from a chain cushion magazine, and - the stripping and padding machine has the chain padding magazine. [2] Stripping and padding machine according to claim 1, characterized by that the base frame (4) can be moved on a rail system (2) along the track chain, [3] Stripping and padding machine according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized by that the positioning device (5) engages the middle or end connectors of the track chain. [4] Stripping and padding machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the track pad magazine holds the track pads for one track. [5] Stripping and padding machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the chain cushion magazine is divided into several movable shafts (10).

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