Annular Support Structure for Track Vehicle Load Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track vehicle support structures lack durability and efficiency in distributing loads and stress, leading to potential failure under heavy use.
Innovation Solution
An annular support structure comprising a hub, web, and outer body portions formed from a single unitary piece of material, with specific geometrical features such as protrusions and concave surfaces to reduce stress concentrations and enhance structural integrity, connected via inner and outer joints for improved load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used to form the support structure, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability and structural integrity deteriorate due to stress concentrations at joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (hub portions, webs, outer body portions) into a single unitary support structure formed from one piece of material. This eliminates the joints between components that create stress concentrations, thereby improving reliability and structural integrity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through single-piece forming processes.
2Reliability
If a unitary single-piece structure is used, then reliability and stress distribution are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation in reverse by designing a unitary structure that integrates functions of multiple components (hub, webs, outer body) into one piece. The segmented features (multiple hub portions, spaced webs, outer body portions) are all formed from a single material piece, achieving stress distribution benefits without the complexity of assembling multiple separate components.
3Ease of operation
If traditional multi-component support structures are used, then ease of assembly is improved, but durability and load distribution efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components into a single unitary structure that is installed as one piece, eliminating the need for assembly of multiple parts. This single-piece installation maintains ease of operation while dramatically improving durability by eliminating stress concentrations at joints and ensuring efficient load distribution throughout the structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An annular support structure for a track vehicle is disclosed herein. The annular support structure includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece includes a first hub portion, a first web extending radially outward from the first hub portion, and a first outer body extending radially outward from the first web. The second piece includes a second hub portion, a second web extending radially outward from the second hub portion, and a second outer body extending radially outward from the second web. The first piece and the second piece joined together at an inner joint located proximate to the first hub portion and the second hub portion and the first piece and the second piece adjacent to each other at an outer joint located proximate to the first outer body and the second outer body.