Asymmetric Lug Crawler for Rough Ground Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rubber crawlers tend to experience side-slip while maintaining traction performance when driving on rough ground due to their lug configuration.
Innovation Solution
A crawler formed from an elastic material with lugs that alternate in the width direction, extending at specific angles to the peripheral direction, creating a 90-degree or greater angle between tread-in-side wall faces and the outer peripheral face, and a larger angle between kick-out-side wall faces and the outer peripheral face, which enhances traction and resistance to lateral forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If lugs are configured to extend in a straight line along the crawler width direction with larger inclination angles on the opposite side to rotation direction, then traction performance on rough ground is improved, but side-slip occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the lug wall portions with different inclination angles on opposite sides. Specifically, the lug wall portion on the crawler rotation direction side has a smaller inclination angle (5-15 degrees) compared to the opposite side (10-20 degrees), creating an asymmetric structure that generates lateral force components to counteract side-slip while maintaining traction performance on rough ground
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the inclination angles of different lug wall portions according to their specific functional requirements. The tread-in side lug wall has a smaller angle for penetration, while the kick-out side has a larger angle for mud discharge and side-slip prevention, optimizing local characteristics for different operational needs
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses side-slip while maintaining traction performance on rough ground by increasing the force component applied to the soil and improving resistance to lateral forces, ensuring reliable traction and mud discharge.
Implementation Method 1
a crawler body (12) that is formed from an elastic material in an endless shape
Data Source
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AI summary
A rubber crawler having a specified rotation direction includes a crawler body that is formed in an endless shape and includes plural lugs. The plural lugs are provided at the crawler body, project out from an outer peripheral face, as viewed from a crawler outer peripheral side, are allocated to one side and another side in a crawler width direction so as to be alternately disposed on progression along the crawler peripheral direction on each side of a central line passing through a crawler width direction center, and extend at an angle to the crawler peripheral direction from an end portion on the central line side toward a crawler width direction outer side and toward an opposite side to a crawler rotation direction. In a cross-section of the lugs taken along the crawler peripheral direction, an angle formed between each apex side portion of tread-in-side wall faces on the crawler rotation direction side and the outer peripheral face is 90 degrees or greater, and is smaller than an angle θ2 formed between each apex side portion of a kick-out-side wall faces on the opposite side to the crawler rotation direction and the outer peripheral face.