Composite Conveyor Traction Belt for Low-Elongation Force Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction means in combine harvesters, such as steel chains and rubber belts, face issues with high energy consumption, noise, wear, and limited force transmission, leading to reduced service life and increased costs due to elongation and jumping on gearwheels.
Innovation Solution
A traction means featuring embedded tension strands made of high-strength materials like steel, polyester, aramide, or carbon, which transmit forces without significant elongation, integrated into a polyurethane body with strategically placed teeth and passage openings for secure connection, reducing elongation and enhancing power transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If steel chains are used as traction means, then high forces can be transmitted, but weight increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite belt structure combining rubber or polyurethane material with embedded fabric layers (such as polyester or aramide) and tension strands. This composite construction provides high tensile strength for force transmission while maintaining low weight, resolving the contradiction between force transmission capability and weight.
2Force
If steel chains are used as traction means, then high forces can be transmitted, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the metal-to-metal mechanical contact of steel chains with a belt system that uses friction and flexible material contact. The rubber or polyurethane belt material provides quiet operation by eliminating the characteristic noise of steel chain links and sprocket engagement, while still transmitting high forces through the embedded reinforcement layers.
3Weight of moving object
If rubber belts with fabric layers are used as traction means, then weight is reduced, but elongation occurs leading to jumping on gearwheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-layer composite structure with fabric layers (polyester or aramide) embedded in rubber or polyurethane, supplemented by tension strands. The fabric layers provide dimensional stability and resistance to elongation, while the rubber or polyurethane matrix provides flexibility and weight reduction. This composite approach maintains belt length stability even under high strain conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the material parameters by selecting fabric layers with specific tensile properties (aramide or polyester) and controlling the cross-linking density of the rubber or polyurethane matrix. These parameter changes optimize the balance between flexibility and dimensional stability, preventing elongation-induced jumping on drive wheels.
4Force
If steel chains are used as traction means, then high forces can be transmitted, but service life reduces due to wear and elongation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the steel chain-sprocket mechanical system with a belt-drive system using rubber or polyurethane material. This substitution eliminates the wear mechanisms present in steel chains (link wear, pin wear, sprocket tooth wear) and prevents elongation issues, significantly extending service life while maintaining force transmission capability through the embedded fabric and tension strand reinforcement.
Data Source
AI summary
A traction belt (2) for an inclined conveyor (12) of a combine harvester (1), with a traction belt body (20) which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction (X) of the belt (2) and is endlessly closed or designed to be endlessly closable. The traction belt (2) has at least one tension strand (22) which runs in the longitudinal direction (X) is embedded in the traction belt body (20) and is enclosed by the traction belt body (20).