Crawler Chain Tensile Strength via Embedded Fiber Wraps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rubber track chains used in military vehicles are prone to damage from high tensile forces, leading to cracks and potential chain breakage, which compromises vehicle maneuverability due to insufficient tensile strength.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating tension member wraps made of materials like aramid, nylon, glass, or carbon fibers, embedded in a plastic or rubber compound with connecting means, to transfer tensile forces and enhance the tensile stability of the chain links, along with design features such as profiled running surfaces and guide teeth for improved traction and guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If rubber chain links are used to reduce weight, then weight is reduced, but tensile strength is insufficient leading to cracks and chain breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining rubber or plastic as the base material with embedded tension member wraps made of high-strength fibers (aramid, nylon, glass, or carbon fibers). This composite structure allows the chain link to maintain the weight advantages of rubber while incorporating the high tensile strength of fiber materials, resolving the contradiction between low weight and sufficient tensile strength to prevent cracks and chain breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the tension transmission function by introducing separate tension member wraps that are embedded within the rubber or plastic chain link structure. These wraps are positioned at specific locations to handle tensile forces, separating the function of tension resistance from the base material, allowing each component to optimize its specific function while working together as a composite structure.
2Strength
If tension member wraps are embedded in plastic compound, then tensile strength is increased, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tension member wraps with the rubber or plastic compound through embedding during the molding process. By combining these elements into a single integrated structure, the patent reduces the number of separate assembly steps and simplifies manufacturing, while still achieving the enhanced tensile strength that would require multiple separate components if not merged.
Data Source
AI summary
A track chain for tracked vehicles, in particular for military tracked vehicles, having a plurality of chain links which are arranged one behind the other in the chain direction and are pivotably connected to one another, each having two connecting means. At least one connecting means is designed as a tubular bolt receptacle extending transversely to the chain direction for receiving a connecting bolt. There is at least one tension member wrap for transferring tensile forces from one connecting means to the other connecting means.