Elastic Crawler Groove Segmentation Reduces Bending Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elastic crawlers used in agricultural machinery and other traveling equipment experience high bending resistance in the circumferential direction, leading to increased fuel consumption and reduced ride comfort due to vertical vibrations caused by track rollers sinking in low-rigidity areas between cores.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an endless elastic body with metal cores and protrusions, lugs on the outer side, and grooves on the inner surface, positioned to reduce bending resistance by minimizing the difference in rigidity between core and non-core areas, thereby reducing vertical vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a groove (partitioning groove) is provided on the crawler inner circumferential surface between cores, then the bending resistance in the crawler circumferential direction is reduced, but the rigidity in the crawler thickness direction at the area between cores becomes significantly lower, causing track rollers to sink and vibrate vertically
Solution Approach 1:
The core is divided into a core body and a pair of protrusions, where the core body extends in the crawler width direction and the protrusions extend towards the crawler inner circumferential side. This segmentation allows the core to provide structural support (maintaining rigidity) while the spaces between protrusions allow elastic material to reduce bending resistance. The groove is positioned outward from the protrusions, further separating the functions of support and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the crawler are given different properties: the core body and protrusions provide local rigidity where needed, while the elastic body material in the grooves and between protrusions provides local flexibility to reduce bending resistance. The groove positioning outward from the protrusions creates localized zones of varying rigidity that optimize both support and flexibility requirements.
2Strength
If the groove is eliminated to increase rigidity between cores, then vertical vibration is suppressed, but the bending resistance in the crawler circumferential direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The core is segmented into a core body and protrusions, with the groove positioned outward from the protrusions. This segmentation allows the core structure to provide rigidity through its solid portions while the grooves and elastic material between protrusions provide pathways for reducing bending resistance, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is positioned in the crawler width direction outward from the protrusions, rather than between cores in the circumferential direction. This dimensional repositioning allows the groove to reduce bending resistance without directly compromising the rigidity-providing core structure, as the groove is laterally offset from the main core support elements.
3Force
If lugs are disposed to avoid the crawler circumferential direction area corresponding to the core, then the bending resistance is further reduced, but the structural support from lugs in those areas is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The core is segmented into a core body and protrusions, with the groove positioned outward from the protrusions. This segmentation allows the core structure to provide rigidity through its solid portions while the grooves and elastic material between protrusions provide pathways for reducing bending resistance, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body material acts as an intermediary between the core structure and the external environment. It provides the necessary flexibility to reduce bending resistance while the core structure provides rigid support. The lugs positioned to avoid the core area further mediate between ground contact requirements and the need to minimize bending resistance.
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
This configuration effectively reduces bending resistance and vertical vibrations, enhancing fuel efficiency and ride comfort while maintaining the benefits of reduced bending resistance in the circumferential direction.
Implementation Method 1
an endless elastic body; a plurality of cores embedded in the elastic body
Implementation Method 2
each of the grooves being recessed relative to crawler inner circumferential surface portions adjacent to the groove on both sides in the crawler circumferential direction
Data Source
AI summary
An elastic crawler includes an endless elastic body; cores that each include a core body and a pair of protrusions; lugs, on the outer circumferential side of the elastic body, each disposed so as to avoid a crawler circumferential direction area corresponding to at least a portion of the core in the crawler circumferential direction; and grooves, on the crawler inner circumferential surface, each positioned outward in the crawler width direction from the pair of protrusions in a crawler circumferential direction area corresponding to the core, each of the grooves being recessed relative to crawler inner circumferential surface portions adjacent to the groove on both sides in the crawler circumferential direction.