Crawler Track Cooling System for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crawler tracks experience excessive wear due to high temperatures during road travel, particularly affecting the running belt, leading to disproportionate wear issues.
Innovation Solution
A crawler track design with a cooling system that applies a liquid cooling fluid to the inside of the running belt using nozzles, combined with a transmission unit featuring a relief surface and air ducts for enhanced heat transfer, allowing for improved thermal energy dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cooling system with nozzles applying liquid cooling fluid is used, then the temperature of the running belt is reduced and wear is decreased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system utilizes the kinetic energy already present in the moving crawler track to atomize the cooling fluid through nozzles positioned at the idler wheels. The system serves itself by using the motion of the track to enhance the cooling effect without requiring additional active components
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system employs liquid cooling fluid delivered through nozzles that atomize the fluid into fine droplets. This hydraulic approach uses fluid dynamics to achieve effective cooling through evaporation and heat transfer to the running belt
2Temperature
If the cooling fluid is atomized using nozzles to form a cooling mist, then the evaporation efficiency increases and cooling effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the cooling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system operates periodically as the crawler track moves, with nozzles at different idler wheels delivering cooling fluid at different positions along the track. This periodic application of cooling fluid along the track length ensures continuous cooling without requiring all nozzles to operate simultaneously at full capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system applies cooling fluid locally at specific positions along the crawler track through nozzles positioned at individual idler wheels. Each nozzle targets a specific section of the running belt, providing localized cooling where it is most needed based on the temperature distribution and wear patterns
3Reliability
If multiple nozzles are arranged at different points on the crawler track, then the running belt can be cooled at multiple locations, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The idler wheels serve multiple functions: they support the running belt, enable its movement, and simultaneously serve as mounting positions for cooling nozzles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate cooling system components and simplifies the overall structure
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 reduces the temperature of the running belt, increasing heat flow and reducing wear compared to prior art designs, thereby extending the service life of the crawler track components.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling fluid evaporating as a result of the increased temperature of the running belt, with evaporation energy being absorbed
Implementation Method 2
an additional removal of thermal energy is made possible, with the cooling fluid evaporating as a result of the increased temperature of the running belt, with evaporation energy being absorbed
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to a tracked undercarriage (1), in particular for an agricultural machine (2), comprising two main wheels (3, 4) arranged one behind the other and opposite each other in the longitudinal direction of the tracked undercarriage (1), at least one running belt (5) spanning the main wheels (3, 4), and at least one cooling system (20), wherein at least one component of the tracked undercarriage (1) can be cooled by means of the cooling system (20). In order to provide a tracked undercarriage with reduced wear compared to known tracked undercarriages, the invention proposes that the cooling system (20) be associated with the running belt (5), wherein the cooling system (20) comprises at least one nozzle (21) by means of which a liquid cooling fluid (26) can be applied to an inner surface (22) of the running belt (5) facing the main wheels (3, 4).