Drive Sprocket With Integrated Flanges For Rubber Track
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact track loaders experience high levels of vibrations and noise due to the interaction between the metal insert and drive sprocket, leading to increased wear and detracking issues, particularly exacerbated by the smaller size and triangular arrangement of rolling elements, which results in reduced winding arc and engaged teeth, and pretensioning causes inefficiency and high contact forces.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a drive sprocket with dual-flange idler wheels functionality, where the gear is coupled with disks on either side, allowing the damping effect of the rubber belt to reduce forces between the toothing and metal insert, and distributing pretensioning forces across the rubber belt, thereby alleviating stress on individual teeth and reducing noise and vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the drive sprocket uses a smaller diameter with fewer teeth, then the vehicle size is reduced and maneuverability is improved, but the winding arc and engaged teeth are reduced leading to increased vibrations and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drive sprocket and idler wheel into a single integrated component. The drive sprocket includes a central toothing portion for meshing with the metal insert and lateral flanges extending from opposite sides of the central portion that act as idler wheels. This integration allows the same component to provide both drive function and tracking stabilization, reducing vibrations and noise while maintaining compact size.
2Power
If the metal insert directly meshes with the drive sprocket teeth, then power transmission is efficient, but high contact forces cause increased wear and detracking issues
Solution Approach 1:
The drive sprocket is segmented into distinct functional portions: a central toothing portion for power transmission and lateral flanges for tracking support. The central toothing portion engages the metal insert for efficient power transmission, while the lateral flanges provide additional contact surfaces that distribute pretensioning forces and stabilize the rubber belt, preventing detracking and reducing wear on individual teeth.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If dual-flange idler wheels are used to reduce vibrations and noise, then harmful factors are reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using separate dual-flange idler wheels in addition to the drive sprocket, the patent combines both functions into a single integrated drive sprocket component. The lateral flanges extend from the central toothing portion and perform the vibration-reducing function of idler wheels while the central portion provides drive functionality, eliminating the need for additional separate components.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the rubber belt is pretensioned to prevent detracking, then tracking stability is improved, but contact forces between the rubber belt and drive sprocket increase leading to higher wear and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The drive sprocket segments the force distribution function by providing both central toothing for drive engagement and lateral flanges for tracking support. The lateral flanges specifically handle the pretensioning forces, distributing them across broader contact areas, which reduces the contact forces on the drive teeth and consequently reduces wear and noise while maintaining tracking stability.
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 wear on wheels, noise levels, and vibrations by utilizing the rubber belt's damping effect and distributing pretensioning forces, enhancing the overall operational efficiency and durability of the track-type vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
The rubber compound obviously also has the function of a damping element
Implementation Method 2
a rubber compound
Data Source
AI summary
An undercarriage assembly for a track-type vehicle is described. The assembly comprises at least one closed-ring rubber belt, internally provided with a continuous insert made of a plurality of metal elements embedded in the rubber mass that constitutes the rubber belt. The metal elements are positioned at a fixed and predetermined distance apart from one another, which determines the pitch of the rubber belt. The rubber belt further encloses therein one or more reinforcing elements, each consisting of a metal wire bundle oriented according to an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal development central axis of the rubber belt. The assembly also comprises a plurality of rolling elements of each rubber belt, consisting of at least one drive sprocket, configured to mesh with the metal elements of the continuous insert and to rotationally move the respective rubber belt, of at least one idler wheel and of a plurality of rollers. Each drive sprocket consists of a gear integral with at least one disk arranged on a plane parallel to the development plane of the gear. An annular groove is interposed between the gear and each disk and each disk is provided with a smooth circumferential surface that engages with a predefined portion of the inner surface of the rubber belt, so as to absorb one part of the contacting forces that are generated between the rubber belt and the entire plurality of rolling elements of the rubber belt.