Elastomer-Covered Crawler Track Links for Sleeper Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track laying and renovation technologies face challenges in protecting sleepers during rail renewal operations due to differing lifespans of rails and sleepers, leading to complex and maintenance-intensive protective solutions.
Innovation Solution
A track link for a support trolley featuring a one-piece metal part with elastomeric material covering its opposite face, providing continuous protection and improved contact surface with sleepers, and an articulated assembly of such links forming a track with interlaced fingers and hinges for enhanced stability and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective rubber band is used to surround the track, then sleeper protection is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is merged with the track structure itself. The elastomeric material is integrated into the link components that form the track, eliminating the need for a separate protective rubber band. The track links have elastomeric material on their lower surfaces, providing protection while maintaining structural integrity and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The track structure provides its own protective function through the elastomeric material integrated into the links. The overlapping elastomeric surfaces of adjacent links automatically create continuous protection without requiring additional protective components or complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective rubber band is used to surround the track, then sleeper protection is improved, but maintenance frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is combined with the load-bearing track structure. The elastomeric material is part of the link components themselves, so protection and structural function are unified. This eliminates the need for separate protective bands that would require independent maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlapping elastomeric material on adjacent links creates continuous protection along the entire track. This continuous protective layer maintains constant contact with the sleepers, ensuring ongoing protection without gaps or discontinuities that would require frequent maintenance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If elastomeric material covers the entire opposite face including central portion and fingers, then sleeper protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric material coverage is segmented into functional zones: the central portion provides primary protection, while the fingers provide additional protection at articulation points. This segmentation allows the elastomeric material to be applied in manageable sections that correspond to the underlying metal structure, simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material is applied to specific locations on the link where protection is most needed - the central portion that contacts the sleeper body and the fingers that contact sleeper edges. This localized application approach reduces manufacturing complexity compared to covering the entire surface uniformly.
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 ensures reliable and simplified protection of sleepers by maximizing contact surface and resistance to environmental degradation, reducing maintenance needs and improving the reliability of track laying or renovation machines.
Implementation Method 1
the opposite face being covered with a layer of elastomeric material covering the central portion and at least part of each of the fingers of the two end portions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a link (10) for a crawler track (100) for a support carriage (1) of a machine for laying or renovating a railway line, comprising a one-piece metal part (11) defining two axes of articulation (A1, A2) that are parallel to and spaced apart from one another, the one-piece metal part (11) having a central portion (12) located between the two axes of articulation (A1, A2) and two opposing end portions (13, 14) on either side of the central portion (12), each of the end portions (13, 14) being associated with one of the two axes of articulation (A1, A2) and comprising a plurality of parallel fingers (15) which are separated in pairs by finger-free spaces (16) and through which holes (17) pass, which holes are aligned along the associated axis of articulation (A1, A2), the one-piece metal part (11) comprising a rolling surface (18) located on one side of a geometric reference plane (P) that contains the two axes of articulation (A1, A2) and a surface (19) opposite to the rolling surface (18), located on another side of the geometric reference plane (P), the opposing surface (19) being covered with a layer of elastomeric material (20) that covers the central portion (12) and at least part of each of the fingers (15) of the two end portions (13, 14).