Endless Track Traction Projections for Rigidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road vehicles equipped with elastomeric endless tracks face challenges in achieving optimal traction and floatation due to issues with longitudinal and transverse flexibility, leading to poor performance on uneven and slippery surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The development of an endless track with elastomeric material and traction projections that include transversal and enlarged protrusions, strategically designed to enhance longitudinal rigidity and control flexion, thereby improving traction and floatation on various terrains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the track's longitudinal flexibility is increased to allow flexing around track-contacting wheels, then the track can bend around wheels, but large deflections occur in gaps between rollers which deteriorates traction and pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The track is segmented into multiple blocks connected by gaps, allowing controlled flexion at gaps while maintaining rigidity within each block. The enlarged protrusions in each block create localized rigid sections that prevent excessive deflection while allowing the overall track to bend around wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the track have different rigidity characteristics. The enlarged protrusions create locally rigid zones within the elastomeric material, providing structural support in critical areas while maintaining flexibility in other regions for wheel engagement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If transversal stiffening rods are added to increase transversal rigidity, then the track maintains shape, but traction on uneven ground deteriorates due to excessive rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The track's transversal rigidity is adjusted by modifying the geometry of protrusions rather than adding stiffening rods. The enlarged protrusions provide sufficient transversal stability while the elastomeric material and gap design allow controlled flexibility for adapting to uneven terrain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the track is made very flexible transversally to improve floatation, then the track adapts to ground contours, but floatation deteriorates due to excessive flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The track exhibits different flexibility characteristics in different directions and regions. The enlarged protrusions provide local rigid support for floatation while the overall track structure maintains sufficient transversal flexibility to conform to ground contours through controlled flexion at gaps between blocks.
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 provides enhanced traction and floatation capabilities by maintaining a smooth shape of the track's bottom run and preventing excessive flexion, ensuring better ground engagement and stability on uneven surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The endless track comprises elastomeric material allowing the endless track to flex around the track-contacting wheels
Implementation Method 2
The enlarged protrusions of the traction projections are dimensioned and disposed relative to one another to enhance a rigidity of a bottom run of the endless track in the longitudinal direction of the endless track
Data Source
AI summary
An endless track for traction of an off-road vehicle, such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or a snowmobile. The endless track comprises an inner side for facing track-contacting wheels around which it is mountable and a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground. The ground-engaging outer side comprises a plurality of traction projections distributed along a longitudinal direction of the endless track. The traction projections may be designed to control rigidity characteristics, such as a longitudinal rigidity and a widthwise rigidity, of the endless track, while maintaining a weight of the endless track relatively low.