Flat Grouser Chain Track With Narrow Shoe Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chain tracks for forest machines have grouser shoes that are not perfectly flat, leading to uneven ground contact, increased soil penetration, and higher rolling resistance, causing terrain damage and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
Designing a chain track with grouser shoes that have a flat contact surface and a small gap (20 mm or less) between them, ensuring even surface pressure distribution and preventing soil passage, which reduces sinking and rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the grouser shoe is shaped according to the tyre profile, then the chain track adapts to the tyre shape, but the centre line sinks deeper into ground than the edge, causing uneven ground contact
Solution Approach 1:
The grouser shoe is designed with different geometries for different parts: the contact surface with the ground is made entirely flat, while the contact surface with the tyre can be shaped to adapt to the tyre profile. This local differentiation allows the shoe to simultaneously achieve even ground contact and proper tyre adaptation.
2Device complexity
If the gap between grouser shoes is larger, then the chain track is more flexible, but soil can pass through the gap and break the ground surface
Solution Approach 1:
The end of the grouser shoe is bent towards the tyre, creating a curved or hooked shape that helps close the gap between successive shoes. This curvature allows the shoes to interlock more effectively, reducing the gap size to prevent soil passage while maintaining flexibility through the articulated connection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the grouser shoe gap is reduced to 20 mm or less, then soil passage is prevented, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chain track uses articulated connections with pivot pins that allow the rigid grouser shoes to dynamically adjust their relative positions. This dynamic flexibility compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures that the gap between shoes remains small (20 mm or less) under various operating conditions without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
4Area of stationary object
If the grouser shoe has uneven ground contact, then the contact area is reduced, but the rolling resistance and fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the grouser shoe, specifically making the ground contact surface entirely flat and optimizing the shoe dimensions (length at least 70% of body length as straight portion). This parameter optimization ensures maximum and uniform contact area with the ground, reducing rolling resistance and fuel consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a chain track for use in a forest machine or another work machine, or in their trailers on one or more tyres so that the chain track is arranged to cover the tyre or tyres in their entirety, said chain track having grouser shoes (1) that have a body (1a) and side guides (3), the body (1a) having an outer surface (laa), inner surface (lab), sides (lac), and ends (lad). According to the invention, the clearance between the sides (1ac) of successive grouser shoes (1) of the chain track, that is, the grouser shoe gap (5), is 20 mm or less.