Integrated Track Adjustment Recoil Unit for Construction Machinery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track type machines face challenges in assembly, packaging, and servicing of recoil systems due to cumbersome component attachment and potential misalignment, leading to increased complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
An integrated track adjustment/recoil system unit that includes a track adjust cylinder, gas cylinder, and reversible joining component with identical threads, allowing for preassembly and cantilever mounting within the track roller frame, reducing complexity and cost by sharing working fluid between systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If recoil system components are individually attached within the track roller frame housing, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but assembly becomes cumbersome and misalignment issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the recoil system components (gas spring, yoke, idler, and track tensioning features) into a single integrated assembly unit that is preassembled and installed as one component into the track roller frame. This integration eliminates the need for individual attachment of multiple components, thereby simplifying assembly procedures and reducing misalignment issues while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The recoil system components are preassembled into a complete functional unit before installation into the track roller frame. This preliminary assembly allows for quality control, alignment verification, and pre-testing of the recoil mechanism, ensuring proper assembly without requiring complex on-site assembly operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If a separate idler recoil and track adjustment device is preassembled and installed, then assembly is simplified, but packaging and servicing remain complex
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated recoil system unit is designed as a self-contained module that can be easily removed and replaced as a single unit. This segmentation approach allows the complex recoil mechanism to be serviced by replacing the entire module rather than disassembling individual components, thereby simplifying maintenance procedures while maintaining assembly simplicity.
3Reliability
If multiple separate systems are used for track adjustment and recoil, then functional independence is maintained, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the track adjustment cylinder and gas spring recoil system into a single integrated unit that shares common components such as the piston, fluid passages, and mounting structure. This merging maintains the functional independence of track adjustment and recoil mechanisms while eliminating redundant components, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated recoil system unit performs multiple functions (recoil, track adjustment, and tensioning) within a single device. The piston and fluid passages serve dual purposes for both track adjustment and recoil operations, allowing one component to perform multiple functions and thereby reducing the number of separate systems needed.
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 integrated system simplifies assembly and servicing, reduces costs, and allows for flexible use across different track roller frames by utilizing a single pneumatic spring, maintaining recoil functionality while adjusting track tension effectively.
Implementation Method 1
A gas cylinder includes a set of internal threads mated to a second set of external threads of the joining component. A recoil piston is positioned inside the gas cylinder and has a hydraulic face exposed to fluid pressure in the track adjust cylinder, and a pneumatic face exposed to fluid pressure in the gas cylinder.
Implementation Method 2
A track adjust cylinder defining a bore extending therethrough. The track adjustment cylinder includes a bulkhead attachment flange defining an array of fastener bores, and one end of the bore is defined by a set of internal threads. A track adjust piston is partially received in the bore and is surrounded by the array of fastener bores.
Implementation Method 3
A joining component defines a fluid passage therethrough, and includes a first set of external threads mated to the internal threads of the track adjust cylinder.
Data Source
AI summary
A track type machine (10) includes an integrated track adjustment/recoil system unit (40) cantilever mounted in a track roller frame (20), and operable to resist movement of the idler (33) along a recoil line. The integrated track adjustment/recoil system unit (40) includes track adjust cylinder (50) that is attached to a gas cylinder (52) by a joining component that has two sets of identical external threads (81) mated to the track adjust cylinder (50) and the gas cylinder (52) respectively. A track adjust piston (55) is partially received in the track adjust cylinder (50), and a recoil piston (56) is positioned in the gas cylinder (52). The recoil piston (56) and the gas cylinder (52) define a gas volume (53). The recoil piston (56), the gas cylinder (52), the joining component, the track adjust cylinder (50) and the track adjust piston (55) define a grease volume (51). Track (16) tensioning is adjusted by adjusting the amount of grease in the grease volume (51), and the recoil action is adjusted by setting the gas pressure in the gas volume (53).