Inverted V Hull Track Shoe for Tracked Vehicle Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track shoe designs for tracked vehicles face challenges in achieving a balance between improved traction and reduced wear on undercarriage components, particularly during turns, as higher traction shoes tend to increase wear due to resistance and torsional forces.
Innovation Solution
The track shoe features an angled hull forming an inverted V-shape with laterally-disposed ridges that taper outwardly to create leading and trailing lips, enhancing traction and turnability by compacting soil and reducing sideways force, while optional upward bends and secondary hulls further improve sliding and traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the track shoe width is reduced and the number of grousers is increased to reduce wear, then wear resistance improves, but traction capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The track shoe is divided into multiple functional elements: the base plate, multiple grousers (three or more), and a central keel. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function - grousers provide traction while the keel reduces sideways force, resolving the contradiction between traction and wear resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a new dimensional element - the central keel running longitudinally through the center of the track shoe. This keel addresses the sideways force issue in a new dimension, allowing the shoe to maintain width for traction while the keel specifically handles lateral forces during turning
2Ease of operation
If the track shoe width is reduced to improve turnability, then turnability improves, but traction capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the track shoe into base plate, grousers, and a central keel, the invention allows the keel to specifically address lateral movement during turning, enabling the shoe to maintain full width for traction while the keel facilitates easier turning through reduced sideways force
Solution Approach 2:
The central keel provides a localized solution for improving turnability without affecting the overall width of the track shoe. The keel's specific geometric configuration (with reduced cross-sectional area compared to the base plate) creates a pathway for reduced lateral resistance, allowing the shoe to maintain full width for traction while improving turnability locally
Data Source
AI summary
A track shoe for an endless track assembly has a base and an opposing hull. The hull of the track shoe has opposing sidewalls that are angled to meet at an apex, thus forming an inverted V-shape. The apex of the hull extends the width of the track shoe. Laterally-disposed ridges are spaced apart from the apex. and the height of the ridges tapers outwardly from the hull to form, respectively, a leading lip and a trailing lip of the track shoe. The track shoe may have upward bends at the ends of the width of the track shoe and optionally, may have secondary hulls.