Master Link Bolt Geometry for Balanced Clamping Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing master links in ground-engaging track systems often experience premature failure due to unequal clamping loads and stress concentrations, leading to issues like thread galling, bolt breakage, and performance degradation, particularly caused by differences in bolt lengths and torque applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of necked-down bolts in a master link design, where one bolt has a lesser necked-down axial length and the other a greater necked-down axial length, ensures consistent stress and material strain across bolts, mitigating the effects of unequal lengths and torque variations, and allowing for finer threads that are less sensitive to installation torque errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard bolts of equal length are used to couple master link portions together, then the master link can be assembled and disassembled for servicing, but unequal clamping loads and stress concentrations cause thread galling, bolt breakage, and premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing bolts of different lengths (first bolt longer than second bolt) and/or different diameters (first bolt larger diameter than second bolt) to compensate for unequal clamping loads. This asymmetric configuration ensures that each bolt is appropriately sized for its specific loading conditions, preventing premature failure while maintaining the ability to assemble and disassemble the master link for servicing.
2Strength
If multiple bolts are used to secure master link portions, then the connection strength is improved, but the complexity of the master link design and assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different bolt configurations (different lengths, diameters, or both) at different locations within the master link. This allows each bolt to be optimized for its specific local loading conditions and structural requirements, achieving superior connection strength while maintaining reasonable assembly complexity through targeted differentiation rather than uniform design.
Data Source
AI summary
An articulated chain assembly includes standard links, a master link, and pins pivotably coupling together the standard links and master link. The master link includes a first half link and a second half link, and bolt holes extending through the first half link and the second half link. A first bolt is within a first one of the bolt holes and has a necked-down bolt shank defining a lesser necked-down axial length. A second bolt is within a second one of the bolt holes and includes a necked-down bolt shank defining a greater necked-down axial length. The first bolt and second bolt may have unequal full axial lengths.