Multi-Member Track Frame Assembly for Ride Comfort and Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track systems for vehicles face challenges in improving ride quality, traction, and durability while maintaining cost-effectiveness, particularly on soft, slippery, and uneven ground surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A multi-member frame assembly for track systems featuring a pivot pin, leading and trailing frame members, and a resilient member that includes annular torsion springs and a scissor-like structure to dampen vibrations and increase ground contact area with the track system, enhancing ride comfort and load-bearing capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If track systems use conventional rigid frame assemblies, then structural strength is maintained, but ride quality deteriorates due to vibration and shock on uneven ground
Solution Approach 1:
The frame assembly is divided into multiple independent members (leading frame member, trailing frame member, link member) that can pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis, allowing each segment to independently respond to ground irregularities and reduce vibration transmission to the vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The frame members are designed to pivot dynamically about a pivot axis in response to ground conditions, allowing the structure to adapt its configuration to uneven terrain, shocks, and vibrations, thereby improving ride quality while maintaining structural integrity
2Reliability
If track systems increase ground contact area to distribute vehicle weight, then traction and ground protection improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame assembly uses multiple pivoting members that can independently adjust their positions, allowing the track system to conform to ground irregularities and increase effective ground contact area without requiring a completely redesigned complex structure
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot angles and relative positions of frame members can change dynamically based on ground conditions, allowing the track system to optimize its ground contact area and weight distribution adaptively rather than requiring a fixed complex configuration
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 improved ride comfort, reduced component wear, and increased durability by dampening vibrations and expanding the ground-contacting area as the load increases, while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member pivotally connected to the leading frame member and to the trailing frame member, the resilient member extending generally vertically between the leading frame member and the trailing frame member
Implementation Method 2
a leading annular torsion spring disposed in the leading annular spacing, the leading annular torsion spring being connected to the leading frame member and to the pivot pin for pivotally biasing the leading frame member about the pivot axis
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-member frame assembly for a track system includes a pivot pin defining a pivot axis, a leading frame member pivotally connected to the pivot pin for pivoting about the pivot axis, and a trailing frame member pivotally connected to the pivot pin for pivoting about the pivot axis, the trailing frame member pivoting independently from the leading frame member. A resilient member is pivotally connected to the leading frame member and to the trailing frame member. The resilient member extends generally vertically between the leading frame member and the trailing frame member. A track system having a multi-member frame assembly is also described.