One-Piece Crawler Bar for Snow Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crawler bars for tracked vehicles experience wear and maintenance issues due to separate fastening means for track brackets and tread elements, which can lead to increased wear and reduced reliability under varying surface conditions.
Innovation Solution
A crawler bar design featuring a one-piece track bracket and tread element, cast from a rubber mixture for enhanced durability and corrosion protection, with elastic materials for improved traction and noise reduction, and optional ice spikes for enhanced surface engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If track bracket and tread element are attached separately to base rail, then ease of assembly is improved, but wear and reliability worsen due to separate fastening means
Solution Approach 1:
The track bracket and tread element are merged into a single integral component that is directly connected to the base rail, eliminating separate fastening means. This integration prevents wear at connection points and improves reliability while maintaining ease of assembly as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The track bracket and tread element are cast from a rubber mixture, combining the durability and corrosion resistance of rubber with the structural requirements of the guiding and traction functions. This composite material approach enhances wear resistance while maintaining the functional separation of guiding and traction purposes.
2Reliability
If track bracket and tread element are designed as one piece, then wear resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the track bracket and tread element into one piece, the patent eliminates the complexity of multiple separate components and their associated fastening mechanisms. The integral design simplifies the overall structure while improving wear resistance at the connection interface.
3Productivity
If tread element extends over large part of base rail length, then traction is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber mixture used for casting the tread element provides inherent flexibility and damping, which compensates for minor variations in manufacturing precision. This material property allows the tread element to extend over a large portion of the base rail while maintaining adequate alignment and traction without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
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 one-piece design reduces wear and enhances durability, improves traction and maneuverability, and provides effective engagement with various surfaces, including ice, while minimizing noise and wear on components.
Implementation Method 1
cast from a rubber mixture for enhanced durability and corrosion protection, with elastic materials for improved traction and noise reduction
Implementation Method 2
with elastic materials for improved traction and noise reduction
Data Source
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AI summary
A track bridge (2a, 2b) for a tracked track (1) of a tracked vehicle, in particular a snow vehicle, is proposed, wherein the track bridge (2a, 2b) comprises a base rail that can be detachably attached to the tracked track (1), a guide bracket (10) that is provided for guiding the tracked track (1) on a chassis of the tracked vehicle, and a footplate (5) that is provided for arrangement on a ground contact side of the tracked track (1) and for engaging with a driving surface. According to the invention, the guide bracket and the footplate (5) are formed in one piece, wherein the footplate (5) extends over a large part of a length in the longitudinal direction of the base rail.