Replaceable Wear Pads for Track Idlers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing idlers for track-type vehicles require scrapping when wear pads become worn, leading to reduced idler life and increased maintenance costs, as they are not easily serviceable in the field.
Innovation Solution
An idler design featuring a wheel with a rim and replaceable wear pads fastened by accessible fasteners, allowing for quick replacement of worn pads without removing the entire idler, enhancing serviceability and extending idler life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If wear pads are permanently fixed to the idler wheel, then the idler structure is simple and robust, but the entire idler must be scrapped when pads wear out, reducing idler life and increasing maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The idler wheel is segmented into a permanent wheel component and replaceable wear pad components. The wear pads are divided into multiple sections that can be independently removed and replaced, allowing the functional wearing surfaces to be renewed without replacing the entire idler assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The wear pads are designed as disposable components that can be removed and replaced when worn, while the expensive wheel structure is retained and reused. This allows the consumable wear pads to be discarded and recovered for replacement, extending the overall idler life.
2Ease of repair
If wear pads are permanently fixed to the idler wheel, then manufacturing is simple, but maintenance requires scrapping the entire idler, increasing maintenance costs and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The idler is segmented into permanently fixed wheel components and replaceable wear pad components, allowing the wear pads to be independently maintained while keeping the wheel structure intact.
Solution Approach 2:
The wear pads are pre-configured with attachment features that allow for quick connection and disconnection, enabling rapid replacement without complex assembly procedures. The pads are designed to be readily accessible from the side of the idler, allowing maintenance personnel to service them without disassembling the entire idler assembly.
3Ease of operation
If fasteners are positioned radially on the idler wheel, then the wear pads are securely fastened, but the fasteners are not accessible from the side, making pad replacement difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener access direction is changed from radial (perpendicular to the wheel face) to lateral (parallel to the wheel face, accessible from the side). This dimensional change in fastener orientation allows maintenance personnel to access and service the pads from the side of the idler while maintaining secure attachment during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wear pads act as intermediaries that connect the track to the wheel through laterally accessible fasteners. The pads provide a serviceable interface between the track and wheel, allowing maintenance access while maintaining the structural connection.
4Strength
If wear pads are arranged in a single continuous ring, then the rim structure is simple, but stress concentrations occur at pad interfaces, reducing load-bearing capability and increasing noise
Solution Approach 1:
The wear pads are arranged in asymmetric patterns (such as alternating single and double pad configurations) around the wheel circumference. This asymmetric arrangement breaks up continuous stress paths at the pad interfaces, reducing stress concentrations and minimizing noise while maintaining load-bearing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An idler for use with an endless track of a track-type vehicle comprises a wheel and a rim. The rim comprises fasteners and replaceable wear pads releasably mounted to and positioned about the periphery of the wheel using the fasteners.