Resilient Deflector for Tracked Vehicle Track Ingestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tracked vehicles face issues with ingestion of undesired materials like gravel and stones into the track assembly, leading to potential damage and tearing of the endless track during operation in rough terrain.
Innovation Solution
A deflector arrangement is provided, which is resiliently suspended and biased to strive towards the inner surface of the endless track, comprising a support wheel arrangement that rolls against the track and a plough arrangement to prevent material ingestion and facilitate removal, thereby reducing the risk of track damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid deflector arrangement is used to prevent material ingestion, then protection against material ingestion is improved, but the ability to withstand vehicle movements and terrain variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector arrangement is made dynamically adaptable through resilient suspension elements that allow the deflector to move and adjust its position in response to vehicle movements and terrain variations, while still maintaining contact with the track to prevent material ingestion
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing arrangement continuously adjusts the position and contact force of the deflector against the track by applying a resilient biasing force, allowing the deflector to adapt to changing operational conditions while maintaining effective material prevention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a deflector arrangement is biased to strive towards the inner surface of the track, then material ingestion prevention is improved, but the complexity of the suspension and biasing mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension and biasing functions are merged into an integrated resilient suspension system with biasing arrangement, where the same elastic elements simultaneously provide shock absorption and maintain contact force, reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient suspension elements automatically adjust and maintain the deflector's contact with the track through their inherent elastic properties, eliminating the need for complex active control mechanisms or additional adjustment devices
3Reliability
If the deflector arrangement is made resiliently suspended to withstand vehicle movements, then durability under dynamic loads is improved, but the effectiveness in preventing material ingestion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing arrangement pre-positions the deflector to maintain continuous contact with the track surface before material ingestion can occur, ensuring the deflector is always in the optimal position to prevent gravel and stones from entering the track assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient suspension elements provide beforehand cushioning by absorbing shocks and movements before they can cause the deflector to lose contact with the track, maintaining continuous protective contact under dynamic vehicle operations
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 deflector arrangement effectively reduces the ingestion of undesired materials into the track assembly, facilitates their removal, and withstands high loads and side forces, ensuring the endless track remains intact and operational.
Implementation Method 1
resiliently suspended and biasedly arranged so as to strive towards the inner surface of the endless track
Implementation Method 2
support wheel arrangement configured to roll against the inner surface of said endless track during movement of said vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a deflector arrangement (100) for a tracked vehicle (V). Said tracked vehicle (V) comprises at least one track assembly (T1, T2) comprising two end wheels (1, 2) in the form of a front wheel (1) and a rear wheel (2), and further a plurality of road wheels (3) there between. At least one of the front wheel (1) and rear wheel (2) is a drive wheel (1) and at least one of the front wheel (1) and rear wheel (2) is a tension wheel (2). The track assembly (T1, T2) further comprises an endless track (4) disposed around said end wheels (1, 2) and plurality of road wheels (3). Said deflector arrangement (100) is configured to reduce ingestion of undesired material from the ground (G) into said track assembly (T1, T2) and remove such undesired material from said track assembly (T1, T2). Said deflector arrangement (100) is associated with an end wheel (1, 2) and is resiliently suspended and biasedly arranged so as to strive towards the inner surface (4a) of the endless track (4).