Resilient Drive Sprocket Teeth for Foreign Object Relief

Solution Overview

Problem

Tracked vehicles experience damage to drive wheel members and endless tracks due to ingestion of undesired materials like gravel and stones during operation in rough terrain, leading to maintenance challenges and potential tearing of the tracks.

Innovation Solution

A drive sprocket member with tooth members arranged around its circumference, featuring resilient properties that deform elastically or plastically when subjected to radial forces exceeding a threshold, allowing ingested materials to escape and reducing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If tooth members are made rigid to ensure strong engagement with the endless track, then driving force transmission is improved, but damage occurs when foreign objects are ingested between the tooth members and track

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement strengthVSAvoiddamage from foreign objects

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tooth members are designed with resilient properties that allow them to change their mechanical parameters dynamically - remaining rigid under normal driving loads for strong engagement, but deforming elastically or plastically when subjected to excessive radial forces from foreign objects, thereby resolving the contradiction between engagement strength and damage prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient design of the tooth members provides a cushioning effect before damage can occur. When foreign objects are ingested, the tooth members can deform to accommodate the objects, preventing the harmful forces from being transmitted to the endless track and causing damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If tooth members are made resilient to deform under radial force, then damage from foreign objects is reduced, but engagement strength with the endless track may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage from foreign objectsVSAvoidengagement strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tooth members are designed with resilient properties that allow them to change their mechanical parameters dynamically - remaining rigid under normal driving loads for strong engagement, but deforming elastically or plastically when subjected to excessive radial forces from foreign objects, thereby resolving the contradiction between engagement strength and damage prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If drive wheel members are designed for high durability, then service life is extended, but maintenance complexity increases when tooth members need replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice lifeVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The drive wheel member is segmented into a hub member and multiple independent tooth members that can be removed individually. This segmentation allows for simplified maintenance where only the worn tooth members need to be replaced rather than the entire drive wheel member, reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining durability through extended service life of the hub member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 effectively reduces damage to the endless track and drive wheel members by enabling deformation of tooth members to accommodate foreign objects, enhancing maintenance efficiency and durability.

Implementation Method 1

said tooth members are shaped so as to provide resilient properties in the radial direction such that, if a tooth member of said set of tooth members is subjected to a radial force, in the direction towards said centre axis, exceeding a certain threshold, said tooth member is configured to deform relative to its operation position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

said tooth members are shaped so as to provide resilient properties in the radial direction such that, if a tooth member of said set of tooth members is subjected to a radial force, in the direction towards said centre axis, exceeding a certain threshold, said tooth member is configured to deform relative to its operation position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250229854A1Drive sprocket member for an endless track of a tracked vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 BAE SYSTEMS HAGGLUNDS AKTIEBOLAG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a drive sprocket member for a drive wheel member of a tracked vehicle. The drive wheel member is rotatable about a centre axis for rotating an endless track. Said drive sprocket member comprises a set of tooth members arranged around the circumference of said drive sprocket member, and a ring-shaped support member for said tooth members. Said tooth members are, in an operation position, configured to project from the ring-shaped support member in a main direction essentially parallel to the axial direction of said centre axis. Said tooth members are arranged in connection to said ring-shaped support member and shaped so as to provide resilient properties in the radial direction such that, if a tooth member is subjected to a radial force exceeding a certain threshold, said tooth member is configured to deform relative to its operation position.