Rubber Crawler Core Recess Structure for Easier Sprocket Winding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber crawlers experience high flexural rigidity when bent around a sprocket due to narrow clearance between adjacent core projections, making it difficult to wind the crawler and increasing the loss of driving force.
Innovation Solution
The rubber crawler design includes cores with first and second projections featuring recesses on their facing surfaces, allowing for an enlarged clearance when bent, reducing the risk of contact and maintaining rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If cores are arranged closely together to prevent side slip, then lateral stability is improved, but flexural rigidity becomes too high making it difficult to wind around sprockets
Solution Approach 1:
The core structure incorporates projections with different local properties: the main body provides rigidity for lateral stability, while the projections include recesses that create localized flexibility zones. These recesses allow the core to deform locally during bending, enabling the crawler to wind around sprockets without excessive resistance while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The core is divided into multiple functional segments: a base portion for structural support, horn portions for engagement, and projections with recesses for flexibility. This segmentation allows different parts of the core to perform different functions - the base and horn portions maintain rigidity for preventing side slip, while the projections with recesses provide the necessary flexibility for bending around sprockets.
2Strength
If clearance between projections of adjacent cores is narrow to maintain rigidity, then structural strength is improved, but driving force loss increases due to excessive contact
Solution Approach 1:
The projection structure uses local quality by creating recesses in specific areas of the projections. These recesses are positioned to reduce contact between adjacent cores during bending, thereby reducing energy loss. The remaining solid portions of the projections maintain structural strength and prevent side slip, while the recessed areas provide clearance that reduces friction and driving force loss.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cores are positioned close together to prevent side slip, then lateral stability is improved, but flexural rigidity becomes excessive preventing proper winding
Solution Approach 1:
The core projections incorporate recesses that create flexible zones within the otherwise rigid core structure. These recesses act like thin film regions that can deform easily during bending, allowing the core to flex when the crawler winds around sprockets. The base portion and horn portions maintain rigidity for lateral stability, while the recessed projections provide the necessary flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A rubber crawler 1 includes an endless crawler body 12 made of rubber, and a plurality of cores 13 embedded in the crawler body and arranged along the crawler circumferential direction, where at least a first projection on the crawler width direction first side in a pair of first projections of each core has a first recess R1 on a surface facing a second projection of another core of the surfaces on the two sides in the crawler width direction.