Rubber Track Shoe Structure to Reduce Winding Interference and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber tracks for tracked vehicles suffer from issues such as mechanical stress leading to frequent deformation and breakage of inner and outer shoes, interference between shoes as they wind around wheels, and generation of constant-frequency vibrations causing noise and poor driving comfort.
Innovation Solution
A rubber track design with inner and outer shoes arranged transversally relative to a support element, connected by connection elements and coupling elements, and optionally featuring metallic reinforcement, to distribute mechanical forces and prevent interference, ensuring longer component life and improved operation on varied terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If inner and outer shoes are arranged side by side along the inner and outer surfaces of the support element, then the track structure is simplified, but the shoes interfere with each other as the track winds around wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional side-by-side arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where inner and outer shoes are positioned at different longitudinal locations along the support element. This spatial separation in the longitudinal dimension eliminates interference between shoes while the track winds around wheels, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and interference prevention.
2Ease of manufacture
If screws or bolts are used for connecting inner and outer shoes, then the connection is straightforward, but the connection elements are subject to high mechanical forces causing deformation and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite connection system combining metallic connection elements (screws or bolts) with elastomeric material. The elastomeric component absorbs and distributes mechanical forces, reducing stress concentrations on the metallic fasteners. This composite approach maintains ease of manufacture while significantly improving connection durability by preventing deformation and breakage under high mechanical loads.
3Speed
If rubber tracks are used instead of metallic tracks, then speed and noise are improved and road damage is reduced, but the track life cycle is shorter due to direct contact with ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite track structure combining rubber material with embedded metallic reinforcement elements (connection elements, inner and outer shoes). The rubber provides speed and noise benefits while the metallic components reinforce high-stress areas, significantly extending track life cycle by resisting ground contact damage and mechanical degradation.
4Ease of operation
If the track tension is adjusted by longitudinally slidable idler wheels, then the tension can be optimized, but the constant-frequency vibrations cause noise and poor driving comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elastomeric material as an intermediary between the metallic connection elements and the track structure. This elastomeric layer acts as a vibration damper and noise reducer, absorbing constant-frequency vibrations generated during operation. The intermediary material maintains the tension adjustment functionality of slidable idler wheels while eliminating the harmful vibrations and noise.
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber track for a tracked vehicle includes a plurality of inner shoes and a plurality of outer shoes, wherein each inner shoe lies opposite to a respective outer shoe, wherein the inner shoe has a substantially arched shape and is provided with a first intermediate portion and first ends, and wherein the outer shoe is provided with a second intermediate portion and second ends, the first ends and second ends being substantially parallel to each other and forming a first contact surface; a support element made of rubber and shaped as an endless ring retained between the inner shoes and the outer shoes, wherein the inner shoes are arranged mutually spaced apart along an inner surface of the support element and the outer shoes are arranged mutually spaced apart along an outer surface of the support element, and wherein the first intermediate portion of each inner shoe is at least partly buried in the support element; a plurality of connection elements for creating the junction between each inner shoe and the respective outer shoe.