Rubber Track Wheel Inserts for Heat and Corrosion Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber track undercarriages in road pavers and feeder vehicles experience friction-induced heat buildup and corrosion at wheel-rubber contact surfaces, leading to damage and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A rubber track chassis with rims featuring detachable inserts made of low-friction and low-thermal-conductivity materials, such as stainless steel and plastic, to reduce friction and thermal coupling between the guide cams and wheels, along with optional lubrication for further reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wheel rims are used with rubber coating, then the wheels provide adequate traction and support, but friction-induced heat buildup damages the rubber and causes corrosion at contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different materials to different locations on the wheel rim. The insert is positioned only at the contact surface where it interacts with the guide cam, while the rest of the rim maintains its original structure. This localized material substitution reduces friction and heat buildup at the critical contact zone without compromising the overall wheel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines different materials to create a composite wheel rim structure. The insert is made of a material with lower friction coefficients and lower thermal conductivity than the base rim material. This composite approach allows the wheel to benefit from both the structural integrity of the original rim and the reduced friction/heat properties of the insert material.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the rim contact surface is made from corrosion-resistant material, then corrosion protection is improved, but friction and heat buildup with the rubber track increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert acts as an intermediary between the wheel rim and the rubber track's guide cam. It provides a low-friction interface that reduces heat generation while the insert itself is protected from corrosion. This intermediary layer allows the wheel to interact with the rubber track in a way that minimizes thermal and mechanical damage to both components.
3Force
If high-friction materials are used at the contact surface to improve traction, then wheel grip on the rubber track is enhanced, but heat buildup and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters at the contact surface by introducing an insert with different friction and thermal properties. The insert material is selected to have lower friction coefficients, which reduces the conversion of mechanical energy into heat while maintaining adequate traction for the application.
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
Minimizes friction-induced heat and corrosion, extending the service life of the rubber track components and reducing wear.
Implementation Method 1
The insert allows for thermal decoupling of the friction pair by using a low-thermal-conductivity insert material
Implementation Method 2
The insert features lubrication, which reduces friction and heat on the wheels of the rubber track
Data Source
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AI summary
Rubber track undercarriage (1), in particular for a road paver (2) or a feeder vehicle (3), comprising at least one drive wheel (4) and at least one deflection wheel (5), which together with paired wheels (4, 5, 6) and a rubber track (7) are placed on a carrier (8), wherein the wheels (4, 5, 6) have rims (9), and wherein a rubber coating (G) is provided on a circumferential surface (U) of the rims (9) of the wheels (4, 5, 6), wherein a guide cam (10) is provided on an inside of the rubber track (7) which is configured to penetrate into a gap (Z) located between two adjacent wheels (4, 5, 6), wherein a contact surface (A) of the wheels (4, 5, 6) facing the guide cam (10) has an insert (11) detachably attached to the rims (9).