Segmented Wear Pad Reinforcement for Crawler Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wear pads for crawler tracks of construction machines suffer from premature failure due to direct contact forces causing stress and potential breakage of reinforcing elements, leading to increased material and manufacturing costs, as well as reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A wear pad design featuring a pad body made of plastic with encapsulated metal reinforcing elements, which include fastening recesses and separate fastening elements with internal threads and displacement stops, allowing for a releasable connection to the base plate, reducing bending forces and preventing direct contact between the reinforcing element and the base plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcing elements are rigidly connected to the base plate via threaded connection, then the wear pad is securely fastened to the base plate, but contact forces cause considerable stresses leading to breakage of reinforcing elements and premature wear pad failure
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing element is divided into multiple segments along its longitudinal extension, with gaps between the segments. This segmentation allows the reinforcing element to flex and absorb contact forces during ground contact, preventing stress concentration and breakage while maintaining secure fastening to the base plate through the distributed segments
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid threaded connection is replaced with a dynamic segmented structure that can adapt to loading conditions. The gaps between segments allow the reinforcing element to deform elastically under contact forces, transforming the static rigid connection into a dynamic system that dissipates energy and prevents failure
2Strength
If reinforcing elements are made solid with large plate thickness and complex three-dimensional deformation to increase resistance to contact forces, then resistance to contact forces is improved, but material and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using solid, thick, complexly deformed reinforcing elements, the invention uses segmented reinforcing elements with gaps between segments. This simpler geometry reduces material usage and manufacturing complexity while maintaining resistance to contact forces through the flexible segmented structure that can deform elastically
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing element geometry is changed from solid and complexly deformed to segmented with gaps. This parameter change in the structural configuration provides equivalent or superior mechanical performance at lower material costs and with simpler manufacturing processes
3Stability of the object's composition
If edged and bead-like structures are provided on reinforcing elements to increase rigidity, then rigidity is improved, but wear pad material is sheared off at the edges during operation reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented structure with gaps between segments provides the necessary rigidity and stability without creating edged structures. The gaps eliminate sharp edges that would otherwise shear the wear pad material, while the distributed segments maintain structural integrity and resistance to deformation during operation
Data Source
AI summary
A wear pad for a tread member of a crawler track of a track unit of a construction machine, a tread member for a crawler track, a crawler track for a track unit of a construction machine, a construction machine, and a method for transmitting contact forces of a construction machine into a base plate of a tread member.