Serpentine Steel Crawler Track for Narrow-Row Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crawler tractors have a wide footprint due to two side-by-side tracks, limiting their use in narrow agricultural rows and urban areas, and existing single-steerable steel crawler tracks are cumbersome, while single flexible rubber tracks offer low traction and high slippage.
Innovation Solution
A singly steerable, serpentine steel crawler track vehicle with a continuous, endless steel crawler track that can convert to dual tracks or rubber tires for versatility in narrow and wide access areas, utilizing a sprocket and idler system with two degrees of freedom for chain links to steer and navigate through tight spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional crawler tractors use two side-by-side parallel tracks, then tractive efficiency and stability are improved, but vehicle footprint width increases making them unsuitable for narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional two-track system into a single serpentine track that can be segmented into multiple loops. The track forms figure-eight or multi-loop patterns that distribute the vehicle weight across multiple contact points with the ground, providing stability and traction equivalent to two tracks while maintaining a narrow single-track footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the track configuration by creating a serpentine path that loops back on itself. Instead of two parallel tracks extending in one dimension, the single track creates multiple loops in the same spatial footprint, effectively using the time dimension (sequence of loops) to achieve the stability of two tracks without increasing width.
2Reliability
If steel track crawlers are used, then high traction and low ground pressure are achieved, but they destroy road surfaces and cannot be used on paved roads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the track system dynamic by allowing it to be easily reconfigured or removed. The serpentine track design enables the vehicle to adapt its ground contact characteristics - using the narrow single-track configuration for off-road traction where high grip is needed, and potentially converting to a different configuration for on-road applications where surface protection is required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rubber tire tractors are used, then on-road transportation capability is improved, but tractive efficiency off-road significantly decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal vehicle platform that can perform both on-road and off-road functions. The serpentine track system provides the off-road traction capability of traditional crawlers while the narrow single-track design enables mobility in narrow spaces. The vehicle can be configured for different terrains and operations, making it versatile for both agricultural off-road work and potential on-road transport.
4Area of moving object
If a single steerable steel crawler track is used, then vehicle footprint is reduced for narrow space operation, but steering mechanism becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the track system to steer itself through the serpentine configuration. The track's inherent flexibility and the vehicle's ability to shift weight or adjust tension in different sections of the serpentine loop allow the track to naturally follow curved paths without requiring complex external steering mechanisms. The track serves its own steering function through its geometric configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a singly steerable, serpentine steel track crawler. The single-track crawler can steer independently in a serpentine fashion. Two or more single crawler tracks side-by-side can be transformed into a multi-track crawler vehicle. The single-track crawler or multi-track crawler vehicle can be fitted with rubber tires for plying on paved roads. This makes it a versatile, multi-terrain vehicle for agriculture and earth-moving applications.