Slew Ring Support Structure for Tracked Vehicle Drive Axle Strain Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support structures for continuous tracks on vehicles suffer from premature wear and potential failure due to stresses and strains on the drive axle, especially when navigating uneven ground conditions.
Innovation Solution
A support structure featuring a slew ring with attachment means to the vehicle chassis, allowing 360-degree rotation while limiting the angle of rotation, and incorporating a ram for jockey wheel support, which distributes the vehicle's weight and reduces strain on the drive axle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support structure is pivotably attached to the drive axle to allow maneuverability and cope with uneven ground, then the vehicle's adaptability to terrain is improved, but the drive axle experiences premature wear and possible failure
Solution Approach 1:
A slew ring bearing is introduced as an intermediary component between the support structure and the drive axle. The slew ring includes an outer ring attached to the support structure and an inner ring that rotates relative to the outer ring, allowing the support structure to pivot independently of the drive axle. This mediator absorbs the rotational stresses and prevents them from being transmitted to the drive axle, thereby maintaining both adaptability and reliability
2Ease of operation
If the support structure allows rotation to improve maneuverability, then the vehicle's ease of operation is improved, but stresses and strains on the drive axle increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slew ring bearing serves as a mediator that enables rotation for maneuverability while protecting the drive axle from stresses. The bearing's inner ring rotates freely within the outer ring, allowing the support structure to pivot for better maneuverability, while the bearing itself absorbs the mechanical stresses and strains, preventing them from reaching the drive axle
3Ease of operation
If the slew ring allows 360-degree rotation for enhanced maneuverability, then the ease of operation is improved, but the complexity of the support structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slew ring bearing provides a ready-made, integrated solution for 360-degree rotation that, while adding a component, simplifies the overall design compared to alternative mechanisms. The bearing's modular construction with inner and outer rings provides a standardized, reliable rotation mechanism that reduces design complexity compared to custom-built pivot systems
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
The solution effectively reduces strain on the drive axle, enhances maneuverability, and prolongs the lifespan of the support structure by distributing the vehicle's weight and maintaining track shape, thereby improving the vehicle's ability to operate on uneven terrain.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing including at least one rotational rolling-element bearing
Data Source
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AI summary
Drive units for continuous tracks are typically supported by the drive axle of the vehicle. The invention provides a support structure (90, 92) mountable on a tracked vehicle (10) for at least partially supporting a continuous track drive unit (40) and track support means (100, 120), the drive unit for rotating a continuous track (130) to move the vehicle, the support structure comprising a slew ring (50A, 50B) and attachment means (100) for attaching the slew ring to a chassis (30) of the vehicle, the slew ring comprising an aperture therethrough for receiving a drive axle (60) of the vehicle, the drive axle for rotating a drive sprocket (80) for rotation of the continuous track.