Split Protective Cover for Crawler Drive Sprocket
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective covers for construction machines' drive sprockets are either difficult to maintain due to complex labyrinth structures or require significant modifications to the motor housing, such as drilling bolt holes, which are impractical for existing machines without space or require lengthy downtime.
Innovation Solution
A modular additional protective cover with two divided segments that can be coupled using a coupling bolt, allowing attachment to the motor housing without needing bolt holes, and featuring a revolving design with a cover portion extending to the sprocket housing to prevent foreign matter entry and an outlet for discharging entered materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additional protective cover is provided to prevent foreign matter entry, then the floating seal is protected from wear and oil leakage, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult due to complex labyrinth structures
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is divided into a first protective cover and a second protective cover that can be detached from each other. This segmentation allows easy removal and maintenance while still providing comprehensive protection for the floating seal and preventing foreign matter entry through the labyrinth structure.
2Reliability
If the motor housing is modified to include bolt holes for attaching the protective cover, then the attachment is secured, but significant time and effort are required for drilling, and the machine cannot operate during this period
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second protective covers are provided with attachment holes and attachment protrusions that engage with the motor housing before final assembly. This preliminary configuration allows the protective cover to be attached to the motor housing without requiring time-consuming drilling operations, significantly reducing installation time while ensuring secure attachment.
3Ease of manufacture
If the motor housing is replaced with a larger one to accommodate bolt holes, then the protective cover can be attached, but this replacement is practically impossible for existing construction machines
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is segmented into detachable first and second covers with pre-configured attachment features. This segmentation enables the protective cover to be attached to existing motor housings without requiring replacement or modification of the motor housing itself, ensuring compatibility with existing construction machines while providing secure attachment capability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a labyrinth structure with L-shaped cross-section is used, then foreign matter entry is prevented, but foreign matter removal becomes difficult even after detaching the protective cover
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is divided into detachable first and second segments. This segmentation provides easy access to the internal labyrinth structure for maintenance purposes. When foreign matter enters, the covers can be detached to allow straightforward removal of sediments from the labyrinth structure, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining effective foreign matter prevention during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
PROBLEM: To provide a cover body (18) at a space X formed between a motor housing (14) and a sprocket (15) which are the components of a drive sprocket (10) of a base carrier (2) in a hydraulic shovel, so as to prevent foreign substances such as sand from entering into the space, and to be installed to the motor housing side (14) without forming a bolt hole. SOLUTION: A cover body (18) is formed to be a split-body divided to an upper half (19) and a lower half (20), and to be connected to each other to form a ring shape by connecting a connect bolt (23) formed at an adjacent part of the cover body (18). The cover body (18) is installed to the space X by inserting an adjust bolt (21) into a ring shaped main body part (19a and 20a) till abut the motor housing (14) tightly. An outlet (26) is formed as a notch on a cover body (19d and 20d) to discharge the foreign substances entering into the space X between the sprocket housing (15) and a tip end of the cover part.