Tapered Master Link for Tracked Undercarriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing master link designs for tracked undercarriage chains suffer from durability issues such as broken fasteners and stripped threads, leading to misalignment, slippage, and costly replacements, especially when the threads strip, requiring the entire half link to be replaced.
Innovation Solution
A master link design featuring tapered mating key and slot engagements between half links and a shoe, which secures the links with pins and removable cylindrical nuts, preventing axial movement and allowing for efficient replacement of nuts without disassembling the half links, thereby reducing slippage and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flat clamping surfaces are used to connect half links and shoe, then assembly is simple, but misalignment and slippage occur during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies tapered surfaces (curved geometry) to the mating interfaces between half links and shoe. The tapered surfaces provide self-aligning characteristics during assembly and prevent slippage during operation, resolving the contradiction between simple assembly and alignment stability.
2Strength
If threaded holes are used in half links for cap screws, then fastening is secure, but threads strip and require expensive half link replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fastening system by moving the threaded holes from the half links to the shoe. This allows the threaded fasteners to be replaced independently when worn, without replacing the expensive half links, thus resolving the contradiction between fastening security and maintenance cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the threaded fasteners replaceable components that can be easily replaced when worn. These cheaper fasteners serve as disposable elements that protect the more expensive half links from being replaced, resolving the contradiction between fastening security and maintenance cost.
3Strength
If cap screws are used to secure half links to shoe, then connection is strong, but broken fasteners strand the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the system so that worn or broken fasteners can be easily discarded and replaced. The removable nature of the fasteners from the shoe allows quick replacement in the field, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and operational continuity.
4Ease of operation
If traditional master link design is used, then chain can be disassembled, but links may separate and machine becomes stranded
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered surfaces provide self-aligning and self-locking characteristics during assembly. The geometry of the tapered mating surfaces ensures proper alignment and prevents link separation without requiring additional alignment procedures or complex assembly steps, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A master link for a chain is disclosed. The master link may have a first half link member, a second half link member, and a pin joining the first and second half link members. The master link may also have a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered protrusion and fixedly connected to the second half link member at a second tapered protrusion.