Tiltable Track Suspension for Horizontal Tracked Vehicle Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suspension devices for tracked vehicles do not adequately enhance mobility and comfort, particularly when operating in rough terrain, which limits their productivity, especially for forestry vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A suspension device for tracked vehicles featuring pendulum arms with distance adjustment means, allowing tilting movement of the track assembly relative to the vehicle body, combined with a gas hydraulic suspension configuration for damping and position control, to maintain a horizontal vehicle body on slopes and absorb shocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional suspension device with fixed pendulum arms is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the vehicle body cannot maintain horizontal position on slopes and mobility in rough terrain is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the pendulum arm configuration adjustable rather than fixed. The distance adjustment means allow the pendulum arms to be repositioned along the track support beam, enabling the suspension system to adapt dynamically to different terrain conditions and operational requirements, thereby improving adaptability to rough terrain while maintaining manageable complexity through a standardized adjustment mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the pendulum arms have fixed fastening points, then the suspension device is simple in structure, but the vehicle body cannot be kept horizontal on slopes and cargo transport is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by providing adjustable fastening points on the track support beam that allow the pendulum arms to be repositioned. This enables the vehicle body to be kept horizontal on slopes by adjusting the pendulum arm positions, thereby facilitating ease of cargo transport while the adjustment mechanism itself remains relatively simple and integrated into the existing suspension structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid connection between track assembly and vehicle body is used, then the structure is simple and strong, but vibrations and impacts are not damped and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatics and hydraulics by incorporating a gas hydraulic suspension configuration that uses gas springs or hydraulic dampers to provide damping between the track assembly and vehicle body. This effectively reduces vibrations and impacts transmitted to the vehicle body, improving comfort while the pneumatic/hydraulic components are integrated into the existing suspension structure, maintaining acceptable complexity levels.
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
Improves mobility and comfort by maintaining a horizontal vehicle body on uneven terrain, facilitating cargo transport and increasing productivity by reducing vibrations and impacts.
Implementation Method 1
said suspension configuration for damping the movement of said track assembly relative to said vehicle body
Implementation Method 2
Said suspension device comprises two pendulum arms which in one end are rotatably attached to a respective fastening point in said vehicle body and in the other end are rotatably attached to a respective fastening point in the track support beam of said track assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tracked vehicle (10; 11) comprising a vehicle body (30, 32; 30), at least one track assembly (21) and a suspension device (S) for suspension of said track assembly (21) to said vehicle body (30) of said tracked vehicle (10; 11). Said track assembly (21) comprises a track support beam (22), a plurality of road wheels (23, 23a), at least one drive wheel (24), and an endless track (25). Said track support beam (22) is arranged to support said at least one drive wheel (24) and a plurality of road wheels (23, 23a). Said endless track is disposed around said at least one drive wheel (24) and plurality of road wheels (23, 23a). Said suspension device (S) comprises two pendulum arms (52, 54) which in one end are rotatably attached to a respective fastening point (P1b, P2b) in said vehicle body (30; 32, 30) and in the other end are rotatably attached to a respective fastening point (P1a, P2a) in the track support beam (22) of said track assembly (21). Said suspension device (S) comprises distance adjustment means (58) which is arranged to allow one or more of: a distance change between said two fastening points (P1a, P2a) in the track assembly (21); a distance change between the two fastening points (P1b, P2b) in the vehicle body (30); and a distance change between the fastening point (P1b, P2b) in the vehicle body (30; 32, 30) and the fastening point (P1a, P2a) in the track support beam (22) of said track assembly (21) of at least one of the pendulum arms (52, 54), so as to allow a tilting movement of the track assembly (21), including said at least one drive wheel (24) and plurality of road wheels (23, 23a), relative to the vehicle body in a plane extending in the longitudinal direction of said track assembly (21) essentially orthogonal to the transversal extension of said track assembly (21).