Track Link Concave Roller Face Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional track links with flat planar surfaces in tracked machines experience increased wear, noise, and vibration, leading to frequent repairs, downtime, and safety concerns, as well as higher operational costs and noise pollution.

Innovation Solution

A track link design featuring parallel front and rear surfaces with cavities, a pillar, and a concave roller face that reduces contact points and incorporates a bolt face and inner wear face extrusion to minimize wear and noise, along with a beveled exterior to reduce sharp contact, and uses a polyurethane drive wheel to enhance smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a flat planar rail face is used on track links, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but wear increases and service life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidwear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by replacing the flat planar rail face with a concave roller face. This curved surface distributes contact stresses more evenly across the rolling element, reducing localized wear and extending service life while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard forming processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the rail face from a flat planar configuration to a concave curved configuration. This parameter change optimizes the contact mechanics between the track link and rolling elements, reducing wear rates and improving overall reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If a flat planar rail face is used on track links, then the structure is simple, but vibration and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidvibration and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The concave roller face replaces the flat surface, creating a curved contact interface that reduces vibration and noise generation. The curved geometry allows for smoother contact and rolling motion, minimizing impact shocks and reducing the propagation of vibrations through the track system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If a flat planar rail face is used on track links, then manufacturing is straightforward, but wear increases leading to frequent repairs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddowntime for repairs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The concave roller face design reduces wear rates, extending the service life of track links and reducing the frequency of repairs and downtime. The curved surface distributes loads more effectively, preventing premature failure and minimizing loss of time for maintenance activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9902442B2Track link

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 MOYNA JOHN P

AI summary

A track assembly having a track link with a concave roller surface. The track link is connected to a track that is mounted about a plurality of rollers so that the concave roller surface engages the plurality of rollers.