Track Pad Grouser Profile for Reduced Shear Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track pads for chain wheel drives experience significant wear and shearing of fixing screws due to large shearing forces when rotating, and cause soil destruction, as they primarily rely on a grouser pad profile for grip which is not optimized for rotation.
Innovation Solution
A track pad design combining a grouser pad profile with a flat pad profile, featuring flat parts and grousers that taper away from an elevated inner portion to a lower outer portion, providing improved adherence and reduced wear on fixing elements, while allowing for smoother rotation and reduced soil destruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a grouser pad profile is used to provide maximum grip, then adherence during forward and backward travel is improved, but large shearing forces are generated during rotation causing wear and screw shearing
Solution Approach 1:
The track pad bearing surface is segmented into distinct zones: a central grouser zone with elevated protrusions for adherence, and lateral flat zones for reduced shearing during rotation. This segmentation allows different regions to perform different functions simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between grip strength and rotation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the track pad are given different surface qualities: the central region has a grouser profile with elevated portions for maximum grip during travel, while the lateral regions have flat profiles for smooth rotation. This local differentiation allows the track pad to optimize performance for both adherence and rotational movement without compromising either function.
2Ease of operation
If a flat pad profile is used to provide maximum contact surface, then rotation is facilitated, but adherence during forward and backward travel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The track pad is divided into functional segments: lateral flat zones that facilitate smooth rotation with reduced ground contact resistance, and a central grouser zone that provides elevated protrusions for maximum adherence during travel. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different operational roles to different areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The track pad features local quality variation across its bearing surface: flat lateral regions optimized for rotation ease, and a centrally elevated grouser region optimized for travel adherence. This spatial differentiation of surface properties allows simultaneous optimization of both rotation smoothness and travel grip.
3Strength
If grousers extend along the entire lateral width with the same elevation, then maximum grip is provided, but large shearing forces act on the track pad during cornering rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The grouser structure is segmented into a central elevated portion and lateral regions that taper to lower elevations. This segmentation creates a gradient in the grouser profile, allowing the central region to provide maximum grip while the lateral regions reduce the lever arm for shearing forces during rotation, thereby resolving the force contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The grouser elevation is varied locally across the lateral width: maximum elevation at the center for optimal grip, gradually tapering to lower elevations at the lateral edges. This local quality variation reduces the moment arm for shearing forces during cornering while preserving adherence performance in the central contact zone.
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 combined profile enhances the track pad's ability to rotate smoothly and maintain adherence during travel, reducing wear on fixing elements and minimizing soil destruction, thereby improving the overall performance and longevity of the track pad.
Implementation Method 1
provide a maximum of grip of the bearing surface with the ground for translational movement
Implementation Method 2
there will be large shearing forces acting on these screws and the portion of the track pad where the screws are located
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a track pad for a chain of a chain wheel drive, the track pad having a bearing surface provided with at least one grouser (1, 2), extending in the lateral direction of the bearing surface, wherein at least one flat part (4, 5) is provided next to at least one grouser part (1, 2) in the lateral direction of the bearing surface. Further, the invention comprises a track pad for a chain of a chain wheel drive, the track pad having a bearing surface provided with at least one grouser (32, 33) protruding from a base plate (40), the grouser (32, 33) extending in the lateral direction of the bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface of the base plate has a profile in the lateral direction.