Track Roller Assembly With Threaded Cap for Oil Tightness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional track roller assemblies experience significant oil leakage under extreme operating conditions, leading to high maintenance costs and short component life due to complex structures and high part counts, with existing solutions failing to effectively prevent oil leakage.

Innovation Solution

A track roller assembly design featuring a wheel body with a thread, a bearing, a cap element with a screw, a rotating oil seal, an end cover, and O-rings or limiting elements to create a sealed accommodating space, utilizing a symmetry structure and engagement mechanisms to prevent oil overflow and leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional bushing and thrust washer structures are used, then the track roller assembly can support the wheel axle, but oil leakage occurs under extreme working conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil sealing reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an oil seal ring with a flexible sealing lip that contacts the wheel axle surface. This flexible membrane structure creates an effective barrier against oil leakage without requiring complex multi-component assemblies, directly resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the sealing mechanism from rigid contact (bushing and thrust washer) to flexible lip contact. The oil seal ring's flexible material allows it to adapt to the wheel axle surface, maintaining reliable sealing under extreme conditions while simplifying the overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the track roller assembly is operated in difficult areas, then the assembly can perform required functions, but lubricating oil leaks from internal to external area increasing maintenance cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational adaptabilityVSAvoidlubricating oil loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The oil seal ring's flexible lip maintains contact with the wheel axle under varying operational conditions, preventing lubricating oil from leaking to the external environment. This flexible membrane structure adapts to different operating conditions while effectively retaining the lubricant

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The oil seal ring is designed as a simple, replaceable component that prevents oil loss. While the seal may wear over time, it is a low-cost component that can be easily replaced, preventing the need for expensive track roller assembly replacement due to oil leakage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If conventional end covers and support assemblies are used, then the wheel axle can be connected and supported, but the number of parts increases and manufacturing becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural support strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the support and sealing functions into a more integrated structure. The oil seal ring works in conjunction with simplified end covers, reducing the total number of components compared to conventional bushing and thrust washer assemblies while maintaining structural support strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible oil seal ring replaces multiple rigid components (bushing, thrust washer, seals) with a single flexible membrane element that provides both sealing and support functions, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 design effectively seals the oil body within the accommodating space, reducing the likelihood of oil leakage and ensuring the track roller assembly operates without failure, even under extreme conditions, by using a combination of rotating oil seals, O-rings, and limiting elements to maintain oil tightness and prevent overflow.

Implementation Method 1

another side of the rotating oil seal rotatably abuts the wheel axle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational sealing:

Implementation Method 2

the O-ring is made of a flexible material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic sealing: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The cap element has a screw corresponding to the thread, and the screw correspondingly locked and engaged in the thread

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreaded fastening: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3748181B1Track roller assembly
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 EVERPADS CO LTD
  • EP3748181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3748181B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3748181B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A track roller assembly includes a wheel body, a bearing, a wheel axle, a cap element, a rotating oil seal, an end cover and an oil body. The wheel body has a thread. The bearing is disposed on the wheel body. The wheel axle is disposed through the bearing. The cap element has a screw corresponding to the thread. One side of the rotating oil seal is connected to the cap element, and another side of the rotating oil seal rotatably abuts the wheel axle. The end cover is connected to the wheel axle. The oil body is limited to an accommodating space formed by the wheel body, the wheel axle, the cap element and the rotating oil seal.