Track Roller Mounting Structure for Versatile Two-Bolt Undercarriages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track rollers for tracked vehicles require a complicated and time-consuming mounting process using multiple bolts and are limited to specific undercarriage drilling patterns, restricting their versatility.
Innovation Solution
A track roller design with flattened axial end portions and retainer caps, allowing mounting via two bolts and utilizing U-shaped collars with adaptable mounting holes for compatibility with various undercarriages, and a keyed connection to distribute axial forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a track roller uses four bolts extending through stationary collars for mounting, then the mounting provides secure fixation, but the mounting procedure becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into a central portion and two axial end portions, with mounting features located only at the end portions. This segmentation allows the track roller to be mounted using only two bolts at the ends, rather than four bolts distributed across the entire shaft, reducing mounting time while maintaining security at critical locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary collars are removed from the design. Instead of using collars that require four bolts for fixation, the invention directly mounts the roller shell to the shaft end portions using two bolts, eliminating the unnecessary collar components and simplifying the mounting procedure.
2Reliability
If a track roller is designed with specific through-holes in stationary collars for bolt mounting, then secure fixation is achieved, but the application range is limited to undercarriages with matching drilling patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft end portions are designed with flattened surfaces and transversal through-holes that can accommodate various mounting configurations. This universal design allows the same track roller to be mounted on different undercarriage types with different drilling patterns, increasing versatility while maintaining secure fixation through the standardized two-bolt interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting functionality is concentrated at the axial end portions of the shaft, where flattened surfaces and through-holes are strategically located. This local quality approach allows the critical mounting function to be performed at specific locations that can adapt to various undercarriage configurations, rather than requiring a complete match of drilling patterns across the entire component.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a track roller for guiding a track of a tracked vehicle including a shaft extending in an axial direction, the shaft having a central portion and two axial end portions axially adjacent to the central portion on each side, wherein a transversal through-hole is provided in each axial end portion of the shaft, a roller shell mounted on the central portion of the shaft in a rotatable manner, two annular retainer caps fitted to the shaft, and sealing arrangements located between each of the retainer caps and the roller shell, wherein the shaft is flattened at least in a region of its axial end portions in such a way that at least one support surface which includes the through-hole is provided at each end portion for mounting the track roller to an undercarriage of the tracked vehicle, and the retainer caps are arranged within the central portion of the shaft in their entirety, and an undercarriage of a tracked vehicle comprising such a track roller.