Track Running Gear Upper Strand Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing civilian tracked vehicles with rubber continuous tracks experience oscillations and lateral slipping due to unsupported upper strands, leading to track failure and increased wear from high tension requirements.
Innovation Solution
The track running gear design ensures that at least two running wheels touch both the upper and lower strands of the rubber continuous track, reducing oscillation amplitudes and allowing for lower track tension, while maintaining reliable lateral guidance, with optional configurations for cost-effective production and terrain adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the upper strand is allowed to oscillate freely between the tension wheel and drive wheel, then the track tension can be reduced, but the oscillation amplitude increases causing lateral guiding loss and track failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary support structure consisting of additional running wheels that contact the upper strand of the continuous track. These running wheels act as mediators to provide support points along the upper strand, reducing oscillation amplitudes without requiring increased track tension. The support wheels transfer the stabilizing function from the ends (tension and drive wheels) to intermediate positions, effectively damping oscillations while maintaining reduced tension levels.
2Reliability
If the rubber continuous track is tensioned in a powerful manner to prevent oscillation and lateral slipping, then the lateral guiding stability is improved, but the wear of the track is promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The additional running wheels serving as intermediaries reduce oscillation amplitudes by providing support points along the upper strand. This reduces the need for high track tension to maintain stability, thereby reducing friction and wear between the track and ground surface, extending the service life of the continuous track.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying full tension uniformly across the entire track to prevent oscillation, the patent applies partial support at specific intermediate positions through the additional running wheels. This partial action is sufficient to reduce oscillation amplitudes to acceptable levels without the excessive tension that would cause increased wear.
3Ease of manufacture
If all running wheels are configured with uniform size for cost-effective production, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to ensure contact of at least two running wheels with the upper strand while maintaining terrain adaptability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs all running wheels with uniform size and configuration, making them universal components that can be interchangeably mounted at different positions along the track chassis. This universality simplifies manufacturing and inventory management. The multi-functionality is achieved because the same standard running wheel design can serve both as a support wheel for the upper strand and as a terrain-following wheel, adapting to various ground conditions through the suspension system rather than requiring specialized wheel designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A track running gear for a track chassis of a civilian tracked vehicle, having a rubber continuous track guided circumferentially over an end drive wheel, an opposite tension wheel and over a plurality of running wheels. Each of the running wheels touches a lower strand of the rubber continuous track. At least two of the running wheels touch an upper strand, which upper strand is located opposite the lower strand, of the rubber continuous track.