Pivoting Track Support Structure With Guide Rail to Limit Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional track systems face issues such as de-tracking, excessive deformation, and wear of support wheel assemblies due to interaction with endless tracks, particularly on soft and uneven ground surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A support structure for track systems that includes an axle assembly connected to a frame via biasing components and connectors, allowing pivotal movement and featuring a guide rail that resiliently deforms to maintain consistent distances and limit track deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If support wheel assemblies pivot to conform to obstacles, then the track system can overcome obstacles, but the wheel assemblies experience excessive wear from interfering with lugs on the endless tracks
Solution Approach 1:
A guide rail is introduced as an intermediary component between the support wheel assemblies and the endless track. The guide rail receives the support wheel assemblies and guides them along a predetermined path, preventing direct contact and interference between the wheel assemblies and the track lugs, thereby reducing wear while maintaining obstacle-conquering capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If endless tracks deform to conform to obstacles, then the track system can overcome obstacles, but excessive deformation occurs which reduces the life of the tracks
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail serves as a mediator that limits and controls the deformation of the endless track. By guiding the support wheel assemblies and restricting their lateral movement, the guide rail prevents excessive deformation of the track while still allowing necessary flexibility to overcome obstacles
3Ease of operation
If conventional track systems are used on soft and uneven ground surfaces, then traction is achieved, but the tires compact the ground surface in an undesirable way
Solution Approach 1:
The track system divides the continuous track into modular segments with individual support wheel assemblies that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows each wheel assembly to adapt to local ground conditions, distributing the vehicle weight more evenly across the ground surface and reducing compaction compared to conventional solid tires
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 solution enhances traction and reduces wear by allowing the support structure to pivot and adapt to ground obstacles while maintaining contact with the guide rail, thereby improving the longevity and performance of the track system.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second biasing components bias the axle assembly toward a first configuration
Implementation Method 2
a guide rail that resiliently deforms to maintain consistent distances and limit track deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A support structure for connecting support wheel assemblies to a frame of a track system, the track system defining a longitudinal direction. The support structure comprising an axle assembly pivotally connectable to the frame. The axle assembly including an axle and a longitudinal member connected to the axle. The longitudinal member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the longitudinal member defining a longitudinal pivot axis extending between the first and second end portions. The support structure further comprising a biasing component in contact with the longitudinal member, the biasing component configured to connect the axle assembly to the frame, and the biasing component biasing the axle assembly toward a first configuration.