Track Unit Speed-Increasing Gear System for Ground Work Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ground work vehicles face a reduction in maximum forward travel speed and incorrect axle synchronization when transitioning from wheels to track units due to the reduced diameter of the driving wheel, leading to variations in transmission ratio.
Innovation Solution
A track unit with an epicyclic gear system that connects to the axle flanges without altering the motor drive unit, using a hub and angular speed-increasing gear system to maintain transmission ratio equality between wheel and track configurations, and a torque limiter to prevent damage from motor peaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If track units are mounted on the axle to replace simple wheels, then the machine can operate on different ground types and perform various operations, but the maximum forward travel speed is reduced and incorrect synchronization between axles occurs due to the reduced diameter of the driving wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device - a step-up gear system with a pinion gear and sector gear - between the axle and the driving wheel of the track unit. This gear system acts as a mediator that compensates for the speed reduction caused by the smaller driving wheel diameter, thereby maintaining the original travel speed while preserving the adaptability benefits of track units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission ratio parameter by incorporating a step-up gear system that increases the rotational speed from the axle to the driving wheel. This parameter modification allows the track unit to overcome the speed limitation imposed by its smaller wheel diameter, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and speed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If track units with reduced diameter driving wheels are used, then the machine can function on various ground types, but the transmission ratio is reduced considerably leading to incorrect synchronization between axles
Solution Approach 1:
The step-up gear system serves as an intermediary mechanism that restores the correct transmission ratio between the axle and the track unit's driving wheel. By inserting this gear system, the patent maintains proper synchronization between axles while preserving the functional adaptability provided by the track units.
3Speed
If additional transmission boxes are added to maintain transmission ratio when using track units, then speed and synchronization can be maintained, but the device complexity and economic competitiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a complete separate transmission box, the patent segments the transmission function into a compact gear system (pinion gear and sector gear) that is integrated directly into the track unit assembly. This segmentation approach maintains speed and synchronization while avoiding the complexity of a full additional transmission box.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the speed compensation function with the existing track unit structure by integrating the step-up gear system directly into the hub assembly. This merging eliminates the need for a separate transmission box, thereby maintaining speed performance while reducing device complexity and improving economic competitiveness.
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
Ensures reliable and safe operation with consistent speed values and economic competitiveness by maintaining transmission ratio and synchronization between wheel and track configurations without requiring additional transmission boxes.
Implementation Method 1
a) an angular speed-increasing epicyclic gear system (9), having an input rotation rate connected to a rotation rate of the hub (8) and an output rotation rate connected to a rotation rate of the driving wheel (4)
Implementation Method 2
c) a torque limiter (11) arranged between the hub (8) and the angular speed-increasing gear system (9), the torque limiter (11) being designed to prevent a torque exceeding a predetermined maximum value from being transmitted from the hub (8) to the angular speed-increasing gear system (9)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A track unit for ground work vehicle, which comprises a structure (3) for supporting a driving wheel (4) that transmits motion to a ground resting track (5); the track unit is designed to be mounted as an alternative to a wheel at the end of at least one axle (1) of the work vehicle that is provided with a motor drive unit designed with such characteristics as to give the machine correct values of the transmission ratio, i.e., of the travel speed in the configuration in which wheels are mounted at the ends of the axle (1); the track unit further comprises a speed-increasing gear system interposed between a hub (8), designed to be connected to a flange (1a, 1b) of the axle (1) of the work vehicle, and the driving wheel (4) that moves the track (5).