Undercarriage Linkage for Cantilevered Arm Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The undercarriage chassis of working machines, such as excavators and telehandlers, experiences distortion and buckling due to reaction forces during operations, which can lead to relative movement between cantilevered arms, compromising the mounting of axles and increasing material and weight requirements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a linkage member that extends between the cantilevered arms to restrict their movement, thereby mitigating the effect of reaction forces without increasing the chassis thickness, and providing a compact arrangement for axle mounting while allowing for removable assembly for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the chassis in the end region is increased to increase the rigidity of the cantilevered arms, then the resistance to relative movement between arms is improved, but the weight and material usage of the undercarriage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The undercarriage is divided into modular components: the chassis, two separate cantilevered arms, and a linkage member. This segmentation allows the linkage member to provide structural support specifically where needed between the arms, rather than requiring the entire chassis to be thicker and heavier.
Solution Approach 2:
A linkage member is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second cantilevered arms. This linkage member restricts relative movement between the arms and mitigates the effect of reaction forces, providing the necessary rigidity without increasing the thickness or weight of the main chassis body.
2Reliability
If a linkage member is added to restrict movement between arms, then the stability of the axle mounting is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it restricts relative movement between the cantilevered arms, mounts the axle assembly to the chassis, and mitigates the effect of reaction forces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage member is designed as a universal component that performs multiple tasks: providing structural connection between arms, serving as a mounting point for the axle, and acting as a restraint against movement. This multi-functionality improves axle mounting stability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Strength
If the chassis thickness is increased to prevent distortion under working loads, then the strength against reaction forces is improved, but the material usage and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than increasing the thickness of the entire chassis, the solution segments the structural reinforcement function into a separate linkage member component. This allows material to be placed only where structurally necessary, between the cantilevered arms, minimizing overall material usage while maintaining strength against reaction forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage member acts as an intermediary structural element that bears and distributes reaction forces between the cantilevered arms. This intermediary component prevents distortion under working loads without requiring the main chassis body to be made from excessive material, thus reducing overall material usage.
Data Source
AI summary
An undercarriage for a working machine having a chassis. The chassis includes a first axle mount and a first axle assembly mounted to the first axle mount. The first axle assembly has a first axle with first and second ends for pivotably mounting first and second wheels. The first axle mount is provided in the form of first and second arms extending from the chassis to define a channel therebetween, and the undercarriage is configured to restrict movement of the first and second arms.