Undulated Track Section Crossbar for Grip and Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track sections lack effective designs for improving grip and carrying capacity on wet or slippery terrain while minimizing ground damage.
Innovation Solution
A track section design featuring an elongated crossbar member with undulated support surfaces and lateral support members, where the undulations on each support surface are offset to enhance grip and distribute pressure evenly, reducing stress concentration and potential breakage, and incorporating a tyre-engaging element for improved traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the crossbar member has a smooth support surface, then the interface area with the ground is large and continuous, but the grip between the crossbar member and the ground is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface of the crossbar member is designed with undulations featuring wave crests and wave troughs instead of a smooth surface. These curved undulations improve grip between the crossbar member and the ground while maintaining a large interface area, resolving the contradiction between grip and smoothness.
2Force
If undulations are provided along the entire length of the crossbar member, then grip is improved, but stress concentration occurs at the middle section where the crossbar member is most heavily loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The undulated support surface is applied locally to specific sections of the crossbar member rather than uniformly across the entire length. This local application of undulations improves grip in areas where it is most beneficial while avoiding stress concentration at the middle section where the crossbar member experiences highest loads, thus resolving the contradiction between grip and strength.
3Device complexity
If the crossbar member concentrates force on a small area, then the structure is simpler, but the surface pressure on the ground is high causing ground damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is extended in the cross-direction of the crossbar member through undulations that create wave crests and wave troughs extending across the width. This dimensional extension distributes the contact area laterally, reducing surface pressure on the ground while maintaining structural simplicity, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and ground protection.
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 design enhances grip and carrying capacity on challenging terrain while minimizing ground damage through improved interface contact and stress distribution, ensuring effective traction and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The undulations on said first and second elongated support surface sections will improve the grip between the crossbar member and the ground when the crossbar member is in contact with the ground
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A track section (10) adapted to be linked to a plurality of similar track sections to form a track belt for mounting around the outer periphery of vehicle tyres. The track section comprises a crossbar member (11) and two lateral support members (12). A ground engageable support surface is provided on the outer side (14) of the crossbar member and comprises first and second elongated support surface sections (16, 17) extending in parallel with each other in the longitudinal direction of the crossbar member on opposite sides of a longitudinal centre line of the crossbar member. Each one of these elongated support surface sections (16, 17) is undulated, at least over a major part of its longitudinal extension, so as to form undulated support surface areas (18) with wave crests (19) and wave troughs (20) extending in the cross-direction of the crossbar member.