Power Machine Wheel-to-Track Conversion With Modular Stub Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power machines equipped with wheels or tracks require substantial reconfiguration to switch between tractive elements, making practical or economic conversion between wheeled and tracked operation difficult.
Innovation Solution
A kit and method for converting wheeled power machines to tracked power machines by replacing wheels with track assemblies, utilizing a stub shaft to support a track frame and a segmented sprocket to facilitate easy installation and tensioning of endless tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional power machines are designed with fixed tractive elements (wheels or tracks), then the machine structure is simple and reliable, but the machine cannot be converted between different tractive element types without substantial reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion kit divides the tractive element system into separable components: stub shafts that attach to the axle, track frames that mount to the stub shafts, and sprockets that replace the wheels. This segmentation allows each component to be independently installed and removed, enabling easy conversion between wheeled and tracked configurations without substantial reconfiguration of the entire machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The stub shafts are designed to serve dual purposes: they can be used with wheels in the original wheeled configuration and with track frames in the tracked configuration. This universality allows the same base components (axle, stub shaft) to support different tractive element types, enabling conversion between configurations without replacing fundamental structural elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complete wheel assembly is replaced with a track assembly, then the power machine can operate on different terrain types, but the conversion process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion process is segmented into independent steps: attaching stub shafts to the axle, mounting track frames to the stub shafts, and installing sprockets on the hub. This segmentation allows the conversion to be performed systematically and efficiently, reducing overall conversion time compared to replacing entire wheel assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The stub shafts are pre-designed to attach directly to the existing axle hubs, and the track frames are pre-configured to mount to the stub shafts. This preliminary design of the conversion components allows for rapid assembly during the conversion process, minimizing the time required to switch between terrain configurations.
3Reliability
If wheels are replaced with tracks, then the power machine can provide better traction on soft or uneven terrain, but the structural complexity of the tractive assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: stub shafts for attachment to the axle, track frames for structural support, and sprockets for power transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability, and the modular structure actually reduces complexity compared to a monolithic wheel assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The stub shafts and track frames form a universal attachment system that can be used with different types of tracks and sprockets. This universality allows the same structural components to support various track configurations, reducing the overall complexity of the tractive assembly while maintaining reliable traction performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A kit and corresponding method can be used to convert wheels of a power machine to track assemblies, such as to convert a four-wheeled power machine to a quad track power machine. A stub shaft (346) can be secured to an axle (328) of a power machine (300) and can be configured to support a track frame (366) of a track assembly in place of a wheel (319). A bearing (368) can be secured to the stub shaft (346) and a bushing (376) can engage the axle (328) to rotatably support the track assembly relative to the axle (328). Pieces of a segmented sprocket (378, 380) can be separately secured to a hub (306) of a power machine (300) to help install and drive a track of a track assembly.