DE9001983U1 - Tracked vehicle crawler, especially for small tracked vehicles - Google Patents

Description

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The invention relates to a track for tracked vehicles, in particular for tracked vehicles of small dimensions.

The tracks currently in use are composed of a variety of interconnected elements, such as track links, pins, rings , sleeves, sole-like structures, track nuts and other elements. The presence of a variety

interconnected elements give the kaupe a lO

sshr good functionality both in terms of War*:-.; ^&idigr; as regarding the use of this track. Furthermore, the possibility of replacing certain parts of the track is improved; the service life of this track is ^{significantly} reduced; the efficiency of this track is kept high and constant.

The presence of a large number of elements of suitable shape gives the caterpillar a particularly flexible structure,

which is able to perfectly fit on the drive wheel according to a 20

to run flexibly in an involute or involute-shaped outline, This is one that enables the tracked vehicle to move with the lowest possible energy consumption and without vibrations.

to move. 26

Unfortunately, a track composed of a large number of elements becomes more and more complicated and expensive as the track dimensions decrease.

In order to keep these costs under control in a reasonable manner

To achieve this, small-sized crawlers and thus small-sized tracked vehicles are manufactured in a simplified manner, which therefore also results in limited flexibility properties.

Due to the low flexibility during movement, such types of crawlers are articulated around the drive wheel and folaen

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the involute or involute line only approximately. Due to this fact, the tracks are no longer sufficiently gripped by the drive wheel, which leads to vibrations

which are transferred to the design of the machine 5

whose intensity increases the

Machine speed. The simplified intervention of the surfaces of the .laupe, which

the crawler guide rollers, leads to a 10

Discarding the caterpillar, especially at high

speeds with the phenomena of wear and considerable vibrations transmitted to the machine structure.

15

These crawlers of simplified construction have sufficient

Services only in the case of very slow vehicles and only if the bridging distance is short.

The invention is based on the object of developing a caterpillar

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;- which is able to compensate for the above-mentioned disadvantages

>] to overcome, i.e. is able to use a

limited number of elements to be assembled

·§ and which is therefore simple and inexpensive, but which

at the same time flexible enough to be able to

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correspond^ to an involute or involute outline

P and ep therefore allows the machine to

to drive at high speed.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a crawler track 30, for tracked vehicles, in particular for tracked vehicles

&ngr; small dimensions, where the motion transmission to

■ the caterpillar is reached by means of at least one

drive gear and a reversing gear, where between

the two wheels a variety of crawler guide rollers 35

are installed, whereby this caterpillar has a variety of relatively

crawler links that are articulated to one another. The invention is characterized in that each crawler link is formed

is formed by a single casting with a sole-shaped part and a collar-shaped part, two standard-shaped parts with first ends designed such that a single

Part is provided with the clamp part and second ends &ogr;

are arranged, each of a hinge-eye-like shape, these hinge-eye-like parts having mutually opposing inner surfaces which are spaced apart from one another by a slightly greater length than the axial length of the connecting part, in order to enable adjacent crawler links to be coupled in a link-like manner by a respective hinge pin which passes through the ring part of a crawler link and the hinge-eye parts of the adjacent crawler link, these arm parts

Sliding surfaces parallel and opposite to the sole-like part Ib

and the ring-like part, which represents a cylindrical outer surface on which the teeth of the drive wheel act according to an involute or involute-shaped outline.

Examples of embodiments of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Fig. 1 a perspective bottom view of two 25

interconnected caterpillar links according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a partially sectioned bottom view of the track links according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a front view of the track links, and 30

Fig. 4 shows schematically a track according to the invention, applied to an undercarriage of a tracked vehicle.

The caterpillar according to the invention, generally designated 1, 35

comprises a plurality of crawler links 2 which are linked to one another and driven by a drive wheel 11. The crawler links 2 are guided by crawler guide rollers 14

and deflected via a deflection wheel 15. Each track link 2 (see in particular Fig. 2) comprises a sole-shaped part 3, a ring or clamp-like part

4, two arm-shaped parts 5 and two parts that form the shape 6

of articulated eyelets 6, as well as a pin

The sole-like part 3 is formed by two cross rails 8 which are united by a web 9.

At least one slot 10 is provided on the membrane 9 and in the middle or near the middle of the chain link.

By means of the provided in each sole-like part 3

The caterpillar 1 has a self-cleaning effect, namely 15

in that the drive wheel 11 is able to expel the earth that has penetrated between the caterpillar links, thus limiting any "stuffing effect". It is clear to the expert that under special working conditions,

For example, in particularly clayey soil, with 20

wet soil, straw, etc., which the caterpillar can easily latch onto.

Under these conditions, flexibility is impaired and

Excessive stresses are created on the caterpillar. The 25

Slot 10, on the other hand, allows the material blocking the track to be discharged more effectively and is able to eliminate such excessive stresses.

The sole-shaped part 3, the ring or clamp-like part " ' "

4 as well as both arm parts 5 and both joint eye parts 6 are cast in a single body; the expensive separate production of the elements and their assembly is thus avoided.

In fact, the arm parts 5 are cast as a single piece at their first ends, with both the opposing parts of the ring part 4 and each of the

second ends form a respective joint eye part 6. The axial length of the ring or clamp part 4 is slightly shorter than the distance between the

opposite inner surfaces of the joint eye parts 6 and 5

makes it possible for adjacent links 2 of the track 1 to be coupled together. The inner diameter of the clamp or ring part 4 and the inner diameter of the joint eye part 6 are such that when coupled by the

Pin you ss possible -,see, dag sbsn disssr pin axial 10

is blocked and at the same time the mutual articulation of the two adjacent track links is possible.

The arm parts 5 are provided with sliding surfaces 13, which 15

parallel and opposite to the sole-like part 3, on which the crawler rollers 14 rest. The sliding surfaces have a regular, continuous shape and, apart from the fact that they are in engagement with the rollers 14

- and thus make it possible for the vehicle to be 20

is supported - guide the caterpillar.

This Rsups 1 "iircL iscntisrt, inclsm &igr;&ggr;.&eegr;&pgr; through the pins "xäeir bolts 7 each clamp or ringtail 4 of the track link 2

with pairs of joint eye parts 6 of the adjacent 25

Caterpillar link 2 united.

When the track link 1 is assembled, the outer cylinder surfaces of the ring or clamp parts 4 form the

Slideway for the teeth of the drive wheel 11, so that when 30

the machine is running, an engagement takes place according to a circular involute outline, which facilitates the translational movement of the machine - the machine can therefore run at even higher speeds - and the wear rate is reduced.

The sole-like part 3, which is of the type with two cross rails 8, represents the best compromise between the

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Ability to grip the ground and the maneuverability of the machine.

The dimensions of the sole-like part 3 can be 5

vary as a function of different requirements: a "larger" surface area in case the specific pressure exerted on the ground must be kept within narrow limits and a "smaller" surface area if one wishes to favour manoeuvrability and

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To reduce the wear rate relative to the drive wheel and the support rollers 14.

The track links 2 can be cast from special cast iron

which is capable of high flowability at 15

its melting point, so that it is possible for the manufacturer to maintain high precision in dimensions and reduce or even avoid further processing steps.

20

For the intended purpose, cast iron should be used which has the following chemical composition:

25 30

C 3.70 Si 2.60 Mn 0.31 Cr 0.028 S 0.014 P 0.029 No 1.45 Su 0.03 Mg 0.076 Cu 0.83 Mon 0.31

35

By means of a considered hardening heat treatment a favorable combination between bainite and the rest austenite can be obtained and the characteristics of

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Strength and toughness are achievable
comparable to those of a structural steel that is hardened,
tempered and surface hardened. The mechanical
Features are as follows:

R. 1150 N/ ^mm2 HRc. 40 A. 10%

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The achieved mechanical properties make the ^;

Achieving a correct compromise between hardness and toughness with good wear behaviour and resistance to fatigue .

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Claims (5)

I * ti * · · -8- Claims 1. Tracked vehicle crawler, especially for £sit£ahrsaug small dimensions, with dev, ?&lgr; the motion transfer to the caterpillar {1) is possible by at least one Hsit SUrnesa occupied drive wheel {3.1) andd a reversing wheel (15) is provided and between the 10 both wheels (Ii, 15) a variety of Caterpillar guide rollers (14) are arranged and this caterpillar H) has a plurality of chain links (2) which are articulated relative to one another, thereby characterized in that each chain link (2) 15 is formed by a single casting with a sole-like part (3), a ring-shaped part (4), two arm-shaped parts (5), the first ends of which are structured as a single component with the ring part (4) and with second ends, each of which forms a part of the 20 joint eye (6), wherein these joint eye parts (6) have opposing inner surfaces spaced apart from each other by a distance less than the length of the axial length of the ring component (4) such that adjacent 26 Caterpillar links (2) are articulated by a respective Articulated pin (7) which runs through the ring or clamp part (4) of a track link (2) and the joint eye parts (6) of the adjacent track link (2) are coupled, wherein these arm parts (5) have sliding surfaces (13) parallel and 30 opposite the sole-like part (3) and this mandatory or annular part (4) which in turn form a cylindrical outer surface on which the teeth of the drive wheel (11) are arranged according to an involute or Involute outline. 35 ft ···· t· t · ttt· II· ti &igr; · i · · -9- 2. Caterpillar according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that the sole-like part (3) comprises two rails (8) connected by a web (9) having.
5 3. Caterpillar according to claim 2, characterized characterized in that the web or the membrane (9) is provided with at least one slot H.O) which is provided at or near the center, 4. Caterpillar according to claim 1, characterized g ® indicates that Si** consists of cast iron with the following chemical composition: C = 3.70; Si = 2.60; Ni = 0.3i; Cr = 0.028; S = 0.01i; Ni - 0.029; Ni - 1.46; Sn = 0.03; Mg = 0.076; Cu = 0.83; Mo = 0.31. 5. Caterpillar according to claim 4, characterized characterized in that it is has been hardened by thermal manufacturing treatment.