JP2004314884A - Elastic crawler and crawler running device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elastic crawler having no core capable of precluding a pitch error and detracking without causing a deterioration of the fuel consumption by enabling suppression of a deformation of a driving projection even without increasing the tension to the crawler body too much. <P>SOLUTION: The elastic crawler having no core is equipped with a crawler body 8 consisting of a rubber-like elastic piece protruded from the inside circumferential surface in the condition that the driving projections 7 with which drive pins 13 installed on a drive sprocket 3 are engaged, are arranged at certain intervals in the circumferential direction, a bunch of lugs 9 formed on the peripheral surface of the crawler body 8 in the specified lug pattern, and a tension resisting piece 10 buried in the crawler body in the circumferential arrangement, in which the crawler body 8 is furnished with drive holes 16 where the sprocket teeth 14 provided on the drive sprocket 3 separately from the drive pins 13 are fitted in such a condition as laid at certain intervals in the circumferential direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coreless elastic crawler suitable for a crawler traveling device that travels at a relatively high speed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in high-speed tracked vehicles such as full trucks, half-tracks and RVs equipped with a crawler traveling device instead of wheels, it is necessary to employ a crawler traveling device capable of traveling on both rough terrain and public roads. In such a crawler traveling device for a high-speed crawler vehicle, since the traveling speed is relatively high, it is necessary to employ an elastic crawler having flexibility and light weight capable of high-speed rotation.
As such an elastic crawler having both flexibility and light weight, for example, there is a core-less type in which a core is not embedded in the crawler body, and this type of elastic crawler is usually fixed in the circumferential direction. A crawler body in which a plurality of drive projections arranged at intervals are integrally protruded from the inner peripheral surface, a lug group formed in a predetermined pattern on the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body, and a circumferential direction inside the crawler main body. (See Patent Document 1).
[0003]
FIGS. 5A to 5C show a driving method of the coreless elastic crawler 21. In the driving method shown in FIG. 5A, the projection 23 is formed in a symmetrical manner with respect to the center line in the width direction of the crawler main body 22 and the driving sprocket 24 is formed of a single central disk 25. Driving pins 26 are projected from both sides of the outer peripheral portion, and each of the driving pins 26 is engaged with the divided projection 23 to transmit the rotation of the driving sprocket 24 to the elastic crawler 21.
[0004]
In the driving method shown in FIG. 5B, a continuous projection 27 is formed at the center in the width direction of the crawler main body 22 and is continuous in the width direction. Are connected to each other by a drive pin 29, and the drive pin 29 is engaged with the continuous projection 27 to transmit the rotation of the drive sprocket 24 to the elastic crawler 21.
5C, the drive sprocket 24 is composed of a pair of left and right rubber tires 31 abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the crawler body 22 in a state of straddling the drive projection 30. The rotation of the drive sprocket 24 is transmitted to the elastic crawler 21 by the frictional force between the surface and the inner peripheral surface of the crawler body 22.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-129547 (FIGS. 1 and 4)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Among the above-mentioned conventional driving methods, in the pin driving method shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the driving pins 26 and 29 of the driving sprocket 24 and the driving projections (the split projection 23 or the continuous projection 27) of the crawler main body 22 are used. The rotation of the drive sprocket 24 is transmitted to the elastic crawler 21 only by the engagement of the drive pin with the drive pin. Excessive driving force received from 26 and 29 deforms the driving projection, which may cause a pitch error or wheel derailment.
[0007]
When such a pin-driven elastic crawler 21 is used in a traveling vehicle such as a combine or the like that travels on rough terrain, the mud or earth and sand caught in the driving sprocket 24 may be driven by the driving projections (the split projection 23 or the continuous projection 27). ), Which may cause pitch errors and derailing. Then, in order to prevent such a pitch error or derailing, the tension on the elastic crawler 21 may be increased, but this raises a new problem that the rotational resistance increases, energy loss increases, and fuel efficiency deteriorates. appear.
[0008]
On the other hand, in the friction drive system shown in FIG. 5C, when muddy soil and earth and sand adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the crawler body 22, the frictional force of the drive sprocket 24 (tire 31) is reduced to cause slip, and the elastic crawler In some cases, the driving force cannot be sufficiently transmitted to the motor 21. Then, in order to prevent such a slip, the tension on the elastic crawler 21 may be increased. However, in this case as well, a problem occurs in that the rotational resistance increases and the energy loss increases.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and it is possible to prevent a pitch error and a wheel drop without deteriorating fuel efficiency by suppressing deformation of a driving protrusion without increasing tension on a crawler body more than necessary. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coreless elastic crawler that can perform the above-mentioned steps.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has taken the following technical measures.
That is, the present invention provides a coreless elastic crawler employing the above-described pin drive method, in which drive holes into which respective sprocket teeth provided on a drive sprocket separately from the drive pins are fitted at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. It is characterized in that it is formed on the crawler body in a state of being lined up.
[0011]
In this case, the rotation of the drive sprocket is transmitted to the elastic crawler by not only engaging the drive pin of the drive sprocket with the drive protrusion of the crawler body, but also fitting the sprocket teeth of the sprocket into the drive holes of the crawler body. Therefore, the load on the drive projection is reduced as compared with the case where the power is transmitted only by the former engagement. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the driving projection without increasing the tension on the crawler body more than necessary.
In addition, since the sprocket teeth of the driving sprocket are fitted into the driving holes of the crawler body, the crawler body is prevented from being shifted in the width direction with respect to the driving sprocket, and the function of preventing the elastic crawler from coming off is improved.
[0012]
In the above-described present invention, it is preferable that the drive hole is constituted by a through-hole penetrating the crawler body in the front and back directions. When the drive hole including such a through hole is employed, the mud and earth and sand caught by the drive sprocket are discharged radially outward from the drive hole, so that a pitch error caused by the mud and earth and sand adhering to the drive protrusion is more effectively achieved. Can be prevented.
In the present invention, when the drive hole is arranged at the center in the width direction of the crawler body, the drive projection is arranged at a position shifted in the circumferential direction with respect to the drive hole and the center line in the width direction of the crawler body. Can be constituted by divided projections divided symmetrically with respect to the axis of symmetry. If such a split projection is employed, the crawler body will be mounted on the sprocket with the drive sprocket sandwiched between the split projections (see FIG. 1 (a)). On the other hand, the deviation in the width direction is more reliably suppressed, and the function of preventing the elastic crawler from falling off is further improved.
[0013]
Further, when the drive hole is arranged at the center of the crawler body in the width direction, the drive projection is positioned at a position shifted in the circumferential direction with respect to the drive hole and in the width direction arranged at the center of the crawler body in the width direction. It may be constituted by a continuous projection. If such continuous projections are employed, the sprocket teeth of the driving sprocket will be caught not only by the driving holes but also by the driving projections (see FIG. 3A), so that the function of preventing the pitch error of the elastic crawler is further improved. improves.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a coreless elastic crawler 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a crawler traveling device 2 using the crawler 1.
The crawler traveling device 2 of the present embodiment is mounted instead of wheels of a full truck, a half truck, an RV vehicle, and the like so that the crawler traveling device 2 can travel on both rough terrain and public roads. As shown in FIG. 2, the traveling device 2 includes a driving sprocket 3 disposed at the upper center of the driving wheels, a pair of front and rear idlers 4, 4, and a plurality of rows arranged between the idlers 4 and 4. Rollers 5 are provided, and the elastic crawlers 1 are wound around the outer periphery thereof in a substantially triangular shape in a side view.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment has a core metal in which a plurality of drive protrusions 7 arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction (arrow x direction in FIG. 2) are integrally provided from an inner peripheral surface. Crawler body 8, a lug group 9 composed of a large number of lugs 9A formed on the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body 8 in a predetermined lug pattern, and a crawler body embedded in the crawler body 8 along the circumferential direction. The crawler body 10 includes a tension member 10 and a width-direction reinforcing layer 11 embedded inside the crawler body 8 on the outer peripheral side of the tension member 10.
[0016]
Among them, the crawler body 8 is formed in an endless band shape having a substantially constant thickness by a rubber-like elastic body, and is located at the center of the inner peripheral surface of the crawler body 8 in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1A). The drive projection 7 made of a rubber-like elastic body of the same material as the crawler body 8 is integrally provided. The drive projection 7 of the present embodiment is constituted by a divided projection 12 having a substantially trapezoidal shape in a side view, which is divided symmetrically with respect to the center line in the width direction of the crawler body 8 as a symmetric axis.
[0017]
Each of the divided projections 12 is provided over the entire circumference of the crawler body 8 at a constant interval in the circumferential direction, and a drive pin 13 (described later) projecting from the drive sprocket 3 is engaged with each of the divided projections 12. By combining, the elastic crawler 1 can be driven along the circumferential direction. Note that a hard resin or metal reinforcing member may be embedded inside the split projection 12.
The tensile member 10 is configured by juxtaposing tensile cords such as steel cords extending along the circumferential direction. On the other hand, the width direction reinforcing layer 11 is configured by arranging tensile strength cords such as steel cords in a direction inclined with respect to the circumferential direction. The reinforcing layer 11 can be provided on the inner peripheral side of the tensile body 10 or on both the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, a driving sprocket 3 of the present embodiment includes a sprocket body 15 having a plurality of sprocket teeth 14 arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral edge, and a sprocket body 15 on both sides of the outer peripheral portion of the sprocket body 15. A pair of left and right drive pins 13 projecting from the surface is provided, and the drive pins 13 are arranged at regular intervals at circumferential positions corresponding to the sprocket teeth 14.
On the other hand, the crawler body 8 of the elastic crawler 1 has, in addition to the drive projection 7 (divided projection 12) with which the drive pin 13 is engaged, the drive sprocket 3 provided separately from the drive pin 13. Drive holes 16 into which the respective sprocket teeth 14 fit are formed in a state of being arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The drive hole 16 is formed of a through hole that penetrates the crawler body 8 in the front and back directions, and is disposed at the center of the crawler body 8 in the width direction. In addition, the drive protrusion 7 (divided protrusion 12) and the drive hole 16 are arranged at positions shifted from each other in the circumferential direction.
[0019]
According to the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration, not only the driving pin 13 of the driving sprocket 3 engages with the driving projection 7 of the crawler body 8, but also the sprocket teeth 14 of the sprocket 3 The rotation of the drive sprocket 3 is also transmitted to the elastic crawler 1 by being fitted into the drive hole 16. For this reason, the load on the drive projection 7 is reduced as compared with the case where power is transmitted only by the engagement between the drive sprocket 3 and the drive pin 13, so that the tension on the crawler body 8 does not need to be increased more than necessary. The deformation of the driving projection 7 can be suppressed.
[0020]
Further, since the sprocket teeth 14 of the driving sprocket 3 fit into the driving holes 16 of the crawler main body 8, the crawler main body 8 is prevented from being displaced in the width direction with respect to the driving sprocket 3, and the elastic crawler 1 has a function of preventing the elastic crawler 1 from coming off. Is improved. In particular, in the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, the crawler body 8 is mounted on the sprocket 3 with the driving sprocket 3 sandwiched between the split protrusions 12 from the left and right. The displacement of the main body 8 in the width direction with respect to the drive sprocket 3 is more reliably suppressed, and the function of preventing the elastic crawler 1 from coming off the wheel is further improved.
[0021]
Further, in the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment, since the drive hole 16 is formed of a through hole that penetrates the crawler body 8 in the front and back directions, the mud and the earth and sand caught by the drive sprocket 3 are removed from the drive hole 16. There is also an advantage that the pitch error caused by the muddy soil and the earth and sand adhering to the driving projections 7 can be prevented from being discharged to the radial outside.
[0022]
FIG. 3 shows an elastic crawler 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
The difference between the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment and that of the first embodiment is that the drive projection 7 is located at a position shifted in the circumferential direction with respect to the drive hole 16 and at the center of the crawler body 8 in the width direction. In this case, the valleys of the sprocket teeth 14 of the driving sprocket 3 are formed deeper by the height of the driving projections 7 (continuous projections 17). The other configuration is almost the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0023]
Therefore, in the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment, substantially the same operation and effects as those of the elastic crawler 1 of the first embodiment (FIG. 1) can be obtained, and as shown in FIG. Since the teeth 14 are hooked not only on the drive holes 16 but also on the drive projections 7, the pitch error of the elastic crawler 1 and the function of preventing wheel removal can be further improved.
[0024]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), in this kind of elastic crawler 1, when the arrangement pitch P1 of the driving projections 7 is set to twice the lug pitch P2, the rigidity between the driving projections 7 and the lugs 9A is considerably high. When the crawler traveling device 2 rides over a step, a large local deformation may occur in the thin portion 18 and the elastic crawler 1 may be easily damaged.
[0025]
Therefore, in the elastic crawler 1 according to each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4A, by arranging the driving protrusion 7 and the lug 9A in such a manner that the foot portion of the lug 9A always wraps in the circumferential direction. The thin portion 18 as described above is prevented from being generated in the crawler body 8. More specifically, assuming that the circumferential pitch of the drive protrusion 7 is P, the distance between the centers of the drive protrusion 7 and the lug 9A is Q, the foot length of the drive protrusion 7 is R, and the foot length of the lug 9A is S, The circumferential arrangement of the driving projection 7 and the lug 9A is set so as to satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2).
(1) P / 4 <Q <P / 2
(2) 2Q-S <R <2Q + S
[0026]
Note that the above-described embodiments are all examples and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and all changes within the scope equivalent to the configuration described therein are also included in the present invention.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, a drive sprocket 24 is used in which the outer peripheral portions of a pair of left and right divided disks 28 are connected to each other by drive pins 29, and the outer peripheral edge of each divided disk 28 is provided. The sprocket teeth 14 may be formed, and in this case, the drive holes 16 need to be arranged in two rows on the left and right corresponding to the sprocket teeth 14 of the divided disks 28.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the drive projection without increasing the tension on the crawler body more than necessary, so that it is possible to prevent a pitch error or a wheel drop without deteriorating fuel consumption. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an elastic crawler according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing an engaged state of the crawler and a driving sprocket.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a crawler traveling device equipped with the elastic crawler.
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of an elastic crawler according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing an engagement state between the crawler and a driving sprocket.
FIG. 4A is a side sectional view of an elastic crawler according to each of the above embodiments, and FIG. 4B is a side sectional view of an elastic crawler according to a comparative example.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conventional elastic crawler and a driving sprocket are engaged.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 elastic crawler 2 crawler traveling device 3 drive sprocket 4 idler 5 wheel 7 drive protrusion 8 crawler body 9 lug group 10 tension member 12 split protrusion 13 drive pin 14 sprocket tooth 16 drive hole 17 continuous protrusion

Claims (5)

The rubber-like elastic body protruding from the inner peripheral surface in a state where the driving projections (7) with which the respective driving pins (13) provided on the driving sprocket (3) are respectively engaged are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The crawler body (8), a lug group (9) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body (8) in a predetermined lug pattern, and embedded in the crawler body (8) along the circumferential direction. A coreless elastic crawler comprising a tensile body (10);
The crawler body in a state in which drive holes (16) into which respective sprocket teeth (14) provided on the drive sprocket (3) separately from the drive pin (13) are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. An elastic crawler, which is formed in (8). The elastic crawler according to claim 1, wherein the drive hole (16) is formed by a through hole that penetrates the crawler body (8) in the front-back direction. The drive hole (16) is arranged at the center in the width direction of the crawler body (8), the drive projection (7) is arranged at a position shifted in the circumferential direction with respect to the drive hole (16), and the crawler body (8). The elastic crawler according to claim 1, further comprising a split protrusion (12) divided symmetrically with respect to the center line in the width direction of the symmetrical axis with respect to the axis of symmetry. The drive hole (16) is arranged at the center in the width direction of the crawler body (8), and the drive projection (7) is located at a position shifted in the circumferential direction with respect to the drive hole (16) and the width of the crawler body (8). The elastic crawler according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a continuous projection (17) arranged in the center in the width direction and continuous in the width direction. In a crawler traveling device including a driving sprocket (3), an idler (4), a plurality of rolling wheels (5), and an elastic crawler wound around the outer periphery thereof,
The elastic crawler comprises an elastic crawler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and the driving sprocket (3) is provided with a driving pin (7) which engages with a driving projection (7) of the elastic crawler (1). 13) and a sprocket tooth (14) fitted into a drive hole (16) of the crawler (1).

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