JP2008143208A - Crawler traveling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a crawler traveling device hardly damaging a machine body frame or the crawler traveling device even if constituted to be adjustable in lateral rolling and pitching and to improve grounding property of a crawler belt to unevenness of a road surface or a field. <P>SOLUTION: The crawler traveling device 1 connecting and supporting a swing track frame 24 vertically swingable like a balance around a fulcrum P at the rear of a track frame 21, comprises a swing limiting mechanism A limiting a swing range of forward falling swing of the swing track frame 24 with its front part and rear part swinging downward and upward respectively with respect to the track frame 21 in the forward falling attitude of the track frame 21 with its front part and rear part swinging downward and upward respectively with respect to the machine body frame 7 by operating front and rear swing mechanisms 8, 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a swingable track frame in which a track frame is connected to and supported by an airframe frame via a front and rear swing mechanisms so as to be swingable up and down, and can swing up and down like a balance around a fulcrum of the rear portion of the track frame. The present invention relates to a crawler traveling device that supports and supports the above.

As a conventional technique, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a truck frame (7 in FIG. 2 in Patent Document 1) is attached to a body frame (6 in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1) and a front part and a rear part are shaken. It is connected and supported so as to be able to swing up and down via a moving link (34 and 35 in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1), and the posture of the track frame relative to the body frame can be changed by operating the front and rear swing links. A crawler traveling device configured to be capable of adjusting left and right rolling and pitching is known (see FIGS. 3 to 5 of Patent Document 1).
As disclosed in Patent Document 2, a second divided track frame (15 in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 2) is connected to a support frame (22 in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 2) that can swing up and down like a balance. A plurality of grounding wheels and drive sprockets (10 and 8 in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 2) which are located in the second half of the crawler grounding range are pivotally mounted on the second divided track frame to support the road surface or the field. 2. Description of the Related Art A crawler traveling device configured to improve the ground contact property of a crawler belt with respect to unevenness is known.

JP 2002-96771 A (see FIGS. 2 to 5) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-51875 (see FIGS. 2 and 6)

  By applying the second divided track frame disclosed in Patent Document 2 to the crawler traveling device disclosed in Patent Document 1, left and right rolling adjustment and pitching adjustment are possible, and the crawler belt against unevenness on the road surface or the field It is conceivable to construct a crawler traveling device having improved traveling performance by improving the ground contact performance.

However, the crawler traveling device is configured as described above, and the front and rear portions of the track frame swing downward and upward with respect to the body frame, respectively (for example, the posture of FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1) When the front portion and the rear portion of the second divided track frame swing downward and upward with respect to the track frame (for example, FIG. 6 (C) of Patent Document 2), the crawler belt positioned above the tension ring is used as the body frame. There is a risk of damage to the fuselage frame and the crawler travel device (see FIG. 10B). In particular, when the work vehicle equipped with the crawler traveling device configured as described above is driven on a road surface or a field with large unevenness, or is loaded onto a loading platform such as a truck, the second divided track frame is greatly moved up and down. Since there is a possibility of swinging, there is a high probability of damaging the fuselage frame.
The present invention is a crawler traveling that can adjust the left and right rolling and pitching, and can improve the grounding property of the crawler belt against the road surface or the unevenness of the field, but the body frame and the crawler traveling device are not easily damaged. The object is to realize the device.

[I]
(Constitution)
The first feature of the present invention is that a crawler belt is wound around a driving sprocket at the front end, a tension wheel at the rear end, and a plurality of grounding wheels arranged between them, so that the track frame is placed in front of the body frame. The track frame is configured to be connected and supported so as to be able to swing up and down via the front and rear swing mechanisms, and the posture of the track frame relative to the body frame can be changed by operating the front and rear swing mechanisms. A swing track frame that can swing up and down like a balance is connected and supported around a fulcrum of the rear portion of the frame, and the plurality of grounding wheels and tension wheels that are located in the second half of the crawler grounding range are connected to the swing track frame. In the crawler traveling device to which the shaft support is attached, the configuration is as follows.
By operating the front and rear swing mechanisms, the swing track with respect to the track frame is in a front-down position in which the front and rear portions of the track frame swing downward and upward with respect to the body frame, respectively. A rocking restriction mechanism is provided for restricting the rocking range of the front falling rocking in which the front part and the rear part of the frame are rocked downward and upward, respectively.

(Function)
According to the first feature of the present invention, with the above configuration, by operating the front and rear swing mechanisms, left and right rolling adjustment and pitching adjustment can be performed, and the swing track frame can be used to cope with unevenness on the road surface or the field. The grounding property of the crawler belt can be improved.
When the track frame is in the forward-downward posture, the swing range of the swing-down swing of the swing track frame can be limited by the swing limit mechanism and is positioned above the tension wheel that is pivotally mounted on the swing track frame. Thus, the crawler belt is less likely to contact the machine frame, and damage to the machine frame and the crawler traveling device can be prevented. That is, a crawler traveling device that can adjust left and right rolling and pitching and that can improve the grounding property of the crawler belt against unevenness of the road surface or the field can be easily damaged. realizable.

(The invention's effect)
According to the first feature of the present invention, even if it is configured such that the left and right rolling adjustment and pitching adjustment are possible, and the grounding property of the crawler belt against the road surface or the unevenness of the field can be improved, the fuselage frame and the crawler traveling device can be Since a crawler traveling device that is not easily damaged can be realized, a crawler traveling device that is excellent in traveling performance and reliability can be realized.

[II]
(Constitution)
The second feature of the present invention is that the crawler traveling device of the first feature of the present invention is configured as follows.
The swing limit member that extends from the swing track frame is brought into contact with the swing link that constitutes the rear swing mechanism, thereby limiting the swing range of the front downward swing in the front lowered posture. Thus, the swing limit mechanism is configured.

(Function)
According to the second feature of the present invention, the “action” described in the preceding item [I] is provided in the same manner as the first feature of the present invention, and in addition to this, the following “action” is provided.
According to the second feature of the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the swing limit member extending from the swing track frame and the swing link constituting the rear swing mechanism are used to swing the track frame in the forward downward posture. It is possible to limit the swing range of the forward and downward swing of the track frame. That is, the swing link constituting the rear swing mechanism can also be used as a part of the swing limit mechanism, and the structure of the swing limit mechanism can be simplified.

(The invention's effect)
According to the second feature of the present invention, the “effect of the invention” described in the preceding item [I] is provided in the same manner as the first feature of the present invention. In addition, the following “effect of the invention” is provided. ing.
According to the second feature of the present invention, the structure of the rocking restriction mechanism can be simplified, so that a low-cost and compact rocking restriction mechanism can be realized.

[Overall configuration of crawler travel device]
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a self-removing combine as an example of a work vehicle equipped with a crawler traveling device 1 according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show an overall side view and an overall plan view of the crawler traveling device 1. Each is shown. 4 and 5 show a side view and a plan view of the vicinity of the vibration isolator 50, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this combine includes a cutting unit 3 that can be raised and lowered at a front portion of a traveling machine body 2 that includes left and right crawler traveling devices 1, and the traveling machine body 2 includes a driving unit 4, a threshing device 5, and a carry-out device. It is provided with an attached grain recovery tank 6 and the like.

  2 and 3, the crawler traveling device 1 includes a front-end drive sprocket 11, a rear-end tension wheel 12, and a plurality (eight in this example) of grounded rolling wheels 13 disposed therebetween. And a pair of front and rear carrier rollers 14, a drive sprocket 11, a tension wheel 12, a ground roller 13, and a rubber crawler belt 15 wound around the carrier roller 14. A pair of left and right cored bar protrusions 16 are projected on the inner peripheral surface of the crawler belt 15 at a constant pitch in the front-rear direction, and a grounding wheel 13 is mounted so as to straddle the cored bar protrusion 16 from the left and right. A tension ring 12 and a carrier roller 14 are attached so as to engage between the left and right cored bar protrusions 16.

  The machine body frame 7 is configured in a deck shape that extends over substantially the entire width of the lower part of the traveling machine body 2, and the above-described threshing device 5 and the like are mounted on the upper part of the machine body frame 7. A plurality of horizontal frames 17 that are long on the left and right are connected to the lower surface side of the body frame 7, and a long fixed frame 18 is connected to the horizontal frame 17 in the front-rear direction. A carrier roller 14 is pivotally mounted at the center of the fixed frame 18, and front and rear swing mechanisms 8 and 9 are connected and supported at the front and rear of the fixed frame 18. Thus, the track frame 21 is connected and supported by the fixed frame 18 connected to the body frame 7 via the front and rear swing mechanisms 8 and 9 so as to be swingable up and down.

  The front swing mechanism 8 includes a swing arm 19, a support shaft 33, an operation arm 35, a hydraulic cylinder 38, and the like, and the rear swing mechanism 9 includes a swing arm 20, a support shaft 34, a swing shaft, and the like. The moving link 22, the operating arm 36, the hydraulic cylinder 39, and the like are provided.

  A pair of front and rear swing arms 19 and 20 are pivotally connected to the front and rear of the fixed frame 18 to which the track frame 21 is connected and supported so as to swing up and down around the shaft centers a and b. A front portion of the track frame 21 is pivotally connected to the free end portion of the front swing arm 19, and a rear portion of the track frame 21 is connected to the swing link 22 at the free end portion of the rear swing arm 20. It is pivotally connected via.

  The operation arms 35 and 36 are respectively extended from the ends of the support shafts 33 and 34 connected to the base ends of the front and rear swing arms 19 and 20 so as to be integrally swingable. A hydraulic cylinder 38 is installed over the operation arm 35 and the machine frame 7, and a hydraulic cylinder 39 is installed over the rear operation arm 36 and the machine frame 7.

  By configuring the front and rear swing mechanisms 8 and 9 as described above, when the hydraulic cylinder 38 extends and the swing arm 35 swings, the swing arm 19 swings downward. Thus, the front part of the track frame 21 moves downward, and the ground height of the front part of the body frame 7 becomes relatively large. On the contrary, when the hydraulic cylinder 38 is shortened and the swing arm 35 swings, the front portion of the track frame 21 moves upward in synchronization with the swing arm 19 swinging upward, and the body frame 7 The ground clearance at the front of becomes smaller.

  When the hydraulic cylinder 39 extends and the swing arm 36 swings, the rear portion of the track frame 21 moves downward via the swing link 22 in synchronization with the swing arm 20 swinging downward. However, the ground clearance at the front part of the body frame 7 becomes relatively large. Conversely, when the hydraulic cylinder 39 is shortened and the swing arm 36 swings, the front portion of the track frame 21 is moved upward via the swing link 22 in synchronization with the swing arm 20 swinging upward. The ground clearance at the front of the body frame 7 is reduced.

  Accordingly, by independently operating the hydraulic cylinders 38 and 39 constituting the front and rear swing mechanisms 8 and 9 in the left and right crawler traveling devices 1, the ground height on the left and right of the body frame 7 is changed to travel. It is possible to change and adjust the tilting posture of the track frame 21 with respect to the airframe 2 (airframe frame 7) in the left and right and front and rear directions, and to perform left and right rolling adjustment and pitching adjustment.

  Two front and rear wheel brackets 10 are supported on the side surface of the front half portion of the track frame 21 so as to be swingable back and forth around a left and right axial center. A wheel 13 is pivotally mounted so as to be freely rotatable. A long derailment prevention member 23 is attached below the roller bracket 10 before and after entering between the left and right core metal protrusions 16 of the crawler belt 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a vibration isolator 50 is attached to the wheel bracket 10 located at the front end. The vibration isolator 50 includes a bracket 51 extending laterally from the track frame 21, vertical bolts 52 inserted into the front and rear portions of the bracket 51, and externally fitted to the bolts 52. Front and rear springs 53 provided across the bracket 51 and the seat plate at the lower end of the bolt 52 are configured. A cylindrical member 54 extends downward from the bracket 51, and the spring 53 is fitted along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 54 so that the spring 53 can be expanded and contracted without difficulty. ing.

  The front and rear springs 53 are configured such that when the wheel bracket 10 swings back and forth due to road surface or field irregularities, a spring reaction force that urges the wheel bracket 10 horizontally is applied. When the front part of 10 swings upward, the front bolt 52 is pushed upward and the spring 53 is compressed, and the spring reaction force of the spring 53 acts in a direction opposite to the direction in which the wheel bracket 10 swings. It is comprised so that it can be made to.

  In this way, by providing the vibration isolator 50 across the wheel bracket 10 and the track frame 21, vibration due to road surface or farm surface irregularities transmitted to the wheel bracket 10 via the crawler belt 15 is prevented. The vibration is reduced and absorbed by the device 50 and hardly transmitted to the track frame 21, and vibrations transmitted to the traveling machine body 2 through the track frame 21 can be suppressed, so that the riding comfort of the combine can be improved.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a swing track frame 24 that can swing up and down like a scale around the axis P is pivotally connected to the rear portion of the track frame 21. In addition, a plurality of (four in this example) grounding rollers 13 located in the latter half of the crawler grounding range are pivotally mounted so as to be freely rotatable. A slide bracket 26 is mounted on the rear portion of the swing track frame 24 via a jack bolt 25 so as to be adjustable in the front-rear direction. The tension wheel 12 is pivotally mounted on the slide bracket 26 so as to freely rotate. At the lower part of the swing track frame 24, a long and divided two-wheel removal prevention member 27 is attached before and after entering between the left and right core metal projections 16.

[Detailed structure of swing limiter]
6 and 7 are detailed views of the swing limiting mechanism A according to the present invention. 6 shows a side view of the vicinity of the swing limiting mechanism A, and FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the vicinity of the swing limiting mechanism A. Note that the swing link 22 and the swing arm 20 indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 perform the horizontal control to be described later, so that the swing link 22 swings back around the axis c, and the swing limiting member. 40 shows a state of contact.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a swing limiting member 40 extending inward is attached to the inner surface side of the swing track frame 24. The swing limiting member 40 is made of a flat steel plate, and is inclined obliquely so that the front side thereof is in linear contact with the rear side of the arm portion 22a on the outer side of the swing link 22. It is fixed to the swing track frame 24. The thickness of the rocking limit member 40 and the leg length of the welded portion with the rocking track frame 24 are sufficient to withstand even if a large force is applied to the rocking limit member 40 when the rocking link 22 comes into contact therewith. Is set to

  As shown in FIG. 6, the swing track frame 24 swings around the axis P due to the unevenness of the road surface or the paddy surface in a state where the swing link 22 swings rearward around the axis c by horizontal control which will be described later. However, the swinging is prevented by the swing restricting member 40. In this way, the swing limit member 40 extending from the swing track frame 24 toward the inward side of the body is brought into contact with the arm portion 22a of the swing link 22 constituting the rear swing mechanism 9, whereby the track frame is The swing limit mechanism A is configured to limit the swing range of the rear of the swing track frame 24 with respect to the upper portion of the swing track frame 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a check link 28 is installed across the front and rear intermediate portion of the track frame 21 and the front portion of the swing track frame 24. The check link 28 is pivotally connected to the front side surface of the swing track frame 24 via a support shaft 29 so as to be vertically rotatable. The track frame 28 is inserted into a longitudinal hole 30 formed in the check link 28. The stepped support shaft 31 protruding from the side surface of the stepped shaft 21 is inserted, and the check link 28 is sandwiched between the stepped portion of the stepped support shaft 31 and the washer 32 attached to the shaft end, so that the swing track frame 24 has the axis P Swinging from side to side around the vicinity can be prevented, and the swing track frame 24 can be stably supported. Further, the swing range of the swing track frame 24 with respect to the track frame 21 is regulated by the long hole 30 formed in the check link 28.

(Horizontal control)
As shown in FIG. 8, the combine is provided with a front / rear inclination sensor 41 for detecting the inclination of the traveling machine body 2 in the front / rear direction and a left / right inclination sensor 42 for detecting the inclination of the traveling machine body 2 in the left / right direction. Based on the detection results of the tilt sensor 41 and the left / right tilt sensor 42, the controller 45 outputs to the solenoid valves 43 and 44 of the hydraulic cylinders 38 and 39 that need to be expanded and contracted to keep the traveling machine body 2 horizontal. Thus, horizontal control is performed so that the traveling machine body 2 can be kept horizontal with respect to the road surface or the field. Note that the L and R indications of the hydraulic cylinders 38, 39 and the solenoid valves 43, 44 in FIG. 8 are for the left front or rear swing mechanism 8, 9, or the right front or rear swing. Indicates whether the mechanism is for mechanism 8 or 9.

[Running state of crawler running device]
Based on FIG.9 and FIG.10, the traveling state of the crawler traveling apparatus 1 provided with the rocking | fluctuation limiting mechanism A which concerns on this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a traveling state of the crawler traveling device 1 provided with the swing restriction mechanism A, and FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a traveling state of the crawler traveling device 1 not including the swing restriction mechanism A. Indicates.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a swing track frame 24 is configured so as to be swingable independently around the axis P in a scale-like manner with respect to the track frame 21. Therefore, when traveling on an uneven road surface or farm field, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the swing track frame 24 swings downward and swings, so that the front and rear center of the crawler contact range is downward. It becomes a projecting shape and can suitably follow the road surface or the concave portion of the field.

  In this case, the front and rear center portions of the crawler belt 15 protrude downward in the ground contact side path, whereas the tension ring 12 is displaced upward (belt slack side). The belt winding length does not increase greatly. Although not shown, the swinging track frame 24 swings upward and swings, so that the front and rear centers of the crawler contact range are recessed upward, and the road surface or the field can be moved without greatly swinging the traveling machine body 2 up and down. Can smoothly pass over the convex part of

  Further, in FIGS. 9A and 9C, the swinging lower limit swing of the swing track frame 24 is not limited by the swing limit mechanism A, and therefore, as shown in FIGS. Similarly to the state, the front and rear centers of the crawler contact area have a shape protruding downward, and can suitably follow the concave portion of the ground. That is, in the state shown in FIGS. 10A and 10C, a sufficient gap is secured between the upper side of the rear end portion of the crawler belt 15 and the body frame 7, so that the swing track frame 24 is Even if it swings forward and downward, the upper side of the rear end portion of the crawler belt 15 does not contact the body frame 7. Therefore, in the state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9C, the swing-restricting mechanism A is configured not to restrict the swing-down track frame 24 from swinging forward and downward.

  However, in the state shown in FIG. 10B, when the swing track frame 24 swings forward and swings, the upper side of the rear end of the crawler belt 15 contacts the body frame 7 at the position indicated by X in FIG. There is a risk. FIG. 10B shows a state where the upper side of the rear end portion of the crawler belt 15 interferes with the body frame 7 at the position indicated by X.

  As shown in FIG. 9 (b), by providing the swing limiting mechanism A according to the present invention, when the swing track frame 24 swings forward and downward in the state shown in FIG. 9 (b), the swing limiting member The swing limit member 40 of A is in contact with the arm portion 22a of the swing link 22, and the swing range in which the front portion and the rear portion of the swing track frame 24 swing downward and upward is limited. It is possible to prevent the upper side of the rear end portion of the belt 15 from contacting the body frame 7. In addition, in the state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9C (FIGS. 10A and 10C), the swing limiting member 40 does not hinder the swing of the swing track frame 24. It is possible to limit the minimum required swing range with a simple configuration.

  The swing range of the swing track frame 24 is restricted by the longitudinal hole 30 provided in the check link 28 described above. However, the swing track frame 24 is changed along with the unevenness of the road surface or the paddy surface. Unlike the check link 28 that always regulates the swing range, the swing restriction mechanism A shows the swing of the swing track frame 24 within the swing range regulated by the check link 28 as shown in FIG. By limiting only in the state, interference between the body frame 7 and the crawler belt 15 is avoided. In other words, the swing limit mechanism A limits the swing range of the swing track frame 24 only in the forwardly lowered posture of the track frame 21 where the upper side of the rear end portion of the crawler belt 15 may come into contact with the body frame 7. Is.

[First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention]
In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], the swing limit member 40 is brought into contact with the swing link 22 to swing the swing track frame 24 forward and downward with respect to the track frame 21. Although the example in which the swing limit mechanism A is configured to limit the range has been shown, the swing limit mechanism A having a different structure may be adopted as long as the same function is achieved. The swing track frame 24 is provided with a member (not shown) for limiting swing, and the swing range of the swing track frame 24 with respect to the track frame 21 is limited. May be.

[Second Embodiment of the Invention]
In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] and [First Alternative Embodiment], four grounding rollers 13 located in the latter half of the crawler grounding range are pivoted on the swing track frame 24. Although an example in which the support is mounted is shown, the number of grounding wheels 13 to be mounted on the swing track frame 24 may be different. In addition, although an example in which four grounding rollers 13 located in the first half of the crawler grounding range are pivotally mounted on the fixed frame 18, the crawler grounding is similar to the grounding wheel 13 located in the second half of the crawler grounding range. A configuration may be adopted in which the grounding wheel 13 located in the first half of the range is connected and supported to a swinging track frame (not shown).

  The configuration of the crawler traveling device 1 shown in the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] and [First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention], for example, the number of grounding rollers 13, the front and rear lifting drive mechanisms Different structures such as 8 and 9 may be employed.

[Third Another Embodiment of the Invention]
In the above-mentioned [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention], [First Alternative Embodiment of the Invention] and [Second Alternative Embodiment of the Invention], as an example, the crawler traveling mounted on the self-removable combine harvester. Although the apparatus 1 is shown as an example, the present invention can be similarly applied to a crawler traveling apparatus that is mounted on other agricultural work vehicles, civil engineering work vehicles, construction work vehicles, and other work vehicles.

Overall left side view of a combine equipped with a crawler travel device Overall left side view of crawler traveling device Overall plan view of crawler traveling device Side view showing detailed structure of vibration isolator Plan view showing detailed structure of vibration isolator Side view showing detailed structure of swing limit mechanism Plan view showing detailed structure of swing limit mechanism Block diagram of control device Side view showing the traveling state of the crawler traveling device provided with the swing limiting mechanism Side view showing a traveling state of a crawler traveling device not provided with a swing restriction mechanism

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Crawler traveling apparatus 7 Airframe frame 8 Front part rocking mechanism 9 Rear part rocking mechanism 11 Drive sprocket 12 Tension wheel 13 Grounding wheel 15 Crawler belt 21 Track frame 22 Swing link 24 Swing track frame 40 Swing restriction member A Swing Dynamic restriction mechanism P fulcrum

Claims (2)

A crawler belt is wound around a driving sprocket at the front end, a tension wheel at the rear end, and a plurality of grounding wheels arranged between them, and the track frame is passed through the front and rear swing mechanisms on the body frame. It is possible to change the posture of the track frame with respect to the body frame by operating the front part and the rear part swinging mechanism so as to be vertically swingable, and around the fulcrum of the rear part of the track frame, A crawler in which a swinging track frame that can swing up and down like a scale is connected and supported, and a plurality of the grounding wheels and tension wheels that are located in the latter half of the crawler grounding range are mounted on the swinging track frame. In the traveling device,
By operating the front and rear swing mechanisms, the swing track with respect to the track frame is in a front-down position in which the front and rear portions of the track frame swing downward and upward with respect to the body frame, respectively. A crawler traveling device provided with a swing restriction mechanism that limits a swing range of a front-down swing in which a front portion and a rear portion of a frame swing downward and upward, respectively.   The swing limit member extending from the swing track frame is brought into contact with the swing link constituting the rear swing mechanism, thereby limiting the swing range of the front downward swing in the front lowered posture. The crawler traveling device according to claim 1, wherein the swing restriction mechanism is configured as described above.

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