JP2020189554A - Elastic crawler - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an elastic crawler that can achieve both weight saving and durability.SOLUTION: An elastic crawler 1 comprises: an endless belt-shaped crawler body 2 made of an elastic body; core materials 3 arranged in the crawler body 2 spaced apart in a crawler circumferential direction a; and lugs 4 protruding from an outer circumferential surface 2o of the crawler body 2, and provided spaced apart in the crawler circumferential direction a. The crawler body 2 includes a body part 2a located between the lugs 4 which are adjacent to each other in the crawler circumferential direction a. The core materials 3 include a first core material 3A having: a first wing part 5A extending from a center CL in a crawler width direction b of the crawler body 2 toward one side in the crawler width direction b; and a second wing part 5B extending from the center CL in the crawler width direction b of the crawler body 2 toward the other side in the crawler width direction b, and having a length in the crawler width direction b smaller than the first wing part 5A. In the first core material 3A, at least a part of the first wing part 5A overlaps to the body part 2a in a planar view of the crawler body 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an endless band-shaped elastic crawler.

Conventionally, an elastic crawler including an endless band-shaped crawler body made of an elastic body, a core material embedded in the crawler body, and a lug protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body in the crawler thickness direction is known. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, weight reduction and cost reduction are achieved without deteriorating wheel removal resistance and low vibration performance by using a first core metal and a second core metal having different wing lengths. We are proposing an elastic crawler.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-207365

However, in the elastic crawler of Patent Document 1, the area where the second core metal contacts the crawler body is small, and the adhesive force between the second core metal and the crawler body may decrease, which further improves the durability of the elastic crawler. There was room for improvement.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an elastic crawler capable of achieving both weight reduction and durability.

The present invention is an elastic crawler, which is an endless band-shaped crawler body made of an elastic body, and a core material made of a material that is arranged on the crawler body at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction and is harder than the elastic body. And a lug that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body in the crawler thickness direction and is provided at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction, the crawler body is located between the lugs adjacent to the crawler circumferential direction. The core material includes a first wing portion extending from the center of the crawler body in the crawler width direction to one side in the crawler width direction, and the other of the crawler body in the crawler width direction from the center in the crawler width direction. The first core material includes a first core material extending to the side and having a second wing portion having a length in the crawler width direction smaller than that of the first wing portion, and the first core material is a plan view of the crawler body. It is characterized in that at least a part of the first wing portion overlaps with the main body portion.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, it is desirable that the entire area of the second wing portion of the first core material overlaps the lug in the plan view of the crawler body.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, the core material includes a third wing portion extending from the center of the crawler body in the crawler width direction to one side in the crawler width direction, and the crawler body in the crawler width direction from the center in the crawler width direction. The first core material and the second core material include a second core material extending to the other side and having a fourth wing portion having a length in the crawler width direction larger than that of the third wing portion. It is desirable that the crawlers are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, it is desirable that at least a part of the fourth wing portion of the second core material overlaps the main body portion in a plan view of the crawler main body.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, it is desirable that the entire area of the third wing portion of the second core material overlaps the lug in the plan view of the crawler body.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, it is desirable that the lug includes a first lug in which at least a part thereof overlaps the first wing portion and the third wing portion in a plan view of the crawler body.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, the lug includes a second lug in which at least a part thereof overlaps the second wing portion and the fourth wing portion in a plan view of the crawler body, and the first lug and the first lug. It is desirable that the two lugs are arranged in a staggered manner in the circumferential direction of the crawler.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, it is desirable that the second core material is such that the first core material is arranged in the direction opposite to the crawler width direction.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, it is desirable that the first wing portion overlaps at least a part of the two lugs adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the crawler in the plan view of the crawler body.

In the elastic crawler of the present invention, the crawler main body includes a main body portion located between adjacent lugs in the crawler circumferential direction, and the core material extends from the center of the crawler main body in the crawler width direction to one side in the crawler width direction. A second wing portion having a first wing portion and a second wing portion extending from the center of the crawler body in the crawler width direction to the other side in the crawler width direction and having a length smaller in the crawler width direction than the first wing portion. Including one core material, at least a part of the first wing portion of the first core material overlaps the main body portion in a plan view of the crawler main body.

As described above, the first core material is located between the lugs adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the crawler, and the main body portion whose strength may be insufficient is reinforced by the first wing portion, so that the durability of the elastic crawler is improved. Can be done. Since the first wing portion has a large area in contact with the crawler body, the adhesive force is improved and the durability of the elastic crawler can be further improved.

Further, since the first core material can form the second blade portion smaller than the first blade portion, the weight of the elastic crawler can be reduced. Therefore, the elastic crawler of the present invention can achieve both weight reduction and durability.

It is a perspective view which shows the 1st Embodiment of the elastic crawler of this invention. It is a top view of the elastic crawler of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the line AA of FIG. It is sectional drawing of BB line of FIG. It is a top view of the elastic crawler of another embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment includes an endless band-shaped crawler body 2 extending in the crawler circumferential direction a and having a substantially constant width in the crawler width direction b.

Here, in the present specification, the crawler circumferential direction a is the rotation direction of the elastic crawler 1, and corresponds to the direction indicated by the reference numeral a in FIG. Further, the crawler width direction b is the axial direction of the drive wheels (not shown) when the elastic crawler 1 is mounted on the vehicle, and corresponds to the direction indicated by the reference numeral b in FIG.

Further, in the present specification, the crawler thickness direction c is a direction orthogonal to the crawler circumferential direction a and the crawler width direction b, and corresponds to the direction indicated by the reference numeral c in FIG. In the crawler thickness direction c, the inside of the endless band-shaped elastic crawler 1 is the crawler inner peripheral side ci, and the outside of the endless band-shaped elastic crawler 1 is the crawler outer peripheral side co.

The elastic crawler 1 further has a plurality of core members 3 arranged on the crawler body 2 at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction a, and projects from the crawler body 2 in the crawler thickness direction c and is spaced in the crawler circumferential direction a. It is desirable to include a plurality of lugs 4 provided apart from each other. Such an elastic crawler 1 is suitably used, for example, as a traveling body of a construction machine or the like.

The crawler body 2 is made of an elastic body such as rubber. The crawler main body 2 of the present embodiment has an outer peripheral surface 2o of the crawler outer peripheral side co and an inner peripheral surface 2i of the crawler inner peripheral side ci.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the elastic crawler 1 as seen from the crawler outer peripheral side co. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in the plan view of the crawler main body 2, the crawler main body 2 has a main body portion 2a located between lugs 4 adjacent to the crawler circumferential direction a and a lug overlapping the lug 4. Includes part 2b.

The core material 3 of the present embodiment is embedded in an elastic body constituting the crawler body 2. It is desirable that the core material 3 is made of a material that is harder than the elastic body that constitutes the crawler body 2. The core material 3 is formed of, for example, a metal material such as steel or cast iron. The core material 3 may be formed of, for example, a hard resin. Such a core material 3 is preferably used for the elastic crawler 1, and can reinforce the crawler main body 2 and maintain the shape of the crawler main body 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the core material 3 has, for example, a wing portion 5 extending in the crawler width direction b when arranged on the crawler main body 2. It is desirable that the core material 3 includes a first core material 3A and a second core material 3B having different lengths in the crawler width direction b of the blade portion 5. The first core material 3A and the second core material 3B are arranged alternately in the crawler circumferential direction a, for example. Such a core material 3 can reinforce the crawler body 2 in a well-balanced manner.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first core member 3A has, for example, a first wing portion 5A and a second wing portion 5B extending on opposite sides of each other in the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the first wing portion 5A extends from the center CL of the crawler body 2 in the crawler width direction b to one side of the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the second wing portion 5B extends from the center CL of the crawler main body 2 in the crawler width direction b to the other side in the crawler width direction b. The second wing portion 5B of the present embodiment has a smaller length in the crawler width direction b than the first wing portion 5A.

In the first core material 3A of the present embodiment, at least a part of the first wing portion 5A overlaps the main body portion 2a in the plan view of the crawler main body 2. Such a first core material 3A is located between the lugs 4 adjacent to the crawler circumferential direction a, and the main body portion 2a whose strength may be insufficient is reinforced by the first wing portion 5A, so that the elastic crawler 1 Durability can be improved.

Since the first wing portion 5A has a large area in contact with the crawler body 2, the adhesive force is improved, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be further improved. Further, since the first core material 3A can form the second wing portion 5B smaller than the first wing portion 5A, the elastic crawler 1 can be reduced in weight. Therefore, the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment can achieve both weight reduction and durability.

In the first core material 3A of the present embodiment, the entire area of the second wing portion 5B overlaps the lug 4 in the plan view of the crawler main body 2. With such a first core material 3A, the thickness of the rubber at the edge portion of the second wing portion 5B can be increased, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be improved.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second core member 3B has, for example, a third wing portion 5C and a fourth wing portion 5D extending on opposite sides of each other in the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the third wing portion 5C extends from the center CL of the crawler body 2 in the crawler width direction b to one side of the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the fourth wing portion 5D extends from the center CL of the crawler body 2 in the crawler width direction b to the other side in the crawler width direction b. The fourth wing portion 5D of the present embodiment has a longer length in the crawler width direction b than the third wing portion 5C.

In the second core material 3B of the present embodiment, at least a part of the fourth wing portion 5D overlaps the main body portion 2a in the plan view of the crawler main body 2. Such a second core material 3B is located between the lugs 4 adjacent to the crawler circumferential direction a, and the main body portion 2a whose strength may be insufficient is reinforced by the fourth wing portion 5D, so that the elastic crawler 1 Durability can be improved.

Since the fourth wing portion 5D has a large area in contact with the crawler body 2, the adhesive force is improved, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be further improved. Further, since the second core material 3B can form the third blade portion 5C smaller than the fourth blade portion 5D, the elastic crawler 1 can be reduced in weight. Therefore, the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment can achieve both weight reduction and durability.

In the second core material 3B of the present embodiment, the entire area of the third wing portion 5C overlaps the lug 4 in the plan view of the crawler main body 2. With such a second core material 3B, the thickness of the rubber at the edge portion of the third blade portion 5C can be increased, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be improved.

In a more preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the elastic crawler 1 includes a tension body 6 extending in the crawler circumferential direction a. It is desirable that the tension body 6 is embedded in the crawler body 2 on the outer peripheral side of the crawler rather than the wing portion 5 of the core material 3. The tension body 6 includes, for example, a metal cord layer 7 extending in the crawler circumferential direction a. In the metal cord layer 7 of the present embodiment, a plurality of metal cords 7a extending in the crawler circumferential direction a are arranged in the crawler width direction b. Such a tension body 6 can apply tensile strength evenly in the crawler width direction b of the crawler body 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first core material 3A of the present embodiment includes a pair of protrusions 8 protruding from the first blade portion 5A and the second blade portion 5B toward the crawler inner peripheral side ci. The pair of protrusions 8 regulate the positions of the driving wheels, idle wheels, rolling wheels, etc. (not shown) in the crawler width direction b, and prevent the elastic crawler 1 from coming off.

The protrusion 8 may have a rolling wheel passing surface 9 on the crawler inner peripheral side ci, for example. By stably supporting the rolling wheels (not shown), such a first core material 3A can suppress vibration and noise during traveling, and can improve the riding comfort performance of the elastic crawler 1. it can. Further, since the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment can support the rolling wheels by the protrusion 8, it can be mounted as a substitute for a general metal crawler.

The first wing portion 5A of the present embodiment has a first end portion 5a at an end portion in the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the thickness of the first end portion 5a is smaller than the thickness inside the crawler width direction b of the first blade portion 5A. Such a first wing portion 5A can increase the area in contact with the crawler body 2 while suppressing the weight increase, and can further improve the durability of the elastic crawler 1. The first wing portion 5A is exemplified in that the thickness inside the crawler width direction b is substantially constant, but the thickness is not limited to this mode, and for example, the first blade portion 5A is first from the inside in the crawler width direction b. The thickness may be gradually reduced toward the end portion 5a.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the second core material 3B of the present embodiment, the first core material 3A is arranged in the direction opposite to the crawler width direction b. Such a first core material 3A and a second core material 3B can reduce the management cost as a part, and can suppress the manufacturing cost of the elastic crawler 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second core material 3B of the present embodiment has a pair of protrusions protruding from the third wing portion 5C and the fourth wing portion 5D to the crawler inner peripheral side ci, similarly to the first core material 3A. Includes part 8. The fourth wing portion 5D of the present embodiment has a fourth end portion 5d at an end portion in the crawler width direction b, similarly to the first wing portion 5A.

It is desirable that the thickness of the fourth end portion 5d is the same as the thickness of the first end portion 5a and smaller than the thickness inside the crawler width direction b of the fourth wing portion 5D. Such a fourth wing portion 5D can increase the area in contact with the crawler body 2 while suppressing the weight increase, and can further improve the durability of the elastic crawler 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lug 4 of the present embodiment projects from the outer peripheral surface 2o of the crawler main body 2 toward the crawler outer peripheral side co. The lug 4 includes, for example, a first lug 4A formed on one side of the crawler width direction b with respect to the center CL of the crawler width direction b of the crawler body 2, and a second lug 4B formed on the other side. There is. It is desirable that the first lug 4A and the second lug 4B are arranged in a staggered manner in the crawler circumferential direction a. Such a lug 4 can reduce the vibration when the elastic crawler 1 is run.

As shown in FIG. 2, at least a part of the first lug 4A of the present embodiment overlaps the first wing portion 5A and the third wing portion 5C in the plan view of the crawler main body 2. Since such a first lug 4A is reinforced by the first core material 3A and the second core material 3B, the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be further improved.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the elastic crawler 10 of another embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the elastic crawler 10 of this embodiment has a crawler body 2, a plurality of core members 11 arranged on the crawler body 2, and projects from the crawler body 2 in the crawler thickness direction c. Includes a plurality of lags 4 and

Similar to the core material 3 described above, the core material 11 of this embodiment has a wing portion 12 extending in the crawler width direction b when arranged on the crawler main body 2. It is desirable that the core material 11 includes a first core material 11A and a second core material 11B having different lengths in the crawler width direction b of the blade portion 12.

The first core member 11A has, for example, a first wing portion 12A and a second wing portion 12B extending on opposite sides of each other in the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the first wing portion 12A extends from the center CL of the crawler body 2 in the crawler width direction b to one side of the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the second wing portion 12B extends from the center CL of the crawler body 2 in the crawler width direction b to the other side in the crawler width direction b.

The second wing portion 12B of this embodiment has a smaller length in the crawler width direction b than the first wing portion 12A. Further, the first wing portion 12A of this embodiment has a longer length in the crawler width direction b than the first wing portion 5A of the above-described embodiment. The first wing portion 12A of this embodiment has a first end portion 12a having a small thickness at an end portion in the crawler width direction b, similarly to the first wing portion 5A described above. In this embodiment, the length of the first end portion 12a is larger than the length of the first end portion 5a described above. Such a first wing portion 12A can reinforce a wider range while suppressing an increase in weight.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first core material 11A of this embodiment is a pair protruding from the first wing portion 12A and the second wing portion 12B toward the crawler inner peripheral side ci, similarly to the first core material 3A described above. Includes the protrusion 8 of the. In this embodiment, the rolling wheel passing surface 9 is provided outside the crawler width direction b of the protrusion 8. As described above, it is desirable that the protrusion 8 and the rolling wheel passing surface 9 appropriately correspond to the shape of the rolling wheel (not shown) of the machine to be mounted. The thickness of the first wing portion 12A and the second wing portion 12B of the first core material 11A is, for example, when the rolling wheel passing surface 9 is provided on the protrusion 8 as in the case of the first core material 3A described above. The amount may gradually decrease from the protrusion 8 toward the outside in the crawler width direction b.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the first core material 11A of this embodiment, at least a part of the first wing portion 12A overlaps the main body portion 2a in the plan view of the crawler main body 2. Such a first core material 11A is located between the lugs 4 adjacent to the crawler circumferential direction a, and the main body portion 2a whose strength may be insufficient is reinforced by the first wing portion 12A, so that the elastic crawler 10 Durability can be improved.

Since the first wing portion 12A has a large area in contact with the crawler body 2, the adhesive force is improved, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be further improved. Further, since the first core material 11A can form the second wing portion 12B smaller than the first wing portion 12A, the elastic crawler 10 can be made lighter. Therefore, the elastic crawler 10 of this embodiment can achieve both weight reduction and durability as in the elastic crawler 1 described above.

In the first core material 11A of this embodiment, the entire area of the second wing portion 12B overlaps the lug 4 in the plan view of the crawler main body 2. With such a first core material 11A, the thickness of the rubber at the edge portion of the second wing portion 12B can be increased, and the durability of the elastic crawler 10 can be improved.

In the plan view of the crawler body 2, at least a part of the first wing portion 12A of this embodiment overlaps with two lugs 4 adjacent to the crawler circumferential direction a. With such a first core material 11A, the thickness of the rubber at the edge portion of the first wing portion 12A can be increased, and the durability of the elastic crawler 10 can be further improved.

In the second core material 11B of this embodiment, the first core material 11A is arranged in the direction opposite to the crawler width direction b. Such a first core material 11A and a second core material 11B can reduce the management cost as a part, and can suppress the manufacturing cost of the elastic crawler 10.

Although the particularly preferable embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified into various embodiments.

2 Crawler body 3 Core material 3A 1st core material 4 Lag 5A 1st wing part 5B 2nd wing part

Claims (9)

It ’s an elastic crawler,
An endless band-shaped crawler body made of an elastic body,
A core material that is arranged on the crawler body at intervals in the circumferential direction of the crawler and is made of a material that is harder than the elastic body.
Includes lugs that project from the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body in the crawler thickness direction and are provided at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction.
The crawler body includes a body portion located between the lugs adjacent in the crawler circumferential direction.
The core material extends from the center of the crawler body in the crawler width direction to one side in the crawler width direction, and extends from the center of the crawler body in the crawler width direction to the other side in the crawler width direction. A first core material having a second wing portion having a length smaller in the crawler width direction than the first wing portion is included.
In the plan view of the crawler main body, at least a part of the first wing portion of the first core material overlaps the main body portion.
Elastic crawler. The elastic crawler according to claim 1, wherein the first core material is such that the entire area of the second wing portion overlaps the lug in a plan view of the crawler body. The core material extends from the center of the crawler body in the crawler width direction to one side in the crawler width direction, and extends from the center of the crawler body in the crawler width direction to the other side in the crawler width direction. A second core material having a fourth wing portion having a length in the crawler width direction larger than that of the third wing portion is included.
The elastic crawler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first core material and the second core material are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the crawler. The elastic crawler according to claim 3, wherein the second core material is such that at least a part of the fourth wing portion overlaps the main body portion in a plan view of the crawler main body. The elastic crawler according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second core material overlaps the lug in the entire area of the third wing portion in a plan view of the crawler body. The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the lug includes a first lug in which at least a part thereof overlaps the first wing portion and the third wing portion in a plan view of the crawler body. The lug includes a second lug in which at least a part thereof overlaps the second wing portion and the fourth wing portion in a plan view of the crawler body.
The elastic crawler according to claim 6, wherein the first lug and the second lug are arranged in a staggered manner in the circumferential direction of the crawler. The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the second core material is one in which the first core material is arranged in the direction opposite to the crawler width direction. The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first wing portion overlaps two lugs adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the crawler at least in a plan view of the crawler body.

Images