JP2024031542A - elastic crawler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elastic crawler that is able to improve mud discharging performance.

SOLUTION: An elastic crawler 1 includes: a crawler body 2 made of an endless belt-like elastic body; and a plurality of lugs 3 formed at intervals in a crawler circumferential direction a, on an outer peripheral surface 2a of the crawler body 2 in a crawler thickness direction c. Each of the plurality of lugs 1 has: a top portion 4 defining the outermost side in the crawler thickness direction c; and a cutout portion 5 dividing the top portion 4 in a crawler width direction b. The top portion 4 includes, in a lug longitudinal direction: a first top portion 4A located on one side of the cutout portion 5; and a second top portion 4B located on the other side of the cutout portion 5 and shorter in the crawler widthwise direction b than the first top portion 4A. The first top portion 4A includes: a first portion 4a extending parallel to the crawler width direction b, a second portion 4b inclined toward one side with respect to the crawler width direction b, and a third portion 4c inclined toward the other side with respect to the crawler width direction b.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to elastic crawlers.

Conventionally, an elastic crawler is known that includes a crawler main body made of an endless band-shaped elastic body, and a plurality of lugs formed at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the crawler main body in the crawler thickness direction. . For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a crawler body made of an elastic material formed in an endless band shape, and a lug that is integrally formed on the ground-contact side of the crawler body and has a portion extending toward one end in the band width direction. We have proposed a ladder-type crawler in which lugs with and without lugs are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction of the belt.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-263160

When the elastic crawler of Patent Document 1 is moved from soft ground such as a wet field to a paved road surface, there is a problem in that the mud stuck between the lugs is scattered onto the paved road surface, and the mud removal performance has been improved. There were requests for improvements.

The present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its main purpose is to provide an elastic crawler that can improve mud removal performance.

The present invention provides an elastic crawler comprising: a crawler main body made of an endless band-shaped elastic body; and a plurality of lugs formed at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the crawler main body in the crawler thickness direction. each of the plurality of lugs has an apex that defines the outermost part in the crawler thickness direction, and a notch that divides the apex in the crawler width direction; a first apex located on one side of the notch; and a second apex located on the other side of the notch and having a smaller length in the crawler width direction than the first apex, the first apex is an elastic crawler including a first part extending parallel to the crawler width direction, a second part inclined to one side with respect to the crawler width direction, and a third part inclined to the other side with respect to the crawler width direction. be.

The elastic crawler of the present invention has the above-described configuration, thereby improving mud removal performance.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an elastic crawler of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the elastic crawler according to the present embodiment, viewed from the outer circumferential side of the crawler. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. It is an enlarged plan view of the 1st top part. It is an enlarged plan view of a 2nd top part.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an elastic crawler 1 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic crawler 1 of the present embodiment includes a crawler main body 2 made of an elastic body such as an endless band of rubber, and an outer circumferential surface 2a of the crawler main body 2 in the crawler thickness direction c. a, and a plurality of lugs 3 formed at intervals. Such an elastic crawler 1 is suitably used as a running body for agricultural machinery, construction machinery, etc., and can achieve both the ability to travel on soft ground such as wet fields and the comfort when traveling on paved roads.

Here, in this specification, the crawler circumferential direction a is the rotational direction (longitudinal direction) of the elastic crawler 1, and the crawler width direction b is the driving wheel (not shown) when the elastic crawler 1 is mounted on a vehicle. is in the axial direction. Further, the crawler thickness direction c is a direction perpendicular to the crawler circumferential direction a and the crawler width direction b, and in the crawler thickness direction c, the inner side of the endless band-shaped elastic crawler 1 is the crawler inner circumferential side ci. , the outer side of the endless belt-shaped elastic crawler 1 is the crawler outer peripheral side co. Note that the center position of the crawler body 2 in the crawler width direction b is the crawler center CL.

Each of the plurality of lugs 3 of this embodiment has a top portion 4 that defines the outermost side in the crawler thickness direction c, and a notch portion 5 that divides the top portion 4 in the crawler width direction b. Such lugs 3 can suppress mud clogging and are useful for improving the mud removal properties of the elastic crawler 1.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the elastic crawler 1 of this embodiment viewed from the crawler outer peripheral side co, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top portion 4 includes, for example, a first top portion 4A located on one side of the cutout portion 5 and a second top portion 4B located on the other side of the cutout portion 5 in the longitudinal direction of the lug. Contains. The second top portion 4B of this embodiment has a smaller length in the crawler width direction b than the first top portion 4A.

By including the first top portion 4A having a large length, such a lug 3 can improve running performance on soft ground, and by including a second top portion 4B having a small length, the elastic crawler 1 can improve mud running performance. Helps improve drainage.

The first apex 4A of this embodiment includes a first portion 4a extending parallel to the crawler width direction b, a second portion 4b inclined to one side with respect to the crawler width direction b, and a second portion 4b on the other side with respect to the crawler width direction b. and a third portion 4c that is inclined to.

Such a first top portion 4A can cause distortion in different directions with respect to the outer circumferential surface 2a of the crawler body 2 when bent due to the first portion 4a, second portion 4b, and third portion 4c, and the lug 3 The mud in between can be drained out. For this reason, the elastic crawler 1 of this embodiment can improve mud drainage performance.

Like the first top portion 4A, the second top portion 4B includes a fourth portion 4d extending parallel to the crawler width direction b, a fifth portion 4e inclined to one side with respect to the crawler width direction b, and a fifth portion 4e extending parallel to the crawler width direction b. However, it is preferable that the sixth portion 4f be inclined toward the other side.

Such a second top portion 4B can cause distortion in different directions with respect to the outer circumferential surface 2a of the crawler body 2 when bent by the fourth portion 4d, the fifth portion 4e, and the sixth portion 4f, and the lug 3 The mud in between can be drained out. Such an elastic crawler 1 can further improve mud removal properties.

In a more preferred embodiment, the elastic crawler 1 includes a plurality of core bodies 6 embedded inside the crawler body 2 and a tensile body 7 for applying tensile force F to the crawler body 2. It is desirable that the tensile body 7 is buried closer to the crawler outer circumferential side than the core body 6 of the crawler body 2. In the tensile body 7, for example, a plurality of metal cords 7a extending in the crawler circumferential direction a are arranged in the crawler width direction b. Such a tensile body 7 can apply tensile force F evenly to the crawler body 2 in the crawler width direction b.

The core body 6 is preferably made of a harder material than the elastic body that constitutes the crawler body 2. The core body 6 is made of a metal material such as steel or cast iron, for example. The core body 6 may be made of hard resin. Such a core body 6 is suitably used in the elastic crawler 1, can reinforce the crawler body 2, and can maintain the shape of the crawler body 2.

Each of the plurality of core bodies 6 has, for example, a center portion 6a and a pair of wing portions 6b extending outward in the crawler width direction b from the center portion 6a. The center portion 6a is located, for example, on the crawler center CL, and can transmit driving force from a drive wheel (not shown) to the elastic crawler 1. For example, a pair of guide protrusions 6c that protrude toward the crawler inner peripheral side ci are provided at the center portion 6a of the core body 6. This guide protrusion 6c can regulate the position of the drive wheel and the rolling wheel (not shown) in the crawler width direction b, and can prevent the wheels from coming off.

Each of the plurality of lugs 3 of this embodiment includes a wing portion 6b in the crawler thickness direction c. That is, each of the plurality of lugs 3 has a zigzag shape formed by the second portion 4b, the third portion 4c, the fifth portion 4e, and the sixth portion 4f, for example. It has a portion extending along the wing portion 6b on the side ci.

As a result, the entire wing portion 6b of this embodiment is located within the range of the lug 3 projected onto the inner peripheral side ci of the crawler. Such a lug 3 can suppress the thinning of the elastic body located on the crawler outer peripheral side co of the wing portion 6b, and can improve the durability of the elastic crawler 1.

The first portion 4a of the first top portion 4A of the lug 3 of this embodiment is provided at the outermost side in the crawler width direction b. It is desirable that the first portion 4a be provided at a position that does not overlap the wing portion 6b in the crawler thickness direction c. Such a lug 3 can suppress mud clogging caused by the first portion 4a while improving the traction force when running on soft ground, thereby achieving both soft ground running performance and mud removal performance of the elastic crawler 1. Can be done.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the first top portion 4A. As shown in FIG. 4, the inclination angle θ1 of the second portion 4b of the first top portion 4A with respect to the crawler width direction b is preferably within 10°. When the inclination angle θ1 is within 10°, excellent traction force can be maintained when running on soft ground.

The inclination angle θ2 of the third portion 4c of the first top portion 4A with respect to the crawler width direction b is preferably within 10°. When the inclination angle θ2 is within 10°, excellent traction force can be maintained when running on soft ground.

The inclination angle θ2 of the third portion 4c in this embodiment is smaller than the inclination angle θ1 of the second portion 4b. Such a third portion 4c can increase the traction force on the center side in the crawler width direction b, and can improve the soft ground running performance of the elastic crawler 1. The first apex 4A is not limited to such an aspect, and the inclination angle θ2 of the third portion 4c may be equal to the inclination angle θ1 of the second portion 4b, for example, and the inclination angle θ2 of the second portion 4b The angle θ1 may be larger than the angle θ1.

The first top portion 4A includes a first connecting portion 4g that connects the first portion 4a and the second portion 4b, and a second connecting portion 4h that connects the second portion 4b and the third portion 4c. Such a first top portion 4A allows the first portion 4a, the second portion 4b, and the third portion 4c to be integrally formed, and is useful for improving the durability of the elastic crawler 1.

The first connecting portion 4g is preferably formed into an arc shape with a radius of curvature R1 of 30 mm or more when the crawler is viewed from above. By setting the radius of curvature R1 to 30 mm or more, concentration of stress on the first connecting portion 4g can be suppressed, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be improved.

The second connecting portion 4h is preferably formed in an arc shape with a radius of curvature R2 of 30 mm or more when the crawler is viewed from above. By setting the radius of curvature R2 to 30 mm or more, concentration of stress on the second connecting portion 4h can be suppressed, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be improved.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the second top portion 4B. As shown in FIG. 5, the inclination angle θ3 of the fifth portion 4e of the second top portion 4B with respect to the crawler width direction b is preferably within 10°. By setting the inclination angle θ3 to within 10°, it is possible to maintain excellent traction force when traveling on soft ground.

The inclination angle θ4 of the sixth portion 4f of the second top portion 4B with respect to the crawler width direction b is preferably within 10°. When the inclination angle θ4 is within 10°, excellent traction force can be maintained when running on soft ground.

The inclination angle θ4 of the sixth portion 4f is, for example, equal to the inclination angle θ3 of the fifth portion 4e. Such a second top portion 4B can suppress mud clogging by producing distortion in a well-balanced manner in the crawler width direction b, and can improve mud drainage performance of the elastic crawler 1. The second apex portion 4B is not limited to such an aspect, and the inclination angle θ4 of the sixth portion 4f may be smaller than the inclination angle θ3 of the fifth portion 4e, for example. It may be larger than the inclination angle θ3.

The second top portion 4B includes a third connecting portion 4i that connects the fourth portion 4d and the fifth portion 4e, and a fourth connecting portion 4j that connects the fifth portion 4e and the sixth portion 4f. Such a second top portion 4B can integrally form the fourth portion 4d, the fifth portion 4e, and the sixth portion 4f, and is useful for improving the durability of the elastic crawler 1.

The third connecting portion 4i is preferably formed in an arc shape with a radius of curvature R3 of 30 mm or more when the crawler is viewed from above. By setting the radius of curvature R3 to 30 mm or more, concentration of stress on the third connecting portion 4i can be suppressed, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be improved.

The fourth connecting portion 4j is preferably formed in an arc shape with a radius of curvature R4 of 30 mm or more when the crawler is viewed from above. By setting the radius of curvature R4 to 30 mm or more, concentration of stress on the fourth connecting portion 4j can be suppressed, and the durability of the elastic crawler 1 can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fourth portion 4d of the second top portion 4B of this embodiment is provided on the virtual extension area of the first portion 4a of the first top portion 4A. Similarly, it is desirable that the first portion 4a of the first top portion 4A be provided on the virtual extension area of the fourth portion 4d of the second top portion 4B. The first portion 4a and the fourth portion 4d of this embodiment are located at both ends of the lug 3 in the crawler width direction b. Such lugs 3 can improve the traction force when running on soft ground, and are useful for improving the running performance of the elastic crawler 1 on soft ground.

The fifth portion 4e of the second top portion 4B of this embodiment is inclined in the same direction as the second portion 4b of the first top portion 4A. Such lugs 3 are useful for achieving both traction force and suppressing mud clogging when running on soft ground, and can achieve both soft ground running performance and mud drainage performance of the elastic crawler 1.

The sixth portion 4f of the second top portion 4B of this embodiment is provided on the virtual extension area of the third portion 4c of the first top portion 4A. Similarly, it is desirable that the third portion 4c of the first top portion 4A be provided on the virtual extension area of the sixth portion 4f of the second top portion 4B. The third portion 4c and the sixth portion 4f of this embodiment are adjacent to each other with the cutout 5 interposed therebetween. Such lugs 3 are useful for achieving both traction force and suppressing mud clogging when running on soft ground, and can achieve both soft ground running performance and mud drainage performance of the elastic crawler 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crawler main body 2 preferably has a plurality of drive holes 8 for engaging drive wheels (not shown). The drive wheel meshes with the drive hole 8, for example, and transmits the drive force to the center portion 6a of the core body 6. It is desirable that the drive hole 8 is located above the crawler center CL.

The cutout portion 5 of this embodiment has a portion that overlaps with the plurality of drive holes 8 when projected in the circumferential direction a of the crawler in a plan view of the crawler. That is, the notch 5 of this embodiment has a portion closer to the crawler center CL than the outermost end of the drive hole 8 in the crawler width direction b. Such a notch 5 can discharge mud in cooperation with the drive hole 8, and can improve the mud removal performance of the elastic crawler 1.

The plurality of lugs 3 include a first lug 3A in which the first top portion 4A is located on one side in the crawler width direction b, and a second lug 3B in which the first top portion 4A is located in the other side in the crawler width direction b. is desirable. Such a lug 3 allows the first lug 3A and the second lug 3B to be arranged in a well-balanced manner in the crawler width direction b, and is useful for improving comfort when traveling on a paved road surface.

The first lugs 3A and the second lugs 3B of this embodiment are arranged alternately in the crawler circumferential direction a. In such lugs 3, the first portions 4a of the first top portions 4A provided at the outermost side in the crawler width direction b can be arranged alternately in the crawler circumferential direction a. For this reason, the lugs 3 of this embodiment are provided in a staggered manner in the circumferential direction a of the crawler, which helps the elastic crawler 1 achieve both soft ground running performance and mud drainage performance.

It is desirable that the cutout portion 5 of the first lug 3A be located on one side in the crawler width direction b than the cutout portion 5 of the second lug 3B. In the lug 3 of this embodiment, the notches 5 are provided in a staggered manner in the crawler circumferential direction a. Such a lug 3 can exert good traction force when running on soft ground while suppressing mud clogging due to the notch 5, thereby achieving both soft ground running performance and mud removal performance of the elastic crawler 1. be able to.

The crawler main body 2 of this embodiment includes a crawler wing portion 9 that connects the first portions 4a of the first lugs 3A that are adjacent to each other in the crawler circumferential direction a. The crawler body 2 similarly includes a crawler wing portion 9 that connects the first portions 4a of the second lugs 3B that are adjacent to each other in the crawler circumferential direction a. That is, the crawler wing portion 9 is provided on the second top portion 4B side of the lug 3.

Since the crawler wing portion 9 has no core body 6 or tensile body 7 buried therein, the amount of deformation is large, and the mud drainage performance of the elastic crawler 1 can be improved. Further, the crawler body 2 having the crawler wing portions 9 and the lugs 3 can achieve both traction force and ground pressure when running on soft ground, and can improve the running performance of the elastic crawler 1 on soft ground. can.

It is desirable that the crawler wing portion 9 has a crawler recess 9a that is recessed inward in the crawler width direction b. Such crawler recesses 9a are useful for achieving both traction force and ground pressure when running on soft ground, and can further improve the running performance of the elastic crawler 1 on soft ground.

Although particularly preferred 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 implemented in various forms.

[Additional notes]
The present invention is as follows.

[Invention 1]
An elastic crawler,
A crawler body made of an endless band-shaped elastic body, and a plurality of lugs formed on the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body in the crawler thickness direction at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction,
Each of the plurality of lugs has an apex that defines the outermost part in the crawler thickness direction, and a notch that divides the apex in the crawler width direction,
The top portions include a first top portion located on one side of the notch portion in the longitudinal direction of the lug, and a second top portion located on the other side of the notch portion and having a smaller length in the crawler width direction than the first top portion. 2 tops;
The first top portion includes a first portion extending parallel to the crawler width direction, a second portion inclined to one side with respect to the crawler width direction, and a third portion inclined to the other side with respect to the crawler width direction. ,
elastic crawler.

[Invention 2]
The second top portion includes a fourth portion extending parallel to the crawler width direction, a fifth portion inclined to one side with respect to the crawler width direction, and a sixth portion inclined to the other side with respect to the crawler width direction. , an elastic crawler according to claim 1.

[Invention 3]
The elastic crawler according to claim 2, wherein the sixth portion is provided on a virtual extension area of the third portion.

[Invention 4]
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first portion is provided at the outermost side in the width direction of the crawler.

[Present invention 5]
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second portion and the third portion each have an inclination angle of 10° or less with respect to the width direction of the crawler.

[Invention 6]
The first top portion includes a first connecting portion that connects the first portion and the second portion, and a second connecting portion that connects the second portion and the third portion,
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion is formed in an arc shape with a radius of curvature of 30 mm or more when the crawler is viewed from above.

[Present invention 7]
A plurality of core bodies are embedded inside the crawler main body at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction,
Each of the plurality of core bodies has a center portion and a pair of wing portions extending outward from the center portion in the crawler width direction,
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the plurality of lugs includes the wing portion in the crawler thickness direction.

[Invention 8]
The crawler main body has a plurality of drive holes for engaging drive wheels,
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cutout portion has a portion that overlaps with the plurality of drive holes when projected in the circumferential direction of the crawler in a plan view of the crawler.

[Present invention 9]
The plurality of lugs include a first lug in which the first top portion is located on one side in the crawler width direction, and a second lug in which the first top portion is located in the other side in the crawler width direction. 8. The elastic crawler according to any one of 8.

[Invention 10]
The elastic crawler according to claim 9, wherein the first lugs and the second lugs are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the crawler.

[Invention 11]
The elastic crawler according to claim 10, wherein the cutout of the first lug is located on one side in the crawler width direction than the cutout of the second lug.

[Invention 12]
The crawler main body includes a crawler wing portion that connects the first portions of the first lugs that are adjacent to each other in the crawler circumferential direction,
The elastic crawler according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the crawler wing portion has a crawler recess that is recessed inward in the crawler width direction.

1 Elastic crawler 2 Crawler main body 2a Outer peripheral surface 3 Lug 4 Top portion 4A First top portion 4B Second top portion 4a First portion 4b Second portion 4c Third portion 5 Notch portion

Claims (12)

An elastic crawler,
A crawler body made of an endless band-shaped elastic body, and a plurality of lugs formed on the outer peripheral surface of the crawler body in the crawler thickness direction at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction,
Each of the plurality of lugs has an apex that defines the outermost part in the crawler thickness direction, and a notch that divides the apex in the crawler width direction,
The top portions include a first top portion located on one side of the notch portion in the longitudinal direction of the lug, and a second top portion located on the other side of the notch portion and having a smaller length in the crawler width direction than the first top portion. 2 tops;
The first top portion includes a first portion extending parallel to the crawler width direction, a second portion inclined to one side with respect to the crawler width direction, and a third portion inclined to the other side with respect to the crawler width direction. ,
elastic crawler. The second top portion includes a fourth portion extending parallel to the crawler width direction, a fifth portion inclined to one side with respect to the crawler width direction, and a sixth portion inclined to the other side with respect to the crawler width direction. , an elastic crawler according to claim 1. The elastic crawler according to claim 2, wherein the sixth portion is provided on a virtual extension area of the third portion. The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first portion is provided at the outermost side in the width direction of the crawler. The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second portion and the third portion each have an inclination angle of 10° or less with respect to the width direction of the crawler. The first top portion includes a first connecting portion that connects the first portion and the second portion, and a second connecting portion that connects the second portion and the third portion,
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion is formed in an arc shape with a radius of curvature of 30 mm or more when the crawler is viewed from above. A plurality of core bodies are embedded inside the crawler main body at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction,
Each of the plurality of core bodies has a center portion and a pair of wing portions extending outward from the center portion in the crawler width direction,
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of lugs includes the wing portion in the crawler thickness direction. The crawler main body has a plurality of drive holes for engaging drive wheels,
The elastic crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cutout portion has a portion that overlaps with the plurality of drive holes when projected in the circumferential direction of the crawler in a plan view of the crawler. The plurality of lugs include a first lug in which the first top portion is located on one side in the crawler width direction, and a second lug in which the first top portion is located in the other side in the crawler width direction. 3. The elastic crawler according to any one of 3. The elastic crawler according to claim 9, wherein the first lugs and the second lugs are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the crawler. The elastic crawler according to claim 10, wherein the cutout of the first lug is located on one side in the crawler width direction than the cutout of the second lug. The crawler main body includes a crawler wing portion that connects the first portions of the first lugs that are adjacent to each other in the crawler circumferential direction,
The elastic crawler according to claim 10, wherein the crawler wing portion has a crawler recess that is recessed inward in the crawler width direction.

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