JP5577432B2 - Rubber crawler manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an endless rubber crawler mainly composed of a rubber elastic body, in which a core metal is embedded and arranged, and in particular, a core metal for supporting the driving force of a driving sprocket of the rubber crawler. The present invention proposes a technique for manufacturing a rubber crawler that sufficiently reduces the contact noise between the central portion and the drive sprocket.

In recent years, various types of rubber crawlers have been proposed from the viewpoints of road surface protection, travel noise reduction, high speed travelability, and the like.
One example is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
This is because the crawler main body is formed into an endless belt shape by a rubber elastic body, and a tensile body made of a steel cord or the like disposed along the circumferential direction is embedded in the crawler main body in the circumferential direction. In addition, drive protrusions are provided on the inner peripheral side of the crawler body at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the torque is transmitted from the sprocket to the crawler via the drive protrusions.

  However, in this prior art, the sprocket repeatedly contacts the driving protrusion made of a rubber lump, so that stress concentrates on a specific location such as the protruding base of the driving protrusion and damage is likely to occur there. was there.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 2 and 3 form a driving wheel engaging portion in the middle portion of the core metal body that is long in the left-right direction, and an inner guide portion for driven wheel rolling on the left and right sides of the engaging portion In addition, there are disclosed rubber crawlers in which outer guide portions having wheel rolling treads are formed outwardly from the left and right inner guide portions. In these rubber crawlers, the tooth portions of the drive wheels are disposed in the middle of the core metal body. By engaging with the driving wheel engaging portion of the portion and driving the crawler, excellent driving durability can be exhibited under the high rigidity inherent to the cored bar.

JP 2003-226271 A JP-A-11-240472 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-268672

  However, in these prior arts, the engaging part for the driving wheel in the middle part of the core metal body is only thinly covered with rubber, so that the driving wheel tooth part is brought into contact with and engaged therewith for the driving wheel. The covering rubber of the engaging part peels off relatively early and falls, etc. After that, the relatively large metal hitting due to the direct contact of the toothed part of the driving wheel with the engaging part for the driving wheel There was another problem that sound generation cannot be denied.

  The object of the present invention is to solve such problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to effectively generate the impact noise of the rubber crawler with the drive sprocket. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rubber crawler manufacturing method capable of accurately manufacturing a rubber crawler that can be prevented.

The rubber crawler manufacturing method of the present invention extends endlessly, has a lug that acts on the road surface on the outer peripheral surface, and has an engagement portion with a drive sprocket on the inner peripheral surface, and has a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. A rubber crawler manufacturing method in which a core metal is embedded and arranged,
The rubber crawler is formed by embedding a central portion of a core metal that supports a driving force of a driving sprocket in a rubber elastic body that contributes to absorption of driving energy.
The cored bar is located adjacent to the central part of the cored bar and corresponds to each other at the tip end portions of a pair of guide projections protruding in a direction protruding toward the inner peripheral surface of the rubber crawler. Provide either one of the convex fitting part and the concave fitting part, which match the receiving part of the vulcanization mold, on the inner part or the outer part or both the inner and outer sides.
The manufacturing method, each of the distal end portion of the pair of guide projections, thereby Awa fit the receiving portion and the convex fitting part or the concave engagement part to the vulcanization mold in alignment, the core metal pressing It has a step of vulcanizing the molded raw rubber crawler while being positioned with respect to the mold.

In the rubber crawler manufacturing method according to the present invention, the tip ends of the pair of guide protrusions provided at a distance from the central portion of the core metal are fitted into the vulcanization mold, and the tip ends of the guide protrusions of the core metal are fitted. it is preferably a this mating under type vulcanizing mold, also preferably fitted to the distal end portion of the metal core of the guide projections, with a tapered surface that matches the curing mold in the vulcanization mold.

In the rubber crawler manufacturing method of the present invention, the tip end portion of the guide projection provided adjacent to the central portion of the core metal is aligned with the convex fitting portion or the concave fitting portion and the receiving portion, and the vulcanizing die, For example, in a state where the cored bar is positioned by fitting it to the upper mold or the lower mold, by vulcanizing the raw rubber crawler, the cored bar is reliably positioned and held at the expected position, In addition to accurately manufacturing the required rubber crawler, the center part of the core metal is exposed from the rubber elastic body compared to the case where the core metal is positioned at the center part of the core metal relative to the vulcanizing mold. The swaying can be sufficiently removed, and the possibility that the rubber elastic body is peeled off from the cored bar due to the pressing of the earth and sand into the exposed part of the cored bar can be effectively removed.

  In the rubber crawler manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention, in particular, the central portion of the mandrel supporting the driving force of the driving sprocket has a sufficient thickness that contributes to absorption of driving energy by its own elastic deformation, for example. When the crawler is driven by the drive sprocket, the sprocket teeth, etc., should be sufficiently thick without penetrating the rubber crawler. The sprocket driving force can be sufficiently supported by the central part of the cored bar made of a rigid material by engaging with the central part of the cored bar via the rubber elastic body of the rubber. In addition, without the local stress concentration on the central part of the metal core that engages with the drive sprocket, it demonstrates excellent durability at the engagement part. Door can be.

  In addition, here, by covering the central part of the core metal with a rubber elastic body having a sufficient thickness, when the rubber crawler is driven by the sprocket, the rubber elastic body is unintentionally peeled off and broken from the central part of the core metal. The sprocket can effectively prevent dropping, etc., and when engaging the central part of the core of the teeth of the drive sprocket, etc., it can be engaged under shock by deformation of the rubber elastic body. It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of collision noise caused by the contact of the teeth and the like with the central portion of the cored bar.

  In addition, by engaging the toothed portion of the drive sprocket with the central portion of the core bar without penetrating the rubber crawler, the rubber crawler can be embedded with a reinforcing layer over almost the entire width thereof. As an advantage, the tensile strength of the rubber crawler can be greatly improved.

  In addition, by burying the central part of the core bar completely in the rubber elastic body without exposing the core bar, the earth and sand caught on the inner peripheral side of the rubber crawler during running is sprocket, idler, etc. Even if it is pressed toward the central part of the core metal, the possibility that the earth and sand or the like may affect the peeling or the like of the rubber elastic body from the central part of the core metal can be effectively removed.

  In the method of manufacturing a rubber crawler according to the present invention, when fitting the tip ends of the pair of guide protrusions provided with a central portion of the core bar apart from each other to the vulcanization mold, the core bar is attached to the vulcanization mold. Therefore, it is particularly effective when the tip end portion of the guide protrusion of the metal core is fitted to the lower mold of the vulcanization mold for positioning.

Then, this positioning of the cored bar is easier and more accurate by aligning the convex fitting part or the concave fitting part and the receiving part of the tip end portion of the guide protrusion and fitting it into the vulcanization mold. It can be carried out.

  By the way, when the tip end portion of the guide protrusion of the core metal is fitted to the vulcanization mold under the action of the tapered surface that aligns with the vulcanization mold, the positional accuracy when positioning the core metal can be further increased. it can.

It is a section perspective view showing the rubber crawler manufactured by the manufacturing method concerning one embodiment of the present invention in the application state. It is the expansion | deployment top view which shows the internal peripheral surface of a rubber crawler, and its bb sectional drawing. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the positioning state of the core metal with the lower mold | type of a vulcanization metal mold | die. It is a perspective view which illustrates the concave fitting part of a metal core.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a rubber crawler manufactured by a manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention in an applied state. In FIG. 1, 1 shows the entire rubber crawler extending endlessly. .

  This rubber crawler 1 has a lug 2 that acts on the road surface on its outer peripheral surface, and an engaging portion 5 with a tooth portion 4 of the drive sprocket 3 on its inner peripheral surface, and is embedded and disposed almost over the entire width. In addition to the reinforcing layer 7 composed of the steel cord 6 and the like, a plurality of pieces made of a rigid material, which are embedded and arranged at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction with the extending posture in the width direction of the crawler on the inner peripheral side of the reinforcing layer 7 A cored bar 8 is provided.

  The engaging portion 5 of the rubber crawler 1 with the driving sprocket 3 is indirectly engaged with the tooth portion 4 of the driving sprocket 3 to support the driving force of the sprocket 3. And the central portion 9 is composed of a rubber elastic body 10 that is completely embedded with a thickness sufficient to contribute to the absorption of drive energy, whereby the metal core 8, directly the central portion 9 is It is completely embedded in the rubber elastic body 10 without being exposed.

In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a roller wheel that rolls on the inner peripheral surface of the rubber crawler 1 under the support of the weight of the machine body and applies a required tension to the rubber crawler 1.
By the way, the illustrated wheel 12 is configured to roll on the inner peripheral surface of the crawler 1 on the outer side of the pair of guide protrusions 11 across the pair of guide protrusions 11. Further, it can be rolled on the inner surface 10a of the rubber elastic body 10 in which the central portion 9 of the core bar 8 is embedded.

  In the rubber crawler 1 configured as described above, when the tooth portion 4 of the rubber crawler 1 is engaged with the engagement portion 5 of the rubber crawler 1 under the action of the drive sprocket 3, the tooth portion 4 is the central portion of the core metal 8. In the state in which the rubber elastic body 10 for embedding 9 is greatly elastically deformed, the driving force is supported by the central portion 9, and the impact impact of the tooth portion 4 on the central portion 9 Since it is sufficiently mitigated by the buffering action, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the generation of noise due to the teeth 4 of the drive sprocket 3 colliding directly with the central portion 9 of the core 8, By supporting the driving force of the driving sprocket 3 with the cored bar 8 made of a rigid material, the durability of the engaging portion 5 can be sufficiently increased.

  Moreover, since the rubber elastic body 10 embedding the central portion 9 has a sufficient thickness, there is a risk of the rubber elastic body 10 being unexpectedly peeled off from the central portion 9 of the cored bar 8 or rupturing the rubber elastic body 10. Is sufficiently removed, and the occurrence of the above-described collision noise can be effectively prevented over a long period of time.

Here, preferably, the rubber elastic body in which the central portion 9 of the cored bar 8 is embedded, as is clear from the developed plan view on the inner peripheral surface side of the rubber crawler 1 and FIG. 2 showing the cross section passing through the engaging portion with the drive sprocket. 10. Both the inner surface 10a and the surfaces 10b and 10c facing the front side and the rear side in the driving direction A of the driving sprocket 3 are both smooth surfaces without unevenness (not only flat surfaces without unevenness but also unevenness. Including a curved surface, including a case where a flat surface and a curved surface are mixed).
Preferably, the embedding depth d of the central portion 9 of the cored bar 8 by the rubber elastic body is at least 10 mm on the input side of the driving force from the driving sprocket 3, in the drawing, on the surface 10 c side. The range is 25 mm. As a result, the rubber elastic body can exhibit an excellent buffer function.
In this case, if it exceeds 25 mm, the anti-roll-off resistance may be reduced, and the moment due to the driving input acting on the core metal becomes too large, and the crawler may be damaged in the direction in which the core metal collapses. I can't deny it.
In addition, in the place shown in FIG. 2, the embedding depth d1 of the central part 9 of the cored bar 8 measured from the surface 10b side is also 10 mm or more.

  1 again, reference numeral 11 in the drawing indicates a pair of guide protrusions provided on the core bar 8 so as to protrude toward the inner peripheral side of the rubber crawler 1 at a position apart from the central portion 9. These guide projections 11 functioning to restrain the displacement of the body 1 in the lateral direction of the machine body in cooperation with the machine body side member are, for example, accurate positioning of the core metal in the vulcanization mold, The rubber elastic body 10 is thinly coated for the purpose of preventing overturning in the vulcanizing mold and preventing contact noise between the core metal protrusion and the machine wheel.

  In addition, in this rubber crawler, the central part 9 of the cored bar 8 is embedded in the rubber elastic body 10 without exposing it, and the respective surfaces 10a, 10b, 10c of the rubber elastic body 10 are made uneven. Even if the earth and sand wound on the inner peripheral side of the rubber crawler 1 is pressed toward the central portion 9 side of the core metal 8 by the drive sprocket 3 and an idler (not shown), etc. The possibility of peeling of the rubber elastic body 10 from the central portion of the metal core due to the entry into the specific recess or the like can be sufficiently removed.

  By the way, in manufacturing the rubber crawler 1 as described above, the leading end portion of each guide projection 11 provided on the cored bar 8 is vulcanized in a vulcanizing mold including a molding / vulcanizing mold. 3, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, the cored bar 8 is fitted into the lower mold 21, and the cored bar 8 is positioned at a predetermined position of the vulcanizing mold, particularly the lower mold 21. In this state, the vulcanizing mold By vulcanizing a molded raw rubber crawler in a cavity (not shown), the rubber crawler 1 in which the cored bar 8 is embedded in the expected position at a desired position can be simplified. The thickness of the rubber elastic body 10 for embedding the central portion 9 of the core metal 8 can also be as expected, and the central portion 9 of the core metal 8 is Without being exposed, the rubber elastic body 10 can be completely embedded.

  In addition, when the cored bar 8 is positioned by the lower die 21 as shown in the drawing, only the guide protrusion 11 of the cored bar 8 is supported, thereby positioning the cored bar 8 and supporting the weight of the cored bar. Since the number of supporting points for supporting the weight of the core metal is reduced compared to the case where the core metal 8 is positioned by an upper die or the like, the core metal 8 is unintended in the product rubber crawler 1. It is possible to effectively prevent 8 from being exposed and the rubber elastic body film from being thinned.

  Further, here, when positioning the front ends of the pair of or more than one pair of guide projections 11 provided with the central portion 9 of the core metal 8 being fitted to the upper mold or the lower mold of the vulcanizing mold, etc. The positioning accuracy of the cored bar 8 can be further increased, and the stability of the support can be further improved when the positioning is performed by fitting with the lower die.

  Further, in such positioning of the core metal 8, it is possible to fit the tip portion of the guide projection 11 with the convex or concave fitting portion provided therein to the vulcanization die. It is preferable to specify the position easily and surely.

Furthermore, when fitting the tip of the guide protrusion 11 of the cored bar 8 to the vulcanizing mold with a tapered surface 11a aligned with the receiving part of the vulcanizing mold as shown, the cored bar 8 is Under the cooperation of the tapered surface 11a and the vulcanizing mold receiving portion, there is an advantage that alignment can be automatically guided to a predetermined positioning position.
By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, at the tip portions of the pair of guide projections 11, a mountain shape that tapers in a taper shape toward the tip at the inner portion facing each other, in a thickness region of approximately half the projection thickness. The convex fitting portion 11b is provided with a tapered surface 11a as illustrated in FIG. 4 in relation to the support portion on the vulcanization mold side. It is also possible to use a concave fitting portion 11c made of an inverted mountain-shaped depression.

By the way, as described above, either one of the convex fitting portion or the concave fitting portion is formed on each of the pair of guide protrusions 11, but the convex shape is formed on either one of the guide protrusions 11. It is also possible to provide a fitting part and a concave fitting part on the other guide projection 11.
In any of these cases, the required fitting portions can be provided on the outer portions of the pair of guide projections 11 facing each other, and on both the inner and outer sides of the pair of guide projections 11. A required fitting part can also be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rubber crawler 2 Lug 3 Drive sprocket 4 Tooth part 5 Engagement part 6 Steel cord 7 Reinforcement layer 8 Core metal 9 Center part 10 Rubber elastic body 10a Inner surface 10b, 10c Surface 11 Guide protrusion 11a Tapered surface 11b Convex fitting part 11c Recessed fitting part 21 Lower mold A Drive direction d, d1 Embedding depth

Claims (4)

Rubber that extends endlessly, has lugs that act on the road surface on the outer peripheral surface, and has an engaging portion with a drive sprocket on the inner peripheral surface, and embeds and disposes a metal core at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction A crawler manufacturing method,
The rubber crawler is formed by embedding a central portion of a core metal that supports a driving force of a driving sprocket in a rubber elastic body that contributes to absorption of driving energy.
The cored bar is located adjacent to the central part of the cored bar and corresponds to each other at the tip end portions of a pair of guide projections protruding in a direction protruding toward the inner peripheral surface of the rubber crawler. Provide either one of the convex fitting part and the concave fitting part, which match the receiving part of the vulcanization mold, on the inner part or the outer part or both the inner and outer sides.
The manufacturing method, each of the distal end portion of the pair of guide projections, thereby Awa fit the receiving portion and the convex fitting part or the concave engagement part to the vulcanization mold in alignment, the core metal pressing A method of manufacturing a rubber crawler, comprising a step of vulcanizing a molded raw rubber crawler in a state where the rubber crawler is positioned with respect to a mold.   The method for producing a rubber crawler according to claim 1, wherein respective tip ends of the pair of guide protrusions provided with a central portion of the cored bar are fitted to a vulcanization mold.   The method for producing a rubber crawler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tip end portion of the guide protrusion of the core metal is fitted into the lower mold of the vulcanization mold. The method for producing a rubber crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the tip end portion of the guide protrusion of the core metal is fitted into the vulcanization mold with a tapered surface that matches the vulcanization mold.

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