KR102263690B1 - Device for adjusting tension of track - Google Patents

Abstract

The track tensioning device includes a track spring coupled to an idler supporting the track and absorbing an impact from an external force applied to the idler from the track, and a track to pressurize the track spring when displacement of the track spring is generated by the external force. A track spring assembly having a cylinder supporting the spring, a piston fixed to the track frame and coupled to the cylinder to reciprocate within the cylinder and having a flow path in communication with the inside of the cylinder, and a piston installed on the piston to supply lubricant into the cylinder through the flow path and a lubricant supply control unit having an injection unit for selectively injecting and a discharge unit for selectively discharging the lubricant inside the cylinder from the flow path to the outside.

Description

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING TENSION OF TRACK

The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the tension of a track. More particularly, it relates to a device for adjusting the tension of a track in a vehicle equipped with a caterpillar.

In general, the track of a caterpillar vehicle is elastically supported by a track spring and expands and contracts within a certain range to alleviate the impact in the driving process. At this time, the tension of the track spring can be adjusted by injecting or discharging grease.

However, there is an inconvenience of having to remove the grease injection part in order to discharge the grease, and in this process, the injection part may be bounced off by the pressure of the grease and cause a safety accident. In addition, there is a problem in that an O-ring for airtight maintenance is broken in the process of recombining the grease injection part, and the injected grease leaks to the outside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a track tension control device capable of injecting or discharging lubricant without removing the lubricant injecting unit and the discharging unit.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention described above, the track tension adjusting device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is coupled to an idler supporting the track and absorbs an impact caused by an external force applied to the idler from the track. A track spring assembly having a track spring for performing a motion and a cylinder supporting the track spring to press the track spring when displacement of the track spring is generated by the external force, fixed to the track frame and reciprocating within the cylinder A piston coupled to the cylinder and having a flow path communicating with the inside of the cylinder, and an injection part installed on the piston and selectively injecting lubricant into the cylinder through the flow path, and the lubricant inside the cylinder from the flow path It may include a lubricant supply control unit having a discharge unit for selectively discharging to the furnace.

In exemplary embodiments, the injection unit is installed in the injection passage and the injection passage communicating with the flow passage, and selectively opens the injection passage to inject the lubricant into the cylinder and discharge the lubricant to the outside. It may include a shut-off check valve.

In exemplary embodiments, the check valve includes a blocking member for blocking the injection flow path to prevent the lubricant from being discharged to the outside, and an elastic member for selectively opening the injection flow path by pressing the blocking member. may include

In exemplary embodiments, the discharge part communicates with the flow path and is installed in a first discharge flow path and the first discharge flow path formed to be spaced apart from the injection flow path, and opens and closes the first discharge flow path to control the lubricant discharge It may include a first opening/closing valve for

In exemplary embodiments, the discharge unit is installed in the second discharge flow path branched from the injection flow path and the second discharge flow path, and opens and closes the second discharge flow path to control the lubricant discharge. may include

In exemplary embodiments, the track spring assembly includes a bracket coupled to the idler and supporting the track spring to press the track spring by an external force applied to the idler, and a shaft connecting the bracket and the cylinder. may further include.

In exemplary embodiments, the lubricant may be grease.

The track tensioning device according to exemplary embodiments may inject or discharge the lubricant without removing the inlet and the outlet. Accordingly, it is possible to solve the inconvenience caused by the separation of the injection part and the discharge part, and to maintain the airtightness of the coupling part.

However, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and may be variously expanded without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1 is a schematic side view of a general caterpillar construction machine.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 1 .
3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a track tension adjusting device according to exemplary embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the injection unit of FIG. 3 .
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge part of FIG. 3 .
6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for adjusting the tension of a track according to exemplary embodiments.
7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lubricant supply control unit of FIG. 6 .

With respect to the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the text, specific structural or functional descriptions are only exemplified for the purpose of describing the embodiments of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in various forms. It should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described in .

Since the present invention can have various changes and can have various forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific disclosed form, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the terms. The above terms may be used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component.

When a component is referred to as being “connected” or “connected” to another component, it is understood that the other component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but other components may exist in between. it should be On the other hand, when it is said that a certain element is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that no other element is present in the middle. Other expressions describing the relationship between elements, such as "between" and "immediately between" or "neighboring to" and "directly adjacent to", etc., should be interpreted similarly.

The terms used in the present application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to designate that the described feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof exists, and includes one or more other features or numbers. , it is to be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as meanings consistent with the context of the related art, and unless explicitly defined in the present application, they are not to be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning. .

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and repeated descriptions of the same components are omitted.

1 is a schematic side view of a general caterpillar construction machine. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 1 .

1 and 2 , the caterpillar construction machine 10 may include an upper revolving body 20 and a lower traveling body 30 .

The upper slewing body 20 may include a cab, an engine, a boom, an arm, a bucket, various hydraulic cylinders and counterweights, and the like. The upper slewing body 20 is mounted on the lower traveling body 30, rotates on a plane parallel to the ground to set the working direction, and operates the boom, the arm and the bucket by the hydraulic cylinder to perform the work. can be done In this case, it is possible to maintain the balance of the caterpillar construction machine 10 in operation by using the counter weight.

The lower traveling body 30 supports the upper revolving body 20 and can drive the caterpillar construction machine 10 by using the power generated from the engine. Specifically, the power generated by the engine may be transmitted to the sprocket 34 located at the rear of the lower traveling body 30 . The sprocket 34 may move the track 36 forward or backward by rotating the track 36 . One end of the track 36 surrounds the sprocket 34 and the other end is coupled to surround the idler 35 in front of the vehicle, so that it can rotate infinitely in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. At this time, the upper roller 37 can prevent the track 36 from sagging down under its own weight.

The track frame 32 is coupled to the upper revolving body 20 , and may serve to support the lower traveling body 30 . The sprocket 34 and idler 35 may be coupled to the track frame 32 . In addition, the track frame 32 may be formed to surround both sides of the lower traveling body 30 to protect the idler 35 and the track tension adjusting device 40 from external foreign substances.

An external force applied to the track 36 during driving may be transmitted to the idler 35 . The track tension control device 40 may be installed between the idler 35 and the track frame 32 to absorb an impact caused by the external force applied to the idler 35 . In addition, the level of tension acting on the track may be adjusted by the amount of lubricant injected into the tension adjusting device 40 of the track. Accordingly, the operator can adjust the tension applied to the track by injecting a lubricant into the tension adjusting device 40 of the track or discharging the lubricant in the tension adjusting device 40 of the track to the outside.

3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for adjusting the tension of a track according to exemplary embodiments. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the injection unit of FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge part of FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , the track tension adjusting device 40 includes a track spring 110 for absorbing an impact applied to the idler 35 from the track 32 and the track spring 110 by the external force. A track spring assembly 100 having a cylinder 120 supporting the track spring 110 to press the track spring 110 when is generated, fixed to the track frame 32 and reciprocating within the cylinder 120 The piston 200 is coupled to the cylinder 120 and has a flow path 210 in communication with the inside of the cylinder 120, and is installed in the piston 200 and injects a lubricant into the cylinder 120 through the flow path 210 Alternatively, the lubricant supply control unit 300 for discharging the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside may be included.

In exemplary embodiments, the track spring assembly 100 is coupled to the idler 35 and a bracket for supporting the track spring 110 to press the track spring 110 by an external force applied to the idler 35 ( 130 , and a shaft 140 connecting the bracket 130 and the cylinder 120 may be further included.

The cylinder 120 may be connected to the shaft 140 , and the shaft 140 may be connected to the idler 35 by the bracket 130 . The track spring 110 is provided to surround a portion of the shaft 140 and the cylinder 120, one end of the track spring 110 is supported by the bracket 130, and the other end of the track spring 110 is a cylinder ( 120) can be supported. Accordingly, an external force applied to the idler 35 from the track 36 during driving may be transmitted to the track spring 110 through the bracket 130 . The shaft 140 may maintain a constant distance between the cylinder 120 and the bracket 130 .

One side of the piston 200 is fixed to the track frame 32 , and the other side is inserted into the cylinder 120 to reciprocate within the cylinder 120 . The piston 200 has a flow path 210 that communicates with the inside of the cylinder 120, and injects lubricant into the cylinder 120 through the flow path 210 or discharges the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside. can For example, the lubricant may be grease.

The cylinder 120 may accommodate the piston 200 and the lubricant therein. The lubricant inside the cylinder 120 forms a pressure, and the pressure may be sequentially transmitted to the bracket 130 , the idler 35 , and the track 36 by pressing the track spring 110 . Accordingly, the tension acting on the track 36 can be kept constant.

Meanwhile, an external force may act in the direction of the idler 35 from the track 36 during driving. The external force may be sequentially transmitted to the track spring 110 and the cylinder 120 through the bracket 130 . At this time, since the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 performs a buffering action, the external force may be halved.

The lubricant supply control unit 300 is installed on the piston 200 , and the injection unit 310 for selectively injecting lubricant into the cylinder 120 through the flow path 210 and the cylinder 120 from the flow path 210 . A discharge unit 320 for selectively discharging the lubricant to the outside may be provided. For example, the lubricant supply control unit may be coupled to the piston by a male screw machined on an outer surface, and airtightness may be maintained by an O-ring or the like.

When the lubricant is injected into the cylinder 120 through the injection unit 310 , the pressure inside the cylinder 120 may increase to move the cylinder 120 toward the idler 35 . Accordingly, the track spring 110 having one end supported by the cylinder 120 also receives a force in the direction of the idler 35 , and increases the tension acting from the idler 35 to the track 36 through the bracket 130 . can do it

Conversely, when the lubricant is discharged through the discharge unit 320 , the pressure inside the cylinder 120 is reduced and the cylinder 120 can be moved in the track frame 32 direction by the restoring force of the track spring 110 . have. At this time, since the track spring 110 receives the same pressure as the pressure formed inside the cylinder 120 , the force acting in the direction of the idler 35 is also reduced as the pressure inside the cylinder 120 decreases. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the tension acting from the idler 35 to the track 36 .

That is, as the lubricant is injected into the cylinder 120 or the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 is discharged to the outside, the cylinder 120 moves, and the track spring 110 supported by the cylinder 120 is compressed or By being relaxed, the tension acting from the idler 35 to the track 36 can be adjusted.

4 and 5 , in exemplary embodiments, the injection unit 310 of the lubricant supply control unit 300 is installed in the injection flow path 312 and the injection flow path 312 communicating with the flow path 210 . and may include a check valve 314 that blocks the lubricant from being discharged to the outside. The discharge unit 320 of the lubricant supply control unit 300 communicates with the flow path 210 and opens and closes the first discharge flow path 322 and the first discharge flow path 322 formed to be spaced apart from the injection flow path 312 to discharge the lubricant. A first on/off valve 324 for controlling may be included. That is, the injection part 310 and the discharge part 330 in the piston 200 may be formed in the form of two separate valve assemblies.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the injection flow path 312 may communicate the flow path 210 and the outside. The lubricant injected through the injection flow path 312 may be supplied into the cylinder 120 through the flow path 210 . At this time, a check valve 314 may be installed in the injection passage 312 in order to prevent the lubricant supplied to the injection passage 312 from flowing backward to the outside. The check valve 314 may selectively open the injection flow path 312 to inject the lubricant into the cylinder 120 and block the lubricant from being discharged to the outside.

For example, the check valve 314 blocks the injection flow path 312 to selectively select the injection flow path 312 by pressing the blocking member 316 and the blocking member 316 for preventing the lubricant from being discharged to the outside. It may include an elastic member 318 for opening. The blocking member may include a ball-shaped metal member, and examples of the elastic member include a spring.

In example embodiments, the injection passage 312 may be formed to have different diameters at the inlet and the outlet. At this time, one end to which the lubricant is injected from the injection unit 310 is the inlet of the injection flow path 312 , and the other end through which the injected lubricant exits to the flow path 210 may be defined as the outlet of the injection flow path 312 . For example, an outlet diameter D1 of the injection passage may be larger than a diameter of the blocking member, and an inlet diameter D2 of the injection passage may be smaller than a diameter of the blocking member. Accordingly, the blocking member 316 may completely close the injection passage 312 , and the airtightness of the injection passage 312 may be maintained.

When a lubricant is injected into the injection part 310 , the lubricant presses the blocking member 316 . If the lubricant is continuously injected, the blocking member 316 may move toward the outlet of the injection flow path 312 while the elastic member 318 is compressed, and the injection flow path 312 may be opened. The lubricant may be sequentially supplied into the cylinder 120 through the injection flow path 312 and the flow path 210 .

The lubricant injected into the injection flow path 312 , the flow path 210 , and the cylinder 120 may form a constant pressure. The pressure and the restoring force of the elastic member 318 may prevent the injected lubricant from being discharged to the outside by pressing the blocking member 316 in the inlet direction of the injection passage 312 to close the injection passage 312 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , the first discharge flow path 322 may communicate the flow path 210 and the outside. The lubricant inside the cylinder 120 may be discharged to the outside through the flow path 210 and the first discharge flow path 322 sequentially.

The first opening/closing valve 324 is installed in the first discharge flow path 322 , and may selectively discharge the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside by opening and closing the first discharge flow path 322 . For example, when the first on-off valve is placed in the locked position, the first discharge passage is closed and the lubricant cannot be discharged to the outside, but when the first on-off valve is placed in the open position, the first discharge passage is opened and the lubricant is not discharged. can be discharged to the outside. At this time, the lubricant may be discharged to the outside through the first discharge passage by the pressure formed inside the cylinder.

As described above, in the track tension adjustment device 40 according to exemplary embodiments, the track spring assembly 100 coupled to the idler 35 and the piston 200 fixed to the track frame 32 interact Thus, the impact applied to the idler 35 from the track 36 can be alleviated. In addition, the tension of the track 36 can be adjusted by supplying lubricant into the cylinder 120 through the lubricant supply control unit 300 installed in the piston 200 or discharging the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside. At this time, since it is possible to inject the lubricant into the cylinder 120 or discharge the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside without separating the lubricant supply control unit 300 from the piston 200, the lubricant supply control unit 300 It is possible to prevent a safety accident that may occur during separation, and it is possible to maintain airtightness between the lubricant supply control unit 300 and the piston 200 .

6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for adjusting the tension of a track according to exemplary embodiments. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lubricant supply control unit of FIG. 6 . The track tensioning device is substantially the same as or similar to the track tensioning device described with reference to FIG. 3 except for the lubricant supply control unit. Accordingly, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions of the same components are omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6 , in exemplary embodiments, the track tension adjusting device 42 is installed on the piston 200 and injects lubricant into the cylinder 120 through the flow path 210 or the cylinder 120 . ) may include a lubricant supply control unit 302 for discharging the internal lubricant to the outside. For example, the lubricant supply control unit may be coupled to the piston by a male screw machined on an outer surface, and airtightness may be maintained by an O-ring or the like.

The lubricant supply control unit 302 selectively discharges the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 from the injection unit 310 for selectively injecting the lubricant into the cylinder 120 through the flow path 210 and the flow path 210 to the outside. It may include a discharge unit 330 for the purpose. That is, the injection part 310 and the discharge part 330 may be formed together in the piston 200 in the form of one valve assembly.

When a lubricant is injected into the cylinder 120 through the lubricant supply control unit 302 , the pressure inside the cylinder 120 may increase to move the cylinder 120 toward the idler 35 . Accordingly, the track spring 110 having one end supported by the cylinder 120 also receives a force in the direction of the idler 35 , and increases the tension acting from the idler 35 to the track 36 through the bracket 130 . can do it

On the contrary, when the lubricant is discharged through the lubricant supply control unit 302 , the pressure inside the cylinder 120 is reduced and the cylinder 120 is moved in the track frame 32 direction by the restoring force of the track spring 110 . can At this time, since the track spring 110 receives the same pressure as the pressure formed inside the cylinder 120 , the force acting in the direction of the idler 35 is also reduced according to the decrease in the pressure inside the cylinder 120 . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the tension acting from the idler 35 to the track 36 .

That is, as the lubricant is injected into the cylinder 120 or the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 is discharged to the outside, the cylinder 120 moves, and the track spring 110 supported by the cylinder 120 is compressed or By being relaxed, the tension acting from the idler 35 to the track 36 can be adjusted.

Referring to FIG. 7 , in exemplary embodiments, the discharge unit 330 controls the lubricant discharge by opening and closing the second discharge passage 332 and the second discharge passage 332 branched from the injection passage 312 . It may include a second on-off valve 334 for

The second discharge flow path 332 may be branched from the injection flow path 312 to communicate the flow path 210 with the outside. Accordingly, the lubricant may be injected through the check valve 314 and the injection flow path 312 , and the lubricant may be discharged through the injection flow path 312 and the second discharge flow path 332 .

The second opening/closing valve 334 is installed in the second discharge flow path 332 , and may selectively discharge the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside by opening and closing the second discharge flow path 332 . For example, when the second on-off valve is placed in the locked position, the second discharge passage is closed and the lubricant cannot be discharged to the outside, but when the second on-off valve is placed in the open position, the second discharge passage is opened and the lubricant is not discharged. can be discharged to the outside. At this time, the lubricant may be discharged to the outside through the injection passage and the second discharge passage sequentially by the pressure formed inside the cylinder.

As described above, the track tensioning device 42 according to exemplary embodiments is the interaction of the track spring assembly 100 coupled to the idler 35 and the piston 200 fixed to the track frame 32 . Thus, the impact applied to the idler 35 from the track 36 can be alleviated. In addition, the tension of the track 36 can be adjusted by supplying lubricant into the cylinder 120 through the lubricant supply control unit 302 installed in the piston 200 or discharging the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside. At this time, since it is possible to inject the lubricant into the cylinder 120 or discharge the lubricant inside the cylinder 120 to the outside without separating the lubricant supply control unit 302 from the piston 200, the lubricant supply control unit 302 It is possible to prevent a safety accident that may occur during separation, and it is possible to maintain airtightness between the lubricant supply control unit 302 and the piston 200 .

Although the above has been described with reference to the embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention within the scope without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. You will understand that you can.

10: caterpillar construction machine 20: upper revolving body
30: undercarriage 32: track frame
34: sprocket 35: idler
36: track 37: upper roller
38: lower roller 40, 42: tension adjusting device of the track
100: track spring assembly 110: track spring
120: cylinder 130: bracket
140: shaft 200: piston
210: euro 300, 302: lubricant supply control unit
310: injection unit 312: injection flow path
314: check valve 316: shut-off member
318: elastic member 320, 330: discharge part
322: first discharge flow path 324: first on-off valve
332: second discharge flow path 334: second on-off valve
D1: Outlet diameter of injection passage D2: Inlet diameter of injection passage

Claims (7)

A track spring coupled to an idler for supporting a track, the track spring for absorbing an impact from an external force applied to the idler from the track, and the track spring to press the track spring when displacement of the track spring is generated by the external force a track spring assembly having a cylinder supporting the;
a piston fixed to the track frame, coupled to the cylinder to reciprocate within the cylinder, and having a flow path communicating with the inside of the cylinder; and
It is installed in the piston, and is installed in the injection passage communicating with the passage and the injection passage in order to selectively inject the lubricant into the cylinder through the passage, and selectively opening the injection passage to introduce the lubricant into the cylinder and a lubricant supply control unit having an injection unit including a check valve for injecting and blocking the discharge of the lubricant to the outside, and a discharge unit for selectively discharging the lubricant inside the cylinder from the flow path to the outside,
The check valve blocks the injection passage to prevent the lubricant from being discharged to the outside, and presses the blocking member and the blocking member disposed between the inlet of the injection passage and the outlet of the injection passage to close the injection passage. an elastic member for selectively opening;
The discharge part is branched from the injection flow path in front of the check valve and the injection flow path behind the check valve, and is installed in the discharge flow path and the discharge flow path for communicating the flow path with the outside, and opens and closes the discharge flow path for the lubricant A track tensioning device comprising an on/off valve for controlling the discharge. delete delete delete delete The method of claim 1 , wherein the track spring assembly comprises:
a bracket coupled to the idler and supporting the track spring to press the track spring by an external force applied to the idler; and
The track tension control device, characterized in that it further comprises a shaft connecting the bracket and the cylinder. The track tensioning device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant is grease.

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