WO2021230842A1

WO2021230842A1 - A movement unit

Info

Publication number: WO2021230842A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/050331
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sinan OZCAN
Original assignee: Eurobotik Otomasyon Ve Goruntu Isleme Teknolojileri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti.
Priority date: 2020-05-13
Filing date: 2021-04-08
Publication date: 2021-11-18
Also published as: TR202007532A2

Abstract

The invention is related to at least one movement unit (10), which is particularly aimed to be used in the propulsion of the vehicle (50), having at least one first gear (21) communicated with at least one driving member (20), and at least one second gear (22) that may be communicated with said first gear (21) in an aligned arrangement through at least one chain track (40). The novelty provided with the present invention is that, to allow the chain track (40) to be stretched; said second gear (22) is configured to get close to the first gear (21), and at least one damping assembly (30) is positioned between the first gear (21) and the second gear (22).

Description

A MOVEMENT UNIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to at least one movement unit having at least one first gear communicated with at least one driving member and at least one second gear that may be communicated with said first gear in an aligned arrangement through at least one chain track, or chain track, which is particularly aimed to be used in the vehicle propulsion.

PRIOR ART

A chain track or propulsion system is a vehicle driving system comprised of a plurality of a series of tires or wheels, and a belt stretched around them. A surface of the belt that is contacted to the ground and is larger than a single tire provides a better weight transmission to the ground together with quite a low surface pressure, so that the likelihood of becoming stuck for a tracked vehicle due to sinking in soft surfaces is far less relative to that of a tired vehicle.

Belts of modem tracks may be made of steel plates attached with rotatory joints for the applications using tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy construction equipment, or of hard and hard-wearing rubber, reinforced with steel wires, in case of the applications using agricultural machinery and equipment mainly including tractors and combine harvesters. The belts made of steel plates are more resistant to wearing and damage in comparison with the tracks or tires made of rubber, however, as they may be damaged due to continuous use on thick-floored surfaces, each steel plate may be provided with rubber shoes thereon. Moreover, tracks are designed in such a manner that the weight of the vehicle is portioned out between the tires of the propulsion system to minimize the damage likely to occur in the propulsion system, so that, overly heavy vehicles are enabled to be driven even on rough and bumpy roads just like a train running on a proper and even track on a railway.

To route modem full-tracked vehicles is facilitated by constraining the rotational moment applied to traction gears on the track. In this technique called differential routing, a brake system placed on differential output shafts acts as a steering wheel as well. A driver may control the braking system by using two crowbars, of which one is for the left hand and the other is for the right hand, a steering wheel, or an operating lever. When less moment is given onto a traction gear of the tracked vehicle compared to the other traction gear by applying braking force thereon, the vehicle will be urged to rotate in the direction of the traction gear having less moment, in such routing technique, a rotation diameter of the vehicle will vary depending on the braking force applied. The moment of a traction gear is zeroized by doing a full brake and, if only the other traction gear is given moment, the vehicle is urged to do counter-rotation in its location.

With versatile wheels, the wheels are enabled to be driven with full force, and at the same time to slide laterally with great convenience. These wheels are generally employed in holonomic driving systems. They are typically used for small autonomic robots in smart robotics. Versatile wheels integrated with conventional wheels exhibit unique performance properties in a fashion similar to a vehicle having six wheels including two conventional wheels on the middle axle and four versatile wheels on the front and rear axles.

A mecanum wheel is composed of a central wheel and a series of cylinders positioned at an angle in the circumference of the wheel. For an ordinary force in the direction of the wheel, angled peripheral cylinders translate a part of the force in a rotational direction of the wheel. A combination of all of the forces obtained creates a total force in the desired direction depending on the direction and speed of each wheel. Thus, the robot is enabled to freely move in any desired direction without the need for altering the directions of the wheels.

The mecanum wheel having peripherical cylinders can be retained in a certain position. An advantage of such a configuration is to provide a good capacity for load carriage. A disadvantage of such configuration is the likelihood for the wheel rim of contacting with the ground rather than cylinders when it encounters a slopped or uneven working surface.

That versatile wheels are not applicable for the conditions of military operations due to their fragile structures and tracked off-road vehicles move in one direction only are limiting parts of the technique. Consequently, all of the aforementioned problems have made it mandatory to develop a novelty in the related art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a movement unit, to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide novel advantages to the related art.

An aim of the invention is to provide a movement unit that facilitates improving the ability of movement in vehicles.

To achieve all of the aims that will be apparent from the description mentioned above and to be described in detail below, the present invention is related to at least one movement unit that is provided with at least one first gear communicated with at least one driving member, and at least one second gear that may be communicated with said first gear in an aligned arrangement through at least one chain track, which is particularly aimed to be used in vehicle propulsion. According to the present invention, said second gear is configured to be able to get close to the first gear to allow the chain track to expand, and at least one damping assembly is provided between the first gear and the second gear. Thus, the cases in which the vehicle may be employed can vary due to the possibility of damping the forces applied to the movement system.

According to one of the embodiments of the invention, the novelty of the invention comprises at least one first bearing provided on the first gear and at least one second bearing provided on the second gear. Thus, the damping assembly is enabled to be mounted on the gears.

According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one damping member is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing. So that, the first gear and the second gear are enabled to move reciprocally.

In a further embodiment of the invention, said damping member comprises at least one alignment shaft to be provided on least a side of said damping member. Thus, the first gear and the second gear are enabled to be centered in the same alignment.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the chain track comprises thereon a plurality of rollers that are partially inclined and are particularly formed at an angle of 45 degrees. So that, the tracked vehicle is provided with the ability of multi-directional movement using said rollers.

According to another embodiment of the invention, four rollers are provided on the vehicle indeed. So that, the vehicle is facilitated to move at its axis and in all directions on the ground.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the vehicle is a military vehicle or an autonomous vehicle. Thus, the advantage of versatile wheels of tracked vehicles has been disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In Figure 1, an illustrative perspective view of the movement unit subject to the invention is shown as being on the vehicle.

In Figure 2, an illustrative perspective view of the damping assembly in the movement unit subject to the invention is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the movement unit (10) subject to the invention is disclosed, without limitations, using examples only to help the subject matter to be better understood.

Figure 1 shows the movement unit (10) subject to the invention as being on the vehicle (50) in an illustrative perspective view. Accordingly, the movement unit (10) is provided indeed as a wheel on the said vehicle (50). The movement unit (10) is moved using at least one driving member (20). In an embodiment of the invention, said driving member (20) is an electric engine. The rotational force generated in the driving member (20) is transmitted to at least one first gear (21) and at least one second gear (22). Said first gear (21) and second gear (22) are communicated with each other in such a manner that at least one chain track (40) is provided between them. The first gear (21) and the second gear (22) are indeed aligned and rotate in the same direction. Said chain track (40) is indeed formed of a track belt and a plurality of track links that are arranged successively. The chain track (40) has thereon a series of rollers (41). Said rollers (41) allows a rotational connection using at least one gripper (42) and said gripper (42) is attached on the chain track (40). The roller (41) is formed to be angled, and particularly enables the vehicle (50) to move in more than one direction due to its arrangement at an angle of 45 degrees.

Figure 2 shows an illustrative perspective view of the damping assembly (30) of the movement unit (10) subject to the invention. Accordingly, said damping assembly (30) indeed allows the amplitude of an oscillation to be minimized. The damping assembly (30) comprises at least one damping member (33). Said damping member (33) is attached on the first gear (21) using at least one first bearing (31) on one side. The damping member (33) is positioned on the second gear (22) using at least one second bearing (32) on the other side. Said first bearing (31) and said second bearing (32) is indeed located to be aligned with each other. The damping member (33) comprises at least one alignment shaft (34) to be positioned in the same direction. Said alignment shaft (34) enables the damping assembly (30) to be aligned in an axial direction. In an embodiment of the invention, the alignment shaft (34) is configured to be two in number and to facilitate the damping member (33) to be at the center of the alignment shafts (34). In another embodiment of the invention, the damping member (33) may be a spring, an oscillation damper, or a shock absorber.

The second gear (22) may become closed to or distanced from the first gear (21) using the damping member (33) based on an impact on the movement unit (10) from the outside. Thus, as the tension of the chain track (40) is reduced, impacts will be absorbed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the movement unit (10) is provided to be four in number on the vehicle (50). Each movement unit (10) on the vehicle (50) is moved using the driving member (20) and is enabled to move independently of each other. The rollers (41) in movement members are positioned opposite to one another in reciprocal movement units (10) and the same direction in transverse movement units (10). So that, the vehicle (50) can turn around its axis and have the freedom of movement to each point on the ground plane. The vehicle (50) may indeed be a tank, bomb disposal vehicle, and autonomous patrol vehicle having a variety of properties in the military. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the vehicle (50) is a versatile vehicle that is suitable to be used in military and civilian applications in such sectors like transportation, education, and health services. With all of these embodiments, the movement unit (10) is provided with the ability of movement in off-road conditions using the chain track (40) as well as the ability of multi directional movement through the rollers (41) placed at an angle of 45 degrees. Impact forces applied on the movement unit (10) are disposed or absorbed using the damping member (33), so that an easy and comfortable driving experience is facilitated. Thus, the vehicle (50) has the ability of multi-directional movement in various weather conditions such as snowy and rainy; and in various ground conditions including soil surfaces, stony grounds, water (flooded roads). The scope of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying claims and is not only limited to this detailed description given using examples. It is appreciated that a person skilled in the art can make similar embodiments in light of the aforementioned description without departing from the scope of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE COMPONENTS IN THE DRAWINGS

10 Movement Unit 20 Driving Member

21 First Gear

22 Second Gear

30 Damping Assembly 31 First Bearing

32 Second Bearing

33 Damping Member

34 Alignment Shaft 40 Chain Track

41 Roller

42 Gripper

50 Vehicle

Claims

1. The invention is at least one movement unit (10) that is particularly aimed to be used in the propulsion of the vehicles (50); comprising at least one first gear (21) that is communicated with at least one driving member (20), and at least one second gear (22) that may be communicated with said first gear (21) in an aligned arrangement through at least one chain track (40), characterized in that ; to enable the chain track (40) to be stretched; the said second gear (22) is configured to get close to the first gear (21), and at least one damping assembly (30) is positioned between the first gear (21) and the second gear (22).

2. A movement unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that ; it comprises at least one first bearing (31) that is provided on the first gear (21) and at least one second bearing (32) that is provided on the second gear (22).

3. A movement unit (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that ; between the first bearing (31) and the second bearing (32) at least one damping member (33) is positioned.

4. A movement unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that ; it comprises at least one alignment shaft (34) that is provided on at least one side of the said damping member (33).

5. A movement unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that ; it comprises a plurality of rollers (41) that are provided on the chain track (40) and are arranged to be partially inclined and particularly have an angle of 45 degrees.

6. A movement unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that ; four movement units are substantially provided on the vehicle (50).

7. A movement unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that ; the vehicle (50) in which the movement unit is employed is a military vehicle or an autonomous vehicle.