DE3711072A1 - Articulated crawler tread for crawlers, in particular for agricultural and industrial vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an articulated crawler tread for crawlers, in particular for agricultural and industrial vehicles. It predominantly serves to reduce costs, time and means for the production of crawler treads, to be precise by using a single type of tread pad which, inter alia, is not subject to any linkages in respect of the symmetry. The invention provides a number of identical tread pads (2) which are all arranged parallel to one another and are aligned in the same direction. The articulation between the tread pads (2) provides a single pin (3) connected to four hubs (21) and (22) of the same number of tread pads. Each tread pad provides two hubs (21) and (22), the holes of which are essentially identical. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention forms a joint Caterpillar for caterpillar vehicles, especially for farmers commercial and industrial vehicles.

The known caterpillars consist of pairs of one another other articulated members, so that an annular ge closed chain is formed. Each pair consists of two adjoining links, which, apart from the Ge steer also connected by the respective sole are.

The links of the same pair are in relation to one vertical longitudinal plane passing through the center line of the gels ke runs, arranged symmetrically and symmetrically forms. Therefore, two are needed to form a caterpillar various series of links (commonly known under Be access to said vertical longitudinal plane "right" and "left" links are called).

Since two link types are provided, there are double products means of resources and more personnel are necessary Complications during the processing phases, since the Bear coordinated processing of two different objects must be, as well as complications in storage and trans port of the semi-finished and finished links.

To avoid the disadvantages mentioned, caterpillars were removed wraps that consist of a single link type that in  one direction or in the opposite direction is rotated, so that it as right as well as left Limb serves. For this purpose you had to use this link take into account some symmetries that, however, that these caterpillars do not give good results in practice delivers and therefore no industrial development have had.

The above disadvantages are avoided by the above lying invention, as characterized in the claims is drawing.

According to the invention are the limbs, which the caterpillars bil the, equal to each other, which mainly causes the problem the simplification of operations in the manufacture of the Limbs is released.

For example, only one die is required for pressing what to save resources, time and labor to switch leads the press equipment on the machines. Except that will take time and work to equip the machines for those to be carried out after pressing the limbs Machining saved, such as finishing tion and heat treatment. Furthermore, the transport and storage only for a semi-finished product type results in what is obviously saving and simplifying brings itself. In a general sense, the Work simplified, since it is no longer necessary two  Keep link types separate while coordinating to proceed with the production of the same.

In addition, although there is only one link type, the Shape of the same not to maintain a symmetrical bin forced to maintain the efficiency and the Question economy of manufacture could.

In addition, the joint is more economical to manufacture because it can be made from one piece (Spigot) instead of two pieces (spigot and socket).

The connection between the soles and the limbs through Welding also makes it easier and easier Right links (without holes for the fastening screws) of more economical manufacture.

The invention is described below with reference to the Drawings illustrating one embodiment are received the described.

• - Fig. 1 shows a plan view from above of an arbitrary towards the caterpillar section, without soles, around which to clarify underlying limbs;
• - Fig. 2 is a vertical side view of a Caterpillar section;
• - Fig. 3 is a side view of an embodiment the link according to the invention;
• - Fig. 4 is a section along the plane IV-IV from figure  3;
• - Fig. 5 is a section along the plane V-V from the fig dung 3;
• - Fig. 6 is a section along the plane VI-VI from Ab education 3;
• - Fig. 7 is a plan view from below of the limb of Figure 3.

With reference to the figures 1 and 2 mentioned who with (2) generally referred to the links of the caterpillar, with (3) the pins with which the links are articulated, and with (4) the soles attached to the links. The links ( 2 ) are arranged in pairs, each pair being formed from two adjacent links, and the pairs are articulated to other adjacent pairs, forming an uninterrupted sequence of articulated pairs. A corresponding sole ( 4 ) is attached to the limbs of each pair.

The links ( 2 ) are all identical to one another and each of them contains a first hub ( 21 ) and a second hub ( 22 ) which are provided with corresponding articulated bores by means of which the links are connected to one another with the pins ( 3 ). In particular, the hubs ( 21 ) and ( 22 ) are identical to one another and extend in opposite directions. According to the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the hubs ( 21 ) protrude to the right in relation to a longitudinal central axis, while the hubs ( 22 ) protrude to the left.

The links ( 2 ) are arranged and mutually articulated so that they always maintain the same position. In other words, the links ( 2 ) are all parallel to one another and oriented in a constant direction. Each link pair is thus formed from two parallel links, the first hubs ( 21 ) of which are both connected to one another by the same pin ( 3 ) and both are oriented in the same direction (to the right in FIG. 1), and the second hubs ( 22 ) both connected to each other by another pin ( 3 ) and both are aligned in the opposite direction (to the left). In addition, the link pairs are all the same among each other.

Each joint of the caterpillar provides a pin ( 3 ) and four hubs, of which two first hubs ( 21 ) and two second hubs ( 22 ) are connected to the pin ( 3 ).

For each joint, it is provided that the hubs are arranged in the following order: On one side (left side in Figure 1 ) is the second hub ( 22 ) of a link ( 2 ′ A ) that forms a first pair of links ( A ) belongs from sen arranged on the joint and rotates freely around the pin ( 3 ), and the first hub ( 21 ) of a link ( 2 ' B ), which belongs to a second pair of links ( B ), is on the inside of the joint arranged (or between said second hub ( 22 ) and the central portion of the pin ( 3 ) and firmly connected to the pin ( 3 ). On the other side of the joint (right side in Figure 1) is the second hub ( 22 ) of the other link ( 2 ′ ′ A ), which belongs to the first pair ( A ), is arranged on the inside of the joint and rotates freely around the pin ( 3 ), while the first hub ( 21 ) of the other link ( 2 ′ ' B ), which belongs to the second pair ( B ), arranged on the outside of the joint and fixed to the pin ( 3 ).

This arrangement is repeated in the same way all joints of the caterpillar.

In all joints, the hubs ( 21 ) both belong to the same pair of links and are firmly connected to the pin ( 3 ), while the hubs ( 22 ) both belong to another pair of links and are free in relation to the pin ( 3 ) rotate.

In order to produce these connections, the bores of the hubs ( 22 ) are provided with slightly larger diameters (a few tenths of a millimeter) in relation to the bores of the hubs ( 21 ) in the completion phase. In this way, the bores of the hubs ( 21 ) connect to the pin ( 3 ) with excessive dimensions, while the bores of the hubs ( 22 ) connect to the pin ( 3 ) with play.

Each pin ( 3 ) provides two outer cylindrical sections ( 31 ) through which it connects to said hubs ( 21 ) and ( 22 ), as well as a likewise cylindrical middle section ( 32 ) with a section relative to the section ( 31 ) larger diameter, which serves as an intermediate element between the two hubs, which prove to be arranged on the inside of the joint. The two sections ( 31 ) and section ( 32 ) belong to a single body, which can be obtained by machining with a tool.

On the upper sides (so-called sole sides) of the limbs of each pair, a corresponding sole ( 4 ) is welded, the weld seam of which preferably extends over the entire length of the limb side, either on the outside and / or on the inside of the link.

The links ( 2 ) are firmly connected in the axial direction to the respective pins ( 3 ), since
on the same side of the pin ( 3 ) an externally arranged hub ( 21 ) is fixedly connected to the pin and holds the hub ( 22 ) of another link, which is interposed between and with the same outer hub ( 21 ) and with the stop collar of the central section ( 32 ) proves to be in contact;
on the other side of the same pin (3) has a hub (22), although it is located outside, and is free to rotate about the pin (3), well bonded to the preceding hub (22) of the other member of the same pair by the sole ( 4 ), which is in fact welded to the two links of the same pair.

Special "connecting" joints are provided for connecting and detaching the entire caterpillar as well as for pulling on and removing it from the caterpillar vehicle (not shown in the figures). This means contain a pin with a substantially constant diameter, which serves to connect in the manner described above with four hubs of the same number of links, as well as a spacer sleeve, which he said middle section ( 32 ) and as a support for the hubs inside the joint. This spacer sleeve has an inner diameter such that it slides over the pin with play.

Optionally, metal elastic ring elements of the type of "plate springs" can be provided in the joints in order to cancel the axial vibrations caused by the axial play and to protect the joint from dust. These elements are preferably used in the following positions (all or some): Between the hubs ( 21 ) and ( 22 ) on the side of the pin on which the hub ( 21 ), which is excessively connected to the pin, attaches itself the outside is located; between this Na be ( 22 ) and the stop collar of the central portion ( 32 ); between the hubs ( 21 ) and ( 22 ) on the other side of the pin ( 3 ).

Although the links are all the same (with the resulting advantages during manufacture and assembly), they always maintain the same absolute spatial position and, moreover, the mutual spatial arrangement, with which two adjoining links are connected to one another in an articulated manner, is evident. as always the same. According to the arrangement shown in Figure 1, a hub ( 22 ) facing left and up is always connected to a hub ( 21 ) facing right and down. Therefore, the links themselves do not need to take into account any symmetrical binding, and they can consequently be designed according to the known conventional rules, which take into account various other facts and according to which links of non-symmetrical shape are produced.

An advanced form of realization of the ket in question ten links is shown in Figures 3 to 7 and particularly refers to caterpillars for light or medium agricultural vehicles.

The link ( 2 ) basically provides a central body ( 23 ), on the lower side (commonly called the raceway side) a raceway ( 24 ) for rolling the rollers of the crawler vehicle is arranged, and at the end of which the hubs ( 21 ) and ( 22 ).

The middle body ( 23 ) has a relatively thin and approximately constant thickness and runs diagonally through the link from one hub to the other (as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4). Thanks to the fact that the soles are attached to the limbs by welding, the limbs themselves do not require any reinforcements on the central body ( 23 ) in order to form the seats for the screws. The body ( 23 ) can therefore be made with a fairly thin thickness, where the link makes it lighter and its manufacture easier and more economical.

The track ( 24 ) has a greater strength in relation to the body ( 23 ).

On the upper side of the limb (sole side), the body ( 23 ) has an amply dimensioned bulge ( 26 ), in the vicinity of one of the hubs, which serves to provide a good mutual, "negative" angle of rotation of the sole enable, without the need to have appropriate grooves in relation to the limbs in the soles ( 4 ). The soles in question therefore do not need the usual operations to incorporate the holes for the fastening screws and the grooves mentioned, which is a significant economic advantage.

The body ( 23 ) provides a single central bore ( 25 ) to allow the sludge to be expelled.

Some parts of the link are particularly subject to wear, i.e. the surface of the raceway ( 24 ) and the internal surface of the hubs ( 22 ), since these rotate in relation to the pin ( 3 ). In order to better withstand the wear, a single heat treatment was provided on the whole limb during the manufacturing phase for the limbs ( 2 ) for a complete hardening, followed by a stress relief annealing in order to eliminate the hardening stresses. These treatments replace the traditional limb heat treatments, which are more expensive and take longer.

Thanks to a member trained in this way, it is possible for everyone Avoid machining with tools, except for the the articulated holes, however, by drilling or punching zen can be obtained.

Of course, there can be many in the subject invention Variants of a practical nature can be attached without, therefore from the area of the claimed inventive idea going out.

Claims (10)

1. Articulated caterpillar for caterpillar vehicles, in particular for agricultural and industrial vehicles, containing pairs of adjacent and mutually connected by a corresponding sole ( 4 ) links ( 2 ) which are articulated to adjacent pairs of links, characterized in that they are as follows contains:
A number of the same links ( 2 ), which are all arranged parallel to one another and aligned in the same direction, and each of which contains a first hub ( 21 ) and a second hub ( 22 ), which with corresponding Ge steering bores with substantially same diameters are seen;
a number of joints each containing a pin ( 3 ) and four hubs of the same number of links ( 2 ) which are connected to the pin;
wherein each joint on one side provides the second hub ( 22 ) of a link ( 2 ) belonging to a first link pair A , arranged on the outside and rotating freely around the pin ( 3 ), and the first hub ( 21 ) one to a second Link pair B link ( 2 ), arranged on the inside and firmly connected to the pin ( 3 ), and on the other side of the joint, the second hub ( 22 ) of the other link ( 2 ) belonging to the first link pair A , arranged inside and freely rotating around the pin ( 3 ), as well as the first hub ( 21 ) of the other link ( 2 ) belonging to the second link pair B , arranged on the outside and firmly connected to the pin ( 3 ), and wherein all joints the said hubs ( 21 ) and ( 22 ) arranged in the same order. 2. Articulated caterpillar according to claim 1, characterized in that on each link ( 2 ) the hubs are identical to one another and point in opposite directions. 3. Articulated caterpillar according to claim 1, characterized in that the pin ( 3 ) provides an intermediate element ( 32 ) with a larger diameter, which is arranged between the two in internal hubs ( 21 ) and ( 22 ). 4. Articulated caterpillar according to claim 3, characterized in that the intermediate element with the pin ( 3 ) forms a single body. 5. articulated caterpillar according to claim 1, characterized in that the soles ( 4 ) are attached by welding to the upper sides of the links ( 2 ). 6. crawler link as in claim 5, characterized in that it provides a central body ( 23 ) of basically constant and relatively thin thickness, with which a track ( 24 ) of greater strength is connected. 7. crawler link as in claim 5, characterized in that it has on the side of its career near one of the hubs ( 21 ) or ( 22 ) an amply dimensioned bulge ( 26 ), which serves a good mutual , to enable negative angles of rotation of the soles ( 4 ), the soles having no grooves corresponding to the link in order to enable said rotation. 8. articulated caterpillar according to claim 3, characterized net that the joint means "to connect" with a tenon contain a basically constant diameter, which is used with four hubs from as many Glie to connect, as well as a socket that with a game the Includes spigot and serves as the intermediate element mentioned. 9. articulated caterpillar according to claim 1, characterized net that each joint has one or more ring-shaped Federele elements to cancel the axial vibrations. 10. Process for the manufacture of the crawler link as in Pa claim 1, characterized in that it as a heat act one complete limb hardness treatment  that is followed by a relaxation glow.