Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20080284244A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-07-16 11:17:42
Document Index: 374352664

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 19', 'art 19', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 54', 'art 19', 'art 54', 'arts 19', 'arts 54']

US20080284244A1 - Endless Elongated Member for Crawler and Crawler Unit - Google Patents
Endless Elongated Member for Crawler and Crawler Unit Download PDF
US20080284244A1
US20080284244A1 US11/793,445 US79344505A US2008284244A1 US 20080284244 A1 US20080284244 A1 US 20080284244A1 US 79344505 A US79344505 A US 79344505A US 2008284244 A1 US2008284244 A1 US 2008284244A1
US11/793,445
US8162410B2 (en
2004-12-20 Priority to JP2004367232 priority Critical
2004-12-20 Priority to JP2004-367232 priority
2005-12-19 Application filed by Topy Industries Ltd, Tokyo Institute of Technology NUC filed Critical Topy Industries Ltd
2005-12-19 Priority to PCT/JP2005/023245 priority patent/WO2006068080A1/en
2007-09-06 Assigned to TOPY KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY reassignment TOPY KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HIROSE, SHIGEO, TSUKUI, SHINGO
2008-11-20 Publication of US20080284244A1 publication Critical patent/US20080284244A1/en
2012-04-24 Publication of US8162410B2 publication Critical patent/US8162410B2/en
2014-04-11 Assigned to TOPY KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment TOPY KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNEE ADDRESS CHANGE Assignors: TOPY KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Crawler belts made of rubber for a crawler unit have been developed. As disclosed in patent documents 1 to 3 listed below, the crawler belts have a multitude of tread lugs arranged at intervals on outer peripheries thereof. The tread lugs catch on steps or bumps on the ground, thereby allowing the crawler unit to move over the steps or bumps.
Preferably, all of the tread lugs including the first and the second tread lugs are of the same height. This allows the crawler unit to move stably on flat ground.
Preferably, the endless elongated member includes first regions and second regions alternately arranged in the circumferential direction thereof, each of the first regions having at least one the first tread lug, each of the second regions having at least one the second tread lug. This allows the crawler unit to move over the high step more certainly.
Preferably, a height of the second tread lug is not less than 3 times and not greater than 7 times as large as its thickness. This allows the second tread lug to be easily deformed while securing its load bearing capacity. This also provides the second tread lug with excellent gripping ability for rubbles, etc., thus enabling the crawler unit to move without sliding.
Preferably, the second tread lug has a bent planar shape. This enhances the load bearing capacity of the second tread lug.
2L, 2R crawler unit
20 crawler belt (endless elongated member)
25 first tread lug
26 second tread lug
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, each of the crawler units 2L, 2R comprises front and rear wheels 10, an endless crawler belt 20 (endless elongated-member for a crawler) trained around the wheels 10 and a pair of side plates 30. A central portion of an inner one of the side plates 30 of each of the pair of the crawler units 2L, 2R is attached to the mounting base 1.
The left crawler unit 2L is described more in detail below. Each of the wheels 10 is made of resin, and as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, has a multitude of perforation holes 13 to reduce its weight. An outer peripheral surface of the wheel 10 is a cylindrical surface. Engagement pins 12 made of metal are embedded in the outer peripheral surface of the wheel 10. The engagement pins 12 are arranged at even intervals in a circumferential direction at a center in a width direction of the outer peripheral surface of the wheel 10. Head parts of the engagement pins 12 have hemispherical shapes and project from the outer peripheral surface of the wheel 10. The head parts are provided as engagement projections 12 a. In this embodiment, a diameter of the engagement projection 12 a is about 3 millimeters while a width of the wheel 10 is 30 millimeters.
The metal plate 31 of the side plate 30 comprises front and rear end edge portions 31 a of semi-circular shapes respectively curved along peripheral edges of the front and rear wheels 10. The front and rear end edge portions 31 a are, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, cut away from inside to be reduced in thickness.
The seal members 32 are detachably attached to upper and lower linear edge portions continuing to the end edge portions 31 a of the metal plate 31. To be more specific, the seal member 32 is made of a rubber material having a smaller elastic coefficient than a belt main body 22 of the crawler belt 20 to be described later. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 8, the seal member 32 is attached to a linear bracket 33 having a L-shaped cross-section by vulcanization bonding, etc. and the bracket 33 is removably secured to the upper and lower edge portions of the metal plate 31 with screws 34. The seal member 32 includes a thin raised wall 32 a.
The steel belt 21 is constructed by welding opposite ends of an elongated thin belt of a thickness of from 0.05 to 1.0 millimeters (0.15 millimeters in this embodiment). A width of the steel belt 21 is generally the same as that of the wheel 10. The steel belt 21 has circular engagement holes 21 a arranged at even intervals (the same intervals as those of the engagement projections 12 a of the wheel 10) in a circumferential direction at a center in the width direction thereof. A diameter of the engagement hole 21 a is the same as or a slightly greater than that of the engagement projection 12 a.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the belt main body 22 integrally includes the base part 23 that is endless and of a width greater than that of the steel belt 21, a shielding flange 24 formed on opposite sides in a width direction of the base part 23 and two kinds of tread lugs 25, 26 formed at intervals on an outer periphery of the base part 23. The base part 23 has generally semi-spherical escape recesses 23 a arranged at center in the width direction thereof, at locations corresponding to the engagement holes 21 a of the steel belt 21 to communicate with the engagement halls 21 a.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the crawler belt 20 is placed around half of the periphery of the wheels 10 in the front and rear. As shown in FIG. 9, in an area covering half of the periphery of the wheel 10, the steel belt 21 directly contacts the outer peripheral surface of the wheel 10, with the engagement projections 12 a of the wheel 10 engaging the engagement holes 21 a of the steel belt 21 and entering the escape recesses 23 a of the base part 23.
The attachment base 51 is secured to one of the side plates 30 (located in an inner side) by screws 51 a (shown only in FIGS. 1 and 2). One end of the shaft member 52 is secured to the attachment base 51 by screws 52 a and the other end of the shaft 52 is secured to the other of the side plates 30 (located in an outer side) by screws 52 b.
The rotating member 54 includes a disk part 54 a, a tubular part 54 b continuous from an outer peripheral edge of the disk part 54 a and a circular flange part 54 c extending radially outwardly from a peripheral edge (peripheral edge in the opposite side from the disk part 54 a) of the tubular part 54 b. A hole is formed at a center of the disk part 54 a for receiving the shaft member 52 therethrough. A peripheral edge portion of the hole is secured to a flange part of the bearing housing 55 by screws 58.
On the other hand, a circular flange part 19 extending radially inwardly is formed in a central portion in a width direction of an inner periphery of the wheel 10. The flange part 19 is secured to the flange part 54 c of the rotating member 54 by screws 59. This allows the wheel 10 to be rotatably supported by the shaft member 52 via the rotating member 54 and the bearing 53.
The front and rear support mechanisms 50 are of the same construction. However, as shown in FIG. 7, a connecting structure to the actuator 40 is added to the rear support mechanism 50. To be more specific, a casing 41 of the actuator 40 (including an electrical motor and a speed reduction mechanism) passes through the inner side plate 30 and secured to the attachment base 51 by screws and an output shaft 45 of the actuator 40 passes through the attachment base 51. A spur gear 46 is secured to the output shaft 45. On the other hand, a teeth portion 54 d is formed in an inner periphery of the tubular part 54 b of the rotating member 54. Meshing of the teeth portion 54 d with the spur gear 46 transmits rotary torque from the actuator 40 to the rear wheel 10.
The tubular part 54 b of the rotating member 54 includes a fitting portion 54 x and a guide portion 54 y adjacent to each other. The fitting portion 54 x is located on a flange part 54 c side. The fitting portion 54 x has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a diameter same as that of a fitting hole 19 a defined by an inner peripheral surface of the flange part 19 so that the fitting portion 54 x can fit into the fitting hole 19 a. The guide portion 54 y is located on a disk part 54 a side and has a circular conical outer peripheral surface, i.e. tapered outer peripheral surface.
The fitting portion 54 x and the guide portion 54 y are useful when assembling the crawler unit 2L. Steps to assemble the crawler unit 2L will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. The front support mechanism 50 and the rear support mechanism 50 with the actuator 40 are assembled first and the support mechanisms 50 are secured to one of the side plates (inner side plate) 30 to form a first assembly 101.
Next, the rotating members 54 of the front and rear support mechanisms 50 of the first assembly 101 are fitted into the front and rear wheels 10 of the second assembly 102. At this time, a distance between the front and rear wheels 10 are slightly increased by guiding action of the guide portions 54 y of the rotating members 54, in other words tensile force is applied to the crawler belt 20, while the fitting portions 54 x are being fitted into the fitting holes 19 a of the wheels 10. This allows the wheels 10 to be precisely set in position. After that, the flange parts 19 of the wheels 10 are secured to the flange parts 54 c of the rotating members 54 by screws. Then the other side plate 30 is secured to the shaft members 52 of the support mechanisms 50, 50.
The crawler 2R on the right side is assembled in the same manner as the crawler 2L on the left side. As mentioned above, the action of the guide portions 54 y and the fitting portions 54 x enables the efficient and precise assembly of the crawler units 2L, 2R. Forming the wheel 10 with resin may further facilitate smooth fitting and securing of the rotating member 54 into the wheel 10.
The crawler belt 20 can be surely prevented from coming off the wheels 10 in a left and right direction since the projections 12 a of the wheels 10 fit into the engagement holes 21 a of the steel belt 21.
For example, when encountered a relatively low rubble S′ having flat surfaces as shown in FIG. 11, the second tread lugs 26 are elastically deformed to increase a contact area with the rubble S′. This allows the second tread lugs 26 to grip the rubble S′ well without slipping, thereby preventing the crawler belt 20 from running idle. If intervals between the tread lugs 26 adjoining each other are narrowed, the rubble S′ can be gripped more securely with the two adjoining second tread lugs 26 as shown in FIG. 11. This function is very helpful especially when the rubble S′ is wet or sands adhere to the rubble S′.
On the other hand, the first tread lug 25 has a limited gripping ability for the rubble S′ when the rubble S′ is relatively low and sands, etc. are adhered thereto. But the first tread lug 25 has a higher gripping ability than the second tread lug 26 for a pipe and other obstacles with a curved cross-section, and thus can ride over such obstacles easier than the second tread lug 26.
In regions of the crawler belt 20 which are placed around the wheels 10 in the front and rear, an edge portion of the shielding flange 24 contacts the end edge portions 31 a in the front and rear of the side plate 30. In the other regions of the crawler belt 20 that are placed between the wheels 10 in the front and rear, the edge portion of the shielding flange 24 contacts the raised wall 32 a of the seal member 32. As a result, an inner space surrounded by the crawler belt 20 and the pair of side plates 30 is sealed, thereby preventing foreign substances such as water, sands and dust from entering into the inner space.
In the regions of the crawler belt 20 that are placed around half of the periphery of the wheels 10, the crawler belt 20 is bent, and therefore, the edge portion of the shielding flange 24 is warped in a direction away from the end edge portions 31 a of the side plate 30. But the edge portion of the shielding flange 24 can contact the end edge portions 31 a securely despite the warping because the edge portion of the shielding flange 24 is elastically deformed to contact the end edge portions 31 a of the side plate 30 as described above. The shielding flange 24 of the crawler belt 20 contacts the seal member 32 at the upper and lower edge portions of the side plate 30. The seal member 32 is deformed more greatly than the shielding flange 24 because the seal member 32 has smaller elastic coefficient and is thinner than the shielding flange 24. This permits the seal member 32 and the shielding flange 24 to be maintained in contact with each other even when the crawler belt 20 flaps in an area not restrained by the wheels 10 because the seal member 32 is deformed following the flapping of the belt 20. The seal member 32 is coated with Teflon®, etc., which serves to reduce friction between the seal member 32 and the shielding flange 24.
said endless elongated member including an endless base part and a multitude of tread lugs of the same height arranged on an outer periphery of said base part at intervals in a circumferential direction thereof,
said endless elongated member having first regions and second regions alternately arranged in the circumferential direction thereof,
said multitude of tread lugs of the same height including at least two kinds of tread lugs, first tread lugs and second tread lugs, each of said first regions having at least one said first tread lug, each of said second regions having at least one said second tread lug,
said first tread lugs having high flexural rigidity and being not easily bent,
said second tread lugs being orthogonal to said base part, said second tread lugs having low flexural rigidity so as to be easily bent when said second tread lugs are subjected to a circumferential force, and said second tread lugs having bent planar shapes so as to have high strength against load in height direction.
US11/793,445 2004-12-20 2005-12-19 Endless elongated member for crawler and crawler unit Active 2028-07-19 US8162410B2 (en)
JP2004-367232 2004-12-20
US20080284244A1 true US20080284244A1 (en) 2008-11-20
US8162410B2 US8162410B2 (en) 2012-04-24
US11/793,445 Active 2028-07-19 US8162410B2 (en) 2004-12-20 2005-12-19 Endless elongated member for crawler and crawler unit
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2005-12-19 EP EP20050816945 patent/EP1832502B1/en active Active
2005-12-19 JP JP2006548965A patent/JP3983273B2/en active Active
2005-12-19 WO PCT/JP2005/023245 patent/WO2006068080A1/en active Application Filing
2005-12-19 CN CN 200580043799 patent/CN100545023C/en active IP Right Grant
2005-12-19 DE DE200560021918 patent/DE602005021918D1/en active Active
2005-12-19 KR KR1020077016552A patent/KR101213349B1/en active IP Right Grant
2005-12-19 US US11/793,445 patent/US8162410B2/en active Active
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JPWO2006068080A1 (en) 2008-06-12
CN101084147A (en) 2007-12-05
US8162410B2 (en) 2012-04-24
EP1832502B1 (en) 2010-06-16
WO2006068080A1 (en) 2006-06-29
KR20070097519A (en) 2007-10-04
JP3983273B2 (en) 2007-09-26
EP1832502A4 (en) 2009-05-06
DE602005021918D1 (en) 2010-07-29
EP1832502A1 (en) 2007-09-12
KR101213349B1 (en) 2012-12-17
CN100545023C (en) 2009-09-30
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HIROSE, SHIGEO;TSUKUI, SHINGO;REEL/FRAME:019788/0573;SIGNING DATES FROM 20070601 TO 20070615
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HIROSE, SHIGEO;TSUKUI, SHINGO;SIGNING DATES FROM 20070601 TO 20070615;REEL/FRAME:019788/0573