Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a rubber pad for a steel track.

Various types of driving devices that drive using tracks have been developed and used. For example, military equipment such as tanks, heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, and the like, and devices such as snowmobiles, multi-terrain loaders, and the like are designed to drive using various types of tracks.

The track driving devices employ various types of tracks. For example, heavy equipment generally employs steel tracks made of metal while light equipment employs rubber tracks made of an elastic material such as rubber. In addition, a rubber pad is mounted on a steel caterpillar track.

The rubber pad has the advantage of the rubber track such as reduced driving vibration, increased ride comfort, and dampened noise, and may prevent damage to the road surface such as pavement during work and driving and expand work areas to pavements inaccessible to the steel track.

However, the rubber pad used in the steel track has a problem of power loss caused by foreign substances that enter into the space surrounded by the pad body bushings, links, and the like, fail to be discharged to the outside and interfere with sprocket driving. In addition, foreign substances stuck in a fastening hole to which a bolt for coupling the rubber pad to the link is fastened make it difficult to disassemble and assemble the bolt during maintenance, and an edge-cut occurring at the boundary of the iron core causes early damage to the tread rubber. The edge-cut refers to a phenomenon in which the rubber at either end in the width direction is damaged when a load is generated by uneven ground or obstacles.

A failure to discharge the deposited foreign substances to the outside leads to early wearing of driving parts such as sprockets, bushings, and the like as well as early wearing and damage to the pad body, and maintenance issues arise.

<CIT> relates to a track for a tracked vehicle and a gear plate therefor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber pad for a steel track configured to facilitate the discharging to the outside of foreign substances entering the vicinity of the driving unit of the steel track.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rubber pad for a steel track configured to facilitate the separation and discharge of foreign substances stuck in a bolt fastening hole while the steel track drives, thereby improving maintenance efficiency.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rubber pad for a steel track having an inclining surface for preventing edge-cutting, thereby facilitating the discharge of foreign substances, cleaning, and maintenance.

According to the present invention, a rubber pad for a steel track coupleable to the steel track formed by connecting a plurality of links and provided with a bushing engaging with a sprocket to allow driving of equipment includes a rubber pad body coupleable to an outside of the link and one or more foreign substance discharging grooves formed on an outer surface of the pad body and indented in the forward or backward direction of the steel track.

The bottom surface of the foreign substance discharging groove may incline downward from the inside to the outside and either side surface of the foreign substance discharging groove may widen from the inside to the outside.

The rubber pad is provided on either side with fastening holes to which bolts for coupling the rubber pad to the link are fastened, and the length of the foreign substance discharging groove in the width direction is equal to or less than the distance between the fastening holes.

A bushing cover extending from the outer surface of the pad body toward the adjacent pad body to shield the bushing from the outside may be further included.

The bushing cover may face the foreign substance discharging groove to be accommodated inside the foreign substance discharging groove.

When the bushing cover is accommodated inside the foreign substance discharging groove, a predetermined interval may be formed between the bushing cover and the foreign substance discharging groove, and the interval may be <NUM> to <NUM> in length, width, and height directions of the pad body.

The bushing cover may be provided in either the front end or rear end of the pad body with respect to the driving direction of the steel track. The lower surface of the bushing cover may incline upward from the pad body toward the outside.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a fastening hole to which a bolt for coupling the rubber pad to the link is fastened is formed in the middle of the pad body, and an inner surface of the fastening hole is provided with a step portion having one or more steps to facilitate the removal of foreign substances stuck in the fastening hole.

A fastening portion to which the bolt is substantially fastened may be formed inside the fastening hole, and the fastening portion may be formed adjacent to an inner surface of the fastening hole.

A fastening portion to which the bolt is substantially fastened may be formed inside the fastening hole, and the fastening portion may be formed in the middle of the fastening hole.

A fastening portion to which the bolt is substantially fastened may be formed inside the fastening hole, and an inclining surface connecting an upper end of the fastening portion and an upper end of the fastening hole may be formed.

The inclining surface may radially extend from an upper edge of the fastening portion to the upper end of the fastening hole.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the rubber pad may also comprise an iron core provided inside the pad body in the right/left width direction, wherein either end of the pad body may be provided with a pad end surface formed in the driving direction of the steel track and a pad inclining surface inclining from the front and rear ends of the pad end surface toward the middle of the pad body.

Either end of the iron core may be provided with an iron core end surface extending in parallel with the pad end surface at a first interval and an iron core inclining surface extending in parallel with the pad inclining surface at a second interval.

The first and second intervals may be <NUM> to <NUM> times the interval between the pad end surface and the iron core end surface formed along the centerline with respect to the driving direction of the pad body.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, discharge of foreign substances entering the vicinity of the driving unit of the steel track to the outside may be facilitated.

In addition, the present invention may facilitate the separation and discharge of foreign substances stuck in a bolt fastening hole while the steel track drives, thereby improving maintenance efficiency.

In addition, the present invention forms an inclining surface, thereby facilitating the discharge of foreign substances, cleaning, and maintenance.

Since the present invention may be modified in various ways and have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments and should be construed as including all modifications included in the technical scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not to be limited by the terms. The terms may only be used to distinguish one component from another.

The terms used in the present specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. In the present specification, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of implemented features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof and should not be understood to preclude the presence or additional possibilities of one or more of other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof in advance.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of a rubber pad for a steel track will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components will be assigned the same reference numerals, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a rubber pad according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the rubber pad in <FIG> mounted on a steel track.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in the drawings, a rubber pad for a steel track coupled to the steel track that comprises a plurality of connected links <NUM> and that is provided with a bushing <NUM> engaging with a sprocket <NUM> to allow driving of equipment may include a rubber pad body <NUM> coupled to the outside of the link <NUM> and one or more foreign substance discharging grooves <NUM> formed on an outer surface of the pad body <NUM> and indented in the forward or backward direction of the steel track.

The steel track is driven upon receiving power by the rotational force of the sprocket <NUM>, and the driving parts will be described with reference to <FIG>. The sprocket <NUM> is coupled to engage with the bushing <NUM> connecting the sprocket <NUM> and the links <NUM> to transfer power and drive the steel track forward or backward. A steel shoe is coupled to a conventional steel track. However, in the embodiment, a rubber pad <NUM> replaces the steel shoe and is directly coupled to the link <NUM>, which is referred to as a chain-on type. The rubber pad <NUM> coupled in the chain-on type may protect the road surface during driving and working.

On the other hand, an idler <NUM> is installed in a front end of the steel track and the sprocket <NUM> is installed in a rear end of the steel track, the front and rear ends forming the circumference of the steel track, such that the idler <NUM> and the sprocket <NUM> serve to switch the rubber pad <NUM> portion from forward driving to backward driving or vice versa while maintaining the shape of the steel track. A pin <NUM> rotatably connecting the links <NUM> to each other is inserted into the bushing <NUM> engaging with the teeth of the sprocket <NUM> described above.

<FIG> shows that a foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> is formed on the outer surface of the pad body <NUM> and indented. The foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> is indented in the forward direction of the steel track in the drawing but is not limited thereto. The foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> may be indented in the backward direction of the steel track.

Foreign substances enter a space surrounded by the pad body <NUM>, the link <NUM>, and the bushing <NUM> while the steel track drives and the entering foreign substances interfere with the driving of the sprocket <NUM>, thereby causing loss of power, overload on the power system, and early wearing of driving parts such as the bushing <NUM>, the sprocket <NUM>, and the like. In addition, entering foreign substances also cause early damage to the pad body <NUM>. Accordingly, the embodiment provides the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> on the outer surface of the pad body <NUM> to resolve the issue.

<FIG> shows that the clockwise rotation of the sprocket <NUM> moves the link <NUM> and the rubber pad <NUM> in the forward direction of the steel track to initiate the driving, and the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> opens up in the forward direction in the process. Accordingly, even if foreign substances enter and are accumulated in the space surrounded by the pad body <NUM>, the link <NUM>, and the bushing <NUM>, the foreign substances may be freely discharged through the open front during the driving.

In particular, the front of the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> opens up rather than be hidden by the adjacent pad body <NUM> from the moment the pad body <NUM> that is in contact with the ground leaves the ground and rotates along with the sprocket <NUM>. Accordingly, the accumulated foreign substances may be effectively discharged through the open front of the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM>.

That is, according to the embodiment, forming the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> in the pad body <NUM> allows forming a space through which the foreign substances may be discharged between the plurality of pad bodies <NUM> so that the foreign substances may be effectively discharged through the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM>.

On the other hand, the bottom surface of the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> may incline downward from the inside to the outside, and either side surface of the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> may widen from the inside to the outside. Such formation of the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> allows more effective discharge of the foreign substance along the inclining bottom surface and either widening side surface.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a rubber pad mounted on a steel track according to another embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the rubber pad mounted on the steel track in <FIG>.

The bushing <NUM> is hardly exposed to the outside when passing a portion where the steel track is in contact with a bottom surface. However, when passing a circumferential portion (a portion where an idler <NUM> is installed), as illustrated in <FIG>, the bushing <NUM> is exposed to the outside as the interval between the rubber pads <NUM> widens, and foreign substances such as dirt or stones enter. The configuration of the rubber pad <NUM> to resolve the issue is as follows.

A bushing cover <NUM> with a predetermined thickness and width extending toward the adjacent pad body <NUM> is provided on the outer surface of the pad body <NUM> of the rubber pad <NUM>. The bushing cover <NUM> may protrude from the front or rear end (with respect to the moving direction of the steel track) of the pad body <NUM>. The bushing cover <NUM> is accommodated inside the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> formed in the adjacent pad body <NUM>.

When the bushing cover <NUM> is provided in this manner, exposure of the bushing <NUM> to the outside may be blocked so that damage to the bushing <NUM> caused by the impact from the foreign substances may be prevented and the service life of the bushing <NUM> may be extended. In addition, frictional wearing, noise, and vibration caused by the foreign substances entering the bushing <NUM> may be prevented, and mismatching between the sprocket <NUM> and the bushing <NUM> and disengagement of the steel track caused by the sticking of the foreign substances may be prevented.

The bushing cover <NUM> may be provided in the middle of the pad body <NUM> in the right/left width direction, and the width of the bushing cover <NUM> is preferably sufficient to cover the bushing <NUM>. In addition, the upper surface of the bushing cover <NUM> preferably inclines downward toward the outside so as to be readily accommodated into the adjacent foreign substance discharging groove <NUM>.

In addition, when the bushing cover <NUM> is accommodated inside the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM>, a predetermined interval is formed between the bushing cover <NUM> and the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM>. The bushing cover <NUM> does not remain accommodated inside the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> all the time. As illustrated in <FIG>, the bushing cover <NUM> is accommodated inside the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> when in contact with the ground and pulls out of the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> when rotating along the idler <NUM>. The foreign substances accumulated in the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> may be discharged to the outside at this time.

The selective accommodation of the bushing cover <NUM> inside the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> over the driving section allows the formation of the interval to minimize the friction in the course of accommodation into and pulling out of the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM>. The interval may be <NUM> to <NUM> in the length, width, and height directions of the pad body <NUM>. The friction between the bushing cover <NUM> and the foreign substance discharging groove <NUM> may interfere with the smooth operation if the interval is less than <NUM>, and the bushing <NUM> may not be sufficiently covered if the interval exceeds <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a fastening hole of a rubber pad, <FIG> is a view illustrating another example of a fastening hole of a rubber pad, <FIG> are a view illustrating a comparison between the fastening hole in <FIG> and a conventional fastening hole, and <FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating positions of a fastening portion constituting a fastening hole of a rubber pad.

The drawings show that a plurality of fastening holes <NUM> for coupling the pad body <NUM> to the steel track is formed in the middle of the pad body <NUM>. Insertion and fastening of the bolt to the sufficiently deep fastening hole <NUM> solidly fix the pad body <NUM> to the steel track.

A conventional fastening hole <NUM> is generally formed in a cylindrical shape such that only a bolt is inserted therein, and a problem is that the foreign substances, once introduced from the ground and stuck in the fastening hole <NUM> while the bolt is fastened, are not easy to remove using a tool during the replacement operation of the pad body <NUM>. The embodiment of the present invention restructures the fastening hole <NUM> and facilitates the removal of foreign substances.

<FIG> show that a fastening portion <NUM> to which the bolt is substantially fastened is formed inside the fastening hole <NUM>. The bolt may be fastened to an upper surface of the steel track through the fastening portion <NUM>. An inner surface of the fastening hole <NUM> is provided with a step portion <NUM> having one or more steps to facilitate the removal of the foreign substances stuck in the fastening hole <NUM>. The step portion <NUM> may have one step as illustrated in <FIG> or a plurality of steps as illustrated in <FIG>.

Forming the step portion <NUM> in this manner allows an operator to obliquely insert a tool (in a skewer form) and easily remove the foreign substances stuck in an upper portion. More specifically, forming the step portion <NUM> on the inner surface facilitates the insertion of a tool that needs to be inserted to remove the foreign substances and consequently facilitates separation and removal of the foreign substances. Comparison of a conventional step portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and a restructured step portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> show that the diagonal angle θ2 in the restructured step portion <NUM> is greater than the diagonal angle θ1 in the conventional step portion <NUM> so that the working range expands and the removal of the foreign substances is facilitated when the operator inserts a tool.

In addition, forming the step portion <NUM> prevents stacking of the foreign substances in a lump having a certain cross-section such that the foreign substances are not stuck, and the foreign substances, even if stuck, are easily separated when an external force is applied to one side.

<FIG> shows that the fastening portion <NUM> formed inside the fastening hole <NUM> may be formed adjacent to the inner surface of the fastening hole <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. At this time, an inclining surface <NUM> may be formed from a side end of the fastening portion <NUM> to the top end of the fastening hole <NUM> on the inner surface of the fastening hole <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the fastening portion <NUM> may be formed in the center inside the fastening hole <NUM>, and an inclining surface <NUM> may be radially formed from the upper end of the edge of the fastening portion <NUM> to the upper end of the fastening hole <NUM>. Forming the inclining surface <NUM> inside the fastening hole <NUM> facilitates the removal of the stuck foreign substances like the step portion <NUM> described above does.

<FIG> is a plan view specifically illustrating a shape of a rubber pad according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a comparison of the strain of the rubber pad in <FIG> and a conventional rubber pad caused by an external force.

<FIG> shows that, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the rubber pad may include a rubber pad body <NUM> coupled to the outside of the link <NUM> and an iron core <NUM> provided inside the pad body <NUM> in the right/left width direction. And, either end of the pad body <NUM> may be provided with a pad end surface <NUM> formed in the driving direction of the steel track and a pad inclining surface <NUM> inclining from the front and rear ends of the pad end surface <NUM> toward the middle of the pad body.

In <FIG>, the portion corresponding to <NUM>% of the distance from one end to the center of the pad body <NUM> in the right/left direction is defined as the end of the pad body <NUM>. The pad end surface <NUM> is an end of the pad body <NUM> on either side and is a cross-section extending in the driving direction (up/down direction in the drawing) of the steel track. And the pad inclining surface <NUM> is a cross-section inclining at the front and rear ends of the pad end surface <NUM>. In addition, either end of the iron core <NUM> provided inside the pad body <NUM> may include an iron core end surface <NUM> extending in parallel with the pad end surface <NUM> at a first interval B and an iron core inclining surface <NUM> extending in parallel with the pad inclining surface <NUM> at a second interval C.

Forming the ends of the pad body <NUM> and the iron core <NUM> on either side as described above has the effect of reducing strain caused by an external force, compared to the related art. <FIG> shows that either end of the conventional pad body <NUM> is formed in a rectangular shape without an inclining portion and the strain caused by an external force is approximately <NUM>%. However, <FIG> shows that either end of the restructured pad body <NUM> has the pad inclining surface <NUM> and the iron core inclining surface <NUM> so that the substantial strength of the rubber is maintained and the strain caused by an external force turned out to be approximately <NUM>%. That is, the strain of the restructured pad body <NUM> is reduced by approximately <NUM>% compared to the conventional pad body <NUM> so that damage (edge-cut) to the tread rubber may be prevented, and also forming inclining surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> at the respective corners of the pad body <NUM> facilitates discharge of the foreign substances, cleaning, and maintenance.

<FIG> also shows that the first interval B and the second interval C are <NUM> to <NUM> times the intervals between the pad end surface <NUM> and the iron core end surface <NUM> formed along the centerline with respect to the driving direction (the midline with respect to the right/left direction in the drawing) of the pad body <NUM>. The benefit of rubber such as cushioning, ground protection, and the like diminishes when the first interval B and the second interval C are less than <NUM> times the interval between the pad end surface and the iron core end surface, and rolling and the like destabilize the support for the equipment, and the side lifting capacity diminishes in the case of excavators and cranes in particular when the intervals exceed <NUM> times the interval between the pad end surface and the iron core end surface.

Specific embodiments of the present invention are described, but those with common skills in the art will understand that the present invention may be variously modified and altered as long as it falls under the scope of the present invention described in the claims below.

Claim 1:
A rubber pad (<NUM>) for a steel track coupleable to the steel track formed by connecting a plurality of links (<NUM>) and provided with a bushing (<NUM>) engaging with a sprocket (<NUM>) to allow driving of equipment, the rubber pad (<NUM>) comprising:
a rubber pad body (<NUM>) coupleable to an outside of the link (<NUM>); and
one or more foreign substance discharging grooves (<NUM>) formed on an outer surface of the pad body (<NUM>) and indented in the forward or backward direction of the steel track,
characterised in that
the rubber pad (<NUM>) is provided on either side with fastening holes (<NUM>) to which bolts for coupling the rubber pad (<NUM>) to the link (<NUM>) are fastened, and length of the foreign substance discharging groove (<NUM>) in the width direction is equal to or less than a distance between the fastening holes (<NUM>) .