JP5602268B2 - Elastic crawler - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an elastic crawler.

  In recent years, endless rubber crawlers have been used in traveling parts of agricultural machines, construction machines, and civil engineering machines.

  As a rubber crawler, there are a rubber crawler in which a reinforcing metal core is embedded, and a metal core-less rubber crawler in which a reinforcing metal core is not embedded.

  As a mandrel-less rubber crawler, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In the coreless rubber crawler disclosed in Patent Document 1, a row of rubber protrusions is formed on the inner peripheral surface at a constant pitch in the tire circumferential direction, and both sides of these rubber protrusions are used as rolling surfaces of the wheel. These rubber protrusions are configured to restrict, that is, guide, the movement of the rolling wheel rolling on the rolling surface in the crawler width direction in contact with the rolling wheel.

JP 2006-117063 A

  By the way, in the coreless rubber crawler, when turning or traveling on an inclined road surface, a wheel on the machine body (for example, an undercarriage part such as an idler wheel or a wheel) comes into contact with a rubber protrusion and movement of the wheel is restricted. . At this time, the rubber protrusion, which is a lump of rubber, may be deformed so as to tilt (bend) in the thrust load input direction due to the thrust load from the wheel.

  For this reason, in a general mandrel-less rubber crawler, the material and size of the rubber protrusion are devised so as to withstand the thrust load from the wheel. Similarly, the coreless rubber crawler disclosed in Patent Document 1 is devised in terms of the material and size of the rubber protrusion.

  An object of the present invention is to devise the shape of the elastic protrusion so that the elastic protrusion can withstand the thrust load from the wheel.

The elastic crawler according to claim 1 of the present invention is a coreless elastic crawler, and has an endless elastic body wound around a plurality of wheels, and the elastic body is spaced in the circumferential direction of the elastic body. The elastic body is formed in plural, protrudes toward the inner peripheral side of the elastic body, contacts the wheel rolling on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body, and restricts the movement of the wheel in the elastic body width direction, and the elastic body And an elastic protrusion in which a part of adjacent ones overlap each other when viewed from the width direction.

  In the elastic crawler according to claim 1 of the present invention, since the shape of the elastic protrusion is devised so that a part of the elastic protrusions adjacent to each other overlap, for example, the width of the elastic protrusion in the elastic body width direction. The length of the elastic protrusions in the circumferential direction of the elastic body is longer and the rigidity of the elastic protrusions in the width direction of the elastic body (bending rigidity) than in the case where the elastic protrusions adjacent to each other do not overlap. ) Will improve. Thereby, the deformation of the elastic protrusion due to the input (thrust load) in the elastic body width direction from the wheel is suppressed, that is, the elastic protrusion can withstand the thrust load from the wheel.

  An elastic crawler according to a second aspect of the present invention is the elastic crawler according to the first aspect, wherein the top surfaces of the elastic protrusions adjacent to each other overlap each other when viewed from the elastic body width direction.

  In the elastic crawler according to claim 2 of the present invention, the shape of the elastic protrusion is devised so that the top surfaces of the adjacent elastic protrusions overlap each other when viewed from the elastic body width direction. The rigidity of the elastic protrusions in the elastic body width direction is effectively improved compared to the case where the elastic protrusions have the same length in the circumferential direction and the top surfaces of the adjacent elastic protrusions do not overlap each other. To do.

  An elastic crawler according to a third aspect of the present invention is the elastic crawler according to the first or second aspect, wherein the elastic protrusion is an end in the elastic body circumferential direction rather than a central portion in the elastic body circumferential direction. The width in the elastic body width direction on the part side is narrow, and the ends of the elastic protrusions adjacent to each other in the elastic body circumferential direction overlap each other when viewed from the elastic body width direction.

  In the elastic crawler according to claim 3 of the present invention, the shape of the elastic protrusion is devised so that the width on the end side is narrower than the central part in the elastic body circumferential direction, and viewed from the elastic body width direction, Because the ends of the elastic protrusions adjacent to each other in the elastic body circumferential direction overlap each other, for example, the ends of the elastic protrusions having the same width from the center to the end are overlapped. Compared to the specification of the wheel that rolls on the inner peripheral surface of the elastic body (specification of thickness (width in the elastic body width direction)), it is possible to sufficiently secure the width of the elastic protrusion in the elastic body width direction. it can.

  The elastic crawler according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the elastic crawler according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the elastic protrusion is elastically received by the elastic body width direction input from the wheel. Abuts against a part of the elastic protrusion adjacent in the body circumferential direction.

  In the elastic crawler according to claim 4 of the present invention, when the elastic protrusion receives an input (thrust load) in the elastic body width direction from the wheel, the elastic protrusion is a part of the elastic protrusion adjacent to the elastic body in the circumferential direction. And is supported by the adjacent elastic protrusion. That is, since the thrust load received by the elastic protrusions is distributed to the elastic protrusions adjacent in the circumferential direction of the elastic body, excessive deformation of the elastic protrusions (deformation in the elastic body width direction) is suppressed.

  As described above, the elastic crawler of the present invention can withstand the thrust load from the wheel by devising the shape of the elastic protrusion.

It is the side view which looked at the rubber crawler of a 1st embodiment from the crawler width direction. It is a perspective view containing the partial cross section of the rubber crawler of 1st Embodiment. It is the top view which looked at the inner periphery of the rubber crawler of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4X-4X in FIG. 3. It is a side view of the rubber crawler of a 1st embodiment. It is the top view which looked at the inner periphery of the rubber crawler which shows the 1st modification of the rubber protrusion of 1st Embodiment. It is the top view which looked at the inner periphery of the rubber crawler which shows the 2nd modification of the rubber protrusion of 1st Embodiment. It is the top view which looked at the inner periphery of the rubber crawler of 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the elastic crawler according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  An endless rubber crawler 10 as an example of an elastic crawler according to the first embodiment is a so-called coreless-less type elastic crawler having no cored bar.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rubber crawler 10 is used by being wound around a driving wheel 100 connected to a driving shaft of a crawler wheel as a machine body and an idler wheel 102 rotatably attached to the crawler wheel. A plurality of rolling wheels 104 disposed between the driving wheel 100 and the idler wheel 102 and rotatably attached to the crawler wheel roll on the inner periphery of the rubber crawler 10.
The driving wheel 100, the idler wheel 102, and the wheel 104 are examples of wheels according to the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the circumferential direction of the endless rubber crawler 10 (direction of arrow S in FIG. 3) is referred to as “crawler circumferential direction”, and the width direction of rubber crawler 10 (direction of arrow W in FIG. 3) is referred to as “crawler width”. "Direction". The crawler circumferential direction and the crawler width direction are orthogonal to each other when the rubber crawler 10 is viewed from the outer peripheral side or the inner peripheral side.
Further, in the present embodiment, the inner periphery side (in the direction of the arrow IN in FIG. 4) of the rubber crawler 10 that is wound around the drive wheel 100 and the idler wheel 102 and has an annular shape (including an annular shape, an elliptical shape, and a polygonal shape) Side) is referred to as “crawler inner peripheral side”, and the outer peripheral side (the arrow OUT direction side in FIG. 4) of the rubber crawler 10 is referred to as “crawler outer peripheral side”. In addition, the arrow IN direction (annular inner direction) and the arrow OUT direction (annular outer direction) in FIG. 4 indicate the inner and outer directions of the rubber crawler 10 in the wound state.
In the present embodiment, the rubber crawler 10 is wound around the driving wheel 100 and the idler wheel 102. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the driving wheel 100, the idler wheel 102, and the plurality of wheel 104. Depending on the arrangement, the rubber crawler 10 may be wound around one or a plurality of rolling wheels 104 in addition to the driving wheel 100 and the idle wheel 102.

  Moreover, the crawler traveling device 90 (refer FIG. 1) which concerns on 1st Embodiment as a driving | running | working part of a crawler vehicle is comprised by the driving wheel 100, the idler wheel 102, the wheel 104, and the rubber crawler 10 wound around these. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the drive wheel 100 has a pair of disk-shaped wheel parts 100A connected to the drive shaft of the crawler wheel. The ring portion 100A rolls while the outer peripheral surface 100B comes into contact with a wheel rolling surface 16 of a rubber crawler 10 described later. The driving wheel 100 causes the rubber crawler 10 to circulate between the driving wheel 100 and the idler wheel 102 by applying a driving force from the crawler wheel to the rubber crawler 10 (details will be described later).

  The idler wheel 102 has a pair of disc-shaped wheel portions 102A that are rotatably attached to the crawler wheel. The ring portion 102A has an outer peripheral surface 102B that comes into contact with a wheel rolling surface 16 of a rubber crawler 10 described later. The idler wheel 102 is pressed in a direction away from the drive wheel 100 by a pressurizing mechanism such as hydraulic pressure (not shown) provided on the crawler vehicle side and is pressed against the wheel rolling surface 16 of the rubber crawler 10 to tension the rubber crawler 10. (Tension) is maintained.

  The wheel 104 supports the weight of the crawler wheel, and has a disc-shaped wheel portion 104A that is rotatably attached to the crawler wheel. In this ring portion 104A, an outer peripheral surface 104B comes into contact with a wheel rolling surface 16 of a rubber crawler 10 described later.

  The idler wheel 102 and the rolling wheel 104 are driven to rotate with respect to the rubber crawler 10 circulating between the drive wheel 100 and the idler wheel 102.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rubber crawler 10 has a rubber belt 12 in which a rubber material is formed in an endless belt shape. In addition, the rubber belt 12 of this embodiment is an example of the endless elastic body of the present invention. Moreover, the circumferential direction (elastic body circumferential direction), the width direction (elastic body width direction), the inner circumferential side (the inner circumferential side of the elastic body), and the outer circumferential side (the outer circumferential side of the elastic body) of the rubber belt 12 of the present embodiment are: These coincide with the crawler circumferential direction, the crawler width direction, the crawler inner circumferential side, and the crawler outer circumferential side, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of rubber protrusions 14 projecting toward the inner peripheral side of the crawler are formed on the inner peripheral surface 12 </ b> A of the rubber belt 12 at intervals in the crawler peripheral direction. The rubber protrusion 14 is disposed at the center of the rubber belt 12 in the crawler width direction, and restricts movement of a wheel rolling on a wheel rolling surface 16 (described later) in the crawler width direction by contact. (See FIG. 4).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wheel rolling surfaces 16 extending along the crawler circumferential direction are formed on both sides in the crawler width direction across the rubber protrusion 14 of the rubber belt 12. The wheel rolling surface 16 is flat and constitutes a part of the inner peripheral surface 12A of the rubber belt 12.
In the present embodiment, the inner circumferential surface 12A of the rubber belt 12 is configured such that the surface between the rubber protrusions 14 and the wheel rolling surface 16 are flush with each other (here, the same height). The configuration is not limited to the configuration, and the wheel rolling surface 16 may be raised to the inner peripheral side of the crawler from the surface between the rubber protrusions.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the driving wheel 100, the idler wheel 102, and the rolling wheel 104 roll on the wheel rolling surface 16.
Here, when the rubber crawler 10 (rubber belt 12) is wound around the driving wheel 100 and the idler wheel 102 with a predetermined tension, a frictional force is generated between the outer peripheral surface 100B of the driving wheel 100 and the wheel rolling surface 16. As a result, the driving force of the driving wheel 100 is transmitted to the rubber crawler 10, and the rubber crawler 10 circulates between the driving wheel 100 and the idler wheel 102 so that the rubber crawler 10 travels.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a block-like lug 18 is formed on the outer periphery of the rubber belt 12 so as to protrude toward the outer periphery of the crawler and to contact the ground. A plurality of lugs 18 are arranged on the left and right sides of the center line CL, and a plurality of lugs 18 are formed at intervals in the crawler circumferential direction.
Note that the shape of the lug 18 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 2, and may be any shape as long as the ground can be caught while the rubber crawler 10 is traveling.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an endless belt-like belt layer 20 extending along the crawler circumferential direction is embedded in the rubber belt 12.

  The belt layer 20 of the present embodiment has a four-layer structure, and is disposed on the main cord layer 22, the zero degree cord layer 24 disposed on the crawler inner peripheral side of the main cord layer 22, and the crawler outer peripheral side of the main cord layer 22. A pair of inclined cord layers 26 and 28 are formed.

  The main cord layer 22 is formed by paralleling the main cord along the crawler circumferential direction (parallel in the crawler width direction) and covering with rubber.

  The zero degree cord layer 24 is formed by arranging the zero degree cords in the crawler circumferential direction so as to be orthogonal to the main cord or along the crawler width direction (90 degrees with respect to the crawler circumferential direction) and covering them with rubber. Has been.

The inclined cord layer 26 is formed by arranging the first inclined cords in parallel in the crawler circumferential direction and covering them with rubber so as to be inclined with respect to the main cord.
On the other hand, the inclined cord layer 28 is formed by paralleling the second inclined cord in the crawler circumferential direction and covering the main cord with the rubber so as to be inclined in the direction opposite to the first inclined cord.

  In the present embodiment, steel cords having excellent tensile strength are used as the main cord, zero degree cord, first inclined cord, and second inclined cord. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and is sufficient. If it has tensile strength, an organic fiber cord composed of organic fibers (for example, nylon fiber, aromatic polyamide fiber, etc.) is used as the main cord, zero degree cord, first inclined cord, and second inclined cord. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, the belt layer 20 is configured by laminating the zero degree cord layer 24, the main cord layer 22, the inclined cord layer 26, and the inclined cord layer 28 in order from the crawler inner peripheral side. Is not limited to this configuration, and the order in which the cord layers constituting the belt layer 20 are stacked may be variously changed according to specifications.

  In the present embodiment, the belt layer 20 is configured by the four cord layers described above, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the belt layer 20 may be configured by five or more cord layers. You may comprise by the code | cord | chord layer of 3 layers or less. However, the main cord layer 22 holds the tension of the rubber crawler 10, and one layer is required.

Next, the rubber protrusion 14 described above will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 3, the rubber protrusion 14 of the present embodiment has a point-symmetric shape having a center on the center line CL in plan view. Further, the rubber protrusion 14 has a narrower width in the crawler width direction on the end portion 14E side in the crawler circumferential direction than a central portion (corresponding to a base 30 described later) in the crawler circumferential direction.
More specifically, the rubber protrusion 14 has a base 30 located at the center in the crawler circumferential direction, and one end of the base 30 in the crawler width direction (right end in FIG. 3) 30A side in the crawler circumferential direction. An extension portion 32 extending to one side (upper side in FIG. 3) and the other end in the crawler circumferential direction from the other end portion (left end portion in FIG. 3) 30A of the base portion 30 in the crawler width direction (lower side in FIG. 3) The extending portion 33 and the extending portion 33 are both narrower than the base portion 30 in the crawler width direction. In FIG. 3, the width of the base portion 30 in the crawler width direction is indicated by WC, the width of the extension portion 32 in the crawler width direction is indicated by WE1, and the width of the extension portion 33 in the crawler width direction is indicated by WE2. Yes. In the present embodiment, the width WE1 of the extension portion 32 and the width WE2 of the extension portion 33 are the same value.
The rubber protrusion 14 has a substantially crank shape in plan view.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the length L of the rubber protrusions 14 along the crawler circumferential direction is longer than the width W of the rubber protrusions 14 along the crawler width direction, and moreover than the arrangement pitch P of the rubber protrusions 14. Is also getting longer. The length L of the rubber projection 14 in the crawler circumferential direction is a length measured at the portion where the rubber projection 14 is the maximum length (here, as shown in FIG. 3, the rubber that is the tip of the extension portion 32). The length W from the one end 14E of the protrusion 14 to the other end 14E of the rubber protrusion 14 which is the tip of the extending portion 33). The width W of the rubber protrusion 14 in the crawler width direction is the rubber protrusion 14 Is the width measured in the portion having the maximum width (here, as shown in FIG. 3, the width from one end 30A to the other end 30A in the crawler width direction of the base 30).

By making the length L longer than the arrangement pitch P as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other in the crawler circumferential direction are adjacent to each other so as to partially overlap each other in the crawler width direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when viewed from the crawler width direction, portions of the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other in the crawler circumferential direction overlap (overlap).
Specifically, among the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other, the tip end portion of the extension portion 33 of one rubber protrusion 14 (the upper rubber protrusion 14 in FIG. 3) (the other end portion of the rubber protrusion 14 in the crawler circumferential direction). 14E) and the tip of the extended portion 32 of the other rubber projection 14 (lower rubber projection 14 in FIG. 3) (corresponding to one end portion 14E of the rubber projection 14 in the crawler circumferential direction) are crawler widths. Overlapping in the direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the top surface 14 </ b> A of one rubber projection 14 and the top surface 14 </ b> A of the other rubber projection 14 overlap each other when viewed from the crawler width direction. It should be noted that the overlap between the top surfaces 14A of the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other overlaps in the vicinity of the crawler circumferential end of each top surface to ensure rigidity in the crawler width direction, which will be described later, and to remove the mold at the time of manufacture. It is preferable from the viewpoint of ease.

Next, the effect of the rubber crawler 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
In the rubber crawler 10, as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the rubber protrusion 14 is devised so that a part of the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the crawler (extending portions 32 and 33 in this embodiment) overlap. Therefore, for example, the length L of the elastic protrusion in the circumferential direction of the elastic body is longer than that in which the width of the rubber protrusion is the same in the crawler width direction and a part of the rubber protrusions adjacent to each other does not overlap, The rigidity (bending rigidity) of the rubber protrusion 14 in the crawler width direction is improved. As a result, the deformation of the rubber protrusion 14 due to the input (thrust load) in the crawler width direction from the wheel (roller 104 in FIG. 5) is suppressed, that is, the rubber protrusion 14 can withstand the thrust load from the wheel. Become. For this reason, in the rubber crawler 10, the rubber protrusion 14 is deformed by the thrust load from the wheel rolling on the wheel rolling surface 16, and the wheel collides with the vicinity of the corner of the next rubber protrusion 14. Generation is effectively suppressed. Thereby, the durability of the rubber protrusion 14, that is, the durability of the rubber crawler 10 is improved.

  The rubber crawler 10 is devised so that the top surfaces 14A of the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other overlap each other when viewed from the crawler width direction. As compared with the case where the top surfaces of the adjacent rubber protrusions do not overlap each other, the rigidity of the rubber protrusions 14 in the crawler width direction is effectively improved.

  On the other hand, in the rubber crawler 10, since the shape of the rubber protrusion 14 is devised so that a part of the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other overlap each other when viewed from the crawler width direction, as shown in FIG. When viewed from the direction, the wheel 104 that rolls on the wheel rolling surface 16 can overlap the plurality of rubber protrusions 14, and the thrust load from the wheel 104 can be adjacent to the crawler in the circumferential direction. It can be supported by the protrusion 14. Thereby, the deformation | transformation of the rubber protrusion 14 by the thrust load from a wheel can further be suppressed.

  Furthermore, in the rubber crawler 10, the shape of the rubber protrusion 14 is devised so that the width on the end portion 14E side is narrower than the central portion (corresponding to the base portion 30) in the crawler circumferential direction, and viewed from the crawler width direction, Since the end portions 14E in the crawler circumferential direction of the rubber projections 14 adjacent to each other are overlapped, for example, the end portions of the rubber projections having the same width from the central portion in the crawler circumferential direction to the end portion in the crawler circumferential direction Compared to the superposition of the two, the width of the rubber protrusion 14 in the crawler width direction can be sufficiently ensured with respect to the specification of the wheel rolling on the inner peripheral surface 12A of the rubber belt 12.

  In the first embodiment, the rubber protrusion 14 has a point-symmetric shape having a center on the center line CL in plan view, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the rubber protrusion 14 is on the center line CL in plan view. The shape may not be point-symmetric with a center. For example, the length of the extending part 32 and the extending part 33 in the crawler circumferential direction and the width in the crawler width direction may be different from each other.

The rubber protrusion 14 of the first embodiment has a point-symmetrical substantially crank shape having a center on the center line CL in plan view as shown in FIG. 3, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the crawler The rubber protrusions 14 may have any shape as long as the portions of the rubber protrusions 14 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction overlap each other. For example, the first modification of the rubber protrusion 14 (rubber protrusion 44) shown in FIG. It is good also as a shape like the 2nd modification (rubber protrusion 54) of the rubber protrusion 14 shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the rubber protrusion 44 has a point-symmetrical substantially parallelogram shape having a center on the center line CL in plan view. 6 indicates the end of the rubber protrusion 44 in the crawler circumferential direction, and reference numeral 44A indicates the top surface of the rubber protrusion 44.
On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the two rubber protrusions 54 adjacent to each other have a substantially convex shape that is line-symmetric with respect to the center line CL. 7 denotes the end of the rubber protrusion 54 in the crawler circumferential direction, and reference numeral 54A denotes the top surface of the rubber protrusion 54. The rubber protrusion 54 has an extended portion 58 extending from one end 56A in the crawler width direction of the base portion 56 corresponding to the central portion in the crawler circumferential direction to one side in the crawler circumferential direction, and the other side in the crawler circumferential direction. An extension 59 extends to the end. In addition, the extension part 58 and the extension part 59 of the rubber protrusion 54 may have the same or different length in the crawler circumferential direction and width in the crawler width direction, respectively.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an elastic crawler according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure as 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the rubber crawler 60 of this embodiment has the same configuration as the rubber crawler 10 of the first embodiment except for the shape of the rubber protrusion 64. For this reason, below, the structure of the rubber protrusion 64 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the rubber protrusion 64 of the present embodiment has a line-symmetric shape with respect to the center line CL in plan view. Specifically, the rubber protrusions 64 are respectively a base 66 located at the center in the crawler circumferential direction, and both ends 66A in the crawler width direction of the base 66 from one side in the crawler circumferential direction (the upper side in FIG. 8). A pair of extending portions 68A and 68B that extend, and an extending portion 69 that extends from the center portion of the base portion 66 in the crawler width direction to the other side in the crawler circumferential direction (lower side in FIG. 8). The pair of extending portions 68A and 68B and the extending portion 69 are all narrower in the crawler width direction than the base portion 66. In FIG. 8, the width of the base 66 in the crawler width direction is indicated by WC, the width of the extension 68A (left side in FIG. 8) in the crawler width direction is indicated by WEA1, and the extension 68B (right side in FIG. 8). ) In the crawler width direction is indicated by WEB1, and the width of the extending portion 69 in the crawler width direction is indicated by WE2. In the present embodiment, the width WEA1 and the width WEB1 are the same value, and the width WE2 is larger than that value. The extending portions 68A and 68B and the extending portion 69 of the rubber protrusion 64 may have the same or different length in the crawler circumferential direction and width in the crawler width direction.

  The length L of the rubber protrusions 64 along the crawler circumferential direction is longer than the width W of the rubber protrusions 64 along the crawler width direction, and further longer than the arrangement pitch P of the rubber protrusions 64. The length L of the rubber protrusion 64 in the crawler circumferential direction is a length measured in the same part as in the first embodiment, and the width W in the crawler width direction is also a width measured in the same part as in the first embodiment. is there.

  By making the length L longer than the arrangement pitch P as described above, as shown in FIG. 8, one of the rubber protrusions 64 adjacent to each other (the upper rubber protrusion 64 in FIG. 8). The extending portion 69 enters between the pair of extending portions 68A and 68B of the other rubber protrusion (the lower rubber protrusion 64 in FIG. 8). For this reason, when viewed from the crawler width direction, the extending portion 69 of one rubber protrusion 64 overlaps (overlaps) the pair of extending portions 68A and 68B of the other rubber protrusion 64.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the rubber protrusion 64 abuts a part of the rubber protrusion 64 adjacent in the crawler circumferential direction by an input (thrust load) in the crawler width direction from the wheel (here, the side wall portion of the extending portion 68A). Alternatively, the side wall portion of the extending portion 68B and the side wall portion of the extending portion 69 are in contact with each other). Specifically, for example, when one of the rubber protrusions 64 adjacent to each other is deformed so as to be inclined in the crawler width direction under the thrust load from the wheel, the extending portion 69 of the one rubber protrusion 64 is The other rubber protrusion 64 is in contact with one of the pair of extending portions 68A and 68A.

  8 indicates the end of the rubber protrusion 64 in the crawler circumferential direction, and reference numeral 64A indicates the top surface of the rubber protrusion 64.

Next, the effect of the rubber crawler 60 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated.
In addition, about the effect similar to 1st Embodiment among the effects of this embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  In the rubber crawler 60, when one of the rubber protrusions 64 adjacent to each other receives an input (thrust load) in the crawler width direction from the wheel, the extending portion 69 of the one rubber protrusion 64 is in the crawler circumferential direction. Is in contact with one of the pair of extending portions 68A and 68B of the other rubber protrusion 64 adjacent to the other, and is supported by the other adjacent rubber protrusion. That is, since the thrust load received by the rubber protrusions 64 is distributed to the adjacent rubber protrusions 64, excessive deformation (deformation in the elastic body width direction) of the rubber protrusions 64 is suppressed.

  Further, since the rubber protrusions 64 are symmetrical with respect to the center line CL, when the rubber crawler 60 is wound around the drive wheel 100 or the idler wheel 102, bending stress (compressive force) is evenly distributed on both sides of the center line CL. Therefore, the rubber protrusion 64 is restrained from receiving a thrust load from the driving wheel 100 and the idle wheel 102 when the rubber crawler 60 is wound.

  The configuration in which the adjacent rubber protrusions 64 abut on each other in the crawler circumferential direction due to the thrust load from the wheels of the second embodiment applies to the rubber protrusion 14, the rubber protrusion 44, and the rubber protrusion 54 of the first embodiment, respectively. can do.

  In the first and second embodiments, a rubber belt in which a rubber material is formed in an endless shape is used as an example of an endless elastic body. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and an example of an endless elastic body. For example, a rubber elastic belt formed of an endless material having rubber elasticity may be used. For example, an elastomer belt formed of an elastomer, which is a resin material having rubber elasticity, may be used.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, these embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

10, 60 Rubber crawler (elastic crawler)
12 Rubber belt (endless elastic body)
12A Inner peripheral surface 14, 44, 54, 64 Rubber protrusion (elastic protrusion)
14A, 44A, 54A, 64A Top surface 14E, 44E, 54E, 64E End 100 Drive wheel (wheel)
102 idler wheel
104 Wheels
CL center line S crawler circumferential direction (elastic body circumferential direction)
W Crawler width direction (elastic body width direction)
IN crawler inner circumference side (inner circumference side of elastic body)
OUT crawler outer circumference (outer circumference of elastic body)

Claims (4)

A coreless elastic crawler,
An endless elastic body wound around a plurality of wheels;
A plurality of elastic bodies are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the elastic body, projecting toward the inner circumferential side of the elastic body, and abutting against the wheel rolling on the inner circumferential surface of the elastic body, the elasticity of the wheel Elastic protrusions that limit movement in the body width direction, and a portion of each other adjacent to each other when viewed from the elastic body width direction;
Elastic crawler with.   The elastic crawler according to claim 1, wherein when viewed from the elastic body width direction, the top surfaces of the elastic protrusions adjacent to each other overlap. The elastic protrusion is narrower in the elastic body width direction on the end side in the elastic body circumferential direction than the central part in the elastic body circumferential direction,
The elastic crawler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein ends of the elastic protrusions adjacent to each other overlap each other when viewed from the elastic body width direction.   The elasticity according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic protrusion comes into contact with a part of the elastic protrusion adjacent in the circumferential direction of the elastic body by an input in the elastic body width direction from the wheel. Crawler.

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