Mechanical engineers/creative folk in da haus?

[hendrik]

what if there was a drive on table, that could be adjusted for each machine. Kind of like a chasis dyno, where you are creating a rolling road without moving the vehicle.

[mamzak]

Is there a way to turn the track via one of the hubs? If the vehicle is in the air there shouldn't be much force needed to get the track to spin?

Without the tracks on, if you hang on the final drive (The top of the triangle shaped track) you can spin it under your own power...but with the weight of the tracks (about 10000lbs) it's impossible.

[BimmerTim]

Most track driven machinery is hydraulic motor operated at the drive wheel.

Why not install quick-disconnects near the motor at the drive wheel, and have a foot/switch controlled mobile external pump? That way the track can be rotated as much as it needs, it's easy to hook up, the welder/monkey can operate the switch, and it should be pretty easy to put in load safety switches.

[Van Westervelt]

I do like this idea, the only problem with that is that on stuff like an excavator, the final drive isn't like a Caterpillar dozer, with space on the unmeshed gears. Your idea would work for a D9, but probably wouldn't work for an excavator. I'll show you what I mean:

Unless you used something that grabs onto the outside of the rotating 'gear/wheel' and tightens down. Then you could use it on different diameters and and type of round square etc. Sort of like a 6-8 fingered closing fist. Put that on a threaded shaft that as the motor turns, it tightens down.

[mamzak]

what if there was a drive on table, that could be adjusted for each machine. Kind of like a chasis dyno, where you are creating a rolling road without moving the vehicle.

Yeah that's not bad... I kind of like this idea... but the only problem I see is it would be massive, heavy, expensive, and sort of impractical. Very creative though...This would be a good idea if these machines were smaller.

[Van Westervelt]

Most track driven machinery is hydraulic motor operated at the drive wheel.

Why not install quick-disconnects near the motor at the drive wheel, and have a foot/switch controlled mobile external pump? That way the track can be rotated as much as it needs, it's easy to hook up, the welder/monkey can operate the switch, and it should be pretty easy to put in load safety switches.

I like this, but this require the operating equipment, as well as modifying each vehicle (equipment). Seems tedious as equipment comes and goes, and in order to use it, you would have to modify each units lines.

[mamzak]

Unless you used something that grabs onto the outside of the rotating up and tightens down. Then you could use it on different diameters and and type of round square etc. Sort of like a 6-8 fingered closing fist. Put that on a threaded shaft that as the motor turns, it tightens down.

AHA!

Very smart. I really like this idea!! Sort of like a giant vice-grip, that closes in from 4 sides?

[rwh11385]

Welder operated, remotely controlled, 3ish feet long hydraulic ram to turn the track, once jacked-up?

Something like this and the dyno/belt idea. Only it doesn't have to be as long as the track, just a small portion. Have a small belt or piston that has hooks that can work with different tracks, and advance it.

The think that looks like a windmill would have trouble in the long run with fatigue even if you could handle the force and torque from work the track at the top.

A ground-mounded belt (with claw like Van mentioned) or ground-mounded piston with claw that rotates out of way to return to starting position would work.

[hendrik]

Yeah that's not bad... I kind of like this idea... but the only problem I see is it would be massive, heavy, expensive, and sort of impractical. Very creative though...This would be a good idea if these machines were smaller.

Ya, it doesn't have to be an entire table. Can just be four movable hubs to drive onto and two would actually have a hydraulic or electric motor in them the other two would just be rollers. Basically eliminating the need to lift the vehicle, and making it flexible enough that you can work with a variety of vehicles.

[gstuning]

First :

What is the inertia of those tracks when free to move?

[mamzak]

First :

What is the inertia of those tracks when free to move?

I don't have an exact number for you but it's a shit ton. The inertia of the final drive isn't all that much. Like I said, you can spin it (very slowly) under your own power. It's pretty much just the weight of the tracks (approx. 10K lbs) that makes it hard to move...

[BillBrasky]

I would weld together an apparatus that could clamp on the outside edges of the track and be pulled with a winch mounted either to a ground base or another piece of heavy equipment. I would use a setup with two heavy duty Bessey quick adjusting C-clamps connected with a solid steel rod. On each end of the rod, I would weld a large enough eyebolt to slide the frame of the C-clamp through so that the eyebolt pulls from the inside throat of the clamp. This would also allow the clamps to swivel for use on varying widths of track and easily be applied and removed by one person. I would weld an additional eyebolt in the very center of the connecting steel rod so that force is always applied evenly and won't bind one way or the other.


These heavy duty Bessey clamps have a tremendous amount of clamping pressure.

http://www.bessey.de/catalogue/catalogue.do?id=200&favOid=000000030002c50c00020023&act=showBookmark

[mrsleeve]

WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU GUYS MAKING THIS SO COMPLICATED


I watch field Mechs stick Ice picks on shit and take em off in the spring ever year IN THE FIELD (d8's-d10's, 583 Sidebooms, hydorhoes, you name it). They never pull the tracks, get under the tracks with the thing in the air or on stands, or have to signal an operator to move shit,

The get on the track on each side and weld them on get it and move it and weld more move it weld more untill done (takes about 2ish hours on a d8) . On the High track shit they just weld them at the back of the machine when the are going vertical. move it ahead and weld some more. plus when I used to get recruited to do it, this is how I did it.

Why are they even doing it any other way????? Just seems to dangerous other wise when the guy whos welding them on is moving and setting the brakes and shutting the thing down for HIS OWN safety.

And why are you guys just picking the center line of the tracks???? All you are doing there is making a GIANT ICE SKATE, You should be picking inside edge , Center, outside edge, center, inside edge ect.... but normally have them doubled up in the center
I have been around heavy equipment all my life in all kinds of terrain and weather, that pick set up pic you posted would SCARE the shit outta me if I had to run that thing on any kind of grade, that was frozen ground, snow and ice or any combination of, if I was not tied off to a D8 or 2 via a 1.125" winch line. ( note I have seen what happens when it goes bad, its not a good sight at all)


edit: Another quick question, why do your hydrohoes, have street track pads on them and not Grouser pads????

[MAXELHOFF]

Inexpensive. Figure geometry.

[Fusion]

Huge winch with remote to pull it.