FOREST MACHINE TRACK

Abstract

The present invention relates to a forest machine track that comprises a plurality of connecting elements having a first end and a second end, a plurality of outer tubes arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of means for storing and releasing mechanical energy, each of the plurality of means for storing and releasing mechanical energy being arranged in connection with one of the plurality of outer tubes. In the forest machine track adjacent outer tubes are connected by two connecting elements in such a manner that the first ends of the two connecting elements are connected to one of the adjacent outer tubes and the second ends of the two connecting elements are connected to the means for storing and releasing mechanical energy in connection with the other of the adjacent outer tubes.

Claims

1. A forest machine track, comprising: a plurality of connecting elements having a first end and a second end, wherein the forest machine track comprises: a plurality of outer tubes arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of means for storing and releasing mechanical energy, each of the plurality of means for storing and releasing mechanical energy being arranged in connection with one of the plurality of outer tubes, and wherein adjacent outer tubes are connected by two connecting elements in such a manner that the first ends of the two connecting elements are connected to one of the adjacent outer tubes and the second ends of the two connecting elements are connected to the means for storing and releasing mechanical energy in connection with the other of the adjacent outer tubes.

2. The forest machine track according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing and releasing mechanical energy comprises an inner tube arranged inside the outer tube in such a manner that the inner tube can rotate about its longitudinal axis with respect to the outer tube, and at least one elastomer element arranged between the inner tube and the outer tube, and wherein ends of the inner tube are connected to the second ends of the connecting elements.

3. The forest machine track according to claim 2, wherein the outer and inner tubes are rectangular tubes.

4. The forest machine track according to claim 3, wherein the inner tube is arranged inside the outer tube in such a manner that at a rest position the inner tube is at an angle of between 35 and 55 degrees relative to the outer tube.

5. The forest machine track according to any of claim 2, wherein connecting element has a first opening at its first end, through which first opening the end of the inner tube is arranged to extend.

6. The forest machine track according to claim 2, wherein the connecting element has a second opening at its second end, through which second opening the end of the inner tube is arranged to extend.

7. The forest machine track according to claim 5, wherein the first and/or second openings are rectangular-shaped.

8. The forest machine track according to claim 6, wherein the first and/or second openings are rectangular-shaped.

9. The forest machine track according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing and releasing mechanical energy comprises a first torsion bar and a second torsion bar arranged side by side inside the outer tube, wherein opposite ends of the first torsion bar and the second torsion bar are connected to the second ends of the connecting elements.

10. The forest machine track according to claim 9, wherein the connecting element has a first opening at its first end, through which first opening the end of the first torsion bar or the second torsion bar is arranged to extend.

11. The forest machine track according to claim 10, wherein the connecting element has a second opening at its second end, through which second opening the end of the first torsion bar or the second torsion bar is arranged to extend.

12. The forest machine track according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing and releasing mechanical energy comprises a first coil spring and a second coil spring arranged sequentially inside the outer tube, wherein distal ends of the first coil spring and the second coil spring are connected to the second ends of the connecting elements.

13. The forest machine track according to claim 12, wherein the connecting element has a first opening at its first end, through which first opening the end of the first coil spring or the second coil spring is arranged to extend.

14. The forest machine track according to claim 12, wherein the connecting element has a second opening at its second end, through which second opening the end of the first coil spring or the second coil spring is arranged to extend.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates a forest machine track according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of the forest machine track of FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of a forest machine track according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of a forest machine track according to a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates a forest machine track according to a first embodiment of the invention. The forest machine track 100 is a bogie track that is installed around two tyres 200 of a forest machine. FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of the forest machine track 100.

[0042] The forest machine track 100 comprises outer tubes 101, which are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other. The longitudinal axis of the outer tubes 101 is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the forest machine track 100. An inner tube 102 is arranged inside each outer tube 101 in such a manner that the inner tube 102 can rotate about its longitudinal axis with respect to the outer tube 101. An elastomer element 103 is arranged between the outer tube 101 and the inner tube 102 for storing and releasing mechanical energy that is related to the rotation of the inner tube 102 with respect to the outer tube 101. At a rest position the inner tube 102 is at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the outer tube 101.

[0043] The forest machine track 100 comprises connecting elements 104 and 105 with which the outer tubes 101 are connected to each other. The adjacent outer tubes 101 are connected to each other in such a manner that the first ends of the connecting elements 104 and 105 are connected to opposite ends of one of the adjacent outer tubes 101 and the second ends of the connecting elements 104 and 105 are connected to opposite ends of the inner tube 102 that is arranged inside the other of the adjacent outer tubes 101. The connecting elements 104 and 105 are connected to the outer tube 101 by welding. The connecting elements 104 and 105 are connected to the inner tube 102 in a releasable manner by using a pin 106 that is arranged into a transverse through-hole 107 provided in the end of the inner tube 102. The connecting elements 104 and 105 have openings 108 at both of their ends through which the ends of the inner tubes 102 are arranged to extend.

[0044] In the forest machine track 100 of FIG. 1, mechanical energy is stored into the elastomer element 103 when the connecting elements 104 and 105 that are connected to the inner tube 102 rotate the inner tube 102 away from its rest position. The stored mechanical energy can release from the elastomer element 103 to rotate the inner tube 102 towards its rest position and thus at the same time to rotate the connecting elements 104 and 105 that are connected to the inner tube 102.

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of a forest machine track according to a second embodiment of the invention. The structure of the forest machine track 300 is shown partly exposed.

[0046] The forest machine track 300 comprises outer tubes 301, which are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other. Each outer tube 301 is provided with torsion bars 302 and 303, which are arranged side by side inside the outer tube 301. The ends of the outer tube 301 are closed by end caps 304 and 305. One end of the torsion bar 302 is arranged to extend through the end cap 304 and the other end of the torsion bar 302 is connected to the end cap 305. One end of the torsion bar 303 is arranged to extend through the end cap 305 and the other end of the torsion bar 303 is connected to the end cap 304.

[0047] The forest machine track 300 comprises connecting elements 306 and 307 with which the outer tubes 301 are connected to each other. The adjacent outer tubes 301 are connected to each other in such a manner that the first ends of the connecting elements 306 and 307 are connected to opposite ends of one of the adjacent outer tubes 301 and the second ends of the connecting elements 306 and 307 are connected, respectively, to the ends of the torsion bars 302 and 303 that are arranged inside the other of the adjacent outer tubes 301. The connecting elements 306 and 307 are connected to the outer tube 301 and to the torsion bars 302 and 303 by welding.

[0048] In the forest machine track 300 of FIG. 3, mechanical energy is stored into the torsion bars 302 and 303 when the connecting elements 306 and 307 connected to them rotate the torsion bars 302 and 303 away from their rest positions. The stored mechanical energy can release from the torsion bars 302 and 303 to rotate the connecting elements 306 and 307 in an opposite direction.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of a forest machine track according to a third embodiment of the invention. The structure of the forest machine track 400 is shown partly exposed.

[0050] The forest machine track 400 comprises outer tubes 401, which are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other. Each outer tube 401 is provided with coil springs 402 and 403 arranged sequentially inside the outer tube 401. The coil springs 402 and 403 are connected to each other with a centre element 404.

[0051] The forest machine track 400 comprises connecting elements 405 and 406 with which the outer tubes 401 are connected to each other. The adjacent outer tubes 401 are connected to each other in such a manner that the first ends of the connecting elements 405 and 406 are connected to opposite ends of one of the adjacent outer tubes 401 and the second ends of the connecting elements 405 and 406 are connected, respectively, to the ends of the coil springs 402 and 403 that are arranged inside the other of the adjacent outer tubes 401. The connecting elements 405 and 406 are connected to the outer tube 401 and to the coil springs 402 and 403 in a releasable manner. The connecting elements 405 and 406 have openings 407 at both of their ends through which the ends of the outer tube 401 and/or the coil springs 402 and 403 are arranged to extend.

[0052] In the forest machine track 400 of FIG. 4, mechanical energy is stored into the coil springs 402 and 403 when the connecting elements 405 and 406 connected to them rotate the coil springs 402 and 403 away from their rest position. The stored mechanical energy can release from the coil springs 402 and 403 to rotate the connecting elements 405 and 406 in an opposite direction.

[0053] Only advantageous exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in the figures. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted only to the examples presented above, but the invention may vary within the limits of the claims presented hereafter. Some possible embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, and they are not to be considered to restrict the scope of protection of the invention as such.