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TRACKED VEHICLES STEERING MECHANISM

Introduction:

Tracked vehicles are superior to wheeled vehicles for covering rough terrain. In a manner of

speaking, tracks allow Tanks and construction vehicles to carry their own road wherever they

go. The large surface area of the tracks distributes the weight of the vehicle better than steel or

rubber tyres on an equivalent vehicle, enabling a continuous tracked vehicle to traverse soft

ground with less likelihood of becoming stuck due to sinking.

Need of Steering mechanism for tracked vehicle:

Tracked vehicles required special mechanisms to steer, this mechanism allows to steer a

tracked vehicle like a regular car, one motor drives it forward/backward, and the other makes it

turn. It can be used as an advantage, by using a more powerful motor to drive, and a less

powerful one to steer. An unique feature of a subtractor is the possibility to use both motors at

once

Existing mechanism:

Dual Drive:

The simplest way to achieve this is to drive each track with a separate power source. The

earliest tracked vehicles, operated on this principle.

Drawbacks:

It requires two engines

Complexity, and require more maintenance

Its difficult to drive in a straight line

Clutch-Brake Steering:

In Clutch-Brake system output of a single power source drives both tracks directly. Since theyare physically connected to each other, the tracks must turn at the same speed and the vehicle

will travel in a straight line. To allow for turns, each track can be disconnected from the engine

with a clutch, allowing that track to slow and the vehicle to turn fairly. A brake allows the

disengaged track to be slowed to tighten the turn, even to the point of stopping the track so the

vehicle turns in a very tight radius.

8/13/2019 Tracked Vehicles Steering Mechanism

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Purposed mechanism

The purpose mechanism consists of two sets of epicyclic gear, one power source drives the

vehicle in straight line, and other used to turn. The input for one track is given forward while

other side is given reverse to the respective epicyclic gear on either side which results in turning

of vehicle. Epicyclic gears maintains a constant relative motion between two tracks. Steeringradius a can be controlled by controlling steering input power source. This mechanism gives

possibilities of neutral turn.

In this mechanism the relative motion between tracks can be controlled easily

No power is lost while steering of vehicle

Simpler in construction

Easy to control.