Today, bulldozers are an important tool for earthmoving both on construction sites and in quarries. It is important that the machine is powerful enough to carry out the assigned tasks, which are constantly becoming more complex. That is why bulldozers are improving. Take the American Catepillar bulldozer, for example. Many are interested in why it has a "triangular" caterpillar, and not the traditional one, like other models.
If we turn to domestic models of bulldozers, there are typical tracks with a leading sprocket at the back. The same mechanism was used in Soviet tanks. By the way, in German tanks during World War II, the asterisk was located in the front, which was less practical, because the drive wheel should be located where the load is higher.
The engineers of the American company Caterpillar took into account these (and many others) features of the operation of heavy tracked vehicles and installed the drive wheel (sprocket) on top. This approach has many benefits. Due to the high position, the sprocket does not get large amounts of dirt and stones, as in the case of the traditional position, and the wear of this part is reduced. In ordinary bulldozers, the asterisk is changed after a year or two, which entails considerable financial costs.
The upper part of the "triangular" track is now at a considerable distance from the road wheels. This makes it possible to partially relieve the drive sprocket and final drive from the axial forces that occur when the machine is turning. As a result, bearings and gear teeth will last longer. Due to the fact that the final drives have risen higher, the distance between the bottom of the bulldozer and the ground (clearance) has increased, and the passability of the bulldozer has increased.
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Caterpillar dozer propulsion systems are among the most reliable in the world. And then the question arises: why, then, other companies do not use this development. Because the Americans have patented their invention. Although for the ubiquitous Chinese, this is not a problem, and they have already begun to produce copies of the bulldozer.
In the 20th century, engineers experimented with tracks on tanks. Continuing the topic:
why the German "Panthers" and "Tigers" had a staggered arrangement of ice rinks.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/040720/55167/