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Home >Case Studies >Tracked Vehicles >Tracked Vehicle Suspension Systems

When the current solution failed, we didn't just fix the problem, we made our clients tracked vehicles more desirable too.


An existing client of ours in the USA, a major global designer and supplier of specialist tracked vehicles, utilises a range of our suspension units for their vehicles. Whilst we exclusively supply heavier duty suspension systems to them, our R-flex fullbond units appear alongside a locally sourced chorded rubber system, much akin to our own R-flex insert, in lighter duty applications they offer.

This locally sourced chord product has been proven unreliable in the applications in which it appears and as a consequence Peak Dynamic Engineers were tasked with reviewing the current system in order to determine both the reasons for the unreliability and effects of short service life.

This review included taking both our clients and their end users findings and combining them with an analysis of the initial design brief. We discovered that the geometry of the suspension units fitted within the overall suspension superstructure had meant that the units were consistently working in the upper 10% of their operating limit. This is not an uncommon problem, one which usually arises from lack of access to the most suitable materials and techniques or a change in real-world conditions, rather than bad design.

Solution:
To meet existing cost targets, a similar R-flex insert unit was produced with a much higher duty material specification across the whole unit. Whilst this included the shafts and casing, our main priority was the rubber inserts themselves.

Application and dynamic rig tests were carried out to determine the fit form and function of this revised offering. Despite substantial service life increases, the expectations of the client and their end users were still not being achieved and therefore it was determined that to increase wear-ability of the product to acceptable levels, suspension characteristics would have been compromised.

It was agreed that an R-flex fullbond product be evaluated due to more predictable suspension characteristics and even better reliability. This unit ultimately proved to meet the required specification and sit comfortably below maximum operating limits. The final obstacle remaining was to produce a unit that could be readily installed on the existing mounting and fit within the overall suspension superstructure. To achieve this a new casing and mounting was designed and produced. Initial production units have now been dynamically tested with the results showing a significant improvement over the previous solution.

Whilst the overall costs per unit have been increased, this has a very modest impact on the overall price of the tracked vehicle unit and product performance now meets client and end user requirements, thus enhancing the overall appeal of the product itself. As well as these obvious benefits, our customer also noted that the total lifetime cost of a tracked vehicle has been cut by providing a solution that has increased reliability, extended maintenance intervals and reduced downtime, testament to another engineered solution determined by Peak Dynamics.

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Waterloo Industrial Estate
Waterloo Road
Bidford on Avon
Warwickshire
B50 4JH
United Kingdom
Tel+44 (0)1789 778 041 Fax+44 (0)1789 490 331 [email protected]