Caterpillar drive for a car - a replacement for an SUV?

Caterpillar propulsion is a design designed for heavy haulers, the pulling force in which is accomplished by winding a metal band. This system allows you to achieve good patency in any conditions. The increased area of contact with the surface provides a low pressure on the soil - about 0.120-1.20 kgf / cm², which is much less than the weight of the human foot. As a result, the main parts of the caterpillar drive are protected from deep penetration into the soil.

The device propulsion

The design of the system is quite simple and includes:

1. A conventional wheel that performs the leading functions.
2. A caterpillar made in the form of a metal band, which creates an even surface for the wheels when driving.
3. Rollers for support - a movable part, which excludes the sagging of the track.
4. Stretch mechanism with sloths.
5. Compensation device.

The caterpillar propulsion unit was designed by Dmitry Andreevich Zagryazhsky, the captain of the Russian army. On March 2, 1837, he received a petition for a patent for his invention.

Types of propulsors

As the system caterpillar propulsion is divided into four subspecies, each of which has its own distinctive characteristics:

1. The propeller with installed rollers for support. The driving wheel for this design is integrated into the rear. Lazy people use a free type.
2. The second option is presented without the use of supporting rollers, but with the same rear wheel as the one described above. It also performs the leading functions.
3. The third subspecies differs by the presence of supporting rollers and the front driving wheel. Sloths attach additional stability to the design and advantageously distinguish the system from the previous ones.
4. And the fourth type - without the use of supporting rollers. It also uses a front drive wheel.

Minuses

Like all mechanisms, the caterpillar propulsion device has a number of negative sides. They include:

1. Short-lived elements: caterpillar tape, fingers, eyes and other parts require periodic replacement and special attention.
2. Breaking with an uneven load. These parts have a good safety margin, but easily fail under certain conditions.
3. Weak protection system against ingress of foreign elements on the inner surface of the caterpillar and the rollers.

Despite the impressive size and external reliability, the caterpillar system needs careful monitoring. Its owner must possess special technical skills.

Crawler Platform

This design is a lightweight version of the system used to create military vehicles and special all-terrain vehicles. The crawler platform is designed as a removable module and is designed for installation on cars.

A distinctive feature of the removable platform is its ease of use and accessibility to the masses. The cost of such a module does not exceed seven hundred thousand, which is much cheaper than a factory off-road vehicle on caterpillar tracks.

Turn your car into a kind of tank can be in any conditions. It is enough to have a suitable tool at hand, and you easily get an all-terrain vehicle from an ordinary car.

Mounting the structure is a fairly simple process. For this, the car is driven to the platform by its own power and the wheels are removed. Then it is fixed in special pads, and the cardan is connected to the rear bridge of the module. Among other things, the connection procedure must also be carried out for the handbrake system. The whole assembly takes no more than three hours and can be conducted in an open field.

Caterpillars for cars

Caterpillar propulsion for cars has become quite popular. The ability to overcome on his car a rugged terrain under adverse conditions spodvigla craftsmen to create a variety of modules with their specific characteristics.

For example, the company Wheeltracks designed trains, connected in a regular place, replacing conventional wheels. The model is compatible with any all-wheel-drive car and is the most affordable solution for increasing cross-country ability. Easy to use, it does not require special knowledge and complex tools.

Chelyabinsk company "Uralplatforma" does not lag behind its colleagues and also released a design, among other things, compatible and with rear-wheel drive vehicles. The cost of their "izzy" starts from three hundred and fifty thousand, and the developed speed reaches forty kilometers.

Conclusion

Almost every man dreams of becoming a powerful all-terrain vehicle, but not everyone can afford to buy it. In this situation, a plug-in module comes to the rescue, which, with its high characteristics, attracts affordable value. It does not require special knowledge and a complex tool.