DSCF2246

Comment

Comment by Amber Beckerson on July 17, 2010 at 8:17am

Yes, I also wondered why there was no upper support for the track. But then, it was the first track system used like this and they probably just didn't think of it in the design. These machines were designed to mostly run in the winter on iced over roads, so that might have also been a design consideration. I've been told that one of these machines was sent to Europe during the early part of WW1as a supply wagon hauler and the British "adapted" the tread design to one of their first tanks.

Comment by Ryan Grimm on July 17, 2010 at 12:18am

Ah, I comprehend! The track is supported in the middle of it's run by the roller track on an underside rail of sorts...odd that they didn't just have a support for the rest of the track itself.

Comment by Amber Beckerson on July 16, 2010 at 10:40pm

The roller track, or roller chain, is what the track rides on in the middle, instead of bogie wheels, there's 2 of them on each side, they run between the frame of the drive and the track itself. I'll have to get a better picture of the track system from the side so you can see how it rides.

Comment by Ryan Grimm on July 12, 2010 at 5:21am

Then what is the purpose of the roller track?

Comment by Amber Beckerson on July 11, 2010 at 11:16pm

Actually, there is a central tooth arrangement on both the front and back main wheel to drive the track. The chain that you see in the picture is a roller chain that rides between the track and the lower frame of the system, although you can't see that in this picture. If you look at the center of the treads where they go around the big drive wheel you can see the flat teeth sticking out of the slot in each tread section.

Comment by Ryan Grimm on July 6, 2010 at 3:22am

Hmmm...noticing that the track does NOT have teeth for drive, that instead they used a roller chain instead..which means TWO sets of 'chain' per side to adjust for slack.
The later evolution of cogged track is the definite improvement, just took time.