Caterpillar track

Caterpillar tracks are large (modular) tracks used on tanks, construction equipment and certain other off-road vehicles. The tracks help the vehicle to distribute its weight more evenly over the surface than wheels can, keeping it from sinking in areas where wheeled vehicles (of the same weight) would sink.

Table of contents

1 History
2 Engineering
3 See also

History

Caterpillar tracks were first implemented by Benjamin Holt, president of the Holt Manufacturing Company, on 24 November 1904. Following a merger and name change, The Holt Manufacturing Company went on to become the Caterpillar Tractor Company in 1925. Caterpillar tracks have since revolutionized construction vehicles and land warfare. The tracks system have been developed and improved during the years. The Israeli Defence Forces have developed an integrated system of tracks, wheels and springs, called Mazkum מזכו"ם (or זחלים for short), which enables greater mobility than regular tracks. The Mazkum is installed on the Israeli Merkava tank and suplies it mobility and speed. Some of the Israeli patents were sold to Caterpillar Tractor Company.

Engineering

Maybe the oldest concept of tracks is to be found in pre-historic erection of large stone monuments, when big rocks were slided atop wooden cylinders. While most of the laborers pushed the rocks on the woods, a task of a smaller group was to take the wooden cyldinder that the rock had already passed and put in front of it. This was an efficient method to transport heavy rocks great distances.

Modern tracks are built from modular chainlinks which compose together a closed chain. These chainlinks are often broad and made of strong metal. Between every two pieces of the chain there is a joint enabling the chains to chage angle between them. This allow the track to be flexiable and obtain is elliptical shape.

Tracks are moved by a wheel drive connected to the motor. The wheel-drive have spikes upon its perimeter which catch the track and drag it while it rotates.

There are two types of attaching a track to a tank:

Loose track - the track upper part lies only on the wheel-drive (and maybe a second wheel in the rear).
Tight track - the track is stretched and held streched by metal bars that prevent it from getting out of frame.