Bogie wheels are used to support tracks on vehicles like tractors and tanks. They have a smooth surface and prevent the track from sinking or getting stuck. Maintenance involves greasing and checking for damage to the wheels or springs.
A bogie is a wheel or system of wheels and springs used to support a track or belt. Commonly found on tracked vehicles such as tracked tractors and bulldozers, as well as military tanks, bogie wheels support tracks by allowing the tracks to be mounted on them. Early snowmobile tracks relied on a bogie wheel system to support the rubber track and give power to the machine’s suspension. When used in this application, the bogie wheels were evenly spaced on axles running the length of the track between the drive shafts. When used on a steel track, such as a tracked tractor, the bogie wheels are usually arranged in a single line along the top and bottom of the track.
Unlike drive wheels or sprockets, the bogie wheel does not have a toothed or toothed perimeter. The purpose of the bogie is not to drive the track, rather it is a support component with a smooth surface much like a tire. The track slides on the wheels, and the wheels prevent the track from sinking and getting stuck. On most steel tracks, the wheels are positioned between two rows of teeth that protrude from the track. These teeth create a path for the wheels to follow, preventing the track from slipping past the wheels as the vehicle makes sharp turns.
Most bogie wheels are constructed of solid steel with an axle, and wheel maintenance requires little more than frequent greasing. A periodic inspection of the wheels is required to identify damaged bearings or broken wheels. Often steel wheels will run into a rock or other hazard that will cause the wheel to break. A broken wheel has the ability to damage a track and render machinery useless until a costly and time consuming repair is completed. In most cases, changing a damaged wheel before it has affected other components is a relatively easy task.
Another frequently damaged bogie component is the spring. The spring is used to maintain pressure, ensuring the wheel remains in contact with the track and allowing the system to flex when encountering uneven ground. When the spring breaks, the wheel can slide off the track surface. This creates an unsupported area that is prone to damage and breakage. Replacing broken springs is often a daily ritual with heavily used machinery.
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