The origins of rubber tracks can be traced back to the 1960s when Iseki Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. of Japan proposed the idea of replacing metal tracks with rubber tracks. Subsequently, Iseki commissioned Bridgestone to manufacture the first rubber track, which was successfully applied to rice harvesters. Initially, the product was not a replaceable item but rather fixed equipment on specialized vehicles such as agricultural machinery and armored vehicles. It wasn't until the 1990s that wheel-track replacement technology emerged, allowing rubber tracks to replace wheels and expanding their application scenarios.
Replaceable rubber track wheels are mainly divided into two structures: triangular and ground-contact. Compared to traditional rubber tires, triangular rubber track wheels have lower ground pressure, resulting in improved adhesion and traction. Simultaneously, the vehicle's minimum ground clearance is increased, improving passability and obstacle-crossing ability.
Technological development trends in rubber tracks include diversification, a full range of specifications, and a shift in travel speed from low to medium and high speeds. New products such as friction-type rubber tracks and fiber-reinforced rubber tracks are also under development. Materials are evolving towards environmental friendliness, energy conservation, reduced rolling resistance, and lightweight design. [11] Related production processes include constant-temperature rubber mixing technology, wire rope extrusion and ring winding technology, anti-cracking vulcanization technology, and rubber track durability technology.
Rubber tracks are suitable for the running systems of agricultural machinery, engineering machinery, and transport vehicles. In the agricultural field, they are particularly suitable for special environments such as paddy fields and muddy areas; in the engineering field, they are mainly used in small and micro excavators, transport machines, loaders, and other models, especially suitable for scenarios with high requirements for road surface protection, such as municipal fine-tuning construction and renovation. In addition, rubber tracks are also used in snow machinery, special operation robots, military equipment, and the modification of civilian off-road vehicles.
