Will Increasing Front Tyre Size Prevent Underground Tractors from Getting Stuck?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DMFisher
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Increasing
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by underground tractors in the mining industry, specifically focusing on whether increasing the size of the front tires can help prevent these vehicles from getting stuck in muddy conditions. Participants explore various factors affecting traction and potential solutions to improve performance in difficult terrains.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that wider and taller tires may help vehicles operating in soft ground like sand or mud to get stuck less.
  • Another participant mentions that tank treads could be a better option in extremely poor conditions, although they note the increased difficulty and cost of construction and maintenance compared to tires.
  • A participant highlights the importance of a good lugged tread design as a potential alternative to tank treads.
  • One participant points out that military trucks often adjust tire pressure to adapt to terrain conditions, implying that this could be a relevant consideration for the tractors in question.
  • The original poster clarifies that the tractors get stuck due to mud and loss of traction while pulling heavy loads, and they are specifically investigating the impact of increasing front tire size.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of increasing tire size versus other solutions like tank treads or adjusting tire pressure. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing ideas presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully explored the underlying mechanics of why tire size might matter in this context, and there are unresolved questions about the specific conditions leading to the tractors getting stuck.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in engineering solutions for heavy machinery, particularly in challenging environments, as well as those involved in the mining industry or vehicle design may find this discussion relevant.

DMFisher
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Hi Everyone,

I'm involved in the mining industry, and been given a project based on the towing tractors used underground.
These tractors often have to work in ridiculous conditions, and my project is to investigate how to prevent these tractors from getting stuck in the sections, specifically looking at how increasing the size of the front tyre would effect the tractors and if that would resolve the issue. Obviously if this is not an option, any other suggestions would help.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF!

Not sure how we can help but if you explain your problem in more detail.

Is this for a school project? If so what level of schooling?

What causes the vehicle to get stuck? a tire blows out? or it loses traction?motor stalls?

Why would the size of a tire matter in this case?
 
If the vehicles are operating in soft ground like sand or mud, then wider and taller tires will tend to get stuck less. If conditions are reallly bad, tank treads may be a better option than tires.
 
rcgldr said:
If conditions are reallly bad, tank treads may be a better option than tires.
True, but also far more difficult and expensive to both construct and maintain. A really good lugged tread design can bridge the gap.
 
jedishrfu said:
Is this for a school project? If so what level of schooling?
Well it's a project for my Vacation work. So it's of the level of a corporate company.

jedishrfu said:
What causes the vehicle to get stuck?
The tractors themselves get stuck in the sections where it is often very muddy, and tall obstacles of loss ground (coal).
They get stuck in the mud, and loss traction causing the front tyres to spin.

Something to note is these tractors are continuously pulling heavy loads, such as scissor trails and stone dusters.

jedishrfu said:
Why would the size of a tire matter in this case?
My project specifically aims at investigating whether increasing the size of the front tyre would help,
but I'm essentially I'm looking and any and every option to resolve this issue.
 
Many military trucks have the ability to increase or decrease tire pressure to adapt to the conditions of terrain.
 

Similar threads

Added weight to front of tractor
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
9K
Underground pump vault airflow considerations
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Undergrad Pushing a railway car without spinning the wheels?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
5K
Need help with a research project for firefighting
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Calculating Valve Size With a Hydraulic Accumulator
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
How to calc force required to steer an articulated vehicle?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
9K
I need help, please, designing a pool sensor for breaking . . .
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Partial Thermo analysis of a Crower engine
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Synthesis of Fluorescents AuNCs
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
How Can I Determine the Maximum Flow Rate for a Heat Exchanger Cooling Oil?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K