Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot

The mine crawler pipeline robot, with its large contact area between the crawlers and the pipe wall, has strong obstacle-crossing ability and stability, making it suitable for complex and variable pipeline environments. Currently, mine crawler pipeline robots face issues such as complex structure, i...

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Main Authors: WANG Guorui, YAN Hongwei, KOU Ziming, WEI Hongmei, REN Haojie, MA Yaohui
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Department of Industry and Mine Automation 2025-06-01
Series:Gong-kuang zidonghua
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Online Access:http://www.gkzdh.cn/article/doi/10.13272/j.issn.1671-251x.2025040091
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author WANG Guorui
YAN Hongwei
KOU Ziming
WEI Hongmei
REN Haojie
MA Yaohui
author_facet WANG Guorui
YAN Hongwei
KOU Ziming
WEI Hongmei
REN Haojie
MA Yaohui
author_sort WANG Guorui
collection DOAJ
description The mine crawler pipeline robot, with its large contact area between the crawlers and the pipe wall, has strong obstacle-crossing ability and stability, making it suitable for complex and variable pipeline environments. Currently, mine crawler pipeline robots face issues such as complex structure, inability to actively control diameter variations, and poor traction and obstacle-crossing performance. A mine deformable crawler pipeline robot was proposed, which could adapt to pipeline environments with diameters ranging from DN180 to DN220. The robot included one central diameter-changing module and three crawler foot modules. Each crawler foot module was equipped with an independent drive motor, whose output shaft transmitted torque via bevel gears to drive the crawler foot synchronous wheels, thus providing forward propulsion for the robot body. The crawler foot modules were deformable and could be raised, allowing the robot to cross step-like obstacles. The central diameter-changing module could adjust the linkage extension and retraction through the motor and backpressure spring, ensuring the positive pressure between the crawler foot and the pipe wall, thus aligning the robot with the pipeline centerline and achieved flexible diameter variation. Traction dynamics models for the pipeline robot under horizontal, inclined, obstructed pipeline, and cable-dragging conditions was established. The analysis of the models revealed that the key to successful obstacle crossing was that the drive motors of the crawler foot modules must simultaneously meet three dynamic constraints: the lifting torque of the crawler foot, the rotational torque of the front wheel, and the forces required to overcome friction and cable-dragging resistance. Simulation results showed that: ① in an industrial pipeline environment simulation, the optimal spring coefficient for the robot body was found to be 4 N/mm. ② In an obstacle-crossing scenario simulation, the robot was able to cross an obstacle with a maximum step height of 15 mm, with the motor torque reaching its peak at approximately 340 N·mm. Experimental results showed that the robot's average traction force was 58 N, and it successfully crossed obstacles up to 15 mm high. During the obstacle-crossing process, the motor current remained stable, aligning with both the simulation results and the design requirements, thus verifying the rationality of the robot's structural design and confirming its excellent traction performance.
format Article
id doaj-art-e46ce2044b3944389a44a4d7d8e7b696
institution Kabale University
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language zho
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Editorial Department of Industry and Mine Automation
record_format Article
series Gong-kuang zidonghua
spelling doaj-art-e46ce2044b3944389a44a4d7d8e7b6962025-08-20T03:33:26ZzhoEditorial Department of Industry and Mine AutomationGong-kuang zidonghua1671-251X2025-06-01516718010.13272/j.issn.1671-251x.2025040091Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robotWANG Guorui0YAN Hongwei1KOU Ziming2WEI Hongmei3REN Haojie4MA Yaohui5School of Mechanical Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaCollege of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaThe mine crawler pipeline robot, with its large contact area between the crawlers and the pipe wall, has strong obstacle-crossing ability and stability, making it suitable for complex and variable pipeline environments. Currently, mine crawler pipeline robots face issues such as complex structure, inability to actively control diameter variations, and poor traction and obstacle-crossing performance. A mine deformable crawler pipeline robot was proposed, which could adapt to pipeline environments with diameters ranging from DN180 to DN220. The robot included one central diameter-changing module and three crawler foot modules. Each crawler foot module was equipped with an independent drive motor, whose output shaft transmitted torque via bevel gears to drive the crawler foot synchronous wheels, thus providing forward propulsion for the robot body. The crawler foot modules were deformable and could be raised, allowing the robot to cross step-like obstacles. The central diameter-changing module could adjust the linkage extension and retraction through the motor and backpressure spring, ensuring the positive pressure between the crawler foot and the pipe wall, thus aligning the robot with the pipeline centerline and achieved flexible diameter variation. Traction dynamics models for the pipeline robot under horizontal, inclined, obstructed pipeline, and cable-dragging conditions was established. The analysis of the models revealed that the key to successful obstacle crossing was that the drive motors of the crawler foot modules must simultaneously meet three dynamic constraints: the lifting torque of the crawler foot, the rotational torque of the front wheel, and the forces required to overcome friction and cable-dragging resistance. Simulation results showed that: ① in an industrial pipeline environment simulation, the optimal spring coefficient for the robot body was found to be 4 N/mm. ② In an obstacle-crossing scenario simulation, the robot was able to cross an obstacle with a maximum step height of 15 mm, with the motor torque reaching its peak at approximately 340 N·mm. Experimental results showed that the robot's average traction force was 58 N, and it successfully crossed obstacles up to 15 mm high. During the obstacle-crossing process, the motor current remained stable, aligning with both the simulation results and the design requirements, thus verifying the rationality of the robot's structural design and confirming its excellent traction performance.http://www.gkzdh.cn/article/doi/10.13272/j.issn.1671-251x.2025040091crawler pipeline robotdeformable crawlercentral diameter-changing modulecrawler foot moduletraction performanceobstacle crossing
spellingShingle WANG Guorui
YAN Hongwei
KOU Ziming
WEI Hongmei
REN Haojie
MA Yaohui
Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot
Gong-kuang zidonghua
crawler pipeline robot
deformable crawler
central diameter-changing module
crawler foot module
traction performance
obstacle crossing
title Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot
title_full Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot
title_fullStr Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot
title_full_unstemmed Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot
title_short Design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot
title_sort design and traction performance analysis of a mine deformable crawler pipeline robot
topic crawler pipeline robot
deformable crawler
central diameter-changing module
crawler foot module
traction performance
obstacle crossing
url http://www.gkzdh.cn/article/doi/10.13272/j.issn.1671-251x.2025040091
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AT kouziming designandtractionperformanceanalysisofaminedeformablecrawlerpipelinerobot
AT weihongmei designandtractionperformanceanalysisofaminedeformablecrawlerpipelinerobot
AT renhaojie designandtractionperformanceanalysisofaminedeformablecrawlerpipelinerobot
AT mayaohui designandtractionperformanceanalysisofaminedeformablecrawlerpipelinerobot