Study of suspension systems for experimental tanks of the USSR in the second half of the 20th century

Modern pneumohydraulic suspension systems for high-speed tracked vehicles have fairly typical versions of kinematic schemes, implying the installation of an elastic-damping element directly on the suspension housing (inside or outside). This solution is structurally relatively simple, and it is understood that it allows to reduce the values of unsprung masses. Other options, with placement of elastic and damping elements inside the guide elements (balancers), did not “take root” due to the greater structural complexity of both elastic or damping element and the suspension guide element. In addition to the structural complexity of implementation, such a solution increases the values of unsprung masses and, most importantly, complicates the organization of the cooling system. The protruding elements of the chassis are clogged with soil, snow (mud) when driving, which acts as a heat insulator. Nevertheless, with modern technological capabilities, these difficulties can be overcome to a certain extent, in whole or in part. However, despite the above disadvantages, this solution also has important advantages: the suspension does not take up space in the reserved volume, but is completely inside the tracked bypass, which allows using the housing volume more efficiently, and, in addition, providing the most successful bottom design for protection from mine detonation (in the case of a heavy tank “Object 279”, this also made it possible to significantly increase the cross-country ability). This article provides an overview of Soviet prototypes of heavy and rocket tanks, which suspension system was implemented in the guide element. The article also presents a method for determining the power and kinematic transfer functions for these suspension options, analyzes the design implementations and shows that the characteristics of the elastic elements of experimental vehicles meet modern requirements for the suspensions of high-speed tracked vehicles.

high-speed tracked vehicles, tracked vehicles, experimental tank, suspension, suspension system, kinematics, pneumohydraulic spring