Experimental Quiet Sprocket Design and Noise Reduction in Tracked Vehicles

摘要

The noise produced by track-laying vehicles has historically been a problem in the US Army. Exterior noise provides enemy forces with a means of detection at great distances. Interior vehicle noise prevents accurate person-to-person or electrically-aided communication and is responsible for excessive hearing loss among exposed personnel. This program provides the Army with advanced technology to reduce tracked-vehicle noise. The goals established were a 15 dB(A) reduction in interior noise to a level meeting the 100dB(A) limit of MIL-STD-1474B, and a 6 dB reduction in exterior noise, representing a 50% reduction in detection range. The work presently being reported, which is the third phase of the program, involved the design and fabrication of a high compliance prototype idler and a high compliance experimental sprocket. The idler provided a reduction of 15 dB(A) of idler-contributed noise and the sprocket provided approximately 10 dB(A) of sprocket-contributed noise.