Low Ground-Pressure Dozer Track Plates
Environmental protection and crawler dozers generally are thought not to be compatible. The high ground-pressure of the dozer cause its tracks to damage the ground. However, using plastic track plates rather than steel plates can significantly reduce the ground pressure exerted by a crawler dozer. Depending on the type, Nylatrack® plates, made by Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products, can weigh less than 80% of comparable steel plates. Thus, the pressure on the soil is much lower, and dozers equipped with Nylatrack plates can work on soft ground or pavement with little or no adverse effects.

Reduced noise is another benefit. The flexibility of the plastic plates means that equipment vibrations are absorbed and the noise of the undercarriage is muffled. Also, there is far less strain on the drive chain because the bending force is absorbed by the flexibility of the plastic track plates. Nylatrack track plates are highly resistant to wear and corrosion and are not affected by oils and seawater. Soil and macadam are less likely to stick to the plates which also helps prevent damage to the ground. Further, the overlap design of the Nylatrack plates ensures that soil does not build up between them.

Slopes of up to 40% can be handled by crawler dozers equipped with the plates, depending on the type of plate and the compression of the soil.

Specific types of track plates are available for different types of machines and surfaces. Standard Nylatrack low ground-pressure plates range in size from 600- up to 1,750-mm wide, with pitches from 125 to 190 mm. The standard plates are designed for dozers with a total weight of up to 30 tons (metric). For special applications, Quadrant can design and supply track plates for dozers up to a maximum of 90 tons (metric).

For more information, contact Kress Schwartz, Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products, P.O. Box 14235, 2120 Fairmont Avenue, Reading, PA 19612, 800-366-0310, 610-320-6639, Fax: 800-366-0301, E-mail: kress.schwartz@quadrantplas.com, Web: www.quardantepp.com.