Technical Designs
Wheel Set for Expandable Caterpillar Track RIB Boat
Design and fabrication of a wheel set for a RIB boat. Lightweight construction with fiberglass leaf spring and bearing wheels, mounted in a caterpillar track system.
Project Description
To enable a RIB boat to drive in and out of the water, a wheel set was designed and fabricated. These wheel sets are mounted in the caterpillar tracks of the boat, which expand when the boat enters or exits the water.
The fiberglass leaf spring forms the heart of the design: it provides a lightweight, corrosion-resistant yet strong suspension that absorbs the boat's weight. The leaf springs are produced by filament winding, a composite manufacturing process where fiberglass fibers are wrapped in resin around a mold.
- Fiberglass leaf spring, produced by filament winding
- Bearing wheels for smooth operation over sand, rocks and slopes
- Expandable design, caterpillar track retracts into the boat when sailing
- Lightweight and corrosion-resistant composite construction
- Complete 3D CAD design in SolidWorks
Project Photos
