Since conventional wheels are not suitable for driving on particularly difficult off-road, represented by fragile surfaces, mechanisms designed for such conditions are installed on vehicles that reduce pressure on the ground. Usually they are represented by low pressure wheels or tracks. Screws are rarely used. Further, the design, the principle of operation of the machines equipped with them and some of their models are considered.

Definition

An auger all-terrain vehicle, or an auger, is a vehicle that moves by using a rotary auger engine. Due to the wide variety of surface types on which such machines can move They also have some other names.

Design

Rotor auger propeller is usually represented by two coaxial with the direction of movement, consisting of high-strength material. This mechanism is an inclined pipe with a screw inside. The screw is made in the form of an inclined plane screwed onto the cylinder.

Created, presumably, by Archimedes in 250 BC. e. or even earlier, in Greece, these devices were originally designed to raise water into irrigation canals. Much later, in the second half of the 20th century, vehicles appeared in which such mechanisms were installed instead of wheels or tracks. These modern analogues of Archimedean screws are called augers.

The devices used on the machines are outwardly horizontal cylinders ending in cones on both sides. Outside, they are covered with spiral-shaped lugs. Screws are usually made from non-ferrous metals. They are either hollow or filled with some kind of lightweight polymer such as Styrofoam. This provides a low specific surface pressure, thanks to which the vehicles equipped with them are able to move on soft surfaces such as snow and mud, and even on water.

Operating principle

The essence of the operation of the engines under consideration is that when the screws rotate, the lugs are screwed into the surface along the thread. Turning in such a system is organized according to the same principle as for tracked vehicles: the internal auger slows down.

Functional qualities

The mechanism under consideration provides high maneuverability when driving on ice, snow, muddy soils, and also makes it possible to move through water. However, such vehicles are not suitable for movement on hard surfaces like asphalt. However, in off-road conditions, this type of chassis is also not an ideal option, as it significantly damages the surface, including vegetation.

This auger all-terrain vehicle was created in 1972. The developer was ZIL. And even before that, he conducted experimental work on such vehicles. So, from 1968 to 1969. an experimental all-terrain vehicle ShN-1 was developed. For the new car, these developments were used.

It was equipped with two ZIL-375 engines with preheaters. This is an 8-cylinder V-shaped engine with a volume of 6.9 liters, developing 180 hp. s., which was also installed on ShN-1. Each of them has its own hydromechanical automatic transmission. Torque is transmitted through the transfer case to the final drive gearbox, which has two outputs. Through them, it enters the final drives, each of which drives the corresponding auger.

The throttle control on the ZIL-4904 was initially carried out by the accelerator pedal, then this function was transferred to the handle. For turning, a system is used, including levers, dry multi-plate clutches and a final drive brake. type. The screws are made from light alloy. The diameter of each is 1.5 m, the length is 5.99 m. This auger all-terrain vehicle was equipped with a water pumping system, thus simplifying movement through swamps and water. And on hard roads it was transported on a specialized trailer-tow truck.

The cabin is made of fiberglass to reduce weight, but the watertight casing is made of steel. The cabin housed 3 people, 4 more in the cabin. ZIL-4904 existed in passenger and cargo versions. And one was made from the other. Initially, a glazed fiberglass passenger compartment for 8 seats was installed behind the cabin. Then it was removed, and the vacant cargo platform was covered with an awning. This is how a cargo auger all-terrain vehicle with a carrying capacity of 2-2.5 tons turned out. The dimensions of the hull were 8.575 m in length, 3.6 m in width, 3.44 m in height. Due to this, the ZIL-4904 has become the largest vehicle of this type. Its mass is 7.065 tons.

However, it had very modest dynamic characteristics. Moreover, the speed of movement varied depending on the coverage. This auger all-terrain vehicle moved fastest on snow (10.5 km/h) and on water (10.1 km/h). In the swamp, he could accelerate to 7.3 km / h and moved the slowest along the rafting (4.45 km / h). At the same time, fuel consumption was very high. When driving through a swamp, it reached 65-73 l / 100 km, and on water - 75-85 l / 100 km.

ZIL-2906

This amphibious all-terrain vehicle was developed in 1973 using the design solutions of the machine discussed above. So, for him, they used similar layouts of controls, a transmission scheme, and screw material.

IN unlike the previous model, which never found application, this machine was originally developed for the search and rescue complex of astronauts, where e e are still in use today. Since their landing can occur in any terrain conditions,the best option for such a vehicle was considered an auger snow and swamp vehicle.

E that machine is much more compact than its predecessor,since these tasks do not require a high load capacity, but a high speed is needed. Its length is 3.8 m, width - 2.3 m, weight - 1280 kg. There were 2 sitting and 2 reclining places. In view of such a compact size and to reduce weight, as well as to simplify the design, two engines were used MeMZ-967A with a capacity of 37 liters. With. Each of them is docked with a single-plate clutch, planetary gear, 3- stepped shaft gearboxwith reverse mechanism set at an angle of 45 ° to the engine. The maximum speed is 15 km/h.

In 1979, they developed an upgraded version, ZIL-29061. This amphibious all-terrain vehicle has a large body size. The length was increased to 4.86 m, the width - up to 2.39 m. The engines from Zaporozhets were replaced with VAZ engines with a capacity of 77 liters each. With. complete with 4-speed manual transmission. The mass is 1.855 tons. The maximum speed has increased by 10 km / h.

Other models

• DAF Amphirol. Created in Holland in 1966, that is, earlier than those discussed above Soviet machines. At the same time, he was much faster than them (on land it could accelerate to 35 km / h) and also move was on water. However, this amphibious auger was not a factory product, but a private development equipped with an engine DAF.

• Fordson Snow Devil. The only American production car of this kind of company Armstead Snow Motor. Her produced in the 1920s. based on tractors Fordson.

• ShN-67 "Auger". This is the first auger all-terrain vehicle developed by ZIL, created in 1967. Later, a modernized version of the ShN-68 was developed. Based on these machines, the ZIL-4904 discussed above was created.

• GPI-16. This model differs in design from the others considered, as it is a motor sled. That is, in the undercarriage, the augers are combined with the skids. This auger all-terrain vehicle was developed by the snowmobile laboratory of the Gorky Polytechnic Institute. There were a lot of his models, but each in one copy, and they did not find wide distribution.

• snowbird 6. The modern British model, created in 2001. It is a transformer auger, which would yl is designed specifically for the expedition ice challenge.

• mudmaster. Introduced in 2002 by Residue Solutions. Designed to serve irrigation stations in sludge fields, as well as to work in swamps, coastlines, mangroves, etc. Thanks to this model, so far Residue Solutions became a leader in the production of such machines.

Application

Functional qualities determine the intended purpose: screw propellers are installed on all-terrain vehicles and amphibians for especially difficult conditions. However, due to the destructive effect exerted on the surface, as well as due to the highly specialized nature, these mechanisms in the field of all-terrain vehicle construction have not found wide application.