For the reliability evaluation of the track drive unit(TDU), firstly, we analyzed the major failure modes through FMEA(failure mode & effects analysis), FTA(failure tree analysis), and 2-stage QFD(quality function deployment), and then quantitatively determined the priority order of test items. The Minitab analysis was also performed for prediction of life distribution and parameters of TDU by use of field failure data collected from 430 excavators for two years. In addition, we converted the fluctuation load in field conditions into the equivalent load, and for evaluation of the accelerated lift by the cumulative fatigues, the equivalent load is again divided into the fluctuation load by reference of test time. And then, by use of the test method in this paper, the acceleration factor(AF) of needle bearing inside planetary gear which is the most weakly designed part of TDU is achieved as 5.3. This paper presents the quantitative selection method of test items for reliability evaluation, the determination method of the accelerated life test time, and the method of non-failure test time based on a few of samples. And, we proved the propriety of the proposed methods by experiments using a TDU for a 30 ton excavator.

This paper investigates a fast, accurate and inexpensive hydraulic motor speed control system using high speed on-off solenoid valves. In order to retain the advantages of the two position valve and obtain better performance, the valves are operated by pulse width modulation(PWM) control. PWM signal is generated from a LabWIEW program in microcomputer in order to set up various duty ratio and frequency of carrier wave in PWM signal with varying system parameters. As the results of experiments, the speed control of a hydraulic motor was successfully implemented using on-off solenoid valves. In order to attenuate the pressure ripple and speed variation due to discontinuously controlled flow through the on-off valves, a resonator hose fabricated for automobile power steering system was connected between the valve and a hydraulic motor. From experimental results obtained in the hydraulic motor system with a resonator hose, it was ascertained that the resonator hose showed excellent performances in reducing pressure ripple and motor speed variation.

This study developed and evaluated a shoe cushioning system to reduce impact force patterns during running. The shoe cushioning system is composed with a poly urethane pocket, which contains water and porous grains to absorb the force against the weight inside the pocket. Load-displacement curves for the shoe cushioning system were obtained from an instrumented testing machine and the results were compared with various pockets that have air, water or grains. Mechanical testings showed that the pocket with 5 g particles was the best for the shoe cushioning system. This founding will be helpful to designing the shoe.