Although the model has been made, it is another matter to become a real thing.

And how to move the tracks on one side and not move the tracks on the other side is also called a new problem.

The model allows the power of the tracks on both sides to separate, and just shake one side with your hands. How can the physical object achieve this goal?

"Master, either I will design it as two engines. If I need to turn, one will be on and the other will not be on. What do you think?"

Zhang Ning's design is indeed the easiest way.

But Ma Qiang had seen tracked cars in later generations, how could he accept such an improvement plan?

Moreover, with two engines, you are not an airplane, so how can you get so much money to get such an expensive tractor for you?

"No, the manufacturing cost of the engine is very high. If you install another one, the price of this tractor must be as expensive as the sky?" Ma Qiang shook his head and said.

"In fact, what the track needs is the driving force, not the engine. As long as one device can be made, the engine's driving force becomes two or one large or one small."

Ma Qiang said, suddenly remembering something - the gearbox!

Even if I didn’t drive, I had heard more or less of this term, or words such as advertisements or people around me said about continuously variable speed.

To put it bluntly, the gears are used to change the vehicle's driving speed while the engine speed and torque remain unchanged.

What is required for tracking is that at the same engine speed, the tracking is fast and the tracking is slow.

And with a gearbox, the vehicle can even be reversed.

The theory of the gearbox is actually very simple. As soon as Ma Qiang said that, Zhang Ning understood it. Then Zhang Ning and Ma Qiang designed the first tracked gearbox together.

In fact, there are two schools of tracked gearboxes in later generations.

One is called single-stream transmission, which means that the power is divided into different speeds according to the gearbox, and then transmitted to two tracks, allowing the tracked vehicle to turn.

The other is called dual-current transmission. Simply put, it is to divide the power into two channels, one controls straight line driving, and the other specifically controls steering. Finally, one side does not rotate and the other side becomes twice the speed, which can achieve dazzling operation of in-situ rotation.

In later generations, most European and American crawlers used dual-flow transmission, while most of the Soviet-style crawlers used single-flow transmission.

In fact, in addition to the above two mainstreams, there is another heretic school, which is to install two gearboxes to allow the power to make the track speed different in the two gearboxes, and then achieve steering.

But no matter how things change, the core of the tracked car is still a small gearbox.

The gearbox made by Ma Qiang and Zhang Ning is a relatively simple single-stream transmission. Although this design cannot be turned in place, the tractor does not need such fancy functions, right?

Just be simple and practical.

"Master, how many days can you stay here?" Zhang Ning looked at Ma Qiang with a gaze. The tractor design was almost driving her crazy. She really wanted Ma Qiang to help her finish it.

"I'll have a day off and I'll continue my journey tomorrow. You know, Jixian is waiting for me to deal with it."

"One day..." Zhang Ning lowered his head in disappointment.

Even if the blacksmith works hard, it will be difficult to build such an exquisite gearbox in one day.

"What? I want me to stay for a few more days?"

"I want to let my master see if the tractor can really turn as we imagined after the gearbox is installed. Unfortunately, it will take more than a day to build these things even with the latest machining machine."

According to the functions of later generations, machine tools can be divided into milling machines, planers, grinders, drilling machines, etc. This kind of machine, which was known as the mother of machinery in later generations, was actually not unique to the West. There are records of grinders in "Tiangong Kaiwu" in the Ming Dynasty. Because Chinese people like jade, grinders can be said to be the lathe most used in ancient China.

The machine tools of Hongxingying Iron and Steel Plant were originally used to process firearms, and were developed and designed by Yueyang in Qingzhou under the guidance of Ma Qiang.

At that time, the machine tools were just simple drilling machines, which were used to drill holes for muskets.

With the emergence of artillery and Ma Qiang's rifling, the types of machine tools naturally also had more boring machines.

When Zhang Ning was developing a steam engine, there were a large number of components that needed to be quickly manufactured after designing it. Due to this, the boring machine was constantly upgraded and machine tools for various purposes such as planers were extended.

These machine tools are available in Zhang Ning's tractor test site, but even with the help of these powerful tools, it is impossible to complete so many parts in one day.

"Then...why try wood, wood processing is much faster than steel processing, right?

And I have been wondering on the way whether the tractor can use wooden materials as much as possible. After all, iron is much more expensive than wood."

Due to productivity and scarcity, in this era, except for some precious wood, ordinary wood was not valuable at all. On the contrary, iron material has always remained high due to its small output.

The steam engine of the tractor's power source must naturally be made of iron, but can other components be made of cheaper wood?

"Wood? You can try it... But with the power of the steam engine, I am afraid that the lifespan of wood will be very short." Zhang Ning thought for a while and said.

"If you can use a little bit, just forget it if it really doesn't work." Ma Qiang waved his hand. His current manufacturing philosophy is the same as the big brother back then. Just be able to use a cheap and naive way.

"The test vehicle should be fine. Master, you have a night off. I'll let the craftsmen build the gearbox now!"

Ma Qiang went to the resident to sleep heartlessly, and Zhang Ning stayed up all night. Ma Qiang fully demonstrated the face of the lab's black-hearted boss.

"It's so hard... why can't I move so hard..." Zhang Ning gasped slightly, blushed, and looked at Ma Qiang with confusion.

"Really? Let's see...I'm going? Why is it so hard?"

"Master, it shouldn't be my problem?"

"Of course not... I finally pulled it..."

Ma Qiang turned the steering wheel hard, but he didn't expect that this steering wheel would be so difficult to use. This is not a strong man, so he probably won't be able to drive the tractor.

This doesn't work!

"I understand, I need a hydraulic press..." Ma Qiang thought about it and understood where the problem occurred.

The current steering is still suitable for mechanical steering devices such as rack and rack. Although it is simple, it requires a lot of effort. It is OK to use it on ordinary vehicles, but if you want to drive a tracked vehicle, it is a bit difficult to have an arm strength.

The steering wheel that can be rotated easily in later generations can only be achieved by a hydraulic steering assist device.

Simply put, the engine drives the hydraulic pump to generate power to assist in steering.

Of course, there are more useful electronic aids in the future, but this is not something that can be expected of this era.
Chapter completed!