Recoil assembly for undercarriage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10207755-B2
Application number	US-201615219324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2016
Priority date	Jul 26, 2016
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

A bulkhead assembly for a track adjust cylinder of an undercarriage system is provided. The bulkhead assembly includes a bulkhead having an opening to receive the track adjust cylinder. A guide element having a hollow cylindrical configuration is attached to the bulkhead and supports the track adjust cylinder. A seal member is axially aligned with respect to the guide element. The seal member has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the guide element. A set of composite bearings is axially aligned with respect to the seal member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bulkhead assembly for a track adjust cylinder of an undercarriage system, the bulkhead assembly comprising:
a bulkhead having an opening adapted to receive the track adjust cylinder;
a guide element attached to the bulkhead, the guide element having a hollow cylindrical configuration, the guide element adapted to support the track adjust cylinder;
a seal member axially aligned with respect to the guide element, the seal member having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the guide element; and
a set of composite bearings axially aligned with respect to the seal member.

2. The bulkhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of composite bearings are two in number and are spaced apart from each other.

3. The bulkhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the track adjust cylinder is machined.

4. The bulkhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the guide element includes tabs adapted to fit into corresponding openings provided on the bulkhead.

5. The bulkhead assembly of claim 1 further comprising a retainer plate coupling the guide element to the bulkhead.

6. A recoil assembly for an undercarriage system, the undercarriage system including an idler, the recoil assembly comprising:
a swing link having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the idler;
a yoke having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second end of the swing link ;
a track adjust cylinder having a head end and a rod end, the head end coupled to the second end of the yoke;
a bulkhead having an opening adapted to receive the track adjust cylinder;
a guide assembly adapted to support the track adjust cylinder, the guide assembly including:
a guide element attached to the bulkhead, the guide element having a hollow cylindrical configuration;
a seal member axially aligned with respect to the guide element, the seal member having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the guide element; and
a set of composite bearings axially aligned with respect to the seal member; and

a recoil spring attached to the rod end of the track adjust cylinder.

7. The recoil assembly of claim 6 , wherein the set of composite bearings are two in number and are spaced apart from each other.

8. The recoil assembly of claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the track adjust cylinder is machined.

9. The recoil assembly of claim 6 , wherein the swing link further comprises a third end such that the idler is pivotally coupled to a guard at the third end of the swing link.

10. The recoil assembly of claim 6 , wherein the guide element includes tabs adapted to fit into corresponding openings provided on the bulkhead.

11. The recoil assembly of claim 6 further comprising a retainer plate coupling the guide element to the bulkhead.

12. A machine comprising:
an undercarriage system including a track; and
a recoil assembly for the undercarriage system, the recoil assembly comprising:
a swing link having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to an idler of the undercarriage system;
a yoke having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second end of the swing link ;
a track adjust cylinder having a head end and a rod end, the head end coupled to the second end of the yoke;
a bulkhead having an opening adapted to receive the track adjust cylinder;
a guide assembly adapted to support the track adjust cylinder, the guide assembly including:
a guide element attached to the bulkhead, the guide element having a hollow cylindrical configuration;
a seal member axially aligned with respect to the guide element, the seal member having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the guide element; and
a set of composite bearings axially aligned with respect to the seal member and

a recoil spring attached to the rod end of the track adjust cylinder.

13. The machine of claim 12 , wherein the set of composite bearings are two in number and are spaced apart from each other.

14. The machine of claim 12 , wherein the track adjust cylinder has a machined outer surface.

15. The machine of claim 12 , wherein the guide element includes tabs adapted to fit into corresponding openings provided on the bulkhead.

16. The machine of claim 12 further comprising a retainer plate coupling the guide element to the bulkhead.

17. The machine of claim 12 , wherein the swing link further comprises a third end such that the idler is pivotally coupled to a guard at the third end of the swing link.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Edelin John Bradley
• Jonnakuti Dewakar Venkata
• Maier Ronald Jerome

Classifications

• E02F3/7609

  Scraper blade mounted forwardly of the tractor on a pair of pivoting arms which are linked to the sides of the tractor, e.g. bulldozers · CPC title

• B62D55/088

  with means to exclude or remove foreign matter, e.g. sealing means, self-cleaning track links or sprockets, deflector plates or scrapers · CPC title

• B62D55/305 Primary

  acting on pivotably mounted idlers · CPC title