Track link with angled seal counterbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10322758-B2
Application number	US-201715488710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2017
Priority date	Apr 17, 2017
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

A track link comprises a body defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, a proximate end and a distal end, a first bore adjacent the distal end defining a first longitudinal axis and a second bore adjacent the proximate end defining a second longitudinal axis; wherein either the first bore or the second bore is a blind bore, forming a counterbore configured to house a seal assembly and the counterbore defines a wall that forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the bore that is greater than zero degrees.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track chain assembly comprising:
a plurality of track pins and track bushings disposed about the track pins; and
a plurality of track links that are connected to each other by either a track pin or a track bushing, wherein at least one track link defines a plurality of apertures for receiving a track pin or bushing;
a plurality of track fasteners;
a plurality of track shoes attached to the track links via the track fasteners; and
at least one track link including
a body defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface defining a thickness therebetween, a proximate end and a distal end; wherein
the body defines a first cylindrical bore adjacent the distal end and a second cylindrical bore adjacent to the proximate end;
the body defines a first aperture disposed between the first bore and the second bore, the first aperture being disposed nearer the first bore than the second bore;
the body defines a second aperture disposed between the first aperture and the second bore;
the body includes a first strut disposed between the first aperture and the second aperture;
the first bore defines a first longitudinal axis and the second bore defines a second longitudinal axis and the body jogs, forming an offset track link such that the first bore and second bore are offset from each other along either the first or second longitudinal axis;
the first bore defines a first diameter, the second bore defines a second diameter, the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, the first bore is a blind bore and the second bore is a thru bore; and
the first bore forms a counterbore configured to house a seal assembly and the counterbore defines a bottom wall and a sidewall that forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the bore that is greater than three degrees but less than seven degrees.

2. The track chain assembly of claim 1 wherein the sidewall has a surface finish ranging from 8 to 12 microns Ra.

3. The track chain assembly of claim 2 wherein the sidewall has a surface hardness ranging from 25 Rockwell Scale C to 55 Rockwell Scale C.

4. The track chain assembly of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of similarly configured track links that define a counterbore with a sidewall that forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the first bore that is greater than three degrees but less than seven degrees and a plurality of seal assemblies wherein one seal assembly is inserted into one counterbore of each of the plurality of track links, each seal assembly including a resilient load ring that is in contact with the bottom wall and the sidewall, forming a radial interference with the sidewall that ranges from 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Sebright Jason L
• Johannsen Eric James

Classifications

• B62D55/21

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B62D55/213

  Master track links · CPC title

• B62D55/0887 Primary

  Track-articulation sealings against dust, water, mud or the like (sealing of bearings in general F16C33/72; chain bushings in general F16G15/00) · CPC title

• B62D55/28

  detachable · CPC title