Apparatus for mounting a track frame to a frame of a power machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494041-B2
Application number	US-201615143089-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include power machines, track frame assemblies, and apparatus for mounting a track frame assembly to a frame of a power machine. In various disclosed embodiments, mounting structures mount a track frame to the machine frame. In some exemplary embodiments, each mounting structure includes two torsional joints and at least three non-torsional joints between the machine frame and the corresponding track frame. The two torsional joints can be provided by torsion shafts and the corresponding attachments to front and rear arms. In exemplary embodiments, the at least three non-torsional joints are substantially free to rotate and can include a joint between a front axle and the track frame, a joint between a rear axle and a link, and a joint between a link pin and the track frame. In some exemplary embodiments, the front or rear arms are oriented relative to corresponding torsion shafts to improve performance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power machine, comprising:
a machine frame;
first and second track frames each positioned on different sides of the machine frame;
first and second front mounting structures each mounting one of the first and second track frames to the machine frame, each of the first and second front mounting structures comprising:
a front torsion shaft coupled to the machine frame;
a front arm coupled to the front torsion shaft, the front arm oriented to extend forward and upward from the front torsion shaft; and
a front axle coupled between the front arm and the corresponding first or second track frame; and

first and second rear mounting structures each mounting one of the first and second track frames to the machine frame rearward of the front mounting structures, each of the first and second rear mounting structures comprising:
a rear torsion shaft coupled to the machine frame;
a rear arm coupled to the rear torsion shaft;
a rear axle coupled to the rear arm;
a link coupled to the rear axle; and
a pin coupled between the link and the corresponding first or second track frame.

2. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein in each of the first and second rear mounting structures, the rear arm is oriented to extend rearward and upward from the rear torsion shaft.

3. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second track frames has a plurality of rollers with roller axles which are rigidly mounted to the respective track frame.

4. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein in each of the first and second rear mounting structures, the pin is coupled to the corresponding first or second track frame rearward of a drive sprocket.

5. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein in each of the first and second rear mounting structures, the pin is coupled to the corresponding first or second track frame rearward of a center of gravity of the power machine.

6. An apparatus for mounting a first track frame assembly to a frame of a power machine, comprising:
a first torsion joint, including a front tube, mountable to the frame of the power machine, and a front shaft inserted into and extending from the front tube;
a front arm coupled to the front shaft, the front arm oriented to extend forward and upward from the front shaft;
a front axle attached to the front arm and coupleable to the first track frame assembly;
a second torsion joint, including a rear tube, mountable to the frame of the power machine, and a rear shaft inserted into and extending from the rear tube;
a rear arm coupled to the rear shaft;
a rear axle attached to the rear arm;
a link member having first and second ends, the first end of the link member rotatably coupled to the rear axle;
a pin coupled to the second end of the link member and rotatably coupleable to the first track frame assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the pin is rotatably coupleable to the first track frame assembly rearward of a drive sprocket.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the pin is rotatably coupleable to the first track frame assembly rearward of a center of gravity of the power machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the rear arm is oriented to extend rearward and upward from the rear shaft.

10. An apparatus for mounting a first track frame assembly to a frame of a power machine, comprising:
a first torsion joint, including a front tube, mountable to the frame of the power machine, and a front shaft inserted into and extending from the front tube;
a front arm coupled to the front shaft;
a front axle attached to the front arm and coupleable to the first track frame assembly;
a second torsion joint, including a rear tube, mountable to the frame of the power machine, and a rear shaft inserted into and extending from the rear tube;
a rear arm coupled to the rear shaft, wherein the rear arm is oriented to extend rearward and upward from the rear shaft;
a rear axle attached to the rear arm;
a link member having first and second ends, the first end of the link member rotatably coupled to the rear axle;
a pin coupled to the second end of the link member and rotatably coupleable to the first track frame assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the pin is rotatably coupleable to the first track frame assembly rearward of a drive sprocket.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the pin is rotatably coupleable to the first track frame assembly rearward of a center of gravity of the power machine.

13. A power machine, comprising:
a machine frame;
first and second track frames each positioned on different sides of the machine frame; and
first and second mounting structures each mounting one of the first and second track frames to the machine frame, each of the first and second mounting structures comprising two biased joints and at least three unbiased joints between the machine frame and the corresponding first or second track frame, wherein the at least three unbiased joints are substantially free to rotate without bias, while the at least two biased joints are biased against rotation, and wherein each of the first and second mounting structures include a front mounting structure mounting the corresponding track frame to the machine frame and a rear mounting structure mounting the corresponding track frame to the machine frame, wherein the rear mounting structure comprises at least two unbiased joints of the at least three unbiased joints.

14. A track frame assembly configured to be mounted to a frame of a power machine, comprising:
a track frame;
a front axle rotatably coupled to the track frame;
a front arm attached to the front axle;
a front torsion joint, including a front tube, mountable to the frame of the power machine, and a front shaft inserted into and extending from the front tube, wherein the front arm is coupled to the front shaft and oriented to extend forward and upward from the front shaft;
a pin rotatably coupled to the track frame;
a link member coupled to the pin;
a rear axle rotatably coupled to the link member;
a rear arm attached to the rear axle;
a rear torsion joint, including a rear tube, mountable to the frame of the power machine, and a rear shaft inserted into and extending from the rear tube.

15. A power machine, comprising:
a machine frame;
a track frame positioned on a side of the machine frame; and
a mounting structure mounting the track frame to the machine frame, the mounting structure comprising:
a torsion member having a tube; and
a mounting bracket attached to the tube including at least two surfaces having apertures configured to align with apertures on the machine frame to accept fasteners to secure the mounting bracket and the torsion member to the machine frame, wherein the at least two surfaces having the apertures are in different, non-parallel planes from each other.

16. The power machine of claim 15 , wherein the machine frame includes a channel formed into a bottom of the frame and configured to have the tube of the torsion member mounted therein.

17. The power machine of claim 15 , wherein the mounting bracket and the torsion member are secured to the machine frame entirely inside of a frame wall of the machine frame.

18. The power machine of claim 15 , wherein the apertures of the at least two surfaces of the mounting bracket and the corresponding apertures on the machine frame are positioned to receive the fasteners entirely inside of a frame wall of the machine frame to secure the mounting bracket and the torsion member to the machine frame.

19. The pow

Assignees

• Clark Equipment Co

Inventors

• Spears Karl
• Kaldor Matthew J
• Muscha Jason
• Hansen Cameron C
• Ringgenberg Justin
• Hoesel Jeret L
• Hansen Ronald S

Classifications

• B62D55/06

  with tracks without ground wheels · CPC title

• B62D55/1083 Primary

  Torsion-bar springs · CPC title

• B62D55/10 Primary

  Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) · CPC title