Lobed track pin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10518829-B2
Application number	US-201715633081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2017
Priority date	Jun 26, 2017
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A track pin may comprise a body that includes a generally cylindrical configuration defining an axis of rotation, a circumferential direction and a radial direction, the body defining a first end, a second end and a peripheral surface extending from the first end to the second end. The peripheral surface may include a first lobed portion spaced axially away from the first end and the second end and including a series of convex arcuate segments and concave arcuate segments joined to each other tangentially, forming an undulating surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track pin for use with a track chain of a vehicle that includes a plurality of track pins and bushings, the track pin comprising:
a body that includes a generally cylindrical configuration defining an axis of rotation, a circumferential direction and a radial direction, the body defining a first end, a second end and a peripheral surface extending from the first end to the second end, the peripheral surface including
a first lobed portion spaced axially away from the first end and the second end and including a series of convex arcuate segments and concave arcuate segments joined to each other tangentially, forming an undulating surface about the entirety of the peripheral surface along the circumferential direction.

2. The track pin of claim 1 further comprising:
a second lobed portion spaced axially away from the first lobed portion, the first end and the second end; and wherein the first and second lobed portions are identically configured and the convex arcuate segments and the concave arcuate segments are circumferentially in phase with each other.

3. The track pin of claim 2 wherein the first lobed portion is nearer the first end than the second end, the second lobed portion is nearer the second end than the first end, and the peripheral surface further defines a cylindrical portion disposed axially between the first lobed portion and the second lobed portion, the cylindrical portion defining a radius, and the first lobed portion defines a circle that is tangential to the convex arcuate segments having a radius that is less than the radius of the cylindrical portion.

4. The track pin of claim 1 wherein the first lobed portion includes a plurality of evenly circumferentially spaced convex arcuate segments with one convex arcuate segment being circumferentially adjacent another convex arcuate segment, wherein each convex arcuate segment defines a crest and the crest of one convex arcuate segment forms an angle with the crest of the adjacent convex arcuate segment defined by radial lines passing through the axis of rotation and the respective crests of the convex arcuate segments, and the angle ranges from 20 to 50 degrees.

5. The track pin of claim 4 wherein each convex arcuate segment is an arc of a radius.

6. The track pin of claim 5 wherein the arc of the radius has a radius ranging from 20 to 30 mm.

7. The track pin of claim 4 wherein each convex arcuate segment is a radius and nearly intersects with an adjacent convex arcuate segment that is a radius with a concave arcuate segment interposed between and tangential to each convex arcuate segment and the adjacent convex arcuate segment.

8. The track pin of claim 7 wherein the concave arcuate segment is an arc of a radius ranging from 5 to 30 mm.

9. The track pin of claim 8 wherein the body further defines a base circle with a center coincident with the axis of rotation and having a radius ranging from 2 to 15 mm and the arc of a radius of each convex arcuate segment is centered on the base circle.

10. The track pin of claim 9 wherein the radius of the base circle ranges from 3 to 4 mm.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Mckinley Timothy Allen
• Hu Zhiyong
• Tian Weixue
• Baar Iii William Henry

Classifications

• B62D55/21 Primary

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B62D55/0887

  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

• B62D55/211 Primary

  Bitubular chain links assembled by pins and double connectors · CPC title

• B62D55/26

  Ground engaging parts or elements {(tracks specially adapted for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0015)} · CPC title