Rounded track idlers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10710652-B2
Application number	US-201615577877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2016
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

An agricultural vehicle has a chassis with a drivetrain and at least one rubber track assembly with a rubber track belt. The rubber track assembly has at least one idler, each of which has two idler wheels spaced apart on an axle. The idler wheels each have a tapered outer surface that together define a tapered profile that causes the rubber track belt to self-center upon the rubber track assembly. The tapered profile may define a pair of straight lines at a shallow angle, a portion of a circle, a portion of an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rubber track assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
an axle;
a track assembly undercarriage;
at least one idler comprising two idler wheels spaced apart on the axle, the two idler wheels being rotatable about an axis defined by the axle, the two idler wheels each having a first axial side and a second axial side, the first and second axial sides being spaced apart along the axis, each of the two idler wheels further having a tapered outer surface extending between the first and second axial sides, the tapered outer surface having an inner diameter at the first axial side and an outer diameter at the second axial side, the inner diameter being greater than the outer diameter; and
a rubber track belt;
wherein the tapered outer surfaces of the two idler wheels together define a tapered profile for causing the rubber track belt to self-center,
wherein the tapered profile defined by the tapered outer surfaces comprises a non-linear portion, and
wherein the first axial sides of the two idler wheels each have a lug centering portion tapering radially inwardly from the tapered outer surface.

2. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the non-linear portion comprises a portion of one of a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

3. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the tapered profile is symmetric about a point on a line that intersects a midpoint of an axis of the at least one idler in a plane that is midway between the two idler wheels and perpendicular to the axis of the at least one idler, and thus the tapered outer surfaces of the two idler wheels are identical in profile.

4. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the tapered profile is symmetric about a point on a line that intersects an axis of the at least one idler in a plane that is not midway between the two idler wheels but is perpendicular to the axis of the at least one idler, and thus the tapered outer surfaces of the two idler wheels are dissimilar in profile.

5. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the tapered profile is discontinuous such that each tapered outer surface of each of the two idler wheels defines a separate tapered profile, each separate tapered profile comprising a non-linear portion, the non-linear portion including a portion of one of a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola, each separate tapered profile being symmetric about a point on a separate line that intersects the axis of the at least one idler in a separate plane that is not midway between the two idler wheels but is perpendicular to the axis of the at least one idler.

6. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the tapered profile is discontinuous such that the tapered outer surface of at least one of the two idler wheels has at least two arc portions of differing radii.

7. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an idler tire attached to each idler wheel, each idler tire defining the tapered outer surface of the respective idler wheel such that the idler tires together define the tapered profile.

8. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the rubber track belt has an inner surface that has a tapered profile to match the tapered profile defined by the tapered outer surfaces of the two idler wheels.

9. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the two idler wheels have hubs which ride on bearings upon the axle.

10. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the two idler wheels are attached to the axle and the axle rides on bearings such that the two idler wheels turn in fixed relation to one another.

11. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive sprocket and at least one bogie wheel, at least one of the drive sprocket and the at least one bogie wheel having a tapered outer surface defining a tapered profile similar to the tapered outer surfaces defining the tapered profiles of the idler wheels of the at least one idler.

12. The rubber track assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one idler is configured as a combination-idler-and-drive-sprocket such that one of the two idler wheels of the at least one idler functions as a drive sprocket.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• De Brouwer Bart
• Piens Patrick
• Vandendriessche Jean-Pierre
• Verheye Carlos J A

Classifications

• B62D55/14 Primary

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers · CPC title

• B60G2206/011

  Modular constructions · CPC title

• B62D55/10

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

• B62D55/244

  Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements · CPC title

• B62D55/15

  Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings {(with lubrication means B62D55/092)} · CPC title