Curved track pad ribs for a track chain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10889343-B2
Application number	US-201815943950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2018
Priority date	May 4, 2017
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A track chain member comprises a shoe member defining a track chain traveling direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction and a first rib defining a first concave radial portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track chain member comprising:
a shoe member defining a track chain traveling direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction defining a first lateral end and a second lateral end; and
a first track pad member extending from the shoe member including a first lug member extending from the shoe member in a first direction parallel to the track chain traveling direction, a second lug member and a third lug member both extending from the shoe member in a second direction opposite of the first direction; wherein
the first, the second and the third lug members define a Y-shaped configuration including a single continuous planar rail surface, and the track chain member further includes a first rib disposed nearest the first lug member along the track chain traveling direction extending from the first track pad member along the lateral direction substantially to the first lateral end of the shoe member, the first rib defining a first concave radial portion, and a second rib disposed nearest the second lug member along the track chain traveling direction extending from the first track pad member along the lateral direction substantially to the first lateral end of the shoe member.

2. The track chain member of claim 1 wherein the first concave radial portion defines a radius ranging from 50 to 900 mm.

3. The track chain member of claim 1 wherein the shoe member includes a ground engaging portion disposed proximate the first lateral end, and the shoe member defines a notch bounded by the first lug member, the first rib and ground engaging portion disposed proximate the first lateral end.

4. The track chain member of claim 1 wherein the shoe member includes a ground engaging portion extending from the first lug member and the second lug member to the first lateral end, the first lug member is spaced away from the first lateral end a first lateral distance, the second lug member is spaced away from the first lateral end a second lateral distance, and the first rib extends from the first lug member to the ground engaging portion of the shoe member a first rib lateral distance that is 90 to 100% the value of the first lateral distance.

5. A track chain member comprising:
a shoe member defining a track chain traveling direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction defining a first lateral end and a second lateral end; and
a first track pad member extending from the shoe member including
a first lug member extending from the shoe member in a first direction parallel to the track chain traveling direction, a second lug member and a third lug member both extending from the shoe member in a second direction opposite of the first direction; wherein
the first, the second and the third lug members define a Y-shaped configuration including a continuous flat rail surface formed by the first, the second and the third lug members, and the track chain member further includes a first rib disposed nearest the first lug member along the track chain traveling direction extending from the first track pad member along the lateral direction substantially to the first lateral end of the shoe member, and a second rib disposed nearest the second lug member along the track chain traveling direction extending from the first track pad member along the lateral direction substantially to the first lateral end of the shoe member and the shoe member includes a ground engaging portion disposed proximate the first lateral end, and the shoe member defines a notch bounded by the first lug member, the first rib and ground engaging portion disposed proximate the first lateral end.

6. The track chain member of claim 5 where the first rib defines a first concave radial portion.

7. The track chain member of claim 6 of wherein the first concave radial portion defines a radius ranging from 50 to 900 mm.

8. The track chain member of claim 5 further comprising a transitional surface that at least partially defines the notch, wherein the transitional surface is bounded by the first lug member, the ground engaging portion and the first rib.

9. The track chain member of claim 8 wherein the transitional surface includes a radial portion.

10. A track chain assembly comprising:
a plurality of interlocking track chain members wherein each track chain member defines a track chain traveling direction, a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction, and includes
a shoe member defining a track chain traveling direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction defining a first lateral end and a second lateral end; and
a first track pad member extending from the shoe member including
a first lug member extending from the shoe member in a first direction parallel to the track chain traveling direction, a second lug member and a third lug member both extending from the shoe member in a second direction opposite of the first direction; wherein
the first, the second and the third lug members define a Y-shaped configuration including a continuous Y-shaped planar rail surface, and the track chain member further includes a first rib disposed nearest the first lug member along the track chain traveling direction extending from the first track pad member along the lateral direction substantially to the first lateral end of the shoe member, the first rib defining a first concave radial portion, and a second rib disposed nearest the second lug member along the track chain traveling direction extending from the first track pad member along the lateral direction substantially to the first lateral end of the shoe member.

11. The track chain assembly of claim 10 wherein the first concave radial portion defines a radius ranging from 50 to 900 mm.

12. The track chain assembly of claim 10 wherein the shoe member includes a ground engaging portion disposed proximate the first lateral end, and the shoe member defines a notch bounded by the first lug member, the first rib and the ground engaging portion disposed proximate the first lateral end.

13. The track chain assembly of claim 12 wherein the shoe member includes a circular array with the geometry of the first lug member, the first rib, the ground engaging portion disposed proximate the first lateral end, and the geometry of the notch being rotated 180 degrees to form another notch.

14. The track chain assembly of claim 13 further comprising a transitional surface that at least partially defines the notch, wherein the transitional surface is bounded by the first lug member, the ground engaging portion and the first rib.

15. The track chain assembly of claim 14 wherein the transitional surface includes a radial portion.

16. The track chain assembly of 10 wherein the shoe member includes a ground engaging portion extending from the first lug member and the second lug member to the first lateral end, the first lug member is spaced away from the first lateral end a first lateral distance, the second lug member is spaced away from the first lateral end a second lateral distance, and the first rib extends from the first lug member to the ground engaging portion of the shoe member a first rib lateral distance that is 90 to 100% the value of the first lateral distance.

17. The track chain assembly of claim 16 wherein the second rib extends from the second lug member to the ground engaging portion of the shoe member a second rib lateral distance that is 90 to 100% the value of the first lateral distance.

18. The track chain asse

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Acosta Gustavo
• Hakes David Jennings
• Abello Benoit
• Jones Benjamin Isaac

Classifications

• B62D55/32

  Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems · CPC title

• B62D55/202

  Wheel engaging parts; Wheel guides on links · CPC title

• B62D55/14

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers · CPC title

• B62D55/21 Primary

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B62D55/26

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