Roller path of a track pad for a track chain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933930-B2
Application number	US-201815943850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2018
Priority date	May 4, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A track chain assembly comprises 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 shoe width along the lateral direction; and a first track pad member defining a first track pad maximum width along the lateral direction, and a second track pad member defining a second maximum track pad width along the lateral direction, wherein a ratio of either track pad maximum widths to the shoe member width ranges from 1:4 to 3:4.

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; and
a 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 Y-shaped flat rail surface, and the first lug defines a first lug width along the lateral direction and the track pad member defines a roller support surface defining a roller support surface width along the lateral direction and the first lug width ranges from 40-60% of the roller support surface width.

2. The track chain member of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third lugs define track pin bores.

3. The track chain member of claim 2 wherein the track bores of the first, second and third lug members have substantially the same diameters.

4. The track chain member of claim 1 wherein the first lug member width ranges from 96 to 106 mm.

5. The track chain member of claim 3 wherein the roller support surface width ranges from 191 to 211 mm.

6. The track chain member of claim 4 wherein the second lug member is spaced away from the third lug member, defining at least partially a void therebetween and the first lug member is laterally aligned with the void.

7. The track chain member of claim 6 defining a center of mass and a central axis passing through the center mass wherein the central axis is perpendicular to the lateral direction and the track chain traveling direction and the track chain member includes a circular array wherein the first, second and third lug members are rotated about the central axis 180 degrees, forming fourth, fifth and sixth lug members.

8. The track chain member of claim 7 further defining a central groove located at the central axis wherein the central groove extends generally in the track chain traveling direction.

9. The track chain member of claim 1 wherein the second lug member defines a second lug member width along the lateral direction, the third lug defines a third lug member width along the lateral direction, and the first lug member width is different than the second lug member width and the third lug member width.

10. The track chain member of claim 6 wherein the first lug member width is greater than the second lug member width but less than the third lug member width.

11. 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 shoe width along the lateral direction; and
a first track pad member defining a first track pad maximum width along the lateral direction, and a second track pad member defining a second maximum track pad width along the lateral direction, wherein a ratio of either the first or second track pad maximum widths to the shoe member width ranges from 1:4 to 3:4;

wherein the first and the second track pad members have a Y-shaped configuration including an uninterrupted Y-shaped planar rail surface formed by a first lug member, a second lug member, and a third lug member.

12. The track chain assembly of claim 11 wherein the first track pad member is spaced away from the second track pad member a predetermined distance along the lateral direction.

13. The track chain assembly of claim 11 wherein the first lug member extends from the shoe member in a first direction generally parallel to the track chain traveling direction, and
the second lug member and the third lug member both extend from the shoe member in a second direction opposite of the first direction and the first lug member defines a first lug width along the lateral direction and the first lug width ranges from 40-60% of either the first or the second maximum track pad widths.

14. The track chain assembly of claim 13 wherein the first, second and third lugs that define track pin bores.

15. The track chain assembly of claim 14 wherein the first lug width ranges from 96 to 106 mm.

16. The track chain assembly of claim 15 wherein either maximum track pad width ranges from 191 to 211 mm.

17. The track chain assembly of claim 16 wherein the first lug is laterally aligned between the second lug and third lug.

18. The track chain assembly of claim 17 wherein the second lug defines a second lug width along the lateral direction, the third lug defines a third lug width, and the first lug width is different than the second lug width and the third lug width.

19. The track chain member of claim 18 wherein the first lug width is greater than the second lug width but less than the third lug width.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B62D55/26

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

• B62D55/213

  Master track links · CPC title

• B62D55/21

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B62D55/202 Primary

  Wheel engaging parts; Wheel guides on links · CPC title

• B62D55/14

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers · CPC title