Undercarriage assembly for a work machine and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345420-B2
Application number	US-201916532902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Aug 6, 2019
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A work machine includes an undercarriage assembly. The undercarriage assembly includes a chassis and a ground-engaging mechanism for rotating around the chassis to move the work machine. A pair of rails is coupled to the chassis. A pair of sliders is coupled to a front-assembly. The sliders are aligned with the rails and movable relative to the rails to facilitate movement of the front-end assembly relative to the chassis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An undercarriage assembly for a work machine, comprising:
a chassis extending from a forward end to an aft end;
a ground-engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis;
a front-end assembly movable axially relative to the chassis, the front-end assembly including:
a lower frame coupled to (i) a pair of rollers that are movable relative to one another in vertical and axial directions and (ii) an idler that is movable relative to the pair of rollers in the vertical and axial directions and configured to rotate about an axis transverse to the lower frame, and
an upper frame movable in the vertical direction relative to the lower frame;

a wedge-shaped slider coupled to the upper frame; and
a rail coupled to the chassis;
wherein the rail includes a first side coupled to the chassis and a second side defining a v-shaped groove configured to receive the wedge-shaped slider and guide axial movement of the front-end assembly relative to the chassis.

2. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rail is positioned between the forward end and the aft end of the chassis.

3. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped slider is removably coupled to the upper frame.

4. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rail is removably coupled to the chassis.

5. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped slider includes a first end that is removably coupled to the upper frame, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and a pair of sloped sides that converge as the sides extend from the first end to the second end.

6. The undercarriage assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the second side of the rail includes an inner surface defining a deepest portion of the v-shaped groove, and
the second end of the wedge-shaped slider is spaced apart from the inner surface when the wedge-shaped slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove.

7. The undercarriage assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second side of the rail includes a pair of sloped surfaces that diverge as the sloped surfaces extend toward an opening of the v-shaped groove.

8. The undercarriage assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the sloped surfaces of the v-shaped groove cooperate with the sloped sides of the wedge-shaped slider to define a passageway having an inlet and an outlet each defined at the opening of the v-shaped groove, and
each portion of the passageway has a vertical component of extension.

9. An undercarriage assembly for a work machine, comprising:
a chassis extending from a forward end to an aft end;
a ground-engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis;
a front-end assembly movable axially relative to the chassis;
an idler coupled to the front-end assembly at a rotational axis of the idler;
a rail coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly; and
a slider having:
a first end coupled to the other of the chassis and the front-end assembly, and

a second end opposite the first end;
wherein:
the rail includes a v-shaped groove defined by a pair of surfaces that diverge as the surfaces extend laterally toward an opening of the v-shaped groove; and
the slider includes a pair of sides that converge as the sides extend from the first end to the second end of the slider; and

when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the slider is movable relative to the rail in axial and vertical directions.

10. The undercarriage assembly of claim 9 , where when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the rail and the slider are positioned between the forward end and the aft end of the chassis.

11. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
the rail includes an abutment surface positioned above the v-shaped groove when the rail is coupled to the chassis; and
the chassis includes a strut positioned above the abutment surface of the rail to prevent upward movement of the rail beyond the strut.

12. The undercarriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the slider is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly.

13. The undercarriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rail is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly.

14. The undercarriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the v-shaped groove is further defined by an inner surface positioned between the pair of surfaces, and
the second end of the slider is spaced apart from the inner surface when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail.

15. The undercarriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the slider is movable relative to the rail in a lateral direction.

16. The undercarriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the slider is movable in the vertical direction relative to the rail to open and close portions of continuously downwardly-advancing passageway defined between the pair of sides of the slider and the pair of surfaces of the rail.

17. A method of operating an undercarriage assembly for a work machine, comprising:
fastening a pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a front-end assembly of the undercarriage assembly, wherein fastening a pair of wedge-shaped sliders to the front-end assembly of the undercarriage assembly includes fastening a slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders in a first position in which a first sloped side of the slider is positioned above a second sloped side of the slider;
fastening a pair of rails, each having a v-shaped groove, to a chassis of the undercarriage assembly;
positioning the slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders in a v-shaped groove of a rail of the pair of rails;
sliding the slider relative to the rail to move the front-end assembly axially relative to the chassis;
removing the slider from the front-end assembly; and
fastening the slider in a second position in which the second sloped side is positioned above the first sloped side.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
positioning, in response to gravity, an idler at a midpoint between the pair of rails, wherein the idler is coupled to the front-end assembly laterally between the pair of wedge-shaped sliders.

19. A method of operating an undercarriage assembly for a work machine, comprising:
fastening a pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a front-end assembly of the undercarriage,
fastening a pair of rails, each having a v-shaped groove, to a chassis of the undercarriage assembly;
positioning a first slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders in a v-shaped groove of a rail of the pair of rails;
sliding the slider relative to the rail to move the front-end assembly axially relative to the chassis;
wherein fastening a pair of wedge-shaped sliders to the front-end assembly of the undercarriage assembly includes: fastening the first slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a first side of the front-end assembly, and fastening a second slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a second side of the front-end assembly; and
wherein the method further comprises:
removing the first slider from the front-end assembly;
removing the second slider from the front-end assembly; and
fastening the first slider to the second side of the front-end assembly.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Tigges Michael R
• Simms Todd R
• Reeg Russell R

Classifications

• B62D55/205

  Connections between track links · CPC title

• B62D21/186

  for building site vehicles or multi-purpose tractors (tracked vehicles B62D55/10; tractors in general B62D49/00; building site vehicles in general E02F; lift-trucks B66F) · CPC title

• B62D55/104

  Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames (vehicle suspension in general B60G) · CPC title

• B62D55/084 Primary

  Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D55/202

  Wheel engaging parts; Wheel guides on links · CPC title