Track assembly bushing having while iron member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11524733-B2
Application number	US-201916534866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2019
Priority date	Aug 7, 2019
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A bushing for a track assembly, according to one or more embodiments, includes: a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface; and at least one white iron member fixed to the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bushing for a track assembly, comprising:
a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface; and
a plurality of white iron arc segments brazed to the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate so as to be successively arrayed around a central portion of the tubular bushing substrate along a circumferential direction.

2. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the white iron arc segments extends over the central portion of the tubular bushing substrate, and extends less than an entirety of the longitudinal length of the tubular bushing substrate.

3. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the white iron arc segments is received in a recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.

4. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the white iron arc segments is brazed to the tubular bushing substrate and brazed to another one of the white iron arc segments.

5. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein a first white iron arc segment abuts a second white iron arc segment that is brazed to the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.

6. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the white iron arc segments collectively extend over a full circumference of the tubular bushing substrate.

7. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the tubular bushing substrate is formed of a high-carbon chromium steel.

8. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein
the tubular bushing substrate includes a carburized portion, and at least one of the white iron arc segments is fixed to the carburized portion.

9. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of white iron arc segments are secured to the tubular bushing substrate such that brazing filler secures each white iron arc segment to the tubular bushing substrate and to another white iron arc segment.

10. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein each of the white iron arc segments has a central angle in a range of from 45 to 180 degrees.

11. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of white iron arc segments collectively extend 270 degrees or less of an entire circumference of the tubular bushing substrate.

12. A method of producing a bushing for a track assembly, comprising:
forming a tubular bushing substrate with an outer surface;
forming at least one white iron member separate from the tubular bushing substrate; and
brazing the at least one white iron member to the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate, wherein the brazing is performed using a holding fixture having a holding surface, and
the brazing includes placing the holding surface of the holding fixture on a plurality of individual white iron members, so that the at least one white iron member and an additional white iron member are held in place while being brazed together and to the tubular bushing substrate.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one white iron member extends over a central portion of the tubular bushing substrate, and extends less than an entirety of a longitudinal length of the tubular bushing substrate.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one white iron member is received in a recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the individual white iron members collectively extend over a full circumference of the tubular bushing substrate.

16. A track assembly comprising:
a bushing including:
a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length, an axial bore, and a circumferential recess formed in an outer surface of a central portion of the tubular bushing substrate; and
a white iron sleeve received in the circumferential recess and wrapping at least partially around the central portion of tubular bushing substrate, the white iron sleeve including a plurality of white iron arc segments brazed to the tubular bushing substrate so as to be successively arrayed around the central portion of the tubular bushing substrate along a circumferential direction; and

a pin received in the axial bore of the tubular bushing substrate.

17. The track assembly of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the white iron arc segments has a central angle in a range of from 45 to 180 degrees.

18. The track assembly of claim 16 , wherein the white iron sleeve extends less than a full circumference of the central portion of the tubular bushing substrate.

19. The track assembly of claim 18 , wherein a portion of the full circumference exposed by the white iron sleeve faces a track shoe of the track assembly.

20. The track assembly of claim 16 , wherein a portion of a thickness of the white iron sleeve protrudes out of the circumferential recess in a radial direction.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Rathod Chandrasen R
• Recker Roger L
• Pickerill Robert J
• Graham Susan M
• Keele Scott
• Yaniak Thomas J

Classifications

• B62D55/15 Primary

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

• B62D55/12

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets · CPC title

• B62D55/21 Primary

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B60Y2200/25

  Track vehicles · CPC title