Track joint assembly in machine track having pin stop for cartridge pin retention

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11565761-B2
Application number	US-201916269244-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2019
Priority date	Feb 6, 2019
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A track joint assembly includes a first track shoe and a second track shoe, and a cartridge pin coupling together the first track shoe and the second track shoe. A sealed and lubricated track joint is formed by pin lugs on the first and the second track shoes, a cartridge pin, a pin retainer, a pin bore extending through pin lugs of the coupled-together track shoes, and a pin stop located in one of the pin lugs to inhibit displacement of the cartridge pin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track joint assembly comprising:
a first track shoe including a first ground pad having a lower side with a ground-contact surface, an upper side, a forward edge, and a plurality of forward pin lugs upon the upper side projecting forwardly of the forward edge and defining a lug space;
a second track shoe including a second ground pad having a lower side with a ground-contact surface, an upper side, and a back pin lug upon the upper side and positioned within the lug space;
a cartridge pin coupling the first track shoe to the second track shoe, the cartridge pin having a first end face and a second end face each extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis, and a uniform outer diameter dimension from the first end face to the second end face;
a pin retainer positioned at least partially within a first one of the plurality of forward pin lugs;
a pin stop positioned at least partially within a second one of the plurality of forward pin lugs;
a track joint formed by the plurality of forward pin lugs, the back pin lug, the cartridge pin, and a pin bore extending through the first one of the plurality of forward pin lugs, the second one of the plurality of forward pin lugs, and the back pin lug;
the cartridge pin is inserted through the pin bore and trapped between the pin stop and the pin retainer;
a bushing;
a first seal disposed within a bore defined by at least one of the forward pin lugs; and
the bushing is configured to compress the seal.

2. The track joint assembly of claim 1 wherein the pin stop is formed integrally with the second one of the plurality of forward pin lugs.

3. The track joint assembly of claim 2 wherein the pin stop includes an inwardly projecting wall of the second one of the plurality of forward pin lugs.

4. The track joint assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the cartridge pin includes a pin, a first collar in contact with the pin retainer, a second collar in contact with the pin stop, and the bushing positioned upon the pin between the first collar and the second collar; and
the first collar and the second collar are each interference fitted upon the pin, and the cartridge pin is slip-fitted within the pin bore.

5. The track joint assembly of claim 4 wherein:
the first seal held in compression between the first collar and the bushing, and a second seal held in compression between the second collar and the bushing; and
the pin is a solid pin and at least one of the first collar or the second collar includes a fluid port for introducing a lubricant into the cartridge pin.

6. The track joint assembly of claim 1 wherein the cartridge pin is rotatable relative to the plurality of forward pin lugs and the back pin lug.

7. The track joint assembly of claim 1 wherein the pin stop is threaded connected to the second one of the plurality of forward pin lugs.

8. The track joint assembly of claim 1 wherein the pin retainer includes a snap ring seated within the first one of the plurality of forward pin lugs, and a spacer positioned between the snap ring and the cartridge pin.

9. A machine track comprising:
a first track shoe including a first set of forward pin lugs and a second set of forward pin lugs;
a second track shoe including a first back pin lug and a second back pin lug;
a first pin bore extending through the first set of forward pin lugs and the first back pin lug and having a first pin stop located therein;
a first cartridge pin positioned within the first pin bore;
a second pin bore extending through the second set of forward pin lugs and the second back pin lug and having a second pin stop located therein;
a second cartridge pin positioned within the second pin bore;
a first pin retainer at least partially within the first pin bore and trapping the first cartridge pin within the first pin bore in contact with the first pin stop;
a second pin retainer at least partially within the second pin bore and trapping the second cartridge pin within the second pin bore in contact with the second pin stop;
the first cartridge pin and the second cartridge pin each including a first end face and a second end face extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis, and a uniform outer diameter dimension from the respective first end face to the respective second end face;
a bushing;
a first seal disposed within a bore defined by at least one of the forward pin lugs; and
the bushing is configured to compress the seal.

10. The machine track of claim 9 wherein the first track shoe includes a one-piece body and each of the first pin stop and the second pin stop is formed integrally in the one-piece body.

11. The machine track of claim 9 wherein the first cartridge pin is slip-fitted within the first pin bore, and the second cartridge pin is slip-fitted within the second pin bore.

12. The machine track of claim 11 wherein each of the first cartridge pin and the second cartridge pin includes a solid pin, a first collar interference fitted upon the solid pin, a second collar interference fitted upon the solid pin, and the bushing positioned upon the pin between the first collar and the second collar.

13. The machine track of claim 12 wherein each of the first cartridge pin and the second cartridge pin further includes:
a first seal held in compression between the first collar and the bushing and a second seal held in compression between the second collar and the bushing; and
a first thrust bearing positioned between the first collar and the bushing and a second thrust bearing positioned between the second collar and the bushing.

14. The machine track of claim 9 wherein:
each of the first pin stop and the second pin stop includes an inwardly extending wall extending circumferentially around an opening to the corresponding first pin bore or second pin bore; and
each of the first pin retainer and the second pin retainer includes a snap ring seated within one of the plurality of forward pin lugs, and a spacer positioned between the snap ring and the corresponding first cartridge pin or second cartridge pin.

15. A sealed and lubricated track joint comprising:
a first forward pin lug and a second forward pin lug forming a lug space therebetween;
a back pin lug positioned within the lug space;
a pin bore including a pin installation end formed in the first forward pin lug, a second end formed in the second forward pin lug, and a middle section formed in the back pin lug;
a pin retainer positioned at least partially within the first one of the plurality of forward pin lugs;
a pin stop positioned at least partially within the second one of the plurality of forward pin lugs; and
a cartridge pin inserted through the pin bore and in contact with each of the pin retainer and the pin stop within the pin bore, such that the cartridge pin is trapped between the pin stop and the pin retainer, to rotatably couple a first track shoe including the first forward pin lug and the second forward pin lug to a second track shoe including the back pin lug;
wherein the cartridge pin defines a longitudinal axis and includes:
a pin including an outer pin surface;
a first collar interference fitted upon the pin;
a second collar interference fitted upon the pin; and
a bushing positioned between the first collar and the second collar, and including a first bushing end face, a second bushing end face, and an inner bushing surface having a full axial length, from the first bushing end face to the second bushing end face, in contact with the outer pin surface;
a first seal disposed within a bore defined by at least one of the forward pin lugs; and
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Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Jones Benjamin
• Ellmann Thomas
• Oertley Thomas

Classifications

• B62D55/092

  with lubrication means (lubricating in general F16N) · CPC title

• B62D55/15

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

• B62D55/21 Primary

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B62D55/32

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

• B62D55/0887 Primary

  Track-articulation sealings against dust, water, mud or the like (sealing of bearings in general F16C33/72; chain bushings in general F16G15/00) · CPC title