Pivot assembly for a ground-contacting wheel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794828-B2
Application number	US-202016916687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2020
Priority date	Jun 30, 2020
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

A pivot assembly for connecting a ground-contacting wheel assembly to a frame member of a track system assembly has a base defining a first interlocking member, a resilient body structured for being received at least partially within the base and having a second interlocking member connectable to the first interlocking member, and an axle assembly configured for rotatably connecting the ground-contacting wheel assembly to the frame member, the axle assembly including a third interlocking member connectable to the second interlocking member. The resilient body is at least partially wrappable around the peripheral surface of the axle assembly. Upon deformation of the resilient body, the axle assembly is pivotally movable relative to the frame member of the track system assembly about at least one of a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pivot assembly for connecting a ground-contacting wheel assembly to a frame member of a track system assembly, the pivot assembly comprising:
a base connected to the frame member of the track system assembly, the base defining a first interlocking member;
a resilient body structured for being received at least partially within the base, the resilient body including a second interlocking member connectable to the first interlocking member, wherein connection of the first and the second interlocking members limits relative movement between the base and the resilient body along and about a transverse axis;
an axle assembly configured for rotatably connecting the ground-contacting wheel assembly to the frame member of the track system assembly, the axle assembly having a peripheral surface being at least partially wrappable around by the resilient body, and the axle assembly including a third interlocking member connectable to the second interlocking member of the resilient body, wherein connection of the second and the third interlocking members limits relative movement between the resilient body and the axle assembly along and about the transverse axis; and
wherein upon deformation of the resilient body, the axle assembly is pivotally movable relative to the frame member of the track system assembly about at least one of a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis.

2. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is integrally formed with the frame member of the track system assembly.

3. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame member of the track system has a cut-out defined therein sized and dimensioned for receiving the base.

4. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a wrap around angle over the resilient body being greater than about 180 and smaller than about 360 degrees.

5. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is elastically deformed to hold the resilient body within the base.

6. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when the third interlocking member is connected to the second interlocking member, a vertical spacing is defined between the first and the second interlocking members.

7. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third interlocking members have a generally hemispherical shape, the second interlocking member is received within the first interlocking member, and the third interlocking member is received within the second interlocking member.

8. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivot assembly defines a virtual pivot point, and the longitudinal axis extends below the virtual pivot point.

9. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ground-contacting wheel assembly is a tandem assembly, and the axle assembly supports a plurality of roller wheel assemblies.

10. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient body wraps around the peripheral surface of the axle assembly in a wrap angle being greater than about 180 and smaller than about 360 degrees.

11. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when received at least partially within the base, the resilient body is open in a lower portion thereof.

12. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one clamping member connected to the base, the at least one clamping member defining a clamp recess configured to receive a bulged portion of the resilient body.

13. The pivot assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one clamping member includes a first clamping member connected to the base and being located forward of the transverse axis, and a second clamping member connected to the base and being located rearward of the transverse axis.

14. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient body comprises at least one flange projecting radially away from the transverse axis, the at least one flange overlapping at least partially the base.

15. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base has an upper portion flaring outwardly from a longitudinal centre plane, and the resilient body has outer portions flaring outwardly from the longitudinal centre plane.

16. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient body has protrusions extending radially inwardly for sealing an interface between the resilient body and the axle assembly.

17. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resilient body has cavities defined therein for allowing local expansion of a material forming the resilient body when deformed.

18. A track system assembly comprising the pivot assembly of claim 1 .

19. A method for installing a ground-contacting wheel assembly on a frame member of a track system assembly via the pivot assembly of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
wrapping around the resilient body over the axle assembly for connecting the second and third interlocking members; and
inserting the resilient body wrapped around the axle assembly into the base for connecting the first and second interlocking members.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
removing a resilient track from the track system assembly before installing the ground-contacting wheel assembly on the frame member via the pivot assembly; and
reinstalling the resilient track on the track system assembly after installing the ground-contacting wheel assembly on the frame member via the pivot assembly.

Assignees

• Soucy Int Inc

Inventors

• Aubin-Marchand Jeremie
• Roger yan
• Pelletier Stephane
• Savage Benoit
• Lasnier Guillemette Samuel

Classifications

• B62D55/1086 Primary

  Rubber springs · CPC title

• B62D55/10 Primary

  Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) · CPC title

• B62D55/15

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

• B62D55/32

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