Track link, method of manufacturing the same, and track assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12195115-B2
Application number	US-202017621854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A track link is fixable to a track shoe with nuts and bolts. The track link comprises connecting holes that are spaced in a link pitch direction and receive connection members, first and second through holes that extend orthogonally to the connecting holes and receive bolts, a first surface in which the first through hole opens and on which a first nut is positionable, a second surface in which the second through hole opens and on which a second nut is positionable, first projecting portions that project from the first surface and face each other across the first through hole, and second projecting portions that project from the second surface and face each other across the second through hole. Only one of the first projecting portions engages the first nut. At least one of the second projecting portions engages the second nut that is positionable between the second projecting portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track link that is configured to be fixed to a track shoe with nuts and bolts, the track link comprising:
two connecting holes that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in a link pitch direction and are configured, respectively, to receive a link connection member;
a first through hole that extends orthogonally to the two connecting holes and is configured to receive a first of the bolts;
a first surface in which the first through hole opens and on which a first of the nuts is positionable;
a second through hole that extends orthogonally to one of the connecting holes and is configured to receive a second of the bolts;
a second surface in which the second through hole opens and on which a second of the nuts is positionable;
first projecting portions as a pair, wherein the first projecting portions project from the first surface and face each other in the link pitch direction across the first through hole; and
second projecting portions as a pair, wherein the second projecting portions project from the second surface and face each other in the link pitch direction across the second through hole,
wherein the first projecting portions are spaced apart from each other by a first distance and only one of the first projecting portions is configured to engage with the first nut that is positionable between the first projecting portions,
wherein the second projecting portions are spaced apart from each other by a second distance and at least one of the second projecting portions is configured to engage with the second nut that is positionable between the second projecting portions.

2. The track link of claim 1 wherein the first through hole is circular in cross section and has a center that is offset relative to a middle position between the first projecting portions in the link pitch direction.

3. The track link of claim 1 wherein a cross section of the first through hole is oval-shaped.

4. The track link of claim 1 wherein the second through hole is circular in cross section and has a center that is offset relative to a middle position between the second projecting portions in the link pitch direction.

5. The track link of claim 1 wherein a cross section of the second through hole is oval-shaped.

6. The track link of claim 1 comprising a first opening between the two connecting holes, wherein an inner wall surface of the first opening defines the first surface and the first projecting portions.

7. The track link of claim 6 comprising a second opening between the two connecting holes, wherein an inner wall surface of the second opening defines the second surface and the second projecting portions.

8. The track link of claim 1 comprising an opening between the two connecting holes, wherein an inner wall surface of the opening defines the second surface and the second projecting portions.

9. The track link of claim 1 wherein the first distance is greater than a width of the first nut.

10. The track link of claim 1 wherein the second distance is greater than a width of the second nut.

11. A track assembly comprising:
track links, wherein each of the track links is according to the track link recited in claim 1 ;
link connection members for connecting the track links;
track shoes, each track shoe having through holes;
bolts that are placed within the through holes of the track shoes and the first and second through holes of the track links; and
nuts, each nut being fastened on an end of one of the bolts,
wherein the nut disposed between the first projecting portions of each track link engages only one of the first projecting portions,
wherein the nut disposed between the second projecting portions of each track link engages at least one of the second projecting portions.

12. A method of manufacturing a track link configured to be fixed with nuts and bolts to a track shoe having through holes, the method comprising:
forming a link material that includes:
two connecting holes separated by a predetermined distance in a link pitch direction, with each of the two connecting holes being configured to receive a link connecting member,
a first surface on which a first of the nuts is configured to be positioned,
a second surface on which a second of the nuts is configured to be positioned,
first projecting portions as a pair, the first projecting portions projecting from the first surface and facing each other in the link pitch direction, wherein the first projecting portions are spaced apart by a first distance that is greater than a width of the first nut that is positionable between the first projecting portions such that only one of the first projecting portions is configured to engage the first nut, and
second projecting portions as a pair, the second projecting portions projecting from the second surface and facing each other in the link pitch direction, wherein the second projecting portions are spaced apart by a second distance that is equal to or greater than a width of the second nut that is positionable between the second projecting portions such that at least one of the second projection portions is configured to engage the second nut;

forming a first through hole that extends orthogonally to the two connecting holes and is configured to receive a first of the bolts at a position that corresponds to a first of the through holes of the track shoe; and
forming a second through hole that extends orthogonally to the two connecting holes and is configured to receive a second of the bolts at a position that corresponds to a second of the through holes of the track shoe.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein forming the link material with the second projecting portions comprises forming the second projecting portions such that the second distance is greater than the width of the second nut.

14. The method of claim 12 comprising one of:
forming the link material with the first through hole comprises forming the first through hole with a circular cross section and with a center that is offset relative to a middle position between the first projecting portions in the link pitch direction; or
forming the first through hole with an oval-shaped cross section.

15. The method of claim 12 comprising one of:
forming the link material with the second through hole comprises forming the second through hole with a circular cross section and with a center that is offset relative to a middle position between the second projecting portions in the link pitch direction; or
forming the second through hole with an oval-shaped cross section.

16. The method of claim 12 comprising at least one of:
forming a first opening between the two connecting holes, wherein an inner wall surface of the first opening defines the first surface and the first projecting portions; or
forming a second opening between the two connecting holes, wherein an inner wall surface of the second opening defines the second surface and the second projecting portions.

17. The method of claim 12 comprising applying markers on a side surface of the link material, the markers indicating two alternative drilling positions for forming the first through hole and/or the second through hole.

Assignees

• Berco Spa
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Grenzi Francesco
• Maggiolini Enrico

Classifications

• B62D55/28

  detachable · CPC title

• B62D55/21 Primary

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title