Undercarriage assembly for a work machine and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12319368-B2
Application number	US-202217702851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2022
Priority date	Aug 6, 2019
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

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

2. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , 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.

3. The undercarriage assembly of claim 2 , 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.

4. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slider is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly.

5. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rail is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly.

6. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , 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.

7. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the slider is movable relative to the rail in a vertical direction.

8. The undercarriage assembly of claim 7 , 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.

9. The undercarriage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sides of the slider are symmetrical.

10. 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;
wherein 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
wherein when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the slider is movable relative to the rail in the vertical direction.

11. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , 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.

12. The undercarriage assembly of claim 11 , wherein the rail includes an abutment surface positioned above the v-shaped groove when the rail is coupled to the chassis.

13. The undercarriage assembly of claim 12 , wherein the chassis includes a strut positioned above the abutment surface of the rail to prevent upward movement of the rail beyond the strut.

14. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein the slider is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly.

15. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rail is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly.

16. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , 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.

17. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the slider is movable relative to the rail in the lateral direction.

18. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein the slider is movable in the vertical direction relative to the rail to open and close portions of a continuously downwardly-advancing passageway defined between the pair of sides of the slider and the pair of surfaces of the rail.

19. 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;
wherein 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
wherein when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the slider is movable relative to the rail in the lateral direction.

20. The undercarriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sides of the slider are symmetrical.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B62D55/104

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

• B62D55/202

  Wheel engaging parts; Wheel guides on links · CPC title

• B62D55/205

  Connections between track links · CPC title

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · 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