Explosively depth hardened crawler shoes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185404-A1
Application number	US-201414585059-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 29, 2014
Priority date	Dec 29, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of making a crawler shoe for a mobile machine having a track assembly is disclosed. The method may include casting a crawler shoe from manganese steel, the crawler shoe having at least one wear surface that engages the track assembly. The method may further include solution treating the crawler shoe to form fully austenitic manganese steel, applying an explosive material to the at least one wear surface, and detonating the explosive material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of making a crawler shoe, comprising:
casting a crawler shoe from manganese steel, the crawler shoe having at least one wear surface; solution treating the crawler shoe to form fully austenitic manganese steel; applying an explosive material to the at least one wear surface; and detonating the explosive material.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including reapplying explosive material to the at least one wear surface and detonating the explosive material one or more times.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein casting the crawler shoe from manganese steel includes casting the crawler shoe from manganese steel containing chromium.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detonating the explosive material hardens the at least one wear surface to about 280 HBW at a depth of about 5 mm.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detonating the explosive material hardens the at least one wear surface to about 350 HBW.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes:
laterally spaced-apart links; and
a wear surface between the laterally spaced-apart links; and
applying the explosive material to the at least one wear surface includes applying the explosive material to the wear surface between the laterally spaced-apart links.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes:
a ground-engaging pad having a top side; and
drive lugs disposed on the top side and having one or more wear surfaces; and
applying the explosive material to the at least one wear surface includes applying the explosive material to the one or more wear surfaces of the drive lugs.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes:
laterally spaced-apart links; and
a wear surface disposed on at least one of the laterally spaced-apart links; and
wherein applying the explosive material to the at least one wear surface includes applying the explosive material to the wear surface disposed on the at least one of the laterally spaced-apart links.

9 . A crawler shoe, comprising:
a ground-engaging pad formed of fully austenitic manganese steel; a ground-engaging surface disposed on a bottom side of the ground-engaging pad; a top side opposite the bottom side; and at least one wear surface disposed on the top side, and having a hardness of at least about 280 HBW at a depth of about 5 mm.

10 . The crawler shoe of claim 9 , wherein the ground-engaging pad is formed of fully austenitic manganese steel containing chromium.

11 . The crawler shoe of claim 9 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes at least one drive lug disposed on the top side; and the at least one wear surface is disposed on the at least one drive lug.

12 . The crawler shoe of claim 9 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes a roller path disposed on the top side; and the at least one wear surface is disposed on the roller path.

13 . The crawler shoe of claim 9 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes laterally spaced-apart links disposed on the top side; and the at least one wear surface is disposed on the laterally spaced-apart links.

14 . The crawler shoe of claim 9 , wherein the at least one wear surface has a hardness of at least about 350 HBW.

15 . A crawler shoe, comprising:
a ground-engaging pad formed of fully austenitic manganese steel; a ground-engaging surface disposed on a bottom side of the ground-engaging pad; a top side opposite the bottom side; and at least one hardened wear surface disposed on the top side, wherein the at least one wear surface is hardened by explosive depth hardening.

16 . The crawler shoe of claim 15 , wherein the ground-engaging pad is formed of fully austenitic manganese steel containing chromium.

17 . The crawler shoe of claim 15 , wherein;
the crawler shoe farther includes at least one drive lug disposed on the top side; and the at least one wear surface is disposed on the at least one drive lug.

18 . The crawler shoe of claim 15 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes a roller path disposed on the top side; and the at least one wear surface is disposed on the roller path.

19 . The crawler shoe of claim 15 , wherein:
the crawler shoe further includes laterally spaced-apart links disposed on the top side; and the at least one wear surface is disposed on the laterally spaced-apart links.

20 . The crawler shoe of claim 15 , wherein the at least one wear surface has a hardness of at least out 350 HBW.

Assignees

• Progress Rail Services Corp

Inventors

• Westoby Michael Charles
• Ford Gillon

Classifications

• B62D55/26

  Ground engaging parts or elements {(tracks specially adapted for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0015)} · CPC title

• B62D55/21

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B62D55/14

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers · CPC title

• C21D9/0068

  for particular articles not mentioned below · CPC title

• C21D1/06

  Surface hardening · CPC title