Conversion of a power machine between wheeled and endless track tractive elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022242501-A1
Application number	US-202017613562-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 26, 2020
Priority date	May 24, 2019
Publication date	Aug 4, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A kit and corresponding method can be used to convert wheels of a power machine to track assemblies, such as to convert a four-wheeled power machine to a quad track power machine. A stub shaft (346) can be secured to an axle (328) of a power machine (300) and can be configured to support a track frame (366) of a track assembly in place of a wheel (319). A bearing (368) can be secured to the stub shaft (346) and a bushing (376) can engage the axle (328) to rotatably support the track assembly relative to the axle (328). Pieces of a segmented sprocket (378, 380) can be separately secured to a hub (306) of a power machine (300) to help install and drive a track of a track assembly.

First claim

1 . A kit for converting a wheeled power machine to a tracked power machine, the wheeled power machine including an axle, a hub supported by the axle, and a wheel secured to the hub, the kit comprising:
a stub shaft positionable outboard of the hub when the wheel is removed from the hub, the stub shaft configured to be secured at an outboard end of the axle; a track frame configured to be operably coupled to the axle at the stub shaft; and a sprocket configured to be secured to the hub in place of the wheel to move a track about the track frame upon rotation of the axle.

2 . The kit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first bearing configured to engage the stub shaft and the track frame to operably couple the track frame to the axle; and a second bearing configured to rotatably support the track frame relative to the axle opposite the hub from the first bearing.

3 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein at least part of the second bearing is integrally formed with the track frame.

4 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the stub shaft has an engagement feature configured to engage a complementary feature on the hub to position the stub shaft relative to the axle.

5 . The kit of claim 4 , wherein the engagement feature includes a boss configured to extend into a corresponding recess on the outboard end of an axle shaft of the axle.

6 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the stub shaft is one of four substantially identical stub shafts, each configured to rotatably support a corresponding track frame relative to a corresponding axle of the wheeled power machine, to convert the wheeled power machine a quad track power machine.

7 . A method of converting a power machine from using wheeled tractive elements to tractive elements that each include an endless track, the method comprising:
removing a wheel from a hub of an axle of the wheeled power machine; attaching a stub shaft to an outboard end of the axle; rotatably securing a track frame to the stub shaft; aligning a track on the track frame; attaching a sprocket to the hub; and rotating the hub to tension the track with the sprocket.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the sprocket is a segmented sprocket including at least two sprocket pieces; and
wherein a first of the sprocket pieces is attached to the hub and rotated to engage the track before a second sprocket piece is attached to the hub.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the segmented sprocket includes one of the following sets of sprocket pieces:
a semi-circular sprocket piece and two quarter-circular sprocket pieces; and three third-circular sprocket pieces.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein aligning the track, attaching the sprocket, and rotating the hub include:
securing a first sprocket piece of a segmented sprocket to the hub; placing a track in alignment with the first sprocket piece; rotating the hub to tension the track with the first sprocket piece; and after tensioning the track with the first sprocket piece, securing second and third sprocket pieces of the segmented sprocket to the hub.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first sprocket piece is a semi-circular sprocket piece and the second and third sprocket pieces are quarter-circular sprocket pieces.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the first, second, and third sprocket pieces are third-circular sprocket pieces.

13 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the sprocket includes a segmented sprocket with at least three sprocket pieces configured to collectively define a substantially circular sprocket profile;
the at least three sprocket pieces being configured to be separately secured to the hub to be engaged with the track.

14 . The kit of claim 13 , wherein the segmented sprocket includes one of the following configurations:
a first of the sprocket pieces is a semi-circular sprocket piece and a second and a third of the sprocket pieces are quarter-circular sprocket pieces; and each of the at least three sprocket pieces is a third-circular sprocket piece.

15 . A kit for converting a wheeled power machine to a tracked power machine, the wheeled power machine including an axle, a hub supported by the axle, a wheel secured to the hub, and an end cap secured to fastener holes at an outboard end of the axle, with a track frame being provided to replace the wheel, the kit comprising:
a stub shaft configured to be secured at the fastener holes at the outboard end of the axle in place of the end cap; the stub shaft being further configured to rotatably support the track frame relative to the axle.

16 . The kit of claim 15 , further comprising:
a segmented socket configured to be secured to the hub to rotate relative to the track frame.

Assignees

• Clark Equipment Co

Inventors

• Agnew Dennis

Classifications

• B62D55/04 Primary

  with tracks and alternative ground wheels, e.g. changeable from endless track vehicle into wheeled vehicle and vice versa {(for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635)} · CPC title

• B62D55/084 Primary

  Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D55/065

  Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks {(soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C)} · CPC title

• B62D55/12

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets · CPC title

• B62D55/13

  readily interchangeable modular type · CPC title