Wheels for a work machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024191461-A1
Application number	US-202318533428-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 8, 2023
Priority date	Dec 12, 2022
Publication date	Jun 13, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A compact work machine, such as a compact track loader and/or a compact utility loader, which can carry and operate a wide range of attachments while maintaining a reduced operating footprint

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A loader comprising:
a loader frame that defines a longitudinal loader axis; and a tracked drive assembly that supports the loader frame on ground and is configured to propel the loader over the ground, said tracked drive assembly including an endless track, with upper and lower runs extending longitudinally between forward and aft track margins, said tracked drive assembly further including a roller wheel entrained by the track and a support arm that shiftably supports the roller wheel, said roller wheel being in rolling engagement with the lower run and shiftably supported relative to the loader frame to permit up-and-down movement of at least part of the lower run relative to the loader frame, said roller wheel including a roller axle mounted on the support arm, and a pair of rollers fixed to the roller axle on opposite sides of the support arm so that the roller axle and rollers are rotatable with one another.

2 . The loader as claimed in claim 1 ,
said roller axle and each of said rollers including complemental male and female elements that engage one another to restrict relative rotation between the roller axle and the rollers.

3 . The loader as claimed in claim 1 ,
said tracked drive assembly including a bearing that rotatably supports the roller wheel relative to the support arm.

4 . The loader as claimed in claim 3 ,
said support arm including a radially extending bar and a sleeve mounted at a distal end of the bar to operably receive the bearing and the roller axle, with rollers located at opposite ends of the sleeve.

5 . The loader as claimed in claim 4 ,
said tracked drive assembly including a torsion bar that supports the support arm, said support arm including a housing mounted at a proximal end of the bar and presenting an opening to rotatably receive the torsion bar.

6 . The loader as claimed in claim 1 ,
said support arm being shiftably supported relative to the loader frame.

7 . The loader as claimed in claim 6 ,
said tracked drive assembly including a torsion axle, which includes the support arm, said torsion axle shiftably urging the roller wheel into rolling engagement with the lower run and permitting up-and-down movement of at least part of the lower run relative to the loader frame.

8 . The loader as claimed in claim 7 ,
said torsion axle including an axle mount and an elastomeric insert that cooperate with the support arm to define an axle pivot joint, with the support arm swingably supported relative to the axle mount by the insert and rotatably supporting the roller wheel, said support arm and roller wheel being biased toward a neutral position by the insert when the support arm is rotated out of the neutral position.

9 . The loader as claimed in claim 8 ,
each of said roller axles being in a trailing position relative to the corresponding axle pivot joint.

10 . The loader as claimed in claim 8 ,
said axle mount including a torsion bar and said support arm presenting an opening to rotatably receive the torsion bar.

11 . The loader as claimed in claim 1 ,
said tracked drive assembly including a plurality of roller wheels including the first-mentioned roller wheel, each of said roller wheels being in rolling engagement with the lower run and shiftably supported relative to the loader frame to permit up-and-down movement of at least part of the lower run relative to the loader frame.

12 . The loader as claimed in claim 11 ,
said tracked drive assembly including a plurality of torsion axles, which includes a respective support arm, each of said torsion axles shiftably urging a respective roller wheel into rolling engagement with the lower run and permitting up-and-down movement of at least part of the lower run relative to the loader frame.

13 . The loader as claimed in claim 12 ,
each of said torsion axles including an axle mount and an elastomeric insert that cooperate with a respective support arm to cooperatively define an axle pivot joint, with the support arm swingably supported relative to the axle mount by the insert and rotatably supporting a respective roller wheel, each of said support arms and roller wheels being biased toward a neutral position by the corresponding insert when the support arm is rotated out of the neutral position.

14 . The loader as claimed in claim 12 ,
each of said roller axles being in a trailing position relative to the corresponding axle pivot joint.

15 . The loader as claimed in claim 12 ,
each of said roller wheels including a pair of rollers fixed to the roller axle on opposite sides of the support arm.

16 . The loader as claimed in claim 1 ,
said tracked drive assembly further including forward and aft idler wheels, with the roller wheel spaced longitudinally between the idler wheels, and the track being entrained on the idler wheels and roller wheel.

17 . The loader as claimed in claim 16 ,
said roller wheel being in rolling engagement with the lower run and shiftably supported relative to the idler wheels to permit up-and-down movement of at least part of the lower run relative to the idler wheels.

18 . The loader as claimed in claim 16 ,
at least one of said idler wheels being rigidly mounted relative to the loader frame and supporting the track adjacent a respective one of the forward and aft track margins.

19 . The loader as claimed in claim 16 ,
at least one of said idler wheels being shiftably mounted relative to the loader frame and operating as a tensioner to support the track adjacent a respective one of the forward and aft track margins.

Assignees

• Great Plains Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Shobe Matthew

Classifications

• E05D15/22

  allowing an additional movement {(E05D15/20 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05F15/53

  for swinging wings · CPC title

• E05Y2900/531

  Doors · CPC title

• E05Y2900/518

  for working vehicles · CPC title

• E02F9/22

  Hydraulic or pneumatic drives {(for dipper or bucket arm position control E02F3/43, for blade position control for graders E02F3/844; for turntables E02F9/121; for fork-lift trucks B66F9/22)} · CPC title