Track joint assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604681-B2
Application number	US-201414461249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2014
Priority date	Aug 29, 2013
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The second link may include a sealing portion surrounding an axial end of the axial end portion. The sealing portion may include material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track joint assembly, comprising:
a first link having a first bore;
a second link having a second bore;
a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore; and
a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, the bushing extending from a first axial end to a second axial end and including an axial end portion disposed in the second bore, wherein:
a peripheral portion of the second link has a peripheral surface that circumscribes the first axial end and the second link includes a sealing portion; and
the sealing portion includes material having a different wear resistance than material of an other portion of the second link.

2. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface faces the first link.

3. The track joint assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sealing portion is annular.

4. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion is a washer attached to the other portion.

5. The track joint assembly of claim 4 , wherein the washer is press-fit into the other portion.

6. The track joint assembly of claim 4 , wherein the washer is welded to the other portion.

7. The track joint assembly of claim 4 , wherein the washer is fastened to the other portion with an adhesive.

8. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material of the sealing portion is clad to the material of the other portion.

9. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material of the sealing portion includes an electroless nickel coating, a nitride coating, or a carborized coating.

10. A track joint assembly, comprising:
a first link having a first bore;
a second link having a second bore; and
a bushing extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, including:
a first axial end portion disposed in the first bore; and
a second axial end portion disposed in the second bore, wherein:
a peripheral portion of the first link has a peripheral surface circumscribing the first axial end and the first link includes a sealing portion; and
the sealing portion includes material having a different wear resistance than material of an other portion of the first link.

11. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sealing surface faces another link.

12. The track joint assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sealing portion is annular.

13. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion is a washer attached to the other portion.

14. The track joint assembly of claim 13 , wherein the washer is press-fit into the other portion.

15. The track joint assembly of claim 13 , wherein the washer is welded to the other portion.

16. The track joint assembly of claim 13 , wherein the washer is fastened to the other portion with an adhesive.

17. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the material of the sealing portion is clad to the material of the other portion.

18. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the material of the sealing portion includes an electroless nickel coating, a nitride coating, or a carborized coating.

19. A track joint assembly, comprising:
a first link having a first bore; a second link having a second bore;
a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore;
a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, and at least partially within the second bore; and
a seal assembly positioned between the first link and the second link, and contacting opposing faces of the first link and the second link.

20. The track joint assembly of claim 19 , wherein the seal assembly contacts a sealing portion of the second link including material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Diekevers Mark Steven
• Brewer Caroline Marie
• Kaufmann Gregory Jerome
• Thorson Timothy Arthur
• Steiner Kevin Lee
• Akinlua Temitope Olayemi
• Meyer Robert Lee

Classifications

• B62D55/0887 Primary

  Track-articulation sealings against dust, water, mud or the like (sealing of bearings in general F16C33/72; chain bushings in general F16G15/00) · CPC title

• B62D55/21

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title