Reversible track link system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751577-B2
Application number	US-201514937462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A track assembly for a machine comprising track pads with a ground engaging surface opposite link engaging surfaces and a lug protruding between the link engaging surfaces. The track assembly includes pairs of links disposed on the link engaging surfaces of the track pads. The pairs of links include an outer link having an outer bushing end and an outer pin end, and an inner link spaced-apart from the outer link. The inner link has an inner bushing end and an inner pin end. A distance between the inner bushing ends and the outer bushing ends is less than a distance between the inner pin ends and the respective outer pin ends. The track assembly includes pins connecting the bushing ends of pairs of links to the pin ends of adjacent pairs of links forming endless chains. The endless chains connect adjacent track pads in an endless loop.

First claim

I claim:

1. A track link segment for a track assembly of a mobile machine, the track link segment comprising:
a track pad having a ground engaging surface opposite first and second link engaging surfaces, a lug protruding between the first and second link engaging surfaces and above the first and second link engaging surfaces with respect to the ground engaging surface, the lug configured to periodically engage a drive wheel of the machine, a first arm disposed between the first link engaging surface and the lug, and a second arm disposed between the second link engaging surface and the lug, both the first and second arms protruding above the lug with respect to the ground engaging surface;
a first pair of links disposed on the first link engaging surface of the track pad, the first pair of links including:
a first outer link having an outer bushing end and an outer pin end, and
a first inner link laterally and substantially symmetrically spaced apart from the first outer link, the first inner link having an inner bushing end and an inner pin end,
wherein a distance between the inner bushing end of the first inner link and the outer bushing end of the first outer link is less than a distance between the inner pin end of the first inner link and the outer pin end of the first outer link;

a second pair of links disposed on the second link engaging surface of the track pad, the second pair of links including:
a second outer link having an outer bushing end and an outer pin end, and
a second inner link laterally and substantially symmetrically spaced apart from the second outer link, the second inner link having an inner bushing end and an inner pin end,
wherein a distance between the inner bushing end of the second inner link and the outer bushing end of the second outer link is less than a distance between the inner pin end of the second inner link and the outer pin end of the second outer link;

a first bushing connecting the first inner and outer links between the inner bushing end of the first inner link and the outer bushing end of the first outer link; and
a second bushing connecting the second inner and outer links between the inner bushing end of the second inner link and the outer bushing end of the second outer link.

2. The track link segment of claim 1 , wherein the first and second link engaging surfaces of the track pad are substantially co-planar.

3. The track link segment of claim 1 , wherein the first inner link, the first outer link, the second inner link, and the second outer link each have a substantially uniform hardness.

4. The track link segment of claim 3 , wherein the first inner link, the first outer link, the second inner link, and the second outer link each have a Rockwell hardness in a range between HRC 30 and HRC 40.

5. The track link segment of claim 1 , wherein each of the first inner link, the first outer link, the second inner link, and the second outer link are fastened to the track pad with fasteners.

6. The track link segment of claim 1 , wherein the inner bushing ends of the first and second pairs of links are substantially aligned with the respective outer bushing ends of the first and second pairs of links, and the inner pin ends of the first and second pairs of links are substantially aligned with the respective outer pin ends of the first and second pairs of links.

7. The track link segment of claim 6 , further comprising a first pin disposed between the inner and outer pin ends of the first pair of links and a second pin disposed between the inner and outer pin ends of the second pair of links.

8. A track assembly for a mobile machine, the track assembly comprising:
a plurality of track pads, each track pad comprising a ground engaging surface opposite first and second link engaging surfaces, a lug protruding between the link engaging surfaces above the link engaging surfaces with respect to the ground engaging surface, the lug configured to periodically engage a drive wheel of the machine, a first arm disposed between the first link engaging surface and the lug, and a second arm disposed between the second link engaging surface and the lug, both the first and second arms protruding above the lug with respect to the ground engaging surface;
a plurality of first and second pairs of links, the first pairs of links disposed on the first link engaging surfaces of the track pads and the second pairs of links disposed on the second link engaging surfaces of the track pads, each of the first and second pairs of links comprising:
an outer link having an outer bushing end and an outer pin end, and
an inner link laterally and substantially symmetrically spaced-apart from the outer link, the inner link having an inner bushing end and an inner pin end,
wherein a distance between the inner bushing ends of the inner links and the respective outer bushing ends of the outer links is less than a distance between the inner pin ends of the inner links and the respective outer pin ends of the outer links; and

a plurality of pins connecting the inner and outer bushing ends of first pairs of links to the inner and outer pin ends of adjacent first pairs of links so as to form a first endless chain and connecting the inner and outer bushing ends of the second pairs of links to the inner and outer pin ends of the adjacent second pairs of links so as to form a second endless chain;
wherein the first and second endless chains connect adjacent track pads in an endless loop.

9. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first and second link engaging surfaces of the track pad are substantially co-planar.

10. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the inner and outer links of the first and second pairs of links have a substantially uniform hardness.

11. The track assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the inner and outer links of the first and second pairs of links have a Rockwell hardness in a range between HRC 30 and HRC 40.

12. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the inner and outer links of the first and second pairs of links are fastened to the track pad with fasteners.

13. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of first bushings connect the inner and outer bushing ends of each of the first pairs of links and a plurality of second bushings connect the inner and outer bushing ends of each of the second pair of links, the plurality of first and second bushings each forming pin bores through which the plurality of pins are pivotally received.

14. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least one set of the first and second pairs of links is a first pair of master links and a second pair of master links, the outer link of the first pair of master links and the inner link of the second pair of master links each being left master links comprising a left bushing portion and a left pin portion mated to one another along a left master mating interface, and the inner link of the first pair of master links and the outer link of the second pair of master links each being right master links comprising a right bushing portion and a right pin portion mated to one another along a right master interface.

15. The track assembly of claim 14 , wherein the left pin portions of each of the left master links are substantially identical to the right bushing portions of each of the right master links, and the right pin portions of each of the right master links are substantially identical to the left bushing portions of each of the left master links.

16. A master track segment for a track assembly of a mobile machine, the master track segment comprising:
a trac

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Oertley Tom

Classifications

• B62D55/28

  detachable · CPC title

• B62D55/21

  Links connected by transverse pivot pins · CPC title

• B62D55/275

  with street plate, i.e. means to prevent tread from cutting into road surface · CPC title

• B62D55/26

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

• B62D55/213 Primary

  Master track links · CPC title