Caterpillar Inc.

Albert L Woody

Robert L Meyer

Peter William Anderton

Britt W Gilmore

Robert E Brashers

A damping system for an axle configured to pivot about a pivot point is provided. The damping system includes a first hydraulic cylinder having a first chamber and a second chamber and a second hydraulic cylinder having a third chamber and a fourth chamber. The first hydraulic cylinder is connected to the axle on one side of the pivot point and the second hydraulic cylinder is connected to the axle on the other side of the pivot point. A first fluid line connects the first chamber with the fourth chamber. A second fluid line connects the second chamber with the third chamber. A restricted fluid passageway connects the first fluid line and the second fluid line. A valve mechanism is disposed between the first fluid line and the second fluid line and is operable to release fluid from one of the first and second fluid lines when the pressure of the fluid in the one of the first and second fluid lines reaches a predetermined level.

Axle damping system and method

Star carrier roller assemblies have been used in certain tracked mobile machines, such as those used in the timber industry, that must operate in cold weather and/or over rough terrain. Due to interaction of the star carrier roller assembly with a track chain assembly, undesirable wear on the star carrier roller assembly occurs. The present invention includes at least one star carrier roller assembly for a tracked mobile machine that limits the wear on the star carrier roller assembly. The star carrier roller assembly includes a carrier roller positioned adjacent to a sprocket having a plurality of teeth. Each tooth includes a tooth width and a tooth angle. A ratio between the tooth width and a difference of a pitch length and a bushing diameter of a track chain assembly is less than 0.3, and the tooth angle is greater than or equal to zero degrees (0&deg;). The present invention further limits the wear of the star carrier roller assembly by maintaining a wear surface on the carrier roller less than three hundred degrees Fahrenheit (300&deg; F.) while attaching the sprocket to the carrier roller.

Tracked mobile machine with star carrier roller and method of assembly

Impact rippers are useful for transmitting high impact blows to a hard material for fracturing the material. When a linear reciprocating ram is used a mounting arrangement which maintains the ram in a neutral position, when no force is applied to the tip, must be used to divert impact force into a pivoting shank assembly. The subject impact ripper apparatus includes a shank assembly with an impact surface and a cavity for mounting a linear ram having an impact surface. Means positions the linear ram within the cavity so that the impact surface does not extend outwardly beyond a rear impact surface of the shank assembly when no force (F) is applied to the tip. This arrangement provides for diverting impact force into the shank assembly when no force is applied to the tip.

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Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Albert L Woody