Caterpillar Inc.

Benoit Abello

David Jennings Hakes

Benjamin Isaac Jones

Gustavo Acosta

Jason Randall Beckerdite

Udo Nott

Mark Steven Diekevers

Mircea Dumitru

Jason L Sebright

Gennaro Suanno

Roger E Lawson

Thomas Ellmann

Thomas J Kowalski

Zoran Marjanovic

Ben Pulley

Tom Oertley

Gerald T Otten, Jr

Brian Loeffler

Paul Palthey-Glomeau

Michael James Darges

Steven Williamson

Benjamin I Jones

David J Hakes

A component for a track-type machine comprises a body, a through-bore extending through the body forming an inner wall, and a bushing located in the through-bore. The bushing comprises a bearing surface, an outer surface engaging the inner wall, a flange extending from the outer surface and extending into the inner wall, and retention features located in the outer surface proximate the flange. The retention features comprise voids in the bushing filled-in by material of the body. Methods of manufacturing a component for a track-type system comprises casting-in-place a bushing with a flange and retention features into the component.

Cast-in track system component bushing

A ground-engaging track system includes a track roller frame, an idler, and anti-backbending rollers supported by the track roller frame at locations between track rollers and the idler. The anti-backbending rollers define an idler space receiving the idler partially therein and positioned to oppose backbending of a deflection-sensitive section of a ground-engaging track.

Roller frame assembly in ground-engaging track system having anti-backbending rollers and method

A track chain assembly comprises a plurality of interlocking track chain members wherein each track chain member defines a track chain traveling direction, a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction, and includes a shoe member defining a shoe width along the lateral direction; and a first track pad member defining a first track pad maximum width along the lateral direction, and a second track pad member defining a second maximum track pad width along the lateral direction, wherein a ratio of either track pad maximum widths to the shoe member width ranges from 1:4 to 3:4. The first and the second track pad members each include a first projection disposed at one lateral extremity of the first track pad member and a second projection disposed at another lateral extremity of the second track pad member.

Roller path of a track pad for a track chain

A sealed and lubricated rotatable track engaging element includes a roller and a roller shaft extending through the roller to support the roller for rotation about a major axis. A first thrust surface is fixed relative to the roller, and a second thrust surface is fixed relative to the roller shaft. A seal cavity extends between the roller and the roller shaft and is formed in part by each of the first thrust surface and the second thrust surface, and a thrust washer stack is within the seal cavity and trapped between the first thrust surface and the second thrust surface. The thrust washer stack includes an inner thrust washer contacting the roller to rotate at a first fractional speed of a speed of rotation of the roller, and an outer thrust washer contacting the inner thrust washer and the collar to rotate at a second fractional speed that is less than the first fractional speed.

Rotatable element in machine track having thrust washer stack for stepping down relative speeds

A machine track includes a track shoe having a first outboard edge and a second outboard edge, and a first set of pin lugs and a second set of pin lugs. A roller pad is positioned between the sets of pin lugs and includes a roller contact surface extending between a first roller pad end and a second roller pad end. The first roller pad end includes a relatively softer material, and the second roller pad end includes a relatively harder material that forms a trimming edge for trimming off interfering material of an adjacent track shoe in a machine track that is plastically deformed by way of roller contact with the adjacent track shoe during service.

Anti-toenailing track shoe

A multi-material track pad for a continuous track assembly is disclosed. The track pad may include a body with a ground-engaging surface, wherein the body is formed of a metal material with a first hardness; a roller-engaging surface, wherein the roller-engaging surface is formed of a ceramic material with a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness; and a sprocket-engaging surface formed of the ceramic material.

Multi-material track pad for a continuous track assembly

A track chain assembly comprises a plurality of interlocking track chain members wherein each track chain member defines a track chain traveling direction, a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction, and includes a shoe member defining a shoe width along the lateral direction; and a first track pad member defining a first track pad maximum width along the lateral direction, and a second track pad member defining a second maximum track pad width along the lateral direction, wherein a ratio of either track pad maximum widths to the shoe member width ranges from 1:4 to 3:4.

A track chain member comprises a shoe member, and a first rail member extending from the shoe member, wherein the first rail member defines a track chain traveling direction and a lateral direction generally perpendicular to track chain traveling direction, a first support surface extending generally in both the track chain traveling direction and the lateral direction defining an outer lateral extremity, and a first crest shaped member disposed laterally adjacent the outer lateral extremity of the first support surface.

Contoured double pass roller path for a track chain

A track chain member comprises a shoe member defining a track chain traveling direction and a lateral direction perpendicular to the track chain traveling direction and a first rib defining a first concave radial portion.

Curved track pad ribs for a track chain

A track chain member comprising a shoe member defining a track chain traveling direction and a lateral direction, the shoe member further defining a first lateral end, a second lateral end, and a ground engaging surface spanning from the one end to the other end; wherein the shoe member further defines a first side void proximate the first lateral end, a second side void proximate the second lateral end, and the first side void terminates a first predetermined distance from the first lateral end and the second side void terminates a second predetermined distance from the second lateral end.

Track shoe geometry for a track chain

A lug forms an enclosure including a bottom surface defining an aperture that receives the projection of a sprocket, and a side surface defining an aperture that receives a retaining mechanism.

Replaceable sprocket lugs

Undercarriage track shoe for mobile earthmoving machine

A track support rail for slidably supporting a track assembly of a machine includes a body having a first body end, a second body end, a crown portion, and an upper support surface. The body extends along a longitudinal axis between the first and second body ends. The crown portion is disposed between the first and second body ends along the longitudinal axis. The upper support surface extends along the longitudinal axis between the first and second body ends. The upper support surface includes first and second curved segments. The first curved segment has a first curved shape and extends from the first body end toward the crown portion of the body. The second curved segment has a second curved shape and extends from the second body end toward the crown portion of the body. The first curved shape is different from the second curved shape.

Growing community of inventors

Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Benoit Abello