Caterpillar Inc.

Daniel M Keehner

Dan J Becker

Gail F Westendorf

Endless track laying work machines are provided with a pair of track roller assemblies positioned on opposite sides of the work machine. Each track roller assembly includes an endless rubber belt entrained around a drive wheel, an idler wheel, and a plurality of supporting mid-rollers. An automatic belt alignment system is utilized to align the endless rubber belt during operation of the endless track laying work machine (,). The automatic belt alignment system also provides connection of the idler wheel assembly to a tensioning system and to the forwardly extending nose portion of a track roller frame.

Automatic belt alignment system for an endless track laying work machine

A midwheel assembly for a track type tractor is disclosed. The midwheel assembly includes a hub having (i) a body portion and (ii) a hub plate extending radially from the body portion. The midwheel assembly also includes a wheel having (i) a wheel plate secured to the body portion of the hub and (ii) a ring member secured to the wheel plate such that the ring member extends from the wheel plate toward the hub plate so that the ring member, the wheel plate, and the hub plate define a wheel cavity. The midwheel assembly further includes a track assembly having (i) a carcass having an upper surface and a lower surface, (ii) a tread bar extending from the lower surface of the carcass, and (iii) a guide block extending from the upper surface of the carcass, wherein (i) the ring member is positioned directly above the upper surface of the carcass, (ii) the hub plate is positioned adjacent to the guide block, (iii) the hub plate has a guide block face defined thereon, (iv) the guide block face is positioned adjacent to the guide block, and (v) the guide block periodically contacts the guide block face during use of the midwheel assembly.

Midwheel assembly for a track type tractor

Cab and rollover structures are useful for protecting an operator while operating a vehicle. When an integral cab rollover structure is used it is necessary to provide a mount which will isolate the structure from the frame to reduce vibration and noise and also to provide a solid connection to transfer loads during rollover. The subject mounting arrangement will provide a mounting structure which will isolate the cab rollover structure from the frame in a normal first operating condition to reduce noise and vibration within the cab. In a second condition of operation the isolating structure will deform allowing the mounting structure to contact the frame and withstand forces on the cab rollover structure. This arrangement of components provides an isolated mount which will not be overstressed during a vehicle rollover.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Daniel M Keehner