Caterpillar Inc.

David E Bowman

Mark Steven Diekevers

William J Renski

Gary L Biltgen

Kenneth R Watts

Charles F Berndt

D Trent Weaver

William C Smith

Brad M Beardsley

A process for selectively hardening a forged track chain link has the following steps. A forged track chain link having a pad portion, a rail portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, is provided. A quench tank is provided and adapted for spraying one or more of the track chain link portions with a quenchant at a controlled amount of quenchant flow rates, quenchant pressures and quench times. One or more of the track chain link portions are sprayed with the quenchant at a controlled amount of one or more of a plurality of quenchant flow rates, a plurality of quenchant pressures and a plurality of quench times. The pad and rail portions are simultaneously hardened to predetermined respective hardnesses.

Thermal process for selectively hardening track chain links

In ground engaging tools, reliable fastening devices are needed to quickly and effectively secure replaceable earth working tips to adapters. The fastening pin assembly should be configured in such a way as to prevent pin loss or breakage which causes the tip to be lost and/or the adapter damaged. This invention consists of two pins and an interconnecting and retaining means. When assembled, each pin will extend approximately to the middle portion of the adapter through axially aligned bores defined in both the tip and adapter. The interconnecting and retaining means is located in the middle portion of the adapter between the two pins and retains the pins in the adapter bore. This invention protects against pin loss/and or breakage and is beneficial to all type of earth working replaceable tip applications.

Two pin fastening assembly with interconnecting and retaining means

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East Peoria, IL, United States of America

David E Bowman