Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Caterpillar Inc.

Dennis L Blunier

Maurice L Caudill

Glenn M Haslett

Phillip J Shankwitz

Robert D Roley

Donald E Clemens

Paul D Andreson

Joel C Schweisberger

Richard R Kazmierzak

Ronald C Bowar

Dwight E Aussieker

In conventional fabrication manufacture the thickness of the steel plates are often determined by the metal section required at the weld joints. The subject apparatus and method overcomes this problem by selectively forming a thickened edge along the edge of a thinner steel plate which can now be limited to the thickness required to withstand the stresses on the fabrication. The thickened edge is produced by passing a plate supported on a table through a forming apparatus having a forming roller. The table is movable in an oblique direction relative to the plate so that the shape of the thickened edge may be varied. The forming apparatus and table are automatically controlled to produce a thickened edge of a desired shape intermittently or continuously along a linear or non-linear edge of the plate.

Apparatus and method for selectively forming a thickened edge on a plate

In conventional fabrication manufacture the thickness of the steel plates are often determined by the metal section required at the weld joints. The subject apparatus and method overcomes this problem by selectively forming a thickened edge along the edge of a thinner steel plate which can now be limited to the thickness required to withstand the stresses on the fabrication. The thickened edge is produced by forcing a plate supported by a table, by passing the plate through a forming apparatus comprised of a combination of rollers. The forming apparatus and table are automatically controlled to produce a thickened edge of constant shape along a non-linear edge of the plate.

A track pin has the ends thereof mounted in bores defined by respective track links. The ends of the track pin are heated above the critical temperature of the steel making up the track pin, and then quenched, whereby the ends of the track pin have increased in volume to be retained in the bores of the respective track links.

Method of mounting track pin

A track link assembly including a plurality of track links having track pin receiving apertures therein, a plurality of track pins extending through associated ones of the apertures and pivotally interconnecting adjacent ones of the links, a plurality of roller bushings rotatably mounted on the ends of the pins, and a plurality of track shoes secured to respective ones of the links.

Track link assembly having roller bushings

In the track of a track-type vehicle, the track shoes are bolted and keyed to the track line to substantially reduce or eliminate shear and bending stresses on the bolts. The elimination or reduction of movement resulting in shear on the bolts between the track shoe and the master link is of particular importance.

Track shoe and bolt retention arrangement

A track chain includes a plurality of track pin bushings as is well known, to seat in recesses defined by a drive sprocket. Each track pin bushing defines a plurality of angled protrusions which act as wear surfaces between the bushing and the sprocket, and also act to force foreign matter from recesses of the sprocket in which bushings are seatable.

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Danvers, IL, United States of America

Dennis L Blunier