Caterpillar Inc.

Dennis R Shookman

Thomas E Oertley

Robert L Meyer

Gregory Jerome Kaufmann

Peter William Anderton

John Michael Plouzek

Daniel L Mikrut

Jeff A Jensen

Michael S Bottom

Thomas M Hoefft

Jin Suzuki

Jason L Kupferschmid

Eric A Mathewson

Joseph D Groves

Lawrence J Cobb

A rotary cutter for a tunnel boring machine or similar machine has a cutter ring mounted to a hub. The hub is mounted on a shaft. A sleeve bearing system is positioned between the hub and the shaft for supporting the hub on the shaft and allowing relative rotation. A duo-cone seal assembly is positioned between the hub and the shaft to seal out contaminants from the sleeve bearing system. An oil gallery with lubricating oil for lubricating the sleeve bearing system is provided in the shaft.

Rotary cutter for tunnel boring machine

Joint assemblies are useful for connecting one structure to another structure. When the various structures deflect or bend, edge loading occurs therebetween. The subject joint assembly includes a pin positioned between a first and second structure. An insert is free floating positioned around the pin for contacting either of the first or second structures. A crown shaped surface is utilized on the insert at a substantially central location therealong. The crown shaped surface directs forces to the center of the insert to reduce edge loading.

Joint assembly to resist galling

A method and apparatus for determining a tension of a track on an earthworking machine, the track having a front catenary portion and a rear catenary portion. The method and apparatus includes determining a direction of motion of the earthworking machine, determining a value of tension of the front catenary portion in response to determining the direction of motion of the earthworking machine to be in a forward direction, and determining a value of tension of the rear catenary portion in response to determining the direction of motion of the earthworking machine to be in a reverse direction.

Method and apparatus for determining a slack-side tension of a track on an earthworking machine

A track bushing for use with a track assembly of a track-type machine includes a generally cylindrical member having ends adapted for mounting in opposing end portions of a track link and a longitudinal bore extending between the ends. The inner surface of the bore defines first and second load bearing portions at each of the ends. Each of the first load bearing portions define a first conical surface tapering radially inward from each of the ends at a first angle, and each of the second load bearing portions define a second conical surface tapering radially inward from each of the first conical surfaces at a second angle. In the bushing's assembled state, the first angle is in the range of 0.09 degrees to 0.18 degrees and the second angle is in the range of -0.01 degrees to 0.01. In the bushing's free state, the first angle is in the range of 0.19 degrees to 0.27 degrees and the second angle is in the range of 0.06 degrees to 0.08 degrees.

Track bushing assembly and method

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Dennis R Shookman