Caterpillar Inc.

Donovan Stuart Clarke

Kevin Steiner

Roger Lee Recker

Victor M Penrod

Mark Steven Diekevers

Eric James Johannsen

John Michael Plouzek

Matthew William Trone

Jeffrey Paul Nash

Eric Bernard Weisbruch

Jianping Zheng

Laurence J Cobb

Kevin L Steiner

Temitope Olayemi Akinlua

Timothy A Vik

Caroline Marie Brewer

Paul Prest

Jason L Sebright

Daniel Knobloch

Jennifer Ann Brooks

Timothy Michael Nenne

William H Zimmerman

Jianjun Wang

Kevin D Eccles

Andrea R Vernagus

Daniel I Knobloch

Caroline M Brewer

In at least one aspect, a track shoe assembly includes a shoe plate having a shoe plate body including at least one shoe plate attachment surface defining a groove extending along a width of the shoe plate body, and a grouser having a grouser body having at least one grouser attachment surface, a cross-sectional shape of the at least one grouser attachment surface being the same as a cross-sectional shape of the groove defined by the at least one shoe plate attachment surface.

Track shoe assembly including a shoe plate and a grouser and related method of manufacture

An articulated chain assembly includes standard links, a master link, and pins pivotably coupling together the standard links and master link. The master link includes a first half link and a second half link, and bolt holes extending through the first half link and the second half link. A first bolt is within a first one of the bolt holes and has a necked-down bolt shank defining a lesser necked-down axial length. A second bolt is within a second one of the bolt holes and includes a necked-down bolt shank defining a greater necked-down axial length. The first bolt and second bolt may have unequal full axial lengths.

Master link and articulated chain assembly for machine

A shroud for a track shoe grouser protector includes an elongate shroud body having weld holes formed in a first shroud leg and a second shroud leg attached to a base in the elongate shroud body. The shroud may have a fore to aft profile having the form of a flat-crowned arch with the shroud legs flared outward to form a grouser opening for positioning the shroud upon a track shoe grouser in a ground-engaging track system. An inventory of shrouds includes long shrouds and short shrouds positionable in a plurality of different assembly combinations to shield grousers in track shoes having a range of sizes.

Shrouds for grouser protectors in track shoes and grouser shroud inventory

A ground-engaging track includes a track chain formed of standard links and at least one master link. The master link include a first half link and a second half link, clamped together by way of a forward bolt and a rearward bolt. Clamping surfaces of the first half link and the second half link form a first tooth set and a second tooth set, respectively, which may include a total of 2 or 3 full teeth and tooth roots, confined in distribution between a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole.

Ground-engaging track for machine having multi-tooth master link

A track chain assembly includes a track pin, a first link, and a second link. The first link defines a first pair of pin passages in spaced relationship to each other by a first link pitch. The first link is mounted to the track pin such that the track pin extends through one of the first pair of pin passages. The second link defines a second pair of pin passages in spaced relationship to each other by a second link pitch. The second link is mounted to the track pin such that the track pin extends through one of the second pair of pin passages and such that the first link and the second link are rotatable with respect to each other about a longitudinal axis defined by the track pin. The second link pitch is greater than the first link pitch in a range up to twice the first link pitch.

Track chain assembly of undercarriage with link having increased pitch

A master link joint for a drive chain is disclosed. The disclosed master link joint includes two master links. Each master link includes a first half link and a second half link that engage each other along mating abutment surfaces. The two master links are disposed on opposite sides of the chain. The first half links are coupled by a pin that traverses the chain and the second half links are coupled by a bushing that traverses the chain. The mating abutment surfaces include a first ramp that meets a second offset ramp at a junction or root. An angle &#x3b8; defined by the second ramps of the mating abutment surfaces and a line parallel to the rail or bottom pad of the half links ranges from about 45 to about 53&#xb0;.

Master link joint for a track undercarriage and method of retrofitting an existing undercarriage

The disclosure relates to a system and method for a link for a track chain in a ground-engaging track system. The link has an elongate link body including a first and a second crown. The elongate link body includes a shoe surface and a rail surface. The shoe surface is configured to contact a track shoe coupled to the elongate link body. The rail surface is opposite the shoe surface and has a first end section, a middle section, and a second end section. The first and second crowns on the rail surface each define a convex portion of the rail surface. The first crown is positioned on the first end section and the second crown is positioned on the second end section. The first and second crowns are configured to delay scallop formation in the rail surface.

Crown for a link in a ground engaging track system

A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear material on the rotatable element and sacrificial wear material on corresponding track links. The contact interface may have a configuration based on a location of the seals, and is adapted to inhibit wear of the track links in regions adjacent the seals. In another aspect, the contact interface is a guide interface.

Machine and track assembly for use therewith

Master link unit assembly

A master link for a chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body member with a first side, a second side positioned opposite the first side, a shoe surface configured to receive a track shoe, and a rail surface positioned opposite the shoe surface. The master link also includes first and second apertures extending through the body member from the first side to the second side and third and fourth apertures located between the first and second apertures. The master link also includes a strut member dividing the third and fourth apertures. The master link also includes a first gap located in the body member and extending from the first aperture to the third aperture and a second gap located in the body member and extending from the fourth aperture to the second aperture. The master link further includes a third gap located in the strut member and extending from the third aperture to the fourth aperture.

Master link for a track chain

A ripper carriage assembly has a transverse cross beam fixedly mounted at a central portion of the cross beam to a ripper implement support structure. The distal ends of arms extending outwardly from the central portion of the transverse cross beam are adapted for pivotal connection to a pitch control mechanism. Stress relief notches are formed in the transverse cross beam at a position between the distal ends of the arms and the central rigidly mounted portion of the beam. Energy generated as a. result of the ripper tip twisting upon impact with rock or other solid objects in hardened ground is stored in the transverse cross beam, and subsequently returned to the ripper tip to bring the tip into a desired operational orientation.

Growing community of inventors

Hanna City, IL, United States of America

Donovan Stuart Clarke