O&k Orenstein & Koppel Aktiengesellschaft

Caterpillar Inc.

Helmut Bentz

Gunther Alpers

A track assembly comprising an endless track chain made up of identical track links and a cooperating sprocket wheel. The track link is formed with a ground engaging surface, a running surface and hinge members suitable to interact with hinge members on adjacent track links. The track link has a central drive cam and a guide. The cooperating sprocket wheel is formed of two laterally spaced running rims and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive teeth engageable with the raised drive cam of the track link. The running rim has a side surface engageable with the guide.

Track assembly

An arrangement for connecting and moving the plates of a caterpillar track of earth-moving machines in which adjacent chain plates bridge over on a common axis by, in each case, two inner or outer straps having bore holes. A solid chain pin which is moveable in circumferential direction and having a free central region for the action of sprocket-wheel teeth is mounted in the holes.

Arrangement for connecting and moving the plates of a caterpillar track

Tread plates having two grousers for chain-driven vehicles, in which the grouser development in the region of the bolted connection to the carrier chain has radii of curvature and the distance within a linearly developed region between two grousers is approximately equal to the distance between the outer tread grousers of the region of linear chain travel.

Tread plate with grousers having curved regions

A caterpillar-type travelling mechanism for vehicles provided with a self-propelled drive, particularly hydraulic dredges, with a drive sprocket wheel, a guide wheel for the guidance of the caterpillar chain and chain links connected with one another by bolts. Cam-shaped teeth are arranged on the drive sprocket wheel in its longitudinal center plane, the teeth being provided on the sides which point toward one another with planar surfaces. The drive sprocket wheel is provided on its outer periphery with two running rims for the chain links, the rims being arranged on both sides of the teeth. The cam-like teeth are arranged on the periphery of a wheel flange, the latter on both sides being provided with inclined surfaces for guiding the chain links. The travelling mechanism plates of the chain links, which plates are formed as double-stud plates, are made of one piece with a two-sided cam arranged centrally in the chain link. The engagement surfaces of the two-sided cam, which engagement surfaces face the cam-like teeth, during the engagement are formed as contact surfaces for the cam-shaped teeth.

Growing community of inventors

Dortmund, Germany

Helmut Bentz