Caterpillar Inc.

Michael D Hasselbusch

Roy L Maguire

Eric James Johannsen

Darby R Robertson

Mark Steven Diekevers

Kevin Steiner

Temitope Olayemi Akinlua

Stephen Paul Lu

Thomas E Oertley

David Jennings Hakes

Billy R Bedford

Caroline Marie Brewer

Kevin M Egle

Martin Tagore Joseph Xavier

Jennifer Ann Brooks

Timothy Michael Nenne

Michael T James

Timothy Richard Hoyt

Thomas M Hoefft

Ted J Pauly

Erich Owen Mathews

Jonathan Taylor Blocksom

Conor D Aberle

Todd R Goins

Kevin N O'Brien

A method of servicing a track chain assembly includes loosening a fastener to reduce a clamping force of a track link body on a track bushing. With the clamping force reduced, the method includes rotating the track bushing from a first position wherein a worn side of the track bushing faces a drive sprocket to a second position wherein an unworn side of the track bushing faces the drive sprocket. Once the track bushing in the second position, the method includes tightening the fastener to increase the clamping force on the track bushing. The method can be performed while leaving the track chain in place on a track machine.

Track chain and methods for bushing rotation

Systems and methods for command-driven automatic and semi-automatic mobile wear detection are disclosed. One method may include: transmitting, by a mobile device, a request indicative of a desire to determine a wear metric associated with a part; receiving, by the mobile device, first data associated with the part and indicative of a directive for the mobile device to display an instruction for the mobile device to be situated in a specified position; responsive to a determination, by the mobile device, that the mobile device is situated in the specified position, receiving, by a camera of the mobile device, visual data associated with the part; receiving, by the mobile device, second data indicative of a directive for the mobile device to process the visual data; determining, by the mobile device, the wear metric based, at least, on the processed visual data.

Command-driven automatic and semi-automatic mobile wear detection

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining part wear using a mobile device. One such exemplary method includes capturing, using the mobile device, at least one digital image of a wear part of a machine. The method further includes determining, by the mobile device and based on the at least one digital image, a degree of wear of the wear part.

Methods and systems for determining part wear based on digital image of part

A track assembly may have a chain assembly including a plurality of track links, a traction assembly including track shoes secured to the plurality of track links, a drive sprocket, an idler assembly including an idler and a mount, and a roller assembly including a plurality of rollers and a roller frame. A wear monitoring system may have a wear sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of a first component of the track assembly, and a controller in communication with the at least one wear sensor, the controller being configured to determine an amount of wear experienced by the track assembly based on the signal. The first component may be configured such that wear of at least a second component causes the first component to move to the current position from a previous position.

Track assembly having a wear monitoring system

An idler group is disclosed for a mobile machine having a tracked undercarriage with an endless track. The idler group may include a retainer disposed on an axle and within an opening in an idler. The retainer may be configured to achieve an interference fit with the idler sufficient to hold the retainer within the opening of the idler during operation of the mobile machine. In another embodiment, a retaining ring may be disposed within a channel formed in the idler and may contact the retainer. In yet another embodiment, a swaged connection may be formed between the idler and the axle.

Idler group and method of assembly

A cartridge for a track chain is disclosed. The cartridge includes a track pin. The cartridge also includes a rotatable bushing and a rotatable bearing located on the track pin. The cartridge further includes a first thrust bearing located on the track pin between the bearing and the bushing. The first thrust bearing is configured to contact the rotatable bearing and configured to contact the rotatable bushing. The first thrust bearing is configured to bear thrust loads and not radial loads. The cartridge may further include a collar located at an end of the track pin. The cartridge includes a second thrust bearing located between the bearing and the collar. The second thrust bearing is configured to contact the rotatable bearing and configured to contact the collar. The second thrust bearing is configured to bear thrust loads and not radial loads.

Track chain cartridge having thrust bearings

A pin joint assembly including a pin defining a longitudinal axis and having an end portion, a bushing coaxial with the pin about the longitudinal axis and having an end portion, and a collar engaging the end portion of the pin and having an inner portion in proximal relation to the end portion of the bushing and an outer portion in distal relation to the end portion of the bushing. The end portion of the bushing, the inner portion of the collar, and the pin cooperate to define a channel. The pin joint assembly further includes a thrust ring coaxial with the pin about the longitudinal axis and residing in the channel in spaced-apart relation to the bushing.

Pin joint assembly

A ground-engaging track system for a machine includes a track extending about a rotatable track engaging element, and having a track chain with a plurality of elongate links each including an upper rail surface formed of a sacrificial wear material and having a convex longitudinal profile configured to delay scallop formation therein. A link for a track chain and related methodology are also disclosed.

Ground-engaging track system, link for a track chain, and method

A cartridge bearing assembly for a track chain of a track type work machine is provided. The cartridge bearing assembly includes axial/radial load bearing insert members positioned about a pin, and a rotatable bushing positioned therebetween. Crowned sleeve bearings are disposed between the insert members and the pin, as well as between the pin and the rotatable bushing. Collars are disposed at opposite ends of the pin and fixedly coupled thereto, trapping the other components of the cartridge assembly therebetween. A method of operating a track type work machine is further provided, including reducing wear between coupled track links by reacting axial loads via insert members positioned about a track pin.

Cartridge assembly for a track chain of a track type machine and machine using same

A cartridge assembly for a track chain assembly is provided. The cartridge assembly includes a bushing rotatably positioned about a track pin. Bearing members are positioned about the track pin adjacent the bushing. Collars are positioned about the track pin adjacent the bearing members. Seal arrangements are positioned between the collars and the bearing members and between the bearing members and the track bushing sealably excluding contaminants and the retention of a lubricating fluid from a passage in the bushing and a bore within the track pin.

Cartridge assembly for a track chain

An arrangement for supporting a track chain having a track link, a first bushing mechanically coupled to the track link, and a second bushing mechanically coupled to the track link. The first bushing has a first center point C defined thereon. The second bushing has a second center point C defined thereon. The first center point C is spaced apart from the second center point C by a distance D . The arrangement includes an idler wheel having a circumferentially extending surface defined thereon. The circumferentially extending surface has a first notch and a second notch defined therein. The first notch has a first wall portion. The first wall portion has a first point P defined thereon at a first location. The second notch has a second wall portion. The second wall portion has a second point P defined thereon at a second location which corresponds to the first location. The point P is spaced apart from the point P by a distance D .

Arrangement for supporting a track chain of a track type work machine

A roller assembly with a body member. The roller assembly also has a first roller rim secured to the body member. The first roller rim has (i) a first inner side wall segment extending outwardly from the roller surface, (ii) a first outer side wall segment secured to the first inner side wall segment, the first outer side wall segment being positioned relative to an axis of rotation of the body member such that a linear extension of the first outer side wall segment intersects the axis of rotation so as to define an acute angle therebetween, and (iii) a receptacle defined therein. The roller assembly further includes an axle mounting arrangement positioned within the receptacle such that no portion of the axle mounting arrangement traverses the first plane.

Roller assembly for an undercarriage of a work machine

A guiding arrangement has a guide structure having an opening defined therein. The guiding arrangement also has a roller assembly. The guiding arrangement further has an axle positioned relative to the guide structure so that a portion of the axle is located within the opening.

Guiding arrangement for a track type work machine

A roller assembly for an undercarriage of a work machine has a roller rim having (i) central passage, and (ii) an inwardly extending annular flange defined therein. The inwardly extending annular flange extends into the central passage so as to define a flange opening having a first diameter. The roller assembly also has a roller shaft having a first end portion which is positioned outside of the central passage of the roller rim and a second end portion which is positioned within the central passage of the roller rim. The second end portion of the roller shaft has an outwardly extending annular flange secured thereto. The outwardly extending annular flange of the roller shaft has a second diameter. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter. An undercarriage for a work machine is also disclosed.

Carrier roller assembly of an undercarriage assembly of a work machine having a roller shaft with integrated thurst surfaces

A cartridge assembly for a track chain assembly includes a bushing having a passageway defined therethrough. The cartridge assembly also includes track pin having a longitudinal axis. The track pin is located within the passageway so that a first end portion and a second end portion of the track pin extends outwardly from the passageway of the bushing. The cartridge assembly further includes a first insert having a first bore defined therethrough. The first insert is positioned relative to the track pin such that the first end portion of the track pin is disposed within the first bore. The cartridge assembly also includes a first collar having a first hole defined therein. The first collar is positioned relative to the track pin that (i) the first end portion of the track pin is disposed within the first hole and (ii) the first insert is interposed between the first collar and the bushing, wherein (i) the first collar is fixed in relation to the track pin such that first collar is unable to rotate relative to the track pin and (ii) the first insert is able to rotate relative to the first collar and the track pin around the longitudinal axis.

Growing community of inventors

Metamora, IL, United States of America

Michael D Hasselbusch