Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Orville E Kessinger, Jr

David J Balzer

An equalizer bar support assembly has an equalizer bar (14) mounted on a bearing (24) carried by a flanged bearing support (25) on a track roller frame (16). A support plate (98,150) is attached to one end portion of the flanged bearing support (25). In one embodiment, a bulkhead (100) having a ring portion (130) is bolted to the support plate (98) so that the ring portion (130) is wedged between a tapered outer circumference (120) of the support plate (98) and a contact surface (140) of a support member (78) of the track roller frame (16 ). The support plate (98) is firmly secured to the roller frame (16) and yet is readily removable therefrom. In another embodiment, the support plate (150) has a means (164) thereon to limit the axial movement of the support plate (150) relative to the roller frame (16) during the application of force to remove the support plate (150) from the track frame (16).

Equalizer bar support assembly

A transversely compact and serviceable vehicle cross drive for a track-type tractor or the like includes a ring gear (38), a pair of planetary gear assemblies (44,48,46,50) mounted to mesh radially within the ring gear (38), a pair of annular support members (30,32), and a pair of bearings (40,42) individually carried by the respective support member (30,32) and rotatably supporting the ring gear. Advantageously the support members (30,32) limit transverse axial movement of the planetary gear assemblies (44,48, 46,50).

Vehicle cross drive

A brake assembly for independently braking a pair of rotatably mounted spaced members (78,86) includes a main body (110) having a plate (112) and a C-shaped body portion (116) having first and second pluralities of bores (118,120) and first and second pluralities of pistons (122,124) in the bores. First and second C-shaped movable members (130,136) are connected to the opposite sides of the body portion (116) and are engagable against a respective one of the spaced members (78,86) in response to axial movement of the respective pistons (122,124). Advantageously, the main body (110) and the movable members (130,136) can be radially removed from a vehicle casing portion (16) independently of the spaced members (78,86).

Brake assembly for a vehicle

An improved bearing seal (29) for use in a vehicle (10), such as a tractor, for preventing contamination of a pivot shaft bearing (23) or the like, which may be subjected to dirt, particulate matter, etc. The bearing seal (29) includes a lip seal (30), a labyrinth seal (32), and a dirt seal (33). The elements of the bearing seal are arranged in series relationship between one end (31) of the bearing and a shoulder (34) on the pivot shaft structure (21). The pivot shaft structure may define a swingable link (16) for mounting an idler (14) in the frame (15) of the vehicle trank (11). The labyrinth seal (32) may further define an abutment surface (35) for the dirt seal (33), and in the illustrated embodiment, defines a hardened washer having an inner diameter (39) slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pivot shaft (21) so as to define a sealing labyrinth therebetween. A guide boss (44 ) may be provided on the pivot shaft link portion (17) for cooperation with a frame portion (20) of the track mounting structure to prevent undesirable axial displacement of the pivot shaft (21).

Growing community of inventors

Blue Grass, IA, United States of America

Orville E Kessinger, Jr