Caterpillar Inc.

Titan Tool Company

Other

Owen R Thompson

Richard E Livesay

Jerry L Rounds

Edward J Weber

A wrench utilizing high inertial torque energy incorporates a flywheel that is rotated by a drive motor. The wrench is activated by a symmetrical clutch to deliver the rotational energy stored in the flywheel to an output drive. Torque reaction is isolated in the flywheel and clutch mechanism and not transmitted to the housing of the wrench.

Wrench with high inertia torque system and method for using same

An indexing apparatus for a track press machine moves and positions a track chain assembly into and out of the work area of the track press machine. The indexing apparatus includes upper and lower indexing portions, each having a powered drive mechanism for contacting and driving the track chain assembly. Fluid operated cylinders apply a force between the drive mechanisms and the track chain to prevent slippage. Fluid motors power the drive mechanisms to positively and continuously move the track chain. The indexing cycle is automatically controlled for fast and consistent work operations.

Indexing apparatus for a track press

A clamp mechanism forces a track chain to seat properly and completely in a holding fixture prior to dis-assembly of the track chain. The clamp mechanism has a hold-down bar, for engaging the track chain, a linkage assembly connected to the hold-down bar, and a fluid powered cylinder for moving the hold-down bar into engagement with the track chain. Track chains being dis-assembled within a track press do not always seat properly in a holding fixture, which can cause damage to the track press tooling or the holding fixtures. The subject clamp mechanism seats the track chain fully into the holding fixture and maintains a force on the track chain during dis-assembly.

Clamp mechanism

A tool mounting arrangement for a track press includes a bracket assembly for lateral and vertical adjustment of the tool mounting to compensate for variations in the spacing of the track components due to different amounts of wear. The bracket assembly includes a tool mounting plate which is connected to a reaction bar by an adjustment plate and a pair of brackets. A pair of threaded shafts penetrate the brackets and bear against the adjustment plate for moving the tool mounting plate vertically. A threaded rod is connected to the reaction bar and an adjustment wheel on the rod is in engagement with the adjustment plate for moving the tool mounting plate laterally. A pair of spring loaded apparatus maintain a preselected downwardly directed force on the bracket assembly.

Tool mounting arrangement for a track press

A track press machine for assembling and dis-assembling endless track chains has a rigid box-like frame structure formed of extremely thick metal plates. The plates include a pair of side plates, a base plate and a top plate, all the plates being connected together by threaded fasteners to enclose a rectangular work area. A large diameter fluid master cylinder and two fluid slave cylinders are connected to each side plate with the rods of the cylinders extending through the side plates and into the work area. The rods of each set of master and slave cylinders are connected together through a tool mounting bar. The box-like frame structure provides rigidity to withstand the large forces generated by the fluid cylinders and the master slave cylinder arrangement provides fast, repetitive cycle times.

Track press machine

A fluid control system for a track press has first and second main fluid work circuits and a plurality of auxiliary fluid work circuits. The first and second work circuits are substantially similar and each has a pair of dual acting slave cylinders and one single acting master cylinder. The cylinder rod of each master cylinder is connected to the cylinder rods of the respective slave cylinders through a reaction bar. Each of the first and second work circuits has a fluid reservoir and a high flow capacity control valve in direct communication with a respective fluid reservoir and a respective master cylinder. During fast forward and reverse of the slave cylinders, the piston and rod of each master cylinder is advanced or retracted due to the interconnection with the reaction bar. During fast forward, fluid is drawn from the reservoirs at a fast rate to rapidly fill the large slave cylinders. This provides extremely fast cycle times.

Fluid control system for a track press

An electro-hydraulically operated tool apparatus installs and removes bolts of track shoes for assembling and disassembling endless track assemblies. In the assembly procedure, a wrench of the tool apparatus engages the head portion of a track shoe bolt and rotates the bolt in a clockwise direction at a relatively high speed to thread a nut onto the bolt and secure the track shoe to the track chain. The tool apparatus senses the torque and at a pre-set level, a transmission of the apparatus automatically shifts to rotate the wrench at a relatively low speed. At this point, the tool apparatus starts measuring the angle of rotation, and at a pre-determined angle of about 120.degree., the wrench stops rotating. The rotation of the bolt an additional 120.degree. after the pre-torque level is reached applies the desired torque value to the bolted joint. In the disassembly procedure, the wrench engages the head portion of the bolt and applies a large down pressure to the bolt. The wrench then rotates the bolt in a counterclockwise direction at low speed and high torque. When the torque value drops, the transmission automatically shifts to high speed to rapidly remove the bolt.

Powered tool apparatus

Method and apparatus for tightening rotatable fastener elements including a source of pressurized fluid, a first rotatable actuator having a rotatable output shaft operable in response to fluid flow through the first actuator, first control to allow the first actuator shaft to operate to a first fluid pressure established by the pressure of the source of pressurized fluid, switching device operable in response to the attainment of the first fluid pressure, to supply pressurized fluid to a second rotating actuator device connected to operate the output shaft through a portion of a rotation in response to the attainment of the first pressure to secure the fastener to a selected torque.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Owen R Thompson