Caterpillar Inc.

Roger E Lawson

David Jennings Hakes

Thomas E Oertley

Benoit Abello

Jerry D Fidler

Thomas Ellmann

Daniel D Angot

Jon S Burdick

Zoran Marjanovic

A track driven machine is provided comprising an undercarriage drive system that includes a track, and a motor that powers the drive system, wherein the undercarriage drive system further includes at least one of a capless track roller mounting system and a central unibeam track roller mounting system.

Capless and unibeam track roller mounting systems

Track roller system

A track pad is disclosed for use for a track type mobile machine having a sprocket and an idler wheel. The track pad may have a first link with a rail surface configured to engage the sprocket and the idler wheel, and a second link oriented generally parallel with the first link and having a rail surface configured to engage the sprocket and the idler wheel. The track pad may also have a shoe connected to the first and second links at a side opposite the rail surfaces, and a wear indicator formed within the rail surface of at least one of the first and second links.

Track pad wear indicator

A crawler shoe for a mining vehicle includes a first wear surface, a second wear surface positioned opposite the first wear surface, a recess formed within the first wear surface and including a measurement datum formed at a bottom portion of the recess, wherein the measurement datum is positioned below the first wear surface such that the measurement datum is subjected to less service wear than the first wear surface, and an approximately linear transmission path configured to receive an ultrasonic signal and extending from the measurement datum to the second wear surface.

Crawler shoe having wear measurement features

An idler of an undercarriage assembly for a track-type machine is disclosed. The undercarriage assembly may have at least two links, which may be interconnected by a cartridge. The cartridge may have a bushing disposed about and rotatable relative to a pin. At least one of the links may have a link rail wear surface, which may be positioned an original wear surface height from the bushing. The idler may have a lower surface, which may be configured to wear against the link rail wear surface. The idler may also have an upper surface, which may be configured to wear against the bushing. The upper surface may be positioned radially outward of the lower surface by an original upper surface height. The original upper surface height may be between approximately 70% and approximately 90% of the original wear surface height.

Idler and undercarriage assembly for track-type machine

In the operation of conventional track assemblies it is common for an idler to have a pair of laterally extending wear treads to engage and support the wear rails defined by the track links of the track assembly as it is driven thereabout. This ultimately creates an arcuate wear pattern on the wear rails of the track links creating an extremely rough ride when the wear rails contact the track rollers suspended from a roller frame. The present invention provides a sprocketed idler that contacts a roller bushing that extends between a pair of chain assemblies defined by the track assembly to support the track assembly as it is rotated therearound. The sprocketed idler with roller bushings provides lateral guidance for the track assembly and, in combination with the roller bushings, provides noise reduction compared to conventional track assemblies.

Sprocketed idler for a track assembly

In the operation of conventional track assemblies it is common for an idler to have a pair of laterally extending wear treads to engage and support the wear rails defined by the track links of the track assembly as it is driven thereabout. This ultimately creates an arcuate wear pattern on the wear rails of the track links creating an extremely rough ride when the wear rails contact the track rollers suspended from a track roller frame. The present invention provides an idler member having a flange member that defines a raised center portion. The raised center portion contacts a roller bushing that extends between a pair of chain assemblies defined by the track assembly to support the track assembly as it is rotated therearound. The raised center portion further provides a pair of tapered side portions that are positioned between the chain assemblies and to provide lateral guiding thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Brimfield, IL, United States of America

Roger E Lawson