Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Rollin P Van Zandt

Robert J Purcell

Howard A Marsden

David J Balzer

Willard J Haak

A track-type vehicle comprises a track roller frame mounted on either side thereof and an endless track assembly mounted on each of the frames. Each frame further carries a final drive thereon, including at least one planetary gear set and a sprocket drivingly engaged with a respective track assembly. The power input to the final drive preferably comprises a hydrostatic motor for selectively driving a carrier of the planetary gear set which is attached to the sprocket for simultaneous rotation therewith.

Final sprocket drive for track-type vehicles

The invention provides a suspension system for track-type vehicles. The system comprises a resilient assembly for mounting on the track roller frame of the vehicle which includes a tubular member having a stack of resilient pads therewithin and a plurality of spaced coaxial resilient members therearound. The mounted assembly effectively cushions relative vertical and horizontal movement between the track roller frame and main frame of the vehicle. An alternate embodiment includes a resilient assembly having a plurality of obliquely oriented resilient pads mounted upon the track roller frame to form a pocket for receiving a complimentary mating bracket secured to the main frame of the vehicle. The assembly effectively cushions horizontal and vertical relative movement between the main and track roller frames of the vehicle.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Rollin P Van Zandt