Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Stephen W Reiss

Donald A Piepho

Donald E Clemens

A track-type vehicle, such as a crawler tractor, comprises a pair of endless tracks mounted on either side thereof. Each of the tracks is entrained over a drive sprocket at its rearward end and over an idler at its forward end. The idler comprises a hub having a plurality of arcuate rim segments releasably attached on an annular flange thereof to define annular, track-engaging bearing surfaces. Each of the segments may be attached to the idler at a circumferentially disposed tongue and groove arrangement and an elastomeric cushioning and noise damping means may be disposed between each segment and the flange. One or more of the segments may be replaced in situ by merely moving the vehicle to expose the same.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Stephen W Reiss