Caterpillar Inc.

Thomas E Oertley

Kevin M Egle

Roy L Maguire

Delbert D Dester

J Scott Burdick

Dennis R Shookman

Billy R Bedford

Michael T James

Loreena S Plouse

Brian Douglas Hoff

Robert L Meyer

Roger Lee Recker

Gregory Jerome Kaufmann

David Jennings Hakes

Benjamin Isaac Jones

Michael D Hasselbusch

John Michael Plouzek

Daniel L Mikrut

William J Spivey

Jeff A Jensen

Brian C Howson

Roger E Lawson

Thomas Ellmann

Darby R Robertson

David Francis Schaefer

Carl P Adams

Gregory B Moebs

Thomas J Kowalski

Michael S Bottom

Thomas M Hoefft

Christopher A Junck

Jin Suzuki

Abram T Valencic

Michael R Standish

James M Hollister

Margaret M Lamb

Mark L Johnson

Jason L Kupferschmid

Chris Zach

Eric A Mathewson

Benjamin I Jones

David F Schaefer

James Hollister

A track joint assembly includes a first track shoe and a second track shoe, and a cartridge pin coupling together the first track shoe and the second track shoe. A sealed and lubricated track joint is formed by pin lugs on the first and the second track shoes, a cartridge pin, a pin retainer, a pin bore extending through pin lugs of the coupled-together track shoes, and a pin stop located in one of the pin lugs to inhibit displacement of the cartridge pin.

Track joint assembly in machine track having pin stop for cartridge pin retention

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

A pin joint includes a pin having a longitudinal axis. A bushing for use with a lateral pin retention system may be positioned around the pin. The bushing includes an arc groove disposed radially about an outer surface of the bushing. A retaining plug for use with the lateral pin retention system includes an engagement head shaped to engage the arc groove and may be attachable to a linkage of a machine.

Lateral pin retention system and method

Mounting arrangement includes a drawbar assembly universally coupled to a longitudinally extending front frame portion of a machine proximal to a front wheel and a distance rearward from the wheel. An implement mounting bracket pivotably coupled to the assembly defines an articulation axis. First and second hydraulic actuators advance respective power links coupled to the mounting bracket to rotate the mounting bracket about the articulation axis. Respective idler links limit the movement of the actuators and power links.

Control arrangement for motor grader blade

A rotary cutter for a tunnel boring machine or similar machine has a cutter ring mounted to a hub. The hub is mounted on a shaft. A sleeve bearing system is positioned between the hub and the shaft for supporting the hub on the shaft and allowing relative rotation. A duo-cone seal assembly is positioned between the hub and the shaft to seal out contaminants from the sleeve bearing system. An oil gallery with lubricating oil for lubricating the sleeve bearing system is provided in the shaft.

Rotary cutter for tunnel boring machine

An apparatus and method for reducing vibrational effects of track chain assembly catenary hang is disclosed. A work machine includes a pair of track roller assemblies one positioned on each side of the work machine. The vibration reducing apparatus and method includes repositioning undercarriage components to vary the catenary hang from one side of the work machine to the other.

Apparatus and method to reduce vibrations on a tracked work machine

A master link for a chain is disclosed. The master link may have a first half link member, a second half link member, and a pin joining the first and second half link members. The master link may also have a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered protrusion and fixedly connected to the second half link member at a second tapered protrusion.

Tapered master link design for tracked undercarriage

A track-type work machine is provided, including a roller frame and a track extending about the roller frame. A track roller is mounted along the roller frame and rotatable against the track. The track roller is rotatably supported by a bearing that includes a shaft extending in the track roller and at least one sleeve rotatable about the shaft. At least one of the sleeve and the track roller include a load transmitting crown. A method is further provided of reducing edge loading of a track roller bearing, by transmitting selected loads on the bearing toward a center thereof at least in part by crowning a rotatable sleeve of the bearing.

Machine track roller assembly

A frame for a work machine includes first and second wall portions having an axially aligned bore positioned therein. A boom is positioned between the first and second wall portions and has a bore that is alignable with the bores in the first and second wall portions. A first insert is disposed within the bore of the first wall portion of the frame and a second insert disposed within the bore of the second wall portion of the frame with each insert having a bore therethrough. A pin cartridge assembly is positioned in the bores of the first and second inserts and the boom. The pin cartridge assembly includes a pin having first and second end portions and an outer surface. A first collar having a through bore and a counter bore at one end, the collar is disposed about the outer surface of the pin. A second collar having through bore and a counter bore at one end, the collar is disposed about the outer surface of the pin. A bushing has a stepped bore that is rotatably disposed about the outer surface of the pin. A pair of sleeve bearings, one each being interposed the counter bore of the first and second collars and the stepped bore of the bushing.

Pin cartridge for a pin joint

A drive sprocket assembly includes a hub having an endless chain connected thereto. A plurality of driver members are mounted between the hub and the endless chain to provide sound suppression.

Reduced sound transmitting sprocket

Joint assemblies are useful for connecting one structure to another structure. When the various structures deflect or bend, edge loading occurs therebetween. The subject joint assembly includes a pin positioned between a first and second structure. An insert is free floating positioned around the pin for contacting either of the first or second structures. A crown shaped surface is utilized on the insert at a substantially central location therealong. The crown shaped surface directs forces to the center of the insert to reduce edge loading.

Joint assembly to resist galling

A master link for a track chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body portion having first and second spaced apart apertures extending therethough. A gap extends radially outward from one of the first and second apertures. At least one fastener operatively engages an aperture that extends through the gap. As the fastener is secured the width of the gap is reduced thereby reducing the diameter of one of the first and second apertures providing a clamping force.

Master link for a track chain

An idler assembly includes a hub has a plurality of segments connected thereto. A groove is positioned in either an outer circumferential surface of the hub or the inner surface of the plurality of segments. The groove has first and second tapered sides that terminate at a bottom surface. An isolation member is mounted between the hub and at least one of the plurality of segments to provide sound suppression.

Isolated idler assembly

A track tension actuator is provided for a track assembly having, an idler wheel, a drive wheel, a drive track entrained about the drive wheel and idler, and a hydraulic motor operable to advance the drive wheel. A drive circuit is operable to supply pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor. The actuator is coupled to the idler wheel, and includes a travel chamber, travel piston, a recoil chamber, and a recoil piston. The recoil chamber is pressurized to urge the recoil piston in a first direction away from the drive wheel. The drive fluid pressurizes the travel piston, which in turn contacts and urges the travel piston in a second direction against the recoil piston to reduce the track tension.

Track tension adjustment management actuator

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Thomas E Oertley