Caterpillar Inc.

Thomas M Hoefft

Thomas E Oertley

Michael D Hasselbusch

John Michael Plouzek

Billy R Bedford

Jeff A Jensen

Dennis R Shookman

Michael S Bottom

Jason L Kupferschmid

Eric A Mathewson

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 metal-to-metal face seal assembly comprises a static seal ring secured to a rotating element, such as a track roller of a tracked machine. The static seal ring has a seal face, and a dynamic seal ring has a seal face in sealing engagement with the seal face of the static ring. The dynamic seal ring has a ramp thereon extending at 8 degrees relative to horizontal in a direction away from the seal face thereof. The seal assembly further includes a seal housing, which may be the end collar of the track roller, having an annular ramp formed thereon confronting the ramp of the dynamic seal ring, which seal housing ramp extends at 10 degrees relative to horizontal. The ramps converge in a direction away from a seal plane defined by the mutually-engaging faces of the seal rings. A load ring disposed between the ramps is pre-compressed to its maximum strain level to provide the desired face loads on the seal faces.

Face seal assembly with static seal ring

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Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Thomas M Hoefft