The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 1978
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1976
Dale H Unruh, Peoria, IL (US);
Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A track assembly for use on track-supported vehicles, such as excavators and the like, including a driven sprocket, a rigid undercarriage which extends forwardly of the sprocket and which supports the body of the vehicle, the undercarriage being supported by a series of linearly aligned track rollers, and an idler assembly, including a rigid linking member and idler wheel. The linking member is pivotally mounted on the front of the undercarriage and extends forwardly therefrom, and the idler wheel is rotatably mounted on the front of the linking member. A motive force is attached to the undercarriage and to the linking member to selectively move the idler assembly from a first position wherein the bottom of the idler wheel is lower than the bottom of the track rollers, and a second position wherein the bottom of the idler wheel is higher than the bottom of the track rollers. An endless track forms a circuit about the sprocket, track rollers and idler wheel.