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:
Nov. 16, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1997
Applicant:
Inventor:
Lowell R Hall, Elwood, IL (US);
Assignee:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
305145 ; 305143 ; 305144 ; 305149 ;
Abstract
A hydraulic track tensioning circuit is connected to an idler wheel of a track drive mechanism to maintain a tension in a track proportional to the drawbar pull of the track drive mechanism. The tensioning circuit includes a variable pressure relief valve having a variable pressure setting controller which controls the tensioning pressure in a supply line connected to a hydraulic tensioning cylinder in response to the highest pressure in a pair of motor ports of a reversible hydraulic drive motor operative to propel the track drive mechanism.