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:
Jun. 20, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1998
John P Sewell, Aurora, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
In the operation of machines of the type that are typically designed to traverse terrain having deposits of debris, it is a common problem to have the debris become attached to the wheels of the machine and rotate therewith. In many instances this causes material to become entrained around the axles of the machine requiring continual maintenance and occasionally causing damage to the axle components. The present invention provides a guard member that is positioned about the axle assemblies to reduced the chance of material falling from the wheels onto the axle assemblies. The guard member defines a plurality of angled plates that are positioned in closely adjacent, parallel proximity to a plurality of wear strips that are positioned equidistantly about the wheel. The angled plates are positioned at angles that are offset from the each other and the wear strips and react in a scissoring manner with respect to one another to shear any material that may become lodged therebetween.