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. 26, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1997
Jon S. Burdick, Pekin, IL (US);
Jerry D. Fidler, Mossville, IL (US);
Roger E. Lawson, Brimfield, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
In the operation of conventional track assemblies it is common for an idler to have a pair of laterally extending wear treads to engage and support the wear rails defined by the track links of the track assembly as it is driven thereabout. This ultimately creates an arcuate wear pattern on the wear rails of the track links creating an extremely rough ride when the wear rails contact the track rollers suspended from a roller frame. The present invention provides a sprocketed idler that contacts a roller bushing that extends between a pair of chain assemblies defined by the track assembly to support the track assembly as it is rotated therearound. The sprocketed idler with roller bushings provides lateral guidance for the track assembly and, in combination with the roller bushings, provides noise reduction compared to conventional track assemblies.