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. 27, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 07, 2000
J. Scott Burdick, North Pekin, IL (US);
Delbert D. Dester, Washington, IL (US);
Kevin M. Egle, Peoria, IL (US);
Thomas E. Oertley, Dunlap, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A drive mechanism includes a drive shaft and a sprocket drive assembly. The sprocket drive assembly includes a hub mechanically coupled to the drive shaft, a first side support secured to the hub, a second side support secured to the hub, and a plurality of engagement members each interposed between the first side support and the second side support. Each of the plurality of engagement members is rotatably secured to each of the first side support and the second side support. The drive mechanism further includes a track assembly which has a plurality of shoes which are secured to one another to form a track, and a plurality of drive lugs which are mounted to the plurality of shoes. Each of the plurality of drive lugs has a first grasping notch and a second grasping notch defined therein. The plurality of drive lugs includes a first drive lug and a second drive lug which are adjacent to each other. The first grasping notch of the first drive lug and the second grasping notch of the second drive lug cooperate to engage one of the plurality of engagement members when the hub is driven by the drive shaft.