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:
Jan. 27, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 04, 2002
Brian D. Hoff, East Peoria, IL (US);
Thomas E. Oertley, Dunlap, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A track tension actuator is provided for a track assembly having, an idler wheel, a drive wheel, a drive track entrained about the drive wheel and idler, and a hydraulic motor operable to advance the drive wheel. A drive circuit is operable to supply pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor. The actuator is coupled to the idler wheel, and includes a travel chamber, travel piston, a recoil chamber, and a recoil piston. The recoil chamber is pressurized to urge the recoil piston in a first direction away from the drive wheel. The drive fluid pressurizes the travel piston, which in turn contacts and urges the travel piston in a second direction against the recoil piston to reduce the track tension.