Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for preloading a thrust bearing disposed for carrying axial loads between a first member and a second member of a torque converter that are rotatable relative to each other about a central axis. The apparatus includes a first race assembly carried by the first member and disposed on one side of the thrust bearing. The first race assembly includes a fixed race having a radial bearing surface adapted to engage the bearing. A second race assembly is carried on the second member and is disposed on the other side of the thrust bearing. The second race assembly includes a floating race, a support ring, and a plurality of coil springs. The support ring has an annual groove with a bottom face disposed toward the thrust bearing and a plurality of apertures opening into the bottom face. The groove is adapted to receive the floating race and the apertures are adapted to receive the coil springs.

Abstract: Edge protectors for the leading portions of base edges have been utilized in many application to protect the leading portion of the base edge. It is advantageous to have an edge protector that is readily removed and replaced without having to remove additional elements. In the subject arrangement, a base edge protector assembly is included having a protector mounting lug and a replaceable lip protector. The protector mounting lug has a pair of spaced apart bosses and a laterally disposed flange therebetween while the lip protector has a cavity and load transferring surfaces located in the cavity. When assembled the load transferring surfaces are in mating contact with the laterally disposed flange of the protector mounting lug. First and second pairs of aligned openings are located in the lip protector and, when assembled, are in general alignment with the openings located in each boss of the pair of bosses. Flex pins are disposed in the openings to secure the lip protector to the protector mounting lug.

Abstract: A hydro-mechanical transmission 10 having fluid motor 48 that is entirely rotatable to eliminate the need for separate gearing is disclosed. The gearless hydro-mechanical transmission 10 provides a variable speed and torque output from an external mechanical power source 14 and an external hydraulic power source 20.

Abstract: Tooth assemblies having a tip with ears extending rearwardly therefrom to mate with corresponding slots in an adapter are normally utilized in order to aid in the transfer of forces from the tip to the adapter. Since the forces being directed to the tip are normally applied in various directions and of varying magnitudes, the ears extending from the tip may be subjected to forces attempting to pry them outwardly, thus, subjecting them to the possibility of breakage. In the subject arrangement, a tip includes a pair of opposed ears each having a pair of opposed edge surfaces that are angled one relative to the other. The pair of opposed ears of the tip mates with a pair of corresponding opposed slots defined in an adapter. The pair of opposed slots in the adapter likewise has a pair of opposed edge surfaces angled with respect to one another and are in confronting mating relationship with the pair of opposed edge surfaces of the pair of opposed ears.

Abstract: A radial lip seal for sealing about a pin of a hinge joint is disclosed. Such seal includes an outer mounting ring, a rubber flex ring mounted inside the mounting ring, a tension ring mounted inside the flex ring, and an inner elastomeric seal ring mounted inside the tension ring. The seal ring has an inside diameter that is a sufficient amount smaller than the pin to cause the tension ring to be stretched by a predetermined amount when the seal is mounted about the pin. The tension ring is capable of exerting a radial force of at least 20N/cm of circumference on the seal ring upon being stretched the predetermined amount. The unique construction of such a seal is effective in sealing out highly abrasive materials found in very severe operating applications, such as on earthmoving vehicles, and provides a seal having an extremely long service life in such applications.

Abstract: A composite rod wiper for an end cap of a hydraulic cylinder is disclosed for wiping the cylindrical exterior surface of an extensible and retractable rod extending through the end cap. The rod wiper includes a wiper ring of a first, hard and wear resistant elastomeric material. The wiper ring has a generally Vee shaped cross-sectional configuration having a radially inner acute wiper lip, an outer leg and an inner leg, each leg extending radially and axially inwardly in a diverging relation from each other from the wiper lip, and a cavity disposed intermediate the inner and outer legs. An energizer ring of a second, softer and more resilient elastomeric material is disposed in the cavity of the wiper ring. The composite rod wiper 10 provides wiper that has a long wear life, while at the same time maintaining the wiper lip in continuous wiping contact with the rod surface at a sufficient radial force level to ensure proper cleaning action throughout its useful life and during all temperature extremes.

Abstract: A composite radial seal for sealing the rod end of a hydraulic cylinder or suspension strut is disclosed. The composite seal includes a high abrasion resistant elastomeric seal ring having an elongated body. The body has a pressure end and a non-pressure end, with the pressure end having a U-cup configuration and a first dynamic seal lip and the non-pressure end having an enclosed annular cavity and a second dynamic seal lip. The cavity contains and is filled with a highly resilient energizer ring. Seal also includes an integral anti-extrusion ring that is bonded to the non-pressure end of the seal ring body adjacent and on the non-pressure side of the second seal lip to prevent extrusion of the seal lip into a clearance gap between a rod and a head of the cylinder or strut.

Abstract: Joint retention apparatus is disclosed for preventing axial end-play movement of the outboard end collars of track links on the opposite ends of the track pins of track for track-type vehicles. The retention apparatus is located inboard of the pin ends so as not to be exposed to wear from contact with the track guides of the vehicle and includes a pin groove formed about the pin, a link groove located at the inner end of the pin bore through outboard end collar of the link and a retention ring. The retention ring is transformed into a formed-in-place retainer when it is extruded into the retainer cavity formed by the pin and link grooves as the link is pressed onto the end of the pin during the track assembly process with the use of a track press.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of assembling a joint of an endless track chain for track-type vehicles to prevent end play in the joint is disclosed. The joint includes a pair of links and a cylindrical pin. Each link includes a laterally outwardly offset outboard end collar having a boss extending outwardly therefrom and a bore therethrough. Each boss has an outer periphery and the pin includes opposite end portions. Each end portion is pressed and non-rotatably mounted into a respective one of the bores of the outboard end collars. The method comprises the steps of forming a generally arcuately shaped annular groove about each of the end portions of the pin, placing a punch device against the outer periphery of the boss in radial alignment with the groove in the end portion of the pin, and applying a sufficient force on the punch device to form at least one mechanically formed nodule protruding from the second bore of each outboard end collar into a respective one of the grooves.

Abstract: An endless track chain with a rotatable bushing is disclosed that utilizes sleeve bearings for rotatably mounting the inboard end collars of the links about the pin. The joint of the track chain is sealed and lubricated. Sealing rings for the joint incorporates the use of a second set of seals for sealing between the rotatable bushing and the inboard end collars of the link. A unique design for the links enables the chain to accommodate the second set of seals without any loss of structural integrity in the chain or any disadvantageous increase in rail gauge width ('G") of the chain. The track chain also utilizes a punch for mechanically interlocking the outboard end collars of the links to the end portions of the pin to eliminate joint end play.

Abstract: A low ground pressure track chain with track links with offset pin and bushing bores is disclosed. The track chain is provided with a plurality of low ground pressure track shoes and includes a like plurality of link sets coupled by a like plurality of joints. Each link set has one of the track shoes secured thereto and includes a pair of laterally spaced links. Each link has a laterally offset inboard end collar having a first bore, an opposite laterally offset outboard end collar having a second bore, and a rail surface. The rail surface has a predetermined overall width between an inner edge and an outer edge. An inner surface of the inboard end collar is offset inwardly from the inner rail edge and an outer surface thereof is substantially offset outwardly to a position where it is closer to the outer rail edge than to the inner rail edge to provide the first bore with a predetermined press length that is greater than one-half the width of the rail surface.

Abstract: An endless track chain is provided with a rotatable sleeve that is mounted about the track bushing to provide the track with longer external bushing life. The rotatable sleeve is sealed and lubricated, as is the standard track joint. However, each is separate from the other with its own supply of lubricant. As a consequence, a failure of a seal for the rotatable sleeve has no effect on the track hinge joint.

Abstract: A maintenance-free pivot joint is disclosed for mounting a first member of a loader linkage to a second member thereof. The first member is provided with a clevis having a pair of brackets. The pivot joint includes a pivot pin which is pivotally mounted within the second loader linkage member. A first end collar is fixedly secured to one end of the pivot pin of the joint and is slidably mounted to a first one of the pair of brackets. Conversely, a second end collar is slidably mounted on the other end of the pin and fixedly secured to a second of the brackets, but at a preselectable axial position relative to the second member. The positioning of the second end collar at the preselected position allows the joint to accommodate lateral misalignment between the first and second members of the linkage, while maintaining a closely spaced lateral relationship therebetween to eliminate end play and facilitate good sealability.

Abstract: An end face seal assembly is disclosed for use in severe service applications, such as for use in sealing a track joint. The seal assembly includes a rubber load ring, an L-shaped metal seal ring and a polyurethane seal ring. The polyurethane seal ring is mounted in a groove provided in the end face of the track bushing and has a seal lip which dynamically seals against a radial sealing surface of the metal seal ring. The load ring mounts the metal ring in the counterbore of the outer track link and provides the axial force for urging the metal seal ring into axial sealing engagement against the seal lip. The seal assembly eliminates grooving of the bushing end face which occurs with the use of prior art seals which use such end face as a dynamic sealing surface. The metal seal ring of the present seal assembly is made of an extremely hard and corrosion resistant material so as to virtually eliminate such grooving.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for retaining a joint (12) of an endless track (14) for a crawler-type vehicle is provided which includes a metal preform (64,66) which is pressed into a retainer cavity (60,62) surrounding and located at each of the ends of the joint (12) of the track (14). The cavities (60,62) are cooperatively formed by a pin groove (70) in the opposite end portions (40,42) of the pin (20) and a link socket (72) in the respective link outboard end portions (26,27) and which are disposed in registry with the pin grooves (70). Once intruded into the cavities (60,62), the formed-in-place retainers (64,66) thereby provided virtually eliminate any end play in the joint (12) during operation of the crawler vehicle.

Abstract: A master track chain connection for use on track chains of crawler tractors is disclosed. The master connection includes apparatus for independently securing the track shoe to the split master link thereof and for retaining or clamping the half-links of the split master links together. Separating the track shoe retention function from the half-link clamping function maintains clamping integrity in the event of bolt-loosening as the result of load induced slippage of the track shoe relative the link. The apparatus includes a first bolt threaded into a first threaded aperture for solely fastening the track shoe to the link and a second bolt threaded into a second threaded aperture for solely retaining the half-links together. A third bolt is preferably provided for jointly securing the track shoe to the link and for clamping the half-links together.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining a joint of an endless track for a crawler-type vehicle is provided which includes a metal preform which is pressed into a retainer cavity surrounding and located at each of the ends of the joint of the track. The cavities are cooperatively formed by a pin groove in the opposite end portions of the pin and a link socket in the respective link outboard end portions and which are disposed in registry with the pin grooves. Once intruded into the cavities, the formed-in-place retainers thereby provided virtually eliminate any end play in the joint during operation of the crawler vehicle.

Abstract: A shear loaded face seal having means for increasing the torque transfer capacity of the shear loaded face seal between its support ring and its load ring along their mating interface is disclosed. In such a shear loaded face seal, the load ring is of a deformable rubber and the support ring is rigid. A varying torque is transmitted through the shear loaded face seal along the interface between the load ring and the seal ring. The torque transfer means comprises a surface texture on the mating surfaces of the support ring that has a configuration sufficient to generate a projected area that is at least five per cent of the surface area of a non-textured surface of equivalent dimensions. The surface texture is provided by a plurality of uniformly spaced micro splines that are oriented normal to the direction of the torque.