Abstract: A ground-engaging track system includes a track having a first track chain and a second track chain, and an idler having pockets formed in an outer idler rim to receive inboard rail protrusions on track links in the first track chain and the second track chain. The inboard rail protrusions project from an inboard link side, and a central pad of an upper rail surface in the track link includes an anti-scalloping bump-out formed on the inboard rail protrusion.

Abstract: A link mounted part is formed as a part separate from a link body. The link mounted part includes a plate portion having a rail surface, and two projection portions which are integrally formed with the plate portion and project upward from the rail surface. A mounting pin mounts the link mounted part on the link body below the plate portion on a side opposite to the projection portions with respect to the plate portion.

Abstract: A track chain member includes a first rib coupling the shoe member to the first lug; and a second rib coupling the shoe member to the second lug, defining a first side recess between the first rib and the second rib. The first side recess also extends from the exterior of the shoe member and underneath the first top surface, the first lateral end defines a first lateral end width along the track chain traveling direction, and the first side recess also spans the majority of the first lateral end width along the track chain traveling direction.

Abstract: A track chain member includes a shoe member, and a first rail member extending from the shoe member. The first rail member includes a first lug defining a first bore defining a first longitudinal axis and including a first bushing retention shelf disposed in the first bore, a second lug including a second bushing retention shelf disposed in the second bore. A third lug extends in a direction opposite that of the first lug and second lug and is disposed axially between the first lug and the second lug.

Abstract: An undercarriage assembly associated with a machine is provided. The undercarriage assembly includes a ground engaging track adapted to crawl on a ground surface. The ground engaging track includes a plurality of track shoes. The ground engaging track also includes a plurality of pairs of track links pivotally connected to one another. Each of the track links includes a body member having a first side surface and a second side surface. The body member also includes a mounting hole defined in the body member. The mounting hole extends angularly with respect to the shoe surface. The ground engaging track further includes a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism includes a coupling member adapted to be received within the mounting hole, and welded to the track shoe to couple each of the plurality of track shoes with the respective track links.

Abstract: A track shoe for a track drive system, which comprises a shoe base, one or more drive lugs attached to the shoe base, and a wear plate attached to the shoe base. The shoe base and drive lugs may be formed from a prehardened engineering steel, such as MECASTEEL 145. The wear plate may be formed from MECASTEEL 145 or an advanced abrasion-resistant steel, such as Creusabro 8000. The drive lugs may be replaceably attached to the shoe base, preferably by welding. The wear plate may be replaceably attached to the shoe base, preferably by fasteners such as bolts.

Abstract: A track chain assembly for a crawler type work vehicle includes a plurality of links pivotally connected together at respective link joints. Each link joint includes a bushing, a pin, and at least one elastomeric bearing. Each elastomeric bearing includes an inside diameter (ID) engaging the pin and an outside diameter (OD) engaging a link and/or bushing. Each elastomeric bearing includes a plurality of alternating metal layers and elastomer layers.

Abstract: A tracked running gear includes a drive sprocket having two sides and laterally projecting tooth profiles on both sides; a guide wheel, at least one track roller, at least one support roller, and an endless chain formed by ground plates interconnected in an articulated manner. The ground plates have vertically extending parallel teeth which engage the tooth profiles on both sides of the drive sprocket as the ground plates are diverted around the drive sprocket. The ground plates also include a first running surface having a substantially rectilinear form between the teeth for engaging the track roller and support roller, and second running surfaces having a curved form and arranged on opposite sides of the first running surface and between the teeth for engagement with the guide wheel and the drive sprocket.

Abstract: A bushing for use in a tracked undercarriage of a track-type machine includes a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end. An outer surface extends between the first end and the second end and is shaped to engage a sprocket of the tracked undercarriage. The bushing also includes an annular inner surface disposed between the first end and the second end defining an internal cavity shaped to receive a track pin. An innermost portion of the inner surface forms a crown having a radius less than or equal to (PL2)/[(24E?DRBush4)(1?cos [(PL)/(16E?DRBush4))] where L is the length of the bushing, P is the weight of the track-type machine, E is the Modulus of Elasticity of the bushing, and RBush is a radius of the innermost portion of the annular internal cavity.

Abstract: A crawler track includes a link and is driven in a direction of travel by a sprocket having a plurality of teeth. The link includes a pad, a first grouser, and a second grouser. The pad defines a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end, and a second end spaced apart from the first end along the direction of travel. The pad defines at least one opening extending through the pad between the first surface and the second surface, and the opening is operable to receive a sprocket tooth. The first grouser is positioned on the first surface proximate the first end of the pad, while the second grouser is positioned on the first surface proximate the second end of the pad. The first grouser and the second grouser extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the track.

Abstract: A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear material on the rotatable element and sacrificial wear material on corresponding track links. The contact interface may have a configuration based on a location of the seals, and is adapted to inhibit wear of the track links in regions adjacent the seals. In another aspect, the contact interface is a guide interface.

Abstract: A roller element bearing 40 track bushing system embodiment for track link assemblies 14 capable of being used on a vehicle 10 having an endless track 12. Each track link assembly 14 has a track shoe assembly 20 defining a front pin bore 22 and a rear pin bore 24. Each track link assembly 14 has a front pin 26 at least partially disposed within the front pin bore 22, and a rear pin 28 at least partially disposed within the rear pin bore 24. The embodiment discloses at least one roller element bearing 40 disposed within the front pin bore 22 around a portion of the front pin 26, at least one roller element bearing 40 disposed within the rear pin bore 22 around a portion of the rear pin 28. The roller element bearings 40 cooperate to prolong the useful life of the track link assembly 14.

Abstract: A link for a track-type machine is disclosed. The link may have a body portion. The link may also have an aperture extending through the body portion. The aperture may have a cylindrical portion. Additionally, the aperture may have an annular groove formed in the cylindrical portion. The aperture may also have a tapered portion. The tapered portion may abut the cylindrical portion, and may taper toward the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A track chain link for use in an endless track chain has a longitudinal (or “x”) dimension and a lateral (or “y”) dimension. The track chain link has an x-y plane of symmetry about which the track chain link is symmetric.

Abstract: An endless track link that is able to reduce stress concentrations and to improve efficiency of an assembling process of the endless track link is detailed. A stress reinforcing part is formed in the region in which stress concentrations are generated in a window area. The reinforcing part extends in a direction apart from a track shoe and includes an extended part of a through-hole into which a track shoe connecting bolt is inserted. A female thread for engaging with the track shoe connecting bolt is formed at the extended part of the through-hole.

Abstract: A track shoe connecting link 25 has shaft holes 31, 32 at both end portions. In the track shoe connecting link 25, a plurality of insertion holes 39 are formed between the shaft holes 31, 32, and window holes 40, 41 are formed so as to correspond to each insertion hole 39. A bolt 43 is inserted through each of the insertion holes 39 and a nut 44 is screwed onto a distal end of the bolt 43 in each of the window holes 40, 41. Accordingly, the track shoe connecting link 25 is fixed to a track shoe 26. The area of the window hole 41 that is adjacent to the second shaft hole 32 is greater than the area of the window hole 40. Accordingly, the rigidity of the track shoe connecting link 25 becomes smaller toward the second shaft hole 32.

Abstract: A track chain assembly (22) has a track shoe (25) and a pair of parallel links (26) that are fixed to a non ground-engaging surface of the track shoe (25) with bolts (36). A connecting shaft (27) is fixed to shaft holes (31) that are provided on end portions each of which is included in the links (26). A reinforcing member (48) connects the links (26) with the bolts (36) so as to reinforce an open side between the links (26). Therefore, the links (26) are prevented from being damaged due to concentration of stress on a specific portion of each link (26).

Abstract: An endless track chairs for use with a track-type vehicle comprises a cartridge joined to the links of first and second link sets for relative rotation between the link sets.

Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.

Abstract: An enhanced traction device for use with a vehicle having dual tandem wheels includes a series of generally parallel track pads, each track pad having an alignment portion and a traction portion defining first and second ends. Each traction portion includes an inner surface for contacting the vehicle wheels and an outer surface for contacting ground. Each alignment portion extends away from a respective traction portion outer surface and is configured to pass between the dual wheels. The alignment portions maintain proper positioning of the track pads upon the dual tandem wheels of the vehicle. The traction device further includes a first chain coupled to each respective track pad first end for maintaining a predetermined spacing between said track pad first ends. Similarly, the traction device includes a second chain coupled to each track pad second end for maintaining a predetermined spacing between the track pad second ends.

Abstract: A track chain assembly (22) has a track shoe (25) and a pair of parallel links (26) that are fixed to a non ground-engaging surface of the track shoe (25) with bolts (36). A connecting shaft (27) is fixed to shaft holes (31) that are provided on end portions each of which is included in the links (26). A reinforcing member (48) connects the links (26) with the bolts (36) so as to reinforce an open side between the links (26). Therefore, the links (26) are prevented from being damaged due to concentration of stress on a specific portion of each link (26).

Abstract: A track shoe connecting link 25 has shaft holes 31, 32 at both end portions. In the track shoe connecting link 25, a plurality of insertion holes 39 are formed between the shaft holes 31, 32, and window holes 40, 41 are formed so as to correspond to each insertion hole 39. A bolt 43 is inserted through each of the insertion holes 39 and a nut 44 is screwed onto a distal end of the bolt 43 in each of the window holes 40, 41. Accordingly, the track shoe connecting link 25 is fixed to a track shoe 26. The area of the window hole 41 that is adjacent to the second shaft hole 32 is greater than the area of the window hole 40. Accordingly, the rigidity of the track shoe connecting link 25 becomes smaller toward the second shaft hole 32.

Abstract: An endless track comprising a plurality of links which are releasably, rotatably coupled together to form an endless track, and wherein each of the links has a male linking end, an opposite female linking end, and an outwardly facing surface, and wherein the male linking end of a first link releasably couples and decouples from the female linking end of an adjacent second link when the angular relationship between the first and second links as measured between the outwardly facing surfaces thereof lies in a range of greater than about 45 degrees to less than about 110 degrees, and wherein the first and second links freely rotate one relative to the other when the angular relationship between the first and second links lies in a range of greater than about 110 degrees to less than about 270 degrees.

Abstract: A link has link connecting bores (15) and (16) at both ends thereof and a wear rail (13) disposed between the upper portions of the link connecting bores (15) and (16). Portions near the ends of the wear rail (13) are designed to have a hardness smaller than that of a center portion of the wear rail. Accordingly, the portions near the ends of the wear rail can be abraded more easily than the center portion of the wear rail. Since the portions near the ends of the wear rail, in which the portions are easily abraded, are positioned closer to the link connecting bores, abrasion loss in use is smaller than that of the center portion owing to its structure. So, the difference in abrasion amount makes it possible to lower a level irregularity of the wear rail.

Abstract: There is provided a crawler system and a crawler link structure which can be easily assembled and is superior in durability and provided at low cost. The crawler system comprises a crawler 2 in which pairs of opposed right and left links 1a and 1b are endlessly connected. One end of the pair of right and left links 1a and 1b are connected through a cylindrical connection part 3. Middle parts of the pair of right and left links 1a and 1b in the longitudinal direction are connected by an engaging part 4 which engages with a concave tooth 29 of concave-convex teeth 28 of a crawler sprocket 27. The pairs of right and left links 1a and 1b are endlessly connected by inserting connection pins 12 to the connection parts 3.

Abstract: Each crawler shoe comprises a main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposite lateral sides and opposite front and rear sides. Each crawler shoe further includes a mechanism on the main body for articulately and releasably connecting the crawler shoe to an adjacent crawler shoe. Each crawler shoe further includes a roller path on the upper surface of the main body and drive lugs attached to the upper surface of the main body on opposite sides of the roller path. Each crawler shoe further includes an upward extending peening portion so that when a downward force is applied to the peening portion, unrestricted metal flow at the peening portion can occur in a first horizontal direction and in a second horizontal direction greater than 45 degrees from the first horizontal direction. More particularly, the peening portion is greater than 0.1 inch tall, and, in the preferred embodiment, about 0.25 inches tall.

Abstract: A master link for a track chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body portion having first and second spaced apart apertures extending therethough. A gap extends radially outward from one of the first and second apertures. At least one fastener operatively engages an aperture that extends through the gap. As the fastener is secured the width of the gap is reduced thereby reducing the diameter of one of the first and second apertures providing a clamping force.

Abstract: A crawler undercarriage mechanism includes a plurality of running rollers, and at least one drive sprocket wheel which is provided with chain teeth, and has a running tread and wheel flanges on both sides. An endless chain with individual chain links which are connected releasably to one another by bolts and a plurality of interengaging outer and inner link plates is driven by the sprocket wheel. Each chain link has two guide webs which have a bearing surface, which interacts with the running treads, and a guide surface, which interacts with respective ones of the wheel flanges. The web guides have a cam-like element which connects the two webs and meshes with the chain teeth of the drive sprocket wheel. The drive sprocket wheel has an involute toothing arrangement which meshes with a rectilinear flank of the cam-like element, and top side of the respective guide web has a concavely curved bearing surface, which interacts with the convexly curved running-tread surface of the drive sprocket wheel.

Abstract: A device constituting a part of a band. The band being intended to be arranged around at least one wheel (2) of a vehicle for cooperation with a bed. The device comprising a grouser (1) intended to extend substantially across the envelope surface of the wheel (2), two members connected to the grouser and arranged at a mutually distance for forming a support for the grouser (1) on each side of the wheel (2). Connection members (4) including at least one opening (5) for receiving a part of a link element (6) fo connecting to devices being adjacent with respect to the longitudinal direction of the band. At least one of the support members (3) and one fo the connection members (4) are arranged in one piece to form a combination element (7). The opening (5) of the combination element (7) endings in a surface which is directed towards the grouser (1).

Abstract: A link includes a body member having (i) a first side, (ii) a second side, (iii) a first aperture defined therethrough, and (iv) a second aperture defined therethrough. The body member has a rail surface and a shoe surface. A central axis passes through the rail surface and the shoe surface so as to define a substantially 90° angle between (i) the rail surface and the central axis and (ii) the shoe surface and the central axis. The body member is symmetrical about the central axis. The first aperture is off-set from the second aperture so that the first aperture is not coplanar with the second aperture.

Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a sprocket drive assembly which includes a hub, and a plurality of engagement members each being supported by the hub. The drive mechanism further includes a track assembly having 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. The drive lugs engage the plurality of engagement members when the hub is rotated. Each of the drive lugs includes a left lateral rail segment and a right lateral rail segment. The track assembly further includes a support roller mechanically coupled to a chassis of the work machine. The support roller includes a left wheel and a right wheel. The left wheel is supported by the left lateral rail segment during advancement of the track. The right wheel is supported by the right lateral rail segment during advancement of the track.

Abstract: A shoe for an endless track has an internal frame with an elastomeric coating. The frame includes tubular supports to receive a pivot pin for interconnection of adjacent shoes. The pin is located within the tubular supports by elastomeric bushings that accommodate relative pivotal movement by torsional deflection.

Abstract: The soft bottom track assembly of the present invention includes inner pad assemblies, side plate assemblies, and link and cross bolt assemblies. An inner pad assembly includes a multiplicity of longitudinally arranged pads, hingedly attached one to the next, each having an upper iron casting with a rubber/urethane material bonded thereto. The pads are arranged in rows, with each row staggered from each adjacent row so that there are always pads in contact with the surface on which the track is riding. A raised area on the cast iron backing provides traction between the tire and the track assembly. Each pad includes holes for hinged attachment to adjacent pads, also permitting adjustment of the size of the track length, depending on the hole arrangement selected during track assembly installation.

Abstract: A self-cleaning track for reducing the accumulation of debris between the moving and non-moving components of an endless track. The inventive device includes a plurality of track pads interconnected to form an endless track. Each track pad comprises at least one grouser member extending between a pair of opposing side members, a cavity within each of the side members, an opening projecting into a side of each side member exposing the cavity, a pair of slots on opposing sides of the side members for pivotally receiving a link member, and a ramp portion projecting into each side member from the a lower portion of the slots. The opening allows debris accumulated within the cavity to escape freely. The ramp portions of the slots allow the debris to descend from the cavity when the track pad is in a substantially upper position along the endless track.

Abstract: In the case of a connector endless track with travelling pad, the invention aims to guarantee a long service life for the travelling pads (1). The load-bearing surface of the travelling pad (1) on the carriageway is reduced by the engagement of a tooth (25) of a drive ring (26) into a tube body (5) of the connector endless track. In order to provide a compensation effect here the travelling pad (1) is extended in a direction towards the opening (3) and covers at least a portion (2) of the surface region of the opening (3) for the engagement of a drive ring (26).