Recoil system with guided slide assembly for track-type vehicles

• US 4,406,501 A
• Filed: 01/29/1982
• Issued: 09/27/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Americas Company (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Christensen, Jon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Application Number:
  US06/361,698
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 305/10, 305/22, 305/24, 305/27, 305/28, 305/31, 305/32
• US Class Current: 305/145
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/08 Endless track units; Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/30 Track-tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/305 acting on pivotably mounted idlers

Abstract

A track-type vehicle (10) includes a track roller frame (13), a track idler (18) mounted forwardly on the track roller frame (13), and a recoil system (19) interconnected between the track roller frame (13) and the track idler (18). Conventional recoil systems, such as those employing one or more return springs therein, are sometimes subjected to adverse impact loads which could unduly subject undercarriage components to high stresses. This invention is directed to a slider assembly (29) slidably mounted for fore and aft movements on the track roller frame (13) and having the track idler (18) rotatably mounted thereon. Linear movement of the slider assembly (29) on the track roller frame (13) is guided by a pair of guides (30) laterally spaced on either side of the track idler (18).

Claims

1. In a track-type vehicle (10) having a track roller frame (13), a track idler (18) mounted forwardly on said track roller frame (13), and a recoil system (19) interconnected between said track roller frame (13) and said track idler (18), said recoil system (19) including a slider assembly (29) having a pair of elongated slide means (30) for slidably mounting said slider assembly (29) for fore and aft movements on said track roller frame (13), said slide means (30) being laterally spaced on either side of said track idler (18), the improvement comprising:

each of said slide means (30) including an elongated flange (35) and an elongated wear insert (34) mounted and providing bearing surfaces between said track roller frame (13) and said flange (35) and wherein said slider assembly (29) further includes a pair of brackets (41), disposed on either side and rotatably mounting said track idler (18) therebetween, each extending downward from a respective one of said flanges (35).

2. The vehicle (10) of claim 1 wherein said wear insert (34) is slidably and removably mounted between said track roller frame (13) and said flange (35).

3. The vehicle (10) of claim 2 further including retaining means (36) for holding said wear insert (34) in a fixed position on said track roller frame (13).

4. The vehicle (10) of claim 3 wherein said retaining means (36) includes plates (37,38) releasably attached to opposite ends of said track roller frame (13) to at least partially overlap the opposite ends of said wear insert (34).

5. The vehicle (10) of claim 1 further including an elongated slot (31) formed on said track roller frame (13) and wherein said wear insert (34) is channel-shaped and is mounted in said slot (31), said flange (35) being slidably mounted in said wear insert (34) and positioned to face laterally away from the other flange (35).

6. The vehicle (10) of claim 1 wherein said flanges (35) are formed on said slider assembly (29) to extend laterally away from each other and said slots (31) face inwardly towards each other.

7. A track-type vehicle (10) comprising

a chassis (11),

an undercarriage (12) including

a pair of track roller frames (13) mounted on opposite sides of said chassis (11),

an endless track assembly (15) mounted on each of said track roller frames (13),

a track idler (18) having said track assembly (15) entrained thereover, and

a recoil system (19) including

a slider assembly (29) slidably mounted for fore and aft movements on said track roller frame (13) and having a pair of downwardly extending brackets (41) rotatably mounting said track idler (18) therebetween, and

elongated and channel-shaped wear inserts (34) facing inwardly towards each other and slidably mounting said slider assembly (29) on said track roller frame (13) vertically above the location whereat said brackets (41) rotatably mount said track roller (18) thereon.

8. The vehicle (10) of claim 7 further including a pair of elongated flanges (35) laterally spaced on either side of said track idler (18) and slidably mounted in said wear inserts (34).

9. The vehicle (10) of claim 8 wherein said wear inserts (34) are slidably and removably mounted between said track roller frame (13) and said flanges (35).

10. The vehicle (10) of claim 9 further including retaining means (36) for holding said wear inserts (34) in a fixed position on said track roller frame (13).

11. The vehicle (10) of claim 10 wherein said retaining means (36) includes plates (37,38) releasably attached to opposite ends of said track roller frame (13) to at least partially overlap the opposite ends of each of said wear inserts (34).

12. The vehicle (10) of claim 7 wherein said recoil system (19) includes a fluid cylinder (20) and wherein said slider assembly (29) is connected to said fluid cylinder (20).

13. A track-type vehicle (10) comprising

a chassis (11),

an undercarriage (12) including

a pair of track roller frames (13) mounted on opposite sides of said chassis (11),

an endless track assembly (15) mounted on each of said track roller frames (13),

a track idler (18) having said track assembly (15) entrained thereover, and

a recoil system (19) including

a slider assembly (29) slidably mounted for fore and aft movements on said track roller frame (13) and having a pair of downwardly extending brackets (41) rotatably mounting said track idler (18) therebetween,

a pair of elongated slots (31) defined internally on said track roller frame to face inwardly towards each other, and

an elongated flange (35) formed on an upper end of each of said brackets (41) and slidably mounted in each of said slots (31).

14. The track-type vehicle (10) of claim 13 further including a channel-shaped wear insert (34) mounted in each of said slots (31) and having a said flange (35) slidably mounted therein.