Track link having a wear sensing device

• US 9,475,526 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: McKinley, Timothy Allen, Knitt, Andrew Alfred, Diekevers, Mark Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US14/466,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 794 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/202 Wheel engaging parts; Wheel guides on links
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/21 Links connected by transverse pivot pins
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/32 Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/18 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/06 Special adaptations of indicating or recording means

Abstract

A track link having a wear sensing device is disclosed. The track link may include a link body including a surface, a cavity, and at least one hole configured to receive a track pin. The track link may further include the wear sensing device positioned in the cavity. The wear sensing device may be configured to generate a signal indicative of a wear parameter of the surface. The track link may further include a containment mechanism configured to secure the wear sensing device in position inside the cavity.

Claims

1. A track link for a track assembly of a machine, comprising:

a link body including a wear surface, a cavity formed in the link body in proximity to the wear surface, a passage extending from the cavity to the wear surface, and at least one hole configured to receive a track pin;

a sensing device positioned in the cavity and configured to generate a signal indicative of a wear parameter of the surface, the sensing device including a wear portion extending through the passage to the wear surface such that as the wear surface wears away, the wear portion also wears away, and the sensing device further including one or more controllers, a memory device, and a transceiver configured to generate the signal and wirelessly broadcast the signal to a communication device on the machine; and

a containment mechanism configured to secure the sensing device in position inside the cavity.

2. The track link of claim 1, wherein the containment mechanism is a material that fills the cavity with the sensing device embedded therein.

3. The track link of claim 2, wherein the material is a potting epoxy.

4. The track link of claim 1, wherein the containment mechanism is a housing configured to receive the sensing device therein.

5. The track link of claim 4, wherein the sensing device is removably received in the housing.

6. The track link of claim 4, wherein the housing is removably received in the cavity.

7. The track link of claim 1, wherein the sensing device further includes a power source.

8. The track link of claim 7, wherein the power source includes a battery configured to be wirelessly charged.

9. The track link of claim 7, wherein the power source includes a vibration-based energy-harvesting system.

10. A method of installing a sensing device in a track link, comprising:

forming a cavity in a link body of the track link in proximity to a wear surface of the link body, and forming a passage extending from the cavity to the wear surface;

positioning the sensing device inside the cavity, the sensing device including a wear portion extending through the passage to the wear surface such that as the wear surface wears away, the wear portion also wears away, and the sensing device further including one or more controllers, a memory device, and a transceiver configured to generate a signal indicative of a wear parameter of the wear surface and wirelessly broadcast the signal to a communication device on the machine; and

holding the sensing device in position within the cavity with a containment mechanism.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the cavity includes machining the cavity into a second surface.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein holding the sensing device in place within the cavity includes pouring or injecting a potting epoxy into the cavity.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein holding the sensing device in place within the cavity includes positioning the sensing device in a housing and positioning the housing in the cavity.

14. A detection system for a track assembly of a machine, comprising:

a track link including a wear surface;

a cavity formed in the track link in proximity to the wear surface, a passage extending from the cavity to the wear surface;

a sensing device secured to the track link within the cavity and configured to detect a wear parameter of the wear surface, the sensing device including a wear portion extending through the passage to the wear surface such that as the wear surface wears away, the wear portion also wears away, and the sensing device further including one or more controllers, a memory device, and a transceiver configured to generate a signal indicative of the wear parameter of the wear surface and wirelessly broadcast the signal to a communication device mounted to the machine; and

wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a corresponding signal indicative of the wear parameter to a computing device.

15. The detection system of claim 14, wherein the track link includes a containment mechanism configured to:

secure the sensing device inside the cavity, and

allow the signal to pass therethrough,

wherein an exposed portion of the containment mechanism faces away from the machine.