Implement steerable track assembly with pivoting steering actuator

• US 9,688,322 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Prickel, Marvin A., Prodduturi, Shivakumar, Zach, David Allen, Lykken, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole
• Application Number:
  US15/093,094
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/20 Endless-track steering having pivoted bogie carrying track B62D11/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/00 Steering specially adapted for trailers combined traction and steering hitches B60D
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/02 with tracks and additional ground wheels for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/084 Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units B62D55/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/116 Attitude or position control of chassis by action on suspension, e.g. to compensate for a slope

Abstract

A work vehicle includes left and right track assemblies, each track assembly including a main frame, a pivot member, a pivot shaft coupled to the pivot member, and an actuator coupled between the pivot shaft and the main frame. Each track assembly is configured to permit pivotal steering movement, pivotal pitch movement, and pivotal camber movement. The actuator of each track assembly is coupled to the respective main frame at one end of the actuator, and at an opposite end of the actuator to an actuator anchor via a self-aligning bearing arrangement to permit transmission of steering forces while enabling pivotal movement of the respective track assembly.

Claims

1. A work vehicle comprising:

left and right track assemblies, each track assembly comprising a main frame, a pivot member, a pivot shaft coupled to the pivot member, and an actuator coupled between the pivot shaft and the main frame,

wherein each track assembly is configured to permit pivotal steering movement, pivotal pitch movement, and pivotal camber movement, and

wherein the actuator of each track assembly is coupled to the respective main frame at one end of the actuator, and at an opposite end of the actuator to an actuator anchor via a self-aligning bearing arrangement to permit transmission of steering forces while enabling pivotal movement of the respective track assembly.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein each actuator anchor is secured to the respective pivot shaft.

3. The work vehicle of claim 2, wherein each actuator anchor is split, fitted around the respective pivot shaft, and secured to the pivot shaft by fasteners that at least partially close the split.

4. The work vehicle of claim 2, wherein each pivot shaft is pivotally mounted and the actuator is pivotal with the pivot shaft.

5. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein each self-aligning bearing arrangement comprises a bushing fitted into an aperture on a cap end of the respective actuator.

6. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein each self-aligning bearing mounts the respective actuator to move about a generally vertical axis for exertion of the steering forces, and wherein each self-aligning bearing permits a degree of angular displacement of the generally vertical axis.

7. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the actuators comprise identical hydraulic cylinders, and wherein a rod end of each hydraulic cylinder is secured to the respective main frame, and a cap end of each hydraulic cylinder is secured to the respective actuator anchor.

8. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the left and right track assemblies are mirror images of one another.

9. The work vehicle of claim 8, wherein the main frame, the pivot member, the pivot shaft, the actuator, and the actuator anchor of the left and right track assemblies are identical components.

10. A track assembly for a work vehicle comprising:

a main frame, a pivot member, a pivot shaft coupled to the pivot member, and an actuator coupled between the pivot shaft and the main frame, wherein the track assembly is configured to permit pivotal steering movement, pivotal pitch movement, and pivotal camber movement, and

wherein the actuator is coupled to the respective main frame at one end of the actuator, and at an opposite end of the actuator to an actuator anchor via a self-aligning bearing arrangement to permit transmission of steering forces while enabling pivotal movement of the track assembly.

11. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the track assembly is mounted on a work vehicle that comprises another substantially mirror image track assembly having an identical main frame, an identical pivot member, an identical pivot shaft, and an identical actuator.

12. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuator anchor is secured to the pivot shaft.

13. The track assembly of claim 12, wherein the actuator anchor is split, fitted around the pivot shaft, and secured to the pivot shaft by fasteners that at least partially close the split.

14. The track assembly of claim 12, wherein the pivot shaft is pivotally mounted and the actuator is pivotal with the pivot shaft.

15. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the self-aligning bearing arrangement comprises a bushing fitted into an aperture on a cap end of the actuator.

16. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the self-aligning bearing mounts the actuator to move about a generally vertical axis for exertion of the steering forces, and wherein the self-aligning bearing permits a degree of angular displacement of the generally vertical axis.

17. A method for making a work vehicle, comprising:

assembling left and right track assemblies, each track assembly comprising a main frame, a pivot member, a pivot shaft coupled to the pivot member, and an actuator coupled between the pivot shaft and the main frame, wherein each track assembly is configured to permit pivotal steering movement, pivotal pitch movement, and pivotal camber movement; and

connecting the actuator of each track assembly to the respective main frame at one end of the actuator, and at an opposite end of the actuator to an actuator anchor via a self-aligning bearing arrangement to permit transmission of steering forces while enabling pivotal movement of the respective track assembly.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising securing each actuator anchor to the respective pivot shaft.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein each self-aligning bearing arrangement comprises a bushing fitted into an aperture on a cap end of the respective actuator.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising mounting each actuator to the respective self-aligning bearing to move about a generally vertical axis for exertion of the steering forces, and wherein each self-aligning bearing permits a degree of angular displacement of the generally vertical axis.