Guide rail for crawler track

• US 9,776,676 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc. (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies Inc. (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Inventors: Scheuerman, Adam, Brenny, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US14/538,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20150130268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 305116
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/092 with lubrication means lubricating in general F16N
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/10 Bogies; Frames track-tensioning means B62D55/30
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/15 Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings with lubrication means B62D55/092
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/202 Wheel engaging parts; Wheel guides on links
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/26 Ground engaging parts or elements tracks specially adapted for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0015

Abstract

A crawler mechanism includes a frame, a track including a plurality of shoes coupled together and supported for movement relative to the frame along a direction of travel, a sprocket, and a guide rail. The frame includes a first end, a second end, a first side extending between the first end and the second end and proximate a support surface, and a second side. Each shoe includes an intermediate portion having a first hardness. The sprocket drives the plurality of shoes to move along the second side of the frame. The guide rail is coupled to the second side of the frame and includes a base having an outer surface and a coating bonded to the outer surface. The coating contacts the intermediate portion of the shoes as the shoes move along the second side of the frame, and the coating defines a second hardness less than the first hardness.

Claims

1. A crawler mechanism comprising:

a frame including a first end, a second end, a first side extending between the first end and the second end and proximate a support surface, and a second side;

a track including a plurality of shoes coupled together and supported for movement relative to the frame along a direction of travel, each shoe including a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion positioned between the first end and the second end, the intermediate portion having a shoe hardness;

a sprocket rotatably coupled to the first end of the frame, the sprocket driving the plurality of shoes to move along the second side of the frame;

a guide rail coupled to the second side of the frame and including a base having an outer surface and a coating bonded to the outer surface, the outer surface of the base having a base hardness, the coating contacting the intermediate portion of the shoes as the shoes move along the second side of the frame, the coating having a coating hardness less than the shoe hardness; and

a roller supported by the frame for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the plurality of shoes, the roller positioned adjacent the first side of the frame and exerting a compressive force on the intermediate portion of each shoe, wherein the compressive force work hardens the shoe during a work-hardening period,

wherein the shoe hardness of the intermediate portion is initially less than the base hardness, wherein after the work-hardening period the shoe hardness of the intermediate portion is equal to or greater than the base hardness.

2. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein the coating is composed of polyurethane.

3. The crawler mechanism of claim 2, wherein the coating is composed of polyurethane impregnated with a lubricative medium.

4. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of each shoe includes a wear surface and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the wear surface, wherein wear on the protrusion facilitates work hardening of the shoe.

5. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein the coating has a thickness and a hardness to resist wear for at least the duration of the work-hardening period of the shoe.

6. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein the roller is supported for rotation by a pin aligned with the axis of rotation of the roller, each roller defining an internal bore and each pin defining an outer surface having a polymeric coating engaging the internal bore.

7. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein the roller is supported for rotation by a pin aligned with the axis of rotation of the roller, wherein a nylon thrust washer is positioned between the roller and the pin.

8. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein the guide rail includes multiple portions aligned with one another along a line parallel to the direction of travel, each portion being coupled to the frame independent of the other portions.

9. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein the guide rail is removably coupled to the frame.

10. The crawler mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the coating remains on the outer surface of the base for the duration of the work-hardening period of the plurality of shoes, the coating configured to wear away after the work-hardening period of the plurality of shoes.

11. A crawler mechanism comprising:

a frame including a first end and a second end;

a first sprocket supported for rotation relative to the frame;

a second sprocket rotatably coupled to the second end of the frame;

a plurality of rollers rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the frame, the rollers aligned with one another such that all of the rollers rotate in a common plane;

a track including a plurality of shoes coupled together and driven by at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket for movement in a direction parallel to the common plane of the rollers, the track defining an upper run and a lower run, the lower run positioned adjacent the rollers, each shoe including a wear portion contacting the rollers as the shoe moves along the lower run, the wear portion of each shoe having a shoe hardness; and

a guide rail assembly coupled to the frame and positioned adjacent the upper run of the track, the guide rail assembly including a base having an outer surface and a coating bonded to the outer surface, the outer surface of the base having a base hardness, the coating engaging the wear portion of each shoe as the shoe moves along the upper run,

wherein each roller exerts a compressive force on the wear portion of each shoe, the compressive force work hardening each shoe during a work-hardening period, and

wherein the shoe hardness is initially less than the base hardness, and after the work-hardening period the shoe hardness is equal to or greater than the base hardness.

12. The crawler mechanism of claim 11, wherein the coating has a coating hardness less than the shoe hardness.

13. The crawler mechanism of claim 11, wherein the coating is composed of polyurethane.

14. The crawler mechanism of claim 13, wherein the coating is composed of polyurethane impregnated with a lubricative medium.

15. The crawler mechanism of claim 11, wherein each wear portion includes a wear surface and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the wear surface, wherein the rollers exert a compressive force on the protrusion to facilitate work hardening of the shoe.

16. The crawler mechanism of claim 11, wherein the coating has a thickness and a hardness to resist wear for at least the duration of the work-hardening period of the shoe.

17. The crawler mechanism of claim 11, wherein each roller is supported for rotation by a pin oriented transverse to the common plane of the rollers, each roller defining an internal bore and each pin defining an outer surface having a polymeric coating engaging the internal bore.

18. The crawler mechanism of claim 11, wherein the guide rail assembly includes multiple portions aligned with one another such that all of the portions lie in a common plane, each portion being removably coupled to the frame independent of the other portions.

19. The crawler mechanism of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the coating remains on the outer surface of the base for the duration of the work-hardening period of the plurality of shoes, the coating configured to wear away after the work-hardening period of the plurality of shoes.

20. A frame for a crawler mechanism including a continuous track, the frame comprising:

a first end supporting a first sprocket for driving the continuous track;

a second end supporting a second sprocket;

a first side extending between the first end and the second end and positioned proximate a support surface, the first side including a plurality of rollers supported for rotation, the rollers being aligned with one another such that all of the rollers rotate in a common plane extending between the first end and the second end; and

a guide rail assembly defining a second side extending at least partially between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the guide rail assembly including a base having an outer surface and a coating bonded to the outer surface, the outer surface having a base hardness and the coating having a coating hardness less than the base hardness.

21. The frame of claim 20, wherein the guide rail assembly includes multiple portions aligned with one another such that all of the portions lie in a common plane, each portion being removably coupled to the frame independent of the other portions.

22. The frame of claim 20, wherein the coating is composed of polyurethane.

23. The frame of claim 20, wherein the coating has a thickness and a hardness such that the coating is configured to resist wear for at least the duration of a work-hardening period of the track.

24. The frame of claim 20, wherein each roller is supported for rotation by a pin oriented transverse to the common plane of the rollers, each roller defining an internal bore and each pin defining an outer surface having a polymeric coating engaging the internal bore.

25. The frame of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the coating is configured to remain on the outer surface of the base during a work-hardening period of the track, the coating configured to wear away after the work-hardening period of the track.

26. The frame of claim 20, wherein the base hardness is configured to be greater than an initial hardness of the track.