Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – Tracks or treads – With guide means for interfitting with sprocket wheel or roller
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2001-07-31
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
Tracks or treads
With guide means for interfitting with sprocket wheel or roller
C305S116000, C305S125000, C305S143000, C305S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267459
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to an arrangement for aligning the track of an endless track laying work machine and, more particularly, to an arrangement for automatically aligning the track during operation.
BACKGROUND ART
Some present day endless track laying work machines utilize an endless rubber belt as the means for propelling. The endless rubber belt is tensioned into frictional engagement with and entrained about a drive wheel and an idler wheel. Problems encountered in reducing such an endless track laying work machine to practice include how to maintain adequate tension on such belt and laterally aligning the belt to run true with the drive and idler wheels. Keeping the belt in alignment with the wheels is especially critical when the belt is subject to lateral loads. Other problems are maintaining the structural integrity and providing long life of the belt, and other drive train components.
Examples of prior belt alignment mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,127,714 and 5,312,176. In both examples the alignment is adjusted by moving an arm that is pivotally attached to the idler wheel. Movement of the arm is accomplished through a jack screw arrangement with a jam nut used to lock the arm in place. Both patents provide a manual means for adjusting the alignment of the idler wheel to keep the belt in proper alignment and entrained around the drive and idler wheels. However, neither patent addresses the different lateral loads that are encountered as the endless track laying machine maneuvers turns and side slopes.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention an automatic belt aligning system is provided for a track roller assembly that includes an endless rubber belt that is entrained around a drive wheel and an idler wheel assembly. The drive wheel and the idler wheel assembly are attached at opposite ends of a roller frame. The automatic belt alignment system includes a spindle that has first and second spaced apart shaft portions and first and second radially extending flange portions. A first aligning mechanism is pivotally connected to the first radially extending flange portion of the spindle. A second aligning mechanism is pivotally connected to the second radially extending flange portion of the spindle. A lever member is connected to the second aligning mechanism and is positioned in operative communication with the endless rubber belt.
REFERENCES:
patent: 140418 (1873-07-01), Hutton
patent: 1022949 (1912-04-01), Johnson
patent: 3789552 (1974-02-01), Bradbury et al.
patent: 4227748 (1980-10-01), Meisel, Jr.
patent: 4405026 (1983-09-01), Merrifield
patent: 5127714 (1992-07-01), Satzler
patent: 5293948 (1994-03-01), Crabb
patent: 5312176 (1994-05-01), Crabb
patent: 6024183 (2000-02-01), Dietz et al.
patent: 93/13747 (1992-08-01), None
Becker Dan J.
Keehner Daniel M.
Bellinger Jason R.
Caterpillar Inc.
Greene Jeff A.
Morano S. Joseph
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