Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – Tracks or treads – Resilient connection between treads
Patent
1996-04-11
1998-05-12
Stormer, Russell D.
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
Tracks or treads
Resilient connection between treads
305202, 305205, B62D 55215
Patent
active
057496340
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an elastic mounting for track pivot pins in Caterpillar tracks, which are endless hinged vehicular crawler drive tracks, including a prestressed rubber mounting arranged in a bore formed in a track link member and being seated on a bushing, and in which the track pivot pin carries the bushing.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
As is known, hinged tracks with rubber mountings are used in track-laying vehicles, in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,887. Track pivot pins are inserted in rubber-lined steel bushes. The track pivot pin and the steel bush are of a hexagonal or octagonal profile or another shape in cross-section in order to provide a positively locking connection between the bush and the track pivot pin in the peripheral direction and in order to guarantee the correct position of assembly of the track members relative to each other.
Screwthreaded projection portions can be provided at the ends of the track pivot pins so that the steel bushes are motion-free braced relative to each other by means of nuts. That motion-free bracing effect is necessary so that the pin or the bushes are not deflected in operation of the vehicle.
In the case of connector tracks with rubber-lined steel bushes and track pivot pins which are inserted therein, the connecting members are also motion-free braced by way of steel bushes. That prevents the connecting members and the track pivot pins from being deflected.
In the case of a hinge track for vehicles, in accordance with DE-AS No 1 085 433, it is known for track pivot pins to be mounted in rubber-lined metal bushes. The track pivot pins may be of a circular cross-section or they may be in the form of profiled hexagonal pins or in the form of grooved track pivot pins. The bushes of the rubber block sleeves are of an integral configuration, that is to say they do not have any division gap. The rubber blocks are connected to the bushes by vulcanisation. The bushes are flanged over at the ends of the track pivot pins, to prevent axial displacement of the track pivot pins in their axial direction. A fundamental disadvantage in this respect is that the track pivot pins are not braced in the bushes either in the radial direction or in the axial direction, that is to say the track pivot pins are not prestressed relative to the bushes. As a result, the arrangement suffers from a high level of wear due to deflection of the track pivot pins or bushes. That kind of mounting for track pivot pins has not proven successful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The rubber mountings of the rubber-mounted hinged tracks which are used nowadays are particularly susceptible to wear.
Therefore the object of the invention is to improve the useful life of the rubber mountings.
The invention attains that object in accordance with the foregoing concept in that the bushing incorporates at least one dividing gap in the longitudinal direction, and the internal width of the bushing, which is arranged in the bore formed in the track link member within the rubber mounting, is smaller than the diameter of the track pivot pin.
In accordance with the invention the track pivot pin enjoys the required firm fit by virtue of the prestressed rubber mounting by way of a bush with at least one dividing gap in the longitudinal direction thereof. The bush is rubber-lined with the known rubber rings by vulcanisation and then pressed into the bores in the track link member. The rubber rings thereby acquire the major part of their prestressing force. In the pressed-in condition, the slot or slots is or are closed by the pressure of the braced rubber rings. The diameter of the track pivot pin is oversize relative to the internal width of the bush which is pressed into place. By virtue of the track pivot pin being pushed in, the rubber mounting therefore acquires its definitive, desired prestressing force. That prestressing force acts as a reaction force on the track pivot pin and braces it in its fit in the bush.
On the other hand the specific pre
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Spies Klaus
Wiesner Hagen Heinz
Diehl Remscheid GmbH & Co.
Stormer Russell D.
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