Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – With track support intermediate of end wheels – With roller support contacting lower track run
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-08-28
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
With track support intermediate of end wheels
With roller support contacting lower track run
C305S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280009
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to track rollers assemblies for supporting and guiding the endless track of a track-type machine and more particularly to a track roller assembly having segmented resiliently supported rim portions for reducing noise as the endless track contacts the rim.
BACKGROUND ART
Self-laying track-type machines utilize an endless track chain assembly joined together by interconnected link assemblies. The link assemblies include overlapping link members which form a pair of continuous rails. Track guiding carrier rollers engage the rails as the chain assembly rotates about a drive sprocket wheel and one or more idler wheels.
One or more carrier rollers guide and support the upper portion of the track chain assembly between the idler wheel and the drive sprocket wheel. The carrier rollers generally rotate as the track rails engage the rim portions of the rollers. Considerable noise is generated from metal to metal contact of the roller rims with the rails. This noise is often magnified by other components of the machine.
One type of track roller having a replaceable rim and elastic ring below the rim is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,093, issued on May 25, 1971, to K. Tomizawa. The replaceable rim is a metal ring and the elastic ring is made of rubber or synthetic resin. An end plate having an outer flange is secured to the roller hub and holds the rim and elastic ring in place. This arrangement requires the outer flanged plates to hold the rim and elastic ring in place.
Another type of track roller having a resilient mounted rim is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,025, issued Jul. 28, 1953, to J. L. Deffenbaugh. The rim is one piece and a resilient sleeve is positioned between the rim and the hub. The sleeve is bonded to the hub and snap rings are used to retain the rim on the sleeve.
The present invention is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention a carrier roller assembly for guiding and supporting the endless track of a track-type machine includes a mounting shaft. The roller includes a shell having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion. A plurality of bearing are positioned between the roller shell and the mounting shaft. A plurality of segments having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion are positioned around the roller shell to define a rim having substantially continuous track bearing surfaces thereon and positioned for the intermediate portion to contact the intermediate portion of the roller shell. A first resilient ring is positioned around the first end portion of the roller shell to support the first end portion of the rim member. A second resilient ring is positioned around the second end portion of the roller shell to support the second end portion of the rim member.
The present invention provides a carrier roller assembly having reduced noise when the track links contact and impact the rim of the roller. The assembly includes a first resilient ring being positioned between the first ends of the rim segments and roller shell. A second resilient ring is positioned between the second ends of the rim segment and the roller shell. The resilient rings will maintain a gap between the ends to reduce noise from the rim into the roller shell while allowing a portion of the segment to solid mount on the roller shell.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 30039 (1979-06-01), Clemens et al.
patent: 2647025 (1953-07-01), Deffenbaugh
patent: 3504562 (1970-04-01), Hirych
patent: 3578822 (1971-05-01), Slemmons
patent: 3580093 (1971-05-01), Tomizawa
patent: 3797895 (1974-03-01), Tomizawa
patent: 3910128 (1975-10-01), Boggs et al.
patent: 3937528 (1976-02-01), Clemens et al.
patent: 3996810 (1976-12-01), Groff
patent: 4083237 (1978-04-01), Umezaki et al.
patent: 4818041 (1989-04-01), Oertley
patent: 4890892 (1990-01-01), Haslett
Caterpillar Inc.
Glastetter Calvin E.
Stormer Russell D.
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