Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – With means for tensioning track by moving at least one endwheel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-11-27
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
With means for tensioning track by moving at least one endwheel
C305S151000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322171
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spring mounting for applying tension to an idler roller or other component for a track used in a track laying or crawler type vehicle. The track is mounted over drive and guide rollers and tension in the track is maintained with a heavy loading spring, an idler roller supported on an adjustable length grease cylinder providing initial length adjustment and preloading of the spring, the guiding of the spring as it residually moves is done in an improve, reliable and simple manner. The spring will automatically maintain tension in the track as the track moves.
In the prior art, various track tensioning devices have been used for track laying vehicles. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,270 and utilizes a cylinder that will provide for initial adjustment, and a spring mounting that will in turn accommodate overloads and will maintain a tension in the track during operation.
The track chain tensioning devices have to work in extreme conditions of dirt and grit, as well as other contaminants in which a tracked vehicle will operate, and thus, reliability in use with enhanced strength and wear characteristics are desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a retaining and guiding assembly for the heavy spring used in a track tensioning device for track vehicles, and in particular mounts on an end of a shaft extending from a grease filled cylinder that provides initial adjustment of the position of the spring. The compression spring of the present invention is retained on the shaft with a sliding block that mounts onto the cylinder shaft and which permits preloading the spring and limited axial movement along the shaft as the spring compresses. The spring retaining block, in turn, mounts an idler roller or sprocket for a track laying vehicle, and when adjusted by initially moving the grease cylinder to its desired position, the spring in turn loads the track in tension and will accommodate length changes that occur because of flexing of the track during use. The tension is maintained on the track within a limited amount of compression of the spring determined by the permitted movement of the sliding block on its mounting.
In the form of the invention shown, the sliding block mounts on to a hardened end of the shaft of an adjustable cylinder, and has pins that extend perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and slide in notches along the sides of the shaft. The notches are a set length so that the amount of compression of the spring that is mounted on the shaft is predetermined. The sliding pins also can be hardened to reduce wear and exhibit adequate work characteristics. The block has a bore that is slightly larger than the shaft to permit the block to tilt on the shaft as needed to provide some flexibility, which in turn reduces the likelihood of malfunction or damage due to dirt or other contamination during working.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2022079 (1935-11-01), Eberhard
patent: 2506619 (1950-05-01), Schwartz
patent: 2716577 (1955-08-01), Land
patent: 2717813 (1955-09-01), Gardner
patent: 3647270 (1972-03-01), Althaus
patent: 3953085 (1976-04-01), Randour
patent: 4018295 (1977-04-01), Hasselbacher
patent: 4088377 (1978-05-01), Corrigan
patent: 4324303 (1982-04-01), Balzer et al.
Clark Equipment Company
Stormer Russell D.
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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