Splined idler for scallop resistance
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorEric James Johannsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An idler wheel for use with a track chain of a vehicle that includes a plurality of track pins and bushings comprises a main body that includes a generally cylindrical configuration defining an axis of rotation, a circumferential direction and a radial direction, the main body including a central portion disposed along the axis of rotation defining an axial extremity of the radial portion, and at least a first outside portion disposed along the axis of rotation that includes an undulating circumferential perimeter.
Claims20
An undercarriage for use with a vehicle that includes an endless track drive, the undercarriage comprising:
- a track chain including
- a plurality of track pins and track bushings disposed about the track pins;
- and
- a plurality of track links that are connected to each other by either one of the plurality of track pins or a track bushings, wherein at least one of the plurality of track links defines a plurality of apertures for receiving one of the plurality of track pins or bushings;
- and
- an idler wheel including
- a main body that includes a generally cylindrical configuration defining an axis of rotation, a circumferential direction and a radial direction, the main body including
- a central portion disposed along the axis of rotation defining a radial extremity of the central portion;
- and
- at least a first outside portion disposed along the axis of rotation that includes an undulating circumferential perimeter including a plurality of apexes and valleys, wherein the undulating circumferential perimeter is exposed and configured to contact the plurality of track links of the track chain tangentially while also being spaced away from each of the plurality of track bushings.
A machine comprising:
- an undercarriage including
- a track chain including
- a plurality of track pins and track bushings disposed about the track pins;
- and
- a plurality of track links that are connected to each other by either one of the plurality of track pins or a track bushings, wherein at least one of the plurality of track links defines a plurality of apertures for receiving one of the plurality of track pins or bushings;
- and
- an idler wheel including
- a main body that includes a generally cylindrical configuration defining an axis of rotation, a circumferential direction and a radial direction, the main body including
- a central portion disposed along the axis of rotation defining a radial extremity of the central portion;
- and
- at least a first outside portion disposed along the axis of rotation that includes an undulating circumferential perimeter including a plurality of apexes and valleys, wherein the undulating circumferential perimeter is exposed and configured to contact the plurality of track links of the track chain tangentially.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.