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US 10,946,911 B2Granted
Multi-material track pad for a continuous track assembly
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDavid Hakes, Benjamin Jones, Benoit Abello
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-material track pad for a continuous track assembly is disclosed. The track pad may include a body with a ground-engaging surface, wherein the body is formed of a metal material with a first hardness; a roller-engaging surface, wherein the roller-engaging surface is formed of a ceramic material with a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness; and a sprocket-engaging surface formed of the ceramic material.
Claims20
A track pad for a continuous track assembly, comprising:
- a body with a ground-engaging surface,
- wherein the body is formed of a metal material with a first hardness;
- a roller-engaging surface,
- wherein the roller-engaging surface is formed of a ceramic material with a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness;
- a first sprocket-engaging surface formed of the ceramic material;
- a second sprocket-engaging surface formed of the ceramic material,
- wherein the first sprocket-engaging surface is separate from the second sprocket-engaging surface in a longitudinal direction;
- and
- one or more bushings configured to link the track pad to another track pad,
- wherein the one or more bushings are in the body and formed of the ceramic material, and
- wherein the one or more bushings are suspended or placed in a same casting mold used for casting of the track pad.
8 more elements
A track pad for a continuous track assembly, comprising:
- a body formed of a first material with a first hardness;
- a roller-engaging surface configured to engage a roller of the continuous track assembly,
- wherein the roller-engaging surface is formed of a second material with a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness,
- wherein the second material is configured to engage the roller;
- and
- a plurality of bushings configured to link the track pad to another track pad,
- wherein the plurality of bushings are in the body and formed of the second material, and
- wherein the plurality of bushings are cast in a same casting mold as the track pad.
5 more elements
A track pad of a continuous track assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of sprocket-engaging surfaces provided on a body of the track pad,
- wherein the body is formed of a metal material with a first hardness,
- wherein the plurality of sprocket-engaging surfaces are formed of a ceramic material with a second hardness,
- wherein the second hardness is greater than the first hardness,
- wherein a first sprocket-engaging surface, of the plurality of sprocket-engaging surfaces, is separate from a second sprocket-engaging surface, of the plurality of sprocket-engaging surfaces, in a longitudinal direction;
- and
- a plurality of bushings provided in the body and formed of the ceramic material,
- wherein the plurality of bushings are suspended or placed in a same casting mold as the track pad.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.