Ground-engaging track for machine having multi-tooth master link

A ground-engaging track comprising:

• a track chain having a plurality of track links coupled end-to-end and including a plurality of standard links and a master link;
• the master link including a first half link, and a second half link;
• the first half link includes a first link strap, and a first clamping surface forming a first tooth set;
• the second half link includes a second link strap, and a second clamping surface forming a second tooth set;
• a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole are each formed in part within each of the first half link and the second half link and intersect each of the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface, and are structured to receive a forward bolt and a rearward bolt, respectively, to clamp the first half link and the second half link together such that the first tooth set and the second tooth set are interlocked;
• and
• the first tooth set and the second tooth set each include a plurality of teeth alternating with a plurality of tooth roots, and are confined in distribution between the forward bolt hole and the rearward bolt hole.

A master link for a ground-engaging track comprising:

• a first half link including a first link strap having a first transverse bore formed therein, and a first clamping surface forming a first tooth set, an ascending slope extending between the first tooth set and a shoe side of the first half link, and a descending slope extending between the first tooth set and a rail side of the first half link;
• a second half link including a second link strap having a second transverse bore formed therein, and a second clamping surface forming a second tooth set, an ascending slope extending between the second tooth set and a shoe side of the second half link, and a descending slope extending between the second tooth set and a rail side of the second half link;
• a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole are each formed in part within each of the first half link and the second half link to receive bolts for clamping the first half link and the second half link together;
• the first tooth set and the second tooth set each include a total of two full teeth and a total of three tooth roots;
• and
• the forward bolt hole and the rearward bolt hole each intersect the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface and are located outside of the first tooth set and the second tooth set, such that bolt hole stress concentration locations are spaced fore and aft, respectively, of tooth root stress concentration locations in the master link.