# US 2002/0153775 A1 · Arrangement for supporting a track chain of a track type work machine

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- Number: US 2002/0153775 A1
- Document ID: US20020153775A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 09/839,774
- Filed: 2001-04-20
- Published: 2002-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2001-04-20
- Assignees: Caterpillar Inc.
- Inventors: Kevin M. Egle; Michael D. Hasselbusch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20020153775A1

## CPC

- B62D 55/125: Final drives
- B62D 55/15: Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings {(with lubrication means B62D55/092)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

An arrangement for supporting a track chain having a track link, a first bushing mechanically coupled to the track link, and a second bushing mechanically coupled to the track link. The first bushing has a first center point C1 defined thereon. The second bushing has a second center point C2 defined thereon. The first center point C1 is spaced apart from the second center point C2 by a distance D1. The arrangement includes an idler wheel having a circumferentially extending surface defined thereon. The circumferentially extending surface has a first notch and a second notch defined therein. The first notch has a first wall portion. The first wall portion has a first point P1 defined thereon at a first location. The second notch has a second wall portion. The second wall portion has a second point P2 defined thereon at a second location which corresponds to the first location. The point P1 is spaced apart from the point P2 by a distance D2.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An arrangement for supporting a track chain having a track link, a first bushing mechanically coupled to said track link, and a second bushing mechanically coupled to said track link, said first bushing has a first center point C1 defined thereon, said second bushing has a second center point C2 defined thereon, and said first center point C1 is spaced apart from said second center point C2 by a distance D1, said arrangement comprising:
an idler wheel having a circumferentially extending surface defined thereon,
wherein said circumferentially extending surface has a first notch and a second notch defined therein,
said first notch has a first wall portion,
said first wall portion has a first point P1 defined thereon at a first location,
said second notch has a second wall portion,
said second wall portion has a second point P2 defined thereon at a second location which corresponds to said first location,
said point P1 is spaced apart from said point P2 by a distance D2, and
said distance D1 is greater than said distance D2.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein:
said circumferentially extending surface has a third notch defined therein, and
said third notch is interposed said first notch and said second notch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein:
said first wall portion has an arcuate
shape such that said first wall portion defines a circle having a radius R1,
said first bushing has a radius R2, and
said radius R1 is greater than said radius R2
so that when said first bushing is located within said first notch and positioned in contact with a first segment of said first wall portion a gap is defined between said first bushing and a second segment of said first wall portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein:
said first bushing has a diameter α,
said first notch has a depth β, and
said depth β is less than said diameter α.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The arrangement of claim 4, wherein:
said depth β is substantially equal to about 25% of said diameter α.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein:
said circumferentially extending surface has a circumferentially extending groove defined therein.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The arrangement of claim 6, further comprising:
a scraping device having an scraping end defined thereon,
wherein said scraping end is configured so that said scraping end can be disposed within said circumferentially extending groove.

### Claim 8

A track chain assembly, comprising:
a track link;
a first bushing mechanically coupled to said track link, said first bushing has a first center point C1 defined thereon;
a second bushing mechanically coupled to said track link, said second bushing has a second center point C2 defined thereon, said first center point C1 is spaced apart from said second center point C2 by a distance D1; and
an idler wheel having a circumferentially extending surface defined thereon,
wherein said circumferentially extending surface has a first notch and a second notch defined therein,
said first bushing is positioned within said first notch,
said second bushing is positioned within said second notch,
said first notch has a first wall portion,
said first wall portion has a first point P1 defined thereon at a first location,
said second notch has a second wall portion,
said second wall portion has a second point P2 defined thereon at a second location which corresponds to said first location,
said point P1 is spaced apart from said point P2 by a distance D2, and
said distance D1 is greater than said distance D2.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The assembly of claim 8, wherein:
said circumferentially extending surface has a third notch defined therein, and
said third notch is interposed said first notch and said second notch.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The assembly of claim 9, wherein:
said third notch does not have a bushing disposed therein.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The assembly of claim 8, wherein:
said first wall portion has an arcuate shape such that said first wall portion defines a circle having a radius R1,
said first bushing has a radius R2, and
said radius R1 is greater than said radius R2 so that when said first bushing is located within said first notch and positioned in contact with a first segment of said first wall portion a gap is defined between said first bushing and a second segment of said first wall portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The assembly of claim 8, wherein:
said first bushing has a diameter α,
said first notch has a depth β, and
said depth β is less than said diameter α.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The assembly of claim 12, wherein:
said depth β is substantially equal to about 25% of said diameter α.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The assembly of claim 8, wherein:
said circumferentially extending surface has a circumferentially extending groove defined therein.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The assembly of claim 14, further comprising:
a scraping device having an scraping end defined thereon,
wherein said scraping end is positioned within said circumferentially extending groove.

### Claim 16

A track type work machine, comprising:
a frame;
a work implement mechanically coupled to said frame; and
a track chain assembly mechanically coupled to said frame, said track chain assembly having (i) a track link, (ii) a first bushing mechanically coupled to said track link, said first bushing has a first center point C1 defined thereon, (iii) a second bushing mechanically coupled to said track link, said second bushing has a second center point C2 defined thereon, said first center point C1 is spaced apart from said second center point C2 by a distance D1, and (iv) an idler wheel having a circumferentially extending surface defined thereon,
wherein said circumferentially extending surface has a first notch and a second notch defined therein,
said first bushing is positioned within said first notch,
said second bushing is positioned within said second notch,
said first notch has a first wall portion,
said first wall portion has a first point P1 defined thereon at a first location,
said second notch has a second wall portion,
said second wall portion has a second point P2 defined thereon at a second location which corresponds to said first location,
said first point P1 is spaced apart from said second point P2 by a distance D2, and
said distance D1 is greater than said distance D2.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The work machine of claim 16, wherein:
said first wall portion has an arcuate shape such that said first wall portion defines a circle having a radius R1,
said first bushing has a radius R2, and
said radius R1 is greater than said radius R2 so that when said first bushing is located within said first notch and positioned in contact with a first segment of said first wall portion a gap is defined between said first bushing and a second segment of said first wall portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The work machine of claim 16, wherein:
said first bushing has a diameter α,
said first notch has a depth β, and
said depth β is substantially equal to about 25% of said diameter α.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The work machine of claim 16, wherein:
said circumferentially extending surface has a circumferentially extending groove defined therein.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The work machine of claim 19, further comprising:
a scraping device having an scraping end defined thereon,
wherein said scraping end is positioned within said circumferentially extending groove.