Link and link assembly for track-type machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsEric James Johannsen, Mark Steven Diekevers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A link for a track-type machine is disclosed. The link may have a body portion. The link may also have an aperture extending through the body portion. The aperture may have a cylindrical portion. Additionally, the aperture may have an annular groove formed in the cylindrical portion. The aperture may also have a tapered portion. The tapered portion may abut the cylindrical portion, and may taper toward the cylindrical portion.
Claims20
A link for a track-type machine, comprising:
- a body portion, and
- an aperture extending through the body portion, the aperture including:
- a cylindrical portion,
- an annular groove formed in the cylindrical portion, and
- a tapered portion, wherein:
- the tapered portion abuts the cylindrical portion, and
- the tapered portion tapers toward the cylindrical portion.
A link assembly for a track-type machine, the link assembly comprising:
- a link, including:
- a body portion, and
- an aperture extending through the body portion, the aperture including:
- a cylindrical portion, and
- an aperture recess formed in the cylindrical portion, the aperture recess including an aperture recess open end and an aperture recess closed end;
- and
- a cylindrical seal insert having a seal insert recess, the seal insert recess including a seal insert recess open end and a seal insert recess closed end, wherein the seal insert is configured such that the aperture recess open end overlaps the seal insert recess open end when the seal insert is positioned within the aperture.
A method of assembling a link assembly for a track-type machine, the link assembly including a link having a body portion and an aperture extending through the body portion, a seal insert, and a retaining mechanism, the method comprising:
- compressing the retaining mechanism at least partially into a seal insert recess of the seal insert such that the retaining mechanism and the seal insert fit within a cylindrical portion of the aperture;
- and
- positioning the retaining mechanism and the seal insert within the aperture such that the retaining mechanism expands at least partially into an aperture recess formed in the cylindrical portion of the aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.