# US 2013/0154346 A1 · Idler key for track roller assembly

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- Number: US 2013/0154346 A1
- Document ID: US20130154346A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/331,948
- Filed: 2011-12-20
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20
- Assignees: Caterpillar Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher R. BEASLEY; Fernando Carrillo; Joshua L. Nuechterlein; Amber B. Lass
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154346A1

## CPC

- 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 idler key for a track roller assembly is disclosed. The idler key may have a flange portion, and an elongated protrusion extending from the flange portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the flange portion. The idler key may also have at least one shoulder disposed between the flange portion and a base of the elongated protrusion. The at least one shoulder may have at least one machined surface configured to transfer load to a mating component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An idler key, comprising:
a flange portion;
an elongated protrusion extending from the flange portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the flange portion; and
at least one shoulder disposed between the flange portion and a base of the elongated protrusion, the at least one shoulder having at least one machined surface configured to transfer load to a mating component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, wherein the at least one shoulder includes:
a first shoulder connected to the flange portion at a base of the elongated protrusion; and
a second smaller shoulder located between the first shoulder and external surfaces of the elongated protrusion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The idler key of claim 2, wherein:
the first shoulder includes a machined outer surface; and
the second smaller shoulder includes a machined end surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, wherein the elongated protrusion is located closer to a first side of the flange portion than to a second opposing side of the flange portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The idler key of claim 4, wherein the elongated protrusion is located closer to the first side of the flange portion by about 2-10 mm than to the second opposing side of the flange portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, wherein a dimension of the elongated protrusion in a lengthwise direction is at least twice a dimension of the elongated protrusion in a transverse direction extending between the first and second sides of the flange portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, wherein:
a length of the elongated protrusion is about 150-200 mm;
a width of the elongated protrusion is about 40-60 mm; and
a depth of the elongated protrusion is about 50-70 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the elongated protrusion is hardened to a Rockwell hardness of about 30-40C.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, further including a plurality of holes passing through the flange portion on opposing sides of the elongated protrusion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The idler key of claim 9, wherein the plurality of holes includes a first row of holes and a second row of holes disposed in a lengthwise direction of the flange portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, wherein the flange portion includes:
an internal surface from which the elongated protrusion extends, and an opposing external surface; and
a recess disposed within the external surface at a base of the elongated protrusion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The idler key of claim 11, further including at least one of part number identification and installation instructions provided within the recess.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The idler key of claim 1, wherein the idler key is made from cast iron.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The idler key of claim 13, wherein the elongated protrusion includes machined upper and lower surfaces that are generally parallel with first and second opposing lengthwise sides of the flange portion.

### Claim 15

An idler key, comprising:
a generally plate-like flange portion having a first centerplane of symmetry extending in a lengthwise direction; and
a protrusion extending from the flange portion and having a second centerplane of symmetry extending in the lengthwise direction of the flange portion,
wherein the first centerplane of symmetry is offset by an amount from the second centerplane of symmetry.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The idler key of claim 15, further including:
a first row of holes passing through the flange portion and being oriented in the lengthwise direction of the flange portion; and
a second row of holes passing through the flange portion and being spaced apart from and generally parallel with the first row of holes,
wherein the protrusion is located between the first and second rows of holes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The idler key of claim 16, wherein the offset amount is equal to about 2-10 mm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The idler key of claim 16, wherein a dimension of the protrusion in the lengthwise direction of the flange portion is at least twice a dimension of the protrusion in a transverse direction extending between the first and second rows of holes.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The idler key of claim 15, wherein:
a length of the protrusion is about 150-200 mm;
a width of the protrusion is about 40-60 mm; and
a depth of the protrusion is about 50-70 mm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The idler key of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the protrusion is hardened to a Rockwell hardness of about 30-40C.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The idler key of claim 15, wherein the flange portion includes:
an internal surface from which the protrusion extends, and an opposing external surface; and
a recess within the external surface at a base of the protrusion.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The idler key of claim 21, further including at least one of part number identification and installation instructions provided within the recess.

### Claim 23 (depends on 15)

The idler key of claim 15, further including:
a first step connected to an internal surface of the flange portion; and
a second smaller step located between the first step and external surfaces of the protrusion.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The idler key of claim 23, wherein:
the first step includes machined side surfaces configured to engage and transfer load to a track roller frame; and
the second smaller step includes a machined end surface configured to engage and transfer load to a yoke member.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The idler key of claim 23, further including:
a first machined radius located at an intersection of the first step and the flange portion;
a second machined radius located at an intersection of the second smaller step and the protrusion; and
a third as-cast radius located at an intersection of the first and second smaller steps.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The idler key of claim 25, wherein:
the first and second machined radiuses are about the same size; and
the third as-cast radius is larger than the first and second radiuses.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The idler key of claim 26, wherein:
the first and second machined radiuses have a dimension of about 2-3 mm; and
the third as-cast radius has a dimension of about 8-12 mm.

### Claim 28 (depends on 15)

The idler key of claim 15, further including chamfers located around a periphery of the protrusion at a distal end.

### Claim 29 (depends on 15)

The idler key of claim 15, wherein the idler key is made from cast iron.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The idler key of claim 29, wherein at least an internal surface of the flange portion and upper and lower surfaces of the protrusion that are generally parallel with the second centerplane of symmetry are machined surfaces.

### Claim 31

An idler key, comprising:
a flange portion; and
an elongated protrusion extending from the flange portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the flange portion, wherein the elongated protrusion is located closer to a first side of the flange portion than to a second opposing side of the flange portion.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The idler key of claim 31, further including:
a first plurality of holes located at the first side of the flange portion; and
a second plurality of holes located at the second opposing side of the flange portion.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The idler key of claim 31, wherein the elongated protrusion is located closer to the first side of the flange portion by about 2-10 mm than to the second opposing side of the flange portion.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The idler key of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the elongated protrusion is hardened to a Rockwell hardness of about 30-40C.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The idler key of claim 31, wherein:
the flange portion includes:
an internal surface from which the elongated protrusion extends, and an opposing external surface;
a recess within the external surface at a base of the elongated protrusion; and
the idler key further includes at least one of part number identification and installation instructions provided within the recess.

### Claim 36 (depends on 31)

The idler key of claim 31, further including:
a first step connected to an internal surface of the flange portion by a first machined radius;
a second smaller step connected to the first step by a second as-cast radius and connected to external surfaces of the elongated protrusion by a third machined radius,
wherein:
the first step includes machined outer surfaces configured to engage and transfer load to a track roller frame; and
the second smaller step includes a machined end surface configured to engage and transfer load to a yoke member.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The idler key of claim 31, wherein a dimension of the elongated protrusion in a lengthwise direction of the flange portion is at least twice a dimension of the elongated protrusion in a transverse direction extending between the first and second opposing sides of the flange portion.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The idler key of claim 37, wherein:
a length of the elongated protrusion is about 150-200 mm;
a width of the elongated protrusion is about 40-60 mm; and
a depth of the elongated protrusion is about 50-70 mm.

### Claim 39 (depends on 31)

The idler key of claim 31, wherein the idler key is made from cast iron.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The idler key of claim 39, wherein at least an internal surface of the flange portion and upper and lower surfaces of the elongated protrusion that are generally parallel with a lengthwise centerplane of symmetry are machined surfaces.

### Claim 41

An idler key, comprising:
a flange portion;
an elongated protrusion extending from the flange portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the flange portion, wherein the elongated protrusion includes upper and lower machined surfaces configured to engage and slide in a lengthwise direction of the elongated protrusion within corresponding slots in a yoke member.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The idler key of claim 41, wherein at least a portion of the elongated protrusion is hardened to a Rockwell hardness of about 30-40C.

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The idler key of claim 41, wherein:
the flange portion includes:
an internal surface from which the elongated protrusion extends, and an opposing external surface;
a recess within the external surface at a base of the elongated protrusion; and
the idler key further includes at least one of part number identification and installation instructions provided within the recess.

### Claim 44 (depends on 41)

The idler key of claim 41, wherein a dimension of the elongated protrusion in a lengthwise direction is at least twice a dimension of the elongated protrusion in a transverse direction extending between the first and second sides of the flange portion.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The idler key of claim 44, wherein:
a length of the elongated protrusion is about 150-200 mm;
a width of the elongated protrusion is about 40-60 mm; and
a depth of the elongated protrusion is about 50-70 mm.

### Claim 46 (depends on 41)

The idler key of claim 41, wherein the idler key is made from cast iron.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The idler key of claim 46, wherein at least an internal surface of the flange portion and upper and lower surfaces of the elongated protrusion that are generally parallel with a lengthwise centerplane of symmetry are machined surfaces.

### Claim 48 (depends on 41)

The idler key of claim 41, further including:
a first row of holes passing through the flange portion and being oriented in the lengthwise direction of the elongated protrusion; and
a second row of holes passing through the flange portion, the second row of holes being spaced apart from and generally parallel with the first row of holes,
wherein the elongated protrusion is located between the first and second rows of holes.

### Claim 49

An idler key, comprising:
a cast iron component having a plate-like flange portion, an elongated protrusion extending from a machined internal surface of the flange, a first step located at a base of the elongated protrusion, and a second smaller step located between the first step and external machined surfaces of the elongated protrusion,
wherein:
the external machined surfaces of the elongated protrusion include hardened upper and lower machined surfaces that are substantially parallel and extend in a length direction of the elongated protrusion;
the flange portion includes a first row of fastener holes passing from an external surface through the machined internal surface at a location adjacent the upper machined surface of the elongated protrusion, and a second row of fastener holes passing from the external surface through the machined internal surface at a location adjacent the lower machined surface of the elongated protrusion;
the first step includes machined outer surfaces;
the second smaller step includes a machined end surface; and
the cast iron component is nonsymmetrical in a width direction.