Sound suppressed idler wheel assembly
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsKevin L. Steiner, Daniel I. Knobloch, Robert A. Eissler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An idler wheel assembly for a mobile machine is disclosed. The idler wheel assembly may have an idler body defining a cavity between a hub portion and a rim portion. The idler wheel assembly may also have a sound suppression device. The sound suppression device may have a first side plate attached to the idler body and enclosing at least a portion of the cavity to form a closed space, and a second side plate attached to the idler body. The sound suppression device may further have a dampening member disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate, and dampening material positioned inside the closed space and in contact with a surface of an inner portion of the rim portion.
Claims20
An idler wheel assembly for a mobile machine, comprising:
- an idler body defining a cavity between a hub portion and a rim portion;
- and
- a sound suppression device, including:
- a first side plate attached to the idler body and enclosing at least a portion of the cavity to form a closed space;
- a second side plate attached to the idler body;
- a dampening member disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate;
- and
- dampening material positioned inside the closed space and in contact with a surface of an inner portion of the rim portion.
A method of installing a sound suppression device on an idler wheel, the idler wheel including an idler body defining a cavity between a hub portion and a rim portion, the method comprising:
- providing a dampening material to fill at least a portion of the cavity;
- attaching a first side plate to the idler body to enclose at least a portion of the cavity to form a closed space;
- positioning a dampening member on a side of the first side plate opposite from the closed space;
- and
- attaching a second side plate to the idler body such that the dampening member is disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate.
An idler wheel assembly for a mobile machine, comprising:
- an idler body defining a cavity between a hub portion and a rim portion;
- and
- a sound suppression device, including:
- a first side plate welded to the idler body and enclosing at least a portion of the cavity to form a closed space, the first side plate including a fill hole;
- a second side plate welded to the idler body;
- a dampening member disposed between the first side plate and the second side plate;
- and
- dampening material positioned inside the closed space and in contact with a surface of an inner portion of the rim portion,
- wherein the dampening material is a flowable material configured to be provided through the fill hole into the closed space while the first side plate is attached to the idler body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.