Scallop-resistant track link and method of making same
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorKevin Steiner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track link includes an elongate link body formed of a link body material that varies in hardness to form a first lower hardness zone, a second lower hardness zone, and a higher hardness zone. The higher hardness zone includes an upper rail surface of the elongate link body and extends substantially throughout the elongate link body outside of the first and second lower hardness zones, which surround the track pin bores. Related methodology for making a track link is also disclosed.
Claims20
A method of making a track link comprising:
- heat treating an elongate link body having a lower shoe-mounting surface and an upper rail surface such that a material extending throughout the elongate link body is hardened;
- tempering the elongate link body such that a portion of the material that is hardened and forms a first and a second track pin bore in the elongate link body is softened;
- and
- forming, by way of the heat treating and the tempering of the elongate link body, a scallop-retarding pattern of varying hardness where the elongate link body has a first lower hardness zone extending circumferentially around a first track pin bore, a second lower hardness zone extending circumferentially around a second track pin bore, and a higher hardness zone that includes the upper rail surface.
A method of making a track link comprising:
- hardening a material forming a track link;
- selectively softening the hardened material of the track link;
- and
- producing, by way of the hardening and the softening, a first lower hardness zone forming a first track pin bore, a second lower hardness zone forming a second track pin bore, and a higher hardness zone extending to each of a first end and a second end of the track link and including at least a majority of an upper rail surface of the track link.
A method of processing a track link for extended service life comprising:
- selectively tempering a track link including an upper rail surface, a lower shoe-mounting surface, a first link strap, a second link strap, a first track pin bore and a second track pin bore each extending through the track link;
- softening previously hardened material of the track link by way of the selective tempering such that softened material forms the first track pin bore and at least a portion of the first link strap;
- softening previously hardened material of the track link by way of the selective tempering such that softened material forms the second track pin bore and at least a portion of the second link strap;
- and
- limiting driving heat during the selective tempering into the previously hardened material such that at least a majority of the upper rail surface remains formed of the previously hardened material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.