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US 2025/0196951 A1Published application
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.
Claims16
-7. (canceled)
A method of making a track link comprising:
- hardening a material forming a track link to a first, higher hardness;
- selectively softening the hardened material of the track link from the first, higher hardness to a second, lower hardness;
- 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.
1 more element
-20. (canceled)
A method of making a track link comprising:
- hardening a material forming a track link via heating the track link a first time, and then cooling the track link;
- selectively softening only some of the material of the track link as hardened via heating only some of the material a second time;
- and
- producing in the track link, by way of the hardening and the softening, a lower hardness of the material forming a first track pin bore and a second track pin bore, and a higher hardness of the material forming an upper rail surface of the track link.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.