Apparatus and Method for Aligning the Idler Rollers of a Continuous Track

A continuous track assembly comprising:

• a frame;
• an axle assembly pivotably mounted to the frame;
• one or more idler rollers rotatably mounted to the axle assembly;
• and,
• an alignment apparatus for adjusting the alignment of the one or more idler rollers, the alignment apparatus comprising:
• an alignment member coupled to and extending from the axle assembly, the alignment member having a first threaded bore;
• first and second alignment walls mounted to the frame and spaced apart from each other for defining a gap therebetween, wherein the alignment member extends into the gap, and wherein the first alignment wall includes a second threaded bore;
• a first alignment bolt which threadingly engages and extends through the first threaded bore and abuts the second alignment wall;
• and
• a second alignment bolt which threadingly engages and extends through the second threaded bore and abuts the alignment member;
• wherein the first and second alignment bolts are configured to be selectively extended or retracted through the first and second threaded bores for pivoting the alignment member and the axle assembly and thereby selectively adjusting the alignment of the idler wheels.

A method for aligning one or more idler rollers of a continuous track, the continuous track comprising:

• a frame;
• an axle assembly pivotably mounted to the frame, wherein the one or more idler rollers are rotatably mounted to the axle assembly;
• and,
• an alignment apparatus for adjusting the alignment of the one or more idler rollers, the alignment apparatus comprising:
• first and second alignment walls mounted to the frame and spaced apart from each other for defining a gap therebetween, the first alignment wall having a first threaded bore;
• an alignment member coupled to axle assembly and extending into the gap between the first and second alignment walls, the alignment member having a second threaded bore;
• a first alignment bolt which threadingly engages and extends through the first threaded bore and abuts the alignment member;
• and
• a second alignment bolt which threadingly engages and extends through the second threaded bore and abuts the second alignment wall;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• rotatingly loosening/retracting one of the first and second alignment bolts through one of the first and second threaded bores;
• and,
• selectively rotatingly tightening/extending the other of the first or second alignment bolts through the other of the first or second threaded bores;
• wherein as the first or second alignment bolt is selectively rotatingly tightened/extending through the first or second threaded bore, the alignment member is pushed or pulled towards or away from the second alignment wall for thereby pivoting the axle assembly and selectively adjusting the alignment of the idler rollers.