Track pad for asphalt paving machine
AssigneeTuff Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorPeter A. Stampone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track pad for the support and propulsion of track propelled vehicles (e.g. asphalt paving machines) comprising a support plate having a longitudinal axis which is greater than its transverse axis, a coating of heavy duty polymer (e.g. a thermoplastic urethane elastomer resin) which substantially encapsulates the support plate, and a means for securing the track pad to the track. The support plate is provided with suitable openings to accommodate the positioning therethrough of a securing means (e.g. flat head carriage bolts), said securing means for removably attaching the track pad to the track. The track pad of this invention is manufactured by pre-assembly of the securing means and the support plate whereafter the pad material is injection molded such as to substantially encapsulate the support plate.
Claims14
A method for manufacturing a track pad for a tracked vehicles said track pad having a generally planar rectangular base plate with a plurality of openings, a securing means extending through at least one of said plurality of openings for removably attaching the track pad to a track of said tracked vehicles and a pad means of polymer substantially totally encapsulating said base plate but which includes at least one openings to permit the extension therethrough of a portion of said securing means, comprising:
- positioning said securing means in said support plate to form a sub-assembly
- positioning said sub-assembly within a die wherein said securing means extend from the die cavity and as such, avoids encapsulation by said polymer;
- securing said sub-assembly within said die by means of a plurality of positioning projections which extend from said inner surface of said die into said die cavity making surface to surface contact with said base plate
- injecting polymer into said die to fill said space between said inner surface of said die and said base plate;
- maintaining said die in a closed position for sufficient time to permit setting of said polymer material
- removing said track pad from said die after setting of said polymer.
A track pad for tracked vehicles comprising:
- a generally rectangular base plate, said base plate including first and second generally longitudinally extending edges and first and second generally transversely extending edges wherein each of said first and second longitudinally extending edges is provided with a raised lip formed thereon;
- securing means mounted on said base plate, said securing means for removably attaching said track pad to a track of a tracked vehicle;
- and
- pad means, said pad means comprising a molded polymer member which substantially totally encapsulates said base plate, said pad means including at least one opening to permit the extension therethrough of at least a portion of said securing means.
A track pad for tracked vehicles comprising:
- a generally rectangular base plate, said base plate having a first generally planar surface and a second generally planar surface;
- securing means mounted on said base plate, said securing means for removably attaching said track pad to a track of a tracked vehicle;
- pad means, said pad means comprising a molded polymer member which substantially totally encapsulates said base plate, said pad means including at least one opening to permit the extension therethrough of at least a portion of said securing means;
- and
- reaction means comprising at least one raised surface extending outwardly from said second generally planar surface and disposed substantially adjacent said securing means such that said raised surface contacts the surface of a track shoe to define a reaction surface between said track shoe and said track pad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.