Track shoe deflection stop for endless track assemblies

Abstract

A stop member limits deflection of the outer end portions of track shoes of endless track assemblies, which support and propel earthmoving vehicles. Track-type earthmoving vehicles which use wide track shoes often experience wear and structural failures within the track assemblies as a result of vertical loading at the outer end portions of the shoes. The vertical loading of the shoes produces twisting and deflection which is transmitted to the other components of the track assembly, such as the links, pins, bushings, and seals. The deflection stop of the present invention is secured to the trailing end of a first shoe and overlaps a portion of the leading end of a second shoe. As a vertical load is applied to the second shoe, the leading end contacts the deflection stop and the load applied to the second shoe is shared with the first shoe and deflection of the second shoe is minimized.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.