Idler wheel assembly for track-type vehicle

Abstract

An idler wheel assembly for a track-type vehicle has a hub member and a plurality of replaceable wear segments positioned around the circumference of the hub. A plurality of U-shaped grooves in the circumferential surface of the hub receive resilient means. The wear segments also fit within the grooves and hold the resilient means in place. A plurality of clamping members encircle the hub, overlap the wear segments, and clamp the resilient means between the wear segments and the grooves as they are secured to the hub. The wear segments are therefore resiliently isolated from the idler hub. Conventional idler wheels for track-type vehicles have exterior rims which contact the track and guide the track as the vehicle is operated. This contact between the wheel rims an the track produces objectionable noise and vibration. The subject idler wheel assembly generates low levels of noise and vibration by isolating the rims or wear segments from the wheel hub with resilient rings.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.