US 5,293,948 AGranted

Undercarriage assembly for a vehicle

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorElmer R. Crabb

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Abstract

An undercarriage assembly for a work vehicle includes first and second roller frame assemblies, one on each side of the vehicle, an idler wheel assembly connected to one end of each roller frame assembly, and a drive wheel connected to the opposite end of each roller frame assembly. An endless elastomeric track belt encircles a respective drive wheel, roller frame assembly, and idler wheel assembly on each side of the vehicle. A rigid support beam connects each roller frame assembly to the main frame of the vehicle. Each idler wheel assembly includes first and second self-aligning mechanisms to provide that the track belt runs true and straight. The roller frame assemblies can be spaced laterally from the vehicle, using various size spacers, to provide various gage settings of the endless track belt. During adjustment of the roller frame assemblies, a supporting arrangement supports one track roller assembly by the other track roller assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An undercarriage assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle having a main frame, an engine, and first and second drive axles powered by said engine, said undercarriage assembly comprising:

first and second roller frame assemblies, each having first and second end portions and a middle portion, said second end portions being releasably connected to a respective first and second drive axle;
a support beam having first and second end portions and a middle portion, said first and second end portions being releasably connected to a respective middle portion of said first and second roller frame assemblies, said support beam middle portion being releasably connected to said vehicle main frame;
first and second self-aligning idler wheel assemblies, each having a spindle and first and second spaced wheels rotatably supported on said spindle, said spindle being releasably connected to a first end portion of a respective roller frame assembly, each of said spindles having first and second radially extending ear portions;
first and second endless track assemblies encircling respectively said first and second roller frame assemblies and said first and second idler wheel assemblies;
first and second track tensioning mechanisms, each including a hydraulic ram assembly having a first end portion connected to a respective first spindle ear portion and a second end portion connected to a respective roller frame assembly;
and
a first self-aligning mechanism connecting the first end portion of each track tensioning mechanism to said first ear portion of each spindle, and a second self-aligning mechanism connecting the first end portion of each roller frame assembly to said second ear portion of each spindle.

4 more elements

An undercarriage assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle having a main frame and first and second drive axles, said undercarriage assembly comprising:

first and second roller frame assemblies, each having first and second end portions and a middle portion, said second end portions being releasably connected to a respective first and second drive axle;
a support beam having first and second end portions and a middle portion, said first and second end portions being releasably connected to a respective middle portion of said first and second roller frame assemblies;
first and second self-aligning idler wheel assemblies, each having a spindle having first and second radially extending flange portions, said first end portion of a respective roller frame assembly being connected to a second flange portion;
first and second endless track assemblies encircling respectively said first and second roller frame assemblies and said first and second idler wheel assemblies;
first and second track tensioning mechanism, each including a hydraulic ram assembly having a first end portion connected to a respective first flange portion of each spindle and a second end portion connected to a respective roller frame assembly;
and
means for supporting said first and second roller frame assemblies, one supported by the other, when one of said roller frame assemblies is disconnected from the drive axle and from the supporting beam.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.