Scraping apparatus for a track idler
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDave E. Keedy, Jerry D. Fidler, Daniel L. Mikrut, Jon S. Burdick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the operation of a track chain assembly a high degree of wear is normally experienced due to the environment in which a track-type machine must operate. This wear is typically accelerated by foreign matter that is carried by an idler member of the track chain assembly and is permitted to remain on its contact surfaces as they engage the other track chain components. The present invention provides a scraper assembly that defines a plurality of scraping portions that continuously engage the contact surfaces of idler to remove foreign material therefrom before the contact surfaces engage other track chain components.
Claims18
A scraping apparatus for a track assembly, comprising:
- a frame;
- an idler having an upraised center portion and a pair of contact surfaces positioned on opposite sides of the center portion, said idler being rotatably mountable to the frame in a manner wherein said contact surfaces are positioned for engagement with the track assembly;
- a scraper assembly defining an elastomeric scraping pad having a first end portion that defines a first scraping portion that is adapted for continuous contact with one of the contact surfaces of the idler, a second scraping portion adapted for continuous contact with the upraised center portion, a third scraping portion adapted for contact with the other of the contact surfaces and a second portion that is mounted to the frame;
- and
- a first slot positioned between the first and second scraping portions and a second slot positioned between the second and third scraping portions, said slots extending inwardly from the first end portion of the elastomeric scraping pad a preselected distance to permit the individual scraping portions to move relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.