Automatic belt alignment system for an endless track laying work machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDan J. Becker, Daniel M. Keehner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Endless track laying work machines are provided with a pair of track roller assemblies positioned on opposite sides of the work machine. Each track roller assembly includes an endless rubber belt entrained around a drive wheel, an idler wheel, and a plurality of supporting mid-rollers. An automatic belt alignment system is utilized to align the endless rubber belt during operation of the endless track laying work machine (10). The automatic belt alignment system also provides connection of the idler wheel assembly to a tensioning system and to the forwardly extending nose portion of a track roller frame.
Claims20
An automatic belt aligning system for a track roller assembly including an endless rubber belt being entrained around a drive wheel and an idler wheel assembly, the drive wheel and the idler wheel assembly being attached at opposite ends of a roller frame, said belt alignment system comprising;
- a spindle having first and second spaced apart shaft portions and first and second radially extending flange portions;
- a first aligning mechanism being pivotally connected to the first radially extending flange portion;
- a second aligning mechanism being pivotally connected to the second radially extending flange portion;
- and
- a lever member being connected to said second aligning mechanism and positioned in operative communication with the endless rubber belt.
A track roller assembly comprising:
- a roller frame;
- a drive wheel being attached to said roller frame;
- an idler wheel assembly being pivotally connected to said roller frame;
- an endless rubber belt entrained about said drive wheel and said idler wheel assembly;
- a tensioning system being connected to said roller frame and said idler wheel assembly;
- and
- an automatic belt aligning system pivotally connecting said idler wheel assembly to said roller frame and being positioned in operative communication with said endless rubber belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.