Reduced sound transmitting idler for track-type vehicles
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorThomas E. Oertley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An idler for supporting the forward end of an endless track of a track-type tractor has an endless chain resiliently supported on an outer flange of the idler hub. An outer surface of the chain provides a substantially continuous bearing surface for support of the endless track supported by the idler
Claims16
In a track-type vehicle having an endless track mounted on opposite sides thereof, a forward portion of each of the endless tracks being supported by a respective idler disposed for rotation about an axis thereof, the improvement wherein said idler comprises a hub having an annular flange and an endless chain resiliently mounted on said annular flange, said endless chain having a plurality of interconnected segments that provide a substantially continuous bearing surface for said endless track about said idler.
In a track-type vehicle having an endless track mounted on opposite sides thereof, a forward portion of each of the endless tracks being supported by a respective idler disposed for rotation about an axis thereof, the improvement wherein said idler comprises a hub having an annular flange and an endless chain resiliently mounted on said annular flange, said endless chain having a plurality of interconnected segments that provide a substantially continuous bearing surface for said endless track about said idler, the annular flange of the hub has an annular groove defined about the periphery of said flange and a plurality of spaced-apart axially extending circular openings defined in the periphery of said flange.
A track-type vehicle idler disposed for rotation about an axis thereof, the improvement comprising:
- a hub having an annular flange and an endless chain resiliently mounted on said annular flange, said endless chain having a plurality of interconnected segments that form a substantially continuous peripheral bearing surface about said idler.
A track-type vehicle idler disposed for rotation about an axis thereof, the improvement comprising:
- a hub having an annular flange and an endless chain resiliently mounted on said annular flange, said endless chain having a plurality of interconnected segments that form a substantially continuous peripheral bearing surface about said idler, the annular flange of said hub has an annular groove defined about the periphery of the flange and a plurality of spaced-apart, axially extending, circular openings defined in the periphery of said flange.
A track-type vehicle idler disposed for rotation about an axis thereof, the idler comprising:
- a hub having an annular flange with a groove defined about a portion of the periphery of the annular flange;
- an endless chain resiliently mounted on the annular flange, the endless chain having a plurality of interconnected segments that form a substantially continuous peripheral bearing surface about the idler;
- and
- a plurality of spaced-apart, axially extending, openings defined in the periphery of the flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.