Track tension adjustment management actuator
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsBrian D. Hoff, Thomas E. Oertley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track tension actuator is provided for a track assembly having, an idler wheel, a drive wheel, a drive track entrained about the drive wheel and idler, and a hydraulic motor operable to advance the drive wheel. A drive circuit is operable to supply pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor. The actuator is coupled to the idler wheel, and includes a travel chamber, travel piston, a recoil chamber, and a recoil piston. The recoil chamber is pressurized to urge the recoil piston in a first direction away from the drive wheel. The drive fluid pressurizes the travel piston, which in turn contacts and urges the travel piston in a second direction against the recoil piston to reduce the track tension.
Claims14
A track tension actuator for a track assembly having an idler wheel, a drive wheel, a drive track entrained about the drive wheel and idler, and a drive circuit operable to advance the drive wheel, the actuator comprising:
- a hydraulic cylinder housing;
- a recoil piston positioned within said cylinder housing and coupled with the idler wheel, wherein said cylinder housing and said recoil piston form a recoil chamber pressurized to urge the recoil piston in a first direction away from the drive wheel;
- and
- a travel piston positioned within said cylinder housing, said cylinder housing and said travel piston defining a travel chamber in fluid communication with the drive circuit, wherein said travel piston is responsive to receipt of pressurized fluid from the drive circuit to contact said recoil piston and urge said recoil piston in a second direction away from the idler wheel.
A method of tensioning a track assembly having an idler wheel, a drive wheel, a drive track entrained about the drive wheel and idler wheel, and a hydraulic motor operable to advance the drive wheel, the method comprising:
- coupling a recoil piston of an actuator to the idler wheel, the actuator further including a cylinder housing, recoil chamber, a travel chamber, and a travel piston in fluid communication with the travel chamber;
- pressurizing the recoil chamber to tension the track;
- supplying pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor to advance the drive wheel;
- delivering fluid to the travel chamber of the actuator responsive to said supply of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor;
- and
- operating the travel piston to forcibly retract the recoil piston responsive to receipt of said fluid in the travel chamber, whereby retraction of the recoil piston reduces the track tension.
A track assembly, comprising:
- a drive track;
- an idler wheel;
- a drive wheel;
- a hydraulic motor coupled to the drive wheel and operable to advance the drive track around the drive wheel and the idler wheel;
- a drive circuit operable to supply pressurized fluid to drive said hydraulic motor;
- and
- a hydraulic actuator coupled to the idler wheel for tensioning the drive track, said actuator including a hydraulic cylinder housing, a recoil piston positioned within said cylinder housing and coupled to the idler wheel, and a travel piston positioned within said cylinder housing, said cylinder housing and said travel piston defining a travel chamber in fluid communication with the drive circuit, wherein said travel chamber is operative to cause said travel piston to contact said recoil piston and urge said recoil piston in a first direction away from the idler wheel responsive to receipt of fluid from the drive circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.