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US 7,083,241 B2Granted
Track tensioner for a wheel-driven skid steer
OwnerHerbert D. Gunterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track tensioner for a drive track of a work machine includes biasing element configured to urge an idler wheel into contact with the drive track. The biasing element may include an air spring.
Claims16
A track tensioner for tensioning a drive track of a work machine, the track tensioner comprising:
- an air spring having (i) a first end tat is configured to be secured to a body of the work machine, and (ii) a second end tat is movable relative to the first end,
- an idler support arm secured to the second end of the air spring, and
- an idler wheel secured to the idler support arm and positioned above the air spring, and
- further comprising a mounting plate, a first bracket, and a second bracket, wherein:
- the mounting plate is configured to be secured to the body of the work machine,
- a first end of the first bracket is secured to the mounting plate,
- a second end of the first bracket is secured to the first end of the air spring,
- a first end of the second bracket is secured to the second end of the air spring, and
- a second end of the second bracket is secured to the idler support arm.
6 more elements
A wheel-driven skid steer, comprising:
- a front tire,
- a rear tire,
- a drive track advanced around the front tire and the rear tire, the drive track having an outer, ground-engaging surface,
- an idler wheel,
- an idler support arm configured to position the idler wheel in contact with the outer, ground-engaging surface of the drive track, and
- a biasing element configured to exert a bias on the idler support arm to urge the idler wheel into contact with the outer, ground-engaging surface of the drive track, wherein the idler wheel is positioned above the biasing element, and
- further comprising a mounting plate having a guide channel, wherein the idler support arm is positioned in the guide channel.
4 more elements
A retrofit kit for a wheel-driven skid steer, the retrofit kit comprising:
- a drive track configured to be advanced around a front tire and a rear tire of the wheel-driven skid steer when installed on the wheel-driven skid steer, and
- a track tensioner configured to tension the drive track when installed on the wheel-driven skid steer, track tensioner comprising:
- (i) a spring having a first end and a second end which is movable relative to the first end, (ii) an idler support arm secured to the second end of the spring, and (iii) an idler wheel secured to the idler support arm and positioned above the spring, and
- wherein the track tensioner further comprises a mounting plate configured to be secured to a body of the wheel-driven skid steer, a first bracket having (i) a first end secured to the first end of the air spring, and (ii) a second end secured to the mounting plate, and a second bracket having (i) a first end secured to the second end of the air spring, and (ii) a second end secured to the idler support arm, and
- wherein the spring comprises an air spring.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.