Tapered master link design for tracked undercarriage

A tracked undercarriage, comprising:

• a first plurality of link members;
• a second plurality of link members disposed in opposition to the first plurality of link members;
• a plurality of rod members connecting the first and second plurality of link members to form a chain having a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of shoe members fixedly connecting the first and second pluralities of link members;
• a master link joining the first and second ends of the chain, the master link including:
• a first half link member;
• a second half link member;
• a third half link member;
• a fourth half link member;
• a first pin joining the first and second half link members;
• a second pin joining the third and fourth half link members;
• a first master rod member joining the first and third half link members;
• a second master rod member joining the second and fourth half link members;
• and
• a master shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered joint, the second half link member at a second tapered joint, the third half link member at a third tapered joint, and the fourth half link member at a fourth tapered joints the master shoe including a first tapered recess, a second tapered recess, a third tapered recess, and a fourth tapered recess within a lower surface of the master shoe, wherein the first tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the first half link member at the first tapered joint, the second tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the second half link member at the second tapered joint, the third tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the third half link member at the third tapered joint, and the fourth tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the fourth half link member at the fourth tapered joint, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth half links each include two generally planar side surfaces disposed in parallel opposition to each other, and a width of the first, second, third, and fourth protrusions is greater than the distance between the two generally planar side surfaces of the respective first, second, third, and fourth half links.

A master link for a chain, comprising:

• a first half link member;
• a second half link member;
• a pin joining the first and second half link members;
• a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered joint and fixedly connected to the second half link member at a second tapered joint;
• and
• a locking device extending from a bottom surface of the first half link and into the pin for axial retention of the pin, the locking device having a length less than a diameter of the pin.