Track roller assembly and machine using same
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorJeffrey S. VanderVeen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A track roller assembly for a track-type machine such as an excavator or a tractor includes an outer surface with no fluid ports and an inner surface free from any fluids. The track roller includes a shaft resting on self-lubricated bushings, which include a substrate that has lubricating properties, such as a substrate that carries a solid lubricant. The track roller assembly also includes a collar on either side of the shaft, with a retention pin passing through the shaft and connecting the two collars.
Claims20
A track roller assembly comprising:
- a first collar including a first inner wall surface;
- a second collar including a second inner wall surface;
- a shaft having a first end, a second end, an axis, and a cylindrical bore running along the axis, the first end being disposed within the first collar and the second end being disposed within the second collar;
- a first bushing located about the first end of the shaft disposed within the first collar;
- a second bushing located about the second end of the shaft disposed within the second collar;
- and
- a retention pin disposed in the cylindrical bore, wherein the first collar is secured to the retention pin by a first fastening member aligned with an axis of the retention pin, and the second collar is secured to the retention pin by a second fastening member aligned with the axis of the retention pin;
- wherein the shaft is rotatable relative to the first collar and the second collar.
A track type machine comprising:
- a track roller frame having a first bar and a second bar separated by a roller receiving gap;
- a plurality of track roller assemblies, each of the plurality of track roller assemblies including:
- a first collar including a first inner wall surface;
- a second collar including a second inner wall surface;
- a shaft having a first end, a second end, an axis, and a cylindrical bore running along the axis, the first end being disposed within the first collar and the second end being disposed within the second collar;
- a first bushing located about the first end of the shaft disposed within the first collar;
- a second bushing located about the second end of the shaft disposed within the second collar;
- and
- a retention pin disposed in the cylindrical bore, wherein the first collar is secured to the retention pin by a first fastening member aligned with an axis of the retention pin, and the second collar is secured to the retention pin by a second fastening member aligned with the axis of the retention pin;
- wherein the shaft is rotatable relative to the first collar and the second collar.
A method of assembling a track roller assembly, comprising the steps of:
- press fitting a first bushing to a first cylindrical bore of a first collar;
- press fitting a second bushing to a second cylindrical bore of a second collar;
- inserting a first end of a shaft into the first cylindrical bore of the first collar to contact a first inner bearing surface of the first bushing;
- inserting a second end of the shaft into the second cylindrical bore of the second collar to contact a second inner bearing surface of the second bushing;
- inserting a retention pin into a third cylindrical bore running along an axis of the shaft;
- coupling the first collar to the retention pin by a first fastening member, wherein the first fastening member couples to the retention pin along an axis of the retention pin;
- and
- coupling the second collar to the retention pin by a second fastening member, wherein the second fastening member couples to the retention pin along an axis of the retention pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.