# US 8,540,325 B2 · Machine and track assembly for use therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,325 B2 - Document ID: US8540325B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/443,290 - Filed: 2012-04-10 - Published: 2012-08-02 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-18 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Mark Diekevers; Donovan Clarke; Kevin Steiner; Victor M. Penrod; Roger L. Recker - Inventors: Mark Diekevers; Donovan Clarke; Kevin Steiner; Victor M. Penrod; Roger L. Recker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540325B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/145: {Rollers with replaceable wear rings or rims (driving sprockets with replaceable rims B62D55/12)} - B62D 55/21: Links connected by transverse pivot pins - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear material on the rotatable element and sacrificial wear material on corresponding track links. The contact interface may have a configuration based on a location of the seals, and is adapted to inhibit wear of the track links in regions adjacent the seals. In another aspect, the contact interface is a guide interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inboard track link for coupling with an outboard track link via a cartridge pin to form a chain assembly in a ground engaging track, the inboard track link comprising: an elongate link body including an outboard and an inboard side, a link end, and having a bore formed therein which extends between the outboard and inboard sides and has a longitudinal bore axis; the bore being defined by unhardened material of the link body, and configured to receive therein an inner track seal positioned within an inboard collar of the cartridge pin; and the link body further having a seal region adjacent to the bore, and an inboard face for protecting the inner track seal, the inboard face including a hardened sacrificial wear material and being positioned radially outward of the seal region and axially inboard of the bore, to contact a projecting step on a rotatable track engaging element guiding or driving the ground engaging track such that impingement of the rotatable track engaging element upon the seal region is inhibited. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inboard track link of claim 1 wherein the link body further includes a seal protecting recess formed therein and adjoining the bore. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The inboard track link of claim 2 wherein the bore has an axial bore length, and the seal protecting recess has an axial recess length less than the axial bore length. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The inboard track link of claim 3 wherein the bore includes a first bore located adjacent the link end, and the link body further includes a second bore formed therein and configured to receive a second cartridge pin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The inboard track link of claim 4 wherein the link body further includes an upper link surface forming a rail for contacting a track roller in the ground engaging track, and the inboard face adjoins the upper link surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The inboard track link of claim 5 wherein the upper link surface is formed in part of the hardened sacrificial wear material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The inboard track link of claim 1 wherein the bore includes a first bore located adjacent the link end, and the link body further includes a second bore formed therein and configured to receive a second cartridge pin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The inboard track link of claim 7 wherein the second bore has a second longitudinal bore axis, and the first and second longitudinal axes define a plane, and wherein the link body further includes an upper link surface positioned on a first side of the plane, and a lower link surface positioned on a second side of the plane, and the inboard face being located between the plane and the upper link surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The inboard track link of claim 8 wherein the hardened sacrificial wear material extends between the inboard face and the upper link surface along the link body. ### Claim 10 A track chain assembly for a ground engaging track comprising: an outboard track link having a first bore formed therein; an inboard track link having a second bore formed therein, the second bore having a longitudinal bore axis and extending between an outboard side and an inboard side of the inboard track link; and a cartridge pin coupling the outboard track link to the inboard track link, and including an outboard collar and an outer track seal positioned within the first bore, and an inboard collar and an inner track seal positioned within the second bore; the inboard track link further having a seal region adjacent to the second bore, and an inboard face for protecting the inner track seal, positioned radially outward of the seal region and axially inboard of the second bore, the second bore being defined by unhardened material of the link body, and the inboard face including a hardened sacrificial wear material, and being configured to contact a projecting step on a rotatable track engaging element guiding or driving the ground engaging track, such that impingement of the rotatable track engaging element upon the seal region is inhibited. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The track chain assembly of claim 10 wherein each of the inboard and outboard track links includes an upper link surface, and further comprising a rail formed by the upper link surfaces, for contacting a track roller of the ground engaging track. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The track chain assembly of claim 11 wherein each of the outboard track link and the inboard track link includes a one-piece straight link body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The track chain assembly of claim 12 further comprising a bushing rotatably positioned upon the cartridge pin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The track chain assembly of claim 13 wherein the inboard track link further includes a seal protecting recess formed therein, the seal protecting recess having an axial recess length and the inner track seal being axially spaced from the inboard side a distance equal to the axial recess length. ### Claim 15 A ground engaging track comprising: a first chain assembly including a plurality of outboard track links and a plurality of inboard track links; a second chain assembly including another plurality of outboard track links and another plurality of inboard track links; and a plurality of cartridge pins coupling together the first and second chain assemblies, each of the cartridge pins including a first and a second outboard collar each having an outer track seal positioned therein, and a first and a second inboard collar each having an inner track seal positioned therein; each of the inboard track links of the first and second chain assemblies having a bore formed therein extending between an outboard side and an inboard side of the corresponding inboard track link, and receiving an inboard collar and an inner track seal of one of the cartridge pins; and each of the inboard track links further having a seal region adjacent to the corresponding bore, and an inboard face for protecting the corresponding inner track seal, each of the bores being defined by unhardened material of the link body, and each of the inboard faces including a hardened sacrificial wear material and being positioned radially outward of the bore. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ground engaging track of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of bushings rotatably positioned one upon each of the cartridge pins. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The ground engaging track of claim 16 wherein each of the inboard track links has a seal protecting recess formed therein. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ground engaging track of claim 17 wherein each of the bushings extends into the seal protecting recesses in an opposed pair of the inboard track links. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The ground engaging track of claim 15 wherein the first chain assembly includes a first rail, and the second chain assembly includes a second rail, and the inboard faces being located between the bore in the corresponding inboard track link and the corresponding first or second rail.