SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING A SEAL FOR A TRACK ASSEMBLY AND SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING A GUIDE RAIL
Support structures for track systems are disclosed. One support structure includes a shaft, a wheel assembly and a deformable portion. The wheel assembly is connectable to the shaft, which has a shoulder at one end, such that a lateral side of the wheel assembly is engageable with said shoulder. The deformable portion is connected to one of the shaft and the wheel assembly, and is disposed, when the wheel assembly is connected to the shaft, between the lateral side of the wheel assembly and the shoulder. The deformable portion is configured to, when deformed, provide a seal between the shaft and the lateral side of the wheel assembly.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A support structure for a track system, the support structure comprising:
a shaft having a first shoulder at a first end and a second shoulder at a second end;
a first wheel assembly connectable to the shaft at the first end, the first wheel assembly having a first sealing cap having a first deformable portion connected to a lateral side thereof, the lateral side of the first sealing cap being engageable with the first shoulder; and
a second wheel assembly connectable to the shaft at the second end, the second wheel assembly having a second sealing cap having a second deformable portion connected to a lateral side thereof, the lateral side of the second sealing cap being engageable with the second shoulder.
22 . The support structure of claim 21 , wherein the first deformable portion is configured to, when deformed, provide a seal between the shaft and the first wheel assembly;
and the second deformable portion is configured to, when deformed, provide a seal between the shaft and the second wheel assembly.
23 . The support structure of claim 21 , wherein the first deformable portion is molded on the lateral side of the first sealing cap, and the second deformable portion is molded on the lateral side of the second sealing cap.
24 . The support structure of claim 21 , wherein the first sealing cap includes a first internal deformable portion connected to an internal side of the first sealing cap, and the second sealing cap includes a second internal deformable portion connected to an internal side of the second sealing cap.
25 . The support structure of claim 24 , the first internal deformable portion being configured to, when deformed, provide a seal between the shaft and an internal side of the first wheel assembly the second internal deformable portion being configured to, when deformed, provide a seal between the shaft and an internal side of the second wheel assembly.
26 . The support structure of claim 25 , wherein the first internal deformable portion is molded to the internal side of the first sealing cap, and the second internal deformable portion is molded to the internal side of the second sealing cap.
27 . The support structure of claim 25 , wherein the first deformable portion and the first internal deformable portion are connected by a first interconnecting portion, and the second deformable portion and the second internal deformable portions are connected by a second interconnecting portion.
28 . The support structure of claim 21 , wherein the shaft is made of a first material, and the first and second deformable portions is made of a second material, the second material being more malleable than the first material.
29 . The support structure of claim 28 , wherein the second material is an elastomeric material.
30 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein in response to the connection of the first and second wheel assemblies to the shaft, the first deformable portion deforms to form a first lip, and the second deformable portion deforms to form a second lip.
31 . The support structure of claim 30 , wherein the first and the second lips have a height of about three millimetres.
32 . The support structure of claim 21 , wherein in response to the connection of the first and second wheel assemblies to the shaft, the first and second deformable portions undergo resilient deformation.
33 . The support structure of claim 32 , wherein the resilient deformation is a compressive deformation.