IP Library Granted Patent US 9,604,681
Granted Patent B2
US 9,604,681 · App. 14/461,249 · Granted Mar 28, 2017

Track joint assemblies

Inventors: Mark Steven Diekevers (Germantown Hills, IL); Caroline Marie Brewer (Peoria, IL); Gregory Jerome Kaufmann (Metamora, IL); Timothy Arthur Thorson (Morton, IL); Kevin Lee Steiner (Tremont, IL); Temitope Olayemi Akinlua (Peoria, IL); Robert Lee Meyer (Metamora, IL)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
B62D55/0887B62D55/21
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,604,681
App. No.
14/461,249
Granted
Mar 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The second link may include a sealing portion surrounding an axial end of the axial end portion. The sealing portion may include material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.

Claims (37)

1. A track joint assembly, comprising:

a first link having a first bore;

a second link having a second bore;

a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore; and

a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, the bushing extending from a first axial end to a second axial end and including an axial end portion disposed in the second bore, wherein:

a peripheral portion of the second link has a peripheral surface that circumscribes the first axial end and the second link includes a sealing portion; and

the sealing portion includes material having a different wear resistance than material of an other portion of the second link.

2. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface faces the first link.

3. The track joint assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sealing portion is annular.

4. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion is a washer attached to the other portion.

5. The track joint assembly of claim 4 , wherein the washer is press-fit into the other portion.

6. The track joint assembly of claim 4 , wherein the washer is welded to the other portion.

7. The track joint assembly of claim 4 , wherein the washer is fastened to the other portion with an adhesive.

8. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material of the sealing portion is clad to the material of the other portion.

9. The track joint assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material of the sealing portion includes an electroless nickel coating, a nitride coating, or a carborized coating.

10. A track joint assembly, comprising:

a first link having a first bore;

a second link having a second bore; and

a bushing extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, including:

a first axial end portion disposed in the first bore; and

a second axial end portion disposed in the second bore, wherein:

a peripheral portion of the first link has a peripheral surface circumscribing the first axial end and the first link includes a sealing portion; and

the sealing portion includes material having a different wear resistance than material of an other portion of the first link.

11. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sealing surface faces another link.

12. The track joint assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sealing portion is annular.

13. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion is a washer attached to the other portion.

14. The track joint assembly of claim 13 , wherein the washer is press-fit into the other portion.

15. The track joint assembly of claim 13 , wherein the washer is welded to the other portion.

16. The track joint assembly of claim 13 , wherein the washer is fastened to the other portion with an adhesive.

17. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the material of the sealing portion is clad to the material of the other portion.

18. The track joint assembly of claim 10 , wherein the material of the sealing portion includes an electroless nickel coating, a nitride coating, or a carborized coating.

19. A track joint assembly, comprising:

a first link having a first bore; a second link having a second bore;

a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore;

a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, and at least partially within the second bore; and

a seal assembly positioned between the first link and the second link, and contacting opposing faces of the first link and the second link.

20. The track joint assembly of claim 19 , wherein the seal assembly contacts a sealing portion of the second link including material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2014
From: DIEKEVERS, MARK STEVEN; BREWER, CAROLINE MARIE; KAUFMANN, GREGORY JEROME; THORSON, TIMOTHY ARTHUR; STEINER, KEVIN LEE; AKINLUA, TEMITOPE OLAYEMI; MEYER, ROBERT LEE
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 033548/0933 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61871608 · Aug 29, 2013
Related Publication 20150061374A1 · Mar 5, 2015