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EP0005894A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Exciter apparatus and method for rotating chain or track bushings by combining static and dynamic torque

Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1979-03-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-03-27
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Abstract

Abstract Method and apparatus for rotating the bushings (26) encircling the pins (38) of the pivoted interconnections of track links (34,46), such as employed in crawler tracks or in conveyor chains, in order to ensure regular wear of all parts of said bushings in contact with a sprocket. The improvement involves vibrating the links relatively to one another by means of an exciter (68) acting between members (48,52) secured to respective ones of the links while applying a rotational force to the bushing by means (18).

Inventors

  • 👤 James Arnet Hooker
  • 👤 Dean Wallace Martin
  • 👤 Shellie Orin Williamson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:29
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S29/00; Y10S29/046

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
Apparatus for rotating a bushing of a chain comprising pairs of links pivotally interconnected to adjacent pairs of links by track pins with bushings encircling respective ones of the track pins and the ends of each bushing being press fitted to respective ends of a pair of the links the apparatus being characterised by a first member (48) securable to one link (34) of the pair; a second member (52) securable to the other link (36) of the pair; exciter means (68) interconnecting the first and second members for providing a vibratory motion therebetween; and means (12) for applying a rotational force to the bushing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 105 words
Apparatus for rotating a bushing of a chain comprising pairs of links pivotally interconnected to adjacent pairs of links by track pins with bushings encircling respective ones of the track pins and the ends of each bushing being press fitted to respective ends of a pair of the links the apparatus being characterised by a first member (48) securable to one link (34) of the pair; a second member (52) securable to the other link (36) of the pair; exciter means (68) interconnecting the first and second members for providing a vibratory motion therebetween; and means (12) for applying a rotational force to the bushing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exciter means is operative to provide a substantially resonant vibration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, including masses (76, 78) connectable to the track links to tune the system so that exciter means can attain resonant vibration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exciter means comprises extendable and retractable cylinder means ( 70,72,74).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 77 words
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second members comprise a main member portion (56,60) and a limb (58,62) extending therefrom, so as to be generally L-shaped in configuration, the main member portions being securable to respective ones of the links of the pair in generally side-by-side relationship, with the links extending across the chain, and the exciter means being arranged to extend along the chain interconnecting the links.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
A crawler track provided with apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims with means for securing the first and second members to respective ones of any pair of links of the track.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 104 words
A method of servicing in situ a chain comprising pairs of links pivotally interconnected to adjacent pairs of links by track pins with bushings encircling respective ones of the track pins and the ends of each bushing being press fitted to respective ends of a pair of the links, the method comprising applying a rotational force to a bushing (26) press fitted to a pair of links (34,36) to rotate the bushing to bring a different part of the bushing into a sprocket-engaging position, characterised by the step of vibrating the links of the pair relatively to one another while applying the rotational force.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 104 words
A method of servicing in situ a chain comprising pairs of links pivotally interconnected to adjacent pairs of links by track pins with bushings encircling respective ones of the track pins and the ends of each bushing being press fitted to respective ends of a pair of the links, the method comprising applying a rotational force to a bushing (26) press fitted to a pair of links (34,36) to rotate the bushing to bring a different part of the bushing into a sprocket-engaging position, characterised by the step of vibrating the links of the pair relatively to one another while applying the rotational force.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3915036A Cited
US4002090A Cited
US4050141A Cited

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