Sealing device for a hinge joint of endless track links

Abstract

Abstract A SEALING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A HINGE CONNECTION STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PIN FIXED ON A TRACK LINK OF THE ENDLESS TRACK MECHANISM AND A BUSHING FIXED ON AN ADJACENT TRACK LINK. THE PIN IS RECEIVED IN AND SURROUNDED BY THE BUSHING WITH A SMALL CLEARANCE THEREBETWEEN SO THAT AN ANNULAR SPACE MAY BE FORMED BETWEEN THE TRACK LINK ON WHICH THE PIN IS FIXED AND THE BUSHING FLUID ON THE ADJACENT TRACK LINK. THE SEALING DEVICE COMPRISES IN COMBINATION A RETAINER Z-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION AND MADE OF METAL OR LIKE HARD MATERIAL WHICH HAS AN OUTER DIAMETER SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID ANNULAR RECESS, AND A SEAL RING MADE OF RUBBER OR LIKE RESILIENT MATERIAL AND FORMED WITH AT LEAST ONE LIP ON ITS OUTER CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE SO AS TO FORM AT LEAST ONE SEALED CHAMBER BETWEEN THE LIP AND THE RETAINER. THE RETAINER IS FIRMLY ATTACHED TO AN END FACE OF THE BUSHING SO THAT THE RETAINER MAY BE MOUNTED IN THE ANNULAR RECESS. THE SEAL RING IS MOUNTED IN SAID ANNULAR RECESS SUCH THAT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF ARE MAINTAINED IN CONTACT WITH THE TRACK LINK AND THE RETAINER, WHEREBY THE SEAL RING CAN BE HELD IN PLACE BY THE RETAINER AND PROVIDE A SEAL TO THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE PIN AND THE BUSHING. THE SURFACE OF THE SEAL RING MAINTAINED IN CONTACT WITH THE RETAINER MAY HAVE ATTACHED THERETO A SLIDING MEMBER, WHICH MAY EXTEND THROUGHOUT THE WIDTH OF THE SEAL RING, IF DESIRED. A LUBRICANT MAY BE CONTAINED IN THE AT LEAST ONE SEALED CHAMBER SO AS TO PERMIT THE SEAL RING AND THE RETAINER TO SMOOTHLY MOVE IN ROTATIONAL AND SLIDING MOTIONS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER.

Inventors

• 👤 Hideo Miyake

Bibliographic Details