Modular final drive for a track-type vehicle

Claim 2

A modular final drive in combination with a track-type vehicle having a track roller frame, said final drive comprising a housing, a gear train disposed within said housing, a track driving sprocket mounted on the housing and drivingly connected to said gear train, mounting means for detachably securing said housing to said track roller frame so that said housing, said gear train, and said sprocket can be removed as a unit from said track roller frame to allow independent servicing thereof and a track roller rotatably mounted on said housing in close proximity to said sprocket.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a forwardly disposed mounting face on said housing, a rearwardly disposed mounting flange secured on said track roller frame and fastening means, solely mounting said housing on said frame, removably attaching said mounting face in flush relationship on said mounting flange.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein said housing includes an arm extending laterally across said sprocket and having means forming an arcuate cavity therein disposed in close proximity to said sprocket and wherein said track roller is mounted on said arm and is substantially disposed within said cavity.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of additional track rollers mounted on said track roller frame in substantial linear alignment with the track roller mounted on said housing and a motor mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said gear train for selectively driving same.

Claim 6

In an undercarriage for a track-type vehicle comprising a track roller frame having a rearwardly-disposed mounting flange thereon, a modular final drive means enclosed in a housing having an outwardly extending arm and a forwardly-disposed mounting face formed on said arm, said mounting face and mounting flange being at least substantially co-extensive with respect to each other, fastening means for removably securing said housing on said track roller frame by maintaining said mounting face and said mounting flange in close intimate contact with each other so that said modular final drive means can be selectively removed as a unit from said track roller frame, and a track roller rotatably mounted on said housing in close proximity to said sprocket.

Claim 7

In an undercarriage for a track-type vehicle comprising a track roller frame having a rearwardly-disposed mounting flange thereon, a modular final drive means enclosed in a housing having an outwardly extending arm and a forwardly-disposed mounting face formed on said arm, said mounting face and mounting flange being at least substantially co-extensive with respect to each other, fastening means for removably securing said housing on said track roller frame by maintaining said mounting face and said mounting flange in close intimate contact with each other so that said modular final drive means can be selectively removed as a unit from said track roller frame, and a track roller rotatably mounted on said housing in close proximity to said sprocket.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5 wherein said drive means comprises a track driving sprocket rotatably mounted on said housing and wherein said arm has means defining an arcuate cavity therein disposed in close proximity to said sprocket, said track roller substantially disposed within said cavity.

Claim 9

A track-type vehicle disposed for movement along a longitudinal axis thereof comprising a pair of laterally spaced and parallel track assemblies extending in the direction of said axis, a frame supporting each of said track assemblies, and modular final drive means for selectively driving each one of said track assemblies, said final drive means comprising a housing detachably mounted on a rearward end of a respective one of said frames by mounting means, said mounting means comprising a forwardly disposed mounting face on said housing, a rearwardly disposed mounting flange secured on said frame and fastening means, solely mounting saId housing on said frame, removably attaching said mounting face in flush relationship on said mounting flange, motor means mounted said housing, rearwardly of said frame, a speed reduction gear train entirely mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said motor means to be driven thereby, and a drive sprocket mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said gear train and to a respective one of said tracks.

Claim 10

A track-type vehicle disposed for movement along a longitudinal axis thereof comprising a pair of laterally spaced and parallel track assemblies extending in the direction of said axis, a frame supporting each of said track assemblies, and modular final drive means for selectively driving each one of said track assemblies, said final drive means comprising a housing detachably mounted on a rearward end of a respective one of said frames by mounting means, said mounting means comprising a forwardly disposed mounting face on said housing, a rearwardly disposed mounting flange secured on said frame and fastening means, solely mounting saId housing on said frame, removably attaching said mounting face in flush relationship on said mounting flange, motor means mounted said housing, rearwardly of said frame, a speed reduction gear train entirely mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said motor means to be driven thereby, and a drive sprocket mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said gear train and to a respective one of said tracks.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 7 wherein said track-type vehicle constitutes an excavator having an upper unit rotatably mounted on an undercarriage comprising said track assemblies and said frame.