Track idler mount and recoil adjuster

Claim 2

In an endless track mechanism including a track frame and a track idler rotatably mounted on a yoke connected to the track frame for rearward longitudinal recoil and adjustment relative thereto including a rear end portion in line with said idler, a track recoil and adjusting system comprising: a hydraulic actuator having cylinder and piston components, one of which is secured to said track frame and the other of which is on a rear end portion of said yoke, a gas charged hydraulic accumulator which is bottomed out during normal operation of said track mechanism, a differential pressure valve, a conduit connecting said differential pressure valve to said actuator, a conduit connecting said differential pressure valve to said accumulator, said differential pressure valve opening to pass hydraulic fluid from said actuator to said accumulator during recoil upon the pressure in said actuator exceeding the pressure in said accumulator by a predetermined amount, a bypass circuit connected to said conduits in bypassing relation to said differential pressure valve, a check valve in said bypass circuit permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said accumulator to said actuator to adjust the idler forwardly, orifice means in said bypass circuit effecting slow return of said idler yoke to its normal forward position after rearward recoil thereof, and hydraulic relief valve means operatively associated with said accumulator operable to relieve pressure at a value substantially above the pressure at which said differential pressure valve opens, thereby preventing said accumulator from being subjected to excessive pressures.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said yoke includes a pair of forwardly extending legs having parallel cylindrical ends and further comprising a pair of cylindrical bearing members secured to said track frame in which said cylindrical ends are reciprocably mounted for longitudinal movement.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein said piston is integrally formed on the rear end of said yoke.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein the axis of said piston is horizontally spaced from the plane defined by the axes of said cylindrical forward ends of said yoke.

Claim 6

Means for mounting an idler on a frame for an endless belt comprising: a yoke rotatably carrying said idler and having forwardly extending legs presenting parallel cylindrical ends, respectively, and a rearwardly extending portion having a cylindrical end part, a pair of cylindrical bearing means on said frame reciprocably supporting said parallel cylindrical ends, and a support element on said frame having a cylindrical surface iN cooperative engagement with said cylindrical end part, the axis of said cylindrical end part being spaced from the plane defined by the axes of said parallel cylindrical ends.

Claim 7

Means for mounting an idler on a frame for an endless belt comprising: a yoke rotatably carrying said idler and having forwardly extending legs presenting parallel cylindrical ends, respectively, and a rearwardly extending portion having a cylindrical end part, a pair of cylindrical bearing means on said frame reciprocably supporting said parallel cylindrical ends, and a support element on said frame having a cylindrical surface iN cooperative engagement with said cylindrical end part, the axis of said cylindrical end part being spaced from the plane defined by the axes of said parallel cylindrical ends.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5 wherein said cylindrical surface is a radially inward facing surface.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein said support element is a cylinder of a hydraulic actuator.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 5 wherein said support element is a component of a single acting hydraulic actuator operable to adjust the longitudinal position of said yoke.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 wherein said component is a cylinder and said cylindrical end part is a piston.

Claim 12

In an endless track mechanism including a track frame and a track idler rotatably mounted on a yoke connected to the track frame for rearward longitudinal recoil and adjustment relative thereto including a rear end portion in line with said idler, a track recoil and adjusting system comprising: a pair of forwardly extending legs on said yoke having cylindrical ends, a pair of cylindrical bearing members secured to said track frame and reciprocably mounting said cylindrical ends for longitudinal movement, a hydraulic actuator having a cylinder secured to said track frame and a piston component integrally formed on the rear end of said yoke, the axis of said piston component being horizontally spaced from the plane defined by the axes of said cylindrical forward ends of said yoke, a gas charged hydraulic accumulator which is bottomed out during normal operation of said track mechanism, a differential pressure valve, a conduit connecting said differential pressure valve to said actuator, a conduit connecting said differential pressure valve to said accumulator, said differential pressure valve opening to pass hydraulic fluid from said actuator to said accumulator during recoil upon the pressure in said actuator exceeding the pressure in said accumulator by a predetermined amount, a bypass circuit connected to said conduits in bypassing relation to said differential pressure valve, a check valve in said bypass circuit permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said accumulator to said actuator to adjust the idler forwardly, and hydraulic relief valve means operatively associated with said accumulator operable to relieve pressure at a value substantially above the pressure at which said differential pressure valve opens, thereby preventing said accumulator from being subjected to excessive pressures.

Claim 13

In an endless track mechanism including a track frame and a track idler rotatably mounted on a yoke connected to the track frame for rearward longitudinal recoil and adjustment relative thereto including a rear end portion in line with said idler, a track recoil and adjusting system comprising: a pair of forwardly extending legs on said yoke having cylindrical ends, a pair of cylindrical bearing members secured to said track frame and reciprocably mounting said cylindrical ends for longitudinal movement, a hydraulic actuator having a cylinder secured to said track frame and a piston component integrally formed on the rear end of said yoke, the axis of said piston component being horizontally spaced from the plane defined by the axes of said cylindrical forward ends of said yoke, a gas charged hydraulic accumulator which is bottomed out during normal operation of said track mechanism, a differential pressure valve, a conduit connecting said differential pressure valve to said actuator, a conduit connecting said differential pressure valve to said accumulator, said differential pressure valve opening to pass hydraulic fluid from said actuator to said accumulator during recoil upon the pressure in said actuator exceeding the pressure in said accumulator by a predetermined amount, a bypass circuit connected to said conduits in bypassing relation to said differential pressure valve, a check valve in said bypass circuit permitting flow of hydraulic fluid from said accumulator to said actuator to adjust the idler forwardly, and hydraulic relief valve means operatively associated with said accumulator operable to relieve pressure at a value substantially above the pressure at which said differential pressure valve opens, thereby preventing said accumulator from being subjected to excessive pressures.