US3825309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Track frame reciprocating mechanism for track-type tractors
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-22
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1992-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle has on either side thereof a drive sprocket and front and rear ground idlers, and a track trained over and engaged by the drive sprocket and idlers. A frame is associated with the vehicle and has a forward portion on which the front idler is mounted, and a separate rearward portion on which the rear idler is mounted. The front and rear frame portions are associated by means of a pair of tubes extending from each, one inside the other, in sliding relation. Splined means are associated with the tubes to keep the front and rear idlers aligned relative to each other, and resilient means are associated with the tubes to allow recoil of the front idlers, meanwhile urging the front idler forwardly into a biased condition.
Inventors
- 👤 R Krolak
- 👤 E Oestmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:12
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
In a vehicle having a track, a frame associated with the vehicle and comprising first and second separate end portions; an idler mounted to the first end portion within and engaging said track; a rotatable member mounted to the second end portion within and engaging said track; a first elongated member fixed to the first end portion and extending toward the second end portion; a second elongated member fixed to the second end portion and extending toward the first end portion, the first elongated member being associated with the second elongated member to be reciprocable therealong and relative thereto, to allow movement of the first end portion and idler toward and away from said second end portion and rotatable member; means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement; resilient means for allowing movement of the first end portion against the resiliency thereof, meanwhile urging the first end portion away from the second end portion, urging the idler into a preloaded condition, and wherein the first and second elongated members comprise first and second tubular members of substantially circular cross-section, with one tubular member disposed slidably within the other tubular member, with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially aligned, and wherein the means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement, comprise spline means associated with the first and second tubular members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a vehicle having a track, a frame associated with the vehicle and comprising first and second separate end portions; an idler mounted to the first end portion within and engaging said track; a rotatable member mounted to the second end portion within and engaging said track; a first elongated member fixed to the first end portion and extending toward the second end portion; a second elongated member fixed to the second end portion and extending toward the first end portion, the first elongated member being associated with the second elongated member to be reciprocable therealong and relative thereto, to allow movement of the first end portion and idler toward and away from said second end portion and rotatable member; means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement; resilient means for allowing movement of the first end portion against the resiliency thereof, meanwhile urging the first end portion away from the second end portion, urging the idler into a preloaded condition, and wherein the first and second elongated members comprise first and second tubular members of substantially circular cross-section, with one tubular member disposed slidably within the other tubular member, with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially aligned, and wherein the means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement, comprise spline means associated with the first and second tubular members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first end portion comprises the forward portion of the frame, and the second end portion comprises the rearward portion of the frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
324 words
In a vehicle having a frame having separate forward and rearward portions, having a frame having separate forward and rearward portions, first and second idlers mounted to the forward and rearward portions respectively, and a track trained over and engaged by the idlers, a first elongated member fixed to the forward portion and extending toward the rearward portion; a second elongated member fixed to the rearward portion and extending toward the forward portion, the first elongated member being associated with the second elongated member to be reciprocable therealong and relative thereto, to allow movement of the forward portion and first idler toward and away from the rearward end portion and second idler, means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement; resilient means for allowing movement of the forward portion toward the rearward portion against the resiliency thereof, meanwhile urging the forward portion away from the rearward portion, urging the first idler away from the second idler into a preloaded condition, and wherein the first and second elongated members comprise first and second tubular members of substantially circular cross-secTion, with one tubular member disposed slidably within the other tubular member, with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially aligned, and wherein the first tubular member is disposed within the second tubular member, and wherein the means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement, comprise a first sleeve member fixed to the first tubular member and defining internal splines running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member, and a second sleeve member fixed to the second tubular member and surrounding the first tubular member and defining internal splines running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member and engaging the splines defined by the first sleeve member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
324 words
In a vehicle having a frame having separate forward and rearward portions, having a frame having separate forward and rearward portions, first and second idlers mounted to the forward and rearward portions respectively, and a track trained over and engaged by the idlers, a first elongated member fixed to the forward portion and extending toward the rearward portion; a second elongated member fixed to the rearward portion and extending toward the forward portion, the first elongated member being associated with the second elongated member to be reciprocable therealong and relative thereto, to allow movement of the forward portion and first idler toward and away from the rearward end portion and second idler, means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement; resilient means for allowing movement of the forward portion toward the rearward portion against the resiliency thereof, meanwhile urging the forward portion away from the rearward portion, urging the first idler away from the second idler into a preloaded condition, and wherein the first and second elongated members comprise first and second tubular members of substantially circular cross-secTion, with one tubular member disposed slidably within the other tubular member, with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially aligned, and wherein the first tubular member is disposed within the second tubular member, and wherein the means for limiting rotative movement of the first elongated member about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the second elongated member, meanwhile allowing such reciprocal movement, comprise a first sleeve member fixed to the first tubular member and defining internal splines running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member, and a second sleeve member fixed to the second tubular member and surrounding the first tubular member and defining internal splines running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member and engaging the splines defined by the first sleeve member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |