US3872939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular final drive for track type vehicles
Assignee: Harnischfeger Corp
•
Filing: 1974-02-21
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A modular final drive for each of a pair of endless tracks of a track type vehicle, which modular final drives are interchangeable with one another simply by adjusting the position of the transmission casing that is attached to the side of the drive sprocket housing. A fluid motor is provided for driving the gears of the transmission and which are located in the casing, and the fluid motor and its associated brake are located in an elevated and forward position relative to the sprocket housing so as to be protected from mud and other foreign objects with which the motor would otherwise become engaged. The sprocket housing is such that the sprocket is mounted between and is embraced by longitudinally extending side walls of the housing and in such a manner that the sprocket is straddle-mounted, that is to say, it is mounted on both of its sides for good load carrying and drive transmitting characteristics. The modular final drive is quickly and easily attached to the rear end of the track roller frame and in addition to bolt means for attaching the sprocket housing to the frame, there is provided a shear member connection for carrying the shear loads in all directions between the housing and frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert L Eckert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:05
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D11/00; B62D11/02; B62D11/06; B62D11/10; B62D11/14; B62D11/18; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/12; B62D55/125; B62D55/13; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A modular final drive in combination with a track type vehicle having a pair of track roller frames, one disposed longitudinally along each side of the vehicle and each frame having a rear end; said final drive comprising, a housing, a track driving sprocket rotatably mounted in the housing, means for rotatably supporting said sprocket on each of its sides and in the housing, fastening means for detachably securing said housing to said rear end of said track roller frame, a gear train mounted on the side of said housing and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom and terminating in a forward elevated end which is adjacent the juncture between the housing and rear end of said track frame, motor means located at an elevated and forward position relative to the housing and connected with said forward elevated end of said gear train, and means for detachably and adjustably positioning the gear train relative to the housing so as to render said modular drive usable with either of said track frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A modular final drive in combination with a track type vehicle having a pair of track roller frames, one disposed longitudinally along each side of the vehicle and each frame having a rear end; said final drive comprising, a housing, a track driving sprocket rotatably mounted in the housing, means for rotatably supporting said sprocket on each of its sides and in the housing, fastening means for detachably securing said housing to said rear end of said track roller frame, a gear train mounted on the side of said housing and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom and terminating in a forward elevated end which is adjacent the juncture between the housing and rear end of said track frame, motor means located at an elevated and forward position relative to the housing and connected with said forward elevated end of said gear train, and means for detachably and adjustably positioning the gear train relative to the housing so as to render said modular drive usable with either of said track frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The drive as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said roller track frames have side walls which extend rearwardly and are flush with said housing to thereby form a smooth joint between said frame and said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drive as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said gear train extends generally upwardly and forwardly from said sprocket at an angle of about 37* from the horizontal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 3 including an interengaging shear member connection between said housing and said rear end of said roller frame to absorb the shear forces therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said housing has two laterally spaced side walls and in which said means for rotatably supporting said sprocket are mounted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said housing has a forward transverse surface from which a shear member extends forwardly, and said rear end of said roller frame terminates in a transverse wall having a rOund aperture therein for the snug reception of said shear member when said surface is in said abutting relationship with said wall to thereby form an interengaging connection for absorbing shear between the roller frame and the sprocket housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 1 including an interengaging shear member connection between said housing and said rear end of said roller frame to absorb the shear forces therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said housing has two laterally spaced side walls and in which said means for rotatably supporting said sprocket are mounted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that one of said side walls includes a removable plate portion having a central hub extending inwardly therefrom, said hub supporting a portion of said gear train which is mounted in said sprocket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
213 words
A track type vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced track roller frames, one frame disposed longitudinally along each side of the vehicle and each frame having a rear end; a modular final drive for being mounted on each of said frame rear ends, said drives also being interchangable on either of said frames, each of said final drives comprising; a housing, a track driving sprocket mounted within the housing, means for rotatably supporting said sprocket on each of its sides within the housing, fastening means for detachably securing said housing to said rear end of said track roller frame, casing means detachably and adjustably mounted on the side of said housing and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom and terminating in a forward elevated end which is adjacent the juncture between the housing and rear end of said track frame, a gear train within said casing and removable with the casing means from said housing, attaching means for positioning the casing means and its gear train relative to the housing so as to render said modular drive usable with either of said track frame, and motor means connected with said forward and elevated end of said gear train whereby said motor is located at an elevated and forward position relative to the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
213 words
A track type vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced track roller frames, one frame disposed longitudinally along each side of the vehicle and each frame having a rear end; a modular final drive for being mounted on each of said frame rear ends, said drives also being interchangable on either of said frames, each of said final drives comprising; a housing, a track driving sprocket mounted within the housing, means for rotatably supporting said sprocket on each of its sides within the housing, fastening means for detachably securing said housing to said rear end of said track roller frame, casing means detachably and adjustably mounted on the side of said housing and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom and terminating in a forward elevated end which is adjacent the juncture between the housing and rear end of said track frame, a gear train within said casing and removable with the casing means from said housing, attaching means for positioning the casing means and its gear train relative to the housing so as to render said modular drive usable with either of said track frame, and motor means connected with said forward and elevated end of said gear train whereby said motor is located at an elevated and forward position relative to the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle as set forth in claim 10 further characterized in that said gear train extends generally upwardly and forwardly from said sprocket at an angle of about 37 degrees from the horizontal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicle as set forth in claim 10 including an interengaging shear member connection between said housing and said rear end of said roller frame to absorb the shear forces therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicle as set forth in claim 10 further characterized in that said housing has two laterally spaced side walls and in which said means for rotatably supporting said sprocket are mounted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vehicle as set forth in claim 13 further characterized in that one of said side walls includes a removable plate portion having a central hub extending inwardly therefrom said hub supporting a portion of said gear train which is mounted in said sprocket.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
155 words
A modular final drive for a track type vehicle of the type having a pair of track roller frames, one frame being arranged along each side of the vehicle and each frame having a rear end; said final drive comprising; a housing, a track driving sprocket rotatably mounted within the housing, anti-friction bearing means for rotatably supporting said sprocket on each of its opposite sides and within the housing, fastening means for detachably securing said housing to said rear end of said track roller frame, a gear train mounted on the side of said housing and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom and terminating in a forward elevated end, motor means connected with said forward and elevated end of said gear train, and casing means enclosing said gear train and having fastening means for detachably and swingably positioning the gear train relative to the housing whereby said modular drive is interchangable with either track roller frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
155 words
A modular final drive for a track type vehicle of the type having a pair of track roller frames, one frame being arranged along each side of the vehicle and each frame having a rear end; said final drive comprising; a housing, a track driving sprocket rotatably mounted within the housing, anti-friction bearing means for rotatably supporting said sprocket on each of its opposite sides and within the housing, fastening means for detachably securing said housing to said rear end of said track roller frame, a gear train mounted on the side of said housing and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom and terminating in a forward elevated end, motor means connected with said forward and elevated end of said gear train, and casing means enclosing said gear train and having fastening means for detachably and swingably positioning the gear train relative to the housing whereby said modular drive is interchangable with either track roller frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The drive as set forth in Claim 15 further characterized in that said gear train extends generally upwardly and forwardly from said sprocket at an angle of about 37 degrees from the horizontal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 15 further characterized in that said housing has a forward transverse surface from which a shear member extends forwardly, and said rear end of said roller frame terminates in a transverse wall having a round aperture therein for the snug reception of said shear member when said surface is in said abutting relationship with said wall to thereby form an interengaging connection for absorbing shear between the roller frame and the sprocket housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 15 including an interengaging shear member connection between said housing and said rear end of said roller frame to absorb the shear forces therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 15 further characterized in that said housing has two laterally spaced side walls and in which said means for rotatably supporting said sprocket are mounted.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The final drive as set forth in claim 19 further characterized in that one of said side walls includes a removable plate portion having a central hub extending therefrom, said hub supporting a portion of said gear train which is mounted in said sprocket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3631615A
Cited
US3773128A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |