Patent US216439A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3889769A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3889769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspension arrangement for a track-type vehicle
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1974-09-09
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A crawler tractor includes a track roller frame disposed on each side thereof, and associated with the main frame so as to be pivotable relative thereto about a generally horizontal transverse axis. Equalizer bar structure is associated with the track frames forwardly of such horizontal pivot axis, with the equalizer bar thereof being pivotable about a shaft, the longitudinal axis of which is disposed in a plane in which the generally horizontal axis lies. The equalizer bar is allowed to move to an extent along the longitudinal axis of such shaft during pivoting of the track roller frames.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary D Blomstrom
- 👤 Donald A Piepho
- 👤 Victor Randour
- 👤 Lyle E York
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:40
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/084; B62D55/0842; B60; B60G; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/30; B60G2200/32; B60G2200/322; B60G2300/00; B60G2300/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A crawler tractor comprising: main frame means; first and second longitudinally-extending track frames on either side of the main frame means; pivotal connecting means between the rearward ends of the track frames and the main frame means to allow pivotal movement of the track frames relative to the main frame means generally about a substantially horizontal axis; a shaft mounted relative to the main frame means and positioned forwardly of and above the substantially horizontal axis, and having its longitudinal axis disposed in a plane in which said substantially horizontal axis lies; a generally transversely extending equalizer bar defining adjacent its mid-portion a bore through which said shaft is disposed, the equalizer bar being pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and slidable therealong; means pivotally connecting the respective ends of the equalizer bar with the track frames forwardly of the track frame and main frame means pivotal connecting means, such equalizer bar-track frame pivotal connections lying substantially along a straight line which intersects a line along which the longitudinal axis of the shaft lies; the equalizer bar sliding along and pivoting about the longitudinal axis of said shaft during pivoting of the track frames relative to the main frame means generally about said substantially horizontal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A crawler tractor comprising: main frame means; first and second longitudinally-extending track frames on either side of the main frame means; pivotal connecting means between the rearward ends of the track frames and the main frame means to allow pivotal movement of the track frames relative to the main frame means generally about a substantially horizontal axis; a shaft mounted relative to the main frame means and positioned forwardly of and above the substantially horizontal axis, and having its longitudinal axis disposed in a plane in which said substantially horizontal axis lies; a generally transversely extending equalizer bar defining adjacent its mid-portion a bore through which said shaft is disposed, the equalizer bar being pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and slidable therealong; means pivotally connecting the respective ends of the equalizer bar with the track frames forwardly of the track frame and main frame means pivotal connecting means, such equalizer bar-track frame pivotal connections lying substantially along a straight line which intersects a line along which the longitudinal axis of the shaft lies; the equalizer bar sliding along and pivoting about the longitudinal axis of said shaft during pivoting of the track frames relative to the main frame means generally about said substantially horizontal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The crawler tractor of claim 1 wherein the track frame and main frame means pivotal connecting means further comprise means for allowing pivotal movement of each track frame relative to the main frame means about a substantially vertical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The crawler tractor of claim 2 wherein the track frame and main frame means pivotal connecting means comprise a first substantially T-shaped member associated with the first track frame and main frame means and a second substantially T-shaped member associated with the second track frame and the main frame means, the oppositely extending arms of the substantially T-shaped members generally defining said substantially horizontal axis, and the remaining arm of each substantially T-shaped member defining one of the substantially vertical axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The crawler tractor of claim 3 wherein the means connecting the respective ends of the equalizer bar with the track frames comprise universal joint means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The crawler tractor of claim 4 and further comprising resilient stop means associated with the main frame means and which may be contacted by the equalizer bar to limit pivoting of said equalizer bar about said longitudinal axis of the shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The crawler tractor of claim 5 wherein the stop means comprises first and second resilient pads mounted relative to the main frame means on either side of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The crawler tractor of claim 1 and further comprising resilient stop means associated with the main frame means and which may be contacted by the equalizer bar to limit pivoting of said equalizer bar about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The crawler tractor of claim 7 wherein the stop means comprise first and second resilient pads mounted relative to the maiN frame means on either side of the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A crawler tractor comprising: main frame means; first and second longitudinally-extending track frames on either side of the main frame means; pivotal connecting means between the rearward ends of the track frames and the main frame means to allow pivotal movement of each track frame relative to the main frame means generally about a substantially horizontal axis and to allow pivotal movement of each track frame relative to the main frame means about a substantially vertical axis; wherein the track frame and main frame means pivotal connecting means comprise a first substantially T-shaped member associated with the first track frame and main frame means and a second substantially T-shaped member associated with the second track frame and the main frame means, the oppositely-extending arms of each substantially T-shaped member generally defining said substantially horizontal axis, about which the associated track frame is generally pivotable, and the remaining arm of each substantially T-shaped member defining a substantially vertical axis, about which the associated track frame is pivotable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A crawler tractor comprising: main frame means; first and second longitudinally-extending track frames on either side of the main frame means; pivotal connecting means between the rearward ends of the track frames and the main frame means to allow pivotal movement of each track frame relative to the main frame means generally about a substantially horizontal axis and to allow pivotal movement of each track frame relative to the main frame means about a substantially vertical axis; wherein the track frame and main frame means pivotal connecting means comprise a first substantially T-shaped member associated with the first track frame and main frame means and a second substantially T-shaped member associated with the second track frame and the main frame means, the oppositely-extending arms of each substantially T-shaped member generally defining said substantially horizontal axis, about which the associated track frame is generally pivotable, and the remaining arm of each substantially T-shaped member defining a substantially vertical axis, about which the associated track frame is pivotable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2988159A
Cited
US3096840A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |