US3685871A

US3685871A - Track roller assembly

Info

Publication number: US3685871A
Application number: US70134A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth C Foreman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-09-08
Filing date: 1970-09-08
Publication date: 1972-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-22

Abstract

A track roller assembly is secured between spaced roller mounting members. The track roller assembly includes a shaft having a head and an end both of which are hexagonal and are received in hexagonal openings of outer and inner ring members secured to the mounting members. The opening receiving the head is provided with diametrically-opposed semi-circular threaded apertures. The head of the shaft is also provided with diametrically-opposed semi-circular threaded apertures which are alignable with the apertures in the hexagonal opening. Fasteners are then threaded into the aligned apertures to hold the shaft in position between the mounting members. A bearing circumscribes the shaft and is bolted at one end to the outer ring member. A roller is mounted on the bearing.

Description

United States Patent Foreman 51 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] TRACK ROLLER ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Kenneth C. Foreman, PO. Box 271,

Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 [22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 70,134

[52] US. Cl ..305/28, 308/ 18 [51] Int. Cl. ..B62d 55/14 [58] Field of Search ..305/28, 27; 308/18 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l ,41 1,448 4/ 1922 Matteson ..305/28 2,393,993 2/1946 Knox ..305/27 1,824,086 9/1931 Knox ..305/27 X 2,827,339 3/ 1958 Zunich ..305/18 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson Attorney-Seed, Berry & Dowrey A1181 RACT A track roller assembly is secured between spaced roller mounting members. The track roller assembly includes a shaft having a head and an end both of which are hexagonal and are received in hexagonal openings of outer and inner ring members secured to the mounting members. The opening receiving the head is provided with diametrically-opposed semi-circular threaded apertures. The head of the shaft is also provided with diametrically-opposed semi-circular threaded apertures which are alignable with the apertures in the hexagonal opening. Fasteners are then threaded into the aligned apertures to hold the shaft in position between the mounting members. A bearing circumscribes the shaft and is bolted at one end to the outer ring member. A roller is mounted on the bear- 7 Clains, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED M22 1912 SHEEI 1 BF 2 FII G== 11 FIIG==2 INVENTOR. KENNETH C. FOREMAN BY Q ATTORNEYS PATENTED I972 3,685,871

sum 2 or 2 INVENTOR. KENNETH O. FDREMAN ATTORNEYS TRACK ROLLER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to tracked vehicles and, more particularly, to track roller assemblies for such vehicles.

2. Description of the Prior Art l-Ieretofore track rollers for conventional track vehicles have been difficult to replace and particularly have been highly susceptible to being damaged or sheared from their mountings. These difficulties have occurred primarily due to the presence of boltheads or other fastening devices which protrude outwardly from the roller and thus are hit by the rocks, mud or the like in which the vehicle is operating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a track roller assembly which has an improved means for mounting the roller to the vehicle and, particularly mounting means which is devoid of exposed fastening means.

Another object is to provide a track roller which is easy to install or replace.

Basically the track roller assembly includes a shaft having an end and a head which are received in openings in ring members provided on the roller mounting members of the vehicle. The opening receiving the head of the shaft and the shaft head are each provided with aligned locking apertures. The shaft is held in place by locking means which are engaged in the aligned apertures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a tracked vehicle embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2. is a fragmentary side elevation of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail illustrating a portion of the roller assembly with the shaft removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 the under carriage 10 of the track vehicle T is illustrated and includes a track roller frame 12, an outer track quide 14, an inner track quide not shown, and a track 16 movable over the track guides and over a plurality of track roller assemblies 18 (FIG. 3). The track roller frame includes an inner roller mounting member 20 which supports the inner track guide on the frame 12. An outer roller mounting member 22 supports the outside track guide on the roller frame 12.

The track roller assembly 18 includes a shaft 24 having a central portion 24a, an end 24b and a head 24c. The shaft is preferably hexagonal in cross section although it may be any other desired shape. Mounted on the shaft 24 is a bushing 26 having a hexagonal bore 27. Mounted on the bushing is a track roller 28 having a plurality of conventional guide flanges 29.

The shaft 24 is held on the inner roller mounting member 20 by an inner ring member 30 having a hexagonal opening 32 which receives the end 24b. The ring member is secured to the mounting member by welding or the like. As is readily apparent there is nothing protruding outwardly which may be hit by rocks etc. and in addition the end of the shaft terminates inwardly of the outside of the ring member as further protection.

The head 240 of the shaft 24 is provided with diametricallyopposed half-circular threaded apertures 46 which are aligned with half-circular threaded apertures 48 in a hexagonal opening 49 of an outer ring member 50. Outer ring member 50 is secured to the outer roller mounting member as by welding. A set of locking members or fasteners 51 are threadably engaged in the apertures to hold the head of the shaft in the ring member. Again nothing protrudes outwardly to be hit by rocks or the like and in addition the ring member is countersunk as at 52 for further protection.

As is apparent the shaft 24 is easily removed by withdrawing the fasteners 51 and then sliding the shaft 24 outwardly through the ring member 50 and outer roller mounting member 22. A threaded bore 53 for pulling the shaft is provided for this purpose. When installed the fasteners securelylock the shaft against both longitudinal and rotational movement.

The bearing 26 is also secured in abutment against the ring member 50 by a plurality of cap screws 54 which are threadably received in bores 55 in the bearing. One of bores 55 has an extension 55a which terminates outwardly at the interface between the roller 28 and the bearing so that the roller may belubricated through the bore 55.

While the preferred form of my invention has been illustrated and described it should be understood that variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the specific form illustrated but that the claims appended hereto be given the broadest interpretation possible.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A track roller assembly for a track vehicle having a track roller frame and a track movable over the track roller frame, said track roller frame having inner and outer spaced roller mounting members, said track roller assembly including shaft means for holding a track roller between said mounting members, said shaft means having an end and a head, one of said mounting members having means providing an opening for receiving the end of said shaft means, the other of said mounting members having means providing an opening for holding the head of said shaft means and provided with at least one looking aperture, said shaft means being releasably mounted in said openings for axial withdrawal therefrom, said head of the shaft means having an aperture alignable with said one locking aperture, locking means positioned in said aligned apertures for holding said shaft means in said openings, bearing means slidably mounted on said shaft means, and a track engaging roller mounted on said bearing means whereby the track engaging roller is removable by withdrawing said shaft from said head end from within said track engaging roller.

2. The track roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said apertures are each half-circular and threaded and said locking means includes a fastener threaded therein.

3. The track rolle'r of claim 1 wherein there are two of said apertures arranged diametrically opposed in the opening in the head of said shaft means and each aperture is semi-circular whereby the aligned apertures of a head and opening are circular.

4. The track roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said means providing openings for receiving the end and head of said shaft means include first and second ring means having an end and a head, one of said mounting members having a first ring member for providing an opening for receiving the end of said shaft means, the

other of said mounting members having asecond ring I I member for providing an opening for holding the head of said shaft means and provided with at least one locking aperture, said head of the shaft means having an aperture alignable with said one locking aperture, locking means positioned in said aligned apertures, bearing means mounted on said shaft means, said opening in said second ring member for the head of said shaft means being countersunk, said bearing means including longitudinal threaded bores aligned with bores in said second ring member and cap screws provided in said bores for securing the bearing means to said second ring member, and a track engaging roller mounted on said bearing means.

7. A track roller assembly of claim 6 wherein one of said bores in said bearing means includes an extension terminating between the bearing means and the roller for lubricating'said roller.

Claims

1. A track roller assembly for a track vehicle having a track roller frame and a track movable over the track roller frame, said track roller frame having inner and outer spaced roller mounting members, said track roller assembly including shaft means for holding a track roller between said mounting members, said shaft means having an end and a head, one of said mounting members having means providing an opening for receiving the end of said shaft means, the other of said mounting members having means providing an opening for holding the head of said shaft means and provided with at least one locking aperture, said shaft means being releasably mounted in said openings for axial withdrawal therefrom, said head of the shaft means having an aperture alignable with said one locking aperture, locking means positioned in said aligned apertures for holding said shaft means in said openings, bearing means slidably mounted on said shaft means, and a track engaging roller mounted on said bearing means whereby the track engaging roller is removable by withdrawing said shaft from said head end from within said track engaging roller.

3. The track roller of claim 1 wherein there are two of said apertures arranged diametrically opposed in the opening in the head of said shaft means and each aperture is semi-circular whereby the aligned apertures of a head and opening are circular.

4. The track roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said means providing openings for receiving the end and head of said shaft means include first and second ring members, respectively.

5. The track roller of claim 4 wherein said shaft means end and head are of hexagonal cross section and said openings for receiving said end and said head are also hexagonal.

6. A track roller assembly for a track vehicle having a track roller frame and a track movable over the track roller frame, said track roller frame having inner and outer spaced roller mounting members, said track roller assembly including shaft means for holding a track roller between said mounting members, said shaft means having an end and a head, one of said mounting members having a first ring member for providing an opening for receiving the end of said shaft means, the other of said mounting members having a second ring member for providing an opening for holding the head of said shaft means and provided with at least one locking aperture, said head of the shaft means having an aperture alignable with said one locking aperture, locking means positioned in said aligned apertures, bearing means mounted on said shaft means, said opening in said second ring member for the head of said shaft means being countersunk, said bearing means including longitudinal threaded bores aligned with bores in said second ring member and cap screws provided in said bores for securing the bearing means to said second ring member, and a track engaging roller mounted on said bearing means.

7. A track roller assembly of claim 6 wherein one of said bores in said bearing means includes an extension terminating between the bearing means and the roller for lubricating said roller.