초록 ▼

A master link for a chain is disclosed. The master link may have a first half link member, a second half link member, and a pin joining the first and second half link members. The master link may also have a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered protrusion and fixed

A master link for a chain is disclosed. The master link may have a first half link member, a second half link member, and a pin joining the first and second half link members. The master link may also have a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered protrusion and fixedly connected to the second half link member at a second tapered protrusion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A master link for a chain, comprising: a first half link member; a second half link member; a pin joining the first and second half link members; and a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered joint and fixedly connected to the second half link

What is claimed is: 1. A master link for a chain, comprising: a first half link member; a second half link member; a pin joining the first and second half link members; and a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered joint and fixedly connected to the second half link member at a second tapered joint, the shoe including a first tapered recess and a second tapered recess within a lower surface of the shoe; the first tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the first half link member at the first tapered joint; the second tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the second half link member at the second tapered joint; and at least one threaded fastener extending from an outer surface of the shoe, through the shoe, and into at least one of the first and second half links; and a threaded nut removably disposed within the at least one of the first and second half links and being configured to receive the at least one threaded fastener. 2. The master link of claim 1, further including: a third half link member; a fourth half link member; and a second pin joining the third and fourth half link members, wherein the shoe is fixedly connected to the third half link member at a third tapered joint and fixedly connected to the fourth half link member at a fourth tapered joint. 3. The master link of claim 1, wherein: the tapered protrusions of the first and second half link members protrude above an upper surface of each of the first and second half link members; and when the first and second half links are fixedly connected to the shoe, a space exists between the upper surfaces of the first and second half links and the lower surface of the shoe. 4. The master link of claim 1, wherein: the first and second half links each include two generally planar side surfaces disposed in parallel opposition to each other; and a width of the first and second protrusions is greater than the distance between the two generally planar side surfaces. 5. The master link of claim 1, wherein the threaded nut has a full circular cross section. 6. The master link of claim 1, wherein: the at least one threaded fastener includes: a first threaded fastener extending from the outer surface of the shoe, through the shoe, and into the first half link; and a second threaded fastener extending from the outer surface of the shoe, through the shoe, and into the second half link; the threaded nut is a first threaded nut removable disposed with the first half link to receive the first threaded fastener; the master link includes a second threaded nut removably disposed within the second half link to receive the second threaded fastener; the first half link includes a recess configured to accommodate the second threaded fastener; and the second half link includes a recess configured to accommodate the first threaded fastener. 7. The master link of claim 1, wherein the at least one threaded fastener extends into the at least one of the first and second half links at the tapered protrusion. 8. The master link of claim 1, further including a locking device extending from a bottom surface of the first half link and into the pin for axial retention of the pin. 9. The master link of claim 8, wherein the locking device has a length less than a diameter of the pin. 10. A tracked undercarriage, comprising: a first plurality of link members; a second plurality of link members disposed in opposition to the first plurality of link members; a plurality of rod members connecting the first and second plurality of link members to form a chain having a first end and a second end; a plurality of shoe members fixedly connecting the first and second pluralities of link members; a master link joining the first and second ends of the chain, the master link including: a first half link member; a second half link member; a third half link member; a fourth half link member; a first pin joining the first and second half link members; a second pin joining the third and fourth half link members; a first master rod member joining the first and third half link members; a second master rod member joining the second and fourth half link members; and a master shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered joint, the second half link member at a second tapered joint, the third half link member at a third tapered joint, and the fourth half link member at a fourth tapered joints the master shoe including a first tapered recess, a second tapered recess, a third tapered recess, and a fourth tapered recess within a lower surface of the master shoe, wherein the first tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the first half link member at the first tapered joint, the second tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the second half link member at the second tapered joint, the third tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the third half link member at the third tapered joint, and the fourth tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the fourth half link member at the fourth tapered joint, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth half links each include two generally planar side surfaces disposed in parallel opposition to each other, and a width of the first, second, third, and fourth protrusions is greater than the distance between the two generally planar side surfaces of the respective first, second, third, and fourth half links. 11. The tracked undercarriage of claim 10, wherein when the first, second, third, and fourth half links are fixedly connected to the master shoe, a space exists between the upper surfaces of the first, second, third, and fourth half links and the lower surface of the master shoe. 12. The tracked undercarriage of claim 10, further including: at least one threaded fastener extending from an outer surface of the master shoe, through the master shoe, and into at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth half links; and a threaded nut removably disposed within the at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth half links and being configured to receive the at least one threaded fastener, wherein: the threaded nut has a full circular cross section; and the at least one threaded fastener extends into the at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth half links at the tapered protrusion. 13. A master link for a chain, comprising: a first half link member; a second half link member; a pin joining the first and second half link members; a shoe fixedly connected to the first half link member at a first tapered joint and fixedly connected to the second half link member at a second tapered joint; and a locking device extending from a bottom surface of the first half link and into the pin for axial retention of the pin, the locking device having a length less than a diameter of the pin. 14. The master link of claim 13, wherein the shoe includes a first tapered recess and a second tapered recess within a lower surface of the shoe, the first tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the first half link member at the first tapered joint, and the second tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the second half link member at the second tapered joint. 15. The master link of claim 14, wherein the tapered protrusions of the first and second half link members protrude above an upper surface of each of the first and second half link members, and when the first and second half links are fixedly connected to the shoe, a space exists between the upper surfaces of the first and second half links and the lower surface of the shoe. 16. The master link of claim 14, wherein the first and second half links each include two generally planar side surfaces disposed in parallel opposition to each other, and a width of the first and second protrusions is greater than the distance between the two generally planar side surfaces. 17. The master link of claim 14, further including at least one threaded fastener extending from an outer surface of the shoe, through the shoe, and into at least one of the first and second half links and a threaded nut removably disposed within the at least one of the first and second half links and being configured to receive the at least one threaded fastener, wherein the threaded nut has a full circular cross section. 18. The master link of claim 13, wherein the shoe includes a first tapered recess and a second tapered recess within a lower surface of the shoe, wherein the first tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the first half link member at the first tapered joint and the second tapered recess is configured to receive a tapered protrusion of the second half link member at the second tapered joint, wherein at least one threaded fastener extends from an outer surface of the shoe, through the shoe, and into at least one of the first and second half links and a threaded nut is removably disposed within the at least one of the first and second half links and being configured to receive the at least one threaded fastener, wherein the at least one threaded fastener extends into the at least one of the first and second half links at the tapered protrusion.