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An idler assembly is disclosed for a shovel having a flexible track assembly. In an embodiment, the idler assembly comprises an idler gear operatively associated with the track assembly; a sleeve; a shaft, sets of splines on the shaft and on the sleeve sized for engagement, and connectors at ends of

An idler assembly is disclosed for a shovel having a flexible track assembly. In an embodiment, the idler assembly comprises an idler gear operatively associated with the track assembly; a sleeve; a shaft, sets of splines on the shaft and on the sleeve sized for engagement, and connectors at ends of the shaft; at least one bearing block forming a bore therethrough; at least one bushing liner disposed within at least one bearing block; and at least one retaining device for constraining the shaft from withdrawal from the bearing block. A method for retrofitting a shovel with an existing idler assembly is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises positioning at least one bushing liner within a bore of at least one bearing block; attaching an idler shaft and an idler gear together; and positioning the idler shaft within the at least one bushing liner.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An idler assembly, comprising: an idler gear having an opening formed therein; an elongated tubular sleeve having a generally cylindrically shaped outer surface extending from one end to the other and an inner surface having a set of splines formed therein, said sleeve being

What is claimed is: 1. An idler assembly, comprising: an idler gear having an opening formed therein; an elongated tubular sleeve having a generally cylindrically shaped outer surface extending from one end to the other and an inner surface having a set of splines formed therein, said sleeve being received within the opening formed in said idler gear; a shaft having first and second opposed ends and a set of splines formed thereon between the first and second opposed ends, said shaft being positioned within said sleeve so that the set of splines formed on said shaft engage the set of splines formed on the inner surface of said sleeve; at least one bearing block having a bore formed therein, said bearing block positioned adjacent said idler gear; and at least one bushing liner positioned within the bore formed in said bearing block, said bushing liner rotatably receiving the first opposed end of said shaft. 2. A kit for retrofitting a piece of equipment having a flexible track assembly, the kit comprising: a cylindrical sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface in opposition to one another, the inner surface of said cylindrical sleeve forming an inner diameter, a set of splines disposed on the inner surface, and the outer surface of cylindrical sleeve forming an outer diameter configured for attachment within an opening formed in an idler gear, said cylindrical sleeve having a length that is about equal a length of the opening formed in the idler gear, so that said sleeve will be substantially entirely contained within the opening formed in the idler gear when said sleeve is positioned within the opening; a shaft having an outer portion with a set of splines thereon, the outer portion sized for placement within the inner diameter of the sleeve, the set of splines of the shaft and the set of splines of the sleeve sized for engagement with one another, and connectors disposed at opposed ends of the shaft, said shaft having a length that is greater than the length of said sleeve so that the opposed ends of said shaft extend beyond respective first and second sides of the idler gear when said shaft is positioned within said sleeve; first and second bushing liners for disposal within bores formed within corresponding first and second bearing blocks on the piece of equipment, each of said first and second bushing liners having an inner surface and an outer surface in opposition to one another, the inner surface forming an inner diameter sized for placement of the shaft therein, and the outer surface forming an outer diameter sized for placement within the bore of the respective first and second bearing blocks; and first and second retaining devices for constraining the shaft from withdrawal from first and second bearing blocks on the piece of equipment, the first and second retaining devices being configured for removable attachment to the connectors disposed at opposed ends of said shaft wherein the shaft rotates within the at least one bearing block as the idler gear rotates. 3. The kit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the connectors comprise the opposed ends of the shaft having grooves formed therein. 4. The kit in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of said first and second retaining devices comprises a split collar retainer. 5. The kit in accordance with claim 2, wherein a material hardness of each of said first and second bushing liners is less than a material hardness of the shaft. 6. The kit in accordance with claim 5, wherein the material hardness of each of said first and second bushing liners is less than a material hardness of each of the first and second bearing blocks. 7. An idler assembly, comprising: an idler gear having an opening formed therein; a cylindrical sleeve having an inner surface having a set of splines formed therein, said cylindrical sleeve being received within the opening formed in said idler gear so that said cylindrical sleeve is substantially entirely contained within the opening formed in said idler gear; a shaft having first and second opposed ends and a set of splines formed thereon between the first and second opposed ends, said shaft being positioned within said cylindrical sleeve so that the set of splines formed on said shaft engage the set of splines formed on the inner surface of said cylindrical sleeve and so that the first and second opposed ends of said shaft extend beyond respective first and second sides of said idler gear; a first bearing block having a bore formed therein, said first bearing block positioned adjacent the first side of said idler gear; a first bushing liner positioned within the bore formed in said first bearing block, said first bushing liner rotatably receiving the first opposed end of said shaft; a second bearing block having a bore formed therein, said second bearing block positioned adjacent the second side of said idler gear; a second bushing liner positioned within the bore formed in said second bearing block, said second bushing liner rotatably receiving the second opposed end of said shaft; a first retaining device operatively engaged with the first opposed end of said shaft; and a second retaining device operatively engaged with the second opposed end of said shaft, said first and second retaining devices axially retaining said shaft within said first and second bearing blocks. 8. The idler assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second opposed ends of said shaft have respective connectors disposed thereon and wherein said first and second retaining devices engage the connectors. 9. The idler assembly of claim 8, wherein the connectors comprise respective grooves formed in the first and second opposed ends of said shaft and wherein said first and second retaining devices comprise split collar retainers. 10. The idler assembly of claim 7, wherein said sleeve further defines a beveled edge on at least one of the opposed ends thereof, the beveled edge defining a recess between the sleeve and said idler gear. 11. The idler assembly of claim 10, further comprising a weld deposited within the recess between the beveled edge of said sleeve and said idler gear, said weld fixedly attaching said sleeve within the opening formed within said idler gear.