초록 ▼

A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear ma

A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear material on the rotatable element and sacrificial wear material on corresponding track links. The contact interface may have a configuration based on a location of the seals, and is adapted to inhibit wear of the track links in regions adjacent the seals. In another aspect, the contact interface is a guide interface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A track assembly for a machine comprising: a track having a first chain assembly, a second chain assembly, and a track pin coupling said first chain assembly with said second chain assembly, and said track including a first seal and a second seal located within a first bore and a second bore, res

1. A track assembly for a machine comprising: a track having a first chain assembly, a second chain assembly, and a track pin coupling said first chain assembly with said second chain assembly, and said track including a first seal and a second seal located within a first bore and a second bore, respectively, of first and second inboard track links of the first and second chain assemblies, each of said first and second inboard track links including a region adjacent the corresponding seal;a drive sprocket; andan idler configured to guide said track and contacting said track between said chain assemblies at a contact interface, said idler defining an axis of rotation and including an outer diameter surface positioned at a constant radial distance from the axis of rotation, a first outboard axial side surface facing the first inboard track link and adjoining the outer diameter surface at a first corner, and a second outboard axial side surface facing the second inboard track link and adjoining the outer diameter surface at a second corner, and said idler further including axially protruding steps located on said axial side surfaces, each of which include concentric radially inward and radially outward step edges defining circles centered on the axis of rotation;said contact interface having means, including material to be subjected to wear located on each of said axially protruding steps, for inhibiting track link wear in the regions of the inboard track links adjacent said seals by way of contacting the material with the inboard track links during guiding said track such that contact between the corners of said idler and the regions adjacent said seals is limited. 2. The track assembly of claim 1 wherein said idler includes an unhardened material, and wherein said material to be subjected to wear includes a hardened sacrificial wear material, and wherein said means for inhibiting further having means, including the hardened sacrificial wear material, for directing track link wear to regions of the inboard track links which are not adjacent said seals. 3. The track assembly of claim 2 wherein said idler includes first and second axial sides which include the first and second outboard axial side surfaces, and wherein said axially protruding steps include a first circular step and a second circular step located on said first and second axial sides, respectively, and being spaced radially inwardly from said outer diameter surface. 4. The track assembly of claim 3 further comprising a hardened sacrificial wear material located on said inboard track links wherein said first and second seals are disposed, and said hardened sacrificial wear material being spaced from the regions of said track links which are adjacent said seals. 5. The track assembly of claim 4 wherein said first and second steps comprise a first conical face and a second conical face, respectively. 6. The track assembly of claim 4 wherein said first and second steps comprise a first planar face and a second planar face, respectively. 7. The track assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said axially protruding steps comprises a continuous step. 8. The track assembly of claim 1 wherein said track pin comprises a cartridge pin press-fit with said first and second chain assemblies, said track assembly further comprising a rotatable bushing positioned about said pin and contacted by said idler. 9. A machine comprising: a frame;a track coupled with said frame and including a first chain assembly and a second chain assembly, said chain assemblies each including a plurality of track links, a plurality of track pins, and a plurality of bushings positioned about the plurality of track pins, each of said track links including an inboard link surface adjacent one of said bushings, and a bore opening at the inboard link surface and defining a longitudinal bore axis;a plurality of seals positioned within the bores in said track links and being positioned adjacent said bushings;a drive sprocket;an idler including an outer diameter surface configured to contact said bushings and defining an axis of rotation extending between first and second outboard axial side surfaces, the outer diameter surface being positioned at a constant radial distance from the axis of rotation, and the first and second outboard axial side surfaces including first and second transition surfaces adjoining the outer diameter surface at a first corner and a second corner, respectively, of the idler;said idler further having a track contact state at which the first outboard axial side surface contacts a first inboard link surface of said first chain assembly, and a second track contact state at which the second outboard axial side surface contacts a second inboard link surface of said second chain assembly, and said outer diameter surface being spaced from the bushing adjacent to the corresponding inboard link surface in each of the first and second track contact states; anda first and a second axially protruding step located on said first and second outboard axial sides, respectively, each having concentric radially inward and radially outward step edges defining circles centered on the axis of rotation, and being configured to inhibit track link wear at least in part by contacting the first and second chain assemblies such that contact between the first and second corners and regions adjacent to said seals is limited;said first axially protruding step defining a spacing distance between the first transition surface and the first inboard link surface in the first track contact state, and said second axially protruding step defining a spacing distance between the second transition surface and the second inboard link surface in the second track contact state. 10. The machine of claim 9 wherein: said track is a first ground engaging track positioned at a first side of said frame, and said machine further includes a second, identical ground engaging track positioned at a second, opposite side of said frame; andeach of said chain assemblies includes straight outboard links alternating with straight inboard links, and said plurality of bushings include a plurality of rotating bushings positioned one about each of said track pins. 11. The machine of claim 10 wherein each of said inboard links further includes a counterbore communicating with the corresponding bore and receiving an end of one of said rotating bushings. 12. The machine of claim 10 wherein: said machine includes a second, identical idler associated with said second track; andsaid machine further comprising a second drive sprocket associated with said second track, and contact interfaces between each of said drive sprockets and the corresponding track which are configured to inhibit track link wear in regions adjacent to said seals during contacting the corresponding track with the corresponding drive sprocket. 13. A method of protecting seals of a machine track during operating the machine track, the method comprising the steps of: moving a machine track having first and second parallel chain assemblies of track links about a rotatable idler including an axis of rotation, an outer diameter positioned at a constant radial distance from the axis of rotation, and first and second corners adjoining the outer diameter;guiding the machine track relative to the idler at least in part by contacting the idler with the track between the first and second chain assemblies; andduring guiding the machine track, protecting inboard track seals disposed within the track links at least in part by inhibiting contact between the idler and regions of the track links adjacent the inboard track seals;the step of protecting inboard track seals further including inhibiting contact between inboard link surfaces of the track and the corners of the idler by way of contacting the inboard link surfaces with axially protruding steps located on the idler, while engaging or disengaging the track with the idler during the moving step. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of protecting inboard track seals includes inhibiting contact by way of sacrificial wear material disposed on at least one of the idler and the track. 15. A track assembly for a machine comprising: a track having a first chain assembly, a second chain assembly, and a track pin coupling the first and second chain assemblies, the track further including a first seal and a second seal located within a first bore and a second bore, respectively, of first and second inboard track links of the first and second chain assemblies, each of the first and second inboard track links including a region adjacent the corresponding seal; andan idler defining an axis of rotation and having an outer diameter surface positioned at a constant radial distance from the axis of rotation and contacting the track between the chain assemblies;the idler further having a first outboard axial side surface facing the first inboard track link and adjoining the outer diameter surface at a first corner, and a second outboard axial side surface facing the second inboard track link and adjoining the outer diameter surface at a second corner;the idler further having an axially protruding step located on each of the axial side surfaces, and each of the axially protruding steps having concentric radially inward and radially outward step edges defining circles centered on the axis of rotation; andthe idler further having material to be subjected to wear located on each of the axially protruding steps, and the material contacting the inboard track links during guiding the track such that contact between the corners of the idler and the regions adjacent the seals is limited. 16. The track assembly of claim 15 wherein the axially protruding steps includes a first continuous step and a second continuous step, respectively. 17. The track assembly of claim 16 wherein the idler includes an unhardened material, and wherein the material to be subjected to wear includes a hardened sacrificial wear material. 18. The track assembly of claim 16 wherein the first and second continuous steps include a first conical face and a second conical face, respectively. 19. The track assembly of claim 16 wherein the first and second continuous steps include a first planar face and a second planar face, respectively.