초록

A track chain link for use in an endless track chain has a longitudinal (or “x”) dimension and a lateral (or “y”) dimension. The track chain link has an x-y plane of symmetry about which the track chain link is symmetric.

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1. A track assembly, comprising: a track chain link having a longitudinal (or “x”) dimension and a lateral (or “y”) dimension, the track chain link having an x-y plane of symmetry about which the track chain link is symmetric such that the track chain link is invertible relative to the x-y plane of

1. A track assembly, comprising: a track chain link having a longitudinal (or “x”) dimension and a lateral (or “y”) dimension, the track chain link having an x-y plane of symmetry about which the track chain link is symmetric such that the track chain link is invertible relative to the x-y plane of symmetry between a first use orientation and an opposite, second use orientation, the track chain link comprising a peripheral and wearable first rail surface and a peripheral and wearable second rail surface, the first and second rail surfaces extending longitudinally of the track chain link and positioned to opposite sides of the x-y plane of symmetry,a ground-engaging shoe, anda coupler attaching the shoe to the track chain link selectively to either side of the x-y plane of symmetry, the coupler comprising a seat that is mounted on the track chain link and is separate from the first and second rail surfaces and on which the shoe is mounted in the first and second use orientations of the track chain link, wherein the track chain link comprises an anchor positioned on the x-y plane of symmetry, the seat is positioned on the anchor between the anchor and the shoe and is re-positionable between opposite sides of the anchor to accommodate inversion of the track chain link, the coupler comprises a fastener fastening the shoe to the anchor, the anchor comprises a boss that protrudes laterally from a lateral side wall of the track chain link in a lateral direction and receives the fastener such that the fastener fastens the shoe to the boss, the seat is positioned on a ledge of the boss, the fastener is a first fastener, the boss is a first boss, the coupler comprises a second fastener, the anchor comprises a second boss that protrudes laterally from the lateral side wall of the track chain link in the lateral direction and receives the second fastener such that the second fastener fastens the shoe to the second boss, and the seat is positioned on a ledge of the second boss. 2. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fastener extends from the shoe through the seat to the anchor. 3. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat comprises a tube through which the first fastener extends. 4. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein the tube is a first tube, and the seat comprises a second tube through which the second fastener extends. 5. The track assembly of claim 4, wherein the seat comprises a web interconnecting the first and second tubes, and the first and second tubes and the web cooperate to provide a flat seat surface on which the shoe is mounted. 6. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the shoe is mounted on a flat seat surface of the seat. 7. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the track chain link is a non-master link. 8. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the track chain link is a master link. 9. The track assembly of claim 8, wherein the track chain link comprises a first link member and a second link member, and the first and second link members are fastened to one another and overlap one another laterally. 10. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat provides a load path between the shoe and the track chain link separate from the first and second rail surfaces. 11. A track assembly, comprising: a track chain link having a longitudinal (or “x”) dimension and a lateral (or “y”) dimension, the track chain link having an x-y plane of symmetry about which the track chain link is symmetric such that the track chain link is invertible relative to the x-y plane of symmetry between a first use orientation and an opposite, second use orientation, the track chain link comprising a peripheral and wearable first rail surface and a peripheral and wearable second rail surface, the first and second rail surfaces extending longitudinally of the track chain link and positioned to opposite sides of the x-y plane of symmetry,a ground-engaging shoe, anda coupler attaching the shoe to the track chain link selectively to either side of the x-y plane of symmetry, the coupler comprising a seat that is mounted on the track chain link and is separate from the first and second rail surfaces and on which the shoe is mounted in the first and second use orientations of the track chain link, wherein the track chain link comprises an anchor positioned on the x-y plane of symmetry, and the seat is positioned on the anchor between the anchor and the shoe and is re-positionable between opposite sides of the anchor to accommodate inversion of the track chain link, the coupler comprises a fastener fastening the shoe to the anchor, the anchor comprises a boss that protrudes laterally from a lateral side wall of the track chain link and receives the fastener such that the fastener fastens the shoe to the boss, the seat is positioned on a ledge of the boss, the fastener is a first fastener, the boss is a first boss, the coupler comprises a second fastener, the anchor comprises a second boss that protrudes laterally from the lateral side wall of the track chain link and receives the second fastener such that the second fastener fastens the shoe to the second boss, the seat is positioned on a ledge of the second boss, and the seat comprises a first tube receiving the first fastener, a second tube receiving the second fastener, and a web interconnecting the first and second tubes, and the first and second tubes and the web cooperate to provide a flat seat surface on which the shoe is mounted. 12. A track assembly, comprising: a track chain link having a longitudinal (or “x”) dimension and a lateral (or “y”) dimension, the track chain link having an x-y plane of symmetry about which the track chain link is symmetric such that the track chain link is invertible relative to the x-y plane of symmetry between a first use orientation and an opposite, second use orientation, the track chain link comprising a peripheral and wearable first rail surface and a peripheral and wearable second rail surface, the first and second rail surfaces extending longitudinally of the track chain link and positioned to opposite sides of the x-y plane of symmetry,a ground-engaging shoe, anda coupler attaching the shoe to the track chain link selectively to either side of the x-y plane of symmetry, the coupler comprising a seat that is mounted on the track chain link and is separate from the first and second rail surfaces and on which the shoe is mounted in the first and second use orientations of the track chain link, wherein the track chain link comprises an anchor positioned on the x-y plane of symmetry, and the seat is positioned on the anchor between the anchor and the shoe and is re-positionable between opposite sides of the anchor to accommodate inversion of the track chain link, the coupler comprises a fastener fastening the shoe to the anchor, the anchor comprises a boss that protrudes laterally from a lateral side wall of the track chain link and receives the fastener such that the fastener fastens the shoe to the boss, the seat is positioned on a ledge of the boss, the fastener is a first fastener, the boss is a first boss, the coupler comprises a second fastener, the anchor comprises a second boss that protrudes laterally from the lateral side wall of the track chain link and receives the second fastener such that the second fastener fastens the shoe to the second boss, the seat is positioned on a ledge of the second boss, the track chain link comprises a lateral through-hole, and the first and second bosses are positioned on longitudinally opposite sides of the lateral through-hole. 13. A track assembly, comprising: a track chain link having a longitudinal (or “x”) dimension and a lateral (or “y”) dimension, the track chain link having an x-y plane of symmetry about which the track chain link is symmetric such that the track chain link is invertible relative to the x-y plane of symmetry between a first use orientation and an opposite, second use orientation, the track chain link comprising a peripheral and wearable first rail surface and a peripheral and wearable second rail surface, the first and second rail surfaces extending longitudinally of the track chain link and positioned to opposite sides of the x-y plane of symmetry,a ground-engaging shoe, anda coupler attaching the shoe to the track chain link selectively to either side of the x-y plane of symmetry, the coupler comprising a seat that is mounted on the track chain link and is separate from the first and second rail surfaces and on which the shoe is mounted in the first and second use orientations of the track chain link, wherein the track chain link comprises a first collar, a second collar, a body interconnecting the first collar and the second collar, a first boss, and a second boss, the first and second bosses protrude laterally from a lateral side wall of the body and are positioned on the x-y plane of symmetry, the seat comprises a first tube positioned on the first boss, a second tube positioned on the second boss, and a web interconnecting the first and second bosses, the coupler comprises a first fastener and a second fastener, the first fastener extends from the shoe through the first tube to the first boss, and the second fastener extends from the shoe through the second tube to the second boss. 14. The track assembly of claim 13, wherein the track chain link is a non-master link, and the first and second bosses are spaced longitudinally apart from one another by an intervening lateral through-hole of the track chain link. 15. The track assembly of claim 13, wherein the track chain link is a master link comprising a first link member, a second link member, and a fastener fastening the first and second link members to one another such that portions of the first and second link members overlap one another laterally, the first boss protrudes laterally from the first link member, and the second boss protrudes laterally from the second link member.