GB667340A - Improvements in or relating to track assemblages for crawler tractors or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

667,340. Endless track vehicles. INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CO. March 24, 1950, No. 7441/50. Class 79(i) In an endless track assembly in which the idler wheel is loaded by a precompressed spring, the spring comprises a number of concave disc-like elements sc arranged that further compression thereof, e.g. when a stone is caught between the track and idler wheel, meets with decreasing resistance. As shown in Fig. 1 the endless track embraces the driving sprocket 12 whose bearings are fixed to the track frame 11, and the idler wheel 16 whose bearings are carried in a bracket 14 slidably mounted on the frame 11. Secured to bracket 14 is a rod 26 having abutments 32 and 33. Abutment 32 normally contacts the bracket 25 and limits outward movement of the idler wheel assembly, so that by suitably adjusting the screwed sleeve 44 carried by bracket 14 on the screwed portion 34 of rod 26, any desired amount of slackness may be left in the track under normal running conditions. Should a stone be trapped between the track and the idler wheels or drive sprocket, bracket 14 moves to the left and abutment 33 compresses the spring assembly 29 against cylinder 35 and fixed bracket 25. As shown in Fig. 2, the spring comprises pairs of oppositely opposed concave discs separated by annular spacers 39 and 41. Each disc preferably comprises a pair of like discs, e.g. 38, nested together whereby a damping action is provided by the relative sliding of the surfaces in contact. The spring assembly is enclosed in a casing 31.