US4087136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Track-type vehicle wheel having controlled impact resistance
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1976-08-09
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Granted: 1978-05-02
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Expires: 1996-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A wheel of a driven track of a track-type vehicle has a rim connected to a hub with an annular chamber formed between the rim and the hub. A plurality of annular springs are positioned in the chamber and actuated by plungers in response to contacting a portion of the track. The springs controllably resist the impact forces of the track that are directed onto the wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger L. Boggs
- 👤 John W. Sogge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:36
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/18; B62D55/20; B62D55/202; B62D55/096; B62D55/0963; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S474/00; Y10S474/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A wheel of a track-type vehicle, comprising: a hub; a rim having an outer surface and a plurality of generally radially extending openings and being connected to the hub; an annular chamber defined by said rim and said hub, said openings of the rim opening into said chamber; a first annular spring assembly having a plurality of generally radially extending openings generally coaxial with said rim openings, said first annular spring being positioned in said chamber adjacent the rim; a second annular spring being positioned in said chamber and forcibly urging against the first annular spring assembly; and a plurality of plungers, each having a first end portion extending through an associated opening of the first annular spring assembly and a second end portion extending through an associated opening of the rim, said plungers being movable into and from the wheel chamber and controllably biased outwardly by the second spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A wheel of a track-type vehicle, comprising: a hub; a rim having an outer surface and a plurality of generally radially extending openings and being connected to the hub; an annular chamber defined by said rim and said hub, said openings of the rim opening into said chamber; a first annular spring assembly having a plurality of generally radially extending openings generally coaxial with said rim openings, said first annular spring being positioned in said chamber adjacent the rim; a second annular spring being positioned in said chamber and forcibly urging against the first annular spring assembly; and a plurality of plungers, each having a first end portion extending through an associated opening of the first annular spring assembly and a second end portion extending through an associated opening of the rim, said plungers being movable into and from the wheel chamber and controllably biased outwardly by the second spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first end portion of each plunger has a length greater than the thickness of the first annular spring assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second annular springs each has a construction sufficient to require a greater force to move a portion of the first spring assembly toward the hub than the force required to move a portion of the second spring toward the hub.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including: an annular groove formed about each generally radially extending rim opening; and an O-ring positioned in each annular groove for sealing the annulus between the plunger and the rim.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including: teeth positioned about the outer periphery of said rim and being arcuately spaced one from the other by a root area and wherein the plurality of generally radially extending openings of the rim open onto the root area of the rim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the second end portion of each plunger has a length sufficient for biasing adjacent portions of the annular springs preselected distances toward the hub in response to movement of a second end of the plunger to a location adjacent the associated root area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first end of each plunger is connected to the second annular spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first end portion of each plunger has a length sufficient for biasing a portion of the second annular spring a preselected distance toward the hub prior to contacting the first annular spring with the second end portion of said plunger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1046969A
Cited
US3889550A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-01 | 1981-10-31 | 1982-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-01 | 1985-10-31 | 1986-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-01 | 1989-10-31 | 1990-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |