The present disclosure relates generally to systems for assembling and disassembling machine track, and relates more particularly to such a system having a service tool kit for adapting it to service different types of machine track.
A variety of different types of machines utilize tracks, as ground engaging elements to propel the machine or for other purposes such as conveying or as torque transmitting devices. Many machine tracks are subjected to substantial wear and tear during operation. Track links or track pins may break, seals may fail, or parts of the track may simply become so worn that they need servicing or replacing. Due to the robust nature of many machine track designs, they can require relatively rugged and/or powerful tools for servicing, making assembly and disassembly relatively involved tasks. Moreover, in many instances it is desirable to service a machine track in the field, rather than transporting the machine to a service center, to minimize downtime and repair expense.
One means for easing track disassembly and assembly, and hence servicing, is through the use of master links. Master links are intended to provide a relatively easier means for “breaking” a track than would otherwise be available. Master links have been in widespread use for some time. However, since they typically only allow breaking of a track at one location, they do not adequately provide for servicing of the entire track, and traditional assembly and/or disassembly techniques are still often required. Moreover, the design of some tracks makes developing suitable master links difficult.
Servicing certain types of track, particularly some tracks used on track-type machines such as tractors, may be done with a field service press. Field service presses are typically relatively bulky, heavy and unwieldy, as well as expensive. They have nevertheless proven indispensable to equipment dealers and service technicians tasked with repairing machine tracks in the field. A typical field service press includes a hydraulic ram which can press track pins out of track chains to allow disassembly at any desired location. While these systems have proven effective in many environments, there is always room for improvement. Moreover, traditional field service presses tend to be poorly suited for servicing certain modern track designs.
In recent years, engineers have proposed a variety of track service tools intended to alleviate some of the shortcomings associated with earlier systems. U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,096 to Maguire et al. discloses one example of an apparatus for servicing track. The Maguire et al. system is portable, and uses a set of contact tools and an assembly tool, in conjunction with positioning blocks, to press outer track links onto track pins. While Maguire et al. appear to provide a number of advantages over other portable track servicing systems, there is always room for improvement.
The present disclosure is directed to one or more of the problems or shortcomings set forth above.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for servicing machine track which includes a press having a housing, a reaction bolster coupled with the housing and a rod movable relative to the housing from a first position to an extended position. The system further includes a first tool support plate and a second tool support plate, each having an inboard side configured for mounting track service tools thereon, and an outboard side configured to couple with one of the reaction bolster and the rod. The system further includes a first service tool set having at least one track contact tool for assembling track links onto track pins by extending the rod relative to the housing and being configured to couple with the inboard side of at least one of the tool support plates. The system still further includes a second service tool set having at least one track contact tool for disassembling track links from track pins by extending the rod relative to the housing and being configured to couple with the inboard side of at least one of the tool support plates.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a kit for adapting a field service press having a housing, a movable rod and a reaction bolster, for servicing straight link machine track. The kit includes a first tool support plate and a second tool support plate, each having an inboard side configured for mounting track service tools thereon and an outboard side configured for coupling with one of the reaction bolster and the movable rod of the press. The kit further includes a first service tool set having at least one track contact tool for assembling track links onto track pins via actuation of the press and being configured to couple with the inboard side of at least one of the tool support plates. The kit still further includes a second service tool set having at least one track contact tool for disassembling track links from track pins via actuation of the press and being configured to couple with the inboard side of at least one of the tool support plates.
In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of field servicing a machine track with a press having a housing, a reaction bolster coupled with the housing and a rod movable relative to the housing. The method includes a step of determining whether the machine track is of a first type or of a second type different from the first type. The method further includes, if the machine track is of a first type, servicing the track by using the press with a service tool set having a tool support plate mounted on the rod and coupled with at least one track contact tool which is adapted to press an outboard link of the track off of track pins via actuation of the press. The method still further includes, if the machine track is of a second type, servicing the track by using the press without the service tool set.
Referring to
In the
Turning now to
An additional lifting eye 47a is shown in
As mentioned above, bolster 26′ shown in
A lever arm 27 is provided which may be coupled with reaction bolster 26′ to enable rotating reaction bolster 26′ on connecting rod 22a when it is decoupled from connecting rod 22b. In one embodiment, lever arm 27 may be angled as shown, whereas in other embodiments it might comprise a straight bar. In either case, lever arm 27 may be fitted onto lifting pegs 62 which are configured to facilitate lifting and positioning of bolster 26 and coupled therewith. By rotating reaction bolster 26′ system 8 may be easily positioned such that a section of machine track lies within an enclosed frame comprised of housing 12, connecting rods 22a and 22b and reaction bolster 26′, without completely decoupling reaction bolster 26′ from the other components of system 8. In other words, with reaction bolster 26′ rotated out of the way, connecting rods 22a and 22b may be positioned one above, and one below, a section of machine track for servicing, then reaction bolster 26′ may be coupled with connecting rod 22b by securing retention element 44 therewith via nut 28b. In one embodiment, retention element 44 may comprise a lock ring having an outer diameter sufficiently large to inhibit removing of connecting rod 22b from bore 46 by rotating reaction bolster 26′ when retention element 44 is within bore 46. Since reaction bolsters of the type used with field service presses tend to be relatively heavy, the present strategy provides advantages over known systems in that it is no longer necessary for a technician to remove a reaction bolster from each of its associated connecting rods, position the system about a section of track, then manually replace the reaction bolster. The bolster design described herein also improves the speed with which system 8 can be positioned and/or repositioned for track servicing as compared with earlier designs.
Turning now to
Referring now to
A mounting assembly 50 which includes a ring 52 positionable about rod 18 and a plurality of fasteners 54 may be provided for securing tool support plate 32b to rod 18, and assisting in centering it thereon. End cap 21 may be used as described above, and may be threaded onto rod 18 and positionable within bore 43. In one embodiment, tool support plates 32a and 32b may be identical, such that either may be coupled with bolster 26′ or rod 18. In other embodiments, the respective tool support plates might be specific to the components to which they mount. The present description of tool support plate 32b should therefore be understood to also refer to and describe features common with tool support plate 32a. Tool support plate 32b may further include another set of bores 41 which are configured to receive fasteners 54. In one embodiment, ring 52 may rotate about rod 18 when tool support plate 32b is coupled therewith to allow rotation between tool support plate 32b and rod 18, as described herein.
Also shown in
Turning now to
In some instances, at least a portion of the components of system 8 will be configured for servicing a specific size of track. Machine track is often characterized as having a particular “pitch,” which may be defined as a distance between longitudinal centers of adjacent bores in the track links. Thus, track with a longer pitch typically has longer track links. Tool support plates 32a and 32b may be sized such that track having a certain pitch or range of pitches may be serviced thereby. To accommodate servicing track of different sizes, system 8 could be equipped with different sized tool support plates such that service tool sets 30 and 60 may be mounted on tool support plates which are sized and configured according to the pitch of the particular track. In a practical implementation strategy, however, a given set of two tool support plates may be used to service track having a range of pitches. Where mounting elements such as stub pin 137 are used, a bolt, etc. may be positioned in bore 47, and the stub pin placed in slot 35 at any of a range of positions corresponding to a size of the service tool, i.e. pin or contact disk, which is used. In other words, pins such as pins 34, and contact disks 134, having different sizes corresponding to a range of track pitches may be accommodated by tool support plates 32a and 32b, as the mounting elements thereof may be universal to a range of service tool sizes.
In a related vein, the suitability of contact disks 134 for pressing track links onto a section of track may depend in part on the diameter thereof. Larger tracks typically have larger bores in their track links to accommodate larger track pins, hence, contact disks 134 may have outer diameters larger than the bores in the subject track links, as contact faces 135 of contact disks 134 need to be able to bear against an outboard side of track links during pressing them onto track pins. Pins 34 may similarly need to be of a certain size, as track links pressed off of track pins via service tool set 30 may be pushed onto pins 34 when removed from track pins of the track. In either case, system 8 and/or a kit for adapting system 8 to service a particular type or size of machine track may include multiple sets of identical contact disks, each set having a size contemplated to be appropriate for working a particular size of track. For example, the four contact disks 134 shown in
Referring to the drawings generally, when track servicing is desirable, a technician will first typically determine whether the track is of a type appropriate for servicing via system 8 when in the configuration shown in
Once system 8 is positioned appropriately about the section of track to be serviced, track contact tool 36 may be coupled with one of tool support plates 32a and 32b. In one embodiment, the configuration of track contact tool 36 is such that it may be passed through open “windows” located between straps of the track links in the section of track to be serviced. Referring in particular to
Once an outboard track link from track chain 102a is disassembled from track 100, it may be removed from pins 34 and track contact tool 36 may be decoupled from tool support plate 32a, then mounted to the opposite tool support plate 32b. The described process may be repeated for track chain 102b, also by extending press 10, and pressing the opposite outboard track link 106 from track chain 102b. In some instances, it may be desirable to inhibit separation of adjacent pins 108 when pressing off a second outboard link 106. In other words, after an outboard link 106 is pressed off a first one of track chains 102a, 102b, it may be desirable to maintain an alignment of the associated track pins 108 during pressing off an opposite outboard link 106. A “dummy” link such as alignment link 72 may be used for this purpose, and may be positioned about ends of track pins 108 opposite to the second outboard link 106 which is to be removed.
After pressing one or more of links 106 off of track 100, it may be serviced, such as by replacing, lubricating, etc. one or more of track pins 108, replacing or servicing track links 106 or 104. Track 100 might also be decoupled from an associated machine for transport, servicing, replacement, etc. Inboard track links 104 may not be press fit with pins 108 in some embodiments and may therefore be slipped off. In embodiments where inboard links 104 are press-fit with pins 108, system 8 may be used in a manner similar to that described with regard to outboard links 106 to disassemble inboard links 104 from track 100. When a technician is prepared to reassemble track 100, service tool set 30 may be decoupled from system 8, and service tool set 60 coupled therewith.
In one embodiment, pins 34 may be swapped with contact disks 134, by decoupling pins 34 from tool support plates 32a and 32b and mounting contact disks 134 thereon. Contact disks 134 may have mounting elements similar or identical to those of pins 34 to enable them to mount to tool support plates 32a and 32b in a manner more or less identical to that of pins 34. Pins 34 and contact disks 134 will typically be cylindrical but could have different configurations in other embodiments. In any event, once contact disks 134 are mounted on tool support plates 32a and 32b, and press 10 is appropriately positioned, track support assembly 70, or another suitable support assembly, may be coupled with track 100 in preparation for assembly.
As mentioned above, nut bars 74 may be bolted or otherwise coupled with track links 104 on either side of a portion of track 100 to which links 106 are to be assembled. With nut bars 74 coupled each with two inboard track links 104 of track chains 102a and 102b, track pins 108 may be maintained in position via alignment link 72 in a manner similar to that used during track disassembly. Next, an outboard link 106 to be installed can be positioned on plungers 136 of contact disks 134, on an appropriate one of tool support plates 32a, 32b. Press 10 may then be actuated, to press the subject link 106 simultaneously onto two of track pins 108. If desired, a second link might be mounted on the opposite set of contact disks 134, such that two track links 106 are simultaneously pressed onto track 100. As mentioned above, the track links 106 being pressed on may be supported on plungers 136. Each of contact disks 134 may include a contact face 135 which has a diameter larger than the pin-receiving bores in track links 106. This enables contact faces 135 to bear against the track links 106 during actuation of press 10. As assembly of a given track link 106 progresses, plungers 136 will tend to bear against ends of track pins 108. Since plungers 136 are typically spring-loaded, they will tend to retract into contact disks 134 as the subject track link 106 is pressed onto track pins 108. Eventually, plungers 135 may be fully retracted into contact disks 134 approximately at the point at which links 106 are pressed on to desired positions on track pins 108. The process may then be repeated for the other track chain, if necessary.
The present disclosure offers numerous advantages over previous track servicing systems. On the one hand, track service presses of the type widely used in the industry tend to be relatively expensive. They are also relatively bulky, slow, sometimes unwieldy and not readily used to service more than one type of track. The present disclosure sets forth a manner of adapting certain existing presses such that they can be used more efficiently, for example via the improved reaction bolster design set forth herein, as well as making existing presses capable of servicing more than one type of track. The present system 8 can effectively make all outboard track links operate as master links, allowing track disassembly at any location. A great many track service tools have been proposed over the years to accommodate the evolving needs of track technicians, due to changes in track design as well as the demand for improvements in portability, performance, etc. Many of these newer service strategies, however, require investment in an entirely new type of system, which is itself often very labor intensive to set up for operation. Moreover, it is common for a first type of service system to be used for disassembling track, while a second type of system is used for assembly. The present disclosure allows an existing system to continue to be used for servicing one type of track, while providing tools which adapt it to service a second type of track, for both assembly and disassembly. This flexibility is based in part on the use of tool support plates 32a and 32b which are capable of mounting either of disassembly tools, set 30, or assembly tools, set 60, therewith. Tool support plates 32a and 32b serve as a common base for either of service tool sets 30 or 60, and therefore allow a single system to be reconfigured in the field and used for servicing different types of track, without needing separate systems or drastically different tooling set-ups for assembly versus disassembly, as sets 30 and 60 can be readily swapped on tool support plates 32a and 32b. While the present description discusses a particular combination of mounting features on tool support plate 32a, 32b, in particular locations, it is emphasized that a wide variety of features and mounting strategies could be used for mounting service tool sets 30 and 60 on tool support plates 32a, 32b, including pins, keyed mating features, bolts, threaded engagement, etc., without departing from the intended scope of the present disclosure.
A still further advantage offered by the present disclosure is the ability to readily work on a section of track which is oriented diagonally relative to a vertical direction. In one embodiment, each of track contact tools 32a and 32b may be rotatably mounted one to each of reaction bolster 26′ and rod 18. During use, system 8 will typically be suspended from a lift, crane, hoist, etc. as described herein, such that connecting rods 22a and 22b will be positioned more or less in a vertical plane. By rotating each of track contact tools 32a and 32b, they may be positioned such that pins 34 are properly oriented to react loads via engaging against track pins, even where the associated track is oriented diagonally. Contact disks 134 may be similarly positioned in appropriate orientations for assembly by rotating tool support plates 32a, 32b.
The present description is for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modification might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the full and fair and scope and spirit of the present disclosure. For example, while each of service tool sets 30 and 60 may include a plurality of components which mount to each of tool support plates 32a and 32b, in other embodiments a lesser number of parts might be used. For instance, pins 34 might be formed integrally with or irreversibly mounted on a first set of tool support plates, whereas contact disks 134 could be integral with or irreversibly mounted on a second set of tool support plates. In such an embodiment, each service tool set could consist of two pieces. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent from an examination of the attached drawings and appended claims.