US2054532A - Track roller assembly - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1936. D. B. BAKER ET AL TRACK ROLLER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l m m n P 1936- D. B.- BAKER ET AL 2,054,532

TRACK ROLLER AS SEMBLY Filed Aug. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Oak Park, Ill., Harvester Company, Jersey assignors to International a corporation of New Application August 8, 1934, Serial No. 739,014

6 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved construction of track rollers and lubrication therefor. Such rollers are employed in track type tractors and, as they are subject to severe load and shock, proper lubrication thereof is important to prevent wear and maintain and prolong their period of usefulness.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved track roller construction which lubricates itself in operation by gravity during slow rotation thereof, and which automatically is supplemented by pressure for effective lubrication at high speed rotation of the rollers.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, these objects may be achieved by the form selected herein for purposes of illustration, in which example a. stationary, round shaft is provided, having opposite flat surfaces formed with radial passages for distributing oil from an axial bore in the shaft. Carriers are mounted on the shaft, said carriers carrying the track roller. These carriers thrust against a flange on the stationary shaft between its ends. An oil reservoir is located between the adjacent ends of these carriers, said carriers including baffles providing cavities to pick up the oil from the bottom of the reservoir and elevate it to the top thereof, where it is received by a passage in the thrust flange to distribute it to the axial bore in the stationary shaft. Thus, as the roller and carriers turn on the stationary shaft, the oil is caused to circulate by gravity at slow speed and to be augmented by pressure at high speed, as will su sequently appear.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings:

Figure l isa perspective view of the improved roller, with parts broken away to illustrate the interior structure;

Figure 2 is a detail, side elevational view of the stationary track roller shaft;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the assembly taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross. sectional view through the track roller shaft, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the track roller assembly, showing a modified form of the oil circulating means; and,

Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional view through this modified form taken along the line 66 of Figure 5, looking in the indicated direction. a

stationary shaft I0 having its ends carried in an outer bracket I I and an inner bracket I2, said brackets being provided with holes I3 to receive bolts for securely carrying these brackets and the shaft II) in the track roller frame, not shown.

As shown best in Figures 2 and 4, the stationary, or non-rotatable shaft I0 is round and formed substantially centrally between its ends with an integral, circular, upset thrust flange I4 notched out in the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, as at I5, to form a groove in said flange I4. A radial passage or bore I6 leads from the groove I5 to an axial bore I! in the shaft I0, which runs in opposite directions from the flange I I; in fact, in one direction it extends clear through to the end of the shaft ID to a lubricator fitting I8 shown in Figure 1. At opposite sides, the rounded surface of the shaft is formed to provide upwardly sloped flat surfaces I9, which extend lengthwise of the shaft and oppositely from the flange I4, as shown. Leading to these flat surfaces I9 from the axial bore I! are radial oil passages 20.

On opposite sides of the flange I4, the shaft I0 rotatably carries an outer track roller carrier 2| and an inner similar carrier 22, said carriers thrusting endwise against the thrust flange I4, and at their outerends being recessed to receive seals 23 surrounding theshaft I0. Surrounding these carriers and turning therewith on the shaft I0 is the track roller 24 held in place on these carriers by any suitable means, such for example as by the clamp rings 25. I

These carriersZI, 22 are hollow and divided into six lubricant holding cavities or spaces 26 by six radial portions or bafiies 21. The number of spaces and ,baffles could, ofcourse, be varied as desired. Further, these carriers at their inner ends adjacent the flange I I are formed to provide an annular lubricant space 28, or oil reservoir, which communicates with the adjacent ends of the baffle spaces 26. (It will be observed that the outer ends of the carriers 2|, 22 are closed.

Each carrier-2 I, 22 has its hub portionsubstantially centrally between its ends provided adjacent the shaft I0 with an annular oil groove 29, which communicates, as shown in Figure 3, in each carrier with an annular ring of spaced, radial oil holes 30. There are six of such holes for each carrier, one hole 30 communicating with each baffle space", as shown.

With the single exception ofthe groove I5 formed in the top of the flange I4, the description thus far made applies to the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, and accordingly the same reference characters given to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, are also applied to the same parts in Figures 5 and 6. In the modification of Figures 5 and 6, the shaft flange l4 also has the radial bore IE, but, instead of a notch l5 to feed oil thereto, there is provided a cup 3| having a hollow stem 32 fitted into said bore 1 6 to mount the said cup, as shown. This cup 3| has a partition 33 to provide oppositely facing cup portions to receive oil in the cup, regardless of the direction of rotation of the carrier and roller. Ports 34 in the cup communicate with the bore l6 through the hollow stem 32 in the manner shown. In both forms, oil grooves 35 are formed in the shaft l adjacent each side of the flange M.

In operation, suitable lubricant is forced through the lubrication fltting I8 and into the axial bore IT. The oil emerges from the bore 16, bores 20, grooves 29, and holes 30 into the annular 'reservoir 28, and fills the same, as well as the conmeeting spaces or cavities 26 between the baffles 21 in the carriers 2|, 22. The hollow track roller assembly is thus loaded with lubricant and is ready for operation, the oil circulating in the manner now to be described.

bricant from the bottom of reservoir 28 and carry it to the top. As each cavity 26 thus reaches the top position, the oil drainsby gravity from the holes 30 in the cavities. The oil also passes through the connecting grooves 29 to the flat areas or surfaces 19, which serve to spread the oil laterally along the stationary shaft I0 and the bearing surfaces. Approximately of an inch side clearance is allowed in practice between the carriers 2|, 22 and the thrust flange I4. This clearance together with the oil grooves 35 in the shaft l0 insure complete lubrication of the thrust flange and its bearing surfaces.

When the tractor embodying this roller is operating in high speed, the roller 24 and its carriers turn rapidly on the stationary shaft l0 and the lubricant tends to remain by centrifugal force in the outer area of the reservoir 28. In the form of Figures Ito 4, inclusive, the notch l in the flange M is in this area. Therefore, this notch traps the oil, and as it crowds thereinto a slight pressure builds up. Thus, the intercepted oil is forced downwardly under pressure through the bore 16 in the flange l4 into the main oil lead I! and through the holes 20 onto the flat areas I9 of the shaft Hi to be distributed along the shafts bearing surface. Thus, the notch l5 acts as a pump under the condition just described.

In Figures 5 and 6, the modification of a cup is used in lieu of the notch l5 heretofore described. The cup is open at both ends, in either' direction of rotation of the track roller. with its partition 33 is so formed as to cause the oil intercepted thereby at high speed turning of the roller to be crowded, thus building-up pressure positively to circulate it through passages 34, l6, l1, and out passage 20 to be spread along theshaft ID by the flat surfaces H in the manner described.

From this it will be seen that thorough lubrication is assured at all speeds of operation.

It is the intention to cover all such changes and modifications ofthe illustrative examples herein disclosed which do not depart from the scope of the invention-as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: w

1. A track roller assembly comprising a station- The cup ary round shaft having a thrust flange intermediate its ends and flattened oil spreading surfaces at its opposite sides, a carrier on the shaft at each side of said flange, a track roller on the carriers and turnable therewith, said carriers formed with oil receiving cavities, an oil reservoir between the carriers communicating with said cavites, means to pass oil from the cavities to the flattened oil spreading surfaces to be distributed to the bearing and thrust surfaces by gravity when the roller turns slowly, and means in the flange to trap oil from the reservoir and pass it under pressure to the oil spreading surfaces when the roller turns rapidly.

2. A track roller assembly comprising a stationary round shaft having a thrust flange intermediate its ends and flattened oil spreading surfaces at its opposite sides, a carrier on the shaft at each side of said flange, a track roller on the carriers and turnable therewith, said carriers formed with oil receiving cavities, an oil reservoir between the carriers communicating with said cavities, means to pass oil from the cavities to the flattened oil spreading surfaces to be distributed to the bearing and thrust surfaces by gravity when the roller turns slowly, and means on the flange to trap oil from the reservoir and pass it under pressure to the oil spreading surfaces when the roller turns rapidly. i

3. A track roller assembly comprising a stationary round shaft having a thrust flange intermediate its ends and flattened oil spreading surfaces at its opposite sides, a carrier on the shaft at each side of said flange, a track roller on the carriers and turnable therewith, said carriers formed with oil receiving cavities,,an oil reservoir between the carriers communicating with said cavities, means to pass oil from the cavities to the flattened oil spreading surfaces to be distributed to the bearing and thrust surfaces by gravity when the roller turns slowly, a notch in the top part of the flange to trap oil from the reservoir when the roller turns rapidly, and means comprising passages in the flange and shaft for distributing the oil under pressure from said notch to the oil spreading surfaces.

4. A track roller assembly comprising a stationary round shaft having a. thrust flange intermediate its ends and flattened oil spreading surfaces at its opposite sides, a carrier on the shaft at each side of said flange, a track roller on the carriers and turnable therewith, said carriers formed with oil receiving cavities an oil reservoir between the carriers communicating with said cavities, means to pass oil from the cavities to the flattened oil spreading surfaces to be distributed to the bearing and thrust surfaces by gravity when the roller turns slowly, a cup mounted in the top part of said flange to trap oil from the reservoir when the roller turns rapidly, and means comprising a bore in the flange and passages in the shaft for leading the oil under pressure from said cup to the oil spreading surfaces.

5. A track roller assembly comprising a horizontal shaft flxed against rotation and carrying a stationary thrust flange between its ends, carrier sleeves rotatably mounted on the shaft on opposite sides of the flange, said sleeves at their inner ends thrusting against said flange, a track roller mounted on the carrier sleeves to turn therewith, the carrier sleeves being hollow and formed with spaced substantially radial baffles to form 011 containing cavities, said baffles and carrier sleeves being cut away at their inner ends to provide an'annular oil reservoir adjacent and surrounding the thrust flange, means for circulating oil to the bearing surfaces of the shaft from the said cavities at slow speed turning of the carrier sleeves and roller, and means immovably provided on the upper part of the thrust flange within said annular oil reservoir for receiving the oil and pumping it under pressure through passages formed in the flange and shaft to the bearing surfaces of the shaft when the carrier sleeves and roller turn at high speed.

6. A track roller assembly comprising a horizontal shaft fixed against rotation andcarrying a stationary thrust flange between its ends, carrier sleeves rotatably mounted on the shaft on oposite sides of the flange, said sleeves at their inner ends thrusting against said flange, a track roller mounted on the carrier sleeves to turn therewith, the carrier sleeves being hollow and formed with spaced substantially radial bellies to form oil containing cavities, said baflles and carrier sleeves being cut away at their inner ends to provide an annular oil reservoir adjacent and surrounding'the thrust flange, means for circulating oil to the bearing surfaces of the shaft from the said cavities at slow speed turning of the carrier sleeves and roller, and means immovably provided on the upper part of the thrust flange within said annular oil reservoir for receiving the oil and pumping it under pressure through passages formed in the flange and shaft to the bearing surfaces of the shaft when the carrier sleeves and roller turn at high speed, said immovable means comprising an oil catching scupper cup open in two directions to catch oil either during clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the carrier sleeves and roller.

DAVID B. BAKER. CLIFFORD R. ROGERS.

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