Grouser shoe and fabrication method

Abstract

A grouser shoe for track drives commonly utilized by industrial and commercial equipment (e.g., bulldozers, backhoes, cranes, etc.) comprising a supportive pad and a ground engaging bar, the ends of such bar being bent to form wings, and method of manufacture thereof. The center portion of the bar provides the primary transmission of driveforce from the vehicle to the ground, while the wings provide for significant reduction in vibration, facilitate steering, provide easier turning, and extend the service life of the grouser shoe.

1 . A grouser shoe for a tracked vehicle, the grouser shoe having a pad and a bar with a center and an end, 
 the shoe comprising the bar being of uniform thickness and being integral with the pad, the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe,    the center of the bar having a center straight section with a center axis,    the end of the bar having an end axis, said end axis being angled in respect to said center axis to form a wing at the end of the bar, and said wing forming a pocket to provide an impediment to flow by the end of the bar.    
   
   
       2 . The grouser shoe of  claim 1  wherein the bar has a second end and characterized in that the second end has a second end axis, 
 and said second end axis being angled in respect to said center axis to form a second wing at the second end of the bar.    
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The grouser shoe of  claim 1  characterized in that the center of the bar has a center height, the end of the bar has an end height, and said center height being greater than said end height.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The grouser shoe of  claim 1  characterized in that the bar is formed separately from the pad, and the bar and pad being joined to form the shoe.  
   
   
       7 . The grouser shoe of  claim 1  characterized in that the bar is formed separately from the pad and welded onto the pad.  
   
   
       8 . The grouser shoe of  claim 1  characterized in that the bar is formed separately from the pad with part of the bar being differentially hardened in respect to the pad.  
   
   
       9 . The grouser shoe of  claim 7  characterized in that the bar is differentially hardened, and the hardness of the bar approximating that of the pad along the joint thereto.  
   
   
       10 . The grouser shoe of  claim 8  characterized in that the bar joints the pad at a joint and the pad has a Rockwell hardness, 
 said Rockwell hardness being in the range of 30-40 Rc and the bar has a hardness substantially similar to that of the pad at its joint therewith with its hardness increasing substantially uniformly outwardly therefrom to substantially 50-55 Rc.    
   
   
       11 . The grouser shoe of  claim 1  characterized in that the bar and pad are formed as a single piece, with the end of the bar being sheared from the pad, bent, and then reattached to the pad to form said wing.  
   
   
       12 . The grouser shoe of  claim 11  characterized in that the bar has ends, with said ends being sheared from the pad, bent, and then reattached to the pad to form the wings.  
   
   
       13 . The grouser shoe of  claim 1  characterized in that the ends of the bar and pad is attached by welding.  
   
   
       14 . A grouser shoe for a tracked vehicle, the grouser shoe having a pad and a bar with a center and two ends, 
 the shoe comprising the bar being of uniform thickness and being integral with the pad, the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe,    the center of the bar having a center straight section with a center axis, both ends of the bar having end axes respectively,    said end axes being angled in respect to said center axis to form wings at the end of the bar, and said wings forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar.    
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A grouser shoe of  claim 14  characterized in that the bar has a center and two ends, said center and two ends each having a height, and said center height being greater than said end heights.  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . The grouser shoe of  claim 14  characterized in that the bar is formed separately from the pad, and the bar and the pad being joined to form the shoe.  
   
   
       19 . The grouser shoe of  claim 18  characterized in that the bar is welded onto the pad.  
   
   
       20 . The grouser shoe of  claim 14  characterized in that the bar is differentially hardened in respect to the pad.  
   
   
       21 . The grouser shoe of  claim 20  characterized in that the bar is integral with the pad at a joint and has a hardness, said hardness approximating that of the pad along the joint therewith.  
   
   
       22 . The grouser shoe of  claim 14  characterized in that the bar and pad are formed as a single piece, with the ends of the bar being sheared from the pad, bent, and reattached integrally to the pad to form said wings.  
   
   
       23 . The grouser shoe of  claim 14  characterized in that the ends of the bar are welded to the pad to reattach said wings.  
   
   
       24 . A grouser shoe for a tracked vehicle comprising a pad and an integral bar, said bar having a center and two ends, the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe, 
 said center having a straight section with center axis and each end having an end axis respectively, and said end axes being angled in respect to said center axis of said straight section to form wings,    and said wings forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar.    
   
   
       25 . In a grouser shoe having a pad bolted to a drive link via a bolt, the improvement of a bolt protector, and said bolt protector being attached to the pad next to the bolt.  
   
   
       26 . In a grouser shoe having a pad with a leading edge and a grouser bar, the improvement of a wear bar, said wear bar being distinct from the grouser bar, said wear bar being replaceably separately attached to the pad at the leading edge thereof.  
   
   
       27 . A grouser shoe having a bar with a center and an end, the improvement of the center of the bar being straight and end of the bar being angled in respect to the center of the bar, 
 said angling of the end of the bar forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar,    and the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe.    
   
   
       28 . A method for manufacturing a grouser shoe for a tracked vehicle, said method comprising forming a pad and forming a bar having a uniform thickness with a straight center section and two ends, 
 the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe,    bending the ends of the bar in respect to said straight section to form wings,    and attaching the wings to the pad with said wings forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar.    
   
   
       29 . A method of  claim 28 , said method comprising the forming of the pad separately from the forming of the bar.  
   
   
       30 . A method of  claim 29  characterized in that the center and both ends of the bar are fixedly attached to the pad.  
   
   
       31 . A method of  claim 28 , said method comprising forming the pad and bar as a single piece, and shearing the ends of the bar to form the wings.  
   
   
       32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A method for manufacturing a grouser shoe for a tracked vehicle, said method comprising forming a pad and forming a bar having a uniform thickness with a center and two ends, 
 the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe,    bending the ends of the bar to form wings, attaching the wings to the pad, the wings of the bar being bent to form an angle between 10-20° between such end and the center of the bar, and said wings forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar.    
   
   
       35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . A method of  claim 28  characterized in that the grouser shoe is treated to alter the physical properties of the bar.  
   
   
       37 . A method of  claim 36  characterized in that the grouser shoe is differentially heat treated such that the bar has a hardness substantially similar to that of the pad at the joint therewith, and said hardness of the bar increases outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       38 . A method of  claim 37  characterized in that the pad has a Rockwell hardness, said Rockwell hardness being in the range of 35-40 Rc and the bar has a Rockwell hardness, said Rockwell hardness being substantially 50-55 Rc at its outer edge.  
   
   
       39 . A method for manufacturing a grouser shoe for a tracked vehicle, said method comprising forming a pad having a flat piece, 
 separately forming a bar of uniform thickness, the bar having a center and two ends, the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe,    the center having a center axis and each end having an end axis respectively,    forming wings by bending the ends of the bar to produce an angle between the center axis and each respective end axis to create a bar having a “C” shaped cross section,    and attaching the bar to the pad with said wings forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar.    
   
   
       40 . (canceled)  
   
   
       41 . A method of  claim 39  characterized in that the angle between the center axis and the respective end axis is between 10-20°.  
   
   
       42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . A method of  claim 39  characterized in that the grouser shoe is differentially treated such that the bar has a hardness substantially similar to that of the pad at the joint therewith, and said hardness of the bar increasing outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       44 . A method of  claim 43  characterized in that the pad has a Rockwell hardness of about 35-40 Rc and the bar has a hardness of substantially 50-55 Rc at its outer edge.  
   
   
       45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . (canceled)  
   
   
       47 . (canceled)  
   
   
       48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . (canceled)  
   
   
       50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . A method for manufacturing a grouser shoe for a tracked vehicle, said method comprising forming a pad having a flat piece with a leading edge and a trailing edge, 
 the width of the flat piece being substantially 60-80% of the length of the pad,    the width of the leading edge being substantially 10-20% of the length of the pad,    and the width of the trailing edge being substantially 5-15% of the length of the pad,    separately forming a bar of uniform thickness, the bar having a center and two ends, the center having a center axis and each end having an end axis, respectively,    forming wings by bending the ends of the bar to produce an angle of substantially 10-20° between the center axis and each respective end axis creating a bar having a “C” shaped cross section,    heat treating the pad to a hardness of substantially 35-40 Rc and differentially treating the bar to a hardness of substantially 50-55 Rc for 75% of its extremity and 35-40 Rc at its inner edge for joining with the pad,    attaching the bar to the flat piece of the pad, said wings forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar, and    the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe.    
   
   
       52 . (canceled)  
   
   
       53 . A method for manufacturing a grouser shoe, said method comprising forming a pad and forming a bar, the bar having a straight center and an end, 
 the bar extending upwardly off of the pad to form the Primary ground engaging drive connection for the shoe,    including bending said end of the bar in respect to the straight center of the bar to form a wing and attaching said wing to said pad with said wings forming a pocket behind the bar to provide an impediment to flow by the ends of the bar.