Moving tracks dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly and associated pin structure

Abstract

A moving tracks dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly including a concentric outer member operable for securely engaging a equalizer link bore structure associated with a first end portion of an equalizer link structural member, wherein the to concentric outer member is disposed substantially within the equalizer link bore structure. The dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly also including a concentric inner member operable for securely engaging a pin structure associated with a second moving track roller frame assembly structural member, wherein the concentric inner member is disposed substantially within the concentric outer member. The dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly further including an elastomeric section disposed between the concentric inner member and the concentric outer member, wherein the elastomeric section is bonded to an outer surface of the inner member and an inner surface of the outer member, and wherein the elastomeric section is operable for accommodating axial, cocking, and torsion motions of the second moving track roller frame assembly structural member pin structure relative to the first equalizer link structural member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly for a moving tracks dozer equalizer link having a substantially circular equalizer link bore with an inside diameter ID, said method comprising the steps of providing a cylindrical tubular nonextensible solid concentric inner member, providing a first outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half with an outside top and a second outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half with an outside bottom, concentrically disposing said cylindrical tubular nonextensible solid concentric inner member substantially within said first outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half and said second outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half, elastomerically bonding said cylindrical tubular nonextensible solid concentric inner member to said first outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half and said second outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half with an elastomer to form an elastomeric bearing assembly with an outside diameter OD from said first outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half outside top to said second outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half outside bottom wherein said elastomeric bearing assembly outside OD is at least a hundred and five percent of said equalizer link bore inside diameter ID. 
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , said method including providing a first shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half and a second shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half, concentrically disposing said first shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half between said first outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half and said cylindrical tubular nonextensible solid concentric inner member and said second shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half between said second outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half and said cylindrical tubular nonextensible solid concentric inner member wherein said shim members are elastomerically bonded in said elastomer between said inner member and said outer members. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claim in  claim 2  wherein said elastomer defines a first split gap which separates said first outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half from said second outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half and said first shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half from said second shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half, and a second split gap which separates said first outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half from said second outer member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half and said first shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half from said second shim member nonextensible solid split tubular cylinder half. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric bearing assembly includes at least one concentric shim member bonded in said elastomer between said outer member and said inner member. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one concentric shim member is comprised of a shim member first split half and a shim member second split half. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said outer member has an inner cylinder surface and said concentric inner member has an outer cylinder surface, with said elastomeric section bonded to said inner cylinder surface and said outer cylinder surface. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric bearing assembly provides a dozer equalizer link operation life of at least 1000 hours. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric bearing assembly provides a dozer equalizer link operation life of at least 2000 hours.