Joint bushings for track joint assemblies

Abstract

Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a joint bushing for a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the joint bushing may include a generally cylindrical outer surface. The joint bushing may also include a generally cylindrical inner bearing surface defining a bore. The inner bearing surface may include a plurality of valley-shaped recesses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A joint bushing for a track joint assembly, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical outer surface; and   a generally cylindrical inner bearing surface defining a bore, and including a plurality of valley-shaped recesses.   
     
     
         2 . The joint bushing of  claim 1 , wherein each of the recesses extends into and along a circumference of the bushing. 
     
     
         3 . The joint bushing of  claim 2 , wherein a sum of the lengths of each of the recesses, in an axial direction of the bushing, is between approximately 5% and approximately 75% of a length of the inner bearing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The joint bushing of  claim 3 , wherein the sum is approximately 27% of the length of the inner bearing surface. 
     
     
         5 . The joint bushing of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes between two and twenty recesses. 
     
     
         6 . The joint bushing of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes three recesses. 
     
     
         7 . The joint bushing of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes between two and twenty recesses. 
     
     
         8 . The joint bushing of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes three recesses. 
     
     
         9 . The joint bushing of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of recesses includes three recesses; and   a sum of the lengths of each of the plurality of recesses, in an axial direction of the bushing, is approximately 27% of a length of the inner bearing surface.   
     
     
         10 . A joint bushing for a track joint assembly, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical outer bearing surface including a plurality of recesses; and   a generally cylindrical inner surface defining a bore.   
     
     
         11 . The joint bushing of  claim 10 , wherein each of the recesses is valley-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The joint bushing of  claim 11 , wherein each of the recesses extends into and along a circumference of the bushing. 
     
     
         13 . The joint bushing of  claim 12 , wherein a sum of the lengths of each of the recesses, in an axial direction of the bushing, is between approximately 7% and approximately 38% of a length of the outer hearing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The joint bushing of  claim 13 , wherein the sum is approximately 37% of the length of the outer bearing surface. 
     
     
         15 . The joint bushing of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes between two and twenty recesses. 
     
     
         16 . The joint bushing of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes four recesses. 
     
     
         17 . The joint bushing of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes between two and twenty recesses. 
     
     
         18 . The joint bushing of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes four recesses. 
     
     
         19 . The joint bushing of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the plurality of recesses includes four recesses; and   a sum of the lengths of each of the plurality of recesses, in an axial direction of the bushing, is approximately 37% of a length of the outer bearing surface.   
     
     
         20 . A joint bushing for a track joint assembly, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical outer bearing surface including at least one recess; and   a generally cylindrical inner bearing surface defining a bore and including at least one recess.   
     
     
         21 . The joint bushing of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one recess of the outer bearing surface is offset, in an axial direction of the bushing, from the at least one recess of the inner bearing surface. 
     
     
         22 . The joint bushing of  claim 21 , wherein each of the recesses is valley-shaped. 
     
     
         23 . The joint bushing of  claim 22 , wherein each of the recesses extends into and along a circumference of the bushing. 
     
     
         24 . The joint bushing of  claim 23 , wherein the outer bearing surface and the inner bearing surface include different numbers of recesses. 
     
     
         25 . The joint bushing of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the at least one recess of the outer bearing surface includes four recesses; and   the at least one recess of the inner bearing surface includes three recesses.