Track link for tracked crawlers

Abstract

A rotatable drive/support element having a support surface is used with a chain link having a hardened running surface extending in and adapted to ride in a travel direction on the support surface and a side surface also extending in the travel direction and normally out of contact with the element. The running surface has a predetermined width b and is formed of at least one edge region of an outwardly convex arcuate shape seen in the travel direction having a radius R of curvature and a respective corner region extending from the edge region to the side region and of an outwardly convex arcuate shape seen in the travel direction having a radius r of curvature. Herein r/b≅0.05 to 0.11, and preferably R/b≅2.4 to 3.1.

We claim:  
     
       1. In combination with a rotatable drive/support element having a support surface, a chain link having a hardened running surface extending in and adapted to ride in a longitudinal travel direction on the support surface and a side surface also extending in the travel direction and normally out of contact with the element, the running surface having a predetermined width b and being formed of 
       at least one edge region having an outwardly convex arcuate shape seen in the travel direction having a radius R of curvature; and  
       a respective corner region extending from the edge region to the side surface and of an outwardly convex arcuate shape seen in cross section having a radius r of curvature,  
       wherein r/b≅0.05 to 0.11 . 
     
     
       2. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein R/b≅2.4 to 3.1. 
     
     
       3. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein the running surface has adjacent the edge region a noncurved region. 
     
     
       4. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein R/b<2.4 and r/b≅0.075 to 0.11, the entire running surface being of convex arcuate shape seen in cross section. 
     
     
       5. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein the running surface has two such side surfaces, two such edge regions adjacent the side surfaces, and two such corner regions each joining a respective one of the edge regions to the respective corner region. 
     
     
       6. The combination defined in claim  5  wherein the running surface is formed between the edge regions with a substantially flat center region. 
     
     
       7. The combination defined in claim  5  wherein the two edge regions join centrally on the running surface, whereby the entire running surface is arcuate. 
     
     
       8. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein the support surface has a shape generally complementary to the edge and corner regions of the running surface. 
     
     
       9. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein the running surface has a hardness between 30 HRc and 60 HRc. 
     
     
       10. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein the running surface has a hardness between 40 HRc and 50 HRc. 
     
     
       11. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein the running surface is made of a manganese-steel alloy. 
     
     
       12. The combination defined in claim  1  wherein r/b≈ 0 . 05  to  0 . 11 .