Truck joint assembly retaining plate
The retaining plate with a recess and stop ring configuration addresses pin displacement issues in track joint assemblies, enhancing joint reliability and extending the service life by securing the pin within the pin bore.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CATERPILLAR INC
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing track joint assemblies experience pin displacement due to frictional forces, leading to separation of track chain links and potential failure, necessitating maintenance and reducing the useful life of the track chain.
A retaining plate with a recess and a stop ring configuration is used to secure the pin within the pin bore, preventing axial movement and deformation of the stop ring, thereby maintaining the pin's position and enhancing joint integrity.
The configuration effectively prevents pin displacement, improving joint reliability, reducing maintenance needs, and extending the service life of the track chain by maintaining the track shoes' connection.
Smart Images
Figure 2026520016000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a retaining plate, and more specifically, to a retaining plate for maintaining pins within a track joint assembly.
Background Art
[0002] Track-type machines typically use track chains on both sides of the machine that engage the ground surface during propulsion of the machine. A plurality of individual links are pivotally connected via bushing and pin arrangements to form the track chain. A sprocket driven by the machine's engine engages the bushing and translates the chain around one or more idlers. As the chain moves, the connected links engage the ground surface under the machine, for example via attached track shoes, and propel the machine across the surface. The track chain may be a straight link chain where the inner and outer links alternate, or may be an offset link chain where all links are similar.
[0003] As the links of the track chain translate, the links pivot around the pins that connect them together. As a result of the pivoting, the frictional force exerted on the pins may cause the pins to exit the bores in which they are positioned, thereby allowing the adjacent links to separate. When the links separate, the track chain and the machine on which the track chain is used may require maintenance. Separation may also lead to failure of the track chain, necessitating stopping the operation and maintenance of the machine and / or shortening the useful life of the track chain.
[0004] An exemplary truck joint assembly utilizing a pin retainer is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,565,761 ("'761") by Jones et al. '761 discloses that the pin retainer includes a retaining plate positioned in a pin bore adjacent to a pin, and a spring positioned adjacent to the retaining plate to hold the retaining plate in place. However, the inventors of this disclosure have found that in such a configuration, the spring frequently folds, thereby allowing both the retaining plate and the pin to exit the pin bore.
[0005] The retaining plates of this disclosure may solve one or more of the problems described above and / or other problems in the art. However, the scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims and not by its ability to solve any particular problem. [Overview of the Initiative]
[0006] In one embodiment, the track joint assembly may include: a first track shoe including at least one front pin lug; a second track shoe including at least one rear pin lug; a pin extending through a pin bore defined by the at least one front pin lug and the at least one rear pin lug, connecting the first track shoe to the second track shoe; a retaining plate positioned within the pin bore and including an inner surface adjacent to the pin; an outer surface opposite to the inner surface; a recess extending at least partially along the outer periphery of the outer surface; and a stop ring positioned within a stop groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the pin bore, positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the retainer, the stop ring extending radially inward from the inner circumferential surface to prevent the retaining plate from being pulled out of the pin bore.
[0007] In another embodiment, a retaining plate for a track joint assembly may include a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first surface, an outer peripheral surface between the first and second surfaces having a first diameter, and a recess extending at least partially along the outer peripheral edge of the first surface. The recess may define a stepped circumferential surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, a kit for a track joint assembly may include a stop ring and retaining plate having a first planar surface, a second planar surface opposite the first surface, an outer peripheral surface between the first and second surfaces having a first diameter, and a recess extending at least partially along the outer peripheral edge of the first surface. The recess may define a stepped circumferential surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and the stop ring may be sized to fit into the recess. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary machine having a track chain. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary truck joint assembly. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the exemplary truck joint assembly shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary truck joint assembly shown in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary truck joint assembly of Figure 2 during the installation of the retaining plate. [Figure 6A] Figure 6A is a front view of an exemplary retaining plate. [Figure 6B] Figure 6B is a side view of the exemplary retaining plate shown in Figure 6A. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing how to assemble a truck joint assembly. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] Both the general description above and the detailed description below are merely illustrative and descriptive and do not limit the claimed features. As used herein, “comprises,” “comprising,” “having,” “including,” or other variations thereof are intended to encompass non-exclusive inclusion, thereby including a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements, which may include not only those elements but also other elements not expressly enumerated or inherent in such process, method, article, or apparatus. In this disclosure, relative terms such as, for example, “about,” “substantially,” and “approximately” are used to indicate a possible variation of ±10% in the stated values.
[0011] Figure 1 shows a track-type machine 10 according to the present disclosure. Machine 10 can embody any machine that is driven, propelled, positioned, and / or operated by operating a “continuous” track-type traction device. Such machines may include, for example, track-type tractors, skid steers, dozers, excavators, track loaders, front excavators, rope excavators, or any other type of track-operable machine. Machine 10 may include a pair of track assemblies 12 (only one is shown) on either side of machine 10, which are driven by a drive mechanism 14 such as a machine engine or other power source (not shown) via at least one drive gear or sprocket 16. Each track assembly 12 may form a separate infinite loop. Multiple track shoes 18 may be coupled to the outer surface of the track assembly 12 to assist in engagement with the ground. The track assembly 12 may include multiple other components that form a continuous track, a ground engagement portion of the drive system of machine 10. The track assembly 12 may be coupled to a chassis assembly 20, which may include, for example, a sprocket 16, at least one idler, several rollers, and any other components of chassis assemblies known in the art. For illustrative purposes, the track assembly 12 is shown in minimal detail in Figure 1, and it will be understood that the components of the track assembly 12 will be shown and described in more detail in the figure and the following description.
[0012] The track assembly 12 may be a chain comprising several structurally similar track joint assemblies, each of which may include a pair of track shoes. Figure 2 shows an exemplary track joint assembly 100 that may be found on the track assembly 12. The track joint assembly 100 may include a first track shoe 102 having a one-piece shoe body and including a grounding pad 142 for engaging with a grounding surface. The first track shoe 102 may further include one or more rear pin lugs 144 for connecting the first track shoe 102 to a second track shoe 104. The track shoe 102 may also include a front pin lug 146 for connecting the first track shoe 102 to another track shoe (not shown) on the opposite side of the second track shoe 104. The terms “front” and “rear,” and similar relative terms, are used herein for convenience only and should not be construed to imply any particular orientation within the machine track 12. Similarly, the terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms are used for ease of explanation and do not require any particular order, arrangement, or other characteristics.
[0013] The second track shoe 104 may include a grounding pad 150 similar to the grounding pad 142 for engaging with the grounding surface. The second track shoe 104 may also include a front pin lug 148 for connecting the second track shoe 104 to the first track shoe 102. The front pin lug 148 may be identical to the front pin lug 146 and may be configured to fit between the rear pin lugs 144. Similar to the first track shoe 102, the second track shoe 104 may have a single shoe body and one or more front pin lugs (not shown) identical to the rear pin lug 144. The first track shoe 102, the second track shoe 104, and any other track shoes connected to it to form the track assembly 12 may be substantially identical. Thus, any discussion herein of any feature of one of the track shoes 102 or 104 can be understood to refer similarly to the corresponding feature of the other track shoe.
[0014] The first track shoe 102 and the second track shoe 104 may be connected together by a pin 120 (shown in Figure 4) extending through a pin bore 106 defined by a rear pin lug 144 and a front pin lug 148. The pin bore 106 may be, for example, a cylindrical bore extending through all of the rear pin lugs 144 and the front pin lug 148 when the rear pin lug 144 and the front pin lug 148 are aligned. The pin may also extend through all of the rear pin lugs 144 and the front pin lug 148 so that each of the first track shoe 102 and the second track shoe 104 can pivot around the pin and be prevented from separating from each other.
[0015] As shown in more detail in Figure 3, the pin 120 can be held in the pin bore 106 by a retaining plate 110 positioned within the pin bore 106 adjacent to the pin. The retaining plate 110 can then be held in the pin bore 106 by a stop ring 108. The configurations of the retaining plate 110 and the stop ring 108 will be discussed in more detail below with reference to Figures 4-5.
[0016] In certain known track systems, including those with cartridge pins and other types of pins, it has been observed that pins can "come loose" from their desired position within the pin bore over their service life, requiring field service of the track, necessitating premature pin replacement, or causing other problems. Unsecured pins can, in fact, lead to the track effectively separating from the track shoe and the machine. As will become apparent from the following description, the machine track 12, and in particular the track joint assembly 100, may be configured with unique and novel pin retention mechanisms to address these and other undesirable phenomena.
[0017] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the pin bore 106 shown in Figures 2-3. The pin 120 may be positioned within the pin bore 106 to connect the first track shoe 102 and the second track shoe 104. The pin 120 may include a pin body 118 and a pin head 130. The pin body 118 and the pin head 130 may each be substantially cylindrical. The pin body 118 may have a smaller diameter than the pin head 130 so that the pin body 118 can be inserted into the pin bore 106 without obstruction, and the pin head 130 may serve to prevent the pin 120 from passing completely through the pin bore 106 and being pulled out from the opposing end of the pin bore 106. For example, the pin head 130 may include a flange 122 extending around its outer edge. When the pin 120 is inserted into the pin bore 106, the flange 122 may abut against the corresponding shoulder portion 124 in the pin bore 106, thereby preventing the pin 120 from being inserted too far into the pin bore 106 and / or pulled out from the opposite end.
[0018] The retaining plate 110 may be positioned within the pin bore 106 adjacent to the pin head 130 to prevent the pin 120 from "coming out" of the pin bore 106. The retaining plate 110 may be substantially disc-shaped and may have an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the inner surface 126 of the pin bore 106. The retaining plate 110 may include an inner surface 152 adjacent to the pin head 130 and an outer surface 154 opposite to the inner surface 152. The inner surface 152 and the outer surface 154 may each be at least partially planar and parallel to each other. The retaining plate 110 may also include an outer peripheral surface 158 between the inner surface 152 and the outer surface 154, corresponding to the inner surface 126 of the pin bore 106.
[0019] The pin contact surface 112 can project from the inner surface 152 toward the pin head 130. The pin contact surface 112 may function to contact the pin head 130 at its central region with a surface area smaller than the surface area of the entire inner surface 152 so as to concentrate the force exerted on the pin 120 by the holding plate 110, and vice versa. The pin contact surface may generally be circular in shape and may be surrounded by the frustoconical surface 156. The frustoconical surface 156 may function as a transition surface between the inner surface 152 and the pin contact surface 112.
[0020] The holding plate 110 may further include a through hole 128 extending through the inner surface 152, the outer surface 154, and / or the pin contact surface 112. The through hole 128 may allow the holding plate 110 to bend slightly when biased by the pin 120 and / or may allow access to the pin 120 when the holding plate 110 is installed in the pin bore 106.
[0021] The holding plate 110 may also include a recess 114 extending along the outer peripheral edge of the outer surface 154. In some embodiments, the recess 114 may extend partially along the perimeter of the outer surface 154, and in some embodiments, the recess 114 may extend along the entire perimeter of the outer surface 154 such that the recess 114 forms a complete circle (as shown in FIG. 6A). The recess 114 may be, for example, a stepped recess (i.e., a rebate or rabbet) or another shape suitable for the purposes described below.
[0022] The retaining plate 110 can be maintained within the pin bore 106 by the stop ring 108. The stop ring 108 may be of a generally circular shape. In some embodiments, the stop ring 108 may be of an incomplete circular shape, and in some embodiments, the stop ring 108 may be a complete circle. The stop ring 108 may be formed of an elastic material such as spring steel and may be compressible radially inwardly. For example, the stop ring 108 may be a torsion spring. In some embodiments, the stop ring 108 may be a circlip. The stop ring 108 may be positioned within a stop groove 116 formed in the inner surface 126 of the pin bore 106. The stop ring 108 may have a sufficient radial thickness such that the stop ring 108 protrudes from the stop groove 116 so as to block the retaining plate 110 from being axially withdrawn from the pin bore 106.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the dimensions of the recess 114 may be such that the stop ring 108 can fit simultaneously within the stop groove 116 and the recess 114. When fitted within the stop groove 116 and the recess 114, the stop ring 108 can be prevented from the stepped circumferential surface 114a of the recess 114 (shown in FIG. 5) being compressed radially inwardly. Thereby, the stop ring 108 can remain within the stop groove 116 and can effectively continue to block the retaining plate 110 and the pin 120 from being pulled out of the pin bore 106.
[0024] By configuring the retaining plate 110 to include the recess 114, the tendency of the stop ring 108 to compress radially inward can be minimized. For example, with the retaining plate lacking the recess 114, the inventors have recognized that the force exerted on the stop ring 108 by the pin 120 and the retaining plate can compress the stop ring 108 radially inward, thereby causing the stop ring 108 to be pulled out of the stop groove 116. With the stop ring 108 pulled out of the stop groove 116, each of the stop ring 108, the retaining plate 110, and the pin 120 may be allowed to move axially within the pin bore 106, which could lead to the pin 120 and the adjacent track shoe being pulled out of the pin bore 106 and becoming separated. By preventing the stop ring 108 from being compressed, axial movement of the components can be significantly suppressed, and the possibility of track failure can be reduced.
[0025] Figure 5 shows another cross-sectional view of the pin bore 106 and illustrates the exemplary positioning of the retaining plate 110, which allows the stop ring 108 to be positioned within the stop groove 116 during installation and / or assembly. As shown in Figure 5, the pin 120 may already be positioned within the pin bore 106 such that the flange 122 abuts against the shoulder portion 124. The retaining plate 110 may be positioned within the pin bore 106 such that the pin contact surface 112 is in direct contact with the pin head 130. It will be understood that the track joint assembly 100 may be configured to allow for an offset between the pin contact surface 112 and the pin head 130, as shown in Figure 4.
[0026] While the pin contact surface 112 is in direct contact with the pin head 130, the retaining plate 110 may be offset from the stop groove 116 so that the stop ring 108 can be compressed radially and inserted into the pin bore 106 to a depth corresponding to the stop groove 116. The stop ring 108 may be compressed radially, for example, manually with a handheld tool such as pliers, or with any other suitable tool. The stop ring 108 may then be allowed to expand radially into the stop groove 116. Once the stop ring 108 is fitted into the stop groove 116, the retaining plate 110 may then be allowed to move away from the pin head 130 so that the recess 114 encloses the stop ring 108. With the stop ring 108 fitted into the recess 114, the stop ring 108 may be prevented from being compressed radially inward by the stepped circumferential surface 114a, thereby preventing it from being pulled out of the stop groove 116.
[0027] The pin 120 is shown in Figures 4 and 5 to include a pin head 130, but it will be understood that other types of pins may be used consistently with respect to this disclosure. For example, a straight pin without a flanged head may be used. Furthermore, Figures 4 and 5 show a mechanism for holding the pin 120 on only one side. However, it will be understood that the retaining mechanism described herein, including the retaining plate 110 and the stop ring 108, may also be used on the opposite side of the pin 120. Alternatively, a different retaining mechanism may be used on the opposite side of the pin 120.
[0028] Figures 6A and 6B show a plan view and a side view of the retaining plate 110, respectively. As previously mentioned, the retaining plate 110 may be substantially circular in shape and may have an outer diameter D1. In some embodiments, D1 may be about 140 mm to about 170 mm. In some embodiments, D1 may be about 150 mm to about 160 mm. In some embodiments, D1 may be 149.8 mm. In some embodiments, D1 may be 159.8 mm. The through hole 128 may have a diameter D2. In some embodiments, D2 may be about 15 mm to about 25 mm. In some embodiments, D2 may be about 20 mm.
[0029] As shown in Figure 6B, the stepped circumferential surface 114a can define a diameter D3. In some embodiments, D3 may be about 130 mm to about 160 mm. In some embodiments, D3 may be about 135 mm to about 150 mm. In some embodiments, D3 may be 137.9 mm. In some embodiments, D3 may be 147.9 mm. With respect to D1, D3 may be about 90% to about 95% of D1. In some embodiments, D3 may be about 92% to about 93% of D1.
[0030] The pin contact surface 112 may have an outer diameter D4. In some embodiments, D4 may be about 40 mm to about 70 mm. In some embodiments, D4 may be about 50 mm to about 60 mm. In some embodiments, D4 may be about 50 mm. In some embodiments, D4 may be about 60 mm. The frustoconical surface 156 may have an outer diameter D5. In some embodiments, D5 may be about 80 mm to about 100 mm. In some embodiments, D5 may be about 85 mm to about 95 mm. In some embodiments, D5 may be about 85 mm. In some embodiments, D4 may be about 95 mm.
[0031] The retaining plate 110 may have an overall thickness T1 measured from the outer surface 154 to the pin contact surface 112. In some embodiments, T1 may be about 18 mm to about 23 mm. In some embodiments, T1 may be about 20 mm to about 21 mm. In some embodiments, T1 may be about 20.3 mm. The retaining plate 110 may further have a thickness T2 measured from the recess 114 to the pin contact surface 112. In some embodiments, T2 may be about 14 mm to about 18 mm. In some embodiments, T2 may be about 16 mm. In some embodiments, the difference between T1 and T2 (i.e., the depth of the recess 114) may be about 18% to about 24% of T1. In some embodiments, the difference between T1 and T2 may be about 20% to about 22% of T1. In some embodiments, the difference between T1 and T2 may be about 3 mm to about 6 mm. In some embodiments, the difference between T1 and T2 may be 4.3 mm.
[0032] The pin contact surface 112 may protrude from the inner surface 152 by a distance T3. In some embodiments, T3 may be about 2 mm to about 4 mm. In some embodiments, T3 may be about 3 mm.
[0033] Naturally, the specific dimensions discussed herein are essentially illustrative, and these dimensions may vary depending on the particular machine in which the retaining plate 110 is used, or other factors.
[0034] Figure 7 shows an exemplary method for assembling the track joint assembly 100 described herein. In step 702, the first track shoe 102 and the second track shoe 104 can be aligned such that one or more rear pin lugs 144 of the first track shoe 102 and the front pin lug 148 of the second track shoe 104 align to form a pin bore 106. In step 704, once the first track shoe 102 and the second track shoe 104 are aligned, the pin 120 can be inserted into the pin bore 106 and advanced until the flange 122 abuts against the shoulder portion 124.
[0035] In step 706, the retaining plate 110 can be inserted into the pin bore 106 with its inner surface 152 facing the pin head 130 of the pin 120. The retaining plate 110 can advance until the pin contact surface 112 makes direct contact with the pin head 130, as shown in Figure 5. With the pin contact surface 112 in contact with the pin head 130, the retaining plate 110 may move axially away from the stop groove 116, thereby allowing access to the stop groove 116 from a radially inward direction.
[0036] In step 708, the stop ring 108 may be compressed radially from its equilibrium configuration and inserted into the pin bore 106. The stop ring 108 may advance into the pin bore 106 until it is positioned adjacent to the stop groove 116. The stop ring 108 may then be allowed to expand radially to fit into the stop groove 116. With the stop ring 108 in the stop groove 116, the retaining plate 110 can be effectively prevented from being pulled axially out of the pin bore 106.
[0037] In step 710, the retaining plate 110 may be allowed to move axially toward the stop ring 108 within the pin bore 106 such that the recess 114 surrounds the stop ring 108 and the stop ring 108 is fitted into the stop groove 116 and the recess 114. The retaining plate 110 may be allowed to move axially within the pin bore 106 during the normal operation of the track assembly 12, or alternatively, it may be biased to move by inserting a tool into the through hole 128. When the retaining plate 110 moves and / or moves, the stop ring 108 may be prevented from folding radially inward by the stepped circumferential surface 114a. As a result, the stop ring 108 may be prevented from being pulled out of the stop groove 116 and from stopping in a manner that prevents the retaining plate 110 from being pulled out of the pin bore 106. In practice, the configuration of the truck joint assembly 100 may be more reliable, and its ability to remain in the assembled configuration even during periods of heavy use may be improved.
[0038] The method described above may be repeated multiple times for adjacent track joint assemblies and as many times as necessary to form the track assembly 12. Furthermore, the track joint assembly 100 may be disassembled by performing each of the above steps in reverse, for example, by removing the stop ring 108, removing the retaining plate 110, removing the pin 120, and separating the track shoes 102 and 104.
[0039] In some embodiments, a kit comprising two or more of the components described herein may be provided. For example, retaining plates 110 and stop rings 108 may be provided in a kit for repairing an existing track assembly. In another embodiment, multiple retaining plates 110 and stop rings 108 may be provided in a kit for assembling a track assembly. In yet another embodiment, multiple retaining plates 110, stop rings 108, and pins 120 may be provided in a kit for assembling a track assembly. In yet another embodiment, multiple retaining plates 110, stop rings 108, pins 120, and track shoes 102, 104 may be provided in a kit for assembling a track assembly. [Industrial applicability]
[0040] Aspects of the track joint assembly 100 of this disclosure may be used together with a track assembly 12 and on any machine including a track undercarriage having links joined together to form one or more tracks. The track joint assembly 100 and retaining plate 110 described herein may provide improved joint integrity, greater wear resistance, longer service life, increased performance, reduced risk of deformation, and reduced likelihood of needing maintenance or replacement. Furthermore, it will be understood that any dimensions of the track joint assembly 100 and / or retaining plate 110, and other aspects discussed herein, may be modified to accommodate different track assemblies 12 and / or machines.
[0041] As previously mentioned, pin retention issues have been associated with certain previous designs, and pin displacement has presented challenges in maintaining the integrity of the track joint. In consideration of the teachings herein, it will be understood that configuring the retaining plate 110 to include a recess 114 such that the stop ring 108 can fit into the recess 114 can maintain the retaining plate 110 and the pin 120 in the desired position, preventing the pin 120 from coming out of place, and thereby preventing the adjacent track shoes from separating.
[0042] In particular, the configuration described herein may prevent the stop ring 108 from folding inward, which the inventors have identified as a source of failure in such track joint assemblies 100. During machine operation, adjacent track shoes of the track assembly 12 may pivot around the pin 120 when the track assembly 12 is driven. The pivoting of the track shoes may result in forces acting on the pin 120, such as frictional forces, and may include axial forces that bias the pin 120 from the pin bore 106. Such forces may translate to the stop ring 108 via the retaining plate 110 and may bias the stop ring 108 to deform and fold inward. Folding of the stop ring 108 can be effectively prevented, in particular by configuring the retaining plate 110 to include a recess 114, as described herein.
[0043] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to this disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Other embodiments of the system will be apparent to those skilled in the art by considering this specification and the practice of bushings for track assemblies disclosed herein. This specification and the examples are intended to be considered only as examples, and the true scope of the disclosure is indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A truck joint assembly (100), A first track shoe (102) including at least one forward pin lug (146), A second track shoe (104) including at least one rear pin lug (144), A pin (120) extending through a pin bore (106) defined by at least one front pin lug (146) and at least one rear pin lug (144), the pin (120) connecting the first track shoe (102) to the second track shoe (104), A retaining plate (110) is positioned within the pin bore (106) and includes an inner surface (152) adjacent to the pin (120), an outer surface (154) opposite to the inner surface (152), and a recess (114) extending at least partially along the outer peripheral edge of the outer surface (154), A track joint assembly (100) comprising: a stop ring (108) positioned in a stop groove (116) formed on the inner circumferential surface of the pin bore (106), wherein the stop ring (108) is positioned adjacent to the outer surface (154) of the retainer and extends radially inward from the inner circumferential surface such that the stop ring (108) prevents the retaining plate (110) from being pulled out of the pin bore (106).
2. The truck joint assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the stop ring (108) is formed of a radially compressible elastic material.
3. The truck joint assembly (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stop ring (108) is simultaneously located within the stop groove (116) and the recess (114), and as a result, radial compression of the stop ring (108) is prevented by the retaining plate (110).
4. The truck joint assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stop ring (108) is a circlip.
5. The retaining plate (110) further includes an outer peripheral surface (158) between the first surface and the second surface having a first diameter, The truck joint assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recess (114) defines a stepped circumferential surface (114a) having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
6. The track joint assembly (100) according to claim 5, wherein the stepped circumferential surface (114a) prevents radial compression of the stop ring (108).
7. The truck joint assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the retaining plate (110) includes a pin contact surface (112) protruding from the inner surface (152), and the pin contact surface (112) is substantially parallel to the inner surface (152).
8. The truck joint assembly (100) according to claim 7, wherein the pin contact surface (112) has a first diameter, and the head of the pin (120) adjacent to the pin contact surface (112) has a second diameter, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.
9. The track joint assembly (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the retaining plate (110) further includes a frustoconical surface (156) that defines a transition between the inner surface (152) and the pin contact surface (112).
10. The truck joint assembly (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the retaining plate (110) further includes a circular through-hole (128) extending through the outer surface (154) and the pin contact surface (112).