Idler Recoil Assembly Pre-Assembly for Track Roller Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track roller frame assemblies with recoil systems face challenges in assembly, packaging, and servicing due to cumbersome construction and potential misalignment issues, particularly with the assembly of individual components within the housing.
Innovation Solution
The idler recoil assembly features a reciprocable shaft with a gas spring telescoping section and a length adjustment telescoping section, including a grease volume between the yoke contact end and the housing contact end, which allows for pre-assembly as a unit and easy integration into the housing, utilizing a bulkhead and guide surfaces to facilitate alignment and attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If individual components of the recoil system are attached within the track roller frame housing, then the system can be assembled, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome and misalignment issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reciprocable shaft, gas spring, and length adjustment mechanism into a single integrated idler recoil assembly that functions as one unit. This merging of previously separate components simplifies the assembly process and eliminates misalignment issues by reducing the number of individual attachments required within the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The idler recoil assembly is pre-assembled as a complete unit before being installed into the track roller frame housing. The reciprocable shaft, gas spring, and adjustment mechanisms are all configured and positioned in advance, allowing for a single-step installation process that prevents misalignment compensation strategies from being needed.
2Reliability
If multiple components are assembled within the housing, then the recoil system can function, but misalignment compensation strategies are required
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the reciprocable shaft, gas spring mounting, and length adjustment features into a single pre-assembled unit, the patent eliminates the need for multiple separate attachments within the housing. This ensures that all components are precisely aligned during the manufacturing process of the assembly itself, rather than requiring alignment compensation during final installation.
3Reliability
If the idler recoil assembly is enclosed in a housing, then system integrity is maintained, but servicing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the idler recoil assembly as a complete, self-contained unit that can be removed and serviced as one piece. The housing encloses the assembly for protection and integrity, but the entire idler recoil assembly can be extracted without disassembling the housing, allowing for easy servicing of the integrated components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the assembly process, reduces misalignment risks, and enhances servicing by allowing pre-assembly of the idler recoil assembly as a unit, thereby streamlining manufacturing and maintaining system integrity by preventing debris entry into the housing.
Implementation Method 1
The reciprocable shaft includes a gas spring telescoping section
Implementation Method 2
a grease volume positioned between a yoke contact end and a housing contact end
Data Source
AI summary
A track type tractor includes a modular track roller frame made up of easily assembled sub-components. Among these sub-components are an idler recoil assembly that may slide into, and then fastened to a housing as a unit to create a track roller frame assembly. The idler recoil assembly includes a gas spring telescoping section and a length adjustment telescoping section located between a housing contact end and a yoke contact end. Although suspended above a floor of the housing, the idler recoil assembly may only be attached to the housing in a plane via an array of fasteners that surround a shaft axis. The housing encloses the idler recoil assembly against debris entry, but includes an access cover for servicing the gas spring and/or adjusting track tension via the length adjustment feature.