US2430354A - Track for track-laying vehicles - Google Patents

Description

Nv.4,1947. H. R. MATHEW ETA; 2,4 0, 5

- TRACK FOR TRACK-LAYING VEHICLES Filed Oct. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l iNVENTOR HARRY RAY MATHENY '8B$AYMOND KEEFER M,fl &lT f m ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1947. v H. i2. MATHENY 'ET AL 2,430,354

TRACK FOR TRACK-LAYING VEHICLES Filed 001:. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4'.

HARRY xv :535 NY 8 $AYMOND KEEFE Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE Barry Math'c'ny, Highland Park, and Ray- .m'ond Keefer, Detroit, Mich., assignors to' Chrysler 'Gor'poration, Highland Park, Mich a corporationflf Delaware Applieationoctober 9, 1942, Serial No. 461,384

:11 Glaims. 1

This invention relates to a track for tracklaying vehicles and particularly to an improved track shoe for the same.

The principal object of our invention is to provide an all metal-shoe which consists entirely of stamped parts.

Another-object is to provide animproved metal track shoe having the g-rou'ser formed integrally therewith.

-A further obj ect is to provide a -s-tam-ped -track shoe which may be assembled froma minimum number of different stamped shapes.

A still further object resides our improved means for retaining the stamped plates in assembled relation.

'Other objects andadvantages will be apparent from the following des'cription which discloses preferred forms of the invention.

In the accompanyingdrawihg's,

Fig. 1 is a general view of -a'track-laying 'v'ehicle of the military type which incorporates our improved track.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view or our improved track shoe.

Fig. 3i's a section along line .'l----3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one'of the stamped plates from which thes'hoe is assembled.

Fig.6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a modified type of stamping.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shoe illustrating one method of fastening the plates together.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of the shoe, parts being broken away to show constructional details common to all of the different forms.

Fig. '9 is a fragmentary "section of a shoe'sho'wing another method ofiast'ening'the plates.

. Referring to the drawing it may be seen that our improved shoe, which is generally designated by reference numeral 10, is made up of a plurality of plates ll. In the particular example illustrated '48 plates are used, bu't this number may of course,'vary in accordance with the weight of the vehicle.

The plates ll maybe of cast, rolled or stamped construction, but are .preferablylstamped from inch steel plate of suitable composition. Grouser tabs I! are formed integrally on the plates ll during stamping-and, in order that the plates may be assembled to provide a grouser of the desired chevron shape, two different stamped shapes are provided. These two shapes are identical except for the location of thegrouser tab 12, which inone case is disposed nearer the 2 center of the plate. Only two 'di-fiercnt positions of the tab H are required, the chevron "shape of the grouser being obtained by reversing the position of one half of the'plates tosecure the necessary orientation. The preferred method of assembly of the plate's is illustrated clearly in'Fig. .2 from which showing it is obvious how the plates are assembled relatively to one another to secure "the desired relationship of tabs.

The plates II are provided with :holes M for receiving the link pins 1'6, and "an opening .15 which serves to lighten the structure. The link pins 16 protrude a substantial distance beyond each end of the shoe for fastening to the shackle members I! which form the articulated connecting means between adjacent shoes.

In assemblin the shoe, the :plates H are first assembled "in proper relation and a split tube of thin wall section is inserted in each of the holes M of the assembled plates. These tubes, designated I9, are best shown in Figs. 4 and 8. After insertion they are peened over at each end (Fig. 4) to thereby retain the plates in assembly. The holes of the end plates are preferably ground slightly bell-shaped to facilitate the engagement of the end portions of the tubes and to secure a tight lock.

The .link pins 16 have rubber bushings 1-8 molded thereon. These bushings in their uncompressed state are of considerably greater diameter than the interior of the tubes 19 and are spaced from one another. on the link pins. By the use of a suitable insertion fixture the link pins are inserted into the tubes [9, the bushings 18 being compressed under relatively great pressure such that the rubber flows axially of the pinsto completely fillthe space between the respective pins and the tubes.

The compression of the rubber bushings l8 subjects the relatively thin walled tube l9 to high radial pressure which results in the tube being deformed to conform to the irregularities of the hole caused by the roughness and slight nonregistering relation of the holes I4 of the stamp- Tings. This results in the tubes I9 gripping each individual plate as shown in Fig. 4 and a tightly locked assembly results.

Experimental tests under severe conditions have demonstrated that no other means for holding the plates in assembled relation is necessary. As a matter of fact, when the shoes are used in service, working of the plates, pins and bushings causes the tubes l8 to deform to a greater extent and the shoe becomes to all 55 intents and purposes a solid structure.

In instances where rubber bushings under less pressure are used, or metal ,or plastic bushings are used some other means for retaining the plates in assembled relation is necessary.

Figs. 6 and 9 illustrate a form of the invention wherein each of the plates H is subjected to a coining operation for forming an indentation around one side of each of the holes [4 and an extrusion around the opposite side thereof.

These indentations 20 and extrusions 2i (Fig. 6)

cooperate upon assembly to form an interlock as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Another method, illustrated in Fig. '7, consists in providing recesses 22 in each of the plates H at the time of stamping, and after assembly welding a reinforcing and retaining element 23 in each of the grooves formed by the aligned recesses.

Still another method comprises copper plating every other stamping and placing the assembled shoe in a hydrogen brazing furnace whereupon the individual plates are copper-hydrogen brazed to one another.

The interlocking construction, the welded beads 23 or the copper-hydrogen braze may be used individually or they may be combined if an exceptionally strong shoe is required. Any of these features eith r singly or in combination may be used with the friction lock means illustrated. It

has, however, been experimentally determined that the friction lock shoes which depends solely on the adhesion between the tubes l9 and the rough surface of the holes M are satisfactory for all expected loads, and this shoe is more economical and easier to construct than those requiring additional machine or furnace operations.

Although but several specific embodiments of the invention are herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in the sequence of operations, steps and materials employed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a track for track-laying vehicles, a track shoe comprising a plurality of plates assembled in face-to-face relation, each of the plates being provided with openings adapted to register with similar openings in adjacent plates, a lock pin disposed in each set of openings, each of said openings having an extruded lip adapted to engage the opening in an adjacent plate thereby to prevent movement between plates.

2. In a laminated track shoe, means for securing the laminations together comprising an opening extending through the laminations; a thin walled tube in said opening, said tube being peened over at each end thereof around the ends of the opening; a link pin disposed in said tube having a rubber bushing fixed thereon and r tained in radial compression by said tube, the radial compressive force thereof being sufficient to deform said tube and force it into intimate engagement with the interior of said opening.

3. The method of fabricating a track shoe which comprises stamping from sheet stock a plurality of laminations having openings therein adapted to register upon assembly of the laminations to provide an elongated hole through the shoe, forming on the respective laminations during stamping a projecting tab; assembling the laminations in predetermined pattern to provide a substantially flat upper track surface and an irregular lower track surface; inserting a relatively thin walled tube in said opening, and inserting in said tube a link pin and a mass of 4 rubber surrounding the link pin, the mass having before insertion an outer diameter greater than that of the inner diameter of the tube and thereby being compressed after insertion so as to force the tube into intimate engagement with the hole in the laminations.

4. The method of fabricating a track shoe which comprises stamping from sheet stock a plurality of laminations having openings therein adapted to register upon assembly of the laminations to provide an elongated hole through the shoe, forming on the respective laminations during stamping a projecting tab, forming a lip around each of said openings, assembling the laminations in predetermined pattern such that the respective lips interlock with the adjacent openings and the tabs form an irregular lower track surface, and securing the laminations together,

5. A track shoe comprising a plurality of laminations having an integrally formed tab at one edge thereof, said laminations being assembled with the tabs protruding outwardly from the body of the shoe to form a grouser, certain of said tabs being offset with respect to the other tabs to impart a definite tread pattern for the grouser, each lamination being formed with a projecting lip on one side and a recess on the other side, the projecting lip of one lamination engaging the recess in an adjacent lamination to prevent movement of the laminations with respect to one another.

6. In a track for track-laying vehicles, a track shoe comprising a plurality of plates assembled in face-to-face relation, each of the plates being provided with openings adapted to register with similar openings in adjacent plates, a lock pin disposed in each set of openings, each of said openings having at one side of a plate a projecting lip and at the other side a depression, the projecting lips engaging the depressions to prevent relative movement between the plates.

7. In a track for track-laying vehicles, a track shoe comprising a plurality of plates assembled in face-to-face relation, each of the plates being provided with openings adapted to register with similar openings in adjacent plates, a lock pin disposed in each set of openings, each of said openings having at one side of a plate a projecting lip and at the other side a depression, the

projectin lips engaging the depressions to prevent relative movement between the plates, the plates being brazed to one another also to prevent relative movement.

8. A track shoe comprising a plurality of laminations having an integrally formed tab at one edge thereof, said laminations being assembled with the tabs protruding outwardly from the body of the shoe to form a grouser, certain of said tabs being ofiset with respect to the other tabs to impart a definite tread pattern for the grouser, the edge of each lamination opposite the tab being formed with recesses, the recesses of the laminations being aligned on assembly of the laminations to form grooves, and reinforcing and retaining elements laid in the grooves and metallically bonded to the laminations.

9. In a track for track-laying vehicles, a track shoe comprising a plurality of plates assembled in face-to-face relation, each of the plates being provided with openings adapted to register with similar openings in adjacent plates, a lock pin disposed in each set of openings, each of said openings having at one side of a plate a projecting lip and at the other side a depression, the projectbeing brazed to one another also to prevent relative movement, the edge of each plate opposite the tabbeing formed with recesses, the recesses of the laminations being aligned on assembly of the plates to form grooves, and reinforcing and retaining elements laid in the grooves and metallically bonded to the plates.

10. A method of making a track shoe, comprising forming in each of a plurality of laminations having a projecting tab at one edge and an opening, a recess at one side of the lamination about the opening and a projecting lip at the other side about the opening by applying pressure about the opening at the said one side of the lamination, assembling the laminations so as to cause the projecting lips of the laminations to interlock with the recesses of the adjacent laminations and the tabs to form an irregular track surface, and securing the laminations together.

11. A track shoe comprising a stack of laminations having aligned openings, a thin wall tube positioned in said openings, a link pin positioned in the tube, and a rubber bushing positioned between said tube and said pin and being under radial compressive force suflicient to deform the tube into intimate engagement with the aligned openings in the stack of laminations.

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