US 12,227,238 B2
Mechanism for detecting and adjusting misalignment in a continuous belted machine
Derek D. Hruska, Lime Springs, IA (US); Troy Daniel Schultz, Jackson, MN (US); and Alan D. Gustafson, Lakefield, MN (US)
Assigned to AGCO Corporation, Duluth, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/757,930
Filed by AGCO Corporation, Duluth, GA (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/059048
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/130560, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/954,087, filed on Dec. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0017575 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 55/15 (2006.01); B62D 55/24 (2006.01); B62D 55/32 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 55/15 (2013.01) [B62D 55/24 (2013.01); B62D 55/32 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tracked work machine having a track roller assembly comprising:
a track roller frame having a bogie frame pivotally attached thereon;
a drive wheel mounted on the track roller frame;
an idler wheel mounted on the track roller frame;
an endless track belt disposed about the drive and idler wheels, the endless track belt defining an inner surface, a ground-contacting outer surface, and a pair of edges, wherein the endless track belt comprises a plurality of track guide blocks positioned on the inner surface and centrally located between the pair of edges;
a plurality of supporting mid-rollers located between the drive wheel and the idler wheel and configured to engage the plurality of track guide blocks to aid in maintaining alignment of the endless track belt, each of the plurality of supporting mid-rollers comprising a cylindrical shaft mounted on the bogie frame and a pair of mid-roller hubs having roller wheels attached thereon mounted on the shaft, with one mid-roller hub and wheel on either side of the bogie frame, wherein each mid-roller hub has a guide facing the plurality of track guide blocks;
an alignment sensing mechanism positioned adjacent the endless track belt configured to detect a misalignment condition of the endless track belt, the alignment sensing mechanism comprising at least one sensor paddle mounted on the bogie frame adjacent to the mid-roller shaft such that a lower lobe of the sensor paddle resides adjacent the guide blocks of the endless track belt such that sideways movement of the endless track belt causes the guide blocks to contact the sensor paddle before the guide blocks contact the guide on any of the plurality of mid-rollers, wherein the sensor paddle comprises a sensor that detects when the sensor paddle has moved away from a neutral position;
an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the alignment of the endless track belt in relation to the drive and idler wheels; and
a controller that receives input from the sensor when the sensor paddle is moved to the misaligned position and causes the adjustment mechanism to adjust the alignment of the endless track belt.