Abstract:
A tool for the quick and easy installation and tensioning of track assemblies on skid steer loaders is arranged to properly and positively align and draw the free ends of the track together and hold the track ends in proper, aligned condition squared relative to each other for installation of the track link members and tensioning adjustment of the track as may be desired for proper operation of the vehicle. Additionally, this tool can be used to dismount the track by removing the pressure from the pivot bolts, allowing the operator to easily remove the bolts and then gently let the ends of the tracks apart.

Description:
This application incorporates herein aby reference and claims under 35 U.S.C. 119, the right of priority and the benefit of earlier filing date of provisional application No. 61/062,039 filed Jan. 23, 2008. Both this application and the provisional application have the same inventor. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for installing and tensioning track assemblies on skid steer loaders and other wheeled vehicles for increased mobility of a vehicle over adverse ground surfaces and conditions during operation of the vehicle. Track assemblies are best identifiable to the layman as being generally similar to the track assembly seen on military tanks, tractors, etc. The method and apparatus for installing and tensioning track assemblies affords savings in time, manpower, and safety by allowing a single individual to quickly install or tighten steel tracks. 
   As those skilled in the construction, landscaping, excavation and many other industries are well aware, it is often desirable and even necessary to apply an endless track assembly over and around the front and rear wheel and tire assemblies on each side of skid steer type vehicles to effectively change the wheeled vehicle into a track type vehicle in order to afford the vehicle desired and necessary mobility over the ground surface in adverse terrain and ground surface conditions. 
   Currently the process of installing tracks is laborious and frustrating, and either involves a ratcheting load strap or ropes, which makes the final alignment for insertion of the bolts very tedious. Should the strap or ropes slack, the alignment of the tracks can vary by inches. 
   The present invention holds the tracks completely square with one another. Then, through the use of a screw, the final adjustment can be made to the smallest degree to achieve the proper alignment. The hold produced by this tool is positive and secure, which makes track installation or tensioning occur in a fraction of the time. Additionally, this tool can be used to dismount the track by removing the pressure from the pivot bolts, allowing the operator to easily remove the bolts and then gently let the ends of the tracks apart. 
   Henceforth, a quick and easy method and apparatus for installing and tensioning track assemblies on skid steer loaders would fulfill a long felt need in the track driven equipment industry. This new invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to allow a single installer the ability to quickly install and tighten track assemblies (or loosen and remove)for skid steer loaders. 
   It has many of the advantages mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new apparatus and method for installing and tensioning track assemblies that is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   In accordance with the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for the installation and tensioning of track assemblies that is capable of holding the tracks parallel and completely square with one another. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for the installation and tensioning of track assemblies that allows very small adjustments to the tensioning of track assemblies. 
   The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the track installation and tensioning apparatus; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the track installation and tensioning apparatus positioned over the unconnected terminal ends of the track assembly; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the frictional clamping engagement of the track installation and tensioning apparatus with a track assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the track installation and tensioning apparatus tightened such that the opposite free terminal ends of the track assembly have been brought into alignment for reception of a connector bolt; and 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pad member, a connector bolt, a lock nut, a bushing, and link member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   Looking at  FIG. 2 , track assembly  2 , is provided in longitudinally elongated lengths of pad members  10  joined together at their opposite terminal ends to form an endless track having an overall length sufficient to fully encircle the spaced apart, front and rear wheel and wheel assemblies  12 ,  14  on each side of a vehicle  4 . Once track assembly  2  is positioned to encircle the wheel assemblies  12  and  14 , the free, opposite terminal ends of the track assembly  2  are manually drawn together with ropes, pry bars, ratchet strap assemblies, or other force-applying tools, and track link members  16  are connected to the confronting pad members  10  at the open free ends of the track assembly  2  to secure the pad members  10  together and form an endless track assembly encircling the wheel assemblies  12 ,  14 . 
   The apparatus of the present invention provides a tool  18  arranged to properly and positively align and draw the free ends of the track assembly  2  together and hold the pad members  10  in proper, aligned condition, squared relative to, and parallel to each other for installation of the track link members  16  and tensioning adjustment of the track assembly  2  as may be desired for proper operation of the vehicle  4 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a track installation and tensioning tool  18 . As shown, the tool  18  includes a pair of opposing, track-engaging jaw members  20 ,  22  secured together in facing condition for movement of the jaw members along interconnecting guide members  24  linearly toward and away from each other. The inner, facing sides  20 ′,  22 ′ of jaw members  20 ,  22  are configured to fully engage track members  10 ′ that extend laterally across each of the pad members  10  of the track  2 , and as such are configured to conform to the physical configuration of track members  10 ′. Inner facing sides  20 ′,  22 ′ have an “L” shaped configuration with a short flange  23 ′ extending normally therefrom so as to cradle three sides (two sides fully and one side partially) of the track members  10 ′ as is apparent particularly in viewing  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In this regard, one jaw member  20  fixedly mounts one longitudinal end of each guide member  24 , and the other jaw member  22  mounts a pair of guide sleeve members  26 , shown herein as tube members  26 , each arranged to receive one of the guide members  24  for longitudinal sliding movement of the jaw member  22  along the guide members  24  toward and away from the jaw member  20 . Means is provided for operatively interconnecting and mechanically moving the opposite jaw members  20 ,  22  positively toward and away from each other. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the jaw member  22  fixedly mounts a block member  28  having an internally-threaded bore provided therethrough, the jaw member  20  mounting a guide sleeve tube  30  having an internal bore extending therethrough arranged to receive a longitudinally elongated tensioning bolt  32  for substantially free rotation within the bore of the guide sleeve  30 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the internally threaded bore of the block member  28  is configured to operatively engage the threaded bolt  32 . A friction washer  34  is preferably provided between the outer terminal end of the sleeve  30  and the head  32 ′ of the bolt  32  to protect the parts from binding, wear and excessive friction and damage when the bolt  32  is turned by wrench or other suitable tool as will be explained. Also, grease fittings  36  may be provided on the block member  28  and sleeve member  30  to permit periodic lubrication of their interior confines as may be needed or desired. 
     FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the operation of tool  18  in installing a track assembly  2  into operative, tensioned condition on a skid steer vehicle  4 . As those skilled in the art will recognize, a pair of disconnected, elongated track assemblies  2  are first laid out in longitudinally-elongated, longitudinally extending condition on a ground surface, and the vehicle  4  is driven on to the track assemblies  2  so that the front and back wheel assemblies  12 ,  14  of the vehicle  4  are disposed on the track assemblies  2  substantially centrally of their overall length. The free, opposite terminal ends of the track assemblies  2  are then manually drawn around the front and the rear wheels  12 ,  14  of the vehicle  4  on respective sides of the vehicle  4 , as is shown in  FIG. 2  (only one side of vehicle  4  is visible). Tool  18  is then positioned over the unconnected, confronting pad members  10  defining the free terminal ends of the track assembly  2  on one side of the vehicle  4 , and the opposite jaw members  20 ,  22  are moved linearly, by rotation of the tensioning bolts  32  of the apparatus, to capture the confronting track members  10 ′ of the endmost free pad members  10  of the track assembly  2  in frictional clamping engagement, as is shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. Without, flange  23 ′ track members  10 ′ would tip towards each other as the tensioning tool  18  was tightened, causing the tool  18  to slip off. 
   As is evident in viewing  FIG. 4 , the tensioning bolt  32  is then turned, as by wrench or other tool, to draw the opposite free terminal ends of the track assembly  2  toward each other. Through the use of the two guide members  24  and guide sleeves  26 , the jaw members  20 ,  22  are advanced toward each other, terminal pad members  10  are advanced towards each other in a parallel configuration with square alignment until the unconnected link members  16  on each lateral side of the track assembly  2  are positioned so that corresponding bores  38 ,  40  through the link members  16  and pad members  10  are brought into mutually aligned condition for passage therethrough of connector bolts  42  and lock nuts  44  ( FIG. 5 ) which join the track assembly  2  together into an endless loop encircling the wheel (and tire) assemblies  12 ,  14  on one side of the vehicle  4 . Bushings  46  are also preferably provided between the bores  38 ,  40  and connector bolts  42  as is standard practice to minimize wear and friction in the resulting connection. The aforementioned installation process is then repeated using tool  18  on the yet-to-be-connected track assembly  2  on the opposite side of the vehicle  4 . Properly tensioned, the track assembly  2  should have a degree of slack evidenced by a slight sagging of the track between the top of the front and rear wheel assemblies  12 ,  14  in the range of approximately 1 inch to 2 inches, and preferably 1 inch to 1½ inches, from a straight line extending between the tops of the wheels (tires). Less slack than this in the track assemblies places a substantial strain on the internal drive and bearing components of the vehicle and creates undue friction and stress on the track bushings and bolts with consequent shortened wear life and increased replacement and maintenance requirements of the track assemblies. 
   Initially the track assemblies  2  are installed on a vehicle  4  as will be understood best in viewing  FIG. 5  of the drawings, all the connector link members  16  engage corresponding, adjacent pad members  10  through connector bolt bores  40  provided adjacent the opposite outer terminal ends of each pad member  10 . In the event that, once so installed the track assemblies  2  are determined to be too loose, then the connector bolts  42  of one lateral set of connector link members  16  may be removed, and the tool  18  operated to draw the pad members  10  further toward each other so that the bore  38  of the link member  16  is brought into alignment with a second connector bore  40 ′ positioned a spaced distance inwardly of the bores  40 , whereupon the connector bolts  42  and lock nuts  44  are reinstalled. In this manner, the adjacent pad members  10  may be connected together, thus shortening the overall length of the endless track assembly encircling the wheel assemblies  12 ,  14  by the distance provided between the connector bores  40 ,  40 ′. If the track assembly  2  is still too loose on the vehicle  4 , the aforementioned link tensioning adjustment procedure may be repeated between additional, selected adjacent pad members  10  until the proper track assembly length and tension has been achieved. This procedure may also be repeated as needed to take up slack or looseness in the track assemblies  2  as the track assemblies stretch and wear over time as a routine maintenance procedure. 
   From the foregoing it will therefore be apparent that the present invention provides an apparatus that is arranged to simplify, facilitate and assure the easy installation and removal of track assemblies onto skid steer loader vehicles while maintaining and assuring proper alignment of the confronting ends of the pad members to be connected together throughout the installation and removal processes. The apparatus is further arranged to facilitate the proper tensioning of the endless track assemblies on the vehicle both during installation process and subsequent, periodic maintenance and servicing routine. 
   It will also be apparent from the foregoing that the apparatus of this invention  18 , by virtue of the configuration of the jaw members  20 ,  22  engagement of each tread  10 ′ of the confronting pad members  10  being arranged to extend laterally across the full width of the track assembly  2 , the tool  18  assures that the pad members  10  are continuously maintained in proper, aligned condition relative to each other for easy and non-binding engagement of connector bolts  42  between pad members  10  at all times during installation and tensioning operations of the tool  18 . This also minimizes the chances of having to re-tighten the track assembly  2 . 
   The above description will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention. It also sets forth the best modes for carrying out this invention. There are numerous variations and modifications thereof that will also remain readily apparent to others skilled in the art, now that the general principles of the present invention have been disclosed. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.