Patent Publication Number: US-2022212734-A1

Title: Undercarriage assembly for a work machine and method of use

Description:
RELATED DISCLOSURES 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 16/532,902, filed Aug. 6, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to a work machine and in particular to an undercarriage assembly for a work machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Work machines such as crawlers may include one or more ground-engaging mechanisms for propelling the machine along the ground or an underlying surface. In some cases, these ground-engaging mechanisms may include one or more crawler tracks configured support, and in some cases, rotate around a chassis. Challenges may arise supporting vertical and lateral loads applied to different components of the machine. The machines may be operated in environments commonly containing dirt and debris, which may present additional challenges. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an undercarriage assembly for a work machine includes chassis, a ground-engaging mechanism, a front-end assembly, a wedge-shaped slider, and a rail. The chassis extends from a forward end to an aft end. The ground-engaging mechanism surrounds the chassis and is configured to rotate around the chassis during operation of the work machine. The front-end assembly is movable axially relative to the chassis. The front-end assembly includes a lower frame and an upper frame. The lower frame is coupled to (i) a pair of rollers that are movable relative to one another in the vertical and axial directions and (ii) an idler that is movable relative to the pair of rollers in the vertical and axial directions and configured to rotate about an axis transverse to the lower frame. The upper frame is movable in the vertical direction relative to the lower frame. The wedge-shaped slider coupled to the upper frame. The rail includes a first side coupled to the chassis and a second side defining a v-shaped groove configured to receive the wedge-shaped slider and guide axial movement of the front-end assembly relative to the chassis. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the rail is positioned between the forward end and the aft end of the chassis. The wedge-shaped slider is removably coupled to the upper frame. The rail is removably coupled to the chassis. The wedge-shaped slider includes a first end that is removably coupled to the upper frame, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and a pair of sloped sides that converge as the sides extend from the first end to the second end. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the second side of the rail includes an inner surface defining a deepest portion of the v-shaped groove, and the second end of the wedge-shaped slider is spaced apart from the inner surface when the wedge-shaped slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove. The second side of the rail includes a pair of sloped surfaces that diverge as the sloped surfaces extend toward an opening of the v-shaped groove. The sloped surfaces of the v-shaped groove cooperate with the sloped sides of the wedge-shaped slider to define a passageway having an inlet and an outlet each defined at the opening of the v-shaped groove, and each portion of the passageway has a vertical component of extension. 
     In another embodiment, an undercarriage assembly for a work machine includes chassis, a rail, a ground-engaging mechanism, a front-end assembly, an idler, and a slider. The chassis extends from a forward end to an aft end. The ground-engaging mechanism is configured to support the chassis. The front-end assembly is movable axially relative to the chassis. The idler is coupled to the front-end assembly at a rotational axis of the idler. The rail is coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly. The slider has a first end coupled to the other of the chassis and the front-end assembly, and a second end opposite the first end. The rail includes a v-shaped groove defined by a pair of surfaces that diverge as the surfaces extend laterally toward an opening of the v-shaped groove. The slider includes pair of sides that converge as the sides extend from the first end to the second end of the slider. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the rail and the slider are positioned between the forward end and the aft end of the chassis. The slider is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly. The rail is removably coupled to one of the chassis and the front-end assembly. The v-shaped groove is further defined by an inner surface positioned between the pair of surfaces, and the second end of the slider is spaced apart from the inner surface when the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail. When the slider is positioned in the v-shaped groove of the rail, the slider is movable relative to the rail in the axial, lateral, and vertical directions. The slider is movable in the vertical direction relative to the rail to open and close portions of continuously downwardly-advancing passageway defined between the pair of sides of the slider and the pair of surfaces the rail. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the rail includes an abutment surface positioned above the v-shaped groove when the rail is coupled to the chassis. The chassis includes a strut positioned above the abutment surface of the rail to prevent upward movement of the rail beyond the strut. 
     In another embodiment, the method of operating an undercarriage assembly for a work machine includes fastening a pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a front-end assembly of the undercarriage, fastening a pair of rails, each having a v-shaped groove, to a chassis of the undercarriage; positioning a slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders in a v-shaped groove of a rail of the pair of rails; and sliding the slider axial relative to the rail to move the front-end assembly axially relative to the chassis. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, fastening a pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a front-end assembly of the undercarriage includes: fastening a slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders in a first position in which a first sloped side of the slider is positioned above a second sloped side of the slider. The method further includes: removing the slider from the front-end assembly; and fastening the slider in a second position in which the second sloped side is positioned above the first sloped side. Fastening a pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a front-end assembly of the undercarriage includes: fastening a first slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a first side of the front-end assembly and fastening a second slider of the pair of wedge-shaped sliders to a second side of the front-end assembly. The method further includes removing the first slider from the front-end assembly; removing the second slider from the front-end assembly; and fastening the first slider to the second side of the front-end assembly. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the method further includes positioning, in response to gravity, an idler at the midpoint between the pair of rails, wherein the idler is coupled to the front-end assembly laterally between the pair of wedge-shaped sliders. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a work machine showing that the work machine includes an undercarriage having a chassis surrounded by a ground-engaging mechanism; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the undercarriage of  FIG. 1  showing the chassis in phantom; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the undercarriage assembly of  FIG. 2  showing a front end assembly including an idler coupled to a pair of sliders that are supported by and configured to slide along a pair of rails; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a rail of  FIG. 3  showing that fasteners couple the rail to the chassis; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a slider of  FIG. 3  showing that fasteners couple the slider to the front-end assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a slider and a rail of  FIG. 3  showing dirt in a first portion of a passageway formed between the slider and the rail; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a slider and a rail similar to  FIG. 6  showing dirt and debris in a second portion of the passageway formed between the slider and the rail. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a work machine is shown in  FIG. 1 . The machine is embodied as a crawler  100 . The present disclosure is not limited, however, to a crawler and may extend to other work machines that perform desired operations. As such, while the figures and forthcoming description may relate to a crawler, it is to be understood that the scope of the present disclosure extends beyond a crawler and, where applicable, the term “machine” or “work machine” may be used instead. The term “machine” or “work machine” is intended to be broader and encompass other vehicles besides a crawler for purposes of this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the crawler  100  includes a cab  102  that is coupled to a base frame  104  of the machine. The cab  102  can include controls such as a steering wheel, buttons, levers, joysticks, foot pedals, and the like for controlling the crawler  100 . Besides the base frame  104 , the crawler  100  further includes a pair of undercarriage assemblies  106 . Each under carriage assembly  106  includes at least a chassis  108  and a ground-engaging mechanism  110  supported in part by the chassis  108 . 
     The chassis  108  includes a forward end  107  and aft end  109 . The ground-engaging mechanism  110  includes a chain  112  driven by a final drive assembly (not shown) to move the crawler  100 . The final drive assembly can be driven by a motor or other power mechanism. An engine or other power device  114  can provide the overall power for the crawler  100 . As also shown in  FIG. 1 , the crawler  100  can include a tool implement  116  such as a blade for performing a desired task. The tool implement  116  can be controlled by an operator via one of a plurality of controls disposed in the cab  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in addition to the chassis  108  and the ground-engaging mechanism  110 , the undercarriage assembly  106  further includes a pair of sliders  118 , a pair of rails  120 , and a front end assembly  122 . It should be appreciated that the pair of sliders  118  are configured to slide along the pair of rails  120  to facilitate axial movement of the front-end assembly  122  relative to the chassis  108 ; however, the sliders and rails will be described in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 3-7 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 2 , the front-end assembly  122  is illustratively shown as an idler-double-roller-type front-end assembly. As such, the front-end assembly  122  is coupled to an idler  124  and a pair of bogey-mounted rollers  126 . The idler  124  is coupled to the front-end assembly  122  at a rotational axis  127  of the idler  124  that extends transverse to the front-end assembly  122 . The pair of bogey-mounted rollers  126  are moveable relative to each other in the axial and vertical directions, and the idler  124  is moveable relative to the pair of bogey-mounted rollers  126  in the axial and vertical directions. In some embodiments, the front-end assembly  122  includes a lower frame  128  and an upper frame  130 . The lower frame  128  is coupled to the idler  124  and the pair of bogey-mounted rollers  126  as described above. The lower frame  128  is configured to pivot relative to the upper frame  130  as the crawler  100  moves over uneven surfaces. 
     As described above, the undercarriage assembly  106  includes a pair of sliders  118  and a pair of rails  120 . It should be appreciated that the sliders  118  of the pair of sliders  118  are identical to one another, with the exception of manufacturing variances and wear and tear introduced during operation of the crawler  100 , and as such, any description of a slider  118  applies with equal force to the both sliders of the pair of sliders  118 . Similarly, it should be appreciated that the rails  120  of the pair of rails  120  are identical to one another, with the exception of manufacturing variances and wear and tear introduced during operation of the crawler  100 , and as such, any description of a rail applies with equal force to the both rails  120  of the pair of rails  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , each rail  120  of the undercarriage  106  includes a forward end  132  and an aft end  134 . The rail  120  is configured to be coupled to the chassis  108 . In the illustrative embodiment, the rail  120  is coupled to the chassis  108  such that the forward end  132  of the rail  120  is positioned rearwardly of the forward end  107  of the chassis  108 . Likewise, the aft end  134  of the rail  120  is positioned forwardly of the aft end  109  (not shown) of the chassis  108 . As such, in the illustrative embodiment, the rail  120  is not a cantilevered component fixed only at one end to the chassis  108 . In other words, the forward end  132  of the rail  120  does not extend beyond the chassis  108 . The arrangement described in the illustrative embodiment provides additional structural integrity beyond a design in which a rail (or a similar component coupled to a chassis to facilitate axial movement of an idler) is a cantilevered component. 
     The rail  120  includes a first side  136  coupled to the chassis  108  and a second side  138  positioned opposite the first side  136 . The second side  138  includes a plurality of surfaces that cooperate to define a v-shaped groove  140 . In the illustrative embodiment, the second side  138  of the rail  120  includes a pair of sloped surfaces  142  and an inner surface  144  positioned between the pair of sloped surfaces  142 . The inner surface  144  is spaced apart from an opening  146  of the v-shaped groove  140  and defines a deepest portion of the v-shaped groove  140 . The pair of sloped surfaces  142  diverge from one another as the sloped surfaces  142  extend from the inner surface  144  to the opening  146  of the v-shaped groove  140 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, with the exception of slight manufacturing variances and wear and tear, the sloped surfaces  142  are symmetrical with each other across an imaginary plane  145  that extends laterally and axially through a vertical midpoint of the rail  120 . It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the sloped surfaces  142  may not be symmetrical with each other, especially if the sloped surfaces  142  are manufactured to lack symmetry based on known wear patterns associated with individual surfaces  142  of the pair of sloped surfaces  142 . In some embodiments, the sloped surfaces  142  may extend from the opening  146  to a physical point of convergence, in which case the point of converge is synonymous with the inner surface  144 . A relationship between the inner surface  144  of the v-shaped groove  140  and the slider  118  will be described in greater detail below. 
     The rail  120  further includes a bottom side  148  and a top side  150  each extending between the first side  136  and the second side  138  of the rail  120 . The rail  120  further includes an end cap  152  coupled to the forward end  132  of the rail  120  with at least one fastener  154 , as shown for example in  FIG. 3 . The top side  150  or bottom side  148  and the end cap  152  abut other components of the undercarriage assembly  106  to limit relative movement of components. The top side  150 , bottom side  148 , and the end cap  152  will be described in relation to the other components in greater detail below. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , the chassis  108  includes a slot  156  sized and shaped to receive the first side  136  of the rail  120 . The slot  156  orients the rail  120  on the chassis  108  so that a user may easily recouple the rail  120  to the chassis  108  after the rail  120  has been removed for maintenance or any other reason. The rail  120  includes a plurality of apertures  158 , and the chassis  108  includes a corresponding plurality of apertures  160 . A corresponding plurality of fasteners  162  may be inserted in the pluralities of apertures  158 ,  160  to couple the rail  120  to the chassis  108 . Conversely, the plurality of fasteners  162  may be removed from the pluralities of apertures  158 ,  160  to remove the rail  120  from the chassis  108 . While a number of apertures  158 ,  160  and fasteners  162  are shown in  FIG. 3 , it should be appreciated that other numbers of apertures  158 ,  160  and fasteners  162  may be included so long as the rail  120  is sufficiently coupled to and removable from the chassis  108 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each slider  118  of the undercarriage  106  is a wedge-shaped slider. As defined herein, what is meant by wedge-shaped is shaped as so to taper from a first end to a thinner second end. In the illustrative embodiment, the slider  118  includes a first end  164  having first width and a second end  166  having a second width that is less than the first width. The slider  118  further includes a pair of sloped sides  168  that converge (or taper) as the sides  168  extend from the first end  164  to the second end  166 . In the illustrative embodiment, with the exception of slight manufacturing variances and wear and tear, the sloped side  168  are symmetrical with each other across an imaginary plane  147  that extends laterally through a vertical midpoint of the slider  118 . It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the sloped sides  168  may not be symmetrical with each other, especially if the sloped slides  168  are manufactured to lack symmetry based on known wear patterns associated with individual sides  168  of the pair of sloped sides  168 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 4 , the slider  118  is configured to be coupled to the upper frame  130  of the front-end assembly  122 . In the illustrative embodiment, the upper frame  130  includes a slot  170  sized and shaped to receive the first end  164  of the slider  118 . The slot  170  orients the slider  118  on the upper frame  130  so that a user may easily recouple the slider  118  to the upper frame  130  after the slider  118  has been removed for maintenance or any other reason. The slider  118  includes a plurality of apertures  172 , and the upper frame  130  includes a corresponding plurality of apertures  174 . A corresponding plurality of fasteners  176  may be inserted in the pluralities of apertures  172 ,  174  to couple the slider  118  to the upper frame  130 . Conversely, the plurality of fasteners  176  may be removed from the pluralities of apertures  172 ,  174  to remove slider  118  from the upper frame  130 . While a number of apertures  172 ,  174  and fasteners  176  are shown in  FIG. 4 , it should be appreciated that other numbers of apertures  172 ,  174  and fasteners  176  may be included so long as the slider  118  is sufficiently coupled to and removable from the upper frame  130 . It should be appreciated that while the front-end assembly  122  has been described as having an upper frame  130  and a lower frame  128 , in some embodiments, the front-end assembly  122  may be a one-piece component, in which case the upper frame  130  and the lower frame  128  are defined as a single, monolithic component. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first end  164  of each slider  118  is coupled to the front-end assembly  122 , and the idler  124  is coupled laterally between the pair of sliders  118 . Additionally, each rail  120  is coupled to the chassis  108 , and the rails  120  are spaced apart from one another a distance  179 . In the illustrative embodiment, the rails  120  are aligned vertically and laterally with the sliders  118 , such that the sliders  118  are positioned in the v-shaped groove  140  of the rails  120 . In such an arrangement, the sliders  118  are configured to translate axially in the v-shaped groove  140  to facilitate axial movement of the front-end assembly  122  relative to the chassis  108 . As suggested by  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the end cap  152  coupled to the forward end  148  of the rail  120  is configured to abut the slider  118  to prevent axial movement of the slider  118  beyond the end cap  152 . 
     During operation of the crawler  100 , the front-end assembly  122  may experience slight lateral and vertical movements relative to the chassis  108 , which applies lateral and vertical loads to the chassis  108 . Because the surfaces  142  of the rails  120  are sloped, the surfaces  142  are configured to abut the sloped sides  168  of the sliders  118  to support downward and upward vertical loads as well as inward and outward lateral loads. As used herein, inward and outward are referenced relative to the base frame  104  (see  FIG. 1 ). Additionally, because the surfaces  142  of the rails  120  and the sides  168  of the sliders  118  are each sloped, the sliders  118  are configured to slide downwardly (and therefore laterally) to align laterally a center point  178  of the idler  124  with a midpoint  180  of the distance  179  between the rails  120 . This alignment occurs in response to the downward force of gravity acting on at least the front-end assembly  122 , the idler  124 , and the rails  118 . 
     As the ground-engaging mechanism  110  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) passes over foreign objects or uneven surfaces, the idler  124  (or more specifically, the sliders  118  coupled thereto via the front-end assembly  122 ) may exert and an upward force (i.e.: an upward vertical load) on the rails  120 . As such, the top surface  150  or the bottom surface  148  of each rail  120  may define an abutment surface  149 . The abutment surface is determined based on which surface  148 ,  150  is positioned vertically above the other surface  148 ,  150  when the rail  120  is coupled to the chassis. The abutment surface  149  of each rail  120  may abut a strut  182  of the chassis  108  positioned above the abutment surface  149  to prevent the rail  120  from moving upward beyond strut  182 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when each slider  118  is positioned in a v-shaped groove  140  of a corresponding rail  120 , the second end  166  of the slider  118  is spaced apart from the inner surface  144  of the rail  120 . As such, a first gap  184  is defined between the inner surface  144  of the rail  120  and the second end  166  of the slider  118 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a maximum distance  186  is defined between the pair of sloped surfaces  142 ; a maximum distance  188  is defined between the pair of sloped sides  168 ; and the maximum distance  186  between the surfaces  142  is greater than the maximum distance  188  between the sides  168 . During operating of the crawler  100 , the sliders  118  oscillate vertically in the v-shaped grooves  140  of the rails  120 . As such, a second gap  190  (see  FIG. 6 ) and a third gap  192  (see  FIG. 7 ) each open and close during operation of the crawler  100 . The second and third gaps  190 ,  192  are formed between the sloped surfaces  142  of the rails  120  and the sloped sides  168  of the sliders  118 . The second gap  190  extends downwardly from the opening  146  of the v-shaped groove  140  to the first gap  184 . The first gap  184  extends downwardly from a lower end of the second gap  190  to an upper end of the third gap  194 . The third gap  194  extends downwardly from the first gap  184  to the opening  146  of the v-shaped groove  140 . As such, each gap  184 ,  190 ,  192  has a vertical component of extension. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the gaps  184 ,  190 ,  192  may also be referred to as portions  184 ,  190 ,  192  of a passageway  194 . The passageway  194  includes an inlet  196  and an outlet  198  that are each defined at the opening  146  of the v-shaped groove  140 . The inlet  196  is defined above the slider  118 , and the outlet  198  is defined below the slider  118 . As such, the outlet  198  is below the inlet  196 . The passageway  194  extends from the inlet  196  to the outlet  198 , and each portion  184 ,  190 ,  192  of the passageway  194  has a vertical component of extension. As such, the passageway  194  is a continuously downwardly-advancing passageway  194 , advancing continuously downwardly from the inlet  196  to the outlet  198 . In use, a user may operate the crawler  100  to move the pair of wedge-shaped sliders  118  vertically relative to the pair of rails  120  to open and close portions  190 ,  192  of the continuously downwardly-advancing passageway  194 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , during operation of the crawler  100 , dirt and debris may fall from the ground-engaging mechanism  110  and settle between (or by other means become positioned between) the slider  118  and the rail  120 . Because the passageway  194  is a continuously downwardly-advancing passageway  194 , the passageway  194  facilitates movement of dirt and debris out of the passageway  194  during operation of the crawler  100 . In  FIG. 6 , dirt and debris are shown in the second and first portions  190 ,  184  of the passageway  194 , and in  FIG. 7  the same dirt and debris has advanced downward to the first and third portions  184 ,  192  of the passageway  194 . The dirt and debris will continue to advance downward to exit the third portion  192  of the passageway  194 . 
     It should be appreciated that, in the illustrative embodiment, the sliders  118  are removable from the front-assembly  122  (or the upper frame  130 ), and the rails  120  are removable from the chassis  108 . During operation of the crawler  100 , one side  168  of a slider  118  or one surface  142  of a rail  120  may become worn. It may be advantageous to remove a slider  118  or a rail  120  and recouple the slider  118  or the rail  120  in an upside-down orientation. In use, a user may fasten the slider  118  to the front-end assembly  122  in a first position, in which a first sloped side  168  is positioned above a second sloped side  168  of the slider  118 . The user may remove the slider  118  from the front-end assembly  122 . Subsequently, the user may fasten the slider  118  in a second position, in which the second sloped side  168  is positioned above the first sloped side  168 . Similarly, a user may fasten the rail  120  to the chassis  108  in a first position, in which a first sloped surface  142  is positioned above a second sloped surface  142  of the rail  120 . The user may remove the rail  120  from the chassis  108 . Subsequently, the user may fasten the rail  120  in a second position, in which the second sloped surface  142  is positioned above the first sloped surface  142 . 
     In some embodiments, prior to fastening the pair of rails  120  to the chassis  108  of the undercarriage assembly  106 , a user may position the pair of rails  120  axially between a forward end  107  and an aft end  109  of the chassis  108 . With the pair of rails  120  positioned axially between the forward end  107  and an aft end  109  of the chassis  108 , the user may fasten the pair of rails  120  to the chassis  108  of the undercarriage assembly  106 . 
     During operation of the crawler  100 , one or more sides  168  of a slider  118  or one or more surfaces  142  of a rail  120  may experience a unique wear pattern. It may be advantageous to remove a slider  118  or a rail  120  and recouple the slider  118  or the rail  120  in place of a different slider  118  or a different rail  120  on the crawler  100 . In use, a user may fasten a first slider  118  to a first side  200  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the front-end assembly  122  and fasten a second slider  118  to a second side  202  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the front-end assembly  122 . The user may remove the first slider  118  from the front-end assembly  122  and remove the second slider  118  from the front-end assembly  122 . Subsequently, the user may fasten the first slider  118  to the second side  202  of the front-end assembly  122 . The user may fasten the second slider  118  to the first side  200  of the front-end assembly  122 . It should be appreciated that in a work machine including more than two sliders  118 , each slider  118  may replace any other slider  118  of the work machine. 
     In use, a user may fasten a first rail  120  to a first side  204  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the chassis  108  and fasten a second rail  120  to a second side  206  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the chassis  108 . The user may remove the first rail  120  from the chassis  108  and remove the second rail  120  from the chassis  108 . Subsequently, the user may fasten the first rail  120  to the second side  206  of the chassis  108 . The user may fasten the second rail  120  to the first side  204  of the chassis  108 . It should be appreciated that in a work machine including more than two rails  120 , each rail  120  may replace any other rail  120  of the work machine. 
     While the illustrative embodiments herein generally describe that the rail  120  (including the v-shaped groove  140 ) is coupleable to the chassis  108  and the slider  118  is coupleable to the front-end assembly  122 , it should be appreciated that in other illustrative embodiments the rail  120  (including the v-shaped groove  140 ) is coupleable to the front-end assembly  122 , and the slider  122  is coupleable to the chassis  108 . In this configuration, the arrangement of rails  120  relative to the sliders  118  is merely reversed. As such, in the illustrative embodiment, the rail  120  is coupled to one of the chassis  108  and the front-end assembly  122 . The slider  118  includes a first end  164  and a second end  166 . The first end  164  is coupled to the other of the chassis  108  and the front-end assembly  122 , and the second end  166  is positioned opposite the first end  164 . In other words, the slider  118  is coupled to the component  108  or  122  that is not coupled to the rail  120 . 
     While embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been described hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.