Patent ID: 7980639

Claim:
A machine comprising: a track roller frame; a pair of idler axe blocks slidably mounted in the track roller frame; an idler ratatably supported by and between the pair of idler axle blocks; a recoil yoke attached to the pair of idler blocks; a track that includes a track chain mounted around the track roller frame; a debris guard attached to at least one of the pair of idler blocks and the recoil yoke, and including an inboard shield that defines a slot that receives the idler, and including a pair of guard plates that flank opposite sides of a segment of the track chain in contact with the idler such that the track chain is received between the pair of guard plates; a segment of the slot being located between, but separated from, the pair of guard plates; wherein the debris guard moves with the idler relative to the track roller frame during a responsive dynamic recoil events; wherein each of the pair of guard plates and a side of the segment of the track chain define a first clearance slit; the inboard shield and the idler define a second clearance slit; and the first clearance slit and the second clearance slit being in series with regard to a debris entry pathway from an exterior to an interior of the track roller frame.