U.S. patent application number 10/304520 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for base edge protection system.
Invention is credited to Hohmann, Robert A., Livesay, Richard E..
Application Number | 20040098886 10/304520 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32325236 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040098886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hohmann, Robert A. ; et
al. |
May 27, 2004 |
Base edge protection system
Abstract
A base edge protector for use with a base edge having at least
one securing structure attached therewith is provided. The base
edge protector includes a shroud portion having a top surface and
having a recess for receiving the securing structure, a tail
portion is attached to the shroud portion and it is structured and
arranged to be captured by the securing structure, and a retaining
member passage provided on the top surface and extending
therethrough to the recess.
Inventors: |
Hohmann, Robert A.; (Peoria,
IL) ; Livesay, Richard E.; (Peoria, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CATERPILLAR INC.
100 N.E. ADAMS STREET
PATENT DEPT.
PEORIA
IL
616296490
|
Family ID: |
32325236 |
Appl. No.: |
10/304520 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/451 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 9/2833 20130101;
E02F 9/2825 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
037/451 |
International
Class: |
E02F 009/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A base edge protector for use with a base edge having at least
one securing structure attached therewith, comprising: a shroud
portion having a top surface and having a recess for receiving the
securing structure; a tail portion, attached to said shroud
portion, said tail portion structured and arranged to be captured
by the securing structure; and a retaining device passage provided
on said top surface and extending therethrough to said recess.
2. The base edge protector as set for in claim 1 wherein said tail
portion comprises at least one leg structured and arranged for
engagement with the securing structure.
3. The base edge protector as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least
one said leg comprises at least one dovetailed portion structured
and arranged for engagement with the securing structure.
4. The base edge protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
recess comprises a channel portion bisecting said retaining member
passage.
5. The base edge protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
shroud portion comprises a hollow portion.
6. The base edge protector as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said
shroud portion further comprises a shroud portion leading edge; and
said hollow portion is located adjacent said shroud portion leading
edge.
7. A base edge protector system for protecting the base edge of a
work implement from abrasive wear, comprising: a securing structure
attached to the base edge; a base edge protector comprising: (i) a
shroud portion having a top surface and having a recess for
receiving said securing structure, (ii) a tail portion, attached to
said shroud portion, structured and arranged to engage said
securing structure, and (iii) a retaining device passage provided
on said top surface and extending therethrough to said recess; and
a retaining device receivable within said retaining device passage
and adapted for attachment to said securing structure.
8. The base edge protector system as set forth in claim 7 wherein:
said securing structure comprises an aperture adapted to receive
said retaining device; said securing structure opening comprises at
least one planar portion; and said retaining device comprises an
insert having at least one planar portion adapted to matingly
engage said planar portion of said aperture.
9. The base edge protector system as set forth in claim 7 wherein:
said retaining device comprises (i) an insert having an aperture,
and (ii) a retaining member for receipt within said aperture
provided in said insert.
10. The base edge protector system as set forth in claim 9 wherein
said retaining member comprises a head portion adapted to lie
adjacent an abutment surface of said base edge protector when said
base edge protector is attached to said securing structure.
11. The base edge protector system as set forth in claim 10 wherein
said abutment surface comprises a sidewall of said retaining device
passage.
12. The base edge protection system as set forth in claim 7
wherein: said securing structure comprises a dovetail portion; and
said tail portion comprises a dovetail portion for engagement with
said dovetail portion of said securing structure.
13. The base edge protection system as set forth in claim 7
wherein: said securing structure defines a gap when said securing
structure is attached to said base edge; and said tail portion is
structured and arranged to be received by said gap.
14. The base edge protection system as set forth in claim 7
wherein: said securing structure defines a channel when said
securing structure is attached to said base edge; and said tail
portion is structured and arranged to be received by said
channel.
15. The base edge protector as set forth in claim 7 wherein said
shroud portion comprises a hollow portion.
16. The base edge protector as set forth in claim 15 wherein: said
shroud portion further comprises a shroud portion leading edge; and
said hollow portion is located adjacent said shroud portion leading
edge.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a base edge protection
system for use in protecting the base edge of a ground engaging
implement of a work machine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Mining and earthmoving operations require the use of a
ground engaging implement such as a bucket. Numerous arrangements
have been utilized in the past to protect the leading edge of the
bucket's base edge. In some applications, a wear resistant member
or base edge protector is welded to the base edge between
respective tip assemblies to increase the life thereof. In other
arrangements, individual base edge protectors have been bolted to
the base edge between the respective tip assembles. In still other
applications, the base edge protector is fastened to the individual
tip assemblies by various forms of fasteners or mechanical
interlock systems which oftentimes require the removal of at least
a portion of the tip assembly in order to remove the base edge
protector.
[0003] Because of the abrasive nature of the environment in which
the buckets operate, the base edge protectors are susceptible to
wear. Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to quickly and easily
remove a worn base edge protector and replace it with another. For
those base edge protectors that are welded to the base edge,
substantial dismantling of the bucket may be required to remove the
base edge protector. Mechanical fastener methods, such as bolts or
pins, of attaching the base edge protectors may result in
deformation of the mechanical fastener due to forces these
mechanical fasteners are required to withstand, thereby making more
difficult the removal of the base edge protectors.
[0004] The present invention is intended to overcome one or more of
the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
base edge protector for use with a base edge having at least one
securing structure attached therewith is provided. The base edge
protector comprises a shroud portion having a top surface and
having a recess for receiving the securing structure, and a tail
portion, attached to the shroud portion, structured and arranged to
be captured by the securing structure. The top surface of the
shroud portion is provided with a retaining member passage which
extends to the recess.
[0006] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a base edge protector system for protecting the base
edge of a work implement from wear is provided. The base edge
protection system comprises a securing structure attached to the
base edge, and a base edge protector comprising: a shroud portion
having a top surface and having a recess for receiving the securing
structure; a tail portion, attached to the shroud portion,
structured and arranged to engage the securing structure; and a
retaining member passage provided on the top surface and extending
therethrough to the recess. A retaining device is also provided and
is receivable within the retaining member passage and adapted for
attachment to the securing structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top view of a plurality of base edge protection
systems of the present invention shown attached to a base edge of a
bucket;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
1 showing an embodiment of a securing structure front portion and
retaining device of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view showing another embodiment of
the securing structure front portion and retaining device of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the securing
structure front portion of FIG. 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retaining device of FIG.
3 shown disassembled;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a partial elevation view of an embodiment of a
base edge protector for use with the base edge protection system of
FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a view of the base edge protection system of FIG.
1 showing the securing structure rear portion;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a partial rear view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.
7;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of yet another embodiment of the
base edge protection system of the present invention shown attached
to the base edge;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a partial side view in cross section taken along
line 10-10 of FIG. 9;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of still yet another embodiment of
the base edge protection system of the present invention shown
attached to the base edge; and
[0018] FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of the base edge protection
system taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] With reference now to the Figures, shown in FIG. 1 are a
plurality of base edge protection systems 100 of the present
invention. Each base edge protection system 100 is shown connected
to a portion of a base edge 101 of a bucket (not shown) and being
located between respective tip assemblies 104. The tip assemblies
104 are composed of an adapter 105 welded or otherwise secured to
the base edge 101 and a tooth 108 releasably mounted thereon. Each
base edge protection system 100 includes a base edge protector 109
which is coupled to the base edge 101 by a retaining device 112
which, in conjunction with a securing structure 113 which is welded
or otherwise secured to the base edge 101, is adapted to maintain
the base edge protector 109 secured to the base edge 101.
[0020] With reference now to FIG. 2, shown in cross section is the
base edge protection system 100 of FIG. 1 attached to a base edge
101. The base edge protector 109 of the present embodiment is
comprised of a shroud portion 200 having a top surface 201 and
further having a recess 204 sized to receive a securing structure
front portion 205. The shroud portion 200 may include an attached
bevel protector 208 to protect the beveled portion 209 of the base
edge 101. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 3, a separate bevel
protector (denoted 308 in FIG. 3) may be used. As is further shown
in alternate detail in FIG. 2, the shroud portion 200 may also
include a hollow portion 212 adjacent the shroud portion leading
edge 213. As should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in
such art, by providing the shroud portion 200 with the hollow
portion 212, the weight and amount of material used to manufacture
the base edge protectors is reduced and, especially for mining
applications, the proximity of the hollow portion 212 to the shroud
portion leading edge 213 may create a sharpened shroud portion
leading edge 213 thereby facilitating penetration of the base edge
protector 109 into the material being removed. Each base edge
protector 109 further includes an attached tail portion 216 which
is configured to engage a securing structure rear portion 217
various embodiments of which will be more fully disclosed as this
disclosure progresses. A retaining device passage 220 is provided
on the top surface 201 of the shroud portion 200 and extends
through the shroud portion 200 to the recess 204. As shown, the
retaining device passage 220 is sized to allow passage of the
retaining device 112 that is used with the present embodiment of
the base edge protection system 100.
[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the retaining
device 112 comprises a retaining member 221 having a head portion
222, a threaded shank portion 224, and a tapered neck portion 225
which forms the transition between the head portion 222 and the
threaded shank portion 224. The threaded shank portion 224, in
turn, is sized to matingly engage a threaded opening 228 provided
in the securing structure front portion 205. As shown, the tapered
neck portion 225 is sized to matingly engage a corresponding
tapered portion 229 provided in the threaded opening 228. As should
be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in such art, the
provision of the corresponding tapered portions 225, 229 may
prevent shearing of the retaining device 112 which might otherwise
occur if there existed an abrupt transition between the head
portion 222 and the threaded shank portion 224.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the base edge
protection system, denoted 300, will be described. For purposes of
clarity, like features used for the different embodiments described
herein will be identified by like numerals. The base edge protector
301 of the present embodiment includes a shroud portion 302 having
a recessed portion 304 for receiving and securing an end 305 of the
bevel protector 308. The shroud portion 302 may further include an
enlarged toe portion 310 for better withstanding the abrasive
working conditions that the work implements are subject to. The
retaining device 312 of the present embodiment is comprised of a
retaining member 221 as illustrated and described previously, and
an insert 313 having a threaded opening 315 sized to receive the
threaded shank portion 224. Although the insert 313 will be
described in greater detail below in regards to FIG. 4, the insert
313 is sized to be received within an aperture 317 provided in the
securing structure front portion 318. To prevent the retaining
device 312 of the present embodiment from becoming dislodged from
the aperture 317, the diameter of the insert 313 should be larger
than the retaining device passage 220. For all embodiments
illustrated and described herein, the base edge protectors 109, 301
are prevented from becoming dislodged from their respective
securing structure front portions 205, 318 by contact between the
head portion 222 of the retaining member 221 and an abutment
surface which is comprised of the retaining device passage wall
320.
[0023] With reference to the FIG. 4 top view, for all embodiments
described herein the respective securing structure front portion,
such as the exemplary securing structure front portion 318 shown in
FIG. 4, comprises an elongated structure made of a rigid and
durable material which is welded or otherwise secured to the base
edge 101 such that a substantial portion of the securing structure
front portion 318 lies at or below the base edge bottom surface
322. As should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in such
art, by providing a securing structure front portion 318 that is
attachable to the base edge 101 in the aforementioned manner, the
base edge protector 301 may be positioned such that it has a lower
height than would otherwise be possible if the securing structure
were otherwise located. This arrangement may provide for the
quicker removal of those tip assemblies 104 in which the retaining
device used to secure the tooth 108 to the adapter 105 is inserted
into a side of the tooth 108. With specific reference to the
securing structure front portion 318 the aperture 317 is provided
with planar side wall portions each denoted 402.
[0024] With reference to FIG. 5, the retaining device 312 includes
an insert 313 having a partially threaded opening 315 for receiving
the threaded shank portion 224. The insert 313 is composed of a
rigid material having an outer periphery 501 shaped to correspond
to the shape of aperture 317. The outer periphery 501 may include
at least one planar portion 502 adapted to matingly engage a
corresponding planar side wall portion 402 provided in the securing
structure front portion 318. By providing the aforementioned
respective planar portions 402, 502, the insert 313 is prevented
from rotating within the aperture 317 when the retaining member 221
is being coupled to the insert 313. It should be understood that
the use of an insert 313 of the type described herein is exemplary
only and that other arrangements for the retaining device 112, 312
may also be utilized. As is further shown, the head portion 222 may
be provided with a socket 505 to receive a wrench or other torque
providing tool.
[0025] With reference now to FIG. 6, shown is a partial elevation
view of the base edge protector 301 described in FIG. 3. As shown,
the recess 204 may be provided with a channel portion 600 to allow
the base edge protector 301 to be slid onto the securing structure
front portion 318 without interference from the insert 313. In
addition, the side walls 601 of the channel portion 600 may be
arranged to engage the planar portions 502 of the insert 313
thereby providing further assistance in preventing the insert 313
from rotating when the retaining member 221 is being secured
therewith.
[0026] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, shown in greater detail is
the securing structure rear portion 217 for use with the base edge
protector 109 introduced in FIG. 1. For the embodiment described
herein, the securing structure rear portion 217 also comprises a
rigid material that is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom
surface 322 of the base edge 101. Furthermore, the securing
structure rear portion 217 may comprise, along with the securing
structure front portion 205, either a unitary structure or a
separate piece apart from the securing structure front portion 205.
As shown, the securing structure rear portion 217 comprises a base
701 having two projections 702 (one shown in FIGS. 7 and 8)
attached therewith and extending outwardly therefrom. As is further
shown, each projection 702 is elevated from the bottom surface 322
of the base edge 101 thereby forming a channel 705 for receiving
the tail portion 216 of the base edge protector 109. More
specifically, the tail portion 216 is comprised of a pair of spaced
apart legs 706 each having an end portion 707 structured and
arranged to be received by the channel 705. As should be
appreciated by those of ordinary skill in such art, by securing the
legs 706 of the base edge protector 109 so as to inhibit movement
of the legs 706 relative to the base edge 101, bending moments at
the location of the securing structure front portion 205 may be
reduced.
[0027] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, another embodiment of a
base edge protection system, denoted 900 herein, will be described.
The base edge protector 901 of the present embodiment has a pair of
legs 902 each terminating at a common junction 904 which is sized
to be received by the securing structure rear portion 905. The
securing structure rear portion 905, in turn, comprises herein a
top plate 908 secured to the base edge 101 so as to allow a gap
1004 (as shown best in FIG. 10) between the top plate 908 and the
base edge 101 of sufficient size to receive the junction 904. The
top plate 908 may include an opening 912, as shown, that is sized
so as to still allow the top plate 908 to overlap the junction 904.
Again, the securing structure rear portion 905 of the present
embodiment may be combined with the securing structure front
portion 205, 318 or it may comprise a separate piece as shown
herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the securing
structure rear portion 905 shown herein may comprise other
geometries without deviating from the spirit of the present
invention. Such geometries may include, for example, any structure
which includes a recess or forms an opening sized to receive the
junction 904.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, yet another embodiment of
a base edge protection system, denoted 1100 herein, will be
described. The base edge protector 1101 of the present embodiment
also has a pair of legs 1104 each having a female dovetail portion
1105 for engagement with a corresponding male dovetail portion 1108
provided on the securing structure rear portion 1110. The securing
structure front portion 1112 of the present embodiment may also be
provided with corresponding female dovetail portions 1105 as shown
best in the FIG. 12 cross section view. As with the previous
embodiments, the securing structure rear portion 1110 may be
attached to the securing structure front portion 1112, as shown, or
it may comprise a separate piece.
[0029] Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can
be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the
appended claims.
* * * * *