Excavating – Digging edge – Tooth or adaptor
Patent
1997-06-20
1999-07-27
Will, Thomas B.
Excavating
Digging edge
Tooth or adaptor
37458, E02F 928
Patent
active
059269820
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hydraulic fastening device and method, and in particular to such a device and method useful in the mining or earthmoving industry for attaching teeth or wear plates to bucket drag lines of such implements and the like.
The present invention is however useful for attaching any two components together which might normally be joined by some form of mechanical joining mechanism, such as bolts, screws, or welds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are in existence different methods of using wedge and spool assemblies for connecting implements such as teeth and/or adaptors to drag lines buckets and the like which methods include that described in the applicant's International PCT Patent Application No. PCT/AU94/00035. That application discloses a spool and wedge assembly which comprises an array of wedges which co-operate to enable secure fitting of teeth to the buckets.
In the heavy earthworks industry, buckets attached to heavy earthmoving equipment are adapted with leading edge implements for cutting or moving overburden. These implements, commonly referred to as teeth, must by necessity be replaceable due to heavy wear and tear.
Teeth are generally fixed to a bucket in one of two ways. In the case of smaller buckets the teeth are detachably fixed directly to an adaptor formed integral with the bucket generally known as a bucket nose. In the case of the larger buckets the teeth are fitted via an adaptor which attaches to a specifically configured formation in the bucket leading edge. The teeth and adaptors are subjected to heavy wear and must be regularly replaced with the life of the teeth and adaptor generally dictated by the nature of over burden that the bucket is required to move. In the case of drag lines the wear is significant. According to the prior art the teeth are generally wedge shaped and attach to the leading edge of the adaptor by pin encapsulation, the pin connecting the spool and wedge assembly.
The adaptor mates at its trailing end to the bucket leading edge. At present, this particular attachment is effected by a known spool and wedge, assembly which comprises a generally elongated truncated cylindrical spool and a wedge which mutually cooperate to secure the adaptor to the bucket. Buckets usually have a multiplicity of such spool and wedge assemblies spaced apart along the leading edge of the bucket generally commensurate with the number of teeth on the bucket. In the case of large buckets there could be half a dozen or more assemblies which require constant replacement.
Not only do these assemblies require replacement after excessive wear, they also require constant monitoring during use to ensure that they do not become sloppy and loose thereby inhibiting the efficiency of the operation of the teeth.
Presently, according to one method, in order to fit the wedge and spool assembly, the wedge and spool are placed into recesses formed in both the adaptor and bucket, which are aligned when the adaptor is fitted to the bucket. When the adaptor is fitted to the bucket, this recess is axially aligned. The wedge element is then driven home axially by a sledge hammer, to secure the adaptor to the bucket. A tight fit is ensured by jamming the wedge against the spool. At present, the spool and wedge assembly extends axially downwardly beyond the periphery of the underside of the adaptor and bucket. The extension engages the ground during use of the bucket and causes the adaptor to become loose as the wedge and spool work loose. This occurs particularly in circumstances where the bucket is used to excavate hard and rocky ground. Personnel are employed to regularly check the integrity of the connection of the adaptor. Where the fit works loose, due to movement of the wedge and spool assembly, it must be constantly hammered to tighten the connection. This is a labour intensive and physically demanding activity. Likewise, when a spool and wedge assembly is to be released to free the adaptor from the bucket the assembly must be violently
REFERENCES:
patent: 3891065 (1975-06-01), Iijima et al.
patent: 4067657 (1978-01-01), Kaarlela
Keech David Kim
Keech Garth Alexander
Keech Castings Australia Pty. Limited
Pezzuto Robert
Will Thomas B.
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