Patent Application
20230257969
The present disclosure relates generally to a retaining mechanism used to attach wear member assemblies including an adapter or the like to an edge of a work tool, and more particularly, to such assemblies that employ plugs to help prevent the ingress of mud, dirt, debris, etc. in the retaining mechanism.
Many earth-working machines, such as, for example, loaders, excavators, hydraulic mining shovels, cable shovels, bucket wheels, and draglines, include tools for moving material (e.g., for digging material out of the earth). These tools are often subjected to extreme wear from abrasion and impacts experienced while moving the material. In order to mitigate the wear, replaceable wear members are fit to the tools and engage the material being moved. To facilitate the attachment of the wear members, adapters are often removably attached to the work tool using a retaining mechanism that is placed into a pocket or aperture of the adapter and/or the work tool. The ingress of mud, dirt, debris, etc. overtime may lead to problems accessing the retaining mechanism for periodic maintenance such as replacing the adapter, etc. For example,
One proposed solution is disclosed by U.S. Pat. 10,190,290 B2. The lock assembly comprises first and second bodies that are configured to be assembled together. One body is substantially positioned over the other in an assembled condition to form a lock extending along a longitudinal axis. The first and second bodies each comprise at least one inter-engaging formation on the bodies that are configured in the assembled condition to form one or more couplings that resist lateral displacement of the bodies with respect to each other under loads applied transverse to the longitudinal axis of the assembled lock to the side of the first and second bodies. A plug that is formed of an elastomeric material is provided that is shaped to provide a seal against the ingress of fines into the cavity in which the locking bodies are located.
However, such a plug is prone to damage and may fall out of the cavity unintentionally. So, a more robust system is warranted.
An adapter retention plug according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise an elongated body defining a right extremity, and a left extremity disposed along a longitudinal axis. The elongated body may include a right vertical undercut forming void, a left vertical undercut forming void, and a tab extending along the longitudinal axis defining the right extremity.
An adapter retention plug according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise an elongated body defining a right extremity, and a left extremity disposed along a longitudinal axis. The elongated body may include at least a first vertical undercut forming void, a tab extending axially defining the right extremity, and at least one L-shaped projection that is configured to at least complementarily fit into the at least first vertical undercut forming void.
A retaining mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise a wedge defining a fastener and slider receiving aperture, a slider that is configured to fit into the fastener and slider receiving aperture, a first fastener that is configured to fit in the fastener and slider receiving aperture of the wedge, and a first adapter retention plug that includes a slot having a first stop surface, a top surface, and a second stop surface that is oblique to the first stop surface.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In some cases, a reference number will be indicated in this specification and the drawings will show the reference number followed by a letter for example, 100a, 100b etc. It is to be understood that the use of letters immediately after a reference number indicates that these features are similarly shaped and have similar function as is often the case when geometry is mirrored about a plane of symmetry. For ease of explanation in this specification, letters will often not be included herein but may be shown in the drawings to indicate duplications of features discussed within this written specification
Starting with
Tracks 104a and 104b are part of a machine undercarriage 132 coupled with carbody 102 in a conventional manner. Each of tracks 104a and 104b include a plurality of coupled together track shoes forming endless loops extending about a plurality of rotatable elements. In a typical design, an idler 134 and a drive sprocket 136 will be associated with each of tracks 104a and 104b and mounted to a track roller frame 138. A plurality of track rollers 140 may also be mounted to roller frame 138, and are associated with each of tracks 104a and 104b to support machine 100 and guide tracks 104a and 104b in desired paths, as further described herein. One or more carrier rollers 142 (or track sliders) may also be associated with each of tracks 104a and 104b to support and guide the tracks opposite rollers 240 during operation.
The unique design of tracks 104a and 104b and the overall track and undercarriage system of which they are a part are contemplated to enable machine 100 to operate in certain environments such as oilsands. While use in the machine environment of an electric roper shovel and dipper is emphasized herein, it should be understood that machine 100 might comprise a different type of machine. For instance, track-type tractors or even half-track machines are contemplated herein. Further still, machine 100 might consist of a conveyor or other type of machine wherein tracks are used for purposes other than as ground engaging elements. Also, the machine might be some type of hydraulic shovel, bulldozer, excavator, back hoe, etc.
The dipper 200 is suspended from the boom 110 by the hoist rope 128. The hoist rope 128 is wrapped over the sheave 122 and attached to the dipper 200 at a bail 144. The hoist rope 128 is anchored to the winch drum (not shown). The winch drum is driven by at least one electric motor (not shown) that incorporates a transmission unit (not shown). As the winch drum rotates, the hoist rope 128 is paid out to lower the dipper 200 or pulled in to raise the dipper 200. The dipper handle 130 is also coupled to the dipper 200. The dipper handle 130 is slidably supported in the saddle block 146, and the saddle block 146 is pivotally mounted to the boom 110 at the shipper shaft (not clearly shown). The dipper handle 130 includes a rack and tooth formation thereon that engages a drive pinion (not shown) mounted in the saddle block 146. The drive pinion is driven by an electric motor and transmission unit (not shown) to extend or retract the dipper handle 130 relative to the saddle block 146.
An electrical power source (not shown) is mounted to the carbody 102 to provide power to a hoist electric motor (not shown) for driving the hoist drum, one or more crowd electric motors (not shown) for driving the crowd transmission unit, and one or more swing electric motors (not shown) for turning the turntable 208. In some cases, one electric motor powers all of the moving components of the shovel. Each of the crowd, hoist, and swing motors is driven by its own motor controller, or is alternatively driven in response to control signals from a controller (not clearly shown).
The track chains 104a and 104b are considered to be well suited for work in hard underfoot conditions. To this end, the track chains 104a and 104b may be “high ground pressure” tracks, each having track members durable enough to support a relatively large weight of machine 100. Each of track shoe members has a footprint defined in part by front and back edges, and also defined in part by outboard edges and inboard edges. Each of track shoe members may further include a ground contact area that is equal to its footprint, or less than its footprint only to an extent that adjacent track shoes overlap one another or due to voids disposed on the bottom surface of the track shoe member. Other configurations of the track shoes and track chain assemblies are possible in other embodiments of the present disclosure.
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More particularly, the left vertical undercut forming void 424 may extend from the left extremity 421, while the right vertical undercut forming void 420 may be disposed axially between the tab 428, and the left vertical undercut forming void 424. As alluded to earlier herein, the elongated body may further define a fastener receiving aperture 410 that includes a strut 412 that splits the fastener receiving aperture 410 into a front slot 430 and a rear slot 432. In addition, the elongated body may include a top surface 434, a bottom surface 436, and the strut 412 may extend from the bottom surface 436 (e.g., may be coplanar) but terminates short of the top surface 434, thereby forming a possible counterbore 417 to protect the head of the zip tie as mentioned earlier herein.
Furthermore, the elongated body may include a left L-shaped projection 438 extending from the bottom surface 436. The left L-shaped projection 438 may be at least partially complementarily shaped to the left vertical undercut forming void 424 (or completely complementarily shaped as shown since the void is at the left extremity). Other configurations are possible in other embodiments of the present disclosure.
Similarly, a right L-shaped projection 440 may also extend from the bottom surface 436 that is at least partially complementarily shaped to the right vertical undercut forming void 420. As shown, this projection 440 may also be axially (i.e., along longitudinal axis 418) undersized compared to the right vertical undercut forming void 420. This allows the projection 440 to slide vertically down into the void and then slide right to lock vertically adjacent plugs together as represented by
Both the right L-shaped projection 440, and the left L-shaped projection 438 includes a right angled vertical member 442, and a left vertical member 444 respectively. The right angled vertical member 442 may be angled more relative to the vertical direction 446 (see
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Moreover, the elongated body may include a convex arcuate surface 464 that forms the left extremity 421, and that is drafted to enlarge axially from the top surface 434 toward the bottom surface 436. On the other hand, the elongated body ma include a planar surface 466 that is disposed proximate to the right extremity 419, and that is drafted to decrease axially from the top surface 434 toward the bottom surface 436. In
Alternatively, an adapter retention plug 400 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise an elongated body as previously described herein with reference to
As also previously alluded to herein, a fastener receiving aperture 410, 410a may be provided with a strut 412, 412a disposed in the fastener receiving aperture for engaging a fastener such as a zip tie (e.g., see 414) or the like. When two voids 420 and 424 are provided, then the fastener receiving aperture 412, 412a may be disposed axially between the first and the second vertical undercut forming voids. This may not be the case for other embodiments of the present disclosure.
Moreover, the elongated body of the plug 400 may include at least a first keyway (may take the form of the front groove 452, and/or or the rear groove 454), and at least a first key (may take the form of the front rail 456, and/or the rear rail 458) that is configured to fit within the first keyway. These features may be symmetrical, but not necessarily so.
Any of the embodiments of the plug as discussed herein may be made from a suitably durable and rigid material such as iron, grey cast-iron, stainless steel, tool steel, etc. The initial blank of the plug may be cast and then rough and/or finish machined, etc.
In practice, various embodiments of the plug and/or the retaining mechanism may be supplied as a retrofit or replacement part in the field, or may be sold with a work implement, or a machine in an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) contexts.
While the arrangement is illustrated in connection with an electric rope shovel, the arrangement disclosed herein has universal applicability in various other types of machines commonly employ track systems, as opposed to wheels. The term “machine” may refer to any machine that performs some type of operation associated with an industry such as mining or construction, or any other industry known in the art. For example, the machine may be an excavator, wheel loader, cable shovel, or dragline or the like. Moreover, one or more implements may be connected to the machine. Such implements may be utilized for a variety of tasks, including, for example, lifting and loading.
Generally, the retention of adapter takes time because of material packs above it and prevents a maintenance team to follow proper adapter retention maintenance procedures during scheduled maintenance periods. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to an electric rope shovel adapter that includes a ground engaging tool (GET) stackable retention plug. The stackable plug prevents excess material from being packed into the retention area and allows easy access to the retention during maintenance periods.
The aforementioned plug(s) may be able to help protect the retaining mechanism along a full depth range from a top position (such as shown in
Also, providing identical parts for the plugs allows only one part number to be used, decreasing logistical and manufacturing costs. The plug also fits over the existing locking cap 320, allowing the plug to be used as a retrofit to retaining mechanism already in the field.
As illustrated in
Alternatively, after the zip tie is cut or unlocked, one or more plugs that are still horizontally interlocked may be lifted out as a subassembly, and then separated horizontally if desired, etc.
As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has”, “have”, “having”, “with” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the apparatus and methods of assembly as discussed herein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention(s). Other embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the various embodiments disclosed herein. For example, some of the equipment may be constructed and function differently than what has been described herein and certain steps of any method may be omitted, performed in an order that is different than what has been specifically mentioned or in some cases performed simultaneously or in sub-steps. Furthermore, variations or modifications to certain aspects or features of various embodiments may be made to create further embodiments and features and aspects of various embodiments may be added to or substituted for other features or aspects of other embodiments in order to provide still further embodiments.
Accordingly, it is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention(s) being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.
