The present invention relates to tools in general and more particularly to tools for holding bolts used to secure lip protectors to excavation equipment.
Excavation machines, such as power shovels, backhoes, and wheel loaders often use lip protection devices or shrouds on the excavation buckets thereof to decrease bucket wear and to focus dig-induced erosion and wear on easily replaceable components, namely the lip protectors. While a wide variety of lip protectors are known and used, most lip protectors are designed and manufactured to provide a cutting surface optimized for the particular material being excavated. Many such lip protectors are secured to the excavation bucket by one or more bolts provided in countersunk holes, although other mounting arrangements are known. While the countersunk holes reduce bolt wear by shielding the bolt heads and nuts from shear and erosion forces during excavator operation, they can make it more difficult to remove and replace the lip protectors.
One embodiment of a tool for temporarily holding a bolt within a through hole defined by the mating engagement of first and second members includes a beam member having a proximal end and a distal end. An arm mounted to the beam member includes a clamp end sized to engage at least a portion of a first side of an assembly defined by the mating engagement of the first and second members. A bolt support member mounted to the distal end of the beam member holds the head of the bolt against the second side of the assembly when the clamp end of the arm is engaged with the first end of the assembly.
Also disclosed is a method of fastening a lip protector to the lip of an excavation bucket that involves: Placing the lip protector on the lip of the excavation bucket, the lip protector having a countersunk hole defined therein that is aligned with a hole defined in the excavation bucket; providing a tool having a beam member, an arm mounted to the beam member, the arm having a clamp end sized to engage a portion of an upper side of the lip protector, and a bolt support member mounted to the beam member; engaging the clamp end of the arm of the tool with a portion of an upper side of the lip protector; inserting a bolt into the countersunk hole in the lip protector so that the bolt head is located on a lower side of the lip protector; engaging the bolt support member of the tool with the bolt head; and threading a nut onto the bolt, the bolt support member of the tool holding the bolt head within the countersunk hole during the threading.
Illustrative and presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings in which:
The teachings of the present invention describe various embodiments and elements of a tool 10 for temporarily holding a bolt 36 within a through hole defined by the mating engagement of a first member and a second member. In an exemplary application, the first and second members may comprise a lip protector 26 and an excavation bucket 28, respectively. The tool 10 may be used to engage at least a portion of the lip protector 26 while it simultaneously holds the bolt 36 against the underside of the excavation bucket 28, thereby allowing a nut 42 to be easily threaded onto bolt 36. Alternatively, of course, tool 10 may be used in other applications as well.
Referring now primarily to
Holding tool 10 may also comprise a bolt support member 34 mounted to the distal end 16 of the beam member 12. Bolt support member 34 allows the holding tool 10 to support a plow bolt 36 on the underside of the lip protector 26. More specifically, the bolt support member 34 may be configured or designed to support a head 38 of plow bolt 36 situated within a countersunk hole 40 formed in the lower side of the lip protector 26. Plow bolt 36 may be provided with a square shoulder sized to be received by a square portion of the countersunk hole 40. The engagement of the square shoulder within the square portion of countersunk hole 40 prevents plow bolt 36 from rotating when the same is fully seated in countersunk hole 40.
In the particular embodiments shown and described herein, bolt support member 34 may comprise a proximal end 44 and a distal end 46. A swivel head 48 mounted to the distal end 46 of bolt support member 34 allows the bolt support member 34 to support the head 38 of plow bolt 36 even though bolt support member 34 may not be axially aligned with plow bolt 36. See
Referring now primarily to
The holding tool 10 and method 54 increase the safety and efficiency with which users may attach and replace lip protectors 26 on excavation buckets 28. The holding tool 10 permits a user to support the plow bolt 36 while simultaneously fastening or removing the plow bolt nut 42 on the upper side of the excavation bucket 28, all without requiring the user to reach his or her hands underneath the heavy lip protector 26 and risk injury. The holding tool 10 may also allow a user to engage a separate tool, such as an air impact wrench, to tighten or loosen the plow bolt nut 42 while simultaneously supporting the plow bolt 36 in the countersunk hole 40.
Having briefly described one embodiment of the holding tool 10, as well as some of its more significant features and advantages, various embodiments and alternative configurations of the holding tool 10 and method 54 will now be described in detail.
Referring back now to
Holding tool 10 may also comprise an arm 18 to allow the holding tool 10 to engage a portion of the lip protector 26 or excavation bucket 28 in the manner described herein. In one embodiment, arm 18 may comprise a generally U-shaped or hook-shaped member 20 having a mounting end 22 and a clamp end 24. In the particular embodiments shown and described herein, mounting end 22 may comprise a generally flat end section that provides sufficient area to allow arm 18 to be securely mounted to beam member 12. Clamp end 24 of arm 18 may comprise a generally hook-like portion or end that is configured to engage at least a portion of the lip protector 26, as best seen in
It is generally preferred, but not required, that arm 18 be movably mounted to the beam member 12 so that it can be moved with respect to beam member 12 between an extended position and a retracted position 32, as best seen in
Fastening means 60 may provide this moveable mounting arrangement. In one embodiment, best viewed in
Other embodiments of the fastening means 60 are possible. For example, and as illustrated in
As previously stated, holding tool 10 may also comprise a bolt support member 34 mounted to the distal end 16 of the beam member 12. In an embodiment, the bolt support member 34 may be moveably mounted to the beam member 12 to enable the holding tool 10 to accommodate lip protectors 26 and excavation buckets 28 of various sizes. In a further embodiment, the bolt support member 34 may have a proximal end 44 and a distal end 46. The bolt support member 34 may further comprise a threaded portion 70, and the distal end 16 of the beam member 12 may define a threaded hole 72 that is sized to receive the threaded portion 70 of the bolt support member 34 (best seen in
The bolt support member 34 may further comprise a swivel head 48 provided on distal end 46 of bolt support member 34. Swivel head 48 allows bolt support member 34 to support the head 38 of the plow bolt 36 even when the bolt support member 34 is not fully aligned with the plow bolt 36. See
The holding tool 10 may additionally comprise a handle 86 mounted to the proximal end 14 of the beam member 12. See
With reference now primarily to
The user may begin the method 54 at step 90 by placing the lip protector 26 on the lip of the excavation bucket 28. The lip protector 26 may contain one or more countersunk holes 40 sized to receive the plow bolts 36. Further, each countersunk hole 40 may be provided with a square counterbore sized to engage the square neck of the plow bolt 36. This arrangement will prevent the plow bolt 36 from rotating when plow bolt 36 is fully seated within countersunk hole 40. When the lip protector 26 is properly positioned with respect to the excavation bucket 28, each countersunk hole 40 will be aligned with a corresponding hole 56 provided in the excavation bucket 28. This alignment will allow the user to insert a plow bolt 36 through both holes 40 and 56, as is best seen in
After placing the lip protector 26 on the lip of the excavation bucket 28, the user may proceed to step 92 by engaging the clamp end 24 of the holding tool 10 with a portion of the upper side of the lip protector 26 or excavation bucket 28. The clamp end 24 may engage or abut against a protrusion or edge of the lip protector 26 or excavation bucket 28, as best seen in
The user may now, at step 96, move the holding tool 10 so that the bolt support member 34 engages the head 38 of the plow bolt 36. This engagement will prevent plow bolt 36 from becoming unseated from, or otherwise falling out of countersunk hole 40. In one embodiment, the swivel head 48 provided on distal end 46 of bolt support member 34 engages the head 38 of the plow bolt 36 even though the bolt support member 34 is not aligned with plow bolt 36. See
Now at step 98, the user may thread a plow bolt nut 42 onto the plot bolt 36, thereby securing the lip protector 26 to the excavation bucket 28. The holding tool 10 prevents the plow bolt 36 from becoming unseated from the countersunk hole 40, thereby allowing the plow bolt nut 42 to be tightened to the specified torque without concern that the plow bolt 36 will turn within countersunk hole 40. The user may use a separate tool, such as an air impact wrench (not shown), to tighten the plow bolt nut 42 while supporting the plow bolt 36 with the holding tool 10, although such use of separate tools is not required. Having threaded the plow bolt nut 42 onto the plow bolt 36, the user may remove the tool 10 and terminate, at step 100, the method 54.
Having herein set forth preferred embodiments of the present invention, subsequent suitable modifications may be made thereto which will nonetheless remain within the scope of the invention. The invention shall therefore only be construed in accordance with the following claims:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/459,732, filed on Feb. 16, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62459732 | Feb 2017 | US |