Patent Application
20180305891
The present disclosure relates to bucket and rigging assemblies that are used in dragline mining operations and the like. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a dragline bucket assembly that includes beveled walls near the rear of the bucket assembly.
Referring initially to
However, such spreader bars 104 are very heavy, putting a load on the hoist chains 108 and on the machine (not shown) using the bucket assembly 100, and may themselves wear. This too can lead to required maintenance. Also, the machine may have to exert more energy, resulting in higher operation costs for the mining operation or the like. Furthermore, the weight of the spreader bar 104 limits the capacity of the bucket 114, affecting the efficiency of the mining operation.
Consequently, various designs have been developed to eliminate the need for a lower spreader bar 104. One such design has included altering the geometry of the rear of the bucket 114, such as by angling, beveling or mitering the sidewall 112 as desired near the rear of the bucket 114, to decrease the risk of the chain 108 at a rear attachment point 106 of the bucket 114 from rubbing on an edge 110 of the bucket 114. However, these buckets 114 tend to be long, rendering them less efficient than desirable when loading the bucket 114 with material in use (e.g. it may take longer to fill or empty such buckets). Also, the placement of the attachment points 106 do not maintain balance of the bucket 114 as material is loaded into the bucket in a desirable manner. Another design has placed the attachment points 106 or trunnions inside of the bucket 114, but this tends to limit or interfere with the loading or dumping of material into or out of the bucket 114. In other cases, the trunnions are placed on the rear wall but this may not be ideal in terms of maintaining balance of the bucket as material is loaded into the bucket.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a better design for a dragline bucket to help eliminate the need for a spreader bar in the rigging assembly than has yet been devised.
A dragline bucket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a base member, a first side member extending from the base member and including a first top edge, a second side member extending from the base member in an opposing manner to the first side member defining a distance from the first side member to the second side member, and a rear member extending from the base member and including a second top edge. The first side member, second side member and base member define a mouth for receiving material into the bucket, and a first beveled wall extends from the first side member and a second beveled wall extends from the rear member proximate the first beveled wall. The first beveled wall forms a first compound angle with the base member and the second beveled wall forms a second compound angle with the base member that is different than the first compound angle.
A dragline bucket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a base member, a first side member extending from the base member and including a first top edge, a second side member extending from the base member in an opposing manner to the first side member defining a distance from the first side member to the second side member, and a rear member extending from the base member and including a second top edge. The first side member, second side member and base member define a mouth for receiving material into the bucket, and a first beveled wall extends from the first side member and a first mitered wall extends from the first side member proximate the first beveled wall, the first beveled wall forming a first compound angle with the base member and the first mitered wall forming a lower obtuse angle with the first side member.
A dragline bucket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a base member, a first side member extending from the base member and including a first top edge, a second side member extending from the base member in an opposing manner to the first side member defining a distance from the first side member to the second side member, and a rear member extending from the base member and including a second top edge. The first side member, second side member and base member define a mouth for receiving material into the bucket, the rear member defines a rear internal extremity of the bucket, and the bucket defines a fill direction and a center of gravity and a Cartesian coordinate system including a X-axis, Y-axis, a Z-axis and an origin positioned at the center of gravity, wherein the X-axis is aligned with the fill direction of the bucket, the bucket further defines a fill depth parallel to the X-axis measured from the mouth to the rear internal extremity of the rear member. A first trunnion attachment structure is attached to the bucket a first predetermined distance away from the rear internal extremity along the X-axis, and a ratio of the first predetermined distance to the fill depth ranges from 15 to 45%.
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 or by a prime for example, 100′, 100″ etc. It is to be understood that the use of letters or primes 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 and primes will often not be included herein but may be shown in the drawings to indicate duplications of features, having similar or identical function or geometry, discussed within this written specification.
In various embodiments, a bucket assembly or bucket that uses a plurality of beveled walls that reduce the likelihood of a hoist chain rubbing on an edge of the bucket is provided while also lessening the likelihood that a void will form in the rear of the bucket when the bucket is loaded with material. In other embodiments, a bucket assembly or bucket is that uses a beveled wall to reduce the likelihood of a hoist chain rubbing on an edge of the bucket is provided along with a mitered wall located beneath the beveled wall where the trunnion attachment structure is disposed, helping to protect the trunnion attachment structure from wear as material passes over the trunnion attachment structure as the bucket is loaded. In yet further embodiments, the trunnion attachment structure is positioned from the rear wall and from the center of gravity appropriate distances to maintain the desired balance as the bucket is filled with material.
Looking now at
The front edge of the base member 204 is covered or protected by various devices such as edge protectors 222 (sometimes referred to as shrouds) and ground engaging tools 225. The ground engaging tools 225 are attached to the front edge using tool adapters 226. In other embodiments, a continuous edge protector or base edge may be attached to the front edge of the base member 204. In yet further embodiments, any form of front edge protection may be omitted.
Looking toward the rear of the bucket 202, a first beveled wall 228 may extend from the first side member 206 and a second beveled wall 230 may extend from the rear member 210 proximate the first beveled wall 228. The first beveled wall 228 forms a first compound angle α1 (best seen in
More specifically, the first beveled wall 228 includes a third top edge 232 connected to the first top edge 208 of the first side member 206 and the second beveled wall 230 includes a fourth top edge 234 connected to the second top edge 212 of the rear member 210. Also, the first beveled wall 228 may be connected to the second beveled wall 230 such that the third top edge 232 of the first beveled wall 228 is connected directly to the fourth top edge 234 of the second beveled wall 230. At least a portion of the rear member 210 forms a third angle β (best seen in
The bucket 202 defines a fill direction F and a center of gravity C and a Cartesian coordinate system including a X-axis, Y-axis, a Z-axis and an origin O positioned at the center of gravity C. As shown in
Similarly, the second compound angle α2 includes a third component angle θ1 (best seen in
With continued reference to
A first beveled wall 228 extends from the first side member 206 and a first mitered wall 238 extends from the first side member 206 proximate the first beveled wall 228, the first beveled wall 228 forming a first compound angle α1 with the base member 204 and the first mitered wall 238 forming a lower obtuse angle φL (best seen in
As previously described, the bucket defines a fill direction F and a center of gravity C and a Cartesian coordinate system including a X-axis, Y-axis, a Z-axis and an origin O positioned at the center of gravity C. The X-axis is aligned with the fill direction F of the bucket 202′, and the first compound angle α1 includes a first component angle γ1 (best seen in
The bucket 202′ may further comprise a second beveled wall 230 connecting the first beveled wall 228 to the rear member 210 and a second mitered wall 240 connecting the first mitered 238 wall to the rear member 210. As best seen in
As can be understood with reference to
Next, referring back to
As shown in
Likewise, the center of gravity is positioned a second predetermined distance 254 away from the mouth 214 along the X-axis and a ratio of the second predetermined distance 254 to the fill depth 250 ranges from 15 to 35% and may be approximately 20% in some embodiments. The X-Z plane defines a midplane 256 (sometimes also a plane of symmetry) and the trunnion attachment structure 236 defines a trunnion slot 258 with a longitudinal axis L258 that is parallel to the X-Z plane.
As mentioned earlier with reference to
Furthermore, as depicted in
Turning now to
The pad 268 defines the trunnion slot and the pin aperture extends orthogonally to the trunnion slot 258 for receipt of a pin 270 (vaguely shown in
The bucket, trunnion attachment structure, etc. may be made from any suitable material including iron, grey cast-iron, steel, etc. Also, the bucket, trunnion attachment structure, etc. may be integrally cast, forged or may be fabricated and assembled by fastening, welding, press fitting, etc. two or more pieces together to form the bucket, bucket assembly, or the trunnion attachment structure.
Any of the dimensions, ratios, angles or configuration of the bucket, trunnion attachment structure, etc. may be varied as needed or desired. Also, the dimensions and ratios involving the center of gravity may be based on the bucket as empty or with a payload depending on the application. Accordingly, values given and configurations shown are given by way of an example and not in any limiting sense.
In practice, a bucket, bucket assembly or trunnion attachment structure according to any embodiment described, shown or discussed herein may be sold, bought, manufactured, remanufactured, retrofitted, assembled or otherwise obtained in an aftermarket or OEM context.
For example, a trunnion attachment structure or bucket may be used as a replacement part. The bucket or bucket assembly may be used with a machine that has a rigging subassembly 300 such as that shown in
The configuration of the bucket shown in the figures is shorter along the fill direction, allowing a more efficient filling and dumping process to be used when employing the bucket. Also, the balance of the bucket during fill and dumping may be better than buckets previously known in the art. Furthermore, the capacity of the bucket may be increased compared to previous bucket designs, given the reduction of the load due to the elimination of the lower spreader bar.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed assembly and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.
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, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
