Patent Application
20220412060
The present disclosure relates generally to a system for removing an edge plate from an implement of a machine and, for example, to a cutting edge removal system for removing a cutting edge from a blade of a machine.
Earthmoving machines, such as track-type tractors, may be used to perform displacement, distribution, and leveling of material, such as soil. A track-type tractor typically employs a blade assembly that includes a blade and a cutting edge that is attached to the blade. As the track-type tractor moves along a surface of material, the cutting edge penetrates the surface to permit the blade assembly to displace the material. During operation, the blade assembly scrapes the surface and is also impacted by debris, such as soil, gravel, rock, and organic material (e.g., plant material), resulting in wear to the cutting edge. Accordingly, frequent replacement of the cutting edge may be necessary. Replacement of the cutting edge is difficult and time consuming, thereby negatively impacting efficiency and speed of earthmoving operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,227 (the '227 patent) discloses a device for handling replaceable plates, such as cutting edges and wear plates, used on the blades of plows and graders. Per the '227 patent, the device is a cart for handling the replaceable plates and includes a wheeled frame and a plate holder supported on the frame for up and down movement relative to the ground. The plate holder is designed to support a plate in an orientation generally corresponding to the front face of the blade.
However, many worksites have different terrain conditions (e.g., non-level terrains) that require a robust solution for removing and replacing a cutting edge. Further, in some cases, a cutting edge has two cutting edge surfaces and, after a first cutting edge surface becomes worn, the cutting edge can be removed, rotated upside-down, and reattached to expose a second cutting edge surface to a work surface. Accordingly, a system is required that can support each of removal, reorientation, and reattachment of a cutting edge. The edge plate removal system of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.
In some implementations, a cutting edge removal system includes a frame; a set of alignment rods attached to the frame; a set of clamping assemblies attached to the frame; a handle attached to the frame; and a set of lift points attached to the frame, wherein: each alignment rod, of the set of alignment rods, is configured to be inserted into a bore of a cutting edge of a blade of a machine, each clamping assembly, of the set of clamping assemblies, is configured to clamp the cutting edge, the handle is configured to facilitate application of a pulling force on the cutting edge when the cutting edge is clamped by the clamping assembly, and the set of lift points is configured to attach to a lifting device to facilitate application of the pulling force on the cutting edge when the cutting edge is clamped by the clamping assembly.
In some implementations, an edge plate removal device includes a set of alignment rods attached to a frame of the edge plate removal device; a set of clamping assemblies attached to the frame; and a set of pulling components attached to the frame, wherein: each alignment rod, of the set of alignment rods, is configured to be inserted into a bore of an edge plate of an implement of a machine, each clamping assembly, of the set of clamping assemblies, is configured to clamp the edge plate, and each pulling component, of the set of pulling components, is configured to facilitate application of a pulling force on the edge plate when the edge plate is clamped by the clamping assembly.
In some implementations, a clamping assembly includes a first clamp that is configured to contact a first region of an edge plate; a second clamp that is configured to contact a second region of the edge plate; a clamp rod that is configured to extend through a hole of the first clamp, a bore of a frame of an edge plate removal device, and a hole of the second clamp; a set of retention nuts that are configured to facilitate attachment of the clamp rod to the frame; and a set of tightening nuts configured to adjust respective positions of the first clamp and the second clamp on the clamp rod.
This disclosure relates to a system for removing an edge plate, such as a cutting edge, from an implement, which is applicable to any machine that needs removal of an edge plate. The term “machine” may refer to any machine that performs an operation associated with an industry such as, for example, mining, construction, farming, transportation, or another industry. For example, the machine may be an earth-moving machine or material-moving machine, such as an excavator, a wheel loader, or a track-type tractor and loader, among other examples.
When an edge plate 108 is a cutting edge, the edge plate 108 may have a first cutting edge surface and a second cutting edge surface (e.g., on opposite sides of the edge plate 108). The edge plate 108 may be initially attached to the implement 104 such that the first cutting edge surface is proximate to the ground surface 106, which may cause the first cutting edge surface to become worn. Accordingly, the edge plate 108 then may be removed from the implement 104, turned upside-down, and reattached to the implement 104 such that the second cutting edge surface (e.g., that is not worn) is proximate to the ground surface. In this way, a single edge plate 108 may be used, instead of using multiple edge plates 108, during a period associated with a geography altering operation.
As indicated above,
As shown in
The frame 202 may provide a physical structure to support one or more of the other components of the edge plate removal system 200, as described herein. In some implementations, the frame 202 may comprise steel or a similarly strong material.
The set of alignment rods 204 may be attached to the frame 202. For example, each alignment rod 204, of the set of alignment rods 204, may extend through a respective bore of the frame 202, and a respective retention pin 206, of the set of retention pins 206, may be used to “lock” the alignment rod 204 within the bore of the frame 202. Additionally, or alternatively, an alignment rod 204 may include a retention hole (e.g., that passes through a horizontal axis of the alignment rod), a bore of the frame 202 may include an alignment rod holder (e.g., an alignment rod holder 402, as described herein in relation to
The set of alignment rods 204 may be configured to be inserted into corresponding bores of an edge plate 108 of the one or more edge plates 108 (e.g., corresponding bores of a cutting edge). For example, an edge plate 108 may include a plurality of bores in which a plurality of bolts are respectively inserted to attach the edge plate 108 to the implement 104 (e.g., to attach the cutting edge to a blade). A set of bolts, of the plurality of bolts, may be removed from a set of bores, of the plurality of bores, and the set of alignment rods 204 may be respectively inserted into the set of bores (e.g., with assistance of a lifting device described herein). In this way, by being inserted into the set of bores, the set of alignment rods 204 facilitate alignment of the edge plate removal system 200 with the edge plate 108 and/or the implement 104.
The set of clamping assemblies 208 may be attached to the frame 202. For example, the clamp rod 210 of each clamping assembly 208, of the set of clamping assemblies 208, may be a threaded rod that is inserted into one or more bores of the frame 202, and the set of retention nuts 212 of the clamping assembly 208 may be threaded and positioned on the clamp rod 210 to cause the clamp rod 210 to be locked within the one or more bores of the frame 202. Accordingly, the set of retention nuts 212 may be configured to facilitate attachment of the clamp rod 210 and the clamp assembly 208 to the frame 202.
Each clamping assembly 208 may include a set of clamps 214 and a set of tightening nuts 216 positioned on the clamp rod 210 of the clamping assembly 208. For example, as shown in
The set of clamps 214 may be configured to contact respective regions of the edge plate 108 (e.g., when the set of alignment rods 204 are inserted into respective bores of the edge plate 108). For example, the first clamp 214 may be configured to contact a first region of the edge plate 108 (e.g., a top surface of the edge plate 108), and the second clamp 214 may be configured to contact a second region of the edge plate 108 (e.g., a bottom surface of the edge plate 108). The set of tightening nuts 216 may be configured to adjust respective positions of the set of clamps 214. For example, the first tightening nut 216 may be rotated about the clamp rod 210 to adjust a position of the first clamp 214 on the first portion of the clamp rod 210, and the second tightening nut 216 may be rotated about the clamp rod 210 to adjust a position of the second clamp 214 on the second portion of the clamp rod 210.
Accordingly, the set of tightening nuts 216 may be configured to cause the set of clamps 214 to contact respective regions of the edge plate 108. For example, the first tightening nut 216 may be rotated about the clamp rod 210 to adjust a position of the first clamp 214 to cause the first clamp 214 to contact the first region of the edge plate 108, and/or the second tightening nut 216 may be rotated about the clamp rod 210 to adjust a position of the second clamp 214 to cause the second clamp 214 to contact the second region of the edge plate 108. In this way, the clamping assembly 208 may be configured to apply a clamping force (e.g., via the set of clamps 214). For example, the first clamp 214 and the second clamp 214 may exert a clamping force when the first clamp 214 contacts the first region of the edge plate 108 and the second clamp 214 contacts the second region of the edge plate 108. In some implementations, the clamping force may be between 800 and 1000 newtons.
The handle 218 may attach to the frame 202 via a handle holder 220 of the set of handle holders 220. For example, the handle 218 may comprise a shaft that is able to be inserted into each handle holder 220 of the set of handle holders 220. The set of handle holders 220 may be attached to the frame (e.g. welded to the frame 202) at respective locations of the frame 202. Accordingly, the shaft of the handle 218 may be inserted into a particular handle holder 220, of the set of handle holders 220, to attach the handle 218 to the frame 202 and to hold the handle 218 at a particular orientation to the frame 202. Additionally, or alternatively, the handle 218 may be configured to facilitate application of a pulling force on the edge plate 108 (e.g., when the edge plate 108 is clamped by the set of clamping assemblies 208). For example, the handle 218 may include a handle bar with which an operator of the edge plate removal system 200 can interact to apply a pulling force on the edge plate 108 when the shaft of the handle 218 is inserted into the particular handle holder 220 and the handle 218 is held at the particular orientation to the frame 202.
The set of lift points 222 may be attached to the frame 202 (e.g., welded to the frame 202). Each lift point 222, of the set of lift points 222, may be configured to attach to a lifting device (e.g., a boom of a crane) via rigging or other supporting material. For example, the lift point 222 may comprise a metal loop (e.g., a rounded loop) to which the rigging or other supporting material can be connected. Accordingly, the edge plate removal system 200 may be suspended proximate to the edge plate 108 by the lifting device via the set of lift points 222. Additionally, or alternatively, the set of lift points 222 may be configured to facilitate application of a pulling force on the edge plate 108 (e.g., when the edge plate 108 is clamped by the clamping assembly 208). For example, an operator of the lifting device may engage the lifting device to cause the rigging to apply a pulling force on the set of lift points 222, which applies the pulling force on the edge plate 108 (e.g., because the set of lift points 222 are attached to the frame 202).
In an example use case, an operator of the edge plate removal system 200 may attach rigging to the set of lift points 222 and operate a lifting device to lift and move the edge plate removal system 200 proximate to an edge plate 108 (e.g., a cutting edge) that is to be removed from an implement 104 (e.g., a blade). The operator may remove a set of bolts from a set of bores of the edge plate 108 (e.g. that attach the edge plate 108 to the implement 104) and may insert the handle 218 into a handle holder 220 of the set of handle holders 220. The operator may interact with the handle 218 and/or operate the lifting device to move the edge plate removal system 200 and thereby cause the set of alignment rods 204 to insert into the set of bores of the edge plate 108.
After the edge plate removal system 200 is aligned with the edge plate 108 (e.g. via the set of alignment rods 204 inserted into the set of bores of the edge plate 108), the operator may interact with the set of tightening nuts 216 of each clamping assembly 208, of the set of clamping assemblies 208, to cause the set of clamps 214 of the clamping assembly 208 to clamp the edge plate 108. For example, the operator may rotate a first tightening nut 216, of the set of tightening nuts 216, on a clamp rod 210 of the clamping assembly 208 to cause a first clamp 214, of the set of clamps 214, to contact a first region of the edge plate 108 (e.g., a first lip and/or surface of the edge plate 108), and/or may rotate a second tightening nut 216, of the set of tightening nuts 216, on the clamp rod 210 to cause a second clamp 214, of the set of clamps 214, to contact a second region of the edge plate 108 (e.g., a second lip and/or surface of the edge plate 108). The operator may further interact with the set of tightening nuts 216 to cause the clamping assembly 208 to apply a particular clamping force on the edge plate 108 (e.g., via the set of clamps 214 contacting respective regions of the edge plate 108), such as a particular clamping force between 800 and 1000 newtons.
After the edge plate removal system 200 clamps the edge plate 108, the operator may remove any remaining bolts that attach the edge plate 108 to the implement 104. The operator then may interact with the handle 218 and/or operate the lifting device to apply a pulling force (e.g., via the handle 218 and/or the set of lift points 222) on the edge plate 108, which may lift the edge plate 108 and thereby cause the edge plate 108 to be removed from the implement 104.
After the edge plate 108 is removed from the implement 104, the operator may insert the handle 218 into another handle holder 220, of the set of handle holders 220, and may interact with the handle 218 to change an orientation of the edge plate removal system 200 (e.g., while the edge plate removal system 200 is suspended by the rigging via the set of lift points 222) and thereby cause the edge plate 108 to be oriented upside-down to the implement 104. The operator may interact with the handle 218 and/or operate the lifting device to move the edge plate removal system 200 and thereby cause the edge plate 108 to be positioned (e.g., upside-down) on the implement 104.
After the edge plate 108 is positioned on the implement 104, the operator may insert bolts into bores of the edge plate 108 to attach the edge plate 108 to the implement 104. The operator then may interact with the set of tightening nuts 216 of each clamping assembly 208, of the set of clamping assemblies 208, to cause the set of clamps 214 of the clamping assembly 208 to cease clamping the edge plate 108. For example, the operator may rotate the first tightening nut 216 on the clamp rod 210 of the clamping assembly 208 to cause the first clamp 214 to cease contacting the first region of the edge plate 108, and/or may rotate the second tightening nut 216 on the clamp rod 210 to cause the second clamp 214 to cease contacting the second region of the edge plate 108 (e.g., a second lip and/or surface of the edge plate 108). Accordingly, the clamping assembly 208 may cease applying a particular clamping force on the edge plate 108.
After the edge plate removal system 200 ceases clamping the edge plate 108, the operator may interact with the handle 218 and/or operate the lifting device to move the edge plate removal system 200 and thereby cause the set of alignment rods 204 to be removed from the set of bores of the edge plate 108. The operator then may insert bolts into the set of bores of the edge plate 108 and thereby securely attach the edge plate 108 to the implement 104. In this way, the edge plate removal system 200 can be used to remove an edge plate 108 from an implement 104, to flip the edge plate 108 upside-down, and to reinstall the edge plate 108 on the implement 104 in an upside-down orientation.
As indicated above,
Each clamp 214 may be configured to contact a region of an edge plate 108. For example, each clamp 214 may include a clamping region 302 that is configured to contact the region of the edge plate 108. The clamping region 302 may be defined by one or more surfaces of the clamp 214. For example, as shown in
The set of tightening nuts 216 may be threaded and may be configured to adjust respective positions of the set of clamps 214 on the clamp rod 210. For example, a tightening nut 216, of the set of tightening nuts 216, may be rotated on the clamp rod 210 to cause the clamp 214 to move up or down the clamp rod 210. Accordingly, the set of tightening nuts 216 may be configured to facilitate the set of clamps 214 contacting respective regions of the edge plate 108.
As indicated above,
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As further shown in
As indicated above,
Some implementations described herein provide an edge plate removal system that enables removal of an edge plate (e.g., a cutting edge) from an implement (e.g., a blade) of a machine. The edge plate removal system includes a frame, a set of alignment rods, a set of clamping assemblies, and a set of pulling components. The set of alignment rods insert into corresponding bores of the edge plate and thereby cause the edge plate removal system to be aligned with the edge plate. When the edge plate removal system is aligned with the edge plate, the set of clamping assemblies (e.g., that respectively include a set of clamps on a clamp rod) clamp the edge plate. When the edge plate is clamped by the set of clamping assemblies, the set of pulling components (e.g., that include a handle and/or a set of lift points) facilitate application of a pulling force on the edge plate, which causes the edge plate to be removed from the implement.
In this way, a single operator may interact with the handle of the edge plate removal system, a lifting device that suspends the edge plate removal system via rigging connected to the set of lift points, and/or respective sets of tightening nuts of the sets of clamping assemblies to cause the edge plate to be removed from the implement. Accordingly, the edge plate removal system is able to quickly and efficiently remove edge plates that would otherwise be difficult and/or time consuming to remove using conventional removal techniques. Further, because the edge plate removal system utilizes a set of lift points to allow a lifting device to lift and move the edge plate removal system, the edge plate removal system can be used in any terrain condition (including uneven terrain). Additionally, the edge plate removal system is able to remove, reorient, and reattach an edge plate without releasing the edge plate, which is not possible using conventional removal techniques. This further conserves time and resources used to service the implement of the machine and/or promotes efficient operation of the machine.
The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. Furthermore, any of the implementations described herein may be combined unless the foregoing disclosure expressly provides a reason that one or more implementations cannot be combined. Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.
As used herein, “a,” “an,” and a “set” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”). Further, spatially relative terms, such as “below,” “lower,” “bottom,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the apparatus, device, and/or element in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
