GROUND ENGAGING TOOL

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Australian provisional patent application Serial No. 2023903218, filed on Oct. 6, 2023 with the Australian Patent Office, and entitled A GROUND ENGAGING TOOL, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ground engaging tool, and in particular to a ground engaging tool for attachment to a vehicle. It will, however, be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Earthmoving vehicles, such as bulldozers, are extensively used in various construction, mining, and land development applications. One of the primary functions of these vehicles is to manipulate loose materials, such as soil, gravel, sand, or debris, to level surfaces or create earth mounds, among other tasks. To accomplish these operations, bulldozers are typically equipped with various ground engaging tools, including blades, rippers, and scoops.

While existing ground engaging tools are effective in many applications, they often encounter limitations when it comes to efficiently grading loose surfaces and pushing through piles of earth. Grading operations require a precise and smooth finish, which can be challenging to achieve with conventional tools. Pushing through piles of earth or debris often results in reduced productivity due to frequent tool adjustments, potential damage to the tool, or excessive wear and tear on the bulldozer.

Moreover, traditional ground engaging tools may not provide the versatility required for performing both grading and earth-pushing tasks efficiently. This limitation can lead to increased downtime, increased fuel consumption, and decreased operational efficiency of earthmoving vehicles.

The present invention seeks to provide a ground engaging tool, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative. is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a ground engaging tool for attachment to a vehicle, the ground engaging tool comprising:

- a frame defining a base plane, the frame supporting a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly at an angle relative to the base plane;
- a wear member connected to the frame, the wear member comprising:
- a first cutting edge configured for working a surface; and
- a pair of outer cutting edges orientated perpendicularly with respect to the base plane, and
- an accumulator defined by the frame having a plurality of accumulator portions, each of the plurality of accumulator portions positioned aft of the wear member and between the plurality of sidewalls.

Advantageously, the first cutting edge of the wear member ensures that the ground or earth the tool travels through is flattened. The pair of outer cutting edges being perpendicular to the base plane also provides stability to the tool by reducing the propensity of the tool to tilt sideways relative to the base plane in use.

Advantageously, the accumulator portions provide a space for the excess material cut by the wear member to go to. This ensures that unnecessary material is not kept along the surface of the wear member or along the frame of the tool, which may likely burden the tool due to drag. The accumulator portions also allow the material being cut to be carried such that the material can settle in and fill any depressions in the ground.

In one embodiment, the accumulator includes a plurality of longitudinal members disposed in a front to back direction and cross-members disposed in a transverse direction, the plurality of accumulator members and accumulator cross-members defining the accumulator portions.

In one embodiment, the accumulator members are disposed at an angle relative to the base plane such that material being worked can slide off the accumulator members in use.

Advantageously, material that is displaced and accumulated on the accumulator members easily slide off towards the accumulator portions, which would subsequently be flattened by the cross-members aft of the accumulator members. Since the material easily falls off the disposed accumulator members, unnecessary weight due to the accumulated material will not burden the tool, and this reduces drag on the tool.

In one embodiment, the accumulator members are disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the base plane.

In one embodiment, wherein at least one of the accumulator cross-members include an accumulator wear member to engage with the ground, the accumulator wear member further comprising a forward facing cutting edge to stabilise the ground engaging tool in use.

Advantageously, the forward facing cutting edge of the wear members cuts and flattens the material and causes cut material to be accumulated within the accumulator portions. Furthermore, since the accumulator wear members are configured to engage the ground, the tool is less likely to pitch downward during use.

In one embodiment, the wear member includes a pair of outer corner tips connected by a central portion.

In one embodiment, each outer corner tip of the pair of outer corner tips includes a sidewall angled to direct material into the accumulator.

In one embodiment, the sidewall of each outer corner tip includes an outer cutting edge.

In one embodiment, each sidewall of each outer corner tip is angled at about 30 degrees relative to the central portion of the wear member, to direct material into the accumulator.

Advantageously, the angle at which the sidewall is set promotes more material into the accumulator.

In one embodiment, the outer cutting edges are forward facing cutting edges.

Advantageously, the forward facing cutting edges allow the ground engaging tool to trim earth as it moves in a forward direction.

In one embodiment, the central portion is slender relative to the pair of outer corner tips to encourage flow of material into the accumulator.

In one embodiment, the pair of outer corner tips flair upwardly and forwardly relative to the central portion of the wear member to encourage flow of material into the accumulator.

Advantageously, the upwardly flaired corner tips provide a shape to encourage more material into the accumulator.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of sidewalls extend upwardly at an angle between 45° and 85° relative to the base plane.

Advantageously, the angle at which the sidewall is set promotes more material into the accumulator.

In one embodiment, the frame further comprises a peripheral frame region to which the wear member is connected, the peripheral frame region extending from the frame at an angle relative to the base plane.

In one embodiment, the peripheral frame region extends from the frame at an angle between 1° and 3° relative to the base plane.

In one embodiment, the peripheral frame region further comprises a bevelled region to which the wear member is connected.

In one embodiment, the bevelled region is bevelled at an angle between 125° and 140° from the base plane.

In one embodiment, the ground engaging tool includes a coupler pivotally connected to the frame such that the ground engaging tool is movable by a vehicle.

In one embodiment, the ground engaging tool includes an autonomous levelling system to retain the ground engaging tool at a desired position relative to the ground.

Also disclosed herein is a vehicle comprising the ground engaging tool described above.

This invention may also be said broadly to comprise in the parts, elements, and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements, or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a ground engaging tool according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a right side view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a left side view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a corner tip of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows another corner tip of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 shows a laser guided leveller for attachment to the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective front view of the ground engaging tool according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective rear view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a top view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows a right side view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 shows a partially exploded view of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the frame of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 shows a right side view of the frame of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 18a, 18b and 18c show a first sidewall of the wear member of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11. Specifically, FIG. 18a shows a top view, FIG. 18b shows a front view, and FIG. 18c shows a bottom view of the first sidewall; and

FIGS. 19a, 19b and 19c show a second sidewall of the wear member of the ground engaging tool shown in FIG. 11. Specifically, FIG. 19a shows a top view, FIG. 19b shows a front view, and FIG. 19c shows a bottom view of the second sidewall.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

In FIGS. 1 to 7, a ground engaging tool configured for attachment to a vehicle (not shown) is generally indicated by the numeral 100.

In one embodiment now described the ground engaging tool 100 includes a frame 110. The frame 110 may be substantially square or rectangular in shape defining a base plane of the ground engaging tool 100. The frame 110 comprises a front member 111, a rear member 112, a first side member 113 and a second side member 114. A plurality of sidewalls 120 extends upwardly from the frame 110 at an angle. The plurality of sidewalls 120 include a pair of opposing triangularly shaped sidewalls 121, 122 and a rear sidewall 123 substantially trapezoidal in shape. The sidewalls 121, 122 extend from the first and side members 113, 114 respectively. The rear sidewall 123 extends upwardly from the rear member 112. In an embodiment, the sidewalls 121, 122 extend upwardly and inwardly at an angle between 85° and 45° from the base plane. In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the sidewalls 121, 122 and the base plane is between 75° and 60°. In an embodiment, the rear sidewall 123 extends upwardly and inwardly at an angle between 85° and 45° from the base plane. In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the rear sidewall 123 and the base plane is between 75° and 60°.

Other shaped sidewalls may be used, so long as material is encouraged to flow between the sidewalls. The sidewalls 120 may be fastened to a portion of the frame 110 using a removable fastener such as a bolt or the sidewalls 120 may be welded to the frame 110.

The ground engaging tool 100 includes an accumulator 140 defined by the front member 111, rear member 112, side members 113 and 114 of the frame 110. The accumulator 140 serves to collect or accumulate loose earth such as gravel or dirt therein. The ground engaging tool 100 further comprises accumulator members 144 and an accumulator cross-member 146. The cross-member 146 is located between the front member 111 and rear member 112 and extends transversely with respect to the frame 110, connecting the opposing side members 113, 114. The members 144 include rear accumulator members 147, 147′ and forward accumulator members 148, 148′. The rear accumulator members 147, 147′ extend longitudinally with respect to the frame 110 and connects the rear member 112 to the accumulator cross member 146 and the forward accumulator members 148. 148′ extend longitudinally with respect to the frame 110 and connects the front member 111 to the accumulator cross member 146. The accumulator 140 is divided into sections by the members 144 and cross-members 146, thereby defining a plurality of accumulator portions 142.

In a more specific embodiment, the members 144 are disposed longitudinally relative to the ground engaging tool 100 with respect to its direction of use and travel and the cross-member 146 is disposed transversely relative to the ground engaging tool 100 with respect to its direction of use and travel.

The accumulator cross-member 146, front member 111, and rear member 112 comprise an accumulator wear member 146-1 having a forward-facing cutting edge. Each accumulator wear member 146-1 is fastened to the cross-member 146, front member 111 and rear member 112, respectively, such that in use, the wear member 146-1 engages the ground, rather than the cross-member 146 engaging the ground and wearing prematurely.

In the embodiment shown, the accumulator members 147, 147′, 148 and 148′ are rectangular and disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the base plane. Angling the accumulator members in this way reduces the drag on material being worked in the accumulator 140. The reduction is drag is enough to be noticeable to the operator of the vehicle to which the ground engaging tool 100 is coupled to.

In another embodiment not shown, it will be appreciated that the ground engaging tool 100 could have a greater or fewer number of the accumulator members 144 and/or cross-member 146. The accumulator members 144 may have a square 50 mm×50 mm section. Alternative dimensions are envisaged, including tubular sections.

The ground engaging tool 100 further comprises a peripheral frame region 115. The peripheral frame region 115 is connected to the front member 111 of the frame 1011 by connecting members 116. The peripheral frame region 115 extends from the front member 111 at an angle with respect to the base plane. In an embodiment, peripheral frame region 115 extends at an angle between 1° and 3° from the base plane. The peripheral frame region 115 comprises a frontal bevelled region 117. The bevelled region 117 is bevelled at angle between 125° and 140° from the base plane. In a preferred embodiment, the bevelled angle from the base plane is 132.8°.

The ground engaging tool 100 also includes a wear member 130. The wear member 130 is connected to the bevelled region 117 by one or more fasteners 131. The wear member 130 is made from or coated at least in part, in a hard-wearing material to extend the life of the wear member 130, such as, for example, tungsten carbide or spherical carbide. Alternative coatings may be envisaged by someone skilled in the art. The wear member 130 includes a first cutting edge 132 configured for working a surface.

The wear member 130 includes a pair of corner tips 150 which are connected to each other by a central portion 160 of the wear member 130. Each corner tip 150 include a sidewall 152, which serves to direct more material into the accumulator 140 behind the wear member 130. The sidewall 152 is numbered more clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9. The sidewall 152 comprises an outer cutting edge 134. In the embodiment shown, each sidewall 152 is substantially forward facing and angled at about 30 degrees relative to the surface of the bevelled region 116 and oriented perpendicularly relative the base plane such that the outer cutting edge 134 is substantially pointed forward. The 30-degree angle of the sidewall 152 helps to promote more material into the accumulator 140. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the sidewall 152 may be disposed at other angles relative to the surface of the bevelled region 116.

The wear member 130 is designed to promote more material into the accumulator by using a central portion 160 that is slender relative to the pair of outer corner tips 150. The outer corner tips 150 flair upwardly and forwardly relative to the central portion 160. This is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 6.

The ground engaging tool 100 further includes a coupler 300 at the rear of the tool to pivotally connect the frame of the tool to a vehicle (not shown). The vehicle is able to manipulate the orientation of the ground engaging tool 100, such as the height, the pitch, the roll and the yaw of the tool relative to the ground. Manipulation of the tool in these different directions may be aided by an autonomous levelling system. The autonomous levelling system may be a laser guided system and include a pair of lasers 400 mounted to the rear of the tool 100 which communicate with a control panel located within a cabin of the vehicle for the operator to control.

The ground engaging tool 100 can be attached to an earth moving vehicle such as a bulldozer. The tool can be used to push through large mounds of dirt, trim edges and also create level surfaces where there is loose earth.

The material that is being cut, flattened, smoothened, or displaced by the ground engaging tool may be soil, dirt, earth or an aggregate of the foregoing for example.

Another embodiment of the ground engaging tool is shown as 200 in FIGS. 11-15. For brevity, it should be noted in the following embodiment that like or the same reference numerals from the previous embodiment denote the same or similar features.

As shown in FIGS. 11-15 and 16-17, the ground engaging tool 200 includes a frame 110. The frame 110 may be substantially square or rectangular in shape defining a base plane of the ground engaging tool 200. The frame 110 comprises a front cross member 111, a rear cross member 112, a first side member 113 and a second side member 114. A plurality of sidewalls 120 extends upwardly from the frame 110 at an angle. The plurality of sidewalls 120 include a pair of opposing triangularly shaped sidewalls 121, 122 and a rear sidewall 123 substantially trapezoidal in shape. The sidewalls 121, 122 extend from the first and side members 113, 114 respectively. The rear sidewall 123 extends upwardly from the rear member 112. In an embodiment, the sidewalls 121, 122 extend upwardly and inwardly at an angle between 85° and 45° from the base plane. In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the sidewalls 121, 122 and the base plane is between 75° and 60°. In an embodiment, the rear sidewall 123 extends upwardly and inwardly at an angle between 85° and 45° from the base plane. In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the rear sidewall 123 and the base plane is between 75° and 60°.

The ground engaging tool 200 includes an accumulator 240 defined by the front member 111, rear member 112, side members 113 and 114 of the frame 110. The accumulator 240 serves to collect or accumulate loose earth such as gravel or dirt therein.

The ground engaging tool 100 further comprises accumulator members 244. The accumulator members 244 are located between the side members 113, 114 and extend longitudinally with respect to the frame 110 and connects the rear member 112 to the front member 111. The accumulator 140 is divided into sections by the accumulator members 244, thereby defining a plurality of accumulator portions 242.

In a more specific embodiment, the members 244 are disposed longitudinally relative to the ground engaging tool 100 with respect to its direction of use and travel.

The front cross member 111 and rear cross member 112 further comprise an accumulator wear member 146-1 having a forward-facing cutting edge. Each accumulator wear member 146-1 is fastened to the cross-member 146, front member 111 and rear member 112, respectively, such that in use, the wear member 146-1 engages the ground, rather than the front and rear members 111, 112 engaging the ground and wearing prematurely. The forward-facing cutting edge allows the ground engaging tool 100 to be easily stabilised when in use, as each of the wear members 146-1 can dig into the ground

In the embodiment shown, the accumulator members 244 are rectangular and disposed and/or tilted at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the base plane. Angling the accumulator members 244 in this way reduces the drag on material being worked in the accumulator 240. The reduction in drag is enough to be noticeable to the operator of the vehicle to which the ground engaging tool 200 is coupled to.

In another embodiment not shown, it will be appreciated that the ground engaging tool 200 could have a greater or fewer number of the accumulator members 244. The accumulator members 244 may have a square 50 mm×50 mm section. Alternative dimensions are envisaged, including tubular sections.

The ground engaging tool 100 further comprises a peripheral frame region 115. The peripheral frame region 115 is connected to the front member 111 of the frame 110 by connecting members 116. The peripheral frame region extends from the front member 111 at an angle with respect to the base plane. In an embodiment, peripheral frame region extends at an angle between 1° and 3° from the base plane. The peripheral frame region 115 comprises a frontal bevelled region 117. The bevelled region 117 is bevelled at an angle between 125° and 140° from the base plane. In a preferred embodiment, the bevelled angle from the base plane is 132.8°.

The ground engaging tool 100 also includes a wear member 130. As shown in FIG. 15, the wear member 130 is connected to the bevelled region 117 by one or more fasteners 131. The wear member 130 is made from or coated at least in part, in a hard-wearing material to extend the life of the wear member 130, such as, for example, tungsten carbide or spherical carbide. Alternative coatings may be envisaged by someone skilled in the art. The wear member 130 includes a first cutting edge 132 configured for working a surface, the first cutting edge being located along the length of the lower edge of the wear member 130.

The wear member 130 includes a central portion 160 and a pair of corner tips 150 as shown in FIGS. 11, 15 and 18-19. The corner tips 150 are connected to each other by the central portion 160 of the wear member 130. Each corner tip 150 includes a sidewall 152, which serves to direct more material into the accumulator 140 behind the wear member 130. The sidewall 152 comprises an outer cutting edge 134. In the embodiment shown, each sidewall 152 is substantially forward facing and angled at about 30 degrees relative to the surface of the bevelled region 116 and oriented perpendicularly relative the base plane such that the outer cutting edge 134 is substantially pointed forward. The 30-degree angle of the sidewall 152 helps to promote more material into the accumulator 140. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the sidewall 152 may be disposed at other angles relative to the surface of the bevelled region 116.

Advantages will now be described.

The corner tips 150 are raised and flair upwardly, which provides a shape to encourage more material into the accumulator 140. The angle at which the sidewall 152 is set also promotes more material into the accumulator 140.

The corner tips 150 have a cutting edge 134 oriented perpendicularly to the base plane to allow the tool to trim along the parallel face of the wear member 130 and perpendicular face of the cutting edge 134. For instance, the tool can be used to level loose material using the wear member 130 and trim earth using the cutting edge 134 when the tool is moving in a forward direction.

The wear member 130 includes a cutting edge 132 to provide more stability in use and provides a smoother finish when an operator is grading a surface.

The longitudinally orientated members 144, 244 are angled at about 45 degrees to allow more material to fall off which reduces the drag on the tool when being pushed through large mounds of dirt. There is also less drag on both edges due to the material being worked and flowing through the accumulator 140.

The wear member 146-1 of each of the transversely orientated cross-members 146 is a cutting member which provides more stability to the tool and prevents the tool from pitching downward at the front wear member 130 during use.

The forward-facing cutting edge allows the ground engaging tool 100 to be easily stabilised when in use, as each of the wear members 146-1 can dig into the ground and prevent the tool from pivoting about the wear member 130, resulting in a “dive”.

The material that is being cut, flattened, smoothened, or displaced by the ground engaging tool may be soil, dirt, earth or an aggregate of the foregoing for example.

Interpretation
Embodiments

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Description of Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Description of Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. It is understood, however, that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. The invention is, however, not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as “forward”, “rearward”, “radially”, “peripherally”, “upwardly”, “downwardly”, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.

As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

Comprising and Including

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e., to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the construction industry.

GROUND ENGAGING TOOL

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Abstract

Description

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Priority Claims (1)