1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to heavy-duty demolition and scrap processing shears for use in connection with machinery such as excavators. More particularly, the invention relates to the shapes and relative positions of the shearing edges of such shears.
2. Description of Related Art
Various conventional scrap processing shears are designed to cut a length of material such as rebar into smaller pieces that increase the value of the processed material and/or facilitate more compact storage of such material. For example, WO 2004/013417 discloses rebar cutting shears that include three laterally-spaced sets of shearing blades/edges that can shear a length of material in three different places with each stroke of the shears. The upper and lower jaws of the shears each form a shearing apex that collects/consolidates processed material before cutting the material. When a large number amount of material (e.g., numerous lengths of rebar) is to be cut in a single stroke, the material collects at the shearing apex and increases the amount of force that the shears must exert to simultaneously cut the consolidated material. Accordingly, a high-force hydraulic cylinder must be used to effectively power the shears. There remains a need for scrap processing/demolition shears that can more efficiently process material.
An aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides shears that require less force to process more material per stroke of the shears.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides shears that are inexpensive, durable, and versatile.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides shears that facilitate the efficient and profitable processing of rebar.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides shears that are easily adapted for use on existing machinery such as excavators. The shears efficiently utilize the power generated from the excavator's bucket linkage.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides shears with left and right laterally-spaced sets of shearing blades. Each set of shearing blades/edges has a plurality of staggered shearing apexes that sequentially shear portions of the processed material. The left set of shearing blades may shearingly mate with each other asynchronously relative to the right set of shearing blades.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a shears assembly that includes first and second jaws operatively connected to each other for relative movement between open and closed positions; first and second laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the first jaw, the first shearing edge forming a first plurality of shearing apexes; and third and fourth laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the second jaw. The first and third shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws close. The second and fourth shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws close.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the second shearing edge forms a second plurality of shearing apexes.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the fourth shearing edge forms a second plurality of shearing apexes.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, one of the second and fourth shearing edges forms a second plurality of shearing apexes. The assembly may also include at least one blade insert removably mounted to the first jaw and having the first shearing edge disposed thereon; at least one blade insert removably mounted to the first jaw and having the second shearing edge disposed thereon; at least one blade insert removably mounted to the second jaw and having the third shearing edge disposed thereon; and at least one blade insert removably mounted to the second jaw and having the fourth shearing edge disposed thereon.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first plurality of shearing apexes sequentially mate with the third shearing edge when the jaws close. The second plurality of shearing apexes of the one of the second and fourth shearing edges may sequentially mate with the other of the second and fourth shearing edges when the jaws close.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first, second, third, and fourth shearing edges are positioned such that the first and third shearing edges shearingly mate with each other before the second and fourth shearing edges shearingly mate with each other as the jaws close.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first, second, third, and fourth shearing edges are positioned such that the first and third shearing edges shearingly mate with each other asynchronously relative to when the second and fourth shearing edges shearingly mate with each other as the jaws close.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, as the jaws move from the open to the closed position, each of the first plurality of shearing apexes shearingly mates with the third shearing edge before any of the second plurality of shearing apexes of the one of the second and fourth shearing edges shearingly mates with the other of the second and fourth shearing edges.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, as viewed from a side, the first and second shearing edges are offset relative to each other.
Additionally and/or alternatively, as viewed from a side, the third and fourth shearing edges are offset relative to each other.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the assembly is constructed and arranged to be mounted to an excavator having a bucket cylinder, wherein one of the jaws is constructed and arranged to operatively connect to the bucket cylinder such that operation of the bucket cylinder opens and closes the jaws.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the assembly includes raking tines mounted to one of the first and second jaws.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first and second shearing edges are laterally spaced from each other by at least 10 inches.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a shears assembly that includes first and second jaws operatively connected to each other for relative movement between open and closed positions; first and second laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the first jaw, the first shearing edge forming first and second shearing apexes; and third and fourth laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the second jaw. One of the second and fourth shearing edges form a third shearing apex. The first and third shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws move from the open position to the closed position. The second and fourth shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws move from the open position to the closed position. The first, second, and third shearing apexes are positioned to each shearingly mate with its respective opposing shearing edge at different times as the jaws move from the open position to the closed position.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the one of the second and fourth shearing edges forms a fourth shearing apex. The first, second, third, and fourth shearing apexes are positioned to each shearingly mate with its respective opposing shearing edge at different times as the jaws move from the open position to the closed position.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first shearing edge forms fourth and fifth shearing apexes. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth apexes are positioned to each shearingly mate with its respective opposing shearing edge at different times as the jaws move from the open position to the closed position.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the one of the second and fourth shearing edges forms sixth, seventh, and eighth shearing apexes. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shearing apexes are positioned to each shearingly mate with its respective opposing shearing edge at different times as the jaws move from the open position to the closed position.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a shears assembly that includes first and second jaws operatively connected to each other for relative movement between open and closed positions; first and second laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the first jaw; third and fourth laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the second jaw; and raking tines mounted to the first jaw. The first and third shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws close. The second and fourth shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws close.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a shears assembly comprising first and second jaws operatively connected to each other for relative movement between open and closed positions; a first pair of interacting shearing edges disposed on the first and second jaws, respectively; and a second pair of interacting shearing edges disposed on the first and second jaws, respectively. One of the first pair of interacting shearing edges has a first plurality of shearing apexes. One of the second pair of interacting shearing edges has a second plurality of shearing apexes. The second pair of interacting shearing edges are laterally spaced from the first pair of interacting shearing edges.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first and second pairs of interacting shearing edges are positioned to shearingly interact in a sequential order as the jaws close.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first and second pairs of interacting shearing edges are positioned to asynchronously shearingly interact as the jaws close.
According to a further aspect of one or more of these embodiments, the first pair of interacting shearing edges are positioned to interact for cutting prior to said second pair of interacting shearing edges.
Another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present invention provides a shears assembly that includes first and second jaws operatively connected to each other for relative movement between open and closed positions; first and second laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the first jaw; third and fourth laterally-spaced shearing edges disposed on the second jaw; and a plurality of shearing apexes formed on one of the shearing edges. The first and third shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws close. The second and fourth shearing edges shearingly mate with each other when the jaws close. As viewed from a side, the first and second shearing edges are offset relative to each other.
Additional and/or alternative advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings which from a part of this original disclosure:
The foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. To the contrary, those skilled in the art should appreciate that varieties may be constructed and employed without departing from the scope of the invention, aspects of which are recited by the claims appended hereto.
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A hydraulic cylinder 480 operatively extends between the stick 450 and the upper jaw 20 to actuate the upper jaw 20. The hydraulic cylinder 480 shown in
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Each shearing blade assembly 70, 80, 110, 120 may comprise a single integral blade insert or a plurality of blade inserts that are connected to each other (e.g., bolted, welded, integrally cast, etc.) before being mounted to the remainder of the jaw 20, 30. For example, the shearing blade assemblies 70, 80 may each comprise an integral blade insert that includes serrations that define the shearing apexes. Each shearing blade assembly 70, 80, 110, 120 may comprise greater or fewer blade inserts and/or may comprise blade inserts having alternative shapes (e.g., rectangular, trapezoidal, quadrilateral) without departing from the scope of the present invention. The shearing blade assemblies 70, 80, 110, 120 may be integrally formed with their respective jaws 20, 30 without departing from the scope of the present invention. The jaws 20, 30 preferably have seating surfaces against which the blade inserts 90, 100, 130 seat to strengthen the connection between such inserts 90, 100, 130 and the remainder of the jaws 20, 30.
The blade inserts 90, 100, 130 are preferably indexable. The square shape of the insert 90 provides four shearing edges on each lateral side of the insert 90 such that each insert 90 may be repositioned (e.g., rotated and/or flipped) to provide up to eight shearing edges as each shearing edge becomes dull. Similarly, the rectangular shape of the insert 130 provides two usable shearing edges on each lateral side thereof, which can be used by rotating and/or flipping the insert 130. Similarly, the parallelogram shape of the blade insert 100 provides two shearing edges on each lateral side of the insert 100. For example, the insert 100 on the upper right shearing blade assembly 80 may be rotated 180 degrees to provide a fresh shearing edge. Similarly, the insert 100 from the upper right shearing blade assembly 80 may be moved to the lower right shearing blade assembly 120 so that the fresh shearing edges on the opposite lateral side of the insert 100 may be used.
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In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of shearing apexes 70b, 80b are shaped and arranged to divide processed material (such as rebar) into the plurality of apexes 70b, 80b as the assembly 10 moves toward its closed position. In conventional single-apex shears, processed material collects at the single apex and increases the force required to shear such material all at once. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, however, as the upper jaw 20 moves toward its closed position, the apexes 80b sequentially shearingly mate with the shearing edge 120a and sequentially shear portions of processed material in each apex 80b, which reduces the force that the cylinder 60 must generate at any given angular position of the upper jaw 20 to shear the processed material.
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In the illustrated embodiment, the lower shearing edges 110a, 120a are offset from each other. However, the upper shearing edges 70a, 80a could alternatively or additionally be offset relative to each other as viewed from the side, without deviating from the scope of the present invention.
In the embodiment illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the shearing edges 110a, 120a are sufficiently offset from each other that every apex 80b shearingly mates with the shearing edge 120a before any of the shearing apexes 70b shearingly mate with the shearing edge 110a. However, the degree of offset may be modified in any suitable manner without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, the offset may be designed such that the innermost shearing apex 70b shearingly engages the shearing edge 110a before the outermost shearing apex 80b shearingly engages the shearing edge 120a. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the offset causes the sequential shearing action of the apexes 80b to be 180 degrees out of phase with the shearing action of the apexes 70b. Consequently, the apexes 70b, 80b sequentially shearingly mate with the shearing edges 110a, 120a in the following asynchronous order as the upper jaw 20 closes: (1) one or more initial apexes 80b, (2) one or more initial apexes 70b, (3) additional one or more apexes 80b, (4) additional one or more apexes 70b, etc.
The angular positions at which the shearing apexes 80b shearingly mate with the shearing edge 120a may be designed to specifically control the angular timing of the sequential mating of the apexes 80b with the shearing edge 120a. The angular offset and staggering of the apexes 70b, 80b is preferably designed so that no two apexes 70b, 80b simultaneously shearingly engage the lower jaw 20. Accordingly, at any given angular position of the upper jaw 20 relative to the lower jaw 30, the shearing force is focused on a single apex 70b, 80b, which efficiently utilizes the power of the cylinder 60. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, two or more apexes 70b, 80b simultaneously shearingly mate with the lower jaw. For example, an apex 70b and an apex 80b could simultaneously shearingly mate with the lower jaw to balance the forces on the left and right sides of the assembly 10.
The combination of radially-staggered shearing apexes 70b, 80b and asynchronous left and right side shearing advantageously reduces the power that the cylinder 60 must generate to shear the processed material. Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the reduced cylinder force required enables existing bucket cylinders of excavators to power the shear assembly 10. Conversely, the combination enables a weaker cylinder 60 to process more material per stroke. The reduced force required reduces wear and tear on the assembly 10, cylinder 60, cylinder's hydraulic circuit, and the excavator or other machine.
In the illustrated embodiment, the shearing edges 70a, 80a are laterally spaced by about 18 inches. Accordingly, processed material that is sheared by the assembly 10 and lays in a perfectly lateral direction (i.e., parallel to the axis 40) will be sheared into 18 inch lengths. However, any other lateral gap (e.g., 10 inches, 12 inches, 24 inches, etc.) may be used to shear processed material into any desired length without deviating from the scope of the present invention. According to another embodiment, the gap is greater than 10 inches.
While the illustrates shears assembly 10 includes two sets of laterally spaces shearing blades, additional sets of laterally spaced shearing blades could additionally be provided to further process the material during each stroke of the shears assembly 10.
A raking tine 200 mounts to the lower jaw 30. When processing material such as rebar, the raking tine 200 enables a machine operator to quickly switch between positioning/arranging/moving processed material and shearing such processed material.
The illustrated shears assembly 10 is well suited to process rebar. However, the shears assembly 10 may additionally or alternatively be used to process any other type of material (e.g., scrap metal, concrete, ferrous cable, non-ferrous cable, etc.) without deviating from the scope of the present invention.
The foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. To the contrary, those skilled in the art should appreciate that varieties may be constructed and employed without departing from the scope of the invention, aspects of which are recited by the claims appended hereto.