Patent Application
20240229856
The present disclosure relates to fastening a structure to a machine, such as an off-highway truck, an excavator, a bulldozer, or the like. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tethering system for tethering hardware, such as bolts, nuts, washers and/or the like, to the structure being fastened to the machine.
Earth moving machines, such as articulated trucks, include multiple arrangements, such as radiator fan arrangements, and the like. A structure, such as a guard panel, may be generally applied to shield such arrangements from direct access (e.g., direct operator access). Typically, such a structure, as applied, is coupled or fastened to a machine portion via hardware that may include a number of components, such as fasteners and washers. Gathering such hardware together during assembling or disassembling of the structure is a challenging and time-consuming task, particularly if there are multiple fastening points on the structure and/or if the structure is relatively large. During assembling or disassembling the structure, if one or more of the fasteners and/or washers is lost or misplaced, reassembling and returning the structure to its original state on the machine portion becomes challenging, particularly at site locations where the surroundings are unclean and/or unorganized. Furthermore, during assembly of the structure on the machine, especially during machine manufacture, there may be assembly mechanisms with moving parts that may be damaged by contact with the structure hardware and/or may be dangerous to an assembler seeking such hardware during the assembly process.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,142,124 discloses a captive fastening system. The captive fastening system includes a bolt, a lock washer, a flat washer, a retainer, and a nut. The bolt includes a head, a threaded portion, and a shank extending therebetween. The head includes a circumferential groove configured to receive a snap-ring. An aperture extends through the snap-ring that is configured to receive a first end of a lanyard. In addition, a second end of the lanyard is coupled to a structure to which the bolt is to be retained.
In one aspect, the disclosure is directed to a system for fastening a structure to a portion of a machine. The system includes a fastener, a washer piece, and a flexible tether. The fastener defines a head portion and a shank portion. The shank portion defines a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion. The unthreaded portion extends between the head portion and the threaded portion. The washer piece is disposed around the unthreaded portion and is retained between the head portion and the threaded portion of the shank portion. The flexible tether includes a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled with the washer piece and the second end includes a retention member for securing the flexible tether to the structure.
In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a guard assembly for a machine. The guard assembly includes a structure defining an engagement portion. Also, the guard assembly includes a system for fastening the structure to a portion of the machine. The system includes a fastener, a washer piece, and a flexible tether. The fastener defines a head portion and a shank portion. The shank portion defines a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion. The unthreaded portion extends between the head portion and the threaded portion. The washer piece is disposed around the unthreaded portion and is retained between the head portion and the threaded portion of the shank portion. The flexible tether includes a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled with the washer piece and the second end includes a retention member for securing the flexible tether to the structure.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure relates to a machine. The machine includes a portion at least partially surrounding an arrangement. Also, the machine includes a guard assembly having a structure defining an engagement portion, and a system for fastening the structure to the portion of the machine. The system includes a fastener, a washer piece, and a flexible tether. The fastener defines a head portion and a shank portion. The shank portion defines a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion. The unthreaded portion extends between the head portion and the threaded portion. The washer piece is disposed around the unthreaded portion and is retained between the head portion and the threaded portion of the shank portion. The flexible tether includes a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled with the washer piece and the second end includes a retention member for securing the flexible tether to the structure.
Machines, such as large trucks, off-road trucks, bulldozers, excavators, tracked vehicles and/or the like, often comprise large/bulky structures, such as guards or the like, that are fastened to the vehicle to cover components, such as parts of the machine's engine, the machine's fan system, the machine's hydraulics, etc. These bulky structures must be attached to the machine during assembly and disassembled and re-assembled during machine maintenance. Machine assembly and/or machine maintenance may occur in conditions where loose hardware associated with the structures may be dangerous and handling of the loose hardware may be problematic and/or inefficient.
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.
Referring to
As shown in
The frame 108 may be a two-piece frame having a front frame portion 120 and a rear frame portion 120′ coupled to the front frame portion 120. The front frame portion 120 may accommodate and/or support the propulsion system 112, the operator cabin 116, and the radiator housing 118, although other known components and structures may be supported by the front frame portion 120, as well. The rear frame portion 120′ may support the dump body 114 of the machine 100.
The ground-engaging members 110 may support the frame 108 on ground at the worksite 102. The ground-engaging members 110 may include a set of front wheels 122 and a set of rear wheels 124. The set of front wheels 122 supports the front frame portion 120, and the set of rear wheels 124 supports the rear frame portion 120′. In some embodiments, the ground-engaging members 110 may include crawler tracks (not shown) provided either alone or in combination with the wheels 122, 124. The front wheels 122 and the rear wheels 124 may be powered by the propulsion system 112 to propel and transport the machine 100 across an expanse of the worksite 102, according to any customary practice known in the art. As an example, a payload received in the dump body 114 may be transported from one location at the worksite 102 to another location at the worksite 102.
The propulsion system 112 may include a power compartment 112′ and a power source (not shown), such as an internal combustion engine, provided within the power compartment 112′. The power source may be configured to power operations of various systems on the machine 100, typically by combusting fuel. Optionally, the propulsion system 112 may also include an electrical power source, applicable either alone or in combination with the internal combustion engine.
The operator cabin 116 may be supported over the frame 108 (e.g., on the front frame portion 120). The operator cabin 116 may facilitate stationing of one or more operators therein, to monitor the operations of the machine 100. Also, the operator cabin 116 may house various components and controls of the machine 100, access to one or more of which may help the operators to control the machine's movement and/or operation. For example, the various components and controls of the machine 100 may include one or more steering wheels, touch screens, display devices, joysticks, switches etc., to facilitate an operator in operating the machine 100 and the dump body 114.
Referring to
The radiator housing 118 (or the machine 100) defines an entrance 140 to access the arrangement 130 (or the radiator fan arrangement 132) within the housing chamber 126. A peripheral edge 142 of the radiator housing 118 is defined around the entrance 140 and defines a portion 144 of the radiator housing 118. As shown in
Referring to
The structure 200 is configured to be coupled to the portion 144 of the radiator housing 118 (or the machine 100) to guard or shield the radiator fan arrangement 132 from the outside of the machine 100. To this end, the structure 200 may include or may embody a guard panel 210 that defines an edge 212. When coupling the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210) to the portion 144 or the peripheral edge 142, the edge 212 sits against the portion 144 or the peripheral edge 142 of the radiator housing 118 to be fastened thereof. In that manner, the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210) may close the entrance 140 of the radiator housing 118 to block the housing chamber 126 from any outside access (e.g., direct operator access) to the radiator fan arrangement 132.
The structure 200 (or the guard panel 210) defines an outer surface 214 and an inner surface 216 opposite to the outer surface 214 (also see
The engagement portion 222 includes a slot 224. The slot 224 extends between the outer surface 214 and the inner surface 216 of the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210). The engagement portion 222 (or the slot 224) is defined near the hole 230 of the fastener receptacle 220. In the present embodiment, four engagement portions or slots, such as the engagement portion 222 or the slot 224, are defined on the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210). The remaining engagement portions or the slots are similar to the engagement portion 222 or the slot 224 in construction and configuration, and hence will not be discussed. Further, higher or lesser number of engagement portions or slots may be provided on the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210), and may correspond or may be equal with the number of mounting structures provided at the portion 144 of the machine 100.
Referring to
The fastener 502 defines a head portion 508 and a shank portion 510. The head portion 508 defines a bottom surface 512. The head portion 508 may include one of a hexagonal head portion or a circular profile. The shank portion 510 defines a threaded portion 514 and an unthreaded portion 516. The unthreaded portion 516 extends between the head portion 508 and the threaded portion 514. In the present embodiment, a diameter of the unthreaded portion 516 is less than an outer diameter of the threaded portion 514. Moreover, a cross-sectional area defined by the unthreaded portion 516 may be lesser than an area defined by the bottom surface 512 of the head portion 508. Alternatively, if the head portion 508 includes a circular profile, a diameter of the unthreaded portion 516 may be lesser than a diameter of the head portion 508.
The washer piece 504 defines an opening 520 and an aperture 522. The opening 520 is configured to receive the unthreaded portion 516 of the fastener 502. In this regard, the opening 520 defines a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the unthreaded portion 516. Also, the diameter of the opening 520 is less than a diameter (e.g., the outer diameter) of the threaded portion 514. In that manner, the opening 520 allows a passage of the unthreaded portion 516 of the shank portion 510 therethrough but restricts the passage of the threaded portion 514 or the head portion 508 therethrough. In some embodiments, an area defined by the opening 520 may be smaller than the area defined by the bottom surface 512 of the head portion 508. Alternatively, if the head portion 508 includes a circular profile, the diameter of the opening 520 may be less than a size (e.g., diameter) of the head portion 508 to restrict a passage of the head portion 508 through the opening 520. Further, the washer piece 504 is rotatably disposed around the unthreaded portion 516. In that manner, the washer piece 504 may move or rotate freely with respect to the unthreaded portion 516.
Further, the washer piece 504 may define a washer portion 524 and a protruded portion 526. The washer portion 524 may define a planar annular body 524′ defining an inner periphery 528 and an outer periphery 528″. The planar annular body 524′ extends along a plane, P, from the inner periphery 528 to the outer periphery 528′. The washer portion 524 may be configured to abut against the bottom surface 512 of the head portion 508. The protruded portion 526 may extend angularly away from the washer portion 524 (e.g., from the outer periphery 528′) with respect to the plane, P, defined by the washer portion 524. As shown in
With regard to an exemplary assembly process of the washer piece 504 between the head portion 508 and the threaded portion 514, the shank portion 510 (with an unformed threaded portion 514) may be first inserted into the opening 520 of the washer piece 504. Once the washer piece 504 is disposed and/or placed around the shank portion 510, the threaded portion 514 may be formed on the shank portion 510, e.g., by a roll threading process or other known thread formation processes. Exemplarily, such a process may start from an end 532 of the shank portion 510 and may move towards the head portion 508 to form the threaded portion 514, up until a point where the threaded portion 514 is required on the shank portion 510. The threaded portion 514, once formed, may include an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the unthreaded portion 516 and which may also be greater than the diameter of the opening 520 of the washer piece 504. In that manner, the washer piece 504 may be prevented from slipping out of the shank portion 510 and may thus be retained between the head portion 508 and the threaded portion 514. In some cases, additional washer pieces or conventional washers may be disposed and retained between the head portion 508 and the threaded portion 514 along with the washer piece 504.
Details related to the flexible tether 506 shall now be discussed. The flexible tether 506 may include an elongated string 540 having a first end 544 and a second end 546. The flexible tether 506 may be able to accommodate flexures along its length such that one portion of the flexible tether 506 may be bent or twisted freely (e.g., with minimum restriction) with respect to the other portion of the flexible tether 506. In some cases, the flexible tether 506 may be formed from multiple loops (e.g., of metallic or non-metallic material) that are inter engaged sequentially, one after the other, forming a single elongated flexible chain of loops, while, in other embodiments, the flexible tether 506 may take the form of a rope or a lanyard.
With regard to the first end 544 of the flexible tether 506, the first end 544 is coupled or engaged with the washer piece 504. In this regard, the flexible tether 506 may include a loop 548 at the first end 544 that passes through the aperture 522 of the washer piece 504 to engage the flexible tether 506 with the washer piece 504. In some embodiment, the loop 548 may be formed by passing the first end 544 of the flexible tether 506 through the aperture 522 and then coupling the first end 544 with a remaining portion of the flexible tether 506.
With regard to the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506, at the time of an assembly of the system 202 with the structure 200, the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506 may be inserted and be passed through the engagement portion 222 (or the slot 224), so as to move across from the outer surface 214 and towards and beyond the inner surface 216 of the structure 200. Aspects related to the use of the second end 546 is discussed further below.
The second end 546 of the flexible tether 506 includes a retention member 542. The retention member 542 may be configured to be coupled to the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506 (e.g., once the second end 546 is passed through the engagement portion 222 or the slot 224). In this regard, the retention member 542 may include a body 550 defining a stem 552 and an enlarged portion 554—the term ‘enlarged’ as used for the enlarged portion 554 may mean to include a surface 556 on the enlarged portion that is large enough to prevent its passage through the slot 224, or that the surface 556 has a size greater than a cross-sectional area of the slot 224 to keep the retention member 542 from passing through the slot 224. The stem 552 may be coupled to the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506 to couple the retention member 542 with the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506. For example, the stem 552 of the retention member 542 may be fused or crimped with the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506 through a suitable swaging operation—e.g., by use of a crimping or a swaging tool. In other embodiments, any other suitable coupling operation, welding, or brazing, or one that may help attain an interference fit between the stem 552 and the second end 546, as known in the art, may be utilized to couple the stem 552 with the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506.
With the second end 546 passed through the engagement portion 222 (or the slot 224) and the retention member 542 coupled to the second end 546, the retention member 542 is configured to cooperate with the engagement portion 222 (or the slot 224) of the structure 200, to secure the flexible tether 506 from being withdrawn from the structure 200. For example, once the second end 546 of the flexible tether 506 is passed through the engagement portion 222 (in a direction from the outer surface 214 towards the inner surface 216 of the structure 200) and is coupled to the retention member 542, the surface 556 of the retention member 542 may abut and interfere against the engagement portion 222 (or the slot) thereby disallowing the retention member 542 from passing through the slot 224, and in turn securing the flexible tether 506 from being withdrawn from the structure 200.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Structures, such as the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210), are generally applied to shield arrangements, such as the radiator fan arrangement 132 installed on the machine 100, from direct access (e.g., direct operator access). During assembling or disassembling the structure 200, loss, or misplacement of the hardware, or at least one fastener and/or washer, may make placing the structure 200 against the portion 144 of the machine 100 difficult. Even if the remaining hardware, or fasteners and washers, are used to fasten the structure 200, certain sections of the structure 200 may still attain an improper fit against the portion 144 of the machine 100. Such sections may bend and/or break away from the remaining section of the structure 200 over prolonged cycles of machine use if the lost hardware or fastener or washer is not replaced with a new one. The present disclosure provides the system 202, 602, 702, and 802, that is prevented from being lost or misplaced from the structure 200.
An exemplary method of assembling the system 202 of
The guard assembly 128, having the structure 200 and the system 202, 802, retained thereto, is thus formed. Thereafter, the operator may bring forth the guard assembly 128 towards the portion 144 of the machine 100, such that the edge 212 of the structure 200 is seated against the portion 144 (or the peripheral edge 142) of the radiator housing 118, and the hole 230 defined at the structure 200 is aligned with the corresponding mounting hole 152 of the portion 144 of the machine 100. Once the structure 200 is placed at the portion 144, the operator inserts and drives the fastener 502 through the fastener receptacle 220 into the corresponding hole 230, and further into the corresponding mounting hole 152 by way of a suitable tool. Next, the fastener 502 is tightened by applying torque, to appropriately fasten and secure the structure 200 to the portion 144 of the machine 100.
An exemplary method of assembling the system 602 of
In the case of the system 202, system 602, and system 802, the washer piece 504 or the washer piece 804 may be freely and rotatably disposed around the unthreaded portion 516 of the fastener 502. This prevents undue coiling and twisting of the flexible tether 506 over and against the fastener 502. Further, an exemplary method of assembling the system 702 of
The above-described system 202, 602, 702, or 802, for fastening the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210) to the portion 144 of the machine 100 is formed of easily available components, is cost-effective, and is highly reliable. Utilizing the system 202, 602, 702, or 802, may mitigate a risk of loss or misplacement of either a specific component or the whole system when the structure 200 is assembled or disassembled from the portion 144 of the machine 100.
Although the concepts of the present disclosure are discussed in the context of the structure 200 (or the guard panel 210) that blocks access to the radiator fan arrangement 132 of the machine 100, the system 202, 602, 702, and 802, may be suitably applied to fasten any part on any machine. Further, it may be noted that one or more components of one system, as discussed herein, may be combinedly and suitably used with one or more components of another system, as discussed herein.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the system of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalent.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2105033.1 | Apr 2021 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/025129 | 4/1/2022 | WO |
