Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards apparatuses for operating a work tool of a machine. The apparatus comprises a cylinder and a piston comprising a piston head, the piston head being mounted in the cylinder such that the piston is moveable relative to the cylinder. The apparatus comprises a gas spring arrangement for biasing the piston head away from the first cylinder end. The gas spring arrangement comprises a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber having a variable volume based upon the position of the piston head in the cylinder. A gas connection arrangement fluidly connects the first gas chamber to the second gas chamber and is configured to enable gas to flow between the first and second gas chambers if the piston moves relative to the cylinder. The disclosure is further directed towards methods of operating a machine comprising a work tool.

Abstract: A liner assembly including a wedge including a slot and a receiving channel, the wedge configured to be mounted to a wall of a work implement by filling the slot of the wedge with a weld; and a liner plate including an engaging channel complementary to the receiving channel of the wedge and configured to form a wedge-plate interface connecting the liner plate to the wedge, wherein a length of the liner plate is less than a length of the wedge, and wherein a width of the liner plate perpendicular to the length of the liner plate is greater than a width of the wedge perpendicular to the length of the wedge.

Abstract: A system for underwater payload estimation in a dragline bucket of a dragline machine includes a sensing module disposed on the dragline bucket. The sensing module is configured to generate a plurality of signals indicative of a distance value between the sensing module and payload in the dragline bucket. The system includes a controller including at least one memory and at least one processor communicably coupled with the at least one memory and the sensing module. The at least one processor is configured to receive, from the sensing module, the plurality of signals indicative of the distance value between the sensing module and the payload in the dragline bucket, when the dragline bucket is underwater. The at least one processor is configured to estimate a volume of the payload in the dragline bucket when the dragline bucket is underwater, based on the plurality of signals received.

Abstract: A torque control apparatus of a work machine is constructed to control motion of a work tool relative to a swing body of the work machine through a hydraulic system thereof. The control apparatus includes a pose sensor constructed to generate orientation data indicating an orientation of the work machine relative to the undercarriage thereof. A hydraulic flow control component is constructed to generate torque magnitude data corresponding to the orientation data. A machine control component is constructed to generate hydraulic flow rate change data corresponding to the torque magnitude data. A variable flow rate pump is constructed to impel a flow rate in the hydraulic system corresponding to the hydraulic flow rate change rate data.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for a bucket of a work machine includes a bracket adapted to be removably coupled with the bucket at any one of a plurality of hitch locations. The bracket defines a first bracket end and a second bracket end. The bracket is adapted to be coupled with a drag chain proximal to the first bracket end. The hitch assembly also includes one or more first mechanical fasteners adapted to removably couple the bracket with the bucket. The hitch assembly further includes a second mechanical fastener adapted to be coupled with each of the bucket and the bracket proximal to the second bracket end. Based on a removal of the one or more first mechanical fasteners from the bucket and the bracket, the bracket and the second mechanical fastener rotate relative to the bucket for disposing the bracket at any one of the plurality of hitch locations.

Abstract: A pivoting connection between a bucket and a padlock of a rope shovel, a pin assembly, and a rope shovel are disclosed. A pivoting connection includes a pin having a pin axis and extending through a bucket lug of the bucket and a pair of padlock lugs of the padlock; a flag having a pin end and a mounting end; a locking coupling coaxial with the pin axis and located in the pin end of the flag, wherein the locking coupling selectively couples the flag to the pin; and a slotted flag mount attached to the bucket including a vertical slot and a horizontal slot parallel to the pin axis; wherein the mounting end of the flag is received by the slotted flag mount such that the pin is constrained from rotating with respect to the bucket and from translating along the pin axis.

Abstract: A shut off valve for a hydraulic system is provided. The shut off valve comprises a wall of a hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic fluid outlet, a valve seat, a valve plate, a valve arm, and a valve control shaft. The hydraulic reservoir is for holding hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid outlet is formed through the wall. The valve seat is provided on an inner surface of the wall encircling the hydraulic fluid outlet. The valve seat has an engagement surface. The valve plate is shaped to engage with the engagement surface of the valve seat. The valve arm is connected between the valve plate and the valve control shaft. The valve control shaft is formed through the wall spaced apart from the hydraulic fluid outlet. The valve plate is configured to rotate about the valve control shaft between a first position in which the valve plate does not cover the valve seat, and a second position in which the valve plate covers the valve seat to shut off the hydraulic fluid outlet.

Abstract: A dragline bucket can comprise a bottom wall; a first sidewall defining a first upper edge; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall defining a second upper edge; a first forward-facing projection on a first side of the dragline bucket; a second forward-facing projection on a second side of the dragline bucket opposite the first side; a lip assembly at a front of the bottom wall; and an arm extending from the first side to the second side of the dragline bucket, a distal end of the arm being at a height greater than a height of respective first and second upper edges of the first and second sidewalls. In a side elevational view of the dragline bucket, the arm is tilted away from the rear wall at an angle relative to vertical.

Abstract: A dragline bucket can comprise a bottom wall; a first sidewall defining a first upper edge; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall defining a second upper edge; a first forward-facing projection on a first side of the dragline bucket; a second forward-facing projection on a second side of the dragline bucket opposite the first side; a lip assembly at a front of the bottom wall; and an arm extending from the first side to the second side of the dragline bucket, a distal end of the arm being at a height greater than a height of respective first and second upper edges of the first and second sidewalls. In a side elevational view of the dragline bucket, the arm is tilted away from the rear wall at an angle of from 17.5 to 22.5 degrees relative to a vertical plane extending through a forward-most edge of the arm.

Abstract: A flow limiter for a cut-off valve of a hydraulic pumping system and a hydraulic system using such a flow limiter. The flow limiter provides for limiting a flow through a cut-off valve. The flow limiter for a cut-off valve of a hydraulic pumping system includes a valve body with a hollow channel. The hollow channel has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with a discharge line of the cut-off valve in a mounted state of the flow limiter. A valve element is slidably arranged within the channel and can transition from a first position towards a second position, if a predefined fluid pressure threshold is exceeded at the fluid inlet. The valve element is arranged in the hollow channel so that in the second position a fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is larger than in the first position.

Abstract: A liner assembly for protecting a sidewall of a work implement associated with a work machine. The liner assembly includes a wedge, a wedge-plate interface, a liner plate, and a weld. The wedge comprising a receiving channel configured to support the liner plate and a slot for filling the weld to secure the wedge to the sidewall. The liner plate includes an engaging channel complementary to the receiving channel to form the wedge-plate interface which supports the liner plates on the wedge. The weld is further provided along the perimeter and gaps of the liner plates to secure the liner plate to the sidewall of the work implement.

Abstract: A yoke of a dipper handle comprises a collar and a crowd pin aperture extending along a crowd pin aperture axis. First and second arms of the yoke include dipper pin lug apertures aligned along a dipper pin aperture axis parallel to the crowd pin aperture axis. The first and second arms of the yoke further include first and second pitch brace lug apertures aligned along a pitch brace aperture axis parallel to the crowd pin aperture axis. A first virtual reference line extends between the crowd pin aperture axis and the dipper pin aperture axis, while a second virtual reference line extends between the crowd pin aperture axis and the pitch brace aperture axis. An included angle ? between the first virtual reference line and the second virtual reference line is between approximately 25 to approximately 51 degrees.

Abstract: A liner assembly for a work implement is adapted to be coupled to a body of the work implement. The liner assembly includes a plurality of liners coupled to the body of the work implement. Each of the plurality of liners includes a base plate. The base plate defines a first surface adapted to contact material present in the work implement. The base plate also defines a second surface adapted to contact the body of the work implement. The base plate further defines a plurality of grooves extending between the first surface and the second surface. Each of the plurality of grooves defines a first maximum length between two ends thereof. Each of the plurality of grooves is adapted to receive welding material to couple a corresponding liner with the body of the work implement.

Abstract: A dragline bucket can comprise: a bottom wall; a first sidewall portion extending from the bottom wall and defining a first upper edge portion; a second sidewall portion extending from the bottom wall and defining a second upper edge portion; a lip assembly at a front side of the bottom wall; an arm having a base portion, a first extension extending from the base portion to the first sidewall portion, and a second extension extending from the base portion to the second sidewall portion, the first and second extensions each having a connection interface, and the base portion having an upper surface that is planar; and a dump anchor fixedly coupled to the upper surface of the base portion of the arm.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a driveshaft that facilitates a swinging movement of a frame of a dragline with respect to a base of the dragline. The bearing assembly includes a housing, a spherical bearing, and a thrust bearing. The housing is fixedly engageable with the frame and defines a cavity to provide rotatable passage to the driveshaft therethrough. The spherical bearing is engageable with each of the housing and the driveshaft for journaling the driveshaft in the cavity and facilitating a rotation of the driveshaft about a longitudinal axis and an angulation of the driveshaft with respect to a reference axis. The thrust bearing is configured to be supported against each of the driveshaft and the housing to accommodate the angulation of the driveshaft and an axial load passing along the longitudinal axis away from the spherical bearing onto either of the housing or the frame.

Abstract: A dipper of a work machine includes a body having a plurality of walls, a rear door, a bowl and a liner. The bowl may have a lattice framework. The liner may be formed from a plurality of plates, with each plate having a top surface that contacts material present in the dipper, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. Each plate may be welded to the lattice frame from the bottom surface of the plate.

Abstract: A cam frame assembly for a walking system includes a plurality of frame components. The frame components include an upper frame, a lower frame, a front guide frame, and a rear guide frame. At least one of the frame components includes a replaceable wear surface. The replaceable wear surface is an insert retained within a notch in the frame component.

Abstract: A track slider mounting plate kit includes a first shark fin configured mounting plate including a first bottom mounting surface, a first beveled surface extending from the first bottom mounting surface, and a second beveled surface that extends from the first beveled surface, forming a first oblique angle with the second beveled surface. A track slider is attached to the first shark fin configured mounting plate that has a top surface extending from the rear surface toward the front surface defining a top surface radius of curvature ranging from 2200 mm to 2600 mm.

Abstract: A dipper for a work machine is disclosed. The dipper may have a front cavity wall forming an inlet which defines a vertical inlet plane, a rear cavity wall opposite the front cavity wall forming an outlet which defines an outlet plane, a top cavity wall extending between front and rear cavity walls defining a horizontal top plane, a bottom cavity wall opposite the top cavity wall defining a bottom plane, and two side cavity walls. The two side cavity walls may further extend between the front and rear cavity wall. The outlet plane may be angled relative to the inlet plane, the bottom plane may be angled relative to the top plane, and the outlet plane is perpendicular to the bottom plane.

Abstract: A flow limiter for a cut-off valve of a hydraulic pumping system and a hydraulic system using such a flow limiter. The flow limiter provides for limiting a flow through a cut-off valve. The flow limiter for a cut-off valve of a hydraulic pumping system includes a valve body with a hollow channel. The hollow channel has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with a discharge line of the cut-off valve in a mounted state of the flow limiter. A valve element is slidably arranged within the channel and can transition from a first position towards a second position, if a predefined fluid pressure threshold is exceeded at the fluid inlet. The valve element is arranged in the hollow channel so that in the second position a fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is larger than in the first position.