WING SHROUD RETENTION SYSTEM FOR A BUCKET OF A MACHINE

Abstract

A retention system for retaining a wing shroud on a side plate of a bucket is provided. The retention system includes a tube member, a number of washers, and a fastener member. The tube member is positioned within a plurality of openings defined in the wing shroud and the side plate, such that the side plate is arranged within a slot in the wing shroud. The washers coaxially disposes at opposing ends of the tube member and are in abutment with the wing shroud. Inner diameter of the washers is smaller than outer diameter of the tube member. Outer diameter of the washers is greater than inner diameter of the openings in the wing shroud. The fastener member extends through the washers and the tube member, to engage with a nut. Thereby, the washers, the nut, and the fastener member restricts a linear motion of the tube member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a retention system for retention of a wear assembly on a work implement. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the retention system for retention of a wing shroud on a side plate of a bucket of an earth-moving machine.

BACKGROUND

Earth-moving machines, such as excavators, are commonly known to employ a work implement for performing various operations. For example, an excavator generally employs a bucket to perform excavation. The bucket typically includes two side plates, one on either side of the bucket. The side plates are subject to abrasion and impact, which may cause the side plates to wearout quickly. To prolong a work life of the side plates, a replaceable wing shroud is installed on each side plate of the bucket. The wing shroud comprises of a ‘U’ shaped cross-section. The wing shroud is installed and retained on the side plate, via a retention system.

Conventionally, the retention system includes two snap rings and a central pin. The central pin includes two grooves provided at opposing ends to engage with the snap rings. The snap rings are typically positioned in grooves provided at either ends of a first opening in the side plate. The wing shroud is positioned to overlap the side plate, such that a second opening and a third opening of the wing shroud are axially aligned with the first opening of the side plate. The central pin is passed through the two snap rings. Such installation requires a hammer to push the central pin past the snap rings, and to sequentially pass the central pin through each of the second opening, the first opening, and the third opening. Hammering the central pin into the snap rings may require additional operator effort, which makes it cumbersome for the operator to install the wing shroud on the side plate.

US Patent Publication 20160115674 discloses a retention system for connecting a replaceable tool (wing shroud) to a work implement (bucket). The retention system includes a cylindrical pin, a first fastener, and a second fastener. Although, the retention system avoids hammering of the cylindrical pin, in order to connect the replaceable tool to the work implement, it may require the use of special fasteners to retain the wing shroud on the side plate of the bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present disclosure describe a retention system for retaining a wing shroud on a side plate of a bucket of a machine. The retention system includes a tube member, a number of washers, a nut, a fastener member, and a number of bolt protectors. The tube member is coaxially positioned within a plurality of openings defined in the wing shroud and the side plate, such that the side plate is arranged within a slot provided in the wing shroud. The washers are disposed coaxially at opposing ends of the tube member, such that the washers are in abutment with the wing shroud. An inner diameter of the washers is smaller than an outer diameter of the tube member. An outer diameter of the washers is greater than an inner diameter of the openings in the wing shroud. The fastener member is extended through the washers and the tube member, to engage with a nut. The washers, the nut, and the fastener member restricts a linear motion of the tube member along a longitudinal axis. The bolt protectors are further attached to opposing external surfaces of the wing shroud. The bolt protectors are adapted to house the washers, a portion of the fastener member, the second washer, and the nut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bucket of a machine, illustrating two wing shrouds installed on two side plates of the bucket, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bucket of FIG. 1, illustrating an assembly of a first side plate, a first wing shroud, and two retaining systems, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the bucket of FIG. 1 taken along a section 3-3′, illustrating the assembly between the first side plate, the first wing shroud, and one of the two retention systems of the bucket, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion of the bucket of FIG. 1 taken along a section 3-3′, illustrating structure and arrangement of a washer of the retention system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary bucket 10 of an earth-moving machine (not shown) is shown. The bucket 10 performs digging operations on a work surface (not shown). Although, concepts of the present disclosure are described as applied to the bucket 10, applicability to various other work implements may also be contemplated. Examples of the work implements include, but is not limited to, a shovel, a dragline, a blade, and a dozer.

The bucket 10 includes a first side plate 12, a second side plate 14, and a shell plate 16 disposed between the first side plate 12 and the second side plate 14. The first side plate 12 and the second side plate 14 are vertical plates disposed on either sides of the bucket 10. Each of the first side plate 12 and the second side plate 14 defines two first openings 18 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), proximal to a work-facing surface 20 of each of the first side plate 12 and the second side plate 14. The shell plate 16 is a C-shaped curved plate extending between the first side plate 12 and the second side plate 14. The shell plate 16 supports a number of equally spaced ground engaging tools 22, which perform excavation on the work surface (not shown). Moreover, the first side plate 12, the second side plate 14, and the shell plate 16, in conjunction, define an enclosed space 24. The enclosed space 24 retains excavated work material, during excavation of the work surface (not shown). Furthermore, the bucket 10 employs two wing shrouds 26, 28, namely a first wing shroud 26 and a second wing shroud 28. The first wing shroud 26 and the second wing shroud 28 cover a portion of the first side plate 12 and the second side plate 14, respectively. For ease in reference and understanding, structure and arrangement of the first wing shroud 26 relative to the first side plate 12, will be described hereinafter. Similar structure and arrangement of the second wing shroud 28 relative to the second side plate 14 may also be contemplated.

Referring to FIG. 2, an assembly 30 of the first side plate 12, the first wing shroud 26, and two retention systems 32, is shown. The first wing shroud 26 is a U-shaped member that includes a first portion 36, a second portion 38, and a slot 40 (shown in FIG. 3) between the first portion 36 and the second portion 38. The first portion 36 of the first wing shroud 26 includes two second openings 42 (shown in FIG. 3). Similarly, the second portion 38 of the first wing shroud 26 includes two third openings 44. The third openings 44 of the second portion 38 are axially aligned with the second openings 42 (shown in FIG. 3) of the first portion 36. Additionally, the first wing shroud 26 is positioned on the first side plate 12, such that the first side plate 12 is positioned in the slot 40 of the first wing shroud 26. In such arrangement, the second openings 42 (shown in FIG. 3) of the first portion 36 and the third openings 44 of the second portion 38 axially aligns with the first openings 18 of the first side plate 12.

Moreover, the retention systems 32 are provided to retain the first wing shroud 26 to the first side plate 12. More specifically, one retention system 32 generally extends through one of the second openings 42 (shown in FIG. 3) of the first portion 36, one of the first openings 18 of the first side plate 12, and one of the third openings 44 of the second portion 38. Another retention system 32 extends through other of the second openings 42 (shown in FIG. 3) of the first portion 36, other of the first openings 18 of the first side plate 12, and other of the third openings 44 of the second portion 38. For ease in reference and understanding, structure and arrangement of a singular retention system 32 relative to the first side plate 12 and the first wing shroud 26, will be describe in details hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the retention system 32 retains the first wing shroud 26 to the first side plate 12. The retention system 32 includes a tube member 46, a first washer 48, a second washer 50, a nut 52, a fastener member 54, a first bolt protector 56, and a second bolt protector 58.

The tube member 46 is an elongated member that includes a first end 60 and a second end 62. The tube member 46 is coaxially positioned within each of the third opening 44 of the second portion 38 of the first wing shroud 26, the first opening 18 of the first side plate 12, and the second opening 42 of the first portion 36 of the first wing shroud 26, along a longitudinal axis X-X′. More specifically, the first end 60 of the tube member 46 flushes with a first exterior surface 64 of the first portion 36. The second end 62 of the tube member 46 flushes with a second exterior surface 66 of the second portion 38.

The first washer 48 is disposed in abutment with the first end 60 of the tube member 46. The first washer 48 extends radially to abut with the first exterior surface 64 of the first portion 36 of the first wing shroud 26. As is shown in FIG. 4, an inner diameter, I of the first washer 48 is relatively smaller than an outer diameter, OT of the tube member 46. Also, an outer diameter, O, of the first washer 48 is relatively greater than an inner diameter, IG of the second opening 42 in the first portion 36 of the first wing shroud 26. Therefore, the first washer 48 abuts with the first end 60 of the tube member 46 and the first portion 36 of the first wing shroud 26.

The second washer 50 is disposed in abutment with the second end 62 of the tube member 46. The second washer 50 extends radially to abut with the second portion 38 of the first wing shroud 26. Structure and arrangement of the second washer 50 is similar to the first washer 48. Therefore, the second washer 50 abuts with the second end 62 of the tube member 46 and the second portion 38 of the first wing shroud 26.

The nut 52 is disposed in abutment with the second washer 50, proximal to the second end 62 of the tube member 46. The nut 52 is axially aligned with the second washer 50, along the longitudinal axis X-X′.

The fastener member 54 is extended through the first washer 48, the tube member 46, and the second washer 50, to engage with the nut 52. Therefore, the first washer 48, the second washer 50, the nut 52, and the fastener member 54 of the retention system 32 restricts a linear motion of the tube member 46, along the longitudinal axis X-X′.

In an embodiment, the first bolt protector 56 is fixedly attached to the first exterior surface 64 of the first portion 36 of the first wing shroud 26. The first bolt protector 56 houses the first washer 48 and a portion of the fastener member 54 of the retention system 32.

The second bolt protector 58 is fixedly attached to the second exterior surface 66 of the second portion 38 of the first wing shroud 26. The second bolt protector 58 houses and protects the second washer 50 and the nut 52 of the retention system 32.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In operation, the first wing shroud 26 and the second wing shroud 28 are required to be installed on the first side plate 12 and the second side plate 14, respectively of the bucket 10. For ease in reference and understanding, installation of the first wing shroud 26 on the first side plate 12 will be described in details hereinafter. However, similar installation of the second wing shroud 28 on the second side plate 14 may also be contemplated. To perform such installation, the first wing shroud 26 is initially positioned on the first side plate 12, such that the first side plate 12 is positioned in the slot 40 of the first wing shroud 26. More specifically, the first wing shroud 26 is positioned on the first side plate 12, such that the second openings 42 and the third openings 44 of the first wing shroud 26 are axially aligned with the first openings 18 of the first side plate 12. Thereafter, two retention systems 32 retains the first wing shroud 26 to the first side plate 12. For ease in reference and understanding, structure and arrangement of a singular retention system 32 will be discussed in details.

In order to retain the first wing shroud 26 to the first side plate 12, the tube member 46 is initially pushed through each of the first opening 18 of the first side plate 12 and the second opening 42 and the third opening 44 of the first wing shroud 26. With such arrangement, the first end 60 of the tube member 46 flushes with the first exterior surface 64 of the first portion 36. Additionally, the second end 62 of the tube member 46 flushes with the second exterior surface 66 of the second portion 38. Thereafter, the first washer 48 is assembled with the fastener member 54. The second washer 50 is then positioned in abutment with the second end 62 of the tube member 46 and the second exterior surface 66 of the second portion 38. The nut 52 is further positioned in abutment with the second washer 50. Thereafter, the assembly of the fastener member 54 and the first washer 48 is extended through the tube member 46 and the second washer 50, to engage with the nut 52. With such arrangement, the first washer 48 is positioned in abutment with the first exterior surface 64 of the first portion 36 of the first wing shroud 26. Therefore, the first wing shroud 26 is attached to the first side plate 12. The first bolt protector 56 and the second bolt protector 58 are then attached to the first portion 36 and the second portion 38, respectively of the first wing shroud 26. The first bolt protector 56 and the second bolt protector 58, in conjunction, protects the first washer 48, the second washer 50, the nut 52, and a portion of the fastener member 54. Installation with such retention system 32 eliminates hammering of the tube member 46. Therefore, such retention system 32 facilitates relatively easy installation of the first wing shroud 26 on the first side plate 12.

Furthermore, the inner diameter, I of the first washer 48 and the second washer 50 is relatively smaller than the outer diameter, OT of the tube member 46. Additionally, the outer diameter, O of the first washer 48 and the second washer 50 is relatively greater than the inner diameter, IG of the second opening 42 and the third opening 44. Therefore, the first washer 48 and the second washer 50, in conjunction with the nut 52 and the fastener member 54 restricts a linear movement of the tube member 46. This corresponds to efficient installation of the first wing shroud 26 on the first side plate 12 of the bucket 10. Ease in installation of the first wing shroud 26 on the first side plate 12 reduces downtime of the machine (not shown). This further reduces overall machine service cost.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claim(s) and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A retention system for retaining a wing shroud on a side plate of a bucket of a machine, the retention system comprising:

a tube member coaxially positioned within a plurality of openings defined in the wing shroud and the side plate, such that the side plate is arranged within a slot provided in the wing shroud;

a plurality of washers disposed coaxially at opposing ends of the tube member and is in abutment with the wing shroud, wherein an inner diameter of the plurality of washers is smaller than an outer diameter of the tube member and wherein an outer diameter of the plurality of washers is greater than an inner diameter of the plurality of openings in the wing shroud; and

a fastener member extending through the plurality of washers and the tube member, to engage with a nut,

wherein the plurality of washers, the nut, and the fastener member restricts a linear motion of the tube member along a longitudinal axis.

2. The retention system of claim 1, wherein the retention system includes a plurality of bolt protectors attached to opposing external surfaces of the wing shroud, the plurality of bolt protectors being adapted to house the plurality of washers, at least a portion of the fastener member, and the nut.