SHROUD BOSS FOR GROUND-ENGAGING TOOL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A shroud boss for mounting a protective shroud in a ground-engaging tool assembly includes a boss body having a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail for engaging a shroud for installation such as a wing shroud or an edge shroud. The boss body also includes a multi-angular lock hole and a pry slot each extending through the boss body. The shroud boss can be implemented for connecting a plurality of different types of protective shrouds such as in a bucket assembly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to mounting of wear components in a ground-engaging tool assembly, and more particularly to a shroud boss for mounting a shroud.

BACKGROUND

Many different types of heavy-duty machinery are known throughout the world for use in material handling, construction, demolition, forestry, and mining, for example. Such machines are typically equipped with an implement system, commonly hydraulically actuated, including a bucket that captures material to be lifted and dumped. In mining applications, it is common for such machines to be built quite large and robust, with large bucket capacities configured for capturing, lifting, and dumping enormous amounts of material at a working face of a mine.

Operating conditions in such applications can be extremely harsh, with the material captured and moved being heavy, hard, abrasive, and sometimes needing to be broken apart by action of the bucket. One type of mining machine widely deployed in the field is generally known as a hydraulic mining shovel and includes a large bucket mounted to a boom assembly and operated to capture, lift, and dump blasted material at the working face of a mine. Buckets in such applications are often built, sometimes on-site, from multiple different parts including a so-called bucket lip that is arranged at a forward edge of the bucket. The bucket lip may be welded to side panels or “wings” of a bucket body. Such bucket lips are typically equipped with various protective structures, often replaceable, including edge shrouds, wing shrouds, wear caps, and various wear plates, as well as ground-engaging tip structures for penetrating the material. In modern hydraulic mining shovels and similar equipment, the bucket lip and attachments can be among the more complex components of the machine.

Due to the demands placed upon such machines the bucket components are typically built quite robust, often necessitating their being quite heavy, difficult to manufacture and/or install, or having other shortcomings. A bucket lip may also be equipped with multiple interrelated attachments in contact with one another and the bucket lip itself, creating challenges as to managing loads, fitment of parts, servicing and replacement schedules. Wing shrouds, for example, are often attached to leading edges of lateral wings on the bucket to protect the lateral wings as the bucket penetrates material during loading the bucket. Efficiently installing and deinstalling wear components, while providing robust support for such components while installed remains technically challenging. The art thus provides ample room for improvements and development of alternatives to known strategies. One bucket lip is known from United States Patent No. 9404240B2 to Kunz.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a shroud boss for a ground-engaging tool includes a boss body having a tool-attachment base portion, and a shroud-coupling upper portion having an upper body surface, a forward body end, and a back body end. The tool-attachment base portion includes a planar lower mounting face extending to a continuous perimetric edge, and the shroud-coupling upper portion includes a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail each extending between the forward body end and the back body end and defining a draft angle. The boss body further includes a multi-angular lock hole arranged between the forward body end and the back body end and between the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail and extending from the upper body surface to the planar lower mounting face.

In another aspect, a shroud boss includes a boss body having a tool-attachment base portion, and a shroud-coupling upper portion, a first lateral side, a second lateral aside, a forward body end, and a back body end. The shroud-coupling upper portion extends laterally outward of the tool-attachment base portion so as to form a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail overhanging the first lateral side and the second lateral side, respectively. The boss body further includes therein a multi-angular lock hole extending through the boss body, and a pry slot located rearwardly of the multi-angular lock hole.

In still another aspect, a ground-engaging tool assembly includes a ground-engaging tool, a first shroud boss and a second shroud boss welded attached to the ground-engaging tool at a first shroud installation location and a second shroud installation location, respectively. The first shroud boss and the second shroud boss each include a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail extending between a forward end and a back end of the respective first or second shroud boss. The first shroud boss and the second shroud boss each further include a multi-angular lock hole arranged between the respective forward end and back end, and a pry slot located rearwardly of the respective multi-angular lock hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a machine, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a ground-engaging tool assembly, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is another diagrammatic view of a tool assembly as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a lip assembly, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is another diagrammatic view of a lip assembly, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a shroud boss, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shroud boss, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a back end view of a shroud boss, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a shroud boss, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of a shroud boss, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a shroud boss, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a shroud boss as in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a back end view of a shroud boss as in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a side view of a shroud boss as in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a machine 10 according to one embodiment. Machine 10 includes a frame 12 supported upon ground-engaging elements 14, for example, two parallel, endless, ground-engaging tracks. Machine 10 also includes a hydraulically actuated implement system 16. Implement system 16 includes a boom assembly 18 and a bucket assembly 20 coupled to boom assembly 18. Bucket assembly 20 may include a bucket 22 coupled to a lip assembly 24 having a bucket lip 26. An operator cab or station (not numbered) may be supported upon frame 12. In the illustrated embodiment, machine 10 includes a hydraulic mining shovel commonly employed to capture, lift, and dump material at the working face of a mine. Alternative machine types and/or service applications are within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, an implement system as contemplated herein could include a variety of ground-engaging tools other than a bucket, and other ground-engaging tools having a blade, for example, are with the scope of the present disclosure. Bucket 22 is shown attached in a forward or front arrangement, however, in alternatives bucket 22 could be reversed from the configuration illustrated and arranged similarly to certain backhoe or excavator applications. Bucket 22 includes a bucket body 28 to which lip assembly 24 may be attached.

Referring also now to FIGS. 2 and 3, lip 26 may be formed as an elongate one-piece casting in some embodiments. Lip 26 may include a lip wing 30, one of which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an opposite lip wing that is substantially a mirror image of lip wing 30 and not visible in the FIG. 2 and 3 illustrations. Bucket body 28 may include a bucket wing 32 that is welded attached to lip wing 30. As also shown in FIG. 2, lip assembly 24 may include one or more edge shrouds 34 installed at an edge shroud station 36. Edge shroud station 36 may be understood to define a shroud installation location within the context of the present description. Lip assembly 24 may also include a coupler 28 attached to a tip 40, together installed at a coupler station 42. Coupler station 42 may be understood to define a coupler installation location. Lip assembly 24 may still further include a lower wing should 44 installed on lip wing 30 and an upper wing shroud 46 installed on bucket wing 32. Lower wing shroud 44 and upper wing shroud 46 may be understood to be installed, respectively, at a second shroud installation location and a third shroud installation location.

As discussed above, wear components such as wing shrouds, edge shrouds, couplers, and various others, are often made as replaceable parts that are periodically swapped out, reversed, or otherwise removed from installation for inspection, repair, and/or servicing. For these and other reasons it is generally desirable for such protective components to be relatively easy to install and deinstall, whilst being securely and robustly supported for service. To this end, shrouds according to the present disclosure, including edge shroud 34, as well as wing shrouds 44 and 46, or still others, may be supported upon so-called shroud bosses.

Focusing on FIG. 3, there can be seen a shroud boss 50 attached to lip wing 30, and another shroud boss 50 is attached to bucket wing 32. Each of the illustrated shroud bosses 50 supports and attaches a respective one of lower wing shroud 44 and upper wing shroud 46. Lower wing shroud 44 and upper wing shroud 46 may each include a mounting channel 52 that enables sliding the respective shroud onto the respective shroud boss 50 in generally mating engagement. Bucket assembly 20 may include a plurality of locking mechanisms 56 that are similar or identical throughout bucket assembly 20, and engage to releasably lock lower wing shroud 44, upper wing shroud 46, and other shrouds in place when installed. Lower wing shroud 44 and upper wing shroud 46 may each be configured with a tool aperture or the like for inserting a pry tool, to pry off the respective shroud as further discussed herein.

Referring also now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are shown views, respectively, of lip assembly 24 with one shroud boss 50 corresponding to lower wing shroud 44 attached and shown as it might appear receiving locking mechanism 56. Also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a second shroud boss 150 attached to lip 26 at shroud station 36 and arranged to couple to edge shroud 34. Shroud boss 150 is also shown as it might appear receiving two locking mechanisms 56. Each respective locking mechanism 56, hereinafter referred to, at times, in the singular, may include a lock body or block 58 that is received in a respective shroud boss 50, 150, and a rotatable pin or latch 60 that engages in lock body 58 to releasably secure the respective shroud on the respective shroud boss 50, 150. FIG. 5 shows lip assembly 24 without locking mechanisms 56 in place. It should be appreciated that other types of shrouds as suggested above might be supported upon shroud bosses contemplated herein.

Referring also now to FIGS. 6-10, there are shown additional details of shroud boss 50. Shroud boss 50 includes a boss body 62 having a tool-attachment base portion 64, and a shroud-coupling upper portion 63 including an upper body surface 65. Boss body 62 also includes a forward body end 66 having a forward body surface 67, and a back body end 68 having a back body surface 69. Base portion 64 further includes a planar lower mounting face 70 extending to a continuous perimetric welding edge 72. A continuous perimetric weld 74 may be used to attach boss body 62 to lip wing 30. As shown in FIG. 4, a continuous weld 174 may attach shroud boss 150 to bucket lip 26. Boss body 62 may further include a first lateral side 75 and a second lateral side 77. Upper portion 63 extends outward of base portion 64 so as to form a first lateral rail 76 and a second lateral rail 78 overhanging first lateral side 75 and second lateral side 77, respectively, and each extending between forward body end 66 and back body end 68.

As also shown in FIG. 6, first lateral rail 76 and second lateral rail 78 may define a draft angle 80 therebetween. Draft angle 80 may be from 1º to 3º in some embodiments. It can also be appreciated that as illustrated draft angle 80 includes a horizontal draft angle defined between first lateral rail 76 and second lateral rail 78, and opening in a direction of back body end 68. As best shown in FIG. 9, each of first lateral rail 76 and second lateral rail 78 may be enlarged in vertical thickness in a direction of back body end 68, and each defines a vertical draft angle 84 relative to a plane defined by planar lower mounting face 70. Draft angle 84 may be from 1º to 3º in some embodiments. As can also be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, each of first lateral rail 76 and second lateral rail 78 may extend from back body end 68 to forward body end 66 and form an inwardly angled relief edge 86 and 87, respectively, transitioning to forward body end 66.

Focusing on FIG. 8, there it can be seen that first lateral rail 76 includes a vertically orientated outer rail edge surface 88, and second lateral rail 78 includes a vertically orientated outer rail edge surface 89. A first lateral surface 90 upon first lateral side 75 forms an arcuate transition from first lateral rail 76 to perimetric edge 72. A second lateral surface 91 forms an arcuate transition from second lateral rail 78 to parametric edge 72.

Boss body 62 further includes a multi-angular lock hole 82 arranged between forward body end 66 and back body end 68 and between first lateral rail 76 and second lateral rail 78. Lock hole 82 extends from upper body surface 65 to planar lower mounting face 70. Boss body 62 also may include a pry slot 92 extending downward through upper body surface 65 at a location between lock hole 82 and back body end 68. In the illustrated embodiment lock hole 82 is laterally symmetric and fore-aft asymmetric. Boss body 62 may include a total of one multi-angular lock hole 82. Lock hole 82 may include a plurality of planar faces, including a forward face 95 extending parallel to forward surface 67, and a back face 96 extending parallel to forward face 95. The plurality of planar faces may also include a plurality of side faces 97. Transitions between the respective planar faces may include rounded transitions. Also in some embodiments lock hole 82 may include a total of 8 planar faces. The plurality of planar faces may be arranged around a center axis 98 that is centered between forward body end 66 and back body end 68 and between first lateral rail 76 and second lateral rail 78.

Boss body 62 may further include therein pry slot 92 as noted above, and extending downward through upper body surface 65 at a location between lock hole 82 and back body end 68. In an embodiment, pry slot 92 includes a through-slot in upper portion 63 that extends from upper body surface 65. Embodiments are contemplated where pry slot 92 extends vertically all the way through boss body 62. In the illustrated embodiment, pry slot 92 extends angularly and rearwardly through boss body 62 to a debris exit opening 94 formed in back body end 68. When a pry tool is inserted into pry slot 92 debris exit opening 94 facilitates ejection of packed-in debris and the like. The pry tool can be engaged in pry slot 92 to enable a shroud mounted upon shroud boss 50 to be levered in a forward direction to disengage.

Turning now to FIGS. 11-14, there is shown a shroud boss 150 according to another embodiment. Shroud boss 150 has certain similarities with shroud boss 50 discussed above, but certain differences. Shroud boss 150 includes a boss body 162 including a tool-attachment base portion 164 and a shroud-coupling upper portion 163 forming an upper body surface 165. Boss body 162 also includes a forward body end 166 and a back body end 168 forming a back body surface 169. Boss body 162 also includes a planar lower mounting face 170 extending to a continuous perimetric edge 172 facilitating forming weld 174 as discussed herein. Boss body 162 also includes a first lateral rail 176 and a second lateral rail 178. A pry slot 192 is also formed in boss body 162. In the illustrated embodiment pry slot 192 is formed in a back end protrusion 194 of boss body 162 and extends vertically through boss body 162.

It can also be appreciated from the illustrations that forward body end 166 is planar, and back body end 168 including back body surface 169 has a stepped profile. FIG. 11 illustrates the stepped geometry of back body surface 169 from either lateral side toward back end protrusion 194. FIG. 14 illustrated, in profile, a stepped geometry of back body surface 169 from perimetric edge 172 to back end protrusion 194.

Boss body 162 may also include therein a plurality of multi-angular lock holes 182. In the illustrated embodiment, boss body 162 includes a total of two multi-angular lock holes in boss body 162. Lock holes 182 may be configured substantially identically to lock hole 182 discussed above.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Referring to the drawings generally, when bucket 22 engages with a material to be captured, lifted, and dumped, the coarse, hard, material can flow over the various bucket surfaces, colliding with and causing wear of the various surfaces. It is generally desirable to especially protect surfaces of bucket 22 and bucket lip 26 itself that are contacted by the flowing material entering and exiting bucket 22, thus protective structures in the nature of shrouds as discussed herein are installed to shield the various surfaces, and periodically replaced as wear progresses.

To install a shroud according to the presenting disclosure, the shroud can be slid over the appropriately installed shroud boss 50,150, and lock mechanism 56 engaged. When a shroud is to be removed, lock mechanism 56 is disengaged, a pry tool is inserted into pry slot 92,192, and the shroud pried off in a forward direction. Debris packed into pry slot 92,192 can be ejected as discussed herein to facilitate tool insertion. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be sold as original equipment including shroud bosses installed on a ground-engaging tool or a subassembly thereof, or as replacement or add-on aftermarket parts. Still other variations can include packages of shroud and corresponding shroud bosses together.

The present description is for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the full and fair scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawings and appended claims. As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A shroud boss for a ground-engaging tool comprising:

a boss body including a tool-attachment base portion, and a shroud-coupling upper portion having an upper body surface, a forward body end, and a back body end;

the tool attachment base portion including a planar lower mounting face extending to a continuous perimetric edge, and the shroud-coupling upper portion including a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail each extending between the forward body end and the back body end and defining a draft angle; and

the boss body further including a multi-angular lock hole arranged between the forward body end and the back body end and between the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail and extending from the upper body surface to the planar lower mounting face.

2. The shroud boss of claim 1 wherein the draft angle includes a horizontal draft angle defined between the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail and opening in a direction of the back body end.

3. The shroud boss of claim 2 wherein each of the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail is enlarged in vertical thickness in a direction of the back body end and defines a vertical draft angle relative to a plane defined by the planar lower mounting face.

4. The shroud boss of claim 2 wherein each of the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail extends from the back body end to the forward body end and forms an inwardly angled relief edge transitioning to the forward body end.

5. The shroud boss of claim 1 wherein the shroud-coupling upper portion includes an upper body surface, and the boss body further includes a pry slot extending downward through the upper body surface at a location between the multi-angular lock hole and the back body end.

6. The shroud boss of claim 5 wherein the boss body further includes a back end protrusion, and the pry slot is formed in the back end protrusion.

7. The shroud boss of claim 5 wherein the pry slot extends to a debris exit opening formed in the back body end.

8. The shroud boss of claim 1 wherein the multi-angular lock hole is laterally symmetric and fore-aft asymmetric.

9. The shroud boss of claim 8 wherein the boss body includes a total of one multi-angular lock hole.

10. The shroud boss of claim 8 wherein the multi-angular lock hole is one of a total of two multi-angular lock holes in the boss body.

11. A shroud boss comprising:

a boss body including a tool-attachment base portion, and a shroud-coupling upper portion, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a forward body end, and a back body end;

the shroud-coupling upper portion extending laterally outward of the tool- attachment base portion so as to form a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail overhanging the first lateral side and the second lateral side, respectively; and

the boss body further including therein a multi-angular lock hole extending through the boss body, and a pry slot located rearwardly of the multi-angular lock hole.

12. The shroud boss of claim 11 wherein the shroud-coupling upper portion includes an upper body surface, and the pry slot includes a through-slot extending from the upper body surface.

13. The shroud boss of claim 12 wherein the back body end includes a back body surface, and the shroud-coupling upper portion extends from the upper body surface to the back body surface.

14. The shroud boss of claim 11 wherein the multi-angular lock hole includes a plurality of planar faces arranged around a center axis that is centered between the forward body end and the back body end and between the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail.

15. The shroud boss of claim 11 wherein the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail define a draft angle therebetween.

16. The shroud boss of claim 15 wherein each of the first lateral rail and the second lateral rail is enlarged in vertical thickness in a direction of the back body end.

17. The shroud boss of claim 11 wherein the multi-angular lock hole is one of two multi-angular lock holes arranged between the forward body end and the back body end.

18. The shroud boss of claim 17 wherein the back body end includes a back end protrusion, and the pry slot is formed in the back end protrusion.

19. A ground-engaging tool assembly comprising:  a ground-engaging tool; a first shroud boss and a second shroud boss welded attached to the ground-engaging tool at a first shroud installation location and a second shroud installation location, respectively; the first shroud boss and the second shroud boss each including a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail extending between a forward end and a back end of the respective first or second shroud boss; and the first shroud boss and the second shroud boss each further including a multi-angular lock hole arranged between the respective forward end and back end, and a pry slot located rearwardly of the respective multi-angular lock hole.

20. The tool assembly of claim 19 wherein the ground-engaging tool includes a bucket, and the first shroud installation location and the second shroud installation location include, respectively, a wing shroud installation location and an edge shroud installation location.