Reinforcement system for a tool adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10119252-B2
Application number	US-201514945532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2015
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A tool adapter for attaching a tool to a work implement using a retaining mechanism that includes a body that defines a pocket that defines an abutment or reinforcement surface. The body may include a nose portion that is configured to facilitate the attachment of a tool, a first leg, a second leg, a throat portion that connects the legs and nose portion together, wherein at least one leg defines an aperture that is configured to receive a retaining mechanism. The first and second legs and the throat portion also define a slot that includes a closed end and an open end that defines a direction of assembly onto a work implement and the minimum distance measured from the abutment surface to the throat measured in the direction of assembly is less than the minimum distance from the aperture to the throat measured in the direction of assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool adapter for attaching a tool to a work implement using a retaining mechanism, the adapter comprising:
a body that includes:
a nose portion that is configured to facilitate the attachment of a tool;
a first leg that includes a side surface;
a second leg that includes a side surface;
a throat portion that connects the legs and nose portion together;
at least one of the first leg and the second leg defines an aperture that is configured to receive a retaining mechanism; and
the body defines a pocket that defines an abutment surface, the pocket is located on a side surface of at least one of the first leg and the second leg and the pocket includes a height, width and depth, the pocket is configured with an opening facing toward the direction of assembly, and the pocket includes a bottom pocket surface that faces in a direction not parallel to the direction of assembly:

wherein the first and second legs and the throat portion define a slot that includes a closed end and an open end, the slot defining a direction of assembly onto a work implement, and wherein the abutment surface faces toward the direction of assembly and the minimum distance measured from the abutment surface to the throat measured in the direction of assembly is less than the minimum distance from the aperture to the throat measured in the direction of assembly.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the abutment surface is substantially perpendicular to the direction of assembly.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the side surface is the abutment surface.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the pocket is partially defined by a pocket side abutment surface that forms an oblique angle with the direction of assembly.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the angle is about 10 degrees.

6. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the body further includes a blend that connects the pocket side abutment surface that forms an oblique angle with the direction of assembly to the abutment surface.

7. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the pocket is configured with an opening facing a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of assembly.

8. The adapter of claim 7 wherein the bottom pocket surface faces in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of assembly.

9. A tool adapter assembly comprising:
a work implement that includes a lip;
a tool adapter for attaching a tool to a work implement using a retaining mechanism, the tool adapter comprising:
a body that includes:
a nose portion;
a first leg that includes a side surface;
a second leg that includes a side surface;
a throat portion that connects the legs and nose portion together;
at least one of the first leg and the second leg defines an aperture that is configured to receive a retaining mechanism; and

wherein the body defines a reinforcement surface;
wherein the first and the second legs and the throat portion define a slot that includes a closed end and an open end; the slot defining a direction of assembly onto the work implement, and wherein the minimum distance measured from the reinforcement surface to the throat measured in the direction of assembly is less than the minimum distance from the aperture to the throat measured in the direction of assembly; and

a stop member that is at least partially complimentary configured to mate with the reinforcement surface;
wherein the body of the tool adapter defines a pocket and the reinforcement surface at least partially defines the pocket, and the pocket is located on a side surface of at least one of the first leg and the second leg and the pocket includes a height, width and depth, the pocket is configured with an opening facing toward the direction of assembly, and the pocket is partially defined by a pocket side abutment surface that forms an oblique angle with the direction of assembly and a pocket bottom surface.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the tool adapter is configured to slide onto the lip and the body of the tool adapter further includes a blend that connects the pocket side abutment surface that forms an oblique angle with the direction of assembly to the reinforcement surface.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the stop member is integrally formed on the lip.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Campomanes Patrick Simon

Classifications

• E02F9/2883

  Wear elements for buckets or implements in general · CPC title

• E02F9/2858 Primary

  characterised by shape · CPC title

• E02F9/2833 Primary

  Retaining means, e.g. pins · CPC title

• E02F9/2825 Primary

  using adapters · CPC title