Fatigue life optimized modular bucket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12163307-B2
Application number	US-202117353243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2021
Priority date	Jun 21, 2021
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

A fatigue life optimized modular bucket assembly for a work machine and a method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The bucket assembly includes a bucket core having a pair of side sections, a continuous wrapper, a supporting element, and a receptacle; and an extension module having a pair of side bars, a guard module, an edge module, and, optionally, a set of extension plates. The method includes prebuilding the bucket core, receiving an order, providing parts for the extension module, and assembling the bucket core and the extension module parts. The bucket assembly may include universal and customizable components without exhibiting reduction to fatigue life commonly associated with weld seams.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bucket core for a work machine comprising:
a pair of side sections, the side sections being spaced apart to define a width of the bucket;
a continuous wrapper extending between the pair of side sections, including:
a substantially planar, upward sloping, upper section;
an arcuate middle section welded to the upper section;
a substantially planar, downward sloping, first lower section fully welded to the middle section;
a solid, one-piece obtuse upward bend section fully welded to the first lower section; and
a solid, one-piece substantially planar, second lower section fully welded to the obtuse upward bend section and having a distal end constructed for attachment to an edge module thereat;

a brace configured to provide structural support to the bucket core under a condition where the brace is removably attached to the continuous wrapper; and
a support extending between the pair of side sections and fully contained within a boundary defined by an outward edge of the pair of side sections, the support being attached to a rear of the upper section of the continuous wrapper,
wherein the continuous wrapper forms a concave, even, continuous surface defined thereover between the upper section and the middle section, and between the middle section and the first lower section, with the obtuse upward bend demarking the first lower section and the second lower section and continuous therewith,
wherein the pair of side sections and the continuous wrapper define a receptacle,
wherein the bucket core is constructed to distribute stress during operation of the bucket core on the obtuse upward bend,
wherein a contact face of the continuous wrapper is defined by at least the arcuate middle section, the first lower section, the obtuse upward bend section, and the second lower section, is continuous from the distal end of the second lower portion to the upper section, and is exclusive of fasteners extending therethrough, and
wherein the brace extends across the concave, even, continuous surface of the continuous wrapper and includes:
a frame attached to the upper section and attached to the first lower section, the obtuse bend, and/or the second lower section, and
a pair of side frames connecting the frame to the pair of side sections.

2. A method of manufacturing a bucket assembly for a work machine comprising:
prebuilding a bucket core from a pair of side sections, a continuous wrapper extending between the pair of side sections, and a supporting element extending between the pair of side sections on an upper section of the continuous wrapper, the wrapper forming a concave, even, continuous surface defined thereover between an upper section and a middle section, and between the middle section and a first lower section, with an obtuse bend demarking the first lower section and a second lower section and continuous therewith;
rigidly attaching a bracing element to the bucket core across the concave surface of the wrapper subsequently to the prebuilding of the bucket core, the bracing element including a frame attached to the upper section and at least one of the first lower section, the obtuse bend, and the second lower section, a pair of side frames connecting the frame to the pair of side sections,
receiving an order for the bucket assembly, the order reflecting at least one custom requirement;
providing a plurality of parts for manufacturing an extension module based on the at least one custom requirement; and
attaching the bucket core and at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module, the attaching of the bucket core to the extension module being solely at the second lower section,
wherein the extension module includes at least one of a guard module, a pair of side bars, and an edge module, and
wherein a contact face of the continuous wrapper is defined by at least the arcuate middle section, the first lower section, the obtuse upward bend section, and the second lower section, is continuous from the distal end of the second lower portion to the upper section, and is exclusive of fasteners extending therethrough.

3. The method according to claim 2 , the step of attaching the bucket core and at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module further including:
attaching the guard module to a distal end of the upper section of the continuous wrapper of the bucket core.

4. The method according to claim 2 , the step of attaching the bucket core and the at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module further including:
operatively attaching the edge module to at least one of a distal end of the second lower section and to a distal end of a paddle plate of the continuous wrapper of the bucket core.

5. The method according to claim 2 , the step of attaching the bucket core and at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module further including:
operatively and respectively attaching the pair of side bars to the pair of side sections of the bucket core.

6. The method according to claim 4 , the step of attaching the bucket core and at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module further including:
attaching an edge extension plate to and between the distal end of the paddle plate and the edge module prior to attaching the edge module.

7. The method according to claim 5 , the step of attaching the bucket core and at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module further including:
attaching respectively a pair of side extension plates to and between the pair of side sections and the pair of side bars prior to attaching the pair of side bars.

8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the bucket core is fully welded before the step of attaching the bucket core to at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module.

9. The method according to claim 2 , the step of attaching the bucket core to at least some of the plurality of parts for the extension module further including:
fully welding the plurality of parts for the extension module to the bucket core.

10. The method of claim 2 , further comprising welding the supporting element between the pair of side sections and laterally contained therebetween, the supporting element being attached to a rear of the upper section of the continuous wrapper at distal and proximal edges thereof.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Kanniappan Gopalakrishnan
• Worth David
• Fayville Nicholas John
• Larimore Derek D

Classifications

• E02F9/2883

  Wear elements for buckets or implements in general · CPC title

• E02F3/40 Primary

  Dippers; Buckets {; Grab devices, e.g. manufacturing processes for buckets, form, geometry or material of buckets (devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3604; teeth therefor E02F9/28)} · CPC title