Locking assembly for a shroud for a ground engaging tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460396-B2
Application number	US-202017801621-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2020
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A locking assembly is arranged for releasably locking a shroud to a carrier. The locking assembly includes a main body, a piston and a bolt provided with a thread engaging a corresponding thread of the piston for controlling the position of the piston relative to the main body. The locking assembly also includes a retaining arrangement including a plurality of balls securing the bolt within a central recess of the main body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A locking assembly for releasably locking a shroud to a carrier, the locking assembly comprising:
a piston; a main body provided with a through central recess arranged for receiving the piston such that the piston is movable back and forth along a longitudinal axis of the recess with an outer end portion of the piston extending outside the central recess of the main body; a bolt provided within the central recess, wherein the bolt includes a shank and a gripping portion extending through a first end opening of the central recess such that the gripping portion is accessible from outside the main body for rotation of the bolt, wherein at least a portion of the shank is provided with a thread engaging a corresponding thread of the piston, wherein the bolt is provided with a first bearing surface facing a corresponding second bearing surface of the main body, wherein the first and second bearing surfaces are configured such that when the bolt is rotated to force the piston out of the central recess, the first bearing surface of the bolt bears against the second bearing surface of the main body thereby preventing movement of the bolt in a first direction along the longitudinal axis; and a retaining means arranged for preventing movement of the bolt in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the retaining means is provided in the central recess with an outer surface of the retaining means facing an inner surface of the central recess, wherein the outer surface of the retaining means is provided with a first recess extending at least partly around a circumference of the retaining means, wherein the inner surface of the central recess is provided with a second recess extending at least partly around a circumference of the inner surface of the main body, wherein the first recess and the second recess jointly define an intermediate space arranged for receiving a plurality of balls distributed about the longitudinal axis such that the plurality of balls limit movement of the retaining means in the second direction relative to the main body, and wherein the retaining means is either integrated with the bolt, or provided as a separate part positioned around the shank of the bolt and adapted arranged to limit movement of the bolt relative to the retaining means in the second direction.

2 . The locking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are shaped and positioned to allow the plurality of balls a predetermined amount of axial movement along the longitudinal axis relative to the main body and/or relative to the retaining means, such that the plurality of balls are not axially loaded when the first bearing surface touches the second bearing surface.

3 . The locking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining means and the bolt are configured to allow a predetermined axial play between the bolt and the retaining means when the first bearing surface touches the second bearing surface.

4 . The locking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body or the bolt is provided with a passage connecting the intermediate space to an outside of the locking assembly such that the plurality of balls are movable into the intermediate space through the passage.

5 . The locking assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the passage is provided with a closure means arranged for closing the passage.

6 . The locking assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body and the piston are provided with corresponding guide means configured such that the piston is guided for movement along the longitudinal axis and such that the piston is prevented from co-rotating with the bolt.

7 . The locking assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the guide means includes at least one protrusion provided on the piston and extending radially outwards from the piston, wherein the main body is provided with at least one support surface or recess extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the support surface or recess is configured to guide the protrusion along the longitudinal axis and to prevent rotation of the piston.

8 . A shroud system for a carrier, the shroud system comprising:
a shroud; a locking assembly according to claim 1 ; and a lug or boss attachable to the carrier to provide a means for the piston of the locking assembly to engage such that the main body moves relative to the lug or boss upon rotation of the bolt.

Assignees

• Sandvik Mining And Construction Australia Production Supply Pty Ltd
• Sandvik Mining & Construction Oy
• Sandvik Mining And Construction Australia Production/Supply Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Knowles Bruce

Classifications

• E02F9/2816

  Mountings therefor · CPC title

• E02F9/28

  Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth {scraper bits (ploughs for agriculture A01B15/00; teeth of harrows A01B23/02)} · CPC title

• E02F9/2833 Primary

  Retaining means, e.g. pins · CPC title

• E02F9/2883 Primary

  Wear elements for buckets or implements in general · CPC title