Wear member retention system for an implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9632200-B2
Application number	US-201514808758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2015
Priority date	Jul 24, 2015
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A boss for a wear member retention system for an implement includes a head element, a leg element, and a guide element. The guide element extends in a first direction from a portion of the head element and is configured to engage a wear member. The leg element extends in a second direction from the head element and the guide element, and is configured to engage an aperture in an implement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A boss for a wear member retention system for an implement, comprising a head element, a leg element, and a guide element, wherein the guide element extends in a first direction from a proximal end adjoining the head element to a distal end and is configured to engage a wear member, and the leg element extends in a second direction from the head element and the guide element, and is configured to engage an aperture in the implement; and, wherein the guide element includes a groove extending from the proximal end to the distal end.

2. The boss of claim 1 , wherein the groove is tapered adjacent the distal end to form an inclined ramp surface.

3. The boss of claim 1 , wherein the guide element includes a rail on each side of the groove, and wherein each rail is tapered adjacent the distal end to form inclined ramp surfaces.

4. The boss of claim 1 , wherein the head element defines a stepped bore extending generally parallel to the guide element, and wherein the groove extends partially into the stepped bore.

5. The boss of claim 4 , wherein the stepped bore includes chamfered surfaces at an entrance to the stepped bore adjacent the proximal end of the guide element.

6. The boss of claim 1 , wherein the leg element includes a first portion extending generally perpendicularly from the head element and a proximal end of the guide element, and a second portion extending generally in a third direction opposite from the first direction.

7. The boss of claim 6 , wherein the first portion includes a first curved surface portion extending from the guide element to a second oppositely curved surface portion extending along the first portion and along the second portion.

8. The boss of claim 7 , wherein the radius of curvature of the first curved surface portion is between 10 mm and 15 mm, and wherein the radius of curvature of the second oppositely curved surface portion is between 110 mm and 130 mm.

9. The boss of claim 7 , wherein the first portion includes a third curved surface portion extending from the head element to a generally planar surface portion and curved oppositely from the second curved surface portion, and a fourth curved surface portion extending from the generally planar surface portion to the second portion and curved oppositely from the third curved surface portion.

10. The boss of claim 9 , wherein the radius of curvature of the third curved surface portion is between 45 mm and 55 mm, and wherein the radius of curvature of the fourth curved surface portion is between 15 mm and 25 mm.

11. An implement, comprising:
a ground engaging edge and an aperture defined by the implement adjacent the ground engaging edge;
a wear member mounted on the ground engaging edge;
a wear member retention system, the wear member retention system including:
a boss including a head element,
a guide element extending in a first direction from a proximal end adjoining the head element toward the ground engaging edge to a distal end, and
a leg element extending in a second direction into the aperture;
a lock mechanism coupled to the wear member and engaging the guide element of the boss;
a spring-biased bolt connected to the lock mechanism and the boss and configured to bias the wear member against the implement.

12. The implement of claim 11 , wherein the implement is a bucket, and wherein the wear member includes an inner leg extending into the bucket and an outer leg outside the bucket;
a wear member aperture defined by the inner leg; and
wherein the lock mechanism includes a wear member engagement portion extending into the wear member aperture and a boss engagement portion engaging the guide element of the boss.

13. The implement of claim 12 , further including:
a stepped bore defined by the head element of the boss;
a threaded bore defined by the boss engagement portion of the lock mechanism; and
wherein the spring-biased bolt includes a shaft extending through the stepped bore and into the threaded bore.

14. The implement of claim 13 , further including a plurality of Belleville washers mounted around the shaft of the spring-biased bolt and exerting a force between the head element and a head of the spring-biased bolt.

15. The implement of claim 11 , the leg element including:
a first portion extending generally perpendicularly from the head element and a proximal end of the guide element;
a second portion extending from the first portion and generally in a direction opposite from the first direction;
a first curved surface portion on the first portion extending from the guide element and spaced from a surface of the aperture;
a second curved surface portion curved oppositely from the first curved surface portion and extending along the first portion and the second portion;
a third curved surface portion on the first portion, curved oppositely from the second curved surface portion, and extending from the head element to a generally planar surface portion; and
a fourth curved surface portion on the second surface curved oppositely from the third curved surface portion and extending from the generally planar surface portion to the second portion.

16. A system for retention of a wear member on a bucket, the system comprising:
a bucket defining an aperture extending from an inner surface of the bucket to an outer surface of the bucket;
a boss including a head element, a guide element extending in a first direction from a proximal end adjoining the head element to a distal end, and a leg element extending in a second direction from the head element and the guide element and into the aperture;
a lock mechanism including a wear member engagement portion coupled to a wear member and a boss engagement portion engaging the guide element of the boss;
a bolt connected to the lock mechanism and the boss; and
a spring mechanism associated with the bolt and biasing the lock mechanism toward the boss.

17. The system of claim 16 , further including:
a stepped bore defined by the head element of the boss;
a threaded bore defined by the boss engagement portion of the lock mechanism; and
wherein the bolt includes a shaft extending through the stepped bore and into the threaded bore and a head within a first end portion of the stepped bore, and the spring mechanism includes a plurality of Belleville washers on the shaft of the bolt and acting between a portion of the stepped bore and the head of the bolt.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the guide element includes a groove extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and the boss engagement portion of the lock mechanism is seated within the groove and extends into a second end portion of the stepped bore.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the aperture includes an offset portion adjacent the outer surface of the bucket, the leg element further including:
a first portion extending generally perpendicularly from the head element and the proximal end of the guide element into the aperture;
a second portion extending from the first portion and in a third direction generally opposite to the first direction and into the offset portion;
a first curved surface portion on the first portion and extending from the guide element;
a second curved surface portion adjoining and curved oppositely from the first curved surface portion and extending along the first portion and the second portion;
a third curved surface portion on the first portion, curved oppositely from the second curved surface portion, and extending from the head element to a generally plana

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Tasovski Vasil Slobodan

Classifications

• H01Q1/04

  Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use · CPC title

• G01V3/18

  specially adapted for well-logging · CPC title

• H01Q7/00

  Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop · CPC title

• G01V3/104 Primary

  using several coupled or uncoupled coils (G01V3/101 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q25/00

  Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns (arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00) · CPC title