Retention lobe for ground engaging tip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9644347-B2
Application number	US-201514824749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A retention lobe for a ground engaging tip may include a lobe base having a base outline, wherein at least a portion of the base outline may lie in a base plane. The base outline may include a front base edge and a rear base edge opposite the front base edge. The retention lobe may also include a lobe outer surface spaced from the lobe base and extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may include a front lobe outer surface extending from the front base edge obliquely relative to the base plane and toward the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may further include a rear lobe outer surface extending obliquely relative to the front lobe outer surface, such that the rear lobe outer surface tapers relative to the front lobe outer surface toward the base plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retention lobe for a ground engaging tip, the retention lobe comprising:
a lobe base having a base outline, wherein at least a portion of the base outline lies in a base plane, wherein the base outline includes a front base edge and a rear base edge opposite the front base edge; and
a lobe outer surface spaced from the lobe base and extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge, wherein the lobe outer surface includes:
a front lobe outer surface extending from the front base edge obliquely relative to the base plane and toward the rear base edge;
an intermediate lobe outer surface spaced from the base plane and extending obliquely from the front lobe outer surface;
a retention aperture extending through the intermediate lobe outer surface of the retention lobe; and
a rear lobe outer surface extending obliquely from the intermediate lobe outer surface and terminating at the rear base edge, such that the rear lobe outer surface tapers from the intermediate lobe outer surface toward the base plane, wherein a cross-section of the retention lobe includes an obtuse angle defined between the front lobe outer surface and the intermediate lobe outer surface and an obtuse angle defined between the intermediated lobe outer surface and the rear lobe outer surface.

2. The retention lobe of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front base edge and the rear base edge lies in the base plane.

3. The retention lobe of claim 1 , wherein the base outline further includes an upper side edge and a lower side edge opposite the upper side edge, the upper and lower side edges each extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge.

4. The retention lobe of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the upper side edge and the lower side edge lies in the base plane.

5. The retention lobe of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the retention lobe perpendicular to the base plane includes at least four sides.

6. The retention lobe of claim 5 , wherein the front lobe outer surface, the intermediate lobe outer surface, and the rear lobe outer surface define at least three of the four sides.

7. The retention lobe of claim 5 , wherein the cross-section includes two acute angles and two obtuse angles, and wherein the two obtuse angles are defined by the front lobe outer surface, the intermediate lobe outer surface, and the rear lobe outer surface.

8. The retention lobe of claim 1 , wherein the front base edge and the rear base edge are oblique with respect to one another as viewed perpendicular to the base plane.

9. The retention lobe of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front lobe outer surface, the intermediate lobe outer surface, and the rear lobe outer surface includes abrasive resistant material.

10. A method of creating a computer-readable three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the retention lobe of claim 1 , the method comprising:
inputting data representing the retention lobe to a computer; and
using the data to represent the retention lobe as a three-dimensional model, the three dimensional model being suitable for use in manufacturing the retention lobe.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inputting of data includes one or more of using a contact-type 3D scanner to contact the retention lobe, using a non-contact 3D scanner to project energy onto the retention lobe and receive reflected energy, and generating a virtual three-dimensional model of the retention lobe using computer-aided design (CAD) software.

12. A computer-readable three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the retention lobe of claim 1 .

13. A computer-readable storage medium having data stored thereon representing a three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the retention lobe of claim 1 .

14. A method for manufacturing the retention lobe of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
providing a computer-readable three-dimensional model of the retention lobe, the three-dimensional model being configured to be converted into a plurality of slices that each define a cross-sectional layer of the retention lobe; and
successively forming each layer of the retention lobe by additive manufacturing.

15. A retention lobe for a ground engaging tip, the retention lobe comprising:
a lobe base having a base outline, wherein at least a portion of the base outline lies in a base plane, wherein the base outline includes a front base edge and a rear base edge opposite the front base edge; and
a lobe outer surface spaced from the lobe base and extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge, wherein the lobe outer surface includes:
a front lobe outer surface extending from the front base edge obliquely relative to the base plane and toward the rear base edge;
an intermediated lobe outer surface spaced from the base plane and extending obliquely from the front lobe outer surface;
a retention aperture extending through the intermediate lobe outer surface of the retention lobe; and
a rear lobe outer surface extending obliquely relative to the front lobe outer surface and the intermediated lobe outer surface, such that the rear lobe outer surface tapers relative to the front lobe outer surface and the intermediate lobe outer surface toward the base plane, wherein a cross-section of the retention lobe includes an obtuse angle defined between the front lobe outer surface and the intermediate lobe outer surface and an obtuse angle defined between the intermediated lobe outer surface and the rear lobe outer surface.

16. The retention lobe of claim 15 , wherein the base outline further includes an upper side edge and a lower side edge opposite the upper side edge, the upper and lower side edges each extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge.

17. The retention lobe of claim 16 , wherein the upper side edge includes a front upper side edge and a rear upper side edge, and the lower side edge includes a front lower side edge and a rear lower side edge.

18. The retention lobe of claim 15 , wherein a cross-section of the retention lobe perpendicular to the base plane includes at least three sides.

19. The retention lobe of claim 18 , wherein the front lobe outer surface and the rear lobe outer surface define at least two of the three sides.

20. The retention lobe of claim 15 , wherein the lobe outer surface includes abrasive resistant material.

21. A retention lobe for a ground engaging tip, the retention lobe comprising:
a lobe base having a base outline, wherein at least a portion of the base outline lies in a base plane, wherein the base outline includes a front base edge and a rear base edge opposite the front base edge; and
a lobe outer surface spaced from the lobe base and extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge, wherein the lobe outer surface includes:
a front lobe outer surface extending from the front base edge obliquely relative to the base plane and toward the rear base edge;
an intermediated lobe outer surface spaced from the base plane and extending obliquely from the front lobe outer surface;
a retention aperture extending through the intermediate lobe outer surface of the retention lobe; and
a rear lobe outer surface extending obliquely relative to the front lobe outer surface and the intermediated lobe outer surface, such that the rear lobe outer surface tapers relative to the front lobe outer surface and the intermediated lobe outer surface toward the base plane, wherein a cross-section of the retention lobe includes a

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Balan Mihai M
• Serrurier Douglas

Classifications

• E02F9/2816

  Mountings therefor · CPC title

• E02F9/2833 Primary

  Retaining means, e.g. pins · CPC title

• G05B2219/49007

  Making, forming 3-D object, model, surface · CPC title

• G05B19/4099

  Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title