AU2002300640B2 - Improvements in the Assemblies of Teeth of Earth Moving Machines - Google Patents

Description

S&FRef: 590575D1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Metalogenia, S.A.

Paseo San Juan Bautista, La Salle, E-08330 Premia de Mar Spain Javier Pueyo Molina Jorge Pallas Moreno Nil Vallve I Bertran Rafael Ferrer Ruiz Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Improvements in the Assemblies of Teeth of Earth Moving Machines The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- IP Australia Documents received on: C/ 1< 16 AUG 2002 M Batch No; 5845c 1 IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ASSEMBLIES OF TEETH OF EARTH MOVING MACHINES

SPECIFICATION

The present invention relates to improvements introduced into couplings for machines intended for earth-moving, providing appreciable characteristics of novelty and inventive activity with respect to the couplings known in the art for the aforesaid purpose.

In particular, the couplings of the present invention will be applicable to loading and excavating machines in their various versions and types, although, more widely, they l0 will be applicable to all earth-moving machines which have a working bucket provided with a rim having exchangeable teeth intended to cut into the earth which is to be worked.

Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a tooth for being connected to a tooth holder of an earth moving machine, the tooth having a cavity for receiving a protruding portion of the tooth holder, and on each side of the cavity protruding ears for being received in corresponding housings of the tooth holder, wherein said ears are inclined in such a way that the distance between the upper parts of the ears is less than the distance between the lower parts of the ears.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a tooth holder for being connected to an earth moving machine, having a protruding portion for being located in a cavity of a tooth, and a housing located on each side of the protruding portion for receiving protruding ears of the tooth, wherein the lateral inner surface of each of the housings, which is intended for facing an inner surface of the ear is inclined in such a way that the transverse distance between the upper parts of the housings is less than the transverse distance between the lower parts of the housings.

The preferred embodiment preferably provides appreciable functional improvements in the coupling part of the tooth and the tooth holder, providing greater strength and reinforcing the coupling region of the lugs of the tooth, eliminating possible concentrations of stresses. It is also possible to increase the surfaces resisting vertical stresses, and in general a greater penetration is achieved.

Similarly, the seating of the pin is arranged in the body of the tool holder and not in the nose of the tooth, as is customary, its arrangement being generally vertical and on one side of said body of the tool holder, being able to be straight or having a slight curvature. In front view, the seating will customarily be inclined outwards, since it follows the course of the lateral surfaces of said body. Moreover, the seating has RA\LIBLL113494.doc:caa chamfers on the inlet edges in order to improve the mounting of the pin, especially in the course of work in the field.

For greater understanding thereof, explanatory drawings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention are appended by way of a non-limiting example.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of tooth and tooth holder which incorporates the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same assembly as in Figure [R\LIBLL 13494.doc:cas 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same assembly as in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section through the plane indicated.

Figure 5 shows a section through a horizontal plane, as indicated in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tooth holder of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the coupling end of the tooth holder.

Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the tooth.

Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the same tooth.

Figures 10 to 14 show cross sections of the assembly of tooth and tooth holder according to the section planes indicated in Figure 2.

Figure 15 is a view of the tooth holder in side elevation.

Figure 16 shows a section through a horizontal plane of the tooth holder indicated in Figure Figures 17 and 18 show cross sections through the planes indicated in Figure Figures 19 and 20 show respective perspective views of alternative embodiments of the tooth holder according to the present invention.

Figure 21 shows a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a tooth holder according to the invention, showing a completely mounted pin.

Figure 22 is a view in side elevation of a tooth holder according to the present invention, showing the seatings or guides for the tooth in a through arrangement, that is to say, opening into the end of the nose of the tooth holder.

Figure 23 shows a cross section through a tooth holder with lugs of the tooth having a transversely curved shape.

Figures 24, 25 and 26 respectively show a perspective view, a view in front elevation and a view in side elevation of the pin.

Figure 27 shows a longitudinal section through the assembly of tooth and tooth holder, showing the pin in section.

As can be observed in the figures, the assembly of tooth and tooth holder, once mounted, has the structure shown in Figures 1 to 5, in which can be seen the tooth holder I and the tooth 2, coupled to each other, and the lateral lugs 3 and 4 which are introduced into respective seatings of the tooth holder 1, the constitution of which will be explained in detail, and likewise there will be observed the uipper opening 5 for the fixing pin for the tooth and tooth holder.

The seating of the pin, the general orientation of which is vertical, has, in detail, a structure in which there stands out a slight curvature and a slightly inclined arrangement, as will be observed in a front view, with a trajectory substantially parallel to the lateral outer surface of the nose of the tooth holder.

The aforesaid arrangement will be noted especially in Figure 11, in which there is also to be observed the arrangement of an upper chamfer 6, intended to improve the introduction of the pin.

The arrangement of the seating 5 of the pin in the body 1 of the tooth holder and not in the nose makes it possible to obtain greater robustness of the latter and removes the pin from the area of attack of the assembly, protecting it in great measure against wear. The generally vertical arrangement of the seating of the pin facilitates its mounting and disassembly, while its possible inclination and curvature allow the pin to be retained in the guide, being trapped from behind by the abutment provided at the end of one of the lugs, as will be explained hereinafter. Similarly, the curvature of the seating removes the hole from the front end wall, avoiding the creation of weak areas subject to breakage.

The constitution of the seating of the pin and the securing of the tooth make it possible to design the pin with a length shorter than that of the seating, so that the ends are not flush with the body of the tooth holder, which reduces the wear on the pin and reduces impacts, avoiding not only deterioration but also the possibility of loss of the pin, as occurs in some cases at present.

As will be understood, although the constitution of the pin and its seating will comply with the preferred version which has been described, the seating could have no curvature, being completely straight, or have a curvature in the opposite direction to that shown. Similarly, the inclination of the seating in a lateral direction could be reduced or eliminated.

Moreover, the seating may be arranged on one side or the other of the tooth holder or simultaneously on both sides for applications where the work is very hard. A second pin could also be incorporated in order to ensure the securing of the tooth in the tooth holder and increase the stability and robustness.

The lugs 3 and 4 of the tooth are housed in lateral cavities of the tooth holder which are preferably slightly inclined, one of them being indicated by the number 7 in Figure 6. The lugs 3 and 4 preferably have an inclination which corresponds to the course of the lateral walls of the tooth holder, that is to say, as can be observed in the figures, a transverse inclination according to which the upper edges are arranged further towards the interior than the lower edges. That is to say, an inclination which corresponds to a certain rotation of the lugs on their longitudinal axes so that the upper edges and the lower edges of the lugs are in different vertical planes.

If desired, said angle of inclination may be zero. Said cavities have a stepped section, combining different types of flat, curved and other surfaces. It determines the lateral partition walls 8 and 9 which in turn have respective steps 10 and 11 for joining to widened abutment regions 12 and 13 which preferably have a curvature such as that indicated by the number 14, corresponding to the lower part, but which could also form a wide inclined plane or a straight step or other suitable shape to widen the bearing S area. Into the cavity 7, which corresponds to the seating 5 for the pin, the wall of the seating for the pin, as can be observed in Figure 6. Similarly, in the front part 15 and in the rear part 16 of the cavity 7 there are respective aligned seatings 17 and 18 which constitute a straight guide intended to permit the passage of the end abutment 20 of the lug of the tooth, for retention of the pin which passes through the tooth holder. The length of the groove formed by the passages 17 and 18 may be less than the total length of the nose or projection 19 intended to fit together with the tooth holder, in order in this way to obtain a greater useful section and, therefore, greater strength. Nevertheless, as shown in Figure 22, the tooth holder 43 may have a seating 44 to receive the tooth of the tooth holder which is of the through type, that is to say, which opens into the end of the nose or rear projection The lateral abutment projection for guiding the tooth in the tooth holder, provided on one of the lateral lugs, for example the lug 3, has been shown in Figure in which can be observed said abutment 20, which is introduced into the guide provided in the lateral seating cavity of the tooth holder.

The precise shape of the nose 19 may be varied without this affecting the constitution of the actual coupling part between the tooth and the tooth holder, which basically affects the lugs 3 and 4, as well as their corresponding seatings and the seating for the pin in a special arrangement in the body of the tooth holder.

Into the present invention different variations may be introduced which will remain within the scope thereof as indicated in the claims. Thus, for example, the seatings of the lugs, which have a certain inclination in the example shown, could have no inclination or could be perpendicular to the base or arched.

Similarly, the internal stepped shape of the lugs and of the matching cavities of the tooth holders could be a combination of two different surfaces, for example, flat/flat or flat/curved, curved/curved or of some other type. Provision could also be made for the cavities not to have a stepped shape, with a single surface which may be flat or rounded. Alternatively, the cavities may have a right-angled shape and the guide for the tooth in the tooth holder could be arranged on one side or the other or on both simultaneously.

It will also be understood that the guide for the tooth in the tooth holder, the length of which is preferably limited to only a part of the length of the nose of the tooth holder, could also extend for the entirety thereof.

The lugs 3 and 4 of the tooth are composed of stepped guides and curved regions. In Figure 9 can be seen, for example for the lug 4, the stepped guides 21 and 22, and also the curved end regions 23 and 24.

The lugs are slightly inclined parallel to the lateral surfaces of the nose of the tooth holder, and during the mounting of the tooth are fitted into the lateral cavities thereof. The stepped guides, such as those indicated by the numbers 21 and 22, are a combination of flat surfaces. One of the lugs, which has been indicated in the drawings by the number 3, has a transverse aperture 25 for inspecting the introduction of the pin and for facilitating its disassembly by means of the introduction of a tool.

According to the present invention, the stepped guides are intended to guide the mounting of the tooth in the tooth holder and to stabilize the assembly. The abutment 20 provided at the end of one ofPhe lugs is intended to retain the pin by its rearward part.

The curved regions, such as those indicated by the numbers 23 and 24, serve to reinforce the lug against vertical stresses on increasing the flat surface and the section, distributing the vertical stresses better.

Moreover, with regard to the specific shape of the lugs, provision may be made for abutments to be arranged on both in the case of a double guide providing for the coupling of two pins, as in the version shown in Figures 17 and 18, in which the nose 26 of the tooth holder has two lateral, guides 27 and 28 for respective pins housed in the respective pin seatings 29 and Figure 19 shows an alternative embodiment of a tooth holder 31 with a coupling projection or nose 32, which has the end appendage 33 of substantially square or rectangular prismatic shape, having longitudinal ribs 34 and 35 as well as grooves 36 which are not of the through type, the remainder of the tooth holder corresponding essentially to the features of the invention as shown especially in Figure 6.

Figure 20 shows a further alternative embodiment 37, in which the rear projection or nose 38 has an appendage 39 having a substantially hexagonal section with straight ribs 40 and 41 on the sides. One of the lateral grooves has also been shown, indicated by the number 42, the remainder of the tooth holder corresponding to the present invention according to the versions previously indicated.

Figure 21 shows a tooth holder 46 having a pin seating generally arranged as explained previously, indicated by the number 47, and corresponding in this case to a curved version of arched shape in the interior of which is housed the pin 48 carrying a centring and retaining addition 49 supported by a resilient block 50 and the frontal expansion of which.introduces the retaining means partially into the guide groove 51.

Figure 23 shows a version in which the tooth holder body 52 has coupled to it the lugs 53 and 54 of the tooth, which have an arched cross section and which adapt to a matching shape of the receiving grooves of the tooth holder.

As shown in Figures 24, 25 and 26, the pin 48, which in the case illustrated has a generally arched shape, but which obviously could also be straight, has the centring and retaining member formed by the resilient block 50 and the metallic block 55, which has at the top and bottom respective additional guiding fins 56 and 57 narrower than the projecting metallic block 55, being housed in grooves of matching shape of the pin 48.

Figure 27 shows a section through a horizontal plane of an assembly of tooth 58 and tooth holder 59. In said section can be seen the pin 60, which has incorporated in it the resilient block 61 and the metallic projection 62, the structures of which correspond to those indicated in Figures 24 to 26.

Claims (23)

1. Tooth for being connected to a tooth holder of an earth moving machine, the tooth having a cavity for receiving a protruding portion of the tooth holder, and on each side of the cavity protruding ears for being received in corresponding housings of the tooth holder, wherein said ears are inclined in such a way that the distance between the upper parts of the ears is less than the distance between the lower parts of the ears.

2. Tooth according to claim 1, wherein the mouth of said cavity of the tooth has a substantially trapezoidal cross section shape with the longer of the two parallel lo sides at the bottom.

3. Tooth according to claim 2, wherein the inclination of the protruding ears is such that the ears are substantially parallel with the sides of the trapezoidal mouth of the cavity.

4. Tooth according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the inner shape and size of the cavity corresponds to the outer shape and size of the protruding portion of the tooth holder in order to fit tightly around the protruding portion.

Tooth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an inner part of the respective ears, which part connects the ear to the tooth body, is reinforced in that it is provided with a larger cross section area than the rest of the ear.

6. Tooth according to claim 5, wherein the height of the inner part of the ear is larger than the height of the rest of the ear.

7. Tooth according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the width of the inner part of the ear is larger than the width of the rest of the ear.

8. Tooth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the ears is provided with stepped guides at least at one of its upper and lower regions.

9. Tooth according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said ears is provided with an inwardly protruding stop member for holding the tooth in the desired position on the tooth holder when being locked by a retaining pin. Tooth holder for being connected to an earth moving machine, having a protruding portion for being located in a cavity of a tooth, and a housing located on each side of the protruding portion for receiving protruding ears of the tooth, wherein the lateral inner surface of each of the housings, which is intended for facing an inner surface of the ear is inclined in such a way that the transverse distance between the upper parts of the housings is less than the transverse distance between the lower parts of the housings.

R: .IBLLI 3494.doc:cas

11. Tooth holder according to claim 10, wherein an inner part of the protruding portion, which part connects the protruding portion to the tooth holder body, has a substantially trapezoidal cross section shape with the longer of the two parallel sides at the bottom.

12. Tooth holder according to claim 11, wherein the inclination of said lateral inner surface of each of the housings is substantially the same as the inclination of the sides of said trapezoidal part of the protruding portion.

13. Tooth holder according to any of claims 10-12, wherein an outer part of the protruding portion, which forms the free end of the protruding portion, has a substantially trapezoidal cross section shape with the longer of the two parallel sides at the top.

14. Tooth holder according to any of claims 10-13, wherein the tooth holder comprises at least one hole for a retention pin extending from an upper surface of the tooth holder at least to said housing, wherein the pin in an inserted position is adapted to lock behind a stop member protruding inwardly from one of said ears in order to hold the tooth in a desired position on the tooth holder.

Tooth holder according to claim 14, wherein the hole for the retention pin is located in the body of the tooth holder at a distance from the protruding portion of the tooth holder.

16. Tooth holder according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the hole for the retention pin extends substantially parallel to said lateral inner surface of said housing.

17. Tooth holder according to any of the claims 14-16, wherein the tooth holder comprises a lateral groove extending in the connection direction of the tooth and the tooth holder for receiving said stop member of the ear of the tooth.

18. Tooth holder according to claim 17, wherein said hole for the retention pin intersects the lateral groove.

19. Tooth holder according to any of claims 10-18, wherein each of the housings is provided with stepped guides at least at one of its upper and lower regions.

Tooth holder according to any of claims 10-19, wherein a rear part of the respective housings, which part forms the mouth of the housing for receiving said ears of the tooth, is wider than the inner parts of the housing in order to strengthen the support zone of the tooth holder.

21. Tooth system for a bucket of an earth moving machine comprising a tooth according to an of the claims 1-9 and a corresponding tooth holder according to any of the claims 10-20. IR\LBLLI 3494.doc:caa

22. A tooth for being connected to a tooth holder of an earth moving machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments as that embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings.

23. A tooth holder for being connected to an earth moving machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments as that embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated 13 August, 2002 Metalogenia, S.A. to Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LBLL 13494.doc:ca>