AU2004224984A1 - Tooth and adaptor assembly - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S):: Keech Castings Australia Pty Limited ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street,Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000 INVENTION TITLE: Tooth and adaptor assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5102 P:\WPDOCSXAMD\Spmifictimo \782565 I3.dm-3 Novmba 2004 0 c-1- 4 TOOTH AND ADAPTOR ASSEMBLY Background of the Invention -The present invention relates to a tooth and adaptor assembly, and in particular, to such an assembly which is used on a cutter head of a dredge.

Description of the Prior Art ri The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Cutter heads of dredge equipment generally have a plurality of cutting teeth projecting outwardly at various angles from the surface of the cutter head. In use, the cutter head typically encounters rock and other materials which must be removed from the bottom of waterway. Accordingly, it is known to provide wear teeth of high hardness and wear resistance on the cutter head, and it is known to manufacture the components such that when worn, the teeth only need to be replaced. Various methods are presently known for attaching these wear teeth to the cutter heads, including by welding, and more recently, by providing some form of releasable securement. Various types of releasable securement, such as wedge assemblies, and other fastening means, are presently known, but they all have inherent disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to provide a tooth which may be adapted to the cutter head of a dredge which overcomes disadvantages of the prior art.

The present invention also seeks to provide a tooth and adaptor assembly, whereby teeth may be releasably secured to the cutter head of a dredge.

P:\WPDOCS\A ,D\Spcatimc \782565813,dm-3 Novembe 2004 c-I -2- The present invention also seeks to provide a tooth and adaptor assembly, whereby the O teeth may be indexed at a plurality of angles relative to the adaptor, according to the desired cutting angle.

00 The present invention also seeks to provide a replaceable tooth for a cutter head of a dredge, which may be attached thereto in one of a plurality of positions.

The present invention also seeks to provide a method of attaching a tooth to an adaptor of a dredge cutter head, which is quick and easy to install in one of a plurality of positions.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a tooth and adaptor assembly, said assembly including: a tooth, of generally elongate shape, having a first end terminating in a cutting point, and a shaped surface on its second end; an adaptor, having a shaped outer surface which is of complementary shape to said second end surface of said tooth, such that said tooth can be abutted thereto in one of a plurality of positions; and, securement means, to releasably secure said tooth to said adaptor.

Preferably, said shaped surfaces of said tooth and said adaptor having a plurality of interfitting formations such that said tooth may be indexed at a plurality of angles relative to said adaptor.

Also preferably, said shaped surfaces of said tooth and said adaptor are scalloped or the like such that once tightly abutted, said tooth is restricted from being rotated relative to said adaptor.

Perhaps in a most preferred form, said tooth is generally of pyramidal outer shape.

Preferably, said securement means is in the form of a bolt which is inserted via a bore from said adaptor into an aligned bore provided in said tooth, said tooth further including a P:\WPDOCS'MDSpacif.tios\782565I3.doc- Novba 2004 -3- 0 Z pocket aligned with the end of said bore of said tooth into which a nut may be inserted for securement to said bolt.

oO Also preferably, said shaped surfaces of said tooth and of said adaptor include matching tapers.

In yet a further broad form, the present invention provides a replaceable tooth, said tooth C able to be releasably secured to an adaptor, said tooth being of generally elongate shape having a first end terminating in a cutting point, and a shaped surface on its second end, wherein said shaped surface is of complementary shape to a shaped outer surface of said adaptor such that said tooth may be abutted thereto in one of a plurality of positions.

Preferably, said shaped surface of said tooth includes a plurality of formations to interfit with complementary shaped formations of said outer surface of said adaptor such that said tooth may be indexed at a plurality of angles relative to said adaptor.

Also preferably, said shaped surface of said tooth is scalloped or the like such that when tightly abutted to said adaptor, said tooth is restricted from being rotated relative thereto.

Preferably, the tooth is generally of pyramidal outer shape.

Also preferably, said tooth further includes a bore extending from said shaped end surface along a longitudinal axis of said tooth, into which a securement bolt shaft is receivable, and which terminates in a pocket into which a securement nut is receivable.

Preferably, said shaped surface includes one or more taper thereon.

In yet a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of attaching a tooth to an adaptor, said method including the steps of: abutting a shaped end surface of said tooth to a complementary shaped outer surface of said adaptor, by selecting one of a plurality of interfitting positions thereof P:\WPDOCS\AMD\Spificaiods\782653.dO-3 No-ba 2004 c -4- 0 Z according to the desired index angle of said tooth relative to said adaptor; inserting a securement bolt through a bore of said adaptor and through an aligned bore of said tooth; 00 providing a securement nut via a pocket aligned to intersect with the end of said bore of said tooth; and, securing said tooth to said adaptor by tightening said nut onto said bolt.

C Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawing in which an exploded isometric view of a tooth and adaptor assembly suitable for a dredge is illustrated.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The tooth and adaptor assembly illustrated in the drawing, and generally designated by the numeral 1, includes a tooth 2, an adaptor 3, and a securement means formed by the bolt 4 and nut As illustrated, the tooth is generally of elongate shape, and has a first end terminating in a cutting point 6, and, shaped surface 7 on its second end.

The adaptor 3 has a shaped outer surface 8 which is of complementary shape to the second end surface 7 of the tooth 2, such that the tooth 2 can be abutted thereto in one of a plurality of positions. The shaped surfaces of the tooth 2 and adaptor 3 have a plurality of interfitting formations such that the tooth 2 may be indexed at a plurality of angles relative to the adaptor 3. The shaped surfaces of the tooth and the adaptor may be scalloped or the like, such that, once tightly abutted, the tooth 2 is restricted from being rotated relative to the adaptor 3. The tooth 2 may be of any desired outer shape, but the embodiment shown illustrates a tooth 2 which is of generally pyramidal outer shape.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\Spccifcioms\7S25653.(oc-3 Novcmba 2004 0 Z The securement means is in the form of a bolt 4 and a nut 5. The bolt 4 is inserted via a C bore 9 provided in the adaptor 3, through into an aligned bore 10 provided through the tooth 2. The bore 10 of the tooth 2 intersects with a pocket 11 into which the nut 5 may be oO inserted. Once inserted, the bolt 4 may be aligned with the nut 5, and then the nut 5 and bolt 4 may be tightened such that the tooth 2 is held in tight abutment with the adaptor 3.

N, To facilitate the alignment of the tooth 2 with the adaptor 3, a tapered surface 12 may be C provided on the tooth 2, which is adapted to align with a correspondingly shaped tapered surface 13 of the adaptor 3.

It will be appreciated that, in use, a plurality of adaptors 3 would typically be provided on the cutter head of a dredge. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, it is desired to angle the teeth of a dredge assembly at different angles, to achieve optimal cutting and dredging effectiveness. It will therefore be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the tooth and adaptor assembly of the present invention facilitates the selective angling of the tooth 2 relative to the adaptor 3, and therefore, relative to the cutter head of the dredge. A plurality of positions of connecting the tooth 2 to the adaptor 3 may typically be facilitated by the appropriate scalloping or other means for indexing the tooth 2 relative to the adaptor 3. When connecting the tooth 2 to the adaptor 3, the tooth is therefore abutted at the desired angle to the shaped surface of the adaptor, by selectively interfitting the corresponding scallop shapes or the like between the components. Once the components are aligned, the bolt 4 may be provided through the central bore 9 and the central bore 10, and the locking nut 5 may be inserted in the pocket 11 to be aligned with the end of the shaft of the bolt 4. The bolt may then be tightened relative to the nut, such that the tooth becomes securely tightened to the adaptor.

It will be appreciated that by using the simple nut and bolt system of the present invention, a completely hammerless locking mechanism is achieved which has improved safety features over prior art devices on which sledge hammers and the like are required to secure the components.

PA\\PDOCSVAD\Spsifiio \72565 13.dc.3 Novooba 2004 S-6- Furthermore, by having the nut and bolt securement mechanism, any need for threading the C€3 teeth and/or the adaptor components is unnecessary, resulting in a considerably cheaper manufacturing process in the production of the components. It will be appreciated that the 00 tooth has, in any case, a limited life span, and by obviating the need for having to provide a threaded shaft in the bore of the tooth, the time and cost of manufacturing is considerably Slessened.

N The present invention has been hereinbefore described as being particularly useful for attachment of teeth to the cutter head of dredges, typically used in the mining and excavating industries. It will, however, be appreciated that the securement mechanism may be applied to other areas, and have other applications, not limited to cutting heads on dredges, or, for that manner, to the mining and excavating industries. It will be appreciated by using tapered surfaces to hold the components together, the amount of grit which can get between the two surfaces, is therefore minimised, such that the components are tightly secured together. The provision of the scalloped or other indexed surfaces between the tooth and the adaptor, not only allow alignment of the tooth relative to the adaptor at the desired angle, but also assist the tooth in not rotating within the adaptor, during use. The invention herein described, therefore provides a method of assembling and retaining a tooth to an adaptor in position without cutting and welding.

It will be appreciated that numerous variations and modifications may be envisaged by persons skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the scope of the invention as broadly hereinbefore described and as hereinafter claimed.

Claims (16)

1. A tooth and adaptor assembly for a dredge, said assembly including: a tooth, of generally elongate shape, having a first end terminating in a cutting 00 point, and a shaped surface on its second end; an adaptor, having a shaped outer surface which is of complementary shape to said C second end surface of said tooth, such that said tooth can be abutted thereto in one of a plurality of positions; and, securement means, to releasably secure said tooth to said adaptor.

2. A tooth and adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaped surfaces of said tooth and said adaptor having a plurality of interfitting formations such that said tooth may be indexed at a plurality of angles relative to said adaptor.

3. A tooth and adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said shaped surfaces of said tooth and said adaptor are scalloped or the like such that once tightly abutted, said tooth is restricted from being rotated relative to said adaptor.

4. A tooth and adaptor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said tooth is generally of pyramidal outer shape.

A tooth and adaptor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said securement means is in the form of a bolt which is inserted via a bore from said adaptor into an aligned bore provided in said tooth, said tooth further including a pocket aligned with the end of said bore of said tooth into which a nut may be inserted for securement to said bolt.

6. A tooth and adaptor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said shaped surfaces of said tooth and of said adaptor include matching tapers.

7. A replaceable tooth for a cutter head of a dredge, said tooth able to be releasably secured to an adaptor of said cutter head, said tooth being of generally elongate shape P:WPDOCS\AMD\Sp&iicaons\7R256513.do -3 No-aba 2004 c-i -8- Z having a first end terminating in a cutting point, and, a shaped surface on its second end, wherein said shaped surface is of complementary shape to a shaped outer surface of said adaptor such that said tooth may be abutted thereto in one of a plurality of positions. 00oO

8. A replaceable tooth as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shaped surface of said tooth Ci includes a plurality of formations to interfit with complementary shaped formations of said outer surface of said adaptor such that said tooth may be indexed at a plurality of angles Ci relative to said adaptor.

9. A replaceable tooth as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein said shaped surface of said tooth is scalloped or the like such that when tightly abutted to said adaptor, said tooth is restricted from being rotated relative thereto.

A replaceable tooth as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein it is generally of pyramidal outer shape.

11. A replaceable tooth as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said tooth further includes a bore extending from said shaped end surface along a longitudinal axis of said tooth, into which a securement bolt shaft is receivable and which terminates in a pocket into which a securement nut is receivable.

12. A replacement tooth as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein said shaped surface includes one or more taper thereon.

13. A method of attaching a tooth to an adaptor of a dredge cutter head, said method including the steps of: abutting a shaped end surface of said tooth to a complementary shaped outer surface of said adaptor, by selecting one of a plurality of interfitting positions thereof according to the desired index angle of said tooth relative to said adaptor; inserting a securement bolt through a bore of said adaptor and through an aligned bore of said tooth; P:\WPDOCS\AMD\Spif4ioos\7H256 53.do.-3 No-o-b 204 -9- 0 Sproviding a securement nut via a pocket aligned to intersect with the end of said O bore of said tooth; and, securing said tooth to said adaptor by tightening said nut onto said bolt. 00

14. A tooth and adaptor assembly, substantially as herein described with reference to CI the accompanying drawings. NI

15. A tooth for a cutter head of a dredge, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of attaching a tooth to an adaptor of a dredge cutter head, substantially as herein described. DATED this 3rd day of November, 2004 KEECH CASTINGS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE