AU2006252273A1 - Attachment system - Google Patents

Description

22/12/06 15:26 LORD&CO 4 0262237999 N0.855 U03

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

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PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: Shark Abrasion Systems Pty Ltd ACTUAL INVENTORS: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

ATTACHMENT SYSTEM The following Statement is a fall description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/OG 22/12/06 15:26 LORMD&C 4 0262837999 N.5 0 No.e55 P04

TITLE

U "ATTACHMENT SYSTEM" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an attachment system, particularly intended for the attachment of round engaging tools to the lip plate of mechanical digging devices.

Many mining and carthmoving operations require the use of mechanical digging

IN

o devices, such as front-end loaders. Such mechanical digging devices commnonly feature buckets which can be manipulated by a user to dig into earth or rocks to be shifted. These buckets include a lip plate across the bucket floor. On this lip are mounted a series of ground engaging tools having a tooth-like appearance. These tools, in use, penetrate into the material being dug, and provide a leading edge for the bucket to follow.

The ground engaging tools are highly susceptible to wear due to the high level of fiction generated by their use. Accordingly, it is often desirable to be able to remove a worn ground engaging tool and substitute a new tool.

A common method of attachment for ground engaging tools is that of welding. In practice, however, a welded ground engaging tool can be difficult to replace without substantial dismantling of the bucket.

Mechanical methods of attaching ground engaging tools through the use of restraining bolts and pins have been proposed. These methods are often difficult to use in practice, as the forces generated against a ground engaging tool can cause deformation of the bolt or pin, thus ma~king subsequent disengagement difficult.

2 COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/06 22/12/08 15:26 LORD&CO 4 0262837999 N.5 0 NO.e55 905 0 Australian Patent Number 2001277401 describes an alternative method for attachment of pround engaging tools, This method suffers from a disadvantage in that it includes a clamping member provided with channels in side surfaces thereof. The channels combine with an engaging recess to define a track along which the clamping member can be slid. The channels, it has been found, has a propensity to become ci blocked by fine particulate material, thus making subsequent removal and re-use of the clamping member difficult.

0N o The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages of previous attachment system for ground engaging tools.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an attachment system for connecting a first member to a second member, the first member having a lug connected -thereto, and the second member having an aperture arranged, in use, about the lug, the attchment systemn including a clamping member disposed between the lug and the second member such that the supply of pressure to the clamping member acts to restrain disengagement of the second member from the jugs wherein the clamping member has at least one protrusion extending from a side surface thereof, and the aperture includes a recessed groove which defines a track within which the protrusion can be moved.

3 COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/06 22/12/06 15:26 LURMD&C 4 0262937999 N.5 O NO.1355 906 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with -reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ground engaging tool arranged to be attached to a lip plate (a portion of which is shown) in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is perspective view of the underside of the ground engaging tool of Figure 1; Cl Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ground engaging tool and lip plate portion of o Figure 1, shown during attachmnent, together with a clamping member in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the ground engaging tool and lip plate showing the clamping member of figure 3, and showing a stabilizing member; Figures 5 to 8 are sequential cross sectional views of the arrangement of Figure 4 shown during the attachment process; DESkCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the Figures, there is shown a ground engaging tool 10 arranged to be attached to a portion of a lip plate 12. The lip plate 12 is substantially rectangular in cross section, and extends around the rim of a bucket (not shown) of a miechanical digging device. The lip plate 12 includes an upper face 14, a lower face 16 and an end face 18. A tapered surface 20 extends from the end face 18 of the lip plate 12 to the upper face 14.

The lip plate 12 includes a lug 22 affixed by suitable means (for instance welding) to the upper face 14. The lug 22 includes an elliptical prism portion 24 oriented towards the end face 18 of the lip plate 12, a top face 26 substantially parallel to the upper face 4 COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/06 22/12/06 15:26 LORDSCO 4 0262837999 N.5 0 NO.955 P07 0 14 of the lip plate 12, a tapered surface 28 extending from the edge of the top face 26 to the edge of the elliptical prism portion 24 and a substantially flat rear face oriented substantially perpendicularly to the upper face 14.

The ground engaging tool 10 comprises a leading edge 32, a first base portion 34 extending substantially perpendicularly of the leading edge 32, a front portion 36 extending away from the leading edge at a shallow angle, a second base portion 38 extending away from the first base portion 34 at a shallow angle, a transverse recess 0N o 40 disposed oppositely the leading edge 32 and an attachment portion 42. The front portion 36, leading edge 32 and the first base portion 34 co-operate to form a substantially V shaped working portion in order to penetrate, in use, the material being dug. The transverse recess 40 is complementary in shape to the lip plate 12, and allows the ground engaging tool 10 to be located on the perimeter of the lip plate 12 adjacent the end face 18S. The second base portion 38 tapers from the first base portion 34 in a direction away from the leading edge 32, and ends, in use, adjacent the lip plate 12. The leading edge 32, first and second base portions 34 and 38 and the front portion 36 define a working portion of the ground engaging tool The attachment portion 42 extends from the front portion 36 adjacent the recess 40 in a direction away from the leading edge 32. It locates, in use, along the upper face 14 of the lip plate 12, and co-operates with the lug 22.

The attachment portion 42 has a substantially flat lower surface 44, a substantially flat upper surface 46 and a rear surface 48. The attachment portion 42 includes an engaging recess 50 extending inwardly of the rear surface 48 through a rear aperture 52 in the rear surface 48, and upwardly of' the lower surface 44 through a lower aperture 45. The engaging recess has a: first portion $4 remote from the rear aperture COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/OG 15:26 LORD&CO 4 02628379998 NO.8e55 Poe Va 0 0q 52, a second portion 56 extending from the first portion 54 towards the rear aperture 52, and a third portion 57 adjacent the rear aperture 52. The first portion 54 is complementary in shape to the lug 22, with the second portion 56 being of similar ci transverse dimension to the first portion 54. This allows, in use, the engaging recess M 5 50 to be placed about the lug 22. This in turn allows the attachment portion 42 to be slid over the lug 22 in a longitudinal direction, and to locate in a position whereby the lug 22 is within the first portion 54 of the engaging recess 50. In this position relative 0 omovement of the attachment portion 42 and the lip plate 12 in a transverse direction is restricted.

The third portion 57 is of larger transverse dimension than the second portion 56, and is relatively narrow in the longitudinal direction. The third portion 57 is in the form of a recessed groove relative to substantially flat side surfaces of the second portion 56.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the third portion 57 comprises a substantially L-shaped recessed groove, with the short arm of the L-shape oriented in the longitudinal direction towards the first portion 54.

The attachment portion 42 further includes an aperture 58 within the upper surface 46.

The aperture 58 cormunicates with the second portion 56 of the engaging recess When the ground engaging tool is located such that the front of the lip plate 12 is engaged in the transverse recess 40 and the lug 22 is within the first portion 54 of the engaging recess 50, the aperture 58 is situated adjacent the rear face 30 of the lug 22.

The attachment system further includes a clamping member The clamping member 60 is substantially of complementary cross sectional shape to the second portion 56 of the engaging recess 50 and has a first side 64 which is 6 COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/06 22/12/06 15:26 LORDS.CO 4 02G2937999 N.5 0 NO. e5s IP09 0 arranged to locate adjacent the lug 22 and a second side 66 opposite the first side 64.

The second side 66 is arranged to locate adjacent the rear aperture 52. The clamping member 60 furthier includes substantially -fiat side surfaces 67, a top surface 68 and a bottom surface 69.

The clamping member 60 includes two locating recesses 70 at outer ends of an edge of the clamping member 60 between the first side 64 and the top surface 68. The Cl recesses 70 are arranged to be complementary in shape to lips 72 extending from the o upper portion 46 of the attachment portion 42 partially above the second potion 56 of the engaging recess The clamping member 60 includes at least one protrusion 73 from a side surface 67.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the clamping member includes one protrusion 73 on each side surface 67. The protrusions 73 extend outwardly from respective side surfaces 67 at a lowermost corner thereof, adjacent the second side 66 and bottom surface 69.

The clamping member 60 includes a substantially cylindrical lug engaging member 62. The lug engaging member 62 is arranged to slide from a first position where it is fully contained within a chamber 80 within the clamping member 60 to a second position where the lug engaging member 62 extends from the first side 64 of the clamping member The chamber 90 extends within the clamping member 60 from the first side 64 to a rear wall 82. The chamber 80 is substantially cylindrical in shape, and is complementary in shape to the lug engaging member 62 7 COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/06 22/12/06 15:26 LORD&CO 4 0262837999 N.5 1 NO. e55 010 0 A substantially cylindrical slot 11i0 extends from the chamber 80 adjacent a rear end C) of the lug engaging member 62 to the second side 66 of the clamping member 60. The slot 1 10 is internally threaded.

The attachment system futher includes a stabilizing member 98. The stabilizing member 98 is in the form of a prism, having front and rear faces 100, 102. The stabilizing member 98 is substantially similar in dimension to the third portion 57 of ci the engaging recess o The stabilizing member 98 has a substantially cylindrical aperture 112 which is arranged to locate, in use, adjacent the slot 110 of the clamping member 60 so as to form a single cylindrical passageway.

A forcing member in the form of a substantially cylindrical bolt 114 is arranged, in use, to locate within the passageway formed by the slot 1 10 and the aperture 112. The bolt is externally threaded, and is arranged to engage with the internally threaded slot 1 10. The bolt acts to hold the stabilizing member 98 relative to the clamping member 60 during use.

The use of the clamping member 60 will now be described.

The attachment portion 42 is positioned over the lip plate 12 with the lug 22 located within the tirst portion 54 of the engaging recess The clamping member 60 is then introduced through the aperture 58, with the flat side surfaces 67 of the clamping member 60 in sliding engagement with the flat side surfaces of the second portion 56 of the engaging recess 50, and the protrusions 73 in sliding engagement with the third portion 57 of the engaging recess 50. When the clamping member 60 is within the engaging recess 50, and the protrusions 73 at a base of the third portion 57 of the engaging recess 50, the clamping member 60 is slid 8 COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/06 22/12/08 15:26 LORMDSO 4 0282937999 N.5 1 NO. eSS P11 0 forward relative to the attachment portion 42 such that the recesses 70 are engaged by the lips 72. It will be appreciated that the protrusions 73 follow the path defined by the L-shaped groove of the third portion 57 of the engaging aperture to allow this forward movement, The stabilizing member 98 is then introduced into the third portion 57 of the engaging Cl aperture between the second side 66 of the clamping member 60 and the rear aperture Cl 52.

o The clamping member is activated as follows. The bolt 114 is introduced into the passage created by the slot 1 10 and the aperture 112, and is threadedly engaged with the slat 1 10. When the bolt 114 is fuly within this passage, the end of the bolt 114 is adjacent the lug engaging member 62..The application of a turning force to the bolt so as to promote the further advance of the bolt into the chamber 80 provides a pressing force on the lug engaging member 62.

The effect of the pressure in the chamber 80 is to force the lug engaging member 62 from its first position to its second position, whereby it engages the rear face 30 of the lug 22. In this way a compressive force is applied between the lug 22 and the attachment portion 42, thus locking the ground engaging tool 10 in position relative to the lip plate 12.

When it is desired to remove the ground engaging tool 10 from the lip portion 12, the bolt 114 is unscrewed~from the slot 1 10, thus releasing pressure from the lug engaging portion 62. The attachment portion 42 can then be readily removed from the lip portion 12 in the reverse of the above process, potentially allowing some members to be reused.

9 COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22 22/12/06 15:26 LORD&CO 4 0262837999' NO. 855 912

O

0 i0 Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed Sto be within the scope of the present invention.

0 0 0I COMS ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22

Claims (7)

1. An attachment system for connecting a first member to a second member, the first member having a lug connected thereto, and the second member having an aperture arranged, in use, about the lug, the attachment system including a clamping member disposed between the lug and the second member such that the supply of pressure to the clamping member acts to restrain disengagement ci of the second member from the lug, wherein the clamping member has at least o one protrusion extending fronm a side surface thereof, and the aperture includes a recessed groove which defines a track within which the protrusion can, be moved.

2. An attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping member has two protnisions extending from opposed side surfaces.

3. An attachment system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each side surface is substantially flat.

4. An attachment system as claimed iin any preceding claim, wherein the or each apertur has substantially flat side surfaces.

S. An attachment system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each flat side surface of the aperture are in sliding engagement with a corresponding flat side surface of the clamping member,

6. An attachment system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recesed groove is substantially L-shaped.

7. An attachment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a stabilising member is arranged to locate within a portion of the recessed groove. COMB ID No: SBMI-05765075 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:37 Date 2006-12-22