AU2011221349B2

AU2011221349B2 - A Component Locking System

Info

Publication number: AU2011221349B2
Application number: AU2011221349A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Anisy; Paul Surrey
Original assignee: Cutting Edges Equipment Parts Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Cutting Edges Equipment Parts Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-07
Filing date: 2011-09-06
Publication date: 2015-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-06
Also published as: AU2011221349A1

Abstract

Abstract A shroud locking arrangement for locking a shroud to a lip of an implement, said shroud including a forward edge and an upper and lower portion extending rearwardly and which receives a lip between them, the upper portion including an lower surface to receive a mounting block attached to the implement and an aperture through the upper portion form an upper surface to said lower surface to receive a lock member therein, said lock member having, in cross section, a generally L-shaped configuration so that one leg of said L-Shaped configuration will be positioned behind said mounting block, when said lock member is in said aperture, said lock member being restrained from exiting said aperture by a restraining member. 0l cl e|

Description

C 1125 A component locking system Field of the invention [001] The present invention relates to component locking systems in particular, to secure a shroud to a front lip of an excavation implement such as a bucket. Background of the invention [002] There are many and varied shroud attachment systems and there is a need for a shroud locking system such as the one described herein. [003] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application. Summary of the invention [004] The present invention provides a shroud locking arrangement for locking a shroud to a lip of an implement, said shroud including a forward edge and an upper and lower portion extending rearwardly and which receives a lip between them, the upper portion including an lower surface to receive a mounting block attached to the implement and an aperture through the upper portion form an upper surface to said lower surface to receive a lock member therein, the lock member having, in cross section, a generally L-shaped configuration so that one leg of the L-Shaped configuration will be positioned behind the mounting block, when the lock member is in the aperture, the lock member being restrained from exiting the aperture by a restraining member. [005] The restraining member can be secured to the shroud over the lock member. [006] The restraining member can be a bolt which bolts the lock member to the mounting block. [007] The lock member can include a threaded aperture and the upper portion includes a bore which passes through a side of the portion though to the aperture, the bore and the threaded aperture aligning so as to receive a threaded bolt therein to be the restraining member. [008] The bore and the threaded aperture can be arranged on the upper portion and the lock member, whereby the bore extends in a direction which is generally parallel to a forward edge of the lip, whereby the bore is in a right or left side of upper portion.

C 1125 [009] The bore and the threaded aperture can be arranged on the upper portion and the lock member, whereby the bore extends in a direction which is generally perpendicular to a forward edge of the lip, whereby the bore is in a rear side of upper portion. [010] A shroud locking arrangement wherein the shroud includes a blind aperture to receive an end of the bolt. [011] The shroud can include a bore through opposing sides of the aperture for a bolt to be secured therein bridging the aperture and overlying the locking member to act as the restraining member. [012] The bore can be in any direction, but is preferably aligned in a front to rearward direction or perpendicular thereto. [013] The shroud can provide a recess into which the head of the bolt is located once assembly is complete. [014] The present invention also provides a shroud locking arrangement being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings [015] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [016] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shroud locking arrangement; [017] Figure 2 is a cross section through the arrangement of figure 1, when assembled; and [018] Figure 3 is a cross section though a different arrangement; [019] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an alternate lock member used in Figure 3; [020] Figure 5 is a cross section through another arrangement; [021] Figure 6 is a plan view of the assembled arrangement of figure 1; [022] Figure 7 illustrates a rear view of the assembly of Figure 6; and [023] Figure 8 illustrates an arrangement similar to that illustrated in Figure 6, with like parts being numbered, except that bores and bolt passing through the sides of the lock member and shroud are depicted.

C 1125 Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [024] Illustrated in figures 1, 2, 6 and 7 is a shroud locking arrangement 10 for securing a shroud 12 to a lip 14 of an implement, such as an excavator bucket or the like. The shroud 12 has an upper rearwardly extending portion 20, and a lower rearwardly extending portion 22, to form a space therebetween into which is received the lip 14, as is best viewed in Figure 2. The upper portion 20 includes an aperture 24 through it, which communicates between the upper surface of the portion 20 and the under surface. The under surface of portion 20 has a front to rear channel 19, a side 18 of which is visible in figures 2 and 7. At the rear end of the upper portion 20 is a bore 26 through the rear face of the aperture 24. The other end of the bore 26 opens into a recess 28 in the rear end of the portion 20, to provide a protected location for the bolt head 32 on bolt 30. [025] The aperture 24 is trapezium shaped, and is of a generally constant cross section and receives a matching shaped lock member 40. The lock member 40 is of a generally L-shaped cross section when viewed from its side, with one leg 42 of the L being the trapezium shaped to be received into aperture 24, with the other leg 44, being at the end of the leg 42, and extending downwardly therefrom, so as to be received behind the rear edge of the mounting block 16, as illustrated in Figure 2. [026] The lock member 40 also includes a front to rear bore 46, of which a portion of the forward end is threaded to receive the threaded end of the shank of the bolt 30. Providing such a threaded bore arrangement will mean the installer will not have to rotate the bolt for the entire length of the bore 46. [027] The arrangement 10 includes a mounting block 16 which is welded to the lip 14 of the implement and is of a width to be received within the sides 18 of the under surface channel 19 of the upper rearwardly extending portion 20 which will prevent the shroud 12 from moving along the direction of the forward edge of the lip 14 (that is laterally or across the lip), when the assembly is complete. [028] The remaining components of the arrangement 10 include plugs 36 to plug holes 34, and lock washers 38. [029] As can be seen from the cross section of the assembly in Figure 2, the shroud 12 includes a blind bore 27 in the forward wall of the aperture 24, to receive the end of the bolt 30. [030] To assemble the arrangement 10, first the mounting block 16 is secured to the lip at a distance from the edge of the lip so as to coincide or be aligned with the location of the aperture 24 on the shroud 12. Once the mounting block 16 is welded to the lip 14, the shroud 12 C 1125 is positioned on the lip 14 so that the lip 14 enters the space between the upper and lower rearwardly extending portions 20 and 22, while at the same time ensuring that the mounting block 16 is received within the channel 19 (see figure 7) in the under surface of upper portion 20, between the channels sides 18. The shroud 12 is then pushed to its rearward most location relative to the lip 14. At which point the forward wall of aperture 24 will be over the mounting block 16, and a space 50 will be provided between the rearward most wall of mounting block 16 and rear wall of the lock member 40, this space being sufficient to receive the leg 44 of the mounting block 40. [031] Once in this condition, the lock member 40 is inserted into the aperture 24, in a downward direction, so as to position an under surface of the lock member 40 on the upper surface of the mounting block 16, and to position leg 44 into the space 50. Once in this location the bores 26, 46 and 27 will be in alignment and the bolt 30, with lock washers 38 located thereon, can be pushed through until the threaded end of the bolt engages the threaded end of the bore 46. By then rotating the bolt in a threading direction the end of the bolt will eventually pass through the bore 46 and will enter into the blind bore 27. By further tightening the bolt 30 in the bore 46, the tapered side walls of the lock member 40 and the tapered side walls of the aperture 24 will be forced together and thus secured together. Once this is done the shroud is locked onto the lip 14, and is prevented from: left and right movement laterally of and relative to the lip 14 by the engagement of the sides of the mounting block 16 with the sides 18 of the channel 19; forward movement relative to the lip 14 by the leg 44 engaging the mounting block 16; rear ward movement with respect to the lip 14 by the front edge of the lip 14 engaging the rear face 12.1 on the shroud 12; upward and downward movement with respect to the lip 14 respectively by means of the upper surface of the lower portion 22 and the lower surface of the of the upper portion 20. [032] Vertical bores 34 are provided in the lock member 40, and are threaded to allow for the insertion of a removal tool to assist in the removal of the lock member 40 from the aperture 24. Further by the bores 34 being through bores and threaded, then one or two long bolts can be inserted therein and as they are tightened and bear against the flat upper face 17 of the mounting block 16, will force the lock member 40 vertically out of the aperture 24. Plugs 36 are provided to stop up or close off the bores 34 to prevent debris and dirt from packing therein making them potentially difficult to use. [033] Although not illustrated, if additional securement in a vertical direction is required, then vertical threaded holes in the mounting block 16 can be provided, so that in conjunction with vertical bores 34 (not threaded) the lock member 40 can be secured in a vertical direction with respect to the mounting block 16.

C1 1125 [034] Illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is a locking arrangement 10 similar to that of figures 1 and 2, with like parts being like numbered. The arrangement of figures 3 and 4 differs from that of figures 1 and 2 in that a different shaped lock member 40.1 is provided, which has a channel or slot 40.2 through it instead of the bore 46 of figure 1. The channel 40.2 allows the bolt 30 to pass over and through the channel 40.2, and the blind bore 27 on the roll 12 is threaded, so that the bolt 30 can be secured to the shroud, thus the lock member 40.1 is held in place and performs its locking function. [035] Illustrated in figure 5 is another locking arrangement 10 similar to that of figures 3 and 4 and like parts have been like numbered. The difference between the previously described embodiments and that of figure 5 is that the lock member 40.11 is an L-shaped member, which has its upper surface totally below the lowest edge of the bolt 30. [036] While the above description and embodiments have the bores 26, 46 and 27 aligned in a front to rear direction, as is illustrated in Figure 6, or in the case of figures 3, 4 and 5, the bores 26 and 27 can be oriented at any appropriate angle in the horizontal plane, including from side to side of the top portion 20, in which case the bolt 30 will pass through the tapered side walls of the aperture 24 and the lock member 40, as is illustrated in Figure 8. [037] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear. [038] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. [039] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A locking arrangement for locking a component to a lip of an implement, said component including a forward edge and an upper and lower portion extending rearwardly and which receives a lip between them, the upper portion including an lower surface to receive a mounting block attached to the implement and an aperture through the upper portion form an upper surface to said lower surface to receive a lock member therein, said lock member having, in cross section, a generally L-shaped configuration so that one leg of said L Shaped configuration will be positioned behind said mounting block, when said lock member is in said aperture, said lock member being restrained from exiting said aperture by a restraining member.

2. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said restraining member is a secured to said component over said lock member.

3. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said restraining member is a bolt which bolts said lock member to said mounting block.

4. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock member includes a threaded aperture and said upper portion includes a bore which passes through a side of said portion though to said aperture, said bore and said threaded aperture aligning so as to receive a threaded bolt therein to be said restraining member.

5. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bore and said threaded aperture are arranged on said upper portion and said lock member, whereby said bore extends in a direction which is generally parallel to a forward edge of said lip, whereby said bore is in or through a right side or left side of upper portion.

6. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bore and said threaded aperture are arranged on said upper portion and said lock member, whereby said bore extends in a direction which is generally perpendicular to a forward edge of said lip, whereby said bore is in a rear side of upper portion.

7. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said component provides a recess into which the head of said bolt is located once assembly is complete.

8. A locking arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said component includes a blind aperture to receive an end of said bolt. C 1125

9. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said component includes a bore through opposing sides of said aperture for a bolt to be secured therein bridging said aperture and overlying said locking member to act as said restraining member.

10. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said bore can be in any direction, but is preferably aligned in a front to rearward direction or perpendicular thereto.

11. A locking arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said component is a shroud.

12. A locking arrangement being substantially as here before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.