US3465833A

US3465833A - Bulldozer corner bit

Info

Publication number: US3465833A
Application number: US550726A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth V Lutz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-05-17
Filing date: 1966-05-17
Publication date: 1969-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1986-09-09

Description

Sept. 9, 1969 v LUTZ 3465,833

BULLDOZER CORNER BIT Filed May 17, 1966 INVENTOR. KENNETH V. LUTZ BY W.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,465,833 BULLDOZER CORNER BIT Kenneth V. Lutz 10081 Carmen Road, Cupertino, Calif. 95014 Filed May 17, 1966, Sex. N0. 550,726 Int. C1. Alb 35/20, 39/20; E02f 3/76 U.S. C]. 172719 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to bulldozers, and to the cutting edges which are conventionally present thereon. More particularly, the inventiou relates t0 a bit assembly having a replaceable bit for providing a corner cutting edge for a bulldozer blade.

Bulldozers of the type known in the prior art have C115- tomarily been equipped With two replaceable corner outting edges, each mounted adjacent one of the opposite side Walls of the usual bulldozer blade. Such replaceable corne1' cutting edges have been necessitated by the unusual amount of wear which takes place at the blade corners.

The replaceable cutting edges, or bits, have often presented serious disadvantages with respect to their manufacture, installation and operation. Such known bits have often been of complex structure, being costly and diflicult to manufacture. The known bits, furthermore, have often been limited to use on only a particular size and/or shape of bulldozer blade. As a further disadvantage, the known bits have, in many cases, required expensive labor operations for the assembly and mounting thereof. In their operation, the known bits have often required extensive maintenance, or have failed to operate adequately under the severe pressure conditions encountered.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved comer bit for a bulldozer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a corner bit of simplified structure, and which is comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide a corner bit which may be assembled and mounted in operative position with comparative ease.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a corner bit which has a comparatively long useful life and requires a minirnum of maintenance.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a corner bit adaptable for use with various designs 0f bulldozer blades.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the forward end of a bulldozer With a bit assembly embodying the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the bit assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2.

lce

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the bit and adapter of FIGS. 1-3, being shown in position for assembly thereof.

lllustrated in FIG. 1 is a bulldozer 10 having mounted thereon a corner bit assembly 12 of the present invention. The bulldozer 10 is of well-known type, being mounted on a tractor 14, and being provided With a blade 16 having a cutting edge 18.

The blade 16 is forrned with two opposite corners 20 of identical construction. Only one 0f the corners 20, and the structure asso-ciated therewith, is shown and will be described. The corner 20 is located at the intersection of the side Wall 22 and the front wall 24 of the blade 16. The cutting edge 18 terminates at a side edge 25 thereof, which is spaced from the side Wall 22.

The bit assembly 12 includes a bit 26 and an adapter 28. The bit 26 is constructed of two

legs

30 and 32 which are integral, and together form a generally L-shaped configuration (See also FIG. 2). The leg 30 is comparatively short, and provides an upright side edge 34 for the bit 26. The leg 32 is comparatively long, and provides a lower cutting edge 36 for the bit 26.

The

legs

30 and 32 are formed With flat inner edge surfaces 38 and 40 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4), which are located opposite the

outer edges

34, 36, respectively. The inner edge surface 38 extends angularly with respect to the side edge 34. The inner edge surface 40 extends generally parallel to the cutting edge 36.

Projecting perpendicularly from the

inner edge surfaces

38 and 40 are two leg attachtnent sections in the form of two

flanges

42 and 44, respectively. The flange 42 extends the full length of the inner edge surface 38. The flange 44 is of generally L-shaped configuration. Thus, the flange 44 provides a portion 46 which extends the length of the inner edge surface 40, and an end portion 48 which extends angularly with respect to the portion 46. As best seen in FIG. 3, each of the

flanges

42 and 44 lies at the center of the respective leg

inner edge surface

38 or 40.

Projecting upvvardly from the front surface 50 of the bit 26 are two spacedapart and parallel-extending

locking elements

52 and 54. T he locking

elements

52 and 54 are formed of two

shanks

56 and 58, which at their

upper ends

60 and 62, terminate in two rounded heads 64 und 66, respectively. Bach of the

heads

64 and 66 lies above the flange portion 46 and is provided with a central aperture 68 extending therethrough.

The bit 26 is mounted on the blade 16 by means of the adapter 28. The adapter 28 is formed of a generally flat plate 70 of comparatively great thickness. The plate 70, at its lower left-hand corner 72, is formed With a recess 74, which is of the same shape as the angular fiange portion 48 of the bit 26.

Projecting from the right side edge 76 of the plate 70, and at the plate front surface 78, is a plate extension flange 80, which extends the full length of the edge 76. Projecting from the lower edge 82 of the plate 70, and at the corner 72 is a plate extension flange 84, which is coplanar with the flange 80 and forms a square corner 86. Also projecting from the lower edge 82 is a plate extension flange 88, which is located intermediate the

flanges

80 and 84, and is coplanar therewith.

Intermediate the flange 80 and the flange 88, the plate 70, at the front surface 78 thereof, is formed With a depression of generally inverted U-shaped configuration. A similar depression 92 is forrned intermediate the

flanges

84 and 88. The depressions 90 and 92 have the same Iadii of curvature as the

locking heads

64 and 66 of the bit 26. An aperture 94, extending through the plate 70, is provided at the center of each of the depressions 90 and 92.

Bach of the

flanges

80, 84 and 88 is approximately one-half the thickness of the plate 70. The flange 80 is of generally the same size and shape as the flange 42 of the bit 26. The flange 86 is of generally the san1e shape and size as the flange portion 48 taken together with an adjacent part of the flange portion 46. The flange 88 is of the same Width as the flange portion 46.

The plate 70 is formed With five additional apertures 96 extending therethrough. The front Wall 24 of the blade 16 is formed, adjacent the side Wall 22, with seven apertures 98 (two being seen), which correspond in size and positioning to the

apertures

94 and 96, respectively. The plate 70 is mounted on the blade 16 by means of suitable bolts 100, which pass through *the apertures 96, and the respectively corresponding apertures 98.

When the plate 70 is in mounted position, the

extension flanges

80, 84 and 88 each lie in spaced parallel relationship to the blade front wall 24. Three

seats

102, 104 and 106 are thus provided, each being defined by the wall 24; one of the plate edges 76, 82; and one of the

extension flanges

80, 84, 88. The plate 70 and the extension flange 84 then abut the side edge 25 of the cutting edge 18.

In order to mount the bit assembly 12 in the position of FIGS. 13 the adapter 28 is at first secured to the front Wall 24 by the bolts 100 passing through the apertures 96, and through the corresponding apertures 98. The bit 26 is then placed in a position in which the flange 42 and the

flange portions

46 and 48 lie Within the

seats

102, 104 and 106, respectively. At the same tirne, the locking heads 64 and 66 are inserted Within the depressions 90 and 92, respectively. A bolt 100 is then inserted through each of the apertures 68, and the corresponding

apertures

94 and 98, for securing the bit 26 to the adapter 28, and to the blade 24. The

flanges

42 and 44 will then abut -the edges 76 and 82 of the plate 70, respectively. The cutting edge 36 of the bit 26 will then provide a continuation of the cutting edge 18, extending frorn the side edge 25 of the latter, to the blade side Wall 22.

When the bulldozer 10 is employed in custornary manner for earth-removal purposes, the bit 26, at the cutting edge 36 thereof, cuts into the earth in conjunction with the cutting edge 18 of the blade 16.

The bit 26 may be readily and easily replaced after a =period of wear. In order to efi"ect a replacement, the two bolts 100 associated With the locking heads 64 and 66 are remove from the

respective apertures

68, 94 and 98. The bit 26 may then be manually slipped out of seated position. The replacement bit (not shown) may then be assembled With the adapter 28 in the manner already described. Generally, a greater number of bolts are required.

Thus, not only has the number of bolts been reduced,

but also the replacement time.

The bit assembly 12 olfers a number of special advantages With respect to its manufacture, instalhtion and use. As one advantage, the bit assembly 12 is unusually economical to manufacture. Another reason for the economy is the simplicity of structure of the parts, and particularly of the bit 26.

Another reason for economy is that the adapter 28 can, at the plate 70, be manufactured in various sizes and shapes so as to fit any make or size of bulldozer 10. At the same time, the

seats

102, 104 and 106, and the depressions 90 and 92 can be of a single standard size and shape so that one size and shape of bit 26 will fit all of the adapters 28.

The manner of assembling and installing the bit assemb ly 12 and the manner of replacing the bit 26 have already been described. The simplicity of the operations here employed results in substantial savings With respect to the labor which might otherwise be necessary. Thus, in the assernbling of the bit 26 and adapter 28, only two bolts 100 are required.

A savings is similarly realized in the case of the replacement of the bit 26. The adapter 28 may rernain in operative position mounted on the wall 24. Only the bit 26 need be changed.

In operation, the bit assembly 12 offers advantages of unusual sturdiness and long life. The construction is such that the pressures encountered during operation tend to maintain each of the

flanges

42 and 44 in position within the respective-associated

seat

102, 104 or 106. Such pressures sirnilarly tend to maintain the locking heads 64 and 66 tightly in place Within the depressions and 92, respectively. Only two bolts need be employed to provide co-mplete protection against possible dislocation as between the bit 26 and the adapter 28.

The assembly 12 also otfers advantages with respect to the minimum degree of maintenance required for efficient operation thereof. These advantages stem, in large part, from the relative simplicity of structure of the elements providing the interlocking of the bit 26 With the adapter 28.

lt is to be understood that modifications and variations of the embodirnent of the invention disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing frorn the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A bit assembly for the corner of a bulldozer blade, said assembly comprising:

(a) a bit constructed of a plurality of legs forming an upright side edge and a lower cutting edge, each of said legs being formed With a seating section located opposite the respective leg edge;

(b) an adapter mountable on said bulldozer blade, said adapter being cooperative With said blade to provide a seat for each of said seating sections; and

(c) means locking said bit to said adapter with said seating sections in seated position, said locking means restricting relative movement between said bit and said adapter;

(d) the seating section located opposite said lower cutting edge is of generally L-shaped configuration, and extends in part parallel to said cutting edge, and in part angularly with respect to said lower cutting edge.

2. A bit assernbly for the corner of a bulldozer blade, said assernbly comprising:

(c) means locking said bit to said adapter with said seating sections in seated position, said locking means restricting relative movement between said bit and said adapter,

(d) at least one locking head mounted on said bit, said adapter being constructed to engage each locking head, means being provided for securing each locking head to said adapter,

(e) a holt for securing each locking head to said adapter.

3. A bit assembly for the corner of a bulldozer blade,

said assembly cornprising:

(a) a bit constructed of a plurality of legs forming an upright side edge and a lower cutting edge, each of said legs being formed with a seating section located opposite tbe respective leg edge;

(d) at least one locl ing head mounted on said bit, said adapter being constructed to engage each locking head, means being provided for sccuring each locking head to said adapter,

(e) each locking head being of rounded configuration, said adapter being provided with a depression of generally inverted U-shaped configuration for engaging each locking head.

Refereuces Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bo1kcom 17275 3 Thompson 172753 Lillengreen 37141 X Gilbertson 37-141 Wood 172-753 U.S. C1. X.R.