US3851413A

US3851413A - Quick change cutting edge

Info

Publication number: US3851413A
Application number: US00397102A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Lukavich
Original assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 1971-08-23
Filing date: 1973-09-14
Publication date: 1974-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-03

Abstract

A replaceable, quick change, segmented cutting edge assembly for a loader bucket or the like has a plurality of material engaging teeth which project forwardly from the bucket floor. The assembly comprises a plurality of easily handled, relatively small sections of bifurcated cutting edges. The sections telescopically engage the cutting edge support between the teeth and are mechanically retained on the support by interlock with encompassing protector means for the teeth. Replaceable protector and guard means are provided for the cutting edge support, teeth and lower portion of the loader bucket sidewalls. The ground engaging teeth do not extend below the lower surface of the cutting edge, which permits the bucket to be used for cleanup operations.

Description

llnited States Patent [1 1 Lukavich [11] 3,851,413 [451 oec.3,1974

[ QUICK CHANGE CUTTING EDGE [75] Inventor: Paul James Lukavich, .loliet, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111. [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 397,102

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 174,004, Aug. 23, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl...' 37/141 T, 37/142 R [51] Int. Cl E021 9/28 [58] Fieldof Search 37/141 R, 141 T, 142 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,755,438 4/1930 Ferguson 37/141 T 1,843,205 2/1932 Clark 37/141 T 1,872,307 8/1932 Lehman 37/141 T 2,828,558 4/1958 Reinhard 37/141 T 2,831,275 4/1958 Kimsey et al 37/141 T 3,085,635 4/1963 Livermore 37/142 R X, 3,093,917 6/1963 Schroeder 37/141 T 3,098,532 7/1963 Dobratz et a1. 37/142 R X 3,307,277 3/1967 Kondracki 37/141 R 3,358,569 12/1967 A'verette 37/142 R X 3,426,459 2/1969 Petersen... 37/142 R 3,497,973 3/1970 Campbell 37/141 R 3,536,147 10/1970 Norton et al 37/142 R X 3,550,293 12/1970 Helton 37/142 R 3,550,691 12/1970 Davies 37/142 R X 3,621,594 11/1971 Hahn et al 37/141 T 3,643,357 2/1972 Benning et al. 37/141 R Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-E. H. Eickholt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Phillips, Moore, Weissenbergcr, Lempio & Strabala 5 7] ABSTRACT A replaceable, quick change, segmented cutting edge assembly for a loader bucket or the like has a plurality of material engaging teeth which project forwardly from the bucket floor The assembly comprises a plurality of easily handled, relatively small sections of bifurcated cutting edges. The sections telescopically engage the cutting edge support between the teeth and are mechanically retained on the support by interlock with encompassing protector means for the teeth.

Replaceable protector and guard means are provided for the cutting edge support, teeth and lower portion of the loader bucket sidewalls. The ground engaging teeth do not extend below the lower surface of the cutting edge, which permits the bucket to be used for cleanup operations,

17 Claims, lflDrawing Figures PATENTELDEC 3:914 851M113 SHEEIT 10F 5 INVENTOR PAUL J. LUKAVICH ATTORNEYS PATENTEL DEC 3.851 .413

- SHEET 2 0f 15 -TF a INVENTOR PAUL J. LUKAVICH BY I 97W 9MJXLZQQ+AVQ ATTORNEYS PATENTELUEB 31914 3851mm SHEU 30F 5 INVENTOR PAUL J. LUKAVICH W [W4 21%, PWYM ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cutting edge arrangement and structure protective means for loader buckets, scraper and the like. This invention relates specifically to a cutting edge arrangement that is removably secured to the material engaging edge of the structure. Also, protective means are provided for the leading sidewalls and bottom of the structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are many different types of earthmoving apparatus in general purpose material handling equipment with load. carrying containers or bowls which are loaded by being urged into the material. Bulldozers, loaders and scrapers are typical of such equipment.

Equipment of this general type usually requires a high strength, wear resistant cutting edge to withstand the very hard, and/or abrasive materials to which it is subjected. In many instances, the cutting elements include a series of outwardly projecting teeth to facilitate the loading peration. Such teethand the support for the teeth must be wear resistant and of high strength to avoid excessive breakage.

Replacement of the cutting elements due to normal wear or breakage has resulted in a variety of constructions in which the cutting edges and teeth are attached to the supporting apparatus by easily disengageable means. The vast majority of these constructions has not been fully satisfactory in several respects.

In particular, the forward projecting cutting edge of loader buckets is, in most instances, integral with the bucket. Replacement of the edge requires that the cutting edge be burned from the bucket with an acetylene torch or the like. This requires considerable time and expense; Also, the cutting edge being of generally onepiece construction is extremely long and heavy, which creates a handling and safety problem to the installer. Approximately 50% to 60% of all loader buckets are equipped with teeth to improve penetration and decrease cycle time. The teeth are normally comprised of adapters which'are' either bolted or welded to the cut- ;ting edge with replaceable tips removably secured to the cutting edge. The cutting edge is a high wear member, with wear on the bucket somewhat reduced by the teeth.

Wear on a cutting edge equipped with the teeth is normally the greatest at a point midway between the adjacent teeth, with little or no wear adjacent to or immediately behind the teeth. This results in a scalloped apprear'ancc as the cutting edge wears and periodic replacement is required. The replaceable bucket teeth generally project slightly downward below the lower surface of the cutting edge, thus providing an aggressive tooth action in the material. Also, the teeth in some instances have support portions which extend below the cutting edge. This creates a problem when the bucket is working in areas where it is desirable to provide a substantially smooth surface, void of any depressions or grooves formed by the plurality of bucket teeth. Also, when a bucket of this type is working in such areas as steel mills where it is necessary to pick up material at floor level, this cannot be accomplished with the teeth extending below the cutting surface.

It has also been found that wear on the teeth occurs generally horizontal with the bottom surface of the bucket. If the operator is not observant, the lower side of the tips wears through, permitting wear of the tip adapter. Installation of a new tooth on a worn adapter creates an improper fit-up which, as a load is applied to the tip, may cause failure of the tip and/or adapter. Protection is also required for the leading edge of the bucket sidewalls in many severe applications to prevent excessive damage and relatively short life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is a cutting edge assembly providing for ease of replacement in a compact structural arrangement which will reduce the downtime necessary to change the cutting edge. The construction provides for means which will adequately protect the tip adapter, as well as retain the relatively small segments of cutting edge. The bucket teeth of the invention are truly flush mounted with respect to the lower surface of the cutting edge so that the bucket can be used for cleanup operations. In the present invention, an easily replaced wear plate is provided between the ground and the structural portion of the bucket adjacent the rear of the cutting edge section for protection of the bottom of the structure Also, the present invention has removably secured protectors for the lower leading sidewalls of the structure.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying draw ings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what are now considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying these principles.

Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a general closing in detail that portion of the subject invention;

FIG. 5 is a typical central cross sectional view of the replaceable cutting edge by itself; 7

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along lines VI-Vl of FIG. 2 disclosing in detail one of the retaining means for the cutting edge section;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 4 showing in detail the upper retaining means of the sidewall guard.

FIG. 8 is a partial end view of a loader bucket disclosing an alternate embodiment of sidewall guard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT tegrally therewith. A chamfer 22 extends along the upper leading edge of support 20.

A plurality of wedge-shaped forwardly extending teeth 24 comprised of adapters 26 and replaceable tips 28 are secured to the top surface of the support 20 such as by welding in a spaced arrangement. The adapters 26 are manufactured by any one of a number of different processes such as forging, casting or fabrication. The two outer adapters 26' are welded to the sidewalls 16.

The number of teeth 24 secured to the cutting edge varies with the size of the loader bucket and its application.

A plurality of relatively small, lightweight, wedgeshaped, bifurcated cutting edge sections 30 telescopiclly engage the leading chamfered edge of the support 20 between the adapters 26 and 26'.

A typical cross section of the cutting edge is shown in FIG. 5.

The sections 30 are comprised of upper and lower spaced parallel

flanged walls

32 and 34 joined at their forward ends by a wedge-shaped forward end 36. The internal profile of the sections 30 conforms closely to the leading forward edge of support 20. The lower flanged wall 34 of the cutting edge sections 30 has outer ends 38 extending approximately halfway under the adapter 26-26 below the support 20. The outer ends 38 of adjacent sections 30 closely abutt one another to form a substantially continuous wear surface below the support 20 for protection thereof.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the central forward lateral leading edge portion of end 36 of each cutting edge section 28 is of generally arcuate shape extending substantially the full width of said section. Inner and

outer end portions

40 and 42 respectively are interconnected by the arcuate edge with the central arcuate portion disposed forward of the end portions. This is to provide additional wear material to compensate for the normal scalloped wear pattern of a cutting edge between bucket teeth.

An equal number of adapter protectors 44 telescope over the forward ends of each adapter 26 and 26'.

The protector means 44 comprise a top wall 46, a bottom wall 48 and a pair of generally vertical sidewalls 50 completely encompassing and covering a substantial portion of each adapter forward of said cutting edge support 20.

The two end protectors 44' for the end adapters 26' have a longitudinal slot 52 in their top walls 46' which engage the forward edge of the upwardly projecting sidewalls 16 of the bucket 12.

The relatively small individual sections of cutting edge 30 are retained on the support 20 by an outwardly projecting, rearwardly facing U-shaped boss 54 and 54' on the sidewalls 50 and 50' of adapter protectors 44 and 44'. The

bosses

54 and 54 closely engage with the outer leading ends of each cutting edge section 30.

Slight manufacturing clearances are provided between the cutting edge sections 30 and support 20 as' well as between the protector bosses 54 and 54' and the sections. Thus, the cutting edge sections 30 are not wedged tightly-on support 20.

The lower leading edges of the bucket sidewalls 16 are protected by a replaceable U-shaped guard 56. The guard 56 has a forward leading edge 58 which is chamfered, as best shown in FIG. 7. As wear occurs on the guards 56 generally at the lower end, they are interchanged with one another and reversed end for end.

A recess 60' is provided in both ends of the guard sidewalls 62.

The upper end of the guard 56 is retained on the sidewall 16 of the bucket 12 by engaging the recesses 60 with an outwardly projecting pin or boss 64.

The lower end of the guard is retained by engaging with the longitudinal slots 52 in protectors 44.

The cutting edge assembly is installed in the following manner:

Guards 56 are installed on the bucket sidewalls 16 with their upper ends engaged with bosses 64.

The easily handled, relatively small, lightweight individual sections of cutting edge 30 are telescopically fitted on the forward edge of the cutting edge support 20.

The

protectors

44 and 44 are then telescopically fitted on the

adapters

26 and 26, retaining both the lower ends of guards 56 and sections 30. The bosses 54 and 54' on the

protectors

44 and 44 engage with the outer ends of the cutting edge sections 30 to lock them in position on the support 20 and also transfer a portion of the loads on the section into the protectors 44 and 44' and adapters 26 and 26'.

.The

protectors

44 and 44 are then removably secured to the adapters 26 and 26' by a retaining pin 66.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the retaining pins 66 are retained in aligned

apertures

68 and 69 in the protectors 44 and 44' and adapters 26 and 26', respectively. A split spring ring 70 which is inserted in a counterbore 72 in the side of the adapter retains the pins 66.

Once the cutting edge sections 30 and the

protectors

44 and 44 have been installed forming a substantially straight cutting edge. the leading wedge-shaped nose of the adapters 26 and 26' telescopically receive the replaceable tips 28 which are of substantially conventional construction. The tips 28 are removably secured on the adapters by a retaining pin 74 which is inserted in aligned holes 76 and 78 in the adapters 26 and 26' and tips 28, respectively. The retaining pin 74 is removably secured by a split spring ring 80 which is located in a counterbore 82 in the side of the adapters 26 and 26'. It is recognized that retention of the

protectors

44 and 44 and tips 28 could be accomplished by several different types of conventional retaining devices presently commmercially available.

The cutting edge support has a lower surface 84 g on which is removably secured a sole plate 66. The plate 36 is secured by a plurality of plow bolts 83 and nuts 90. The sole plate E6 protects the lower surface 34 of support 26 and provides a substantial amount of wear material below the support which must be worn away prior to any structural damage occurring to the bucket itself. r

The extreme forward ends of the bucket tips 28 do not extend below the lower surface of the cutting edge 11). With this arrangement, the bucket can be used for cleanup operations where it is desirable to provide a substantially smooth finished surface. The bucket can be worked in'areas such as steel mills where it is desirable to pick up material at floor level, which would be impossible if the teeth extended below the bottom surface of the bucket in an aggressive nature.

The sole plate 36 and replaceable cutting edge 10 protect the structural components of the bucket by providing a substantial amount of replaceable material which must be worn away prior to any possible wearing of the structural components of the bucket. This, in combination with the true flush mounting relationship of the bucket teeth, cutting edge and sole plate, would virtually eliminate the occurrence of accidental wear on the nose of the adapters 26 and 26', which would destroy the fitup of new tips 211 on the adapters.

FIGS. 8 and 9 disclose an alternate form of replaceable U-shaped sidewall guard.

In this arrangement, the upper end of the guard 56' isretained on the sidewall 16' by upwardly projecting ears 92 interlocking with a projection 94 welded to the sidewall. The lower end of the guard 56' is retained on the sidewall by a quick change pin 96 which is inserted in the aligned holes 98 and 100 in the guard and sidewall, respectively. The pin is retained by a split spring ring W2.

As wear occurs on the guards 56', they are reversed end for end on the sidewall whereupon cars 92' retain the upper end of the guard and the pin 96 is inserted through the holes 98' in the lower end.

1 16. 11) is a plan view of a right-hand portion of a quick change cutting edge according to this invention for aroclt bucket.

ln rock buckets, the central section of cutting edge extends further forward than the flanking side portions forming generally a V-shape for better engagement with and loading of rock.

The left half of the cutting edge is a mirror image of the right half and employs adapters, adapter protectors and tips similar to that used on the general purpose bucket of FIG. ll.

In this particular design a cutting edge support 1114 integral with the bucket has a straight central portion 106 normal to the direction of travel of the bucket. Portion 1116 is flanked by a pair of outer end portions 108 having a plurality alternately angled sections 110 and a plurality of straight sections 112 which are parallel to the central portion 106. The straight sections 112 are the location on which the adapters 26 and 26', which are similar to the various bucket configurations, are secured.

A tooth 114 is located on the longitudinal center line of the bucket and is flanked on each side by a quick change cutting edge section 311'.

Cutting edge sections 30' telescopically engage support 104 and are identical to sections 30 of the general purpose bucket of FIG. 1.

A plurality of right-hand cutting edge sections 116 telescopically engage the right-hand rearwardly angled sections of the support 104 between adjacent adapters.

The cutting edge sections 116 are comprised of inner and

outer end portions

118 and 120 which are interconnected by a central portion 122. For purposes of conforming to the rearwardly angled sections 110 of support 1 ll4l,-the cutting edge sections 116 are formed in an offset or skewed relationship from end to end.

It is desirable that the number of different parts required for application of the instant invention .to different bucket configurations be minimized. In the arrangement of FIG. 10 the adapters and protectors are common and are identical to the outer adapters 26' and protectors 44V disclosed in FIG. 1. It is recognized that all of the adapters and protectors in FIG. 1 could also be identical to the outer adapters 26' and protectors 4141'.

Theend portions

118 and 120 of sections 116 are accordingly formed substantially identical to and dis-- forming the central portions 112 at an angle corresponding to the rearward angle of the sections 110 of the support 104. This construction-allows proper fitup of the ends of the cutting edge sections 116 with the U- shaped bosses 54 and 54' of the

protectors

44 and 44 such that the protectors are common to various cutting edge support configurations.

The sections 116 are comprised of upper and'lower spaced parallel

flanged walls

123 and 124 joined by central portion 122.

The outer ends 126 of the lower flanged wall 124 of the cutting edge sections 116 extend approximately halfway under the adjacent adapters below the support and follows the general profile of the support.

A typical cross section of the cutting edge sections 116 corresponds generally to FIG. 5.

Corresponding left-hand cutting edge sections (not shown) are a mirror image of sections 116.

In a manner similar to the general purpose arrangement of FIG. 1, a sole plate 128 is removably secured to the bottom surface of cutting edge support 104 by a plurality of plow bolts 130 and nuts 132.

The sole plate 128 which follows the generally V- shaped profile of support 104 provides protection for the support.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the a plurality of teeth secured to the cutting edge support in laterally spaced relationship, a plurality of cutting edge sections mounted on said cutting edge support between the teeth,

wearable protector means having a lower surface positioned on said support behind said teeth removably secured on each of the teeth with the protector means engaging with and retaining the cutting edge section on said support, and

a lower wear surface comprising an extension of said cutting edge section and extending behind the lower surface of said protector means and forming a substantially planar wear surface with the lower surface of said protector means, the lower wear surface of said cutting edge sections extending substantially across said receptacle.

2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said protector means comprise a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of generally vertical side walls completely encompasses said teeth forward of said cutting edge support.

3. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein an outwardly projecting boss on each of said walls of the protector engage with the cutting edge section for retention of the section on the support.

4. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said teeth each comprise an adapter and a material engaging replaceable tip removably secured on the forward leading end of said adapter.

5. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting edge section comprises upper and lower spaced parallel flanged walls integral with and extending rearwardly from a wedge-shaped forward portion, with an internal profile formed by the flanged walls conforming closely to the shape and size of said support and telescopically engaging the support.

6. The assembly defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of said cutting edge sections telescopically engage with the leading edge of said support between adjacent teeth and forms a substantially straight cutting edge.

7. The assembly defined in claim 5 wherein the wedge-shaped forward portion of thecutting edge section has a laterally extending leading edge of generally arcuate shape extending substantially the full width of said section, inner and outer end portions which are interconnected by said arcuate edge with the central arcuate portion of the edge disposed forward of the end portions.

8. The assembly defined in claim 5 wherein the lower flanged wall of said cutting edge sections forms said extension of said cutting edge sections and extends laterally beyond the wedge-shaped forward portion under the adjacent adapters below the support, with the ends of the adjacent walls in close relation to one another and forming said substantially continuous wear surface below said support.

9. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the cutting edge supports additionally comprise a chamfer extending along the upper leading edge of the support with a sole plate removably secured to the lower surface for protection of the support.

10. The assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the material carrying receptacle is a loader bucket having a bottom, a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly in parallelism from the opposite ends of the bottom.

11. The assembly defined in claim 10 wherein the two outermost adapters are integral with the sidewalls of the loader bucket.

12. The assembly defined in claim 10 wherein a guard telescopically engages the lower leading edge of the bucket sidewall and is retained at its upper end by engagement with a projecting member on the sidewall and at itslower end by engagement with the protector for said outermost adapter.

13. The assembly defined in claim 12 wherein said guard is reversible end for end on said sidewall.

14. The assembly defined in claim 10 wherein a guard telescopically engages the lower leading edge of the bucket sidewall with the upper end of the guard interlocking with a projection on the sidewall and the lower end retained by a pin removably secured in aligned holes in the guard and sidewalls.

15. In a material carrying receptacle of the class which is driven into material to be loaded and which has a forward facing opening requiring a cutting edge, a replaceable cutting element construction comprising:

a cutting edge support integral with the material carrying receptacle and having a straight central portion normal to the direction of travel of the material carrying receptacle and flanking outer end portions having alternatively rearwardly angled sections and straight sections which are parallel to the central portion to form a generally V-shape,

a plurality of teeth secured to the cutting edge support in a spaced parallel relationship and parallel to the longitudinal center line of said receptacle with the teeth on the outer end portions secured to said straight sections,

cutting edge sections mounted on the cutting edge support between each pair of adjacent teeth, wearable protector means having a lower surface positioned on said support behind said teeth removably secured on each of the teeth with the protector means engaging with and retaining the cutting edge sections.

16. The assembly defined in claim 15 wherein said cutting edge sections mounted on the angled portion of said support are comprised of inner and outer end portions which are interconnected by a central portion conforming to the rearwardly angled sections of said support, said sections are formed in an offset relationship from end to end with said end portions generally parallel to said teeth.

17. The assembly defined in claim 15 wherein the cutting edge support extends substantially the full width of the material carrying receptacle and comprises upper and lower surfaces and a forward leading edge with a sole plate removably secured to the lower surface of the support for protection of the support.

Claims

1. In a material carrying receptacle of the kind which is driven into material to be loaded and which has a forward facing opening requiring a cutting edge, a replaceable cutting element construction comprising: a cutting edge support integral with the material carrying receptacle, a plurality of teeth secured to the cutting edge support in laterally spaced relationship, a plurality of cutting edge sections mounted on said cutting edge support between the teeth, wearable protector means having a lower surface positioned on said support behind said teeth removably secured on each of the teeth with the protector means engaging with and retaining the cutting edge section on said support, and a lower wear surface comprising an extension of said cutting edge section and extending behind the lower surface of said protector means and forming a substantially planar wear surface with the lower surface of said protector means, the lower wear surface of said cutting edge sections extending substantially across said receptacle.

7. The assembly defined in claim 5 wherein the wedge-shaped forward portion of the cutting edge section has a laterally extending leading edge of generally arcuate shape extending substantially the full width of said section, inner and outer end portions which are interconnected by said arcuate edge with the central arcuate portion of the edge disposed forward of the end portions.

12. The assembly defined in claim 10 wherein a guard telescopically engages the lower leading edge of the bucket sidewall and is retained at its upper end by engagement with a projecting member on the sidewall and at its lower end by engagement with the protector for said outermost adapter.

15. In a material carrying receptacle of the class which is driven into material to be loaded and which has a forward facing opening requiring a cutting edge, a replaceable cutting element construction comprising: a cutting edge support integral with the material carrying receptacle and having a straight central portion normal to the direction of travel of the material carrying receptacle and flanking outer end portions having alternatively rearwardly angled sections and straight sections which are parallel to the central portion to form a generally V-shape, a plurality of teeth secured to the cutting edge support in a spaced parallel relationship and parallel to the longitudinal center line of said receptacle with the teeth on the outer end portions secured to said straight sections, cutting edge sections mounted on the cutting edge support between each pair of adjacent teeth, wearable protector means having a lower surface positioned on said support behind said teeth removably secured on each of the teeth with the protector means engaging with and retaining the cutting edge sections. a lower wear surface comprising an extension of said cutting edge section and extending behind the lower surface of said protector means and forming a substantially planar wear surface with the lower surface of said protector means, the lower wear surface of said cutting edge sections extending substantially across said receptacle.