Abstract:
A side shroud is provided for use with a work implement. The shroud may have an elongated body configured to straddle an edge of the work implement, and a mounting portion extending from a side of the elongated body. The mounting portion may include a back defining an opening, a first side connected to the back, and a second side connected to the back opposite the first side. The mounting portion may also include at least one tab extending inwardly from the back of the mounting portion at a location adjacent the opening and between the first and second sides. The at least one tab may be configured to removably couple the shroud to a mounting base attached to the work implement.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/088,171 filed on Dec. 5, 2014, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a shroud for a work implement and, more particularly, to a shroud that can be quickly and easily replaced when worn. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Earth-working machines, such as wheel loaders, cable shovels, excavators, and front shovels, include implements generally used for digging into, ripping, or otherwise moving earthen material. These implements are subjected to abrasion and impacts that cause them to wear. To prolong the useful life of the implements, various shrouds can be connected to the earth-working implements at areas experiencing the wear. These shrouds are replaceably connected to the implements using a retention system. 
         [0004]    An exemplary shroud is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0098887 of Livesay that published on May 27, 2004 (“the &#39;887 publication”). Specifically, the &#39;887 publication discloses a protector for a sidebar of a bucket. The protector has a V-shaped cross-section and extends in a linear direction along an edge of the sidebar. A mounting element having “T” or “dovetail” configuration is welded to the edge of the bucket sidebar, and the protector is then slid into place over the mounting element such that a vertex of the V-shape is oriented away from the mounting element. A fastener passes through the vertex at a lengthwise center of the protector to engage the mounting element, thereby inhibiting undesired sliding of the protector that would decouple the protector from the mounting element. 
         [0005]    Although acceptable for some applications, the protector of the &#39;887 publication may not have broad applicability. Specifically, the protector may not be compatible with a bucket having a curved sidebar. In addition, locating the mounting element on the edge of the sidebar may not be sufficiently durable and/or accessible in some instances. 
         [0006]    The disclosed shroud is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a shroud for use with a work implement. The shroud may include an elongated body configured to straddle an edge of the work implement, and a mounting portion extending from a side of the elongated body. The mounting portion may have a back defining an opening, a first side connected to the back, and a second side connected to the back opposite the first side. The mounting portion may also have at least one tab extending inwardly from the back of the mounting portion at a location adjacent the opening and between the first and second sides. The at least one tab may be configured to removably couple the shroud to a mounting base attached to the work implement. 
         [0008]    According to another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a side shroud. The side shroud may include an elongated body being arcuate along its length, and having a vertex and spaced apart first and second legs that are connected to the vertex. The side shroud may also include a first protrusion extending inward at a first end of the elongated body, a second protrusion extending inward at a second end of the elongated body, and a mounting portion extending from the first leg. The mounting portion may have be formed from a back, a first side, and a second side. The mounting portion may include a first tab located at a first end of the mounting portion proximate the first leg of the elongated body, a second tab located at a second end of the mounting portion distal from the first leg, and a window formed in the back between the first and second tabs. 
         [0009]    According to yet another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a side shroud assembly for a work implement having a floor and first and second curved sides connected to the floor. The side shroud assembly may also include a base weldable to an external surface of the first curved side, and a shroud having an elongated body. The elongated body may be arcuate along its length, and have a vertex and spaced apart first and second legs that are connected to the vertex. The shroud may also have a first protrusion extending inward at a first end of the elongated body, a second protrusion extending inward at a second end of the elongated body, and a mounting portion extending from the first leg and having a window. The shroud assembly may further include a locking mechanism configured to pass through the window of the mounting portion and engage the base, thereby locking the shroud to the first curved side of the work implement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed machine; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustration of a side shroud assembly that may be used in conjunction with the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view illustration of the side shroud assembly of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional illustration of the side shroud assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a mobile machine  10  having a work implement  12  operatively connected at a leading end. In the disclosed embodiment, machine  10  is a wheel loader. It is contemplated, however, that machine  10  may embody any other type of mobile or stationary machine known in the art, for example a skidsteer loader, an excavator, a hydraulic shovel, a dragline, a dredge, or another similar machine. Machine  10  may be configured to use work implement  12  to move material, such as earthen material, during completion of an assigned task. Although shown as being located at the leading end of machine  10 , it is contemplated that work implement  12  could alternatively or additionally be located at a midpoint or trailing end of machine  10 , if desired. 
         [0015]    Work implement  12  may embody any device used to perform the task assigned to machine  10 . For example, work implement  12  may be a loading bucket (shown in  FIG. 1 ), a digging bucket, a shovel, or another material moving device known in the art. Regardless of the specific configuration, work implement  12  may have multiple walls that together define a partially enclosed space configured to retain. material therein. Specifically, work implement may include a floor  14 , a back or ceiling  16 , a left side wall  18 , and an opposing right side wall  20 . Each of these structural components may be welded to each other to form the enclosed space, and one or more ribs, gussets, fillets, webs, brackets, etc. may be used to provide a desired stiffness, strength, or connection. In some embodiments, one or more of floor  14 , back  16 , left side wall  18 , and right side wall  20  may be integral (e.g., bent to the required shape from a common sheet of material), if desired. 
         [0016]    During use of machine  10 , work implement  12  may be driven forward into a pile  22  of material, with floor  14  generally parallel with a ground surface  24 . The operator may then lift work implement  12 , causing additional material to spill into the enclosed space, and begin racking work implement  12  backward to a carry position. When this happens, the material loaded onto the front edge of floor  14  may fall further into work implement  12  and spread towards left and right side walls  18 ,  20 . It has been found that, in some applications, curving an outer edge  26  of left and right side walls  18 ,  20  outward increases an amount of the spreading material retained inside work implement  12  (i.e., decreases an amount of material that spills over left and right side walls  18 ,  20 ). For this reason, outer edges  26  of left and right side walls  18 ,  20  may be generally convex. 
         [0017]    Work implement  12  may be equipped with a shroud  28  that is located at each edge  26  to increase longevity of work implement  12 . In particular, during engagement of work implement  12  with pile  22 , edges  26  may come into abrasive contact with the material. Unless accounted for, this contact may cause premature wear of edges  26 , thereby reducing the effectiveness of the convex shape and the life of work implement  12 . Shrouds  28  may be replaceable, and configured to protect edges  26  from wear. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, a length of shroud  28  may be selected so that only a single shroud  28  may be coupled to each of left and right side walls  18 ,  20 . Specifically, a length of shroud  28  may be selected to be just larger than one-half of a length of edge  26 . In this way, a machine owner may be inhibited from installing two shrouds  28  in an end-to-end arrangement on each side wall  18 ,  20 . 
         [0019]    In general, wear along edge  26  may be greater near floor  14 . Specifically, material engaged by work implement  12  may more often be positioned lower along edges  26  due to the effects of gravity and/or the difficulty of always fully loading work implement  12 . For this reason, a lower end of shroud  28  may generally experience more wear than an upper end. Shroud  28  may be generally symmetric, relative to a lengthwise center (i.e., relative to a plane of symmetry  30 ), such that, after a period of wear, the shroud  28  originally mounted to left side wall  18  may be switched with the shroud  28  originally mounted to right side wall  20 , thereby increasing a useful life of shrouds  28 . In particular, at a time when the lower ends of shrouds  28  are worn out, the positions of shrouds  28  may be switched so that the upper ends thereof that are not nearly so worn may be moved to the lower positions that experience the higher rates of wear. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , shroud  28  may be included within a shroud assembly  32  that also includes a base  34  and a retainer  36 . Shroud  28  may be configured to slide into engagement with base  34 , and retainer  36  may thereafter be used to inhibit undesired removal of shroud  28 . 
         [0021]    Shroud  28  may be a single integral component fabricated through a casting process from an alloy material (e.g., from steel). Shroud  28  may have an elongated body  38  with a length L and consisting of spaced-apart first and second legs  40 ,  42  that are connected to each other at a vertex  44  to form a cross-section having a general V-shape. Body  38  may be arcuate, having a radius r of curvature substantially matching the radius of curvature of edge  26  (referring to  FIG. 1 ). Legs  40 ,  42  may be spaced apart from each other by a distance d 1  that allows legs  40 ,  42  to straddle edge  26  during installation, have a height h 1 , and a thickness t 1 . Two protrusions  46  may be formed within the space between legs  40 ,  42  and configured to engage the outer surface at edge  26 . In the disclosed embodiment, protrusions  46  are located a distance d 2  away from the ends of body  38  to facilitate the casting process and to account for manufacturing variation during installation, have a length l generally aligned with the length direction of body  38 , and a height h 2 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , protrusions  46  may extend inward relative to the curvature of body  38 , thereby allowing for two-point contact of shroud  28  with edge  26 . Protrusions  46  may provide for this two-point contact, even when engaged with curved edges  26  having varying radii, wear, and/or tolerance stackups. 
         [0022]    A mounting portion  48  may extend from first leg  40  inward relative to the curvature of body  38 . Mounting portion  48  may be generally three-sided structure, with a raised back  50  and first and second ends  52 ,  54 . A fillet  56  may be positioned at an inside corner between first leg  40  and each of first and second ends  52 ,  54  to increase a rigidity of mounting portion  48 . Two tabs or projections  58 ,  60  may protrude inward from back  50  to engage base  34 . In the disclosed embodiment, each of tabs  58 ,  60  have a dovetail cross section (i.e., a cross-section with opposing diverging side surfaces) such that tabs  58 ,  60  can be slid into corresponding notches  62 ,  64  of base  34 . It is contemplated, however, that one or both of tabs  58 ,  60  could alternatively have a T-shaped cross-section or another cross-section, if desired. Tab  60  may be smaller and located closer to first leg  40  than tab  58 , and tabs  58  and  60  may be generally aligned with each other and with plane  30  (referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 ). A window or opening  66  may be formed in back  50  at a location between tabs  58  and  60 , and configured to receive retainer  36 . After mounting portion  48  is slid into engagement with base  34  and retainer  36  is placed through window  66  into a corresponding recess  68  of base  34 , shroud  28  may be inhibited from removal by way of a mechanical interference between retainer  36  and tab  58 . 
         [0023]    The dimensions of shroud  28  may be selected to ensure adequate strength, security, durability, and longevity. For example, the radius of curvature and length of body  38  may be selected such that a ratio of these values (r/L) is about 2.75-3.0 (e.g., +/−10%). This ratio may provide for a desired engagement of a common shroud  28  with a range of different work implements  12  having different edge lengths and curvatures. In particular, a different curvature formed within a body  38  having a different length could decrease the engagement of shroud  28  with edge  26 . 
         [0024]    In another example, the height of protrusions  46  and the height of legs  40 ,  42 , may be selected to allow for manufacturing variations of work implement  12  and to provide a desired breakout strength. In particular, h 2  may be selected to be about 1/10 th  (e.g., +/−10%) of h 1 , and the thickness t may be about 2/3 (e.g., +/−10%) of the distance d 1 . These ratios may facilitate large tolerance stackups, while still providing adequate strength. 
         [0025]    In yet another example, the distance d of protrusions  46  from the ends of body  38  may be about equal to  10 % (e.g., +/−10%) of the length L. As described above, this relationship may facilitate the casting of shroud  28  while accounting for some warping. 
         [0026]    Base  34  may be a three-sided lattice structure that is weldable to work implement  12  (i.e., to first and second side walls  18 ,  20 ). Specifically, base  34  may have first and second rails  70 ,  72  that extend in a length direction, and a plurality of crossbars  74  that bridge rails  70 ,  72  to form recess  68 . A raised load pad  75  may be formed at each corner of base  34  to transfer loading from body  38  of shroud  28  to side walls  18 ,  20  of work implement  12  (referring to  FIG. 1 ). Load pads  75  may be integrally formed at intersections of rails  70 ,  72  with crossbars  74 , and oriented at the sides of notches  62 ,  64 . Internal surfaces of load pads  75  may be beveled to receive the dovetail shape of tabs  58 ,  60 . In this way, notches  64  may provide sockets for receiving tabs  58 ,  60 . Base  34  may he fabricated through a casting process from the same material as shroud  28  (or a more weldable material), and welded to work implement  12  along one or more outside edges of rails  70 ,  72 . In some instances, an internal perimeter of one or more of cross-bars  74  (e.g., an internal perimeter of a weld pocket formed between crossbars  74 ) may also be welded to work implement  12 , if desired. 
         [0027]    Retainer  36  may embody a generally flat rectangular locking mechanism, for example a type of spring clip, Which is configured to compress during installation and decompress thereafter. For example, one end of retainer  36  may be inserted through window  66  into recess  68 , and then force may be applied at an opposing end to cause retainer  36  to compress somewhat. Once retainer  36  has been compressed, the opposing end may be pushed through window  66  into recess  68  and released, thereby allowing retainer  36  to decompress and expand back to its free length. When retainer  36  is fitted inside recess  68 , retainer  36  may not be removed without first using a pry bar to compress retainer  36 . In this condition, retainer  36  may protrude out of recess  68  to mechanically interfere with tab  58 , thereby inhibiting shroud  28  from being unintentionally slid out of engagement with base  34 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0028]    The disclosed shroud and shroud assembly may be applicable to various earth-working machines, such as wheel loaders, skidsteer loaders, excavators, front shovels, and draglines. Specifically, the disclosed shroud may be used to protect curved work implements of these machines against wear. Installation of shroud assembly  32  will now be described. 
         [0029]    To connect shroud assembly  32  to work implement  12  for the first time, shroud  28  may first be connected to base  34 . In particular, tabs  58  and  60  may be aligned with notches  62  and  64 , respectively, and shroud  28  pushed toward base  34  until tabs  58 ,  60  are fully engaged. Retainer  36  may then be placed through window  66  of shroud  28  and engaged with base  34 . This assembly may then be placed at a desired location on work implement  12 , and base  34  may be tack-welded. The desired location of shroud  28  may include a lower end of shroud  28  located adjacent floor  14  (referring to  FIG. 1 ), with legs  40 ,  42  straddling edge  26 . 
         [0030]    Once base  34  is tack-welded, retainer  36  may be removed, and shroud  28  slide out of engagement with base  34 . Base  34  may then be hilly welded into position. Thereafter, shroud  28  may be slid back into engagement with base  34  and retainer  36  reinserted. By allowing some variability in the mounting location of shroud assembly  32  on work implement  12 , different configurations, sizes, shapes, and conditions of work implement  12  may be accommodated. 
         [0031]    After initial installation of shroud assembly  32  on a particular work implement  12 , shrouds  28  may be more easily installed, replaced, and/or reoriented, as desired. For example, after a period of use, when the lower ends of shrouds  28  are worn beyond a threshold amount, retainer  36  may be removed and shrouds  28  slid out of engagement with bases  34 . Shrouds  28  may then be inverted and reinstalled on opposite sides of work implement  12  from where they were removed. The same or new retainers  36  may then be reinstalled. 
         [0032]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed shroud. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed shroud. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.