Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a corner adapter for attaching a ground engaging tooth to an implement bucket. The corner adapter includes a nose portion, a bottom strap and a top strap. The nose portion and the bottom strap are aligned along substantially common longitudinal axes, the top strap is aligned along a longitudinal axis that defines an offset angle. A cutout portion and gusset are provided in the top strap to permit the corner adapter to engage the side wall.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a bucket for an excavating machine and more particularly to a corner adapter for mounting a ground engaging tooth to an excavating bucket.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Buckets for excavating machines such as hydraulic excavators, backhoes, wheel loaders and the like include a plurality of ground engaging teeth disposed on a cutting edge. The teeth are evenly spaced between a pair of bucket side walls. Each tooth is removably attached to an adapter, that is in-turn welded to the cutting edge of the bucket. While most teeth and adapters extend perpendicularly outward from the leading edge, some tips positioned at corners of the bucket are arranged to extend outward past the side wall. Having the teeth angled outwardly on the corners loosens material beyond the bucket sides, thus reducing drag.  
           [0003]    An example of a tip and adapter that extends at an outward angle past the side wall is in shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,062 to Evans et al. As shown the adapter includes a top strap, a bottom strap and a nose portion. A longitudinal axis is defined on each of the top and bottom straps, the nose portion defines another longitudinal axis. Each of the longitudinal axes are parallel to one and other. The geometry of these corner adapters includes multiple compound angles where the nose portion connects with the top and bottom straps. These compound angles increases cost of tooling and expense associated with manufacturing the adapter. Three different patterns are required to make these castings, a right corner, a left corner and center patterns.  
           [0004]    Additionally, the corner adapters shown in Evans et al are positioned into a notch formed into the side wall of the bucket above the base edge. A first weld is provided around the top and bottom straps, fixing the adapter to the base edge, a second weld is provided between the top strap and the notch in the wall. This attachment method complicates the replacement of a worn corner adapter because the welds must be removed using a cutting torch. Removing the second weld often results in excess damage to the side wall. Also the interface between the base edge and side walls undergoes extremely high stress during digging operations.  
           [0005]    An additional problem related to corner adapters, is the positioning of the welds used to attach the adapter to the bucket. The welds are typically positioned at unfavorable locations having high stress concentrations, such as where the thickness of the strap is reduced. This increases the potential for failure of the adapter.  
           [0006]    The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the above mentioned problems.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a corner adapter for use with an implement bucket. The corner adapter is adapted to receive a ground engaging tooth and includes a nose portion having a back end, top surface, a bottom surface and a first longitudinal centerline. A top and bottom strap extend from said back end of the nose portion. The bottom strap includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a pair of side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces. A second longitudinal centerline is defined between the top and bottom surfaces of the bottom strap. The top strap includes a top surface, a bottom surface and an inner side surface and an outer side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. A third longitudinal centerline is defined between the inner side surface and the outer side surface, wherein an angle is defined between the first centerline and the third centerline. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an implement bucket employing corner adapters of the present invention installed thereon.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a right side corner adapter as viewed from the front of the right side of corner adapter.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a right side corner adapter as viewed from the rear of the right side of the corner adapter.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top view of a right side corner adapter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    Referring to FIG. 1, an implement bucket  10  similar to those used on hydraulic excavators or backhoes is illustrated. The implement bucket  10  as viewed from the front  12 , is defined about a vertical centerline  14  and has a pair of side walls  15 , including a left side wall  16  and a right side wall  18 . Each of the pair of side walls  15  further defines a leading edge  122 . A wrapper  22  is disposed between the right and left side walls  16 , 18 . The wrapper  22  defines a lower leading edge  24  and an upper leading edge  26  and an opening  28 . A base edge  32  is disposed on the lower leading edge  24  of the bucket  10 . The base edge  32  acts to protect and strengthen the leading edge  24  of the bucket  10 .  
         [0013]    A plurality of adapters  34  are spaced along and attached to the base edge  32 . The plurality of adapters  34  include a left corner adapter  36 , a right corner adapter  38  and one or more straight adapters  42 , spaced between the left  36  and right corner adapter  38 . The adapters  34  are typically attached to the bucket by welding. Each adapter  34  is configured to fixedly receive a ground engaging tooth (not shown).  
         [0014]    The left and right corner adapters  36 ,  38  are substantially mirrored images of one and other. The left corner adapter  36  is configured in a manner to cause the left ground engaging tooth to extend away from the vertical centerline  14  of the bucket  10  at an angle, thus causing the tooth to extend outward past the left side wall  16 . In turn, the right corner adapter  38  extends outward past the right side wall  18 .  
         [0015]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the right corner adapter  38  is illustrated. For the remainder of the description, a generic term “corner adapter”  44  will be used with the understanding that the left and right corner adapters  38 , 42  are substantially mirrored images of one and other. Each adapter  34  includes a nose portion  46 , a bottom strap  48  and a top strap  52 .  
         [0016]    The nose portion  46  is a substantially pointed member configured to extend outward from the base edge  32 . The nose portion  46  includes a front end surface  54 , a rear end portion  56 , a top surface  58 , a bottom surface  62  and a pair of side walls  64 . The top and bottom surfaces  58 , 62  converge toward one and other as they approach the front end surface  54  from the rear end portion  56 . As illustrated, a bore  66  extends from the first wall  72  of the pair of side walls  64  to the second wall  72  of the pair of side walls  64 . The bore  66  is configured to receive a retainer (not shown), for affixing a ground engaging tooth having a mating bore to the adapter  34 .  
         [0017]    The bottom strap  48  is connected to, and extends in a rearward direction from the rear portion  56  of the nose portion  46 , nearest the bottom surface  62 . The bottom strap  48  includes a first side surface  78 , a second side surface (not shown) opposite the first side surface  78 , a top surface  84  and a bottom surface  82 .  
         [0018]    The top strap  52  is connected to, and extends upward and rearward from the rear portion  56  of the nose portion  46  nearest its top surface  58 . The top strap  52  includes a first side surface  88 , a second side surface  92 , a top surface  94  and a bottom surface  96 . A gap  98  is defined between the bottom surface  96  of the top strap  52  and top surface  84  of the bottom strap  48 . The gap  98  allows the top strap  52  to be positioned over a top surface  102  of the base edge  32  and the bottom strap  48  to be positioned under a bottom surface  104  of the base edge  32 . A radius  106  is defined at an intersection of the bottom surface  96  of the top strap  52  and top surface  84  of the bottom strap  48  near the nose portion  46 . A plurality of undercuts  142 , are disposed on the top and bottom straps  48 ,  52 . The undercuts  142  provide a surface for depositing a weld bead for attaching the adapter  34  to the bucket  10 .  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the adapter defines a cavity  108  that extends along the top surface  84  of the bottom strap  48 , upward along the rear portion  56  of the nose portion  46  and rearward along the bottom surface  96  of the top strap  52 . The cavity  108  acts to define stiffeners  112  that in turn provide strength to the top and bottom strap  48 , 52  during use of the bucket  10 . Additionally the cavity  108  reduces overall weight of the adapters  34  that in turn increases payload of the bucket  10 .  
         [0020]    A cutout portion  114  is also defined in the top strap  52  of the corner adapter  44 . The cutout portion  114  includes a rearward facing surface  116  and a secondary side wall  118  that is offset from the first side surface  88  of the top strap  52 . The cutout portion  114  allows the adapter  34  to be positioned with the secondary side wall  118  against the right side wall  16  of the bucket  10  and the rearward facing surface  116  against the leading edge  122  of right side wall  18  of the bucket  10 .  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a first longitudinal centerline  124  is defined on the nose portion  46  substantially midway between the pair of side walls  64 . A second longitudinal centerline  126  is defined on the bottom strap  48  substantially midway between first side surface  78  and second side surface  82 . The second longitudinal centerline  126  is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal centerline  124 . A third longitudinal centerline  128  is defined on the top strap  52  between the secondary side surface  88  and the second side surface  92 . An angle  132  is defined between the first longitudinal centerline  124  and the third longitudinal centerline  128 .  
         [0022]    The combination of the angle  132  and the cutout portion  114  on the top strap  52  permits attachment of the corner adapter  44  with the cutout portion  114  in alignment and abutting the side wall  15  of the bucket  10 . The top strap also defines a gusset  134  that acts to strengthen the bucket  10  at the intersection of the side wall  15  and base edge  32 . The gusset  134  may have a straight or curved surface.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0023]    The corner adapters  44  of the present invention reduce damage to the bucket  10  side wall  15  when worn adapters  34  are replaced. Removal of the corner adapter  44  of the present invention requires removing a weld along the inside of the side wall  15  and around the bottom strap  48 . Whereas removal of a prior corner adapter  44  requires removing a weld on the inside and outside of the side wall  15  and around the bottom strap  48 . Because less heat is required to remove the weld, there is less opportunity for damage to the side wall  15 . Additionally, the gusset on the top strap  52  acts to strengthen the bucket  10  at the intersection of the side wall  15  and base edge  32 .  
         [0024]    Manufacturing cost associated with the present invention may be reduced by having a single pattern that includes the nose portion  46  and bottom strap  48 . Interchangeable patterns for the top strap  52  can be mated with the single pattern to produce castings and reduce manufacturing cost. The top strap  52  patterns include a right pattern, a left pattern and a center pattern.  
         [0025]    An additional benefit with the present invention is that as the bucket  10  is used to dig, downward forces on the tooth and corner adapter  44  are better distributed from the top strap  52  to each of the base edge  32  and side wall  15 .