Bucket tip end cover

A bucket tip end cover 1 includes multiple cover members 10, 20 arranged at a tip end of a bucket 5 between adjacent ones of adaptors 7. The multiple cover members 10, 20 are fixed to the bucket 5 in a state in which an entire width in an arraying direction A of the adaptors 7 is adjusted in such a manner that each cover member 10, 20 relatively moves in the arraying direction A.

This application claims priority to JP 2018-141911 filed Jul. 28, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a bucket tip end cover attached to a tip end side of a bucket for a shovel machine.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, for a bucket of a shovel machine such as a power shovel or a shovel loader, multiple adaptors are fixed to a tip end of the bucket at predetermined intervals. For example, a claw-shaped tooth as a drilling tool is attached to a tip end of each adaptor. The tooth protrudes from the tip end of the bucket.

Patent Literature 1 describes that a bucket tip end cover (a shroud) is fixed to a tip end of a bucket exposed between adjacent teeth. The bucket tip end cover is fixed to the bucket tip end, and therefore, the bucket tip end is protected. Generally, the bucket tip end cover is made of metal such as casting iron, and is fixed to the plate-shaped bucket tip end by welding.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PATENT LITERATURE 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-245529

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The interval of adjacent adaptors (i.e., a tooth interval) varies according to the type and size of the bucket. Thus, for properly covering and protecting the bucket tip end between the adaptors, multiple types of bucket tip end covers with different sizes are preferably prepared for various different adaptor intervals. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to prepare the multiple types of bucket tip end covers in advance, considering a manufacturing cost and inventory control.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described point, and is intended to modify a configuration of a bucket tip end cover to enhance even protection of a tip end of a bucket with different adaptor intervals.

Solution to the Problems

The present disclosure relates to a bucket tip end cover fixed to a tip end of a bucket exposed in a state in which drilling tools are each attached to adaptors to protect the tip end of the bucket, the adaptors being provided at a predetermined interval at the bucket. The bucket tip end cover includes a first cover member and a second cover member arranged at the tip end of the bucket between adjacent ones of the adaptors. The first cover member and the second cover member are fixed to the bucket in a state in which an entire width in an arraying direction of the adaptors is adjusted in such a manner that each cover member relatively moves in the arraying direction. The first cover member includes a first base portion provided along an inner surface or an outer surface of the bucket, and a first front end portion standing at a front end of the first base portion to cover the tip end of the bucket. The second cover member includes a second base portion provided along the inner surface or the outer surface of the bucket, and a second front end portion standing at a front end of the second base portion to cover the tip end of the bucket. A cutout portion is formed at the substantially center of the first base portion. A center protruding portion having a front surface configured to support a back surface of the cutout portion is formed at the second base portion.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present disclosure, even protection of a tip end of a bucket with different adaptor intervals can be enhanced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments below.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is an enlarged partial plan view of a tip end6of a bucket5attached to a bucket tip end cover1in the present embodiment.FIGS. 2 to 4are perspective views of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is expanded.FIG. 5is a plan view of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is expanded.FIG. 6is a front view of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is expanded.FIG. 7is a side view of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is expanded.FIG. 8is a bottom view of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is expanded.

In the present embodiment, a lower side as viewed inFIGS. 1 and 5will be referred to as a “front side,” and an upper side as viewed in these figures will be referred to as a “back side.” Thus, a tip end side of the bucket5is the “front side.”

Although not shown in the figure, the bucket5is mounted on an arm of a power shovel. As illustrated inFIG. 1, multiple adaptors7are provided at predetermined intervals at the tip end6of the bucket5. Note that inFIG. 1, part of the tip end6of the bucket5is illustrated in close-up, and therefore, only two adaptors are illustrated in the figure. However, three or more adaptors7may be provided at the bucket5.

The tip end6of the bucket5is formed in a plate shape. The adaptors7are fixed to the tip end6of the bucket5by welding. A tooth8as a drilling tool is attached to each adaptor7. Moreover, the bucket tip end cover1is attached to the tip end6of the bucket5between adjacent ones of the adaptors7. The bucket tip end cover1is for protecting the tip end6of the bucket5, and is fixed to the tip end6of the bucket5by welding.

The bucket tip end cover1includes multiple cover members10,20arranged at the tip end6of the bucket5between adjacent ones of the adaptors7. The multiple cover members10,20are configured such that each cover member10,20is fixed to the bucket5in a state in which the cover members10,20relatively move in an arraying direction (the direction of an arrow A as a right-to-left direction inFIG. 1) of the adaptors7to adjust an entire width in the arraying direction A. Hereinafter, details will be described.

FIGS. 9 and 10are perspective views of a first cover member.FIGS. 11 and 12are perspective views of a second cover member. The multiple cover members10,20include a first cover member10and a second cover member20made of casting iron, for example.

As illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, the first cover member10has a first base portion11provided along an inner surface (a near side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) or an outer surface (a far side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) of the bucket5, and a first front end portion12standing at a front end of the first base portion11to cover the tip end6of the bucket5. The first base portion11of the present embodiment is provided along the outer surface (the far side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) of the bucket5.

The first base portion11has a plate-shaped flat plate portion13, and an edge portion14formed at the side of the flat plate portion13. The edge portion14is provided on the opposite side of the flat plate portion13from the second cover member20. An inclined surface15is formed at the edge portion14, and a welding portion is housed between the inclined surface15and the surface of the bucket5. A first cutout portion16is formed at the substantially center of the flat plate portion13. The first cutout portion16opens to the opposite side of the flat plate portion13from the edge portion14. For resistance against impact from the front of the bucket5or wear, the first front end portion12has a relatively-large thickness in a front-to-back direction.

On the other hand, the second cover member20has a second base portion21provided along the inner surface (the near side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) or the outer surface (the far side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) of the bucket5, and a second front end portion22standing at a front end of the second base portion21to cover the tip end6of the bucket5, as illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12. As in the first base portion11, the second base portion21of the present embodiment is provided along the outer surface (the far side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) of the bucket5.

The second base portion21has a base body23and step portions24formed on a side of the base body23close to the first cover member10. As illustrated inFIG. 11, an inclined surface25is formed at the base body23, and the welding portion is housed between the inclined surface25and the surface of the bucket5. Moreover, as illustrated inFIG. 12, a protrusion26is formed outside (the opposite side of the bucket5) the second base portion21.

A second cutout portion27is formed on a side of the second base portion21close to the first cover member10. The step portions24are provided on both sides of the second cutout portion27in the front-to-back direction. In other words, two step portions24are provided next to each other in the front-to-back direction at the second base portion21, and the second cutout portion27is arranged between these two step portions24.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 5, the step portions24overlap with the flat plate portion13of the first cover member10in a state in which the first cover member10and the second cover member20are assembled with each other. Moreover, the first cutout portion16and the second cutout portion27form a single long-hole-shaped opening31in a state in which the first cover member10and the second cover member20are assembled with each other. The opening31is for welding the first cover member10and the second cover member20to the surface of the bucket5at an inner peripheral edge of the opening31.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, the second base portion21has a center protruding portion33standing on the step portion24. The center protruding portion33is formed on one of the step portions24, and a side surface of the center protruding portion33defines part of the second cutout portion27.

FIGS. 13 and 14are perspective views of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is narrowed.FIG. 15is a plan view of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is narrowed.FIG. 16is a front view of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is narrowed.FIG. 17is a bottom view of the bucket tip end cover1whose width is narrowed.

As illustrated inFIGS. 13 to 17, the bucket tip end cover1is configured such that the width of the bucket tip end cover1is narrowed in such a manner that the first cover member10and the second cover member20relatively move in an approaching direction. Then, the bucket tip end cover1is welded and fixed to the bucket5with the bucket tip end cover1being adjusted to a desired width.

The center protruding portion33of the second cover member20is configured such that a side surface on the opposite side of the side surface defining the second cutout portion27is guided by a side surface of the first cutout portion16when the first cover member10and the second cover member20are combined and relatively moved right to left. Further, the center protruding portion33is provided so that the strength of the second base portion21can be enhanced.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the first front end portion12includes a first shielding portion18configured to shield, from the front, a clearance35formed between the first front end portion12and the second front end portion22. The first shielding portion18is configured to shield, from the front, not only the clearance35but also a clearance36formed between the first base portion and the second base portion. In other words, the first shielding portion18shields, from the front, the clearances35,36which might be formed at a front end of the bucket tip end cover1.

A front surface of the second front end portion22is configured to guide a back surface of the first shielding portion18when the first cover member10moves right to left relative to the second cover member20. That is, the first shielding portion18relatively moves along the front surface of the second front end portion22.

Further, the second base portion21includes a second shielding portion28configured to shield, from the back, the clearance36formed between the second base portion21and the first base portion11. A back surface of the first base portion11is configured to guide a front surface of the second shielding portion28when the first cover member10moves right to left relative to the second cover member20. That is, the second shielding portion28relatively moves along the back surface of the first base portion11.

In a state in which the entire width in the arraying direction A of the adaptors7is adjusted by relative movement of the first cover member10and the second cover member20in the arraying direction A, the bucket tip end cover1is fixed to the bucket5by welding.

Thus, according to the first embodiment, the bucket tip end cover1includes the multiple cover members (the first cover member10and the second cover member20), and therefore, the width of the bucket tip end cover1in the arraying direction A of the adaptors7can be adjusted as necessary in such a manner that each cover member (the first cover member10and the second cover member20) relatively moves in the arraying direction A. Thus, even for the bucket5with different intervals of the tooth8, the width of the bucket tip end cover1is changed as necessary according to the interval of the tooth8so that protection of the tip end6of the bucket5can be enhanced.

When the first cover member10and the second cover member20are separated from each other to expand the width of the bucket tip end cover1, the clearance35is formed between the first front end portion12of the first cover member10and the second front end portion22of the second cover member20. In the present embodiment, it is configured such that the clearance35is shielded from the front by the first shielding portion18. Thus, not only the strength of a front end portion of the bucket tip end cover1having the first front end portion12and the second front end portion22is enhanced, but also entrance of dirt etc. into the clearance35from the tip end side (i.e., the front of the bucket5) of the bucket5upon a drilling process can be prevented. Further, not only the clearance35between the first front end portion12and the second front end portion22but also the clearance36between the first base portion11and the second base portion21can be shielded by the first shielding portion18. Thus, entrance of dirt etc. into these clearances35,36from the front can be prevented.

By operation of the arm of the power shovel, the bucket5not only moves forward to the tip end side, but also moves backward to the opposite side. In the present embodiment, it is configured such that the clearance36between the first base portion11and the second base portion21is shielded from the back by the second shielding portion28. Thus, entrance of dirt etc. into the clearance36from the back of the bucket upon drilling of dirt etc. or a leveling process for dirt etc. can be prevented.

The front surface of the second front end portion22can support the back surface of the first shielding portion18. In addition, the front surface of the second shielding portion28can support the back surface of the first base portion11, and a front surface of the center protruding portion33can support a back surface of the first cutout portion. Thus, the first cover member10can be firmly supported by the second cover member20. Thus, the bucket tip end cover1of the present embodiment has enhanced strength against impact from the front upon the drilling process.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 18 to 20.FIG. 18is a perspective view of a bucket tip end cover1whose width is expanded in the second embodiment.FIG. 19is a perspective view of a first cover member10.FIG. 20is a perspective view of a second cover member20. Note that configurations similar to those of the first embodiment above will not be described.

As illustrated inFIGS. 18 to 20, the bucket tip end cover1of the second embodiment is configured such that a first front end portion12of the first cover member10includes a third shielding portion38in addition to a first shielding portion18. The third shielding portion38is configured to shield a clearance35formed between a first front end portion12and a second front end portion22from a protruding side (i.e., an upper side inFIG. 18) of the second front end portion22from a second base portion21. The third shielding portion38is formed integrally with the first shielding portion18.

According to the second embodiment, the first shielding portion18and the third shielding portion38are integrally formed so that the entire strength of the first front end portion12can be enhanced. In addition, entrance of dirt etc. into the clearance35between the first front end portion12and the second front end portion22upon a drilling process of a bucket5can be prevented not only from a tip end side (i.e., the front of the bucket5) of the bucket5but also the protruding side (i.e., the upper side inFIG. 18) of the second front end portion22.

Note that in description above, the example where the first base portion11and the second base portion21are provided along the outer surface (the far side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) of the bucket5has been described. However, the first base portion11and the second base portion21may be provided along the inner surface (the near side in the plane of paper ofFIG. 1) of the bucket5. With this configuration, advantageous effects similar to those described above can be also obtained. Moreover, in description above, the example where the bucket tip end cover1includes two cover members10,20has been described, but the bucket tip end cover1may include three or more cover members.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present disclosure is useful for a bucket tip end cover attached to a tip end side of a bucket for a shovel machine.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS