Bucket lip protection assemblies and lip adapters for same

Various exemplary embodiments of a bucket lip protection assembly are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the bucket lip protection assembly may include a bucket lip protector. The lip protector may include a front portion for engaging material being moved. The lip protector may also include a rear portion opposite the front portion. In addition, the bucket lip protection assembly may include a lip adapter for stabilizing the lip protector relative to a bucket lip. The lip adapter may include a plurality of lip protector engagement surfaces, which may define at least two recessed portions and at least one non-recessed portion of the lip adapter. The lip adapter may also include a bucket lip attachment portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to protection assemblies and, more particularly, to protection assemblies for bucket lips.

BACKGROUND

Many earth-working machines, such as, for example, loaders, excavators, hydraulic mining shovels, cable shovels, bucket wheels, and draglines, include buckets for moving material (e.g., for digging material out of the earth). These buckets are often subjected to extreme wear from abrasion and impacts experienced while moving the material In order to mitigate the wear, replaceable lip protectors are fit to lips of the buckets, and engage the material being moved.

FIG. 1provides an example of a prior art protector assembly10, which is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,885 to Cornelius. As shown, protector assembly10includes a protector mounting lug12and a replaceable lip protector14. Mounting lug12has a laterally disposed flange16, and lip protector14has a cavity18with load transferring surfaces. When secured to mounting lug12by flex pins20, the load transferring surfaces of lip protector14are in mating contact with flange16. The load transferring surfaces are thus able to transfer load from lip protector14to mounting lug12.

Protector assembly10may provide certain benefits in some applications. However, it may have certain drawbacks. For example, flex pins20may be difficult to remove and/or install when scaled for large buckets. As another example, mounting lug12may allow undesirable movement of lip protector14during some portion of assembly10's operational life. The disclosed embodiments may help solve these problems.

SUMMARY

One disclosed embodiment relates to a lip adapter for stabilizing a lip protector relative to a bucket lip. The lip adapter may include a plurality of lip protector engagement surfaces defining at least two recessed portions and at least one non-recessed portion of the lip adapter. The lip adapter may also include a bucket lip attachment portion.

Another disclosed embodiment relates to a bucket lip protection assembly. The bucket lip protection assembly may include a bucket lip protector. The lip protector may include a front portion for engaging material being moved. The lip protector may also include a rear portion opposite the front portion. In addition, the bucket lip protection assembly may include a lip adapter for stabilizing the lip protector relative to a bucket lip. The lip adapter may include a plurality of lip protector engagement surfaces, which may define at least two recessed portions and at least one non-recessed portion of the lip adapter. The lip adapter may also include a bucket lip attachment portion.

A further disclosed embodiment relates to a bucket lip protection assembly attached to a bucket. The bucket lip protection assembly may include a bucket lip protector, a retention system for retaining the lip protector on the bucket, and a lip adapter for stabilizing the lip protector relative to a lip of the bucket. The lip protector may include a front portion for engaging material being moved, and a rear portion opposite the front portion. The retention system may include a boss, which may be welded to the bucket. The boss may include a protrusion extending away from the bucket. The boss may also include a generally T-shaped portion extending longitudinally along the bucket, which may engage surfaces of the rear portion of the lip protector to prevent the lip protector from moving toward or away from the bucket along the direction in which the protrusion extends. In addition, the retention system may include a lock situated in a bore of the lip protector. The lock may at least partially surround the protrusion to prevent the lip protector from moving longitudinally relative to the bucket. The lip adapter may include a plurality of lip protector engagement surfaces, which may define at least one recessed portion and at least one non-recessed portion of the lip adapter. The lip adapter may also include a bucket lip attachment portion, which may be welded to the lip of the bucket. The rear portion of the lip protector may include at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion may be configured to mate with the at least one recessed portion of the lip adapter to prevent the lip protector from moving laterally relative to the bucket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2illustrates components of exemplary bucket lip protection assemblies100, which may be attached to a bucket lip110of a bucket120. For example, bucket120may be associated with an earth-working machine (e.g., a loader, an excavator, a hydraulic, mining shovel, a cable shovel, a bucket wheel, a dragline, or another type of earth-working machine), and may be used for moving material (e.g., for digging material out of the earth). Lip protection assemblies100may be attached to lip110between teeth130, and may mitigate wear from abrasion and impacts experienced by lip110while moving the material.

Each lip protection assembly100may include a bucket lip protector140, a retention system150for retaining lip protector140on bucket120, and a lip adapter160for stabilizing lip protector140relative to lip110. Lip protector140may include a front portion170for engaging material being moved. In addition, lip protector140may include a rear portion180opposite front portion170for engaging retention system150and lip adapter160.

As shown, retention system150may include a boss190, which may be attached to bucket120. For example, boss190may be attached to bucket120using one or more welds, mechanical fasteners, and/or adhesives. Retention system150may also include a lock200.

Boss190may include a protrusion220, which may extend away from bucket120. As shown, protrusion220may be frustum-shaped. In some embodiments, however, protrusion220may be cylinder-shaped. When lip protector140is attached to bucket120, lock200may be situated in a bore230of lip protector140and at least partially surround protrusion220. Lock200may thus prevent lip protector140from moving relative to bucket120in a longitudinal direction240of bucket120.

Boss190may also include a generally T-shaped portion250, which may extend along bucket120in longitudinal direction240. Referring toFIG. 3, T-shaped portion250may have laterally outer edges260that are radiused to reduce stress within T-shaped portion250. For example, edges260may be continuous rounds. In addition, T-shaped portion250may also have a front edge270that is radiused to reduce stress within T-shaped portion250. Like edges260, edge270may also be a continuous round. Referring toFIG. 6, when lip protector140is attached to bucket120, T-shaped portion250may engage surfaces280of rear portion180, which may define a corresponding generally T-shaped cavity290of lip protector140. By doing so, T-shaped portion250may prevent lip protector140from moving toward or away from bucket120along a direction300in which protrusion220extends. It is contemplated that the continuous rounds of edges260,270may reduce stresses on lip protector140.

Additionally, boss190may include a rear portion310, which may be configured to deflect material over lip protector140as material flows out of bucket120. In particular, rear portion310may be formed from steel, and, as shown inFIG. 1, rear portion310may extend at least as far away from bucket120as a rear-most surface320of lip protector140that faces rear portion310. In addition, rear portion310may include a deflection surface330that is angled with respect to longitudinal direction240of bucket120. For example, an angle340between deflection surface330and longitudinal direction240may be between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees. In one embodiment of boss190, angle340may be approximately 135 degrees. In other embodiments, rear portion310may be round or may be rectangular- or square-shaped.

As shown inFIG. 4, lip adapter160may include a bucket lip attachment portion342, which may be attached to lip110of bucket120. For example, lip attachment portion342may be attached to lip110using one or more welds. In such embodiments, weld material may be situated in a recess344formed in lip adapter160and/or along a rear edge346of lip adapter160. Alternatively, lip attachment portion342may be attached to lip110using mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives.

Referring toFIG. 5, lip adapter160may also include a plurality of lip protector engagement surfaces350,360,370,380,390, which may define one or more recessed portions440and one or more non-recessed portions450of lip adapter160. AlthoughFIG. 5illustrates engagement surfaces350,360,370,380,390as defining two recessed portions440and three non-recessed portions450, it should be understood that lip protector engagement surfaces350,360,370,380,390could define another number of recessed portions440and/or non-recessed portions450. For example, in some embodiments, lip protector engagement surfaces350,360,370,380,390may define three recessed portions440and four non-recessed portions450. In other embodiments, lip protector engagement surfaces350,360,370,380,390may define four recessed portions440and five non-recessed portions450. And in yet other embodiments, lip protector engagement surfaces350,360,370,380,390may define more than four recessed portions440and/or more than five non-recessed portions450.

Non-recessed lip protector engagement surface350may define a front end460of each of non-recessed portions450, while recessed lip protector engagement surfaces360may define a rear end470of each recessed portion440. As shown, lip protector engagement surfaces350,360may be generally planar, and may be approximately parallel to each other. However, it should be understood that one or more of engagement surfaces350,360could be otherwise shaped or angled in some embodiments. For example, engagement surfaces350,360could be curved. As another example, engagement surface350could be angled relative to engagement surfaces360, or one engagement surface360could be angled relative to another engagement surface360.

Recessed lip protector engagement surface370may define a floor of each recessed portion440. As shown, lip protector engagement surface370may be generally planar, and may be approximately perpendicular to engagement surfaces350,360. However, it should be understood that engagement surface370could be otherwise shaped or angled in some embodiments. For example, like engagement surfaces350,360, engagement surface370could be curved. As another example, engagement surface370could be angled relative to one or more of engagement surfaces350,360.

A pair of lip protector lateral engagement surfaces380,390may connect each recessed lip protector engagement surface360to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface350. As shown, lip protector lateral engagement surfaces380,390may be generally planar, angled with respect to each other and with respect to engagement surfaces350,360, and approximately perpendicular to recessed lip protector engagement surface370. For example, an angle475between surfaces380,390may be between approximately 0 degrees and approximately 120 degrees. More specifically, angle475may be between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 90 degrees. For example, angle475may be related to a spade angle of bucket120(i.e., the supplement of an angle between a portion of lip110that is perpendicular to longitudinal direction240of bucket120, and a portion of lip110that is not perpendicular to longitudinal direction240). In particular, angle475may be two degrees plus twice the spade angle. However, it should be understood that lateral engagement surfaces380,390may be otherwise angled or shaped in some embodiments. For example, engagement surfaces380,390could be approximately parallel to each other, or one or both of engagement surfaces380,390could be angled with respect to engagement surface370. As another example, engagement surfaces380,390could be approximately perpendicular to one or more of engagement surfaces350,360. As yet another example, like engagement surfaces350,360, and370, engagement surfaces380,390could be curved.

Sill referring toFIG. 5, lip adapter160may also include a top surface480, which may be opposite bucket lip attachment portion342. In addition, lip adapter160may include at least one protrusion, which may extend outward from top surface480. For example, lip adapter160may include a wear indicator protrusion490, which may indicate the remaining operational life of lip adapter160(when protrusion490wears off, lip adapter160should be replaced). As another example, lip adapter160may include one or more alignment protrusions500, which may facilitate proper alignment of adapter160relative to lip110during installation of lip adapter160.

As shown inFIG. 5, protrusion490may generally trace a front edge510of top surface480. In particular, protrusion490may extend along top surface480in a direction approximately parallel to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface350, bend, and extend along top surface480in a direction approximately parallel to lip protector lateral engagement surface380. Protrusion490may then bend again and extend along top surface480in a direction approximately parallel to recessed lip protector engagement surface360. After bending yet again, protrusion490may then extend along top surface480in a direction approximately parallel to lip protector lateral engagement surface390. Protrusion490may then bend again and extend along top surface480in the direction approximately parallel to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface350. Such bends and extensions may be repeated until protrusion490traverses the entire length of top surface480. Alternatively, they may only be repeated a limited number of times. In yet another alternative, they may not be repeated. Alternatively, sonic of the bends and/or extensions may be repeated, while others are not repeated. In yet another alternative, some of the bends and/or extensions may not be included at all, or may be otherwise shaped. For example, the extensions may be non-linear, or may extend at angles relative to engagement surfaces350,360,380,390instead of being approximately parallel to engagement surfaces350,360,380,390.

Again referring toFIG. 5, lip adapter160may include three alignment protrusions500. For example, lip adapter160may include a central alignment protrusion500a, which may extend in a direction approximately perpendicular to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface350. In addition, lip adapter160may include two offset alignment protrusions500b,which may extend in directions that are angled with respect to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface350. Protrusion500amay be used to align lip adapter160when attaching adapter160to a portion of lip110that is perpendicular to longitudinal direction240of bucket120, while one of protrusions500bmay be used to align lip adapter160when attaching adapter160to a portion of lip110that is not perpendicular to longitudinal direction240. Although protrusions500aand500bmay be desirable for many installations, it is contemplated that certain embodiments may not include both protrusions500aand500b, or may include additional protrusions500. For example, lip adapters160for use with buckets120having no lip portions perpendicular to longitudinal direction240may not include central alignment protrusion500a.

Rear portion180may also include a primary engagement surface515, which may be configured to engage non-recessed lip protector engagement surface350of lip adapter160. When lip protector140is attached to bucket120, surface515may oppose surface350to prevent lip protector140from moving longitudinally relative to bucket120.

In addition, rear portion180may include one or more protrusions520, which may be configured to mate with recessed portions440. For example, rear portion180may include a protrusion520corresponding to each recessed portion440, and each protrusion520may include a pair of lateral engagement surfaces530,540configured to engage lateral engagement surfaces380,390of recessed portion440. When lip protector140is attached to bucket120, surfaces530,540may oppose surfaces380,390to prevent lip protector140from moving laterally relative to bucket120.

Protrusions520may also be configured to engage recessed lip protection engagement surfaces360only after at least one of lip protector140or lip adapter160has experienced wear. That is, given the opposing contact between surface515and surface350, protrusions520may not be long enough to contact surfaces360until after surfaces515and/or350have worn down. It should be understood, however, that some embodiments may include protrusions520that are long enough to contact surfaces360before surfaces515and/or350have worn down.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The disclosed bucket lip protection assemblies may be applicable to buckets of earth-working machines, such as, for example loaders, excavators, hydraulic mining shovels, cable shovels, bucket wheels, and draglines, and may mitigate wear from abrasion and impacts experienced by lips of the buckets while moving material. The disclosed bucket lip protection assemblies may have various advantages over prior art bucket lip protection assemblies. For example, they may be relatively easy to remove and/or install regardless of bucket size. In addition, they may prevent undesirable movement of lip protectors over extended time periods. Specific advantages of the disclosed bucket lip protection assemblies will now be described.

Bucket lip protection assembly100's retention system150may retain lip protector140on bucket120without using pins that may be difficult to remove and/or install when scaled for large buckets. Instead, retention system150may retain lip protector140on bucket120using lock200and boss190. As discussed above, when lip protector140is attached to bucket120, lock200may be situated in bore230of lip protector140and at least partially surround protrusion220of boss190. Lock200may thus prevent lip protector140from moving relative to bucket120in longitudinal direction240of bucket120. Also, when lip protector140is attached to bucket120, T-shaped portion250may engage surfaces280of rear portion180, which may define a corresponding T-shaped cavity290of lip protector140. By doing so, T-shaped portion250may prevent lip protector140from moving toward or away from bucket120along direction300.

Bucket lip protection assembly100's lip adapter160may stabilize lip protector140relative to lip110of bucket120. As discussed above, when lip protector140is attached to bucket120, surface515of lip protector140may oppose surface350of lip adapter160to prevent lip protector140from moving longitudinally relative to bucket120. In addition, When surfaces515,350wear down, protrusions520of lip protector140may engage surfaces360of lip adapter160to prevent lip protector from moving longitudinally relative to bucket120. Also, throughout the operational life of bucket lip protection assembly100, surfaces530,540of lip protector140may oppose surfaces380,390of lip adapter160to prevent lip protector140from moving laterally relative to bucket120.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed bucket lip protection assemblies. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed bucket lip protection assemblies. 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.