Abstract:
A swivel link for dragline rigging, the swivel link having three connection points interconnected by connecting arms, the connecting arms defining an interior cavity of the swivel link

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a national stage application under 35 USC 371 of International Application No. PCT/AU2013/000950, filed Aug. 27, 2013, which claims the priority of Australian Application No. AU 2012903703, filed Aug. 27, 2012, the contents of which prior applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to connection elements and connectors for use in dragline rigging. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Dragline excavators are commonly employed to remove earth, soil or other material in is preparation for open cut mining. 
         [0004]    In dragline excavators, a bucket capable of scooping soil is actioned from a boom. A dragline rigging supports the bucket from the boom and couples to it to enable its action. The rigging is an assembly of elements and cables by which the bucket is suspended and operated. The dragline rigging is typically an array of linkages between the bucket and the boom. It is beneficial to provide connection elements allowing increased wear of the moving parts and allowing for greater freedom of movement between aspects of the dragline rigging. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Disclosed in a first aspect is a wear member for a dragline rigging having at least one connecting lug adapted to engage a connector, the at least one connecting lug having a lug surface which in use is in a facing arrangement with the connector, the wear member configured to be positioned intermediate the at least one connecting lug and the connector and contacting the connector at a bearing surface, the bearing surface having an area greater than the lug surface. 
         [0006]    The wear members allow for a connecting surface area to be sacrificially worn away during movement of a connector with respect to the upper spreader bar. In some forms the increased surface area of the wear members allows increased wear and reduces the need for maintenance and replacement. 
         [0007]    In a second aspect, disclosed is a connector for dragline rigging, the connector allowing greater than 100 degrees freedom of movement in two planes. In some forms the connector allows greater than 5 degree freedom of movement in a third plane. In some forms the connector allows 5 degree freedom of movement axially along the length of the link. In some forms the connector comprises two throughholes oriented substantially perpendicularly to one another. 
         [0008]    The connector allows for increased lateral movement of the dump pulleys with respect to the upper spreader bar which increases the freedom of movement within the dragline rigging. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dragline rigging of one embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective partially exploded view of a prior art embodiment of the connection elements for a dragline rigging; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective partially exploded view of one embodiment of the connection elements in situ in a dragline rigging; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective partially exploded view of prior art wear members for a dragline rigging; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective partially exploded view of wear members of one embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a prior art connector for a dragline rigging; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a connector of one embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspect of the present disclosure as generally described herein and illustrated can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure. 
         [0018]    This disclosure is directed generally to connectors and wear members for a dragline rigging for use in excavation, although the connectors and wear members may be utilised in alternative riggings. 
         [0019]    In some forms, disclosed is a wear member for a dragline rigging having at least one connecting lug adapted to engage a connector, the at least one connecting lug having a lug surface which in use is in a facing arrangement with the connector, the wear member configured to be positioned intermediate the at least one connecting lug and the connector and contacting the connector at a bearing surface, the bearing surface having an area greater than the lug surface. 
         [0020]    In some illustrated forms the at least one connecting lug comprises a clevis lug having two spaced apart lug elements with aligned pin cavities. 
         [0021]    In some forms, the wear member comprises a planar body and a shroud extending therefrom and configured in use to enclose at least a portion of the connecting lug. 
         [0022]    In some forms the shroud extends from at least a portion of the periphery of the planar body. 
         [0023]    In some forms the shroud extends away from the bearing surface. 
         [0024]    In some forms, disclosed is a wear member for a connecting lug in a dragline rigging, the wear member comprising a planar body and a shroud extending from at least a portion of the periphery of the planar body. 
         [0025]    In some forms, disclosed is a connector for a dragline rigging, the connector comprising a body and two throughholes oriented to allow greater than 100 degree freedom of movement in two planes. 
         [0026]    In some forms the two planes are substantially perpendicular to one another. 
         [0027]    In some forms the connector allows approximately 180 degrees of freedom of movement in two planes. 
         [0028]    In some forms the throughholes are oriented such that they are substantially perpendicular to one another. 
         [0029]    In some forms, the throughholes comprise a first throughhole adapted to connect with an upper spreader bar and a second throughhole adapted to connect with a dump pulley. 
         [0030]    In some forms the body comprises two conjoined annular sections, the first throughhole extending through a first annular section and the second throughhole extending through a second annular section. 
         [0031]    Disclosed in some forms is a dragline rigging comprising at least one connecting lug adapted to engage a connector, the at least one connecting lug having a lug surface which in use is in a facing arrangement with the connector, and a wear member configured to be positioned intermediate the at least one connecting lug and the connector and contacting the connector at a bearing surface, the bearing surface having an area greater than the lug surface. 
         [0032]    In some forms the rigging further comprises a connector having a body and two throughholes oriented to allow greater than 100 degree freedom of movement in two planes. 
         [0033]    In some forms the at least one connecting lug extends from an upper spreader bar and the connector is configured to engage a dump pulley. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in the Figures, some illustrative embodiments of wear members have increased bearing surface areas allowing for increased wear on the wear members which act as sacrificial wear elements for a forward connection between an upper spreader bar and dump pulley assembly. In some forms this will increase the lifespan of the wear members and thus may decrease costs and maintenance times. Some illustrative embodiments of connectors allow for greater lateral freedom of movement for a connector between an upper spreader bar and a dump pulley. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , disclosed is a dragline rigging  1  providing support for a dragline excavation bucket  3 . The dragline rigging  1  comprises hoist chains  4  extending between an upper spreader bar  6  and a lower spreader bar  7 . The upper spreader bar  6  is configured to engage one or more dump pulleys  8 . In the illustrated form two dump pulleys  8  are provided. The connection  9  between the upper spreader bar  6  and the dump pulleys  8  in the illustrated form allows for freedom of movement of the dump pulleys  8  with respect to the upper spreader bar  6  in at least one direction. 
         [0036]    The connection elements  11  of the present disclosure are positioned intermediate the upper spreader bar connection  9  and the dump pulleys  8 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows a prior art connection  9  between the upper spreader bar  6  and the dump pulleys  8 . In this prior art assembly, the connection elements  11  are configured to be positioned intermediate a forward connection  12  and a dump pulley connector  13 . The connection elements comprise a connector  15 A having a body  16 A. Two throughholes  17 A and  18 A extend through the body. The forward throughhole  17 A is positioned in use to engage the dump pulley connector  13 . The rearward throughhole  18 A is configured in use to engage the forward connection  12  of the upper spreader bar  6 . A pin  19  is configured to be inserted through the forward connection  12  and the rearward throughhole  18 A to secure the connector  15 A with respect to the upper spreader bar  6 . 
         [0038]    Wear members  20 A are positioned between the forward connection  12  and the connector  15 A and act as sacrificial wear plates to reduce or minimize the wear on the forward connection. The forward connection  12  comprises two lugs  22  in a clevis arrangement extending from the upper spreader bar  6 . Each lug  22  includes a pin cavity  23 . The pin cavities  23  are aligned and configured to allow engagement between the forward connection  12  and the connector  15 A by means of a pin  24 . 
         [0039]    The wear members  20 A are positioned intermediate the lugs  22  and a surface of the connector  15 A. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , disclosed is a connector  15  and wear members  20  forming connection elements  11  between a forward connection  12  of an upper spreader bar  6  and a pulley connection  13  of a dump pulley  8 . The wear members  20  include a shroud  28  which acts to increase the bearing surface area of the wear members  20 . Detail of the wear members is best shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  depicts the prior art wear members  20 A which comprise a planar body  26  having a throughhole  25 . 
         [0042]    As best shown in  FIG. 5 , disclosed is a wear member  20  configured to act as a sacrificial wear plate between a forward connection  12  of a upper spreader bar  6  and a connector (not illustrated in this Fig.). The wear member  20  comprises a planar body  26 . In the illustrated form the planar body includes a tab  27  extending in use toward the forward connection  12  of the upper spreader bar  6  and acting to prevent relative rotation of the wear member  20  with respect to the upper spreader bar  6 . The wear member  20  further includes a shroud  28  extending outwardly from at least a portion of the periphery of the planar body  26 . 
         [0043]    In use, the wear members are positioned intermediate a connector (not illustrated in this Fig.). Two opposing wear members are utilized in tandem such that a first wear member is in a facing relationship with a first spaced apart lug  22  extending outwardly from the upper spreader bar and a second wear member is in a facing relationship with a second lug  22 . The wear members  20  have opposing shrouds  28  extending away from the planar body  26  to encase a portion of the lug  22 . In the illustrated form the shroud  28  is integral with the planar body  26  and fits snugly over the lugs  22  to encase them. 
         [0044]    The shroud  28  acts to increase the bearing area  29  of the wear member  20 , that is the area which contacts the connector  15 . This allows for increased wear of the wear member  20  before removal and replacement is necessitated. 
         [0045]    In some forms, the shroud  28  on the wear member  20  tends to allow the wear member to be easily located and positioned with respect to the spaced apart lugs  22  that form part of the forward connection  12  of the upper spreader bar. This allows for ease of assembly of the dragline rigging  1 . Further the shroud  28  can add additional strength to the wear member  20 . In some not illustrated forms the tab  27  is not required to reduce rotation of the wear members  20  with respect to the upper spreader bar  6 . 
         [0046]    The wear member  20  has been described as having a shroud extending from a portion of the periphery of the planar body  26 . However persons skilled in the art will be aware that alternative shapes will provide the additional benefits of an increased bearing area  29  with the connector  15 . The bearing area  29  is greater than the inner lug surface area  30 . In some not illustrated forms the shroud is a curved section of the planar body  26 . 
         [0047]    The connector  15  is best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  depicts a prior art connector  15 A having a connector body  16  extending about two throughholes  17 A and  18 A. The throughholes comprise a forward throughhole  17 A and a rearward throughhole  18 A and the connector body is in the form of two conjoined rings  32 A extending about and defining the throughholes. 
         [0049]    The connector  15 A is configured and positioned in use to connect the forward connection  12  of the upper spreader bar  6  with the dump pulley connector  13  extending from the dump pulley  8 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  discloses a connector  15  comprising two throughholes  17  and  18  extending through a body  16 . The connector  15  is configured to allow vertical movement at the connection between rear throughhole  17  and the forward connection  12  through rotation about an axis extending through rearward throughhole  17 . The rearward throughhole  17  is oriented such that the axis of the rearward throughhole  17  extends laterally. 
         [0051]    The forward throughhole  18  of the connector  15  is oriented at an angle to the rearward throughhole  17 . In the illustrated form the forward throughhole  18  is oriented at a 90 degree angle with respect to the rearward throughhole  17 . Thus connection between the forward throughhole  18  and the dump pulley connector  13  allows horizontal or lateral movement between the dump pulley and the connector  15  through rotation about an axis extending through the forward throughhole  18 . 
         [0052]    In some forms the prior art connector allowed only a 15 to 25 degree freedom of movement laterally while the connector disclosed herein allows a 170 to 180 degree freedom of movement. 
         [0053]    While the connector has been described as having a rearward throughhole allowing vertical movement and a forward throughhole allowing lateral movement, a person skilled in the art will be aware that these planes could be angled or reversed. 
         [0054]    In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 
         [0055]    Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.