Abstract:
A tip for demolition and construction equipment has a discrete base with at least one recess therein to accept a replaceable insert. The insert has a projection that fits within a mating socket within the base. A threaded bolt may extend through a common bore within the insert and base to secure the insert to the base. The tip may also include a second opposing insert which is held within a respective recess by a common bolt.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a tip used for construction or demolition equipment which is adapted to be attached to a support and used in conjunction with, for example, a heavy-duty metal cutting shear, a plate shear, a concrete crusher, a grapple or other construction or demolition equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a replaceable tip secured to a support.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     For purposes of discussion herein, demolition and construction equipment may also be referred to as scrap handling equipment. The description of demolition equipment and construction equipment herein is not intended to be restrictive of the equipment being referenced. Demolition equipment, such as heavy-duty metal cutting shears, grapples and concrete crushers are mounted on backhoes powered by hydraulic cylinders for a variety of jobs in the demolition field. This equipment provides for the efficient cutting and handling of scrap. For example, in the dismantling of an industrial building, metal scrap, in the form of various diameter pipes, structural I-beams, channels, angles, sheet metal plates and the like must be efficiently severed and handled by heavy duty metal shears. Such shears can also be utilized for reducing automobiles, truck frames, railroad cars and the like. The shears must be able to move and cut the metal scrap pieces regardless of the size or shape of the individual scrap pieces and without any significant damage to the shears. In the demolition of an industrial building, concrete crushing devices, such as a concrete pulverizer or concrete crackers, are also used to reduce the structure to manageable components which can be easily handled and removed from the site. Wood shears and plate shears also represent specialized cutting devices useful in particular demolition or debris removal situations depending on the type of scrap. Also, a grapple is often utilized where handling of debris or work pieces is a primary function of the equipment. Historically, all of these pieces of equipment represent distinct tools having significant independent capital cost. Consequently, the demolition industry has tended to develop one type of tool that can be used for as many of these applications as possible.  
         [0005]     For illustrative purposes, the following discussion will be directed to metal shears. One type of metal shear is a shear having a fixed blade and a movable blade pivoted thereto. The movable blade is pivoted by a hydraulic cylinder to provide a shearing action between the blades for severing the work pieces. Examples of this type of shears can be found in prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,403,431; 4,670,983; 4,897,921; 5,926,958; and 5,940,971 which are assigned to the assignee of this application and which are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art, multiple tool attachment adapted to be attached to demolition or construction equipment, such as a backhoe (not shown). The multiple tool attachment is adapted to connect one of a series of tools or tool units to the demolition equipment. The tool attached in  FIG. 1  is a metal shear  10 . The shear  10  includes a first blade  12  connected to an upper jaw  13  and a second blade  14  connected to a lower jaw  15 , wherein the jaws  13 , 15  are pivotally connected at a hub or main pin  16  to a universal body  18 . The body  18  is referred to as universal because it remains common to a series of tools or tool units in the attachment system. The universal body  18  is comprised of sides  19 , a bearing housing  20  and a yoke  21 .  
         [0007]     The upper jaw  13  and the lower jaw  15  pivot about the main pin  16  to form a movable jaw assembly  22 . At the end of the first blade  12  is a blade tip  24 . Details of the blade tip  24  are provided in  FIGS. 3 and 4  wherein the blade tip  24  is comprised of a base  26  having a top side  28 , bottom side  30  and walls  32 , 34  therebetween. The base  26  of the blade tip  24  is a completely solid piece and the top side  28  of the base  26  is secured to a support  36  associated with the upper jaw  13 .  
         [0008]     Directing attention to  FIGS. 1 and 2  the second blade  14  has associated with it a guide channel  38  which accepts and provides lateral support to the blade tip  24  and the first blade  12 . To minimize the deflection experienced under load by the first blade  12  and the blade tip  24 , the tolerance for the guide channel  38  is fairly low.  
         [0009]     In many applications, the first blade  12  and support  36  may be laterally displaced relative to the guide channel  38  such that upon entering the guide channel  38  the side of the blade tip  24  experiences rubbing and extensive wear during normal operation. This wear if not properly maintained can lead to the first blade  12  becoming jammed or stuck in the guide channel  38 . This condition is known as “stickers” in the industry. Stickers can develop when the clearance gap between the walls  32 , 34  of the tip  24  of the first blade  12  and the walls  40 , 42  of the guide channel  38  of the lower blade  14  become excessive enough to allow material to become wedged between these surfaces while shearing. Once the first blade  12  becomes stuck within the guide channel  38 , the shear  10  must oftentimes be decommissioned for repair. It is then necessary to build up the walls  32 , 34  of the tip  24  by welding to keep these gaps at a minimum. This process is very time consuming and costly and, depending on the material that the shear is processing, building up the tip could be required as often as once a week.  
         [0010]     Therefore, a tip design is desired that may be easily repaired or replaced when worn to minimize the downtime of a shear or other equipment.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     On embodiment of the subject invention is directed to a tip for demolition and construction equipment having a discrete base with a top side, a bottom side and walls therebetween. The base also has a mounting surface on the top side of the base adapted to be secured to a support. The base furthermore has a central portion with a cutting edge, whereby the cutting edge is defined at the lowermost portion of the bottom side of the base. A recess extends into at least one wall of the base and the recess defines a recess upper side, an inner wall and a recess contour. An insert has a top side, a bottom side and walls therebetween with a cutting edge defined at the lowermost portion of the bottom side of the insert and generally aligned with the cutting edge of the base. The insert has a profile which generally conforms to the recess contour. An insert is secured within each recess.  
         [0012]     Another embodiment of the subject invention is directed to the inserts which are secured within each base recess.  
         [0013]     Yet another embodiment of the subject invention is directed to demolition and construction equipment utilizing such a tip.  
         [0014]     Yet another embodiment of the subject invention is directed to a method of securing inserts within a tip for demolition and construction equipment comprising the steps of providing a common bore through the insert and the walls of the base at each recess, positioning an insert within each recess, inserting a fastener therethrough; and securing the fastener against each insert within the recess. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is prior art and is a side view illustrating a metal shear incorporated into a universal body for a construction tool system;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is prior art and is a plan view of the shear in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is prior art and is a front view of a blade tip;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is prior art and is a side view of the blade tip shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged portion of the encircled section in  FIG. 1 , however, with the introduction of a blade tip in accordance with the subject invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the tip illustrated in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is an exploded section view of the blade tip wherein one insert has a recess to accept a nut;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the base associated with the blade tip;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a profile of the insert associated with the blade tip;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a side view of one insert having an internally threaded bore to accept a bolt; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an insert which is indexable in accordance with the subject invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates a blade tip  100  secured to a support  105  such as the upper jaw  13  of a jaw assembly  22  used in an industrial shear. It should be appreciated that although this tip  100  will be discussed in the context of an industrial shear associated with demolition equipment, it should be appreciated that such a blade tip  100  can be implemented on any type of equipment that shears, cuts, cracks, crunches or processes any type of material by motion of the blade tip.  
         [0028]     The blade tip  100  may be utilized, for example, as a shear tip, claw tooth, crusher tooth and any and all piercing/punching devices that currently exist or that may be developed. This tip has immediate applications for products such as shears, claws, grapples, crushers, crackers, rail breakers, multi-blade cutters, tree shears, ripper teeth, grinding teeth, shearing teeth and any mechanism that can utilize a disposable cutting part which is subjected to wear.  
         [0029]     Directing attention to  FIGS. 6-9 , the tip  100  is comprised of a discrete base  114  having a top side  116 , a bottom side  118  and walls  120 ,  122  therebetween. The base  114  has a mounting surface  124  on the top side  116  wherein the mounting surface  124  is adapted to be secured to the support  105  ( FIG. 5 ). The base  114  has a central portion  126  with a cutting edge  128  whereby the cutting edge  128  is defined at the lowermost portion  130  of the bottom side  118  of the base  114 . A recess  132  extends into at least one wall  120 ,  122  of the base  114 . The recess  132  defines a recess upper side  134 , a recess inner wall  136  and a recess contour  138  ( FIG. 8 ). A second insert  184  will be described and is secured within a second recess  182 .  
         [0030]     Directing attention to insert  150 , the insert  150  has a top side  152 , a bottom side  154  and walls  156 ,  158  therebetween. A cutting edge  160  is defined at the lowermost portion  162  of the bottom side  154  of the insert  150  and is generally aligned with the cutting edge  128  of the base  114 .  
         [0031]     Directing attention to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the profile  164  of the insert  150  generally conforms to the contour  138  of the recess  132 . The recess contour  138  is triangular and the profile  164  of the tip  150  corresponds to this shape. The insert  150  is secured within the recess  132 . Directing attention to  FIG. 7 , when the insert  150  is secured within the recess  132 , the cutting edge  160  of the insert  150  is in approximate alignment with the cutting edge  128  of the base  114 . This is also true for insert  184  within the recess  182 .  
         [0032]     To provide additional support to the insert  150  within the recess  132 , the top side  152  of the insert  150  is positioned against the upper side  134  of the recess  132 .  
         [0033]     Redirecting attention to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the base  114  further includes a socket  166  extending into the inner wall  136  of the recess  132 . The insert  150  further includes a projection  168  extending from the wall  158  wherein the projection  168  fits within the socket  166  to support the insert  150  within the recess  132 .  
         [0034]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the socket  166  and the projection  168  have matching shapes and are noncircular such that when the insert  150  is mounted within the recess  132  there is no relative rotation between the socket  166  and the projection  168 .  
         [0035]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a common bore  170  extends through the insert  150 , the base  114  and the insert  184 . A fastener  172  passes through the common bore  170  and secures the inserts  150 , 184  within their respective recesses  132 , 182 . The fastener  172  may be a threaded bolt having a bolt head  174  and a threaded shaft  176 . The bore  170  may include a counter bore  173  within the insert  150  to accept the bolt head  174  and, furthermore, the bore  170  within the base  114  may have threads (not shown) to accept the threaded shaft  176 .  
         [0036]     While so far only a single recess  132  and a single insert  150  have been discussed in detail, a second recess  182  is associated with the opposite wall  122  of the base  114  and a second insert  184  is secured within the recess  182  in the same fashion as the insert  150  is secured within the recess  132 . When the fastener  172  has a bolt head  174  and a threaded shaft  176 , the bore  170  of the insert  178  may have a countersink  178  to accept the nut  186  to engage the threaded shaft  176  of the bolt  172 .  
         [0037]     In the alternative, an insert  190  having all of the features of insert  184  with the exception of a countersunk portion of the bore to accept the nut  186  may itself have a threaded bore  185  to accept the threaded shaft  176  of the bolt  172 , thereby alleviating the need for the nut  186  and the corresponding countersunk portion within the insert  184  to accommodate the nut  186 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of an insert  200  having a top side  216 , a bottom side  218  and an additional third side  220  with walls  222 ,  224  therebetween. Extending from the wall  224  of the insert  200  is a projection  226  that is centered about a bore  228  extending therethrough such that the projection  226  and the contour of the first, second and third sides  216 ,  218 ,  220  are symmetric. As a result, with obvious modifications to the base  114  to accept the insert  200 , the insert  200  may be indexable such that multiple cutting edges  230 ,  232 ,  234  may be positioned at the lowermost portion  130  of the bottom side  118  of the base  114  and when one cutting edge becomes worn the insert  200  may be rotated such that a second cutting edge is exposed.  
         [0039]     The invention is also directed to a method of securing an insert  150  within a tip  100  for demolition and construction equipment comprising the step of providing a common bore  170  through the insert  150  and the walls  136 ,  137  of the base  114  at each recess  132 ,  176 . Each insert  150 ,  178  is positioned within its respective recess  132 ,  176 . A fastener  172  is inserted within the common bore  170  and the fastener  172  is then secured against each insert  150 ,  178  within their respective recess  132 ,  176 .  
         [0040]     It should be appreciated that under most circumstances the only maintenance for the tip  100  will be the replacement of the inserts  150 , 184 . However, it is possible to remove the base  114  from the support  36  to replace the entire tip  100  such that the tip  100  may be considered to be disposable. Furthermore, depending upon the application for which the tip  100  may be used, the material of the base  114  and the material of the tip  100  may be different.  
         [0041]     As a result of the tip  100  in accordance with the subject invention, machine down time and the associated expense may be significantly reduced because worn tips may be quickly and easily replaced.  
         [0042]     This invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.