Patent Publication Number: US-9404240-B2

Title: Bucket lip protection assemblies and lip adapters for same

Description:
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. 1  provides an example of a prior art protector assembly  10 , which is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,885 to Cornelius. As shown, protector assembly  10  includes a protector mounting lug  12  and a replaceable lip protector  14 . Mounting lug  12  has a laterally disposed flange  16 , and lip protector  14  has a cavity  18  with load transferring surfaces. When secured to mounting lug  12  by flex pins  20 , the load transferring surfaces of lip protector  14  are in mating contact with flange  16 . The load transferring surfaces are thus able to transfer load from lip protector  14  to mounting lug  12 . 
     Protector assembly  10  may provide certain benefits in some applications. However, it may have certain drawbacks. For example, flex pins  20  may be difficult to remove and/or install when scaled for large buckets. As another example, mounting lug  12  may allow undesirable movement of lip protector  14  during some portion of assembly  10 &#39;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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a prior art protector assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of bucket lip protection assemblies according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a boss of one of the bucket lip protection assemblies of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lip adapter of one of the bucket lip protection assemblies of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the lip adapter of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bucket lip protector of one of the bucket lip protection assemblies of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 2  illustrates components of exemplary bucket lip protection assemblies  100 , which may be attached to a bucket lip  110  of a bucket  120 . For example, bucket  120  may 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 assemblies  100  may be attached to lip  110  between teeth  130 , and may mitigate wear from abrasion and impacts experienced by lip  110  while moving the material. 
     Each lip protection assembly  100  may include a bucket lip protector  140 , a retention system  150  for retaining lip protector  140  on bucket  120 , and a lip adapter  160  for stabilizing lip protector  140  relative to lip  110 . Lip protector  140  may include a front portion  170  for engaging material being moved. In addition, lip protector  140  may include a rear portion  180  opposite front portion  170  for engaging retention system  150  and lip adapter  160 . 
     As shown, retention system  150  may include a boss  190 , which may be attached to bucket  120 . For example, boss  190  may be attached to bucket  120  using one or more welds, mechanical fasteners, and/or adhesives. Retention system  150  may also include a lock  200 . 
     Boss  190  may include a protrusion  220 , which may extend away from bucket  120 . As shown, protrusion  220  may be frustum-shaped. In some embodiments, however, protrusion  220  may be cylinder-shaped. When lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , lock  200  may be situated in a bore  230  of lip protector  140  and at least partially surround protrusion  220 . Lock  200  may thus prevent lip protector  140  from moving relative to bucket  120  in a longitudinal direction  240  of bucket  120 . 
     Boss  190  may also include a generally T-shaped portion  250 , which may extend along bucket  120  in longitudinal direction  240 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , T-shaped portion  250  may have laterally outer edges  260  that are radiused to reduce stress within T-shaped portion  250 . For example, edges  260  may be continuous rounds. In addition, T-shaped portion  250  may also have a front edge  270  that is radiused to reduce stress within T-shaped portion  250 . Like edges  260 , edge  270  may also be a continuous round. Referring to  FIG. 6 , when lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , T-shaped portion  250  may engage surfaces  280  of rear portion  180 , which may define a corresponding generally T-shaped cavity  290  of lip protector  140 . By doing so, T-shaped portion  250  may prevent lip protector  140  from moving toward or away from bucket  120  along a direction  300  in which protrusion  220  extends. It is contemplated that the continuous rounds of edges  260 ,  270  may reduce stresses on lip protector  140 . 
     Additionally, boss  190  may include a rear portion  310 , which may be configured to deflect material over lip protector  140  as material flows out of bucket  120 . In particular, rear portion  310  may be formed from steel, and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , rear portion  310  may extend at least as far away from bucket  120  as a rear-most surface  320  of lip protector  140  that faces rear portion  310 . In addition, rear portion  310  may include a deflection surface  330  that is angled with respect to longitudinal direction  240  of bucket  120 . For example, an angle  340  between deflection surface  330  and longitudinal direction  240  may be between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees. In one embodiment of boss  190 , angle  340  may be approximately 135 degrees. In other embodiments, rear portion  310  may be round or may be rectangular- or square-shaped. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , lip adapter  160  may include a bucket lip attachment portion  342 , which may be attached to lip  110  of bucket  120 . For example, lip attachment portion  342  may be attached to lip  110  using one or more welds. In such embodiments, weld material may be situated in a recess  344  formed in lip adapter  160  and/or along a rear edge  346  of lip adapter  160 . Alternatively, lip attachment portion  342  may be attached to lip  110  using mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , lip adapter  160  may also include a plurality of lip protector engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380 ,  390 , which may define one or more recessed portions  440  and one or more non-recessed portions  450  of lip adapter  160 . Although  FIG. 5  illustrates engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380 ,  390  as defining two recessed portions  440  and three non-recessed portions  450 , it should be understood that lip protector engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380 ,  390  could define another number of recessed portions  440  and/or non-recessed portions  450 . For example, in some embodiments, lip protector engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380 ,  390  may define three recessed portions  440  and four non-recessed portions  450 . In other embodiments, lip protector engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380 ,  390  may define four recessed portions  440  and five non-recessed portions  450 . And in yet other embodiments, lip protector engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380 ,  390  may define more than four recessed portions  440  and/or more than five non-recessed portions  450 . 
     Non-recessed lip protector engagement surface  350  may define a front end  460  of each of non-recessed portions  450 , while recessed lip protector engagement surfaces  360  may define a rear end  470  of each recessed portion  440 . As shown, lip protector engagement surfaces  350 ,  360  may be generally planar, and may be approximately parallel to each other. However, it should be understood that one or more of engagement surfaces  350 ,  360  could be otherwise shaped or angled in some embodiments. For example, engagement surfaces  350 ,  360  could be curved. As another example, engagement surface  350  could be angled relative to engagement surfaces  360 , or one engagement surface  360  could be angled relative to another engagement surface  360 . 
     Recessed lip protector engagement surface  370  may define a floor of each recessed portion  440 . As shown, lip protector engagement surface  370  may be generally planar, and may be approximately perpendicular to engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 . However, it should be understood that engagement surface  370  could be otherwise shaped or angled in some embodiments. For example, like engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 , engagement surface  370  could be curved. As another example, engagement surface  370  could be angled relative to one or more of engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 . 
     A pair of lip protector lateral engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  may connect each recessed lip protector engagement surface  360  to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface  350 . As shown, lip protector lateral engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  may be generally planar, angled with respect to each other and with respect to engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 , and approximately perpendicular to recessed lip protector engagement surface  370 . For example, an angle  475  between surfaces  380 ,  390  may be between approximately 0 degrees and approximately 120 degrees. More specifically, angle  475  may be between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 90 degrees. For example, angle  475  may be related to a spade angle of bucket  120  (i.e., the supplement of an angle between a portion of lip  110  that is perpendicular to longitudinal direction  240  of bucket  120 , and a portion of lip  110  that is not perpendicular to longitudinal direction  240 ). In particular, angle  475  may be two degrees plus twice the spade angle. However, it should be understood that lateral engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  may be otherwise angled or shaped in some embodiments. For example, engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  could be approximately parallel to each other, or one or both of engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  could be angled with respect to engagement surface  370 . As another example, engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  could be approximately perpendicular to one or more of engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 . As yet another example, like engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 , and  370 , engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  could be curved. 
     Sill referring to  FIG. 5 , lip adapter  160  may also include a top surface  480 , which may be opposite bucket lip attachment portion  342 . In addition, lip adapter  160  may include at least one protrusion, which may extend outward from top surface  480 . For example, lip adapter  160  may include a wear indicator protrusion  490 , which may indicate the remaining operational life of lip adapter  160  (when protrusion  490  wears off, lip adapter  160  should be replaced). As another example, lip adapter  160  may include one or more alignment protrusions  500 , which may facilitate proper alignment of adapter  160  relative to lip  110  during installation of lip adapter  160 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , protrusion  490  may generally trace a front edge  510  of top surface  480 . In particular, protrusion  490  may extend along top surface  480  in a direction approximately parallel to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface  350 , bend, and extend along top surface  480  in a direction approximately parallel to lip protector lateral engagement surface  380 . Protrusion  490  may then bend again and extend along top surface  480  in a direction approximately parallel to recessed lip protector engagement surface  360 . After bending yet again, protrusion  490  may then extend along top surface  480  in a direction approximately parallel to lip protector lateral engagement surface  390 . Protrusion  490  may then bend again and extend along top surface  480  in the direction approximately parallel to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface  350 . Such bends and extensions may be repeated until protrusion  490  traverses the entire length of top surface  480 . 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 surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  380 ,  390  instead of being approximately parallel to engagement surfaces  350 ,  360 ,  380 ,  390 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 5 , lip adapter  160  may include three alignment protrusions  500 . For example, lip adapter  160  may include a central alignment protrusion  500   a , which may extend in a direction approximately perpendicular to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface  350 . In addition, lip adapter  160  may include two offset alignment protrusions  500   b ,which may extend in directions that are angled with respect to non-recessed lip protector engagement surface  350 . Protrusion  500   a  may be used to align lip adapter  160  when attaching adapter  160  to a portion of lip  110  that is perpendicular to longitudinal direction  240  of bucket  120 , while one of protrusions  500   b  may be used to align lip adapter  160  when attaching adapter  160  to a portion of lip  110  that is not perpendicular to longitudinal direction  240 . Although protrusions  500   a  and  500   b  may be desirable for many installations, it is contemplated that certain embodiments may not include both protrusions  500   a  and  500   b , or may include additional protrusions  500 . For example, lip adapters  160  for use with buckets  120  having no lip portions perpendicular to longitudinal direction  240  may not include central alignment protrusion  500   a.    
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , as previously discussed, lip protector  140  may include rear portion  180  for engaging retention system  150  and lip adapter  160 . Rear portion  180  may include engagement surfaces  280 , which may define a generally T-shaped cavity  290  corresponding to generally T-shaped portion  250  of boss  190  of retention system  150 . When lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , surfaces  280  may engage T-shaped portion  250  to prevent lip protector  140  from moving toward or away from bucket  120  along direction  300  (referring to  FIG. 2 ). 
     Rear portion  180  may also include a primary engagement surface  515 , which may be configured to engage non-recessed lip protector engagement surface  350  of lip adapter  160 . When lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , surface  515  may oppose surface  350  to prevent lip protector  140  from moving longitudinally relative to bucket  120 . 
     In addition, rear portion  180  may include one or more protrusions  520 , which may be configured to mate with recessed portions  440 . For example, rear portion  180  may include a protrusion  520  corresponding to each recessed portion  440 , and each protrusion  520  may include a pair of lateral engagement surfaces  530 ,  540  configured to engage lateral engagement surfaces  380 ,  390  of recessed portion  440 . When lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , surfaces  530 ,  540  may oppose surfaces  380 ,  390  to prevent lip protector  140  from moving laterally relative to bucket  120 . 
     Protrusions  520  may also be configured to engage recessed lip protection engagement surfaces  360  only after at least one of lip protector  140  or lip adapter  160  has experienced wear. That is, given the opposing contact between surface  515  and surface  350 , protrusions  520  may not be long enough to contact surfaces  360  until after surfaces  515  and/or  350  have worn down. It should be understood, however, that some embodiments may include protrusions  520  that are long enough to contact surfaces  360  before surfaces  515  and/or  350  have 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 assembly  100 &#39;s retention system  150  may retain lip protector  140  on bucket  120  without using pins that may be difficult to remove and/or install when scaled for large buckets. Instead, retention system  150  may retain lip protector  140  on bucket  120  using lock  200  and boss  190 . As discussed above, when lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , lock  200  may be situated in bore  230  of lip protector  140  and at least partially surround protrusion  220  of boss  190 . Lock  200  may thus prevent lip protector  140  from moving relative to bucket  120  in longitudinal direction  240  of bucket  120 . Also, when lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , T-shaped portion  250  may engage surfaces  280  of rear portion  180 , which may define a corresponding T-shaped cavity  290  of lip protector  140 . By doing so, T-shaped portion  250  may prevent lip protector  140  from moving toward or away from bucket  120  along direction  300 . 
     Bucket lip protection assembly  100 &#39;s lip adapter  160  may stabilize lip protector  140  relative to lip  110  of bucket  120 . As discussed above, when lip protector  140  is attached to bucket  120 , surface  515  of lip protector  140  may oppose surface  350  of lip adapter  160  to prevent lip protector  140  from moving longitudinally relative to bucket  120 . In addition, When surfaces  515 ,  350  wear down, protrusions  520  of lip protector  140  may engage surfaces  360  of lip adapter  160  to prevent lip protector from moving longitudinally relative to bucket  120 . Also, throughout the operational life of bucket lip protection assembly  100 , surfaces  530 ,  540  of lip protector  140  may oppose surfaces  380 ,  390  of lip adapter  160  to prevent lip protector  140  from moving laterally relative to bucket  120 . 
     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.