Abstract:
We disclose herein a wire guard that is used to keep wire and other debris from wrapping around the axles of landfill trash compactors, thereby reducing the chance of damage to these axles and sealing systems. The wire guard is comprised of multiple segments that are individually welded to the edge of the wheel wrapper. The individual segments are through hardened and are, therefore, resistant to wear. Furthermore, they may include an overhanging lip that protects the edge of the wheel wrapper. This device is an improvement to other existing wire guards.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/697,470 by Crystal and Griffiths, filed Sep. 6, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to compaction machines, such as those used to compact landfills and, more particularly, to an improved wire guard for use on the wheels of the compaction machines. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Compaction machines, which are used to compact landfills, encounter the problem of wire, rope, cable, and other trash becoming wrapped around the axles of the compactor machines. As a result, the compactor wheel, axles, and seals can become damaged and require replacement and significant downtime. Typically, wire guards are used to prevent refuse from wrapping around the axles. Previously known wire guards were constructed of steel plate and supporting gussets that were welded together, or steel plated with steel castings welded together. Because these previously known wire guards were constructed of multiple parts, they occasionally required hardfacing with alloy welding wire to extend their wear life. Some of these wire guards additionally include cleats turned sideways at the edge of the wheel. However, because cleats are tapered on both sides, the wire guard is not completely at the edge of the wheel, potentially providing a path for wire to enter and also preventing edge to edge compaction from the wheel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An improved wire guard design is presented herein. The claimed wire guard is cast steel as a single part. As a result, it can be heat treated to through harden it, thus, reducing the need for hardfacing. The wire guard is made of segments that include a center cleat to provide additional traction. However, the wire guard extends all the way to the edge of the wheel. 
         [0005]    The wire guard requires no fabrication and can be welded in place. This is a significant advantage over other wire guards that require expensive and time-consuming fabrication. 
         [0006]    The wire guard may also have a drop down lip that allows the wire guard to protect the lateral edge of the wheel wrapper. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Further advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  depicts a lateral perspective view of a compactor wheel with one embodiment of the invention installed, wherein the depicted embodiment includes tapered sides  16  on both sides of the installed wheel guard  2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  depicts a lateral perspective view of a compactor wheel with another embodiment of the invention installed, wherein the depicted embodiment includes one tapered side  16  (on unseen distal side) and flat side  14  (seen on the lateral side) of the installed wheel guard  2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 1C  depicts a distal perspective view of a compactor wheel with yet another embodiment of the invention installed, wherein the depicted embodiment includes one tapered side  16  (seen on the distal side) and flat side  14  (on unseen lateral side) of the installed wheel guard  2 . 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A-2F  depict an embodiment of the claimed invention.  FIG. 2A  shows a side elevation view of the wheel guard segment  6  as seen from the tapered side  16 .  FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of the wheel guard segment  6 .  FIG. 2C  shows a top elevation view of the wheel guard segment  6 .  FIG. 2D  shows a bottom elevation view of the wheel guard segment  6 .  FIG. 2E  shows a cut-through view of the wheel guard segment  6  along line A-A through cleat  8  as shown in  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2F  shows a cut-through view of the wheel guard segment  6  along line B-B through flange  18  as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A-3F  depict another embodiment of the claimed invention.  FIG. 3A  shows a side elevation view of the wheel guard segment  6  as seen from the tapered side  16 .  FIG. 3B  shows a perspective view of the wheel guard segment  6  as seen from the bottom side and tapered side  16 .  FIG. 3C  shows a perspective view of the wheel guard segment  6  as seen from the tapered side  16 .  FIG. 3D  shows a cut-through view of the wheel guard segment  6  along line A-A through cleat  8  as shown in  FIG. 3A , wherein the wheel guard segment has a 0.25 inch drop down lip  10 .  FIG. 3E  shows a cut-through view of the wheel guard segment  6  along line A-A through cleat  8  as shown in  FIG. 3A , wherein the wheel guard segment has a 0.5 inch drop down lip  10 .  FIG. 3F  shows a cut-through view of the wheel guard segment  6  along line A-A through cleat  8  as shown in  FIG. 3A , wherein the wheel guard segment has a 1.25 inch drop down lip  10 . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A-4F  depict still another embodiment of the claimed invention.  FIG. 4A  shows a side elevation view of the wheel guard segment  6  as seen from the tapered side  16 .  FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of the wheel guard segment  6  as seen from the top side and tapered side  16 .  FIG. 4C  shows a top elevation view of the wheel guard segment  6 .  FIG. 4D  shows a bottom elevation view of the wheel guard segment  6 .  FIG. 4E  shows a cut-through view of the wheel guard segment  6  along line A-A through cleat  8  as shown in  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4F  shows a cut-through view of the wheel guard segment  6  along line B-B through flange  18  as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the invention. Descriptions of specific applications are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0015]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1A  depicts a compactor wheel  4  with one embodiment of the wire guard  2  invention as disclosed herein. The wire guard  2  is mounted on the lateral edge  12  of the wheel wrapper  3  closest to the axle of the compactor (the “lateral side”). In preferred embodiments, the wire guard  2  is affixed to the wheel  4  by welding. As can be appreciated in  FIG. 1A , the wire guard  2  is affixed along the lateral edge  12  at cleats  8 . In this embodiment, some space is created between the edge of the tapered side of each segment  6  and the lateral edge  12  of the compactor wheel  4 . In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , the wire guard  2  is affixed along the lateral edge  12  at cleats  8  and flanges  18 , in which the lateral side of the wheel guard  2  is flat such that no space is created between the edge of the tapered side of each segment  6  and the lateral edge  12  of the compactor wheel  4 . The application of the wheel guard  2  directly to the lateral edge  12  of the wheel wrapper  3  provides more compaction area than known wheel guards made from welding flanges to casted cleats. The width of the wire guard  2  should be such that wires, ropes, and other debris are prevented from wrapping around the compactor axle. In one embodiment, the width of the segments  6  is 7.25 inches from the base to the top of the cleat. In a preferred embodiment, the width of the segments  6  is 8.25 inches from the base to the top of the cleat. The width could, however, be narrower or wider. 
         [0016]    The wire guard  2  is comprised of a series of segments  6  that are welded directly to the compactor wheel  4 . The wire guard  2  can be comprised of any number of segments  6  as necessary to complete the circumference of the compactor wheel  4 . In a preferred embodiment, the wire guard  2  is made of eight (8) segments  6  that circumscribe the wheel  4 . Each segment  6  is made of cast steel. This is particularly advantageous over the prior art that required fabricated flanges on cleat castings, or gussets. It should also be appreciated that segment  6  can be heat treated to through harden it and extend the wear life. The through hardened casting also provides consistent wear of the wire guard segment  6 , including the cleat  8  and flange  18 . Any known method in the art for heat treating for through heating cast steel may be used. Previously known wire guards required hardfacing with alloy welding wire to increase the wear life. The manufacturing and/or installation process for hardfacing adds extra welding and expense to the known wheel guards. These known wheel guards also require periodic maintenance of hardfacing as the wheel guard wears. Another advantage of the disclosed invention is that the steel casting provides uniform wear of the cleats  8  and the wheel guard flanges  18 , while some known wheel guards combined cleats and welded flanges that would unevenly wear with use. 
         [0017]    After through hardening the casting, each segment  6  can be welded to the lateral edge  12  of the compactor wheel  4  at lateral side weld  13  and distal side weld  11  and to each other at segment-segment lateral side weld  7  and segment-segment distal side weld  5  as they are installed radially around the outer edge of the wheel wrapper  3  with the outer surface of the wheel  4  that contains features, such as the cleats  8 , used for traction. For still other embodiments that contain a drop down lip  10 , it is evident that the lateral side weld  13  must be done at the lateral edge  12  interior side of the wheel wrapper  3  (not shown). Compared to the prior art, it is much easier to install the segments  6  onto the wheel  4 . In some embodiments, the casted segments  6  are designed to be flat and perpendicular on the horizontal outside lateral edge  12  of the wheel wrapper  3 , thereby reducing or eliminating wear on the outside lateral edge  12  of the wheel wrapper  3 . The installer does not have to weld fabricated flanges to cleat castings or gussets on other fabricated versions. Because the segments  6  include both the cleat  8  and the flanges  18 , the need for a gusset or other members for attaching the segments  6  to the wheel wrapper and/or other segments is eliminated. Additionally, because it is cast, weld fillets can be integrated into the design for easier, stronger, and less expensive welding. 
         [0018]    As will be appreciated from  FIGS. 2A-2F , each segment  6  has a flange  18  that is made of a primarily flat side  14 , which will be closest to the axle, and a tapered side  16 . The tapered design can be appreciated in  FIGS. 2B ,  2 C,  2 E, and  2 F. The primarily flat side  14  does not require perfect flatness. In another embodiment, such as shown in  FIG. 1A , each segment can have two tapered sides  16 . In still another embodiment, each segment has two flat sides  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the tapered side  16  includes a center cleat  8 , as can be appreciated in  FIGS. 2A-2D . The center cleat  8  provides additional traction for the compactor and increases wear life of the wire guard  2  by reducing or eliminating spinning and slipping of the compactor wheel  4  when climbing on logs and hard objects. As previously indicated, the center cleat  8  and the flange  18  are more resistant to wear as a result of the optional through-hardening of the casting. The tapered design of the flange  18  and center cleat  8  allows for longer wear life and penetration of trash and refuse as the wire guard  2  wears. The cleat  8  need not be perfectly centered in each segment  6 . Optionally, the segments  6  may contain a drop down lip  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 2E and 2F . 
         [0019]    Each flange  18  also includes at its terminal edge an off-set/overlapping flange edge  20  that is complementary to the adjacent flange  18 . This allows the flanges  18  to be welded to each other. It additionally allows the wire guard  2  to accommodate imprecisions in wheel circumference due to wearing down of the wheel wrapper  3  or rebuilding of the wheel  4 . Larger overlapping flange edges  20  permit larger variations in wheel circumference. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 3A-3F  show an additional feature of the preferred embodiment. Each segment  6  may also have an overhanging lip, referred to herein as the drop down lip  10 , which is a piece of metal that extends over the edge of the wheel  4  toward the axle. The size of this drop down lip  10  may vary, but in one embodiment, the drop down lip  10  extends as much as 1.25 inches, shown in  FIG. 3F . In another embodiment, the drop down lip  10  extends as much as 0.25 inches, shown in  FIG. 3D . In still another embodiment, the drop down lip  10  extends as much as 0.5 inches, shown in  FIG. 3E . The drop down lip  10  provides several advantages. First, the drop down lip  10  protects the lateral outside edge of the wheel wrapper  3 , thereby eliminating wear on this edge. Second, the drop down lip  10  provides additional surface area for welding. This is particularly useful in instances where the outside horizontal surface of the wheel wrapper  3  has become worn and tapered, making it difficult to weld a wire guard  2  to the wrapper  3 . The drop down lip  10  allows the segment  6  to be welded to the inside of the wheel wrapper  3 , which would not be worn because it does not come into contact with refuse. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4A-4F  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention each segment  6  has a flange  18  that is made of a primarily flat side  14 , which will be closest to the axle, a tapered side  16 , and without the drop down lip  10 . The construction of the wire guard  2  with lack of a drop down lip  10  can be appreciated in  FIG. 1B , which allows for easy installment by welding only on the outside of the wheel wrapper  3 . The tapered design can be appreciated in  FIGS. 4B ,  4 C,  4 E, and  4 F. The primarily flat side  14  does not require perfect flatness. In still another embodiment, each segment has two flat sides  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the tapered side  16  includes a center cleat  8 , as can be appreciated in  FIGS. 4A-4C . The center cleat  8  provides additional traction for the compactor and increases wear life of the wire guard  2  by reducing or eliminating spinning and slipping of the compactor wheel  4  when climbing on logs and hard objects. As previously indicated, the center cleat  8  and the flange  18  are more resistant to wear as a result of the optional through-hardening of the casting. The tapered design of the flange  18  and center cleat  8  allows for longer wear life and penetration of trash and refuse as the wire guard  2  wears. The cleat  8  need not be perfectly centered in each segment  6 . Each flange  18  also includes an off-set/overlapping flange edge  20  that is complementary to the adjacent flange  18 , which can be seen in  FIG. 4D . This allows the flanges  18  to be welded to each other. It additionally allows the wire guard  2  to accommodate imprecisions in wheel circumference due to wearing down of the wheel wrapper  3  or rebuilding of the wheel  4 . Larger overlapping flange edges  20  permit larger variations in wheel circumference. 
         [0022]    The wire guard  2  described herein provides many advantages over the prior art, including requiring fewer pieces and less welding, and the ability to be installed without requiring fabrication of a custom guard. Additionally, it is through hardened, thus reducing wear on its features, and it protects the lateral edge  12  of the wheel wrapper  3 . 
         [0023]    The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used in the claims and specification herein, shall be considered as indicating an open group that may include other elements not specified. The terms “a,” “an,” and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The term “one” or “single” may be used to indicate that one and only one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as “two,” may be used when a specific number of things is intended. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention. 
         [0024]    The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures and techniques other than those specifically described herein can be applied to the practice of the invention as broadly disclosed herein without resort to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents of methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures and techniques described herein are intended to be encompassed by this invention. Whenever a range is disclosed, all subranges and individual values are intended to be encompassed. This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments disclosed, including any shown in the drawings or exemplified in the specification, which are given by way of example and not of limitation. 
         [0025]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims. 
         [0026]    All references throughout this application, for example patent documents including issued or granted patents or equivalents, patent application publications, and non-patent literature documents or other source material, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, as though individually incorporated by reference, to the extent each reference is at least partially not inconsistent with the disclosure in the present application (for example, a reference that is partially inconsistent is incorporated by reference except for the partially inconsistent portion of the reference).