Patent Description:
During normal use on machines such as mining, construction, and earthmoving machines and the like, work implements such as blades or buckets, etc. have edges that experience wear. It is not uncommon for these edges to be protected by various types of wear members. These wear members are intended to be sacrificial, protecting the edges of the blade so that the more expensive blade or other type of work implement does not need to be replaced. It is desirable that these wear members be replaced before damage or wear occurs on the working edges of the work implement.

Removal and/or replacement of a wear member may require disassembly of the wear members from the edge of the work tool, and assembly of a repaired or a new wear member on the work implement. The machine must be taken out of service to perform such replacement or repair. The time required to disassemble and reassemble a wear member may be dictated by the mechanism used to retain the wear member on the work tool. It is desirable to have a retention system or assembly that allows for quick assembly and disassembly at a worksite to allow the machine to be returned to service as quickly as possible.

<CIT> ("the '<NUM> patent"), discloses a resilient connection system for attaching a wear member to an excavating lip structure. In particular, the '<NUM> patent discloses a wear member that has a front portion with two rearwardly extending legs including an upper leg which is disposed on top of a lip of a bucket and a lower leg, which is disposed below the lip. The '<NUM> patent further discloses that a connection member is welded to the bucket. The connection member includes an upstanding boss that includes a circular opening.

Likewise, the upper leg of the wear member of the '<NUM> patent includes a projection. A fastener passing through the circular opening in the boss engages with the projection in the upper leg to attach the wear member to the connection member. The connection member of the '<NUM> patent also includes two spring assemblies disposed on either side of the fastener. Each spring assembly includes a rod attached at one end to the connection member and a spring circumscribed around the rod. The spring is retained at the other end of the rod by a snap ring. The rods in each spring assembly of the '<NUM> patent engage with openings in downwardly projecting bosses of the upper leg of the wear member so that the springs are retained between the bosses and the connection member. As the fastener is tightened, the spring assemblies of the '<NUM> patent are compressed providing a biasing force to urge the wear member onto the lip. The '<NUM> patent also discloses that a protective shroud is installed to protect the components of the retention system.

However, assembly of the retention system in the '<NUM> patent may be complicated or cumbersome. Also, the amount of force used to retain the wear member to the work implement may be limited by the spring force provided in the retention system of the '<NUM> patent. If this spring force is overcome, then the wear member may undesirably fall off the work implement.

In addition, the various components of the retention system may wear, decreasing the force or distance of disengagement of the retention system. This too may be undesirable.

<CIT> describes a shroud retention system for attaching a shroud to a work tool. The retention system includes an adaptor, spring assembly, retainer plate and bolt.

The present invention relates to a bolt retention assembly for attaching a wear member to a work tool according to claim <NUM>.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In some cases, a reference number will be indicated in this specification and the drawings will show the reference number followed by a letter for example, 100a, 100b or a prime indicator such as <NUM>', <NUM>"etc. It is to be understood that the use of letters or primes immediately after a reference number indicates that these features are similarly shaped and have similar function as is often the case when geometry is mirrored about a plane of symmetry. For ease of explanation in this specification, letters or primes will often not be included herein but may be shown in the drawings to indicate duplications of features discussed within this written specification.

Various embodiments of a bolt retention assembly, a wear member such as a shroud, tool adapter, tool bit, tip, etc. that is configured to be attached to a working edge such as a lip of a work implement such as a bucket, a slide of a bolt retention assembly, and an adapter of a bolt retention assembly will now be described, etc..

A bolt retention assembly <NUM> according to the present invention may be understood with reference to <FIG>. Looking at <FIG> and <FIG>, the bolt retention assembly <NUM> defines a horizontal direction (X direction), a vertical direction (Z direction), and a lateral direction (Y direction) that is perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z direction), and the horizontal direction (X direction). The bolt retention assembly <NUM> is used to attach a wear member <NUM> such as a shroud to a work edge <NUM> of a work implement <NUM> (e.g. a lip <NUM>' of a bucket assembly <NUM>'). Other applications for attaching a wear member <NUM> are possible using the bolt retention assembly <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the bolt retention assembly <NUM> comprises an adapter <NUM> and a slide <NUM>. The adapter <NUM> includes a forward abutment portion <NUM> and a rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM>. The adapter <NUM> also defines an interior aperture <NUM>. The slide <NUM> includes a forward threaded portion <NUM> configured to fit within the interior aperture <NUM> of the adapter <NUM> allowing the slide <NUM> to move back and forth within the interior aperture <NUM>. The slide <NUM> also includes a rearward horizontally oriented pronged portion <NUM> configured to pass through the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> of the adapter <NUM>.

Thus, the adapter <NUM> and the slide <NUM> may be connected to each other while allowing the slide <NUM> the freedom of movement necessary to lock and unlock a wear member <NUM> onto the work edge <NUM> of the work implement <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG> for examples of this movement). In particular embodiments, the interior aperture <NUM> may be configured as an elongated slot along the X direction to allow the slide <NUM> to move back and forth along the X direction.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the adapter <NUM> may be split into a front adapter member <NUM> and a rear adapter member <NUM> configured to be attached to the front adapter member <NUM>. This design may allow the bolt retention assembly <NUM> to be used with weld-on bosses which are already in the field on work implements. These weld-on bosses <NUM>' may function as the front adapter member <NUM>. In such a case, a horizontally extending thru-hole <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) may pass through the forward abutment portion <NUM> of the front adapter member <NUM> but it is to be understood that this horizontally extending thru-hole <NUM> may be omitted in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the adapter <NUM> may be manufactured from a unitary piece of material instead of being split.

When the adapter is a split assembly as best seen in <FIG>, the front adapter member <NUM> may include a vertically extending T-slot <NUM> and the rear adapter member <NUM> may include diametrically opposing hook portions <NUM> (may also be referred to as stem portions) configured to fit within the T-slot <NUM>, being placed therein vertically (along the negative Z direction). Once assembled, the rear adapter member <NUM> cannot move in the positive X direction or the negative X direction since various portions of the rear adapter member <NUM> would contact the various portions of the front adapter member <NUM>, which may already have been attached to the work edge <NUM> via welding, fastening, etc..

Also, as best seen in <FIG>, <FIG>, the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> of the rear adapter member <NUM> defines a horizontally extending clearance hole <NUM> that allows the bolt <NUM> to pass through the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> along the negative X direction and reach the forward threaded portion <NUM> of the slide <NUM> and mate therewith when attaching the bolt <NUM> to the assembly <NUM> or using the bolt <NUM> to tighten or loosen the assembly <NUM>.

As best seen in <FIG>, the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> of the rear adapter member <NUM> may include an internal rail member <NUM> that defines a downward vertically (along the negative Z direction) facing ledge <NUM>, and an upwardly vertically facing ledge <NUM>' that are disposed in the interior aperture <NUM>. Furthermore, the rear adapter member <NUM> may include an external rail member <NUM> extending laterally outwardly (negative Y direction on one side and positive Y direction on the other side) from the rearwardly horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> defining a top surface <NUM> that is substantially coplanar with the downwardly vertically facing ledge <NUM> (e.g. within a distance vertically measured of +/- <NUM>).

Likewise, the internal rail member <NUM> may define a first inward lateral extremity <NUM>, and at least one of the diametrically opposing hook portions <NUM> of the rear adapter member <NUM> may define a second inward lateral extremity <NUM> that is spaced laterally away from the first inward lateral extremity <NUM> toward the interior, so that the top portion of the rear adapter member <NUM> overhangs the internal rail member <NUM> and slide <NUM> (see also <FIG> and <FIG>). The front adapter member <NUM> may include a rail <NUM> extending laterally outwardly from the front adapter member <NUM> that is coextensive with the external rail member <NUM> of the rear adapter member <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Other features that may be present or omitted from the rear adapter member <NUM> will now be further discussed with reference to <FIG>. The four horizontally extending thru-apertures <NUM> are spaced about the central horizontally extending clearance hole <NUM> forming a rectangular array in a plane parallel to the lateral and the vertical direction (i.e. the Y-Z plane) for allowing the prongs of the slide to pass through the rear adapter member. Also, the interior aperture <NUM> may be in communication with the central horizontally extending clearance hole <NUM> and the four horizontally extending thru-apertures <NUM>. The horizontally extending clearance hole <NUM> of the rear adapter member <NUM> may allow the bolt <NUM> to pass through to reach the slide <NUM> and may also be coaxial with the horizontally extending thru-hole <NUM> of the front adapter member <NUM> (see <FIG>).

In addition as best seen in <FIG>, the four horizontally extending thru-apertures <NUM> may include two bottom slots <NUM> that are open in a downward vertical direction, and two top apertures <NUM> that have rectangular perimeters. The rear adapter member <NUM> may further comprise two internal ribs <NUM> that form the downward vertically facing ledges <NUM> and at least partially define the rectangular perimeter of the two top apertures <NUM> (may also partially define the two bottom slots <NUM>, see <FIG>).

Looking at <FIG>, <FIG>, the slide <NUM> will be further discussed. The slide <NUM> includes a forward threaded portion <NUM> including a first vertical wall <NUM> that defines a threaded aperture <NUM> that mates with the bolt. In other embodiments, a nut may be provided that is configured to fit in a front horizontally oriented cradle portion to form the forward threaded portion <NUM> and be retained therein via a slight press fit, welding, adhesives, etc..

Focusing on <FIG>, the first vertical wall <NUM> may have a domed top portion <NUM> that is radially offset from the threaded aperture <NUM> to fit into and be slightly covered by the rear adapter member <NUM> (best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>). Also, the bottom surface <NUM> of the slide <NUM> may be flat to facilitate its sliding motion.

The rearward horizontally oriented pronged portion <NUM> may include four horizontally extending prongs <NUM> that are attached to the first vertical wall <NUM>. In <FIG>, the second vertical wall <NUM> of the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> of the rear adapter member <NUM> may define four apertures <NUM> that extend through the second vertical wall <NUM> and that are configured to allow the four horizontally extending prongs <NUM> to pass through the second vertical wall <NUM>. Other configurations are possible in other embodiments.

Other details of the slide <NUM> will now be discussed focusing on <FIG> that also may be present or omitted in various embodiments of the present disclosure. The four horizontally extending prongs <NUM> may include two bottom prongs <NUM> that are spaced horizontally away from each other, and two top prongs <NUM> that are spaced vertically away from the two bottom prongs <NUM> and horizontally away from each other as well, forming a rectangular array. Each of the four horizontally extending prongs <NUM> may include an end surface <NUM> (see <FIG>) that together define the same contact plane <NUM> that is acutely angled relative to the vertical direction (Z-axis) in a plane that contains the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (X-axis) such as shown in <FIG>. This contact plane <NUM> is where the slide <NUM> may lock the retainer plate <NUM> into a locking position as shown in <FIG>.

Moreover as best seen in <FIG>, the four horizontally extending prongs <NUM> that are attached to the first vertical wall <NUM> may define an outer perimeter <NUM> in a plane perpendicular to the horizontal direction (i.e. the X-axis) that surrounds the threaded aperture <NUM>. The four horizontally extending prongs <NUM> may also extend at least partially in the lateral direction (i.e. parallel to the Y-axis) away from the threaded aperture <NUM> such that their outside lateral extremities <NUM> of each of the four horizontally extending prongs <NUM> are spaced away laterally away from the first vertical wall <NUM> (see distance <NUM>). In other words, the prongs at least partially jog in a plane containing the lateral and horizontal directions.

When the prongs <NUM> of the slide <NUM> engage the retainer plate <NUM> as best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the retainer plate <NUM> is trapped in a notch <NUM> in communication with the vertically extending slot <NUM> of the wear member <NUM>, preventing the removal of the retainer plate <NUM> along the Z direction from the vertically extending slot <NUM>. Thus, the retainer plate <NUM> now prevents removal of the wear member <NUM> along the X direction as the bolt retention assembly <NUM> blocks such a movement.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the wear member <NUM> may define a horizontally extending slot <NUM> that that is configured to accommodate the components of the bolt retention assembly <NUM>. Other configurations are possible in other embodiments.

Looking at <FIG> as already alluded to earlier herein, the bolt retention assembly <NUM> may further comprise a bolt <NUM> including a shaft <NUM> and a head <NUM>, as well as a retainer plate <NUM> that includes a bolt head clearance hole <NUM> configured to allow the head <NUM> of the bolt <NUM> to pass through the retainer plate <NUM> during the assembly process. The retainer plate <NUM> may also include an upper tab <NUM> defining a slot <NUM> that may be engaged via a tool such as a pry bar to remove the retainer plate <NUM> prior to tightening the bolt <NUM> or after loosening the bolt <NUM> (see <FIG>) since the slide <NUM> is not yet locking the retainer plate <NUM> into an angled orientation where it is trapped in the notch <NUM> that is in communication with the vertically extending slot <NUM> of the wear member <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the shaft <NUM> of the bolt <NUM> may pass through the bolt head clearance hole <NUM> of the retainer plate <NUM> and the clearance holes <NUM> of the rear adapter member <NUM> and engage the threads of the slide <NUM>. The bolt head <NUM> may engage the rear adapter member <NUM> so that once the shaft <NUM> of the bolt <NUM> is threaded into the slide <NUM>, the horizontal position of the bolt <NUM> is substantially fixed and cannot be removed from the assembly <NUM> without unthreading the bolt <NUM> from the slide <NUM>. As the bolt <NUM> is tightened, the bolt head <NUM> presses on the rear adapter member <NUM>, which in turn, presses onto the front adapter member <NUM> that is fixed to the working edge <NUM> of the work implement <NUM>. At the same time, the slide <NUM> is drawn toward the bolt head <NUM>, forcing the slide <NUM> along the horizontal direction (positive X direction) until the retainer plate <NUM> is trapped in the notch <NUM>.

Put another way, the bolt retention assembly <NUM> may be configured such that tightening the bolt <NUM> causes the slide <NUM> to move away from the adapter <NUM> and engage the retainer plate <NUM> while the bolt <NUM> is placed under tension and the adapter <NUM> is placed under compression. To that end, the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> defines a maximum horizontal dimension <NUM> of the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> (shown in <FIG>), while the rearward horizontally oriented pronged portion <NUM> defines a maximum horizontal dimension <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) that is equal to or greater than the maximum horizontal dimension <NUM> of the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion <NUM> such that the slide <NUM> is free to move horizontally relative to the adapter <NUM> and press on the retainer plate <NUM>, being able to extend horizontally past the adapter as shown in <FIG>. This difference creates a travel distance <NUM> of the slide <NUM> as may be seen in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, it can also be seen that bolt head clearance hole <NUM> of the retainer plate <NUM> is angled so that the bolt head <NUM> may only pass through the retainer plate <NUM> if the retainer plate <NUM> is angled forward as shown into the notch <NUM>. That is to say, the longitudinal axis of the bolt head clearance hole forms an oblique angle with the thickness (minimum dimension) of the retainer plate <NUM>. Other configurations are possible in other embodiments.

Any of the surfaces or features described herein may have any suitable shape including flat, arcuate, etc. The term "arcuate" includes any bowed shape including polynomial, sinusoidal, spline, radial, elliptical, etc. Similarly, any blend or transitional surface may include any of these arcuate shapes or may be flat, etc..

Furthermore, as used herein, the terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "rear", "rearward", "forward", "forwardly", front, horizontal, vertical, lateral, etc. are to be interpreted relative to the direction of assembly of the component onto a front lip of a bucket assembly or the like but also includes functional equivalents when the components are used in other scenarios. In such cases, these terms including "upper" may be interpreted as "first" and "lower" as "second", etc. Reference to a Cartesian coordinate system will also be made. Such coordinate systems inherently define an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis as well as corresponding X-Y, X-Z, and Y-Z planes. The X-axis may be coextensive with the horizontal direction, the Y-axis may be coextensive with the lateral direction, and the Z-axis may be coextensive with the vertical direction. Again, this coordinate system may be interpreted relative to the direction of assembly with the X direction being aligned with the direction of assembly such that horizontal, vertical and lateral directions are not necessarily to be interpreted strictly literally but to be adapted to the application. Furthermore, any direction such as horizontal, vertical, and lateral are intended to include directions that form an angle with that direction that is less than <NUM> degrees.

The configuration of any embodiment of a work implement, wear member, bolt retention assembly or any of its components may be varied to be different than what has been specifically discussed herein or shown in the drawings (e.g. the shapes, angles, and dimensions may be varied as needed or desired in various embodiments). The various components of the bolt retention assembly may be manufactured from steel.

In practice, a work implement such as a bucket assembly may be sold with one or more wear members, bolt retention assemblies, or any of the components of the bolt retention assembly according to any of the embodiments discussed herein. In other situations, a kit that includes components for retrofitting an existing work implement or a newly bought work implement with one or more wear members, bolt retention assemblies, or any of the components of the bolt retention assembly according to any of the embodiments discussed herein may be provided.

A method <NUM>,which is out of the scope of the claims, ofattaching a wear member <NUM> to a work implement <NUM> using a bolt retention assembly <NUM> will now be discussed with reference to <FIG>. First, the front adapter member may be attached to the working edge of the work implement via welding or the like (step <NUM>). Then, the rear adapter member may installed over the slide member such that the prongs extend through the rear adapter member (step <NUM>). Once these steps are complete, a subassembly is created (step <NUM>, such as shown in <FIG>).

This subassembly may then be attached to the working edge of the work implement by mating the rear adapter member to the front adapter member vertically inserting the hook portions of the rear adapter member into the T-slot of the front adapter member (step <NUM> in <FIG>). Next, the wear member is inserted horizontally (positive X direction) over the working edge of the work implement such that the bolt retention assembly is inserted into the horizontally extending slot of the wear member (step <NUM> in <FIG>). After that, the retainer plate may be inserted into the vertically extending slot such that its bolt head clearance hole is aligned with the clearance holes of the rear adapter member and the slide (step <NUM> in <FIG>). The bolt may then be inserted through these holes and threaded into the slide (step <NUM>). Continued tightening of the bolt causes the slide to move backwards as the nut is drawn toward the bolt head. This in turn causes the two vertical members of the slide to contact and trap the retainer plate in the notch that is in communication with the vertically extending slot of the wear member. Removal of the wear member is now prevented.

This process may be reversed to remove the wear member. After the bolt has been loosened and the slide has retreated sufficiently, the wear plate may be pushed into a vertical orientation so that is no longer trapped in the notch and may be removed from the wear member. The wear member may then be pushed horizontally (negative X direction) off the working edge of the work implement.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed assembly and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.

Also, the numbers recited are also part of the range.

Claim 1:
A bolt retention assembly (<NUM>) for attaching a wear member (<NUM>) to a work tool (<NUM>) defining a horizontal direction (X direction), a vertical direction (Z direction), and a lateral direction (Y direction) that is perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z direction) and the horizontal direction (X direction), the bolt retention assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
an adapter (<NUM>) including a forward abutment portion (<NUM>) and a rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion (<NUM>), the adapter (<NUM>) also defining an interior aperture (<NUM>); and
a slide (<NUM>) including a forward threaded portion (<NUM>) configured to fit within the interior aperture (<NUM>) of the adapter (<NUM>), and a rearward horizontally oriented pronged portion (<NUM>) configured to pass through the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion (<NUM>) of the adapter (<NUM>);
wherein the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion (<NUM>) defines a maximum horizontal dimension (<NUM>) of the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion (<NUM>), and the rearward horizontally oriented pronged portion (<NUM>) defines a maximum horizontal dimension (<NUM>) that is equal to or greater than the maximum horizontal dimension (<NUM>) of the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion (<NUM>) such that the slide (<NUM>) is free to move horizontally relative to the adapter (<NUM>) and extend horizontally past the adapter (<NUM>);
characterised in that the forward threaded portion (<NUM>) of the slide (<NUM>) includes a first vertical wall (<NUM>) defining a threaded aperture (<NUM>), and the rearward horizontally oriented pronged portion (<NUM>) includes four horizontally extending prongs (<NUM>) attached to the first vertical wall (<NUM>).