Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
Earthworking Implement Side
_Plate Wear Member
Technical Field
This invention relates to earthworking imple-
ments and in particular to wear members for use there-
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Background Art
In one conventional form of earthworking im-
plement, such as a bulldozer blade or loader bucket,
a pair of sidewalls are provided at the opposite ends
of the moldboard. A bit support extends across the
bottom of the moldboard and has its opposite ends se-
cured to end plates. Suitable removable bits are
mounted to the bit support with replaceable end bits
overlapping the end plates.
A number of devices have been developed for
protecting the lower corners of the implement assembly.
Illustratively~ in U.S. Letters Patent 3,967,398 of
applicant herein, which patent is owned by the assignee
hereof, a corner protector is detachably mounted on a
forward edge of each of the sidewalls of the work im-
plement loader bucket. The corner protector is
mounted by means of a plurality of bolts. An inter-
locking tongue and groove arrangement mounts the cor-
ner protector on the sidewall. In one form, the cor-
ner protector is provided with a tip-adapter inte-
grally secured on a lower end thereof.
In U.S. Letters Patent 4,007,550 of applicant,
which patent is also owned by the assignee hereof, an-
other replaceable corner tooth assembly is disclosed
for use with an earthmoving implement having a side-
wall member and a base plate member disposed in lat-
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erally extending relationship. The assembly includes a cornerprotector comprising an angle member and a rearwardly extending
cooperating inner leg embracing the sidewall member. The corner
member further embraces the base plate member at the forwardly
disposed intersection thereof.
Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a wear member for use in an earthworking implement
having a sidewall member defining a bottom edge portion, comprising
a U-section member defining a bottom bight portion, and spaced legs
extending upwardly from said bottom bight portion to define a
channel receiving said sidewall member bottom edge portion, and
front edge portions; securing means removably securing said U-
section member to said sidewall member to define a replaceable wear
member thereon; and a transverse member extending across one of
said front edge portions of the U-section member and the bottom
edge portion of the sidewall member into abutment with the other
of said front edge portions of the U-section member.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a wear member for an earthworking implement having a side-
wall member defining a bottom edge portion, comprising: a
U-section member defining a bottom bight portion, and spaced legs
extending upwardly from said bottom bight portion to define a
channel receiving said sidewall member bottom edge portion; and
securing means removably securing said U-section member to said
sidewall member to define a replaceable wear member thereon, one
of said legs having a length substantially greater than the other
of said legs.
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According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a wear member for an earthworking implement having a side-
wall member defining a bottom edge portion and a front edge portion
extending upwardly from said bottom edge portion, comprising: a
U-section member defining a bottom bight portion, and spaced legs
extending upwardly from said bottom bight portion to define a
channel receiving said sidewall member bottom edge portion; and
securing means removably securing said U-section member to said
sidewall member to define a replaceable wear member thereon; and
a wear pla~e overlying said sidewall member bottom edge portion and
one of said U-section member legs, the other of said legs under-
lying an open space at one side of said sidewall bottom edge
portion.
According to a still further aspect of the invention,
there is provided a wear member for an earthworking implement
having a sidewall member defining a bottom edge portion and a front
edge portion extending upwardly from said bottom edge portion,
comprising: a U-section member defining a bottom bight portion,
and spaced legs extending upwardly from said bottom bight portion
to define a channel receiving said sidewall member bottom edge
portion; securing means removably securing said U-section member to
said sidewall member to define a replaceable wear member thereon;
and a wear plate overlying said sidewall member bottom edge portion
and one of said U-section member legs, said one of said legs being
substantially thicker than the other of said legs and said wear
place overlying only said thicker leg.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there
is provided a wear member for an earthworking implement having a
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sidewall member defining a bottom edge portion, comprising: a
U-section member defining a bottom bight portion defining a down-
wardly tapered lower surface, and inner and outer spaced legs
extending upwardly from said bottom bight portion to define a
channel receiving said sidewall member bottom edge portion, said
outer leg extending forwardly a greater distance than does said
inner leg, and said implement including a bit support extending
across the front of said inner leg and having an end abutting the
inner side of the extension of said forwardly extending outer leg.
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Brief Description of Drawing
FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of an earthwork-
ing implement having an improved wear member embodying
the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the wear mem-
ber;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the earthwork-
ing implement;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary front elevation
thereof with the end bit being shown in broken lines;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section
taken substantially along the line 5~5 of Figure 3;
FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section taken sub-
stantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 3;
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken
substantially along the line 7-7 of Figure 3; and
FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical
section taken substantially along the line 8-8 of
Figure 3.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as
disclosed in the drawing, an earthworking element gen- `
erally designated 10 is illustratively shown to com-
prise a bulLdozer blade, it being understood that the
invention is equally applicable to other forms of
earthworking elements, such as loader buckets, etc.
Illustratively, the bulldozer blade includes a mold
board 20, a pair of sidewalls 11 and 12 comprising
plate member secured to the opposite sides of the mold
board. Each of the end wall plates defines a for-
wardly opening recess 13 and a lower edge portion 14.
The present invention is concerned with the reinforc-
ing of the end wall members and includes a number of
improved reinforcing elements, as will be discussed
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in greater detail herefollowing.
More specifically, lower edge portion 14 of
the sidewall members is reinforced by an improved U- -
section wear member 15. The sidewall members are re-
inforced further by a half arrow reinforcing element
16 received in recess 13. The sidewall member rear-
wardly of the heavy wear member 17 is further rein-
forced by a wear plate 18.
As further shown i~ Figure 1, the earthwork-
ing implement lO includes a bit support 19 extendingbetween the sidewall members at the lower edge of the
moldboard 20. A plurality of bits generally desig-
nated 21 are mounted to the bit support 19 by suitable
means, such as bolts (not shown). The bits include
end bits 22 which overlap the U-section wear member 15
and sidewall member lower portions 14, as shown in
Figure 5.
The configuration of wear member 15 may best
be seen by reference to Figure 2. As shown therein,
the wear member 15 comprises a U-section element having
an outer leg 23, an inner leg 24, and a lower bight
portion 25 cooperatively defining a slot 48. As shown,
the outer leg 23 has a height substantially greater
than the inner leg 24 and extends forwardly of the
front surface 26 of the inner leg. In the illustrated
embodiment,the outer leg 23 is provided with a forward-
ly and inwardly opening recess 27 adapted to receive
the distal end 28 of the end bit support 19 and accom-
modate a weld l9a between edge portions 14 and end bit
support 19, as shown in Figure 5.
The forward extension of the outer leg 23 is
substantially equal to the thickness of the bit sup-
port 19, as shown in Figure 5. Thus, as illustrated
in broken lines in Figure 4, the end bit 22 may bear
against the front surface 29 of the extension 30 of
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the outer leg 23 to extend to outwardly of wear member
15.
As shown in Figures 7 and 8, lower edge por-
tion 14 of sidewall member 11 extends downwardly be-
tween legs 23 and 24 of the wear member. Leg 23 isprovided with a pair of openings 31 and end wall por-
tion 14 is provided with a corresponding pair of open-
ings 32 for receiving a pair of locking pins 33 (Figs.
1 and 2). As shown in Figure 8, the locking pins ex-
tend further into aligned openings 34 in the inner leg24 of the wear member 15. A pair of locking rings 35
may be provided for locking the pin 33 against axial
displacement. As shown in Figure 8, the locking rings,
when utilized, are received in suitable grooves 36 in
the locking pin 33 and are disposed within opposed,
inwardly facing recesses 37 of the legs 23 and 24, per-
mitting the locking rings to snap into place in the
grooves 36 upon insertion of the locking pin 33
through the aligned openings. Thus, the wear member
15 may be readily removably secured to the lower edge
portion 14 of the sidewall plates 11 and 12.
As indicated above and as shown in Figures 3
and 6, the sidewall plates are further reinforced by
half arrow elements 16. Each element 16 is defined by
an outer plate section 38 having a front portion 39
and a rear portion 40. An inner tapered section 41 is
formed integrally with the plate section front portion
39 and widens rearwardly to a transverse shoulder sur-
face 42. A weld 43a is provided rearwardly of surface
42 and forwardly of the front edge 44 of the sidewall
plate defining the recess 13. Thus, the weld 43a is
effectively recessed behind the wedge-shaped portion
41 for protection thereof during use of the earthwork-
ing element. A similar weld 43b is provided at the
rear end of plate 38 for securing the plate thereat
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to sidewall plate 11, as seen in Figure 6. As shown,
weld 43b is protected against wear by the element 16.
As shown in Figure 6, the rear portion 40 of
the outer section 38 overlies the outer surface of the
sidewall to provide further rigidification of the
sidewall plates. The forward tip 45 of the half arrow
element defines a relatively sharp leading edge por-
tion of the half arrow element for improved penetra-
tion.
As seen in Figure 7, plate 18 and end wall
plate portion 14 have a cumulative thickness substan-
tially equal to the cumulative width of slot 48 and
outer leg 23 of the wear member 15. Wear plate 18 has
a thickness substantially similar to that of the thick-
ness of outer leg 23 of the wear member 15 and, thus,
as seen in Figure 7, the outer surfaces of the wear
member 15 and replaceable wear plate 18 are substan-
tially flush for further improved earthworking oper-
ation and improved wear life.
As seen in Figure 2, the rear wall 46 of the
wear member 15 extends between the legs 23 and 24 and
has a height substantially equal to the height of the
outer leg 23 so as to define a rear abutment for the
sidewall plate portion 14. As shown in Figures 7 and
8, the lower surface 47 of bight 25 of wear member 15
is tapered downwardly so as to effectively define a
V-section surface to provide a reduced footprint and
better hlade penetration during use of the earthwork-
ing implement.
As the wear member 15 is secured to the lower
edge portion 14 of the sidewall plate members by pin
means rather than welding means, the wear member may
be formed as a casting of wear-resistant alloy steel
providing further improved long troublefree life of
the earthworking implement.
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Industrial Applicability
The use of the improved readily replaceable
wear member 15 provides a substantial improvement in
the facilitated maintenance of such earthworking imple-
ments. In the prior art constructions wherein heavywear plates were welded on the sidewall members, the
difficulty of replacement of the wear plates caused
the shoe wear to be ignored until the end bit reten-
tion became a serious problem. By providing the im-
proved readily replaceable U-section wear members 15,
the rapid wear of the leading edge of the sidewall
plates and lower shoe member has been effectively mini-
mized so as to provide substantially improved useful-
ness with effectively minimum maintenance of the earth-
working implement. As the shoe member may be readilyreplaced, only a short down time is required to effect
the change from a worn member to a replacement member.
As indicated above, as the wear member is mechanically
secured to the earthworking implement, a long life
wear-resistant alloy steel material may be utilized,
further minimizing maintenance requirements.
The improved reinforcing means may be util-
ized in a wide range of earthworking implements, in-
cluding the bulldozer blade implement of the disclosed
embodiment, as will be obvious to those skilled in the
art.
The improved structural integrity of the earth-
working element utilizing the reinforcing means of the
present invention is extremely simple and economical of
construction while yet providing the highly desirable
~eatures discussed above.
Other aspects, objects and advantages of this
invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings,
the disclosure and the appended claims. The foregoing
disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of
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the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the
invention.
