Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
REPLACEABLE BASKET FOR A BUCKET FOR A MACHINE
5 Technical Field
This disclosure is directed towards a basket for replaceably mounting to a
main
body for forming a bucket for a machine. This disclosure is also directed
towards
a bucket for a machine comprising such a replaceable basket mounted to a main
body and a machine comprising such a bucket. This disclosure is further
10 directed to a method of maintaining a bucket for a machine.
Background
Machines, including backhoe loaders, shovels, excavators and the like,
commonly comprise one or more buckets attached to the machine by an arm
15 arrangement, for example comprising a stick and a boom. The arm
arrangement
and bucket are generally operated to scoop material from a work surface and
deposit the material elsewhere, such as in an articulated truck. During such
operation the bucket is subject to significant loads and wear. Replaceable
wear
plates are often applied to the bucket at the surfaces of highest wear.
However,
20 the replacement of the wear plates requires relatively long maintenance
time due
to the relatively large amount of welding area required. WO-A-2018/213883
discloses a bucket with a skeleton frame to which separate replaceable wear
plates are mounted. However, the skeleton frame is still exposed to wear, thus
requiring regular replacement or refurbishment, and the bucket with such a
25 skeleton frame is relatively heavy.
Summary
The present disdosure therefore provides a basket for replaceably mounting to
a
main body for forming a bucket for a machine, the basket comprising: a basket
30 wrapper plate; and a first and/or second basket side plate attached to
and
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extending from the basket wrapper plate, wherein the basket wrapper plate and
first and/or second basket side plate are arranged for mounting to the main
body.
5 The present disclosure further provides a bucket for a machine comprising
a
replaceable basket mounted to a main body to together form a bucket cavity,
wherein the basket comprises a basket wrapper plate and a first and/or second
basket side plate attached to and extending from the basket wrapper plate,
wherein the basket wrapper plate and first and/or second basket side plate are
10 mounted to the main body.
The present disclosure further provides a machine comprising a bucket
comprising a replaceable basket mounted to a main body to together form a
bucket cavity, wherein the basket comprises a basket wrapper plate and a first
15 and/or second basket side plate attached to and extending from the
basket
wrapper plate, wherein the basket wrapper plate and first and/or second basket
side plate are mounted to the main body.
The present disclosure further provides a method of maintaining a bucket for a
20 machine, the bucket comprising a first basket mounted to a main body to
together form a bucket cavity, wherein the method comprises: separating the
first basket from the main body along a basket edge of the first basket and a
body distal edge of the main body; locating a basket edge of a second basket
to
abut the body distal edge of the main body; and attaching the second basket to
25 the main body along the basket edge of the second basket and the body
distal
edge of the main body, wherein the first and second basket each comprise a
basket wrapper plate and a first and/or second basket side plate attached to
and
extending from the basket wrapper plate, the basket wrapper plates and first
and/or second basket side plates forming the basket edges.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
By way of example only, embodiments of apparatuses and methods of the
present disclosure are now described with reference to, and as shown in, the
accompanying drawings, in which:
5 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine comprising an embodiment of a
bucket
of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 is a perspective front view of a bucket of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the bucket of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective front view of a main body of the bucket of Figure 2;
10 Figure 5 is a perspective front view of a replaceable basket of the
bucket of
Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a front view of the bucket of Figure 2; and
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view shown an interface between
edges of the main body and replaceable basket of the bucket of Figure 2.
Detailed Description
Figure 1 illustrates a machine 10 comprising a bucket 14 of the present
disclosure. The machine 10 may comprise a main body 11 and a work tool 12
attached to the main body 11. The work tool 12 may comprise an arm
20 arrangement 13, which may comprise a boom and stick as illustrated,
mounted
to the main body 11 and the bucket 14 attached to the arm arrangement 13 as
illustrated. The work tool 12, particularly the arm arrangement 13, may be
controlled by at least one actuator 19 to move the bucket 14 and perform work.
In the illustrated embodiment the machine 10 comprises a hydraulic mining
25 shovel, although the machine 10 may be any other type comprising a
bucket 14,
such as an excavator, backhoe loader, wheel loader, track loader, shovel
loader
or other material handler.
Figures 2 to 7 illustrate the bucket 14 in further detail. The bucket 14
comprises
30 a replaceable basket 15 mounted to a main body 16. The basket 15 is
configured to be subject to the majority of wear to the bucket 14 during its
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operation. The basket 15 is for replacement during maintenance and the bucket
14 is configured such that the basket 15 can be replaced during maintenance or
servicing, such as by cutting the old basket 15 off and welding the new basket
15 on. The main body 16 is generally not replaced during maintenance and
5 during its lifetime a plurality of baskets 15 may be attached to the main
body 16.
The bucket 14 may be particularly suitable in high material volume and/or
density applications (e.g. when the machine 10 is a mining shovel) and the
bucket 14 may be at least 1 m, at least 2 m, at least 4 m or at least 6 m
wide.
The bucket 14 may comprise metal, which may be steel.
The basket 15 and main body 16 together form a bucket cavity 17. The bucket
14 may comprise a bucket opening 18 leading to the bucket cavity 17 and the
bucket cavity 17 may be substantially sealed other than at a bucket opening
18.
The bucket 14 may comprise first and second bucket side walls 20, 21, may
15 comprise a bucket wrapper plate 22 (which may comprise multiple plates)
and
may comprise a cutting arrangement 23, which may each be formed from the
replaceable basket 15 and/or main body 16. The bucket wrapper plate 22 may
extend between and around the first and second bucket side walls 20, 21 to the
cutting arrangement 23 to define the bucket cavity 17 and bucket opening 18.
20 The bucket 14 may comprise a bucket coupling 24 mounted to the bucket
wrapper plate 22 for connecting the bucket 14 to the arm arrangement 13 and
machine 10.
The main body 16 may comprise the bucket opening 18 and may comprise a
25 body distal opening 30. The main body 16 may comprise a body distal edge
31
defining the body distal opening 30 and the body distal edge 31 may be
configured for mounting to the basket 15. The main body 16 may comprise first
and second body side walls 32, 33, may comprise a body wrapper plate 34 and
may comprise the cutting arrangement 23. The body wrapper plate 34 and
30 cutting arrangement 23 may extend between the first and second body side
walls 32, 33 to define part of the bucket cavity 17. The first and second body
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side walls 32, 33, body wrapper plate 34 and cutting arrangement 23 may form
the bucket opening 18, may form the body distal opening 30, may extend
between the bucket opening 18 and body distal opening 30 and/or may together
form part of the bucket cavity 17.
The first and second body side walls 32, 33 may comprise first and second
proximal side edges 35, 36 on either side of the bucket opening 18 and may
comprise first and second distal side edges 37, 38 on either side of the body
distal opening 30. As illustrated, the first and second body side walls 32, 33
may
be substantially flat and may each comprise a plurality of plates welded or
otherwise attached together. The first and second body side walls 32, 33 may
extend between the first and second proximal side edges 35, 36 and the first
and
second distal side edges 37, 38. The bucket 14 may comprise at least one
cavity
edge protector 40, which may be replaceable. The at least one cavity edge
protector 40 may at least partially cover and may be mounted at the first and
second proximal side edges 35, 36 for protecting them from wear.
The cutting arrangement 23 may form a bottom cavity edge 41 of the bucket
opening 18 and may comprise a cutting mount 42 extending between the first
and second proximal side edges 35, 36. The cutting mount 42 may comprise a
cutting arrangement distal edge 43, which may be elongate and may face into
the bucket cavity 17. The cutting arrangement 23 may comprise a plurality of
teeth 44, which may be replaceable and may be mounted to the bottom cavity
edge 41.
The body wrapper plate 34 may form a top cavity edge 45 of the bucket opening
18 and may form a distal body wrapper edge 46. The body wrapper plate 34
may extend between the top cavity edge 45, distal body wrapper edge 46 and
the first and second body side walls 32, 33. The body wrapper plate 34 may be
curved (such as from the top cavity edge 45 to the distal body wrapper edge
46)
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and may comprise a plurality of plates welded or otherwise attached together
as
illustrated.
The body distal edge 31 may comprise the first and second distal side edges
37,
5 38, cutting arrangement distal edge 43 and distal body wrapper edge 46.
The basket 15 comprises a basket wrapper plate 50 and a first and/or second
basket side plate 51, 52 attached to and extending from the basket wrapper
plate 50. The basket wrapper plate 50 and first and second basket side plate
51,
10 52 are separate plates or bodies attached together (i.e. they may not be
cast as
a single piece). The first and/or second basket side plate 51, 52 may be
attached
to the basket wrapper plate 50 by welding or other suitable attachment means.
The basket wrapper plate 50 and first and second basket side plate 51, 52 may
form a basket cavity therebetween which may form part of the bucket cavity 17.
15 The basket 15 may comprise a basket edge 53 formed by the basket wrapper
plate 50 and first and/or second basket side plate 51, 52_ The basket edge 53
may be arranged to be mounted to and abut the body distal edge 31 such that
the basket 15 is mounted to the main body 16.
20 The basket wrapper plate 50 may extend between basket wrapper side edges
55, 56, basket wrapper distal edge 57 and basket wrapper proximal edge 58.
The first and/or second basket side plate 51, 52 may be mounted proximate or
adjacent to, may be separated from and may extend parallel to the basket
wrapper side edges 55, 56. The basket wrapper distal edge 57 may be
25 connected to and abut the distal body wrapper edge 46 and the basket
wrapper
proximal edge 58 may be connected to and abut cutting arrangement distal edge
43. The basket wrapper plate 50 may be substantially polygonal in plan view
and
the basket wrapper side edges 55, 56, basket wrapper distal edge 57 and basket
wrapper proximal edge 58 may be substantially straight. The basket wrapper
30 plate 50 may be curved, such as being curved between the basket wrapper
distal and proximal edges 57, 58. The basket wrapper plate 50 may comprise an
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inner surface 64, which may face into the bucket cavity 17. The first and/or
second basket side plate 51, 52 may be attached to and extend from the inner
surface 64.
5 The basket wrapper plate 50 may comprise a single plate or a plurality of
basket
wrapper sub-plates 60, 61 attached adjacent to one another as illustrated. The
basket wrapper plate 50, whether a single plate or a plurality of basket
wrapper
sub-plates 60, 61, may comprise a single layer. The basket wrapper sub-plates
60, 61 may be attached, preferably welded, to one another along a sub-plate
10 interface 62, which may be a weld joint. As a result the basket wrapper
sub-
plates 60, 61 may be thicker than in the case of a single plate because
machinery with a lower load rating is required to bend the basket wrapper sub-
plates 60, 61 separately than that required to bend the entire basket wrapper
plate 50 at once. By being thicker, the basket wrapper plate 50 may be subject
15 to more wear prior to replacement. The thickness of the basket wrapper
plate 50
may be selected based upon, for example, the bucket 14 size, machine 10 size,
wear ratio and/or expected service life. The basket wrapper plate 50, which
may
be 60 mm thick, may be thicker than the first and/or second basket side plate
51,
52, which may be 30 mm thick.
The sub-plate interface 62 may extend nonparallel, and may be at an acute
angle, to the basket wrapper side edges 55, 56, first and second body side
walls
32, 33 and/or the bucket working direction 63. The bucket working direction 63
may be the direction along which the bucket 14 is moved to scoop material into
25 the bucket 14. The sub-plate interface 62 may extend over and be
nonparallel to
the centreline of the basket wrapper plate 50 between the basket wrapper side
edges 55, 56. By being nonparallel to the bucket working direction 63, the sub-
plate interface 62 may be subject to relatively less wear and therefore may
have
an increased lifetime.
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The basket wrapper plate 50 may be wider than the spacing of the first and
second body side walls 32, 33 and the width of the body wrapper plate 34. The
basket wrapper plate 50 may extend beyond the first and/or second basket side
plate 51, 52 such that part of the inner surface 64 is exposed between the
first
5 and/or second basket side plate 51, 52 and basket wrapper side edges 55,
56.
The distance between the first and/or second basket side plate 51, 52 and
basket wrapper side edges 55, 56 may be at least approximately 50 mm, may be
less than approximately 150 mm and/or may be 90 mm. The distance between
the first and/or second basket side plate 51, 52 and basket wrapper side edges
10 55, 56 may be the same as, at least two times and/or less than five
times the
thickness of the first and/or second basket side plate 51, 52. As a result,
the
basket wrapper plate 50 may substantially protect the first and second body
side
walls 32, 33 from wear resulting from material moving along the outside of the
basket wrapper plate 50.The basket 15 may comprise both of the first and
15 second basket side plate 51, 52 as illustrated. However, the basket 15
may
comprise only one first or second basket side plate 51, 52, for example if one
of
the first and second body side walls 32, 33 extends to the basket wrapper
plate
50.
20 The first and/or second basket side plate 51, 52 may each comprise a
plate and
may extend from the basket wrapper plate 50 to a first and/or second basket
side plate edge 66, 67. The first and second basket side plate edge 66, 67 may
be mounted to and abut the first and second distal side edges 37, 38
respectively.
The basket edge 53 may comprise the basket wrapper distal edge 57, basket
wrapper proximal edge 58 and first and/or second basket side plate edge 66,
67.
As shown in Figure 7, at least part of or all of the thickness of the basket
15,
particularly of the basket wrapper plate 50 and/or first and/or second basket
side
30 plate 51, 52, may reduce or converge to the basket edge 53. Thus at
least part
of the basket edge 53 may be chamfered, bevelled, V-shaped, converge to a
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sharp line or the like. The body distal edge 31 may comprise substantially
right-
angled faces. As a result, the basket 15 comprises a pre-prepared basket edge
53 to increase the ease of attachment, such as welding, to the main body 16.
In
particular, during replacement of the basket 15 the body distal edge 31 does
not
5 need to be significantly prepared (e.g. by bevelling) prior to the
attachment or
welding because the thin edge of the basket edge 53 already provides a
suitable
attachment or welding point A high quality weld may therefore be achieved.
The first and second bucket side walls 20, 21 may comprise the first and
second
10 body side walls 32, 33 and the first and/or second basket side plate 51,
52. The
bucket wrapper plate 22 may comprise the body wrapper plate 34 and the
basket wrapper plate 50. The basket wrapper plate 50 and first and/or second
basket side plate 51, 52 may extend across enough of the bucket wrapper plate
22 and first and second bucket side walls 20, 21 respectively such that they
are
15 subject to the majority of wear experienced by the bucket 14 in use. The
first
and/or second basket side plate 51, 52 may extend over at least 10% of and/or
less than 50% of the surface area of the first and second bucket side walls
20,
21 (i.e. when the bucket 14 is viewed in side view). The basket wrapper plate
50
may extend around at least approximately 25% of, and may extend up to
20 approximately 75% of, the surface area of the bucket wrapper plate 22.
Industrial Applicability
The method of maintaining the bucket 14 may comprise disconnecting the
bucket 14 from the machine 10 or arm arrangement 13, such as at the bucket
25 coupling 24. The method comprises separating a first basket 15 from the
main
body 16 by cutting or otherwise separating between the basket edge 53 and the
body distal edge 31. Subsequently, a second basket 15 may be located adjacent
to the main body 16 such that the basket edge 53 of the second basket 15 abuts
the body distal edge 31. The basket edge 53 of the second basket 15 and the
30 body distal edge 31 may then be attached together, such as by welding.
The
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method may comprise performing the same steps for a third or further basket 15
at a subsequent service.
During such maintenance only a single attachment or weld need be made
between the basket edge 53 and the body distal edge 31. As a result, as
compared to replaceable wear plates as in the prior art or the skeleton
arrangement of WO-A-2018/213883, the amount of welding required during
servicing or maintenance is significantly reduced_ As a result, the cost and
time
required for bucket 14 maintenance are reduced.
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