WING SHROUD FOR BUCKET LIP AND BUCKET LIP ASSEMBLY USING SAME

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present disclosure relates generally to a wing shroud for a bucket lip assembly, and more particularly to a wing shroud having a contoured forward end for penetration and flow direction of a material, and interlocking with a coupler.

BACKGROUND

[0002]Many different types of heavy-duty machinery are known throughout the world for use in material handling, construction, demolition, forestry, and mining, for example. Such machines are typically equipped with an implement system, commonly hydraulically actuated, including a bucket that captures material to be lifted and dumped. In mining applications, it is common for such machines to be built quite large and robust, with large bucket capacities configured for capturing, lifting, and dumping enormous amounts of material at a working face of a mine.

[0003]Operating conditions in such applications can be extremely harsh, with the material captured and moved being heavy, hard, abrasive, and sometimes needing to be broken apart by action of the bucket. One type of mining machine widely deployed in the field is generally known as a hydraulic mining shovel and includes a large bucket mounted to a boom assembly and operated to capture, lift, and dump blasted material at the working face of a mine. Buckets in such applications are often built, sometimes on-site, from multiple different parts including a so-called bucket lip that is arranged at a forward edge of the bucket. The bucket lip may be welded to side panels or “wings” of a bucket body. Such bucket lips are typically equipped with various protective structures, often replaceable, including edge shrouds, wing shrouds, wear caps, and various wear plates, as well as ground-engaging tip structures for penetrating the material. In modern hydraulic mining shovels and similar equipment, the bucket lip and attachments can be among the more complex components of the machine.

[0004]Due to the demands placed upon such machines the bucket components are typically built quite robust, often necessitating their being quite heavy, difficult to manufacture and/or install, or having other shortcomings. A bucket lip may also be equipped with multiple interrelated attachments in contact with one another and the bucket lip itself, creating challenges as to managing loads, fitment of parts, servicing and replacement schedules, and still others. Wing shrouds, for example, are often attached to leading edges of lateral wings on the bucket to protect the lateral wings as the bucket penetrates material during loading the bucket. The art provides ample room for improvements and development of alternatives to known strategies. One bucket lip is known from U.S. Pat. No. 9,404,240B2 to Kunz.

SUMMARY

[0005]In one aspect, a shroud for a bucket lip wing in a bucket lip assembly includes a shroud body having a front end forming a plow edge, a first leg and a second leg each extending to a back end, and a wing-mounting channel defined between the first leg and the second leg. The shroud body further includes a first shroud body lateral surface formed in part upon the first leg, and a second shroud body lateral surface formed in part upon the second leg. The first leg has formed therein a retention pocket in communication with the wing-mounting channel and opening at the back end. The front end further includes a forward lower edge defining a shroud body lateral width, and forming a fit pad, for interlocking engagement with a coupler in a bucket lip assembly, defining a fit pad width less than the shroud body lateral width.

[0006]In another aspect, a shroud for a bucket lip wing in a bucket lip assembly includes a shroud body having a front end forming a plow edge defined at an intersection of a first material impingement face and a second material impingement face. The plow edge extends upwardly and rearwardly from a forward lower edge forming a fit pad for interlocking engagement with a coupler, extending laterally between a first setback formed between the fit pad and a first shroud body lateral surface and a second setback formed between the fit pad and a second shroud body lateral surface. The shroud body further includes a wing-mounting channel extending rearwardly of the front end and defining a vertical plane. The shroud body is laterally asymmetric about the vertical plane.

[0007]In still another aspect, a bucket lip assembly includes a bucket lip having a bucket lip upper surface extending laterally between a first bucket lip wing and a second bucket lip wing, a bucket lip forward edge, and a plurality of mounting stations arranged along the bucket lip forward edge. The bucket lip assembly further includes a coupler mounted to one of the plurality of mounting stations in alignment with the first bucket lip wing, and a wing shroud. The wing shroud includes a front end having a plow edge defined at an intersection of a first material impingement face and a second material impingement face, and a wing-mounting channel receiving the first bucket lip wing. The wing shroud further includes a forward lower edge interlocked with the coupler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a machine, according to one embodiment;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a bucket lip, according to one embodiment;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of a bucket lip assembly, according to one embodiment;

[0011]FIG. 4 is another diagrammatic view, in perspective, of a bucket lip assembly, according to one embodiment;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a top view of a portion of a bucket lip assembly, according to one embodiment;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shroud, according to one embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 7 is a front view of a shroud, according to one embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 8 is a front view of a shroud, according to another embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 9 is a back view of a shroud, according to one embodiment;

[0017]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shroud, according to one embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 11 is a side view of a shroud, according to one embodiment; and

[0019]FIG. 12 is a top view of a shroud, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020]Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a machine 10 according to one embodiment. Machine 10 includes a frame 12 supported upon ground-engaging elements 14, for example, two parallel, endless ground-engaging tracks. Machine 10 also includes a hydraulically actuated implement system 16. Implement system 16 includes a boom assembly 18 and a bucket 20. An operating cab or station (not numbered) may be supported upon frame 12. In the illustrated embodiment, machine 10 is a hydraulic mining shovel commonly employed to capture, lift, and dump material at the working face of a mine. Alternative machine types and/or service applications are within the scope of the present disclosure. Bucket 20 is shown attached in a forward or front arrangement, however, in an alternative, bucket 20 could be reversed from the configuration illustrated and arranged similarity to certain backhoe or excavator applications. Bucket 20 includes a forwardly positioned bucket lip 22.

[0021]Referring also now to FIG. 2, bucket lip 22 may include an elongate one-piece casting 24. Casting 24 may be formed as a single cast piece of a suitable metallic material, such as an iron or a steel. Elongate casting or bucket lip body 24 may include an upper surface 26 extending laterally between a first lateral wing 28 and a second lateral wing 30. In a practical implementation, first lateral wing 28 and second lateral wing 30 can be attached such as by welding to a plurality of bucket panels or body pieces to form forward constructed bucket 20. Elongate body 24 also includes a plurality of mounting stations arranged along a bucket lip forward edge 35. The plurality of mounting stations may include a plurality of coupler stations 32 in an alternating arrangement with a plurality of shroud stations 34, forwardly positioned upon elongate body 24 and potentially arranged in a variety of staggered fore-aft positions and/or a forwardly biased arrangement, such that centrally located coupler stations 34 and centrally located shroud stations are positioned relatively more forward than coupler stations and shroud stations closer to first and second lateral wings 28 and 30.

[0022]Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is shown a bucket lip assembly 36 coupled to bucket 20 and illustrating additional features and details. Bucket lip assembly 38 includes a coupler 38 mounted to one of coupler stations 32 which is in alignment with first lateral wing 28. It will be appreciated that the following description associated with one lateral wing 28 can be understood by way of analogy to refer to features and functionality of the opposite lateral wing 30 that is not illustrated. A tip 40 as might be used to penetrate material and break apart chunks of material to be lifted, captured, and dumped with bucket 20 is shown attached to coupler 38.

[0023]An edge shroud 42 is also mounted to a corresponding one of shroud stations 34. Bucket lip assembly 36 also includes a wing shroud 44. Wing shroud 44 is mounted to first lateral wing 28 and positioned adjacent to and interlocking with coupler 38, as further discussed herein. Wing shroud 44 may include a lower wing shroud positioned between coupler 38 and an upper wing shroud 35 mounted to bucket 20. During operation, material to be captured with bucket 20 can flow over and across the plurality of tips 40, couplers 38, and edge shrouds 42 to enter a volume of a bucket 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that bucket lip wings and bucket wings or side panels, etc., can be urged through the material and experience significant loads and wear. Accordingly, lower wing shroud 44 and upper wing shroud 45 can assist in protecting bucket lip 22 and bucket 20 itself to limit wear and extend service life thereof, as further discussed herein.

[0024]Referring also now to FIGS. 6, 7, and 9-12, there are shown features of lower wing shroud 44 (hereinafter “shroud 44”) in further detail. Shroud 44 includes a shroud body 46 having a front end 48 forming a plow edge 58, and a first leg 60 and a second leg 62 each extending to a back end 64 of shroud body 46. A wing-mounting channel 66 configured to receive first lateral wing 28 is defined between first leg 60 and second leg 62 and extends rearwardly of front end 48. As illustrated in FIG. 12, wing mounting channel 66 may define a vertical plane 101. Shroud body 46 may be laterally asymmetric about vertical plane 101.

[0025]Shroud body 46 further includes a first shroud body lateral surface 70 formed in part upon first leg 60, and a second shroud body lateral surface 72 formed in part upon second leg 62. As can be seen from the drawings, including FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, for example, first leg 60 may have formed therein a retention pocket 74 in communication with wing-mounting channel 66 and opening in back end 64. First leg 60 may further include a fastening aperture 75 formed therein and in communication with retention pocket 74.

[0026]In one implementation, a mounting boss (not visible in the drawings) can be welded to first lateral wing 28 and shroud 44 engaged upon first lateral wing 28 by sliding the subject mounting boss into the retention pocket 74. Shroud 44 can then be releasably attached to first lateral wing 28 by engaging a suitable securement mechanism through aperture 75 into engagement with the subject mounting boss. Other attachment strategies including non-releasable attachment such as welding are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0027]Front end 48 further includes a forward lower edge 76. Forward lower edge 76 may be configured for interlocking engagement with coupler 38, and includes a fit pad 80. Fit pad 80 may extend laterally between a first setback 84 defined between fit pad 80 and first shroud body lateral surface 70 and a second setback 86 defined between fit pad 80 and second shroud body lateral surface 72. Setback 84 and setback 86 may be understood to be defined by forward lower edge 76, and formed as rearwardly extending cutouts. Together, fit pad 80, first setback 84, and second setback 86 enable shroud 44 to interlock with complementary features of coupler 38.

[0028]As also illustrated in FIG. 6, forward lower edge 76 can be understood to define a shroud body lateral width 78 extending from first shroud body lateral surface 70 to second shroud body lateral surface 72. Fit pad 80 can be understood to define a fit pad lateral width 82 less than shroud body later width 78. As shown in FIG. 12, fit pad 80 may include a fit pad forward surface 110 and a fit pad upper surface 112, each of which may be planar and orientated normal to one another. Plow edge 58 may extend forward to a lateral midline 114 of fit pad forward surface 110. In an implementation, forward lower edge 76 defines a leading profile that is laterally symmetric about midline 114 and laterally symmetric about plow edge 58. The symmetric profile may include a profile defined by fit pad 80 and at least a majority of each of first setback 84 and second setback 86.

[0029]From FIG. 12 it can further be seen that first leg 60 is longer than second leg 62, although the present disclosure is not thereby limited. First leg 60 may define a relatively greater leg thickness dimension 88 between wing-mounting channel 66 and first shroud body lateral surface 70. Second leg 62 may define a relatively lesser leg thickness dimension 89 between wing-mounting channel 66 and second shroud body lateral surface 72.

[0030]Shroud body 46 may further include a shroud body upper surface 90 extending forward from wing-mounting channel 66 to plow edge 58. Front end 48 may further include a first material impingement face 92 and a second material impingement face 94. Plow edge 58 may be defined at an intersection of first material impingement face 92 and second material impingement face 94. In an embodiment, at least one of first material impingement face 92 and second material impingement face 94 is curvilinear, for example, concave curvilinear. In a refinement, each of first material impingement face 92, second material impingement face 94, and plow edge 58 is at least partially concave curvilinear.

[0031]Front end 48 may further include a protruding lateral lip 96 extending between second material impingement face 94 and second shroud body lateral surface 72. In an implementation, a material chute 98 for directing material into bucket 20 is formed by second material impingement face 94 and protruding lateral lip 96. Protruding lateral lip 96 may extend angularly outward relative to the portion of second shroud body lateral surface 72 that is formed upon second leg 62. Front end 48 may further include a swept-back transition surface 102 extending between first material impingement face 92 and first shroud body lateral surface 70.

[0032]Shroud body upper surface 90 may be at least partially planar. In an embodiment, shroud body upper surface 90 extends from wing-mounting channel 66 to first material impingement surface 92 and to second material impingement surface 98. Shroud body upper surface 90 may include a trailing edge 104 formed at an intersection with wing-mounting channel 66, a first forward edge 106 formed at an intersection with first material impingement face 92, and a second forward edge 106 formed at an intersection with second material impingement face 94. Trailing edge 104, first forward edge 106, and second forward edge 108 may be arranged in a triangular pattern.

[0033]Also in a practical implementation, each of first material impingement face 92 and second material impingement face 94 originates at fit pad upper surface 112 and extends upwardly and rearwardly to shroud body upper surface 90. First material impingement face 92 may originate at an intersection 116 with fit pad upper surface 112. Second material impingement face 94 may originate at an intersection 118 with fit pad upper surface 112. Each respective intersection 116 and 118, having an angular orientation relative to fit pad forward surface 110. The elevational view of FIG. 12, for example, illustrates the arrangement described.

[0034]It will be appreciated that FIGS. 3-6, 7, and 9-12 illustrate a “left-handed” shroud 44 structured to mount to first lateral wing 28 positioned at a left end of bucket lip 22. FIG. 8 illustrates a right-hand shroud 144. Right-hand shroud 144 may be a mirror image of left-handed shroud 44. Thus, it will be appreciated that the present description of features and functionality of shroud 44 can be understood by way of analogy to refer to features and functionality of shroud 144. Put differently, a left-handed shroud and a right-handed shroud according to the present disclosure can be understood to be substantially identical apart from being mirror images of one another.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0035]As discussed above, when bucket 20 engages with a material to be captured, lifted, and dumped, the coarse, hard, material can flow over the various bucket surfaces, colliding with and causing wear of various surfaces. As it is desirable to especially protect surfaces of the bucket and bucket lip itself, protective structures that can be periodically replaced are used to shield various surfaces of the bucket and bucket lip.

[0036]In this regard, it will be appreciated that shroud 44 is configured to interlock and mate with adjacent components including upper wing shroud 45 and coupler 38. During operation, relatively finer particles of material and the like can find their way into cracks, crevices, and gaps, between and amongst components. The interlocking and tight-fitting arrangement of shroud 44 with coupler 38, for example, minimizes gaps that can be subject to material intrusion. Moreover, the interlocking arrangement assists in reacting loads between and amongst components including in particular rotational loads and bending loads on the coupler.

[0037]It should further be appreciated that the forward plow edge 58 of shroud 44 can assist in separating flows of material to reduce loading and impacts upon bucket lip 22. Returning to FIG. 3, it can be appreciated that an outer side of shroud 44, corresponding to first shroud body lateral surface 70 transitions smoothly and in-line with bucket lip 22.

[0038]The present description is for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the full and fair scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawings and appended claims. As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.