(19)
(11) EP 2 288 760 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
03.04.2013 Bulletin 2013/14

(21) Application number: 09731426.4

(22) Date of filing: 02.04.2009
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E02F 9/28(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/NO2009/000125
(87) International publication number:
WO 2009/126045 (15.10.2009 Gazette 2009/42)

(54)

WEAR MEMBER CONNECTION DEVICE FOR A DIGGING BUCKET

VERSCHLEISSGLIEDVERBINDUNGSVORRICHTUNG FÜR EINEN BAGGEREIMER

DISPOSITIF DE LIAISON D'ÉLÉMENT D'USURE POUR UNE AUGE DE CREUSEMENT


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 10.04.2008 NO 20081744

(43) Date of publication of application:
02.03.2011 Bulletin 2011/09

(73) Proprietor: Komatsu KVX LLC.
4353 klepp Stasjon (NO)

(72) Inventor:
  • TORGRIMSEN, Tor
    N-4018 Stavanger (NO)

(74) Representative: Håmsø Patentbyrå ANS 
Postboks 171
4302 Sandnes
4302 Sandnes (NO)


(56) References cited: : 
WO-A-2004/035945
GB-A- 2 093 142
US-A- 5 909 962
US-A1- 2006 265 916
WO-A1-03/048462
US-A- 3 371 437
US-A1- 2005 274 047
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] A wear member connector is provided. It is, more particularly, a wear member connector in which a wear member is connected to an adapter by means of a pin and pocket connection, in which the pin of the adapter is in the pocket of the wear member.

    [0002] A wear member, for example in the form of a replaceable tooth cap on a digging bucket, is often connected to the digging bucket by means of an adapter which is secured to the front piece of the digging bucket.

    [0003] According to the prior art, the adapter is generally formed with a pin which fits complementarily into a pocket in the tooth cap. The tooth cap is often moulded and fitted by hand on the adapter, on which it is typically held in place by means of a locking pin or similar.

    [0004] US-dokument 2006/0265916 describes a wear assembly that includes an adapter with a nose, a wear member with a socket to receive the nose, and a lock to secure the wear member to the adapter. The nose and socket include complementary rails and grooves that vertically diverge as they extend from the front of the nose. The lock can have a tapered construction. This document forms the basis for the preamble of the independent claim.

    [0005] US-document 3371437 concerns a locking device in the form of a bolt with a half round head for securing a removable digger tooth point to a support shrank. The bolt is disposed in the shrank with the head interiorly of the assembled tooth point and shrank with the head rotatable from nesting engagement in a registering socket in the the tooth point and the point and shrank are secured together by the bolt after moving the socket out of register.

    [0006] US document 5909962 describes a tip assembly for an edge of an implement of a work machine that includes an adapter secured to the edge of the implement. The adapter has an adapter aperture extending therethrough. The tip assembly also includes an implement tip having a tip aperture extending therethrough, the implement tip is positioned relative to the adapter such that the adapter aperture and the tip aperture align to form a passageway. The tip assembly further includes a sleeve subassembly positioned within the passageway. The sleeve subassembly includes (i) a first member, (ii) an intermediate member, and (iii) a second member. In addition, the tip assembly includes a fastener mechanically coupled to the sleeve subassembly wherein rotation of the fastener causes (i) the intermediate member to move in a first direction, and (ii) the first and second members to move in a second direction so as to tightly secure the sleeve subassembly within the adapter aperture.

    [0007] The wear on the tooth cap is less unfavourable than wear on the adapter because the tooth cap can easily be replaced. Wear on the adapter, however, may lead to too poor a fit against the tooth cap or to breakage and need for replacement the adapter. The replacing of a welded adapter may constitute half a day's work.

    [0008] The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

    [0009] The object is achieved through features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

    [0010] A wear member connector is provided, in which a wear member is connected to an adapter by means of a pin and pocket connection, the pin of the adapter being in the pocket of the wear member, and the wear member being characterized by the pin abutting against the pocket at a first abutment portion, a second abutment portion and a third abutment portion.

    [0011] By an adapter is meant, in this connection, any component which may be used to hold a wear member.

    [0012] When the pin is placed in the pocket, the second abutment portion is on the opposite side of the pin between the first abutment portion and the third abutment portion. Similarly, the second abutment portion is located axially between the first abutment portion and the third abutment portion relative to the direction of insertion of the pin into the pocket. Thereby, the pin rests steadily against the pocket.

    [0013] A preferred embodiment of the wear member connector is that the abutment portions are at different depths in the pocket, alternatively at different distances from the end portion of the pin.

    [0014] A preferred embodiment of the wear member connector is that at least one of the abutment portions is placed transversely to the direction of insertion of the pin into the pocket.

    [0015] Yet another preferred embodiment of the wear member connector is that at least one of the abutment portions extends over more than one side of the pocket or pin. If the pin and pocket connection has a circular cross section, an abutment portion may extend along an arc of the circumference. If the pin and pocket connection is given a cornered, for example square, cross section, the abutment portion may extend over more than one side.

    [0016] Yet another preferred embodiment of the wear member connector is that at least one of the abutment portions is divided. An abutment portion may be divided by, for example, openings, recesses or hollow keys, or it may be divided for reasons of production.

    [0017] Yet another preferred embodiment of the wear member connector is that each abutment portion is formed by an elevation on the pin or in the pocket. For example, protrusions in the pocket may contribute to a practical design of the wear member connector.

    [0018] The wear member connector provided makes the wear member rest against its attachment at three defined portions, which enables steady and safe attachment of the wear member. If, additionally, the connector is formed with a conicity, strains during work will contribute to driving the wear member connector even harder together, so that wear between the components is substantially prevented.

    [0019] In what follows is described an example of a preferred embodiment which is visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:
    Figure 1
    shows a plan view of a wear member which is connected to a front piece by means of an adapter;
    Figure 2
    shows a section 1-1 of figure 1;
    Figure 3
    shows a section IIa-IIa of figure 2;
    Figure 4
    shows a section IIb-IIb of figure 2;
    Figure 5
    shows a section IIc-IIc of figure 2; and
    Figure 6
    shows in perspective a wear member, viewed from its mounting side.


    [0020] In the drawings the reference numeral 1 indicates a wear member in the form of a tooth cap which is connected to the pin 4 of an adapter 2. The adapter 2 is secured to the front piece 6 of a bucket, not shown.

    [0021] The pin 4 is given a shape like a frustum of a pyramid and has its smallest cross section at its projecting end portion 8. The pin 4 is formed with a through cut-out 10 for a locking pin 12. A stop screw 14 is threaded into the end portion 8.

    [0022] The wear member 1 is formed with a pocket 16 which fits complementarily over the pin 4. The wear member 1 is provided with through openings 18 which correspond to the cut-out 10 of the pin 4 in such a way that the locking pin 12, when in the openings 18 and cut-out 10, prevents the wear member 1 from being movable off the pin 4.

    [0023] Near the bottom of the pocket 16 is arranged a first abutment portion 20 in the form of a protrusion which builds out somewhat from a first side 22 and a second side 24 inside the pocket 16, see figure 3. The first abutment portion 20 is arranged to abut against the pin 4, whereas a third side 26 and a fourth side 28 have a clearance to the pin 4 in the section IIa-IIa.

    [0024] Nearly halfway into the pocket 16 is arranged a second abutment portion 30 in the form of a protrusion which builds out somewhat from the third side 26 and fourth side 28 of the pocket 16, see figure 4. The second abutment portion 30 is arranged to abut against the pin 4, whereas the first side 22 and the second side 24 have a clearance to the pin 4 in the section IIb-IIb.

    [0025] Near the outer opening of the pocket 16 is arranged a third abutment portion 32 in the form of a protrusion which builds out somewhat from the first side 22 and the second side 24 inside the pocket 16, see figure 5. The third abutment portion 32 is arranged to bear against the pin 4, whereas the third side 26 and the fourth side 28 have a clearance to the pin 4 in the section IIc-IIc.

    [0026] Thus, the pin 4 has abutments against the first side 22 and the second side 24 by the first abutment portion 20 and the third abutment portion 32, and against the third side 26 and the fourth side 28 by the second abutment portion 30. This preferred embodiment provides a very steady and defined contact between the wear member 1 and the adapter 2.

    [0027] By means of discs 34, the stop screw 14 has been built out somewhat from the end portion 8 to prevent the wear member 1 from being moved too far in on the pin 4 during work, which might lead to radial overloading of the wear member 1.


    Claims

    1. A bucket wear unit comprising a wear member (1) and an adapter (2), wherein the adapter (2) is securable to a front piece (6) of the bucket, and the wear member (1) is connected to the adapter (2) by means of a pin (4) and pocket (16) connection, in which the pin (4) is an integral portion of the adapter (2) and the pocket (16) is an integral portion of the wear member (1), characterized in that, the pin (4) abuts against the pocket (16) at a first abutment portion (20), a second abutment portion (30) and a third abutment portion (32), the abutment portions (20, 30, 32) protruding from the pin (4) or from a pocket side (22, 24, 26, 28), the second abutment portion (30) being on the opposite side of the pin (4) relative to the first abutment portion (20) and the third abutment portion (32), wherein when the pin (4) is placed in the pocket (16), the second abutment portion (30) is positioned axially between the first abutment portion (20) and the third abutment portion (32) relative to the direction of insertion of the pin (4) into the pocket (16).
     
    2. The device in accordance with claim 1, charac - terized in that the abutment portions (20, 30, 32) are at different depths in the pocket (16).
     
    3. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the abutment portions are placed at different distances from the end portion (8) of the pin (4).
     
    4. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the abutment portions (20, 30, 32) are positioned transversely to the direction of insertion of the pin (4) into the pocket (16).
     
    5. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the abutment portions (20, 30, 32) extends over more than one side (22, 24, 26, 28) of the pocket (16) or pin (4).
     
    6. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the abutment portions (20, 30, 32) is divided.
     
    7. The device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each abutment portion (20, 30, 32 is formed by an elevation on the pin (4) or in the pocket (16).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Baggerschaufelverschleisseinheit umfassend ein Verschleisselement (1) und einen Adapter (2), wobei der Adapter (2) an einem Frontstück (6) der Baggerschaufel befestigbar ist und das Verschleisselement (1) mittels einer Verbindung aus einem Stift (4) und einer Ausnehmung (16) mit dem Adapter (2) verbunden ist, in welcher der Stift (4) ein integraler Bestandteil des Adapters (2) und die Ausnehmung (16) ein integraler Bestandteil des Verschleisselements (1) ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Stift (4) an einem ersten Anlageabschnitt (20), einem zweiten Anlageabschnitt (30) und einem dritten Anlageabschnitt (32) an der Ausnehmung (16) anliegt, wobei die Anlageabschnitte (20, 30, 32) vom Stift (4) oder von einer Seite (22, 24, 26, 28) der Ausnehmung abragen, wobei der zweite Anlageabschnitt (30) relativ zum ersten Anlageabschnitt (20) und dritten Anlageabschnitt (32) auf der gegenüberliegende Seite des Stiftes (4) ist, wobei, wenn der Stift (4) in der Ausnehmung (16) platziert ist, der zweite Anlageabschnitt (30) relativ zur Einführungsrichtung des Stifts (4) in die Ausnehmung (16) axial zwischen dem ersten Anlageabschnitt (20) und dem dritten Anlageabschnitt (32) positioniert ist.
     
    2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Anlageabschnitte (20, 30, 32) auf unterschiedlichen Tiefen in der Ausnehmung (16) angeordnet sind.
     
    3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Anlageabschnitte mit unterschiedlichen Abständen vom Endabschnitt (8) des Stifts (4) platziert sind.
     
    4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens einer der Anlageabschnitte (20, 30, 32) quer zur Einführungsrichtung des Stifts (4) in der Ausnehmung (16) positioniert ist.
     
    5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich mindestens einer der Anlageabschnitte (20, 30, 32) über mehr als eine Seite (22, 24, 26, 28) der Ausnehmung (16) oder des Stiftes (4) erstreckt.
     
    6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens einer der Anlageabschnitte (20, 30, 32) unterteilt ist.
     
    7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Anlageabschnitt (20, 30, 32) durch eine Erhöhung auf dem Stift (4) oder in der Ausnehmung (16) geformt ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Élément d'usure pour une pelle d'excavatrice comprenant un dispositif d'usure (1) et un adaptateur (2), où l'adaptateur peut être fixé à une pièce avant (6) de la pelle et où l'élément d'usure (1) est connecté à cet adaptateur (2) par le moyen d'une goupille (4) et d'un creux (169, où la goupille (4) forme une partie intégrale de l'adaptateur (2) et où le creux (16) forme une partie intégrale de l'élément d'usure (1), caractérisé en ce que la goupille (4) contacte le creux (16) à une première partie de butoir (20), une deuxième partie de butoir (30) et une troisième partie de butoir (32), où les parties de butoir (20, 30, 32) s'étendent de la goupille (4) ou d'une face du creux (22, 24, 26, 28), où la deuxième partie de butoir (30) est sur la face opposé de la goupille (4) relative à la première partie de butoir (20) et à la troisième partie de butoir (32), où, quand la goupille (4) est placée dans le creux (16), la deuxième partie de butoir (30) est positionnée axialement entre la première partie de butoir (20) et la troisième partie de butoir (32) relative à la direction de l'insertion de la goupille (4) dans le creux (16).
     
    2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les parties de butoir (20, 30, 32) se trouvent à des différents profondeurs dans le creux (16).
     
    3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les parties de butoir sont placées à des différentes distances du bout de la partie de butoir (8) de la goupille (4).
     
    4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins l'une des parties de butoir (20, 30, 32) est positionnée d'une manière transversale à la direction de l'insertion de la goupille (4) dans le creux (16).
     
    5. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins l'une des parties de butoir (20, 30, 32) s'étend au-delà d'au moins une face (22, 24, 26, 28) du creux (16) ou de la goupille (4).
     
    6. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins l'une des parties de butoir (20, 30, 32) est divisée.
     
    7. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que chaque partie de butoir (20, 30, 32) est formée par une bosse sur la goupille (4) ou dans le creux (16).
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description