Heel shield for material movement tool and related methods

Abstract

A heel cover can include a base having one leg with a profile formed thereon and another leg with a receptacle and at least one wear member receiving opening formed therein, a wear member having one leg with a profile formed therein for sliding engagement with the base profile and another leg with at least one interior facing protrusion formed thereon, a retainer opening formed in the protrusion, and a retainer member received in the receptacle and the retainer opening. A method can include sliding the leg of the wear member onto the leg of the base, aligning the receptacle formed in the other base leg with the retainer opening formed in the protrusion of the other wear member leg, inserting the retainer member in the receptacle and the retainer opening, and installing a fastener in the retainer member to prevent removal of the retainer member from the receptacle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to the use of equipment and the work performed in conjunction with excavation work, and in the embodiments described below, more specifically provides a heel shroud for a material-moving implement and related methods. Background Technology

[0002] Heel guards are used to protect the outer corner areas of tools (such as buckets, shovels, or earthmoving tools) from wear and tear. Heel guards are "sacrificial" because they are designed to absorb wear and impact before being replaced to protect the tool from such wear, impact, etc.

[0003] Therefore, it is readily understood that continuous improvement is needed in the design, construction, and utilization of the heel cover for material movement tools. One of the purposes of this disclosure is to provide such improvement for the technology. Attached Figure Description

[0004] Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a representative embodiment of the heel cover and related methods that embody the principles of this disclosure.

[0005] Figure 2 This is a representative cross-sectional view of the base cover.

[0006] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 The representative sectional view of the heel cover obtained by line 3-3.

[0007] Figure 4 It is along Figure 2 The representative sectional view of the heel cover obtained by line 4-4.

[0008] Figure 5 It is along Figure 2 The representative sectional view of the heel cover obtained by line 5-5.

[0009] Figure 6 This is a representative top view of the wear-resistant components of the heel cover.

[0010] Figure 7 This is a representative side view of a wear-resistant component.

[0011] Figure 8 This is a representative top view of the base of the heel cover.

[0012] Figure 9 This is a representative side view of the base.

[0013] Figure 10This is a representative side view of the retainer component of the heel cover.

[0014] Figure 11 This is a representative front view of the retainer component.

[0015] Figure 12 This is a representative bottom view of the retainer components.

[0016] Figure 13 This is a representative cross-sectional view showing the engagement of the retainer component in the wear-resistant component and the base. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a heel cover 10 and a related method that embody the principles of this disclosure. However, it should be clearly understood that the heel cover 10 and method are merely one embodiment of the principles of this disclosure applied in practice, and many other wide-ranging embodiments are possible. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not at all limited to the details of the heel cover 10 and method described herein and / or depicted in the accompanying drawings.

[0018] like Figure 1 As depicted, the heel cover 10 is attached to the tool 12. In various embodiments, the tool 12 may include a barrel, shovel, knife, or other type of material handling tool that can be used in mining, construction, excavation, demolition, agriculture, loading, or other work. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the use of the heel cover 10 on any particular type of material handling tool.

[0019] exist Figure 1 In this embodiment, the tool 12 is a barrel having a lower plate 14 and side plates 16. Heel covers 10 are located at the corners or edges of the lower plate 14 and side plates 16 to protect these plates from impact, abrasion, or other damage during use of the tool 12. In practice, typically multiple heel covers 10 are attached to each side of the tool 12 along the corners or edges connecting the lower plate 14 and side plates 16.

[0020] The heel cover 10 includes a wear-resistant member 18, which is releasably secured to the base 20 by a retainer member 22. The wear-resistant member 18 is subjected to impact, abrasion, or other damage that would otherwise be applied to the tool 12 during operation.

[0021] In this embodiment, the wear-resistant member 18 can be easily replaced (e.g., when it has been worn or otherwise damaged) by removing the retainer member 22 and detaching the wear-resistant member from the base 20. Another wear-resistant member can then be engaged with the base 20, and the retainer member 22 can be installed to secure the wear-resistant member to the tool 12.

[0022] The base 20 is welded to the tool 12, for example, to the lower plate 14 or the side plate 16. Therefore, the base 20 is relatively permanently mounted to the tool 12. Of course, if the base 20 is damaged, it can be removed and replaced by cutting the weld joints, and then another base can be welded to the tool in its place.

[0023] In other embodiments, the base 20 can be releasably secured to the tool 12 (e.g., using rivets, bolts, pins, etc.). The scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular method of permanently or releasably securing the base 20 to the tool 12.

[0024] Now refer to another source Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the heel cover 10 is shown, representing the design. In this view, the wear-resistant member 18 is clearly visible in a manner that allows it to be releasably secured to the base 20 using the retainer member 22.

[0025] like Figure 2 As depicted, the wear-resistant member 18 includes a lower leg 24 and a side leg 26. For example, the lower leg 24 and the side leg 26 are generally orthogonal to each other, so that they conform to the orthogonal directions of the tool lower plate 14 and the side plate 16. In other embodiments, the lower leg 24 and the side leg 26 may be oriented in other ways to conform to tools with different shapes.

[0026] The side leg 26 includes a plurality of protrusions 28 extending inward from the adjacent surface 30 (i.e. towards the tool side plate 16). Each protrusion 28 has a retainer opening 32 formed therein for receiving a retainer member 22.

[0027] The base 20 includes a lower leg 34 and a side leg 36. In this embodiment, the lower leg 34 and the side leg 36 are orthogonal to each other, similar to the lower leg 24 and the side leg 26 of the wear-resistant member. The lower leg 34 of the base is configured to slide into the lower leg 24 of the wear-resistant member, and the side leg 36 of the base is configured to engage with the side leg 26 of the wear-resistant member.

[0028] The base side leg 36 includes a plurality of wear-resistant member receiving openings 38 configured to receive protrusions 28 therein. In addition, a receiving portion 40 is formed in the base side leg 36 for receiving a retainer member 22.

[0029] When the retainer member 22 is inserted into the receiving portion 40 and the retainer member opening 32, the wear-resistant member 18 is releasably secured to the base 20. In this embodiment, a fastener 42 (such as a bolt, screw, pin, etc.) passes through the retainer member 22 to prevent the retainer member from accidentally detaching from the side legs 26 and 36. The fastener 42 is received in a fastener opening 44 formed in the base side leg 36.

[0030] The lower leg 34 of the base has a swallowtail-shaped profile formed thereon (in Figure 2 (Not visible in the middle). The base dovetail profile is configured to slide into a dovetail profile 46 with a complementary shape formed in the lower leg 24 of the wear-resistant member.

[0031] During operation, base 20 is fixed to tool 12 (see...) Figure 1 As described above. Then, by sliding the dovetail profiles of the lower legs 24 and 34 together, the wear-resistant member 18 is engaged with the base 20 until the protrusion 28 is received in the wear-resistant member receiving opening 38 and the abutting surface 30 contacts the abutting surface 48 on the base side leg 36. This will substantially align the retainer opening 32 with the receiving portion 40 in the base side leg 36. The retainer member 22 can then be installed in the retainer opening 32 and the receiving portion 40, thereby securing the wear-resistant member 18 to the base 20. Fasteners 42 are then installed to secure the retainer member 22.

[0032] Now refer to another source Figure 3 and Figure 4 Representatively showing along respectively Figure 2 The sectional views of the heel cover 10 obtained by lines 3-3 and 4-4 are shown. In these views, it is clearly visible how the wear-resistant member 18 is releasably secured to the base 20 by means of the retainer member 22.

[0033] exist Figure 3 As can be seen, one of the protrusions 28 is received in a corresponding one in the wear-resistant member receiving opening 38. The abutting surface 30 in the wear-resistant member side leg 26 contacts the abutting surface 48 of the base. The retainer member 22 is received in the retainer opening 32.

[0034] As described more fully below, in this embodiment, the retainer member 22 has a wedge shape, so that when the retainer member is inserted downward into the retainer opening 32, the inclined surface on the retainer member engages the outwardly inclined surface 32a of the opening 32. This engagement between the inclined surface of the retainer member 22 and the surface 32a of the opening 32 is inward (e.g., Figure 3 As shown in the diagram, the wear-resistant component side leg 26 is offset to the right, causing the adjacent surface 30 to increasingly offset against the adjacent surface 48.

[0035] exist Figure 4 As can be seen, the retainer member 22 is received in the receiving portion 40 formed in the base side leg 36. Furthermore, there is a relatively large contact area between the adjacent surface 30 and the adjacent surface 48, which allows lateral loads to be effectively transferred from the wear-resistant member 18 to the base 20 without causing excessive wear at the interface between them.

[0036] Now refer to another source Figure 5This represents the characteristics along the Figure 2 Another cross-sectional view of the heel cover 10 obtained by line 5-5. In this view, the sliding engagement between the dovetail profiles 46 and 50 formed on the lower leg 24 of the wear-resistant member and the lower leg 34 of the base, respectively, can be clearly seen.

[0037] With the dovetail profiles 46 and 50 fully engaged, the abutment surface 52 formed on the lower leg 24 of the wear-resistant member contacts the abutment surface 54 formed on the lower leg 34 of the base. The contact area between the abutment surfaces 52 and 54 is relatively large, effectively transferring the load from the wear-resistant member 18 to the base 20 without causing significant wear at the interface between them.

[0038] As described more fully below, the dovetail profiles 46 and 50 are angled, causing them to converge towards one end. This facilitates the separation of the dovetail profiles 46 and 50 when removing the wear-resistant component 18 in the presence of dirt and debris.

[0039] Now refer to another source Figure 6 and Figure 7 The diagram shows a top view and a side view of one embodiment of the wear-resistant component 18. Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the figure, the wear-resistant component 18 is depicted as separate from the rest of the heel cover 10.

[0040] exist Figure 6 In the image, the way the swallowtail-shaped outline 46 converges toward the side leg 26 can be clearly seen. Note that the protrusion 28 extends inward from the adjacent surface 30 (in... Figure 6 (Extending to the right as shown). A groove 56 is formed in the side leg 26 for mounting the fastener 42 into the retainer member 22 after the retainer member is received by the aligned opening 32 in the protrusion 28.

[0041] exist Figure 7 As can be seen, opening 32 is aligned along axis 58. Axis 58 is parallel to the adjacent surface 30 and orthogonal to the dovetail profile 46.

[0042] Now refer to another source Figure 8 and Figure 9 The top and side views of one embodiment of the base 20 are shown respectively. Figure 8 and Figure 9 In the image, the base 20 is depicted as separate from the rest of the heel cover 10.

[0043] exist Figure 8In the image, the dovetail-shaped profile 50 can be seen converging towards the side leg 36. The lower leg 34 is provided with an opening 60 and a bevel 62 for welding the base 20 to the tool 12 (see...). Figure 1 The lower plate 14 of the tool 12. A bevel 64 is also formed in the side leg 36 for welding the base 20 to the side plate 16 of the tool 12.

[0044] exist Figure 9 In the image, the receiving portion 40 can be seen extending along axis 66. Axis 66 is parallel to the adjacent surface 48 and orthogonal to the dovetail profile 50.

[0045] Note that the receiving portion 40 tapers inward from the top of the side leg portion 36 toward the lower leg portion 34. This taper of the receiving portion 40 matches the inclined surface formed on the retainer member 22, as described more fully below.

[0046] Now refer to another source Figures 10 to 12 The following figures represent a side view, a front view, and a bottom view of one embodiment of the retainer member 22. In this embodiment, the retainer member 22 includes an upper head 68, an extension 70, and a tapered wedge-shaped body 72.

[0047] The head 68 is used for the installation and removal of the retainer component 22. The top 68a of the head 68 can be used to push the retainer component 22 into the receiving portion 40 and the retainer opening 32 (see...). Figure 2 The shoulder 68b can be used to pry the retainer member 22 out of the receiving part 40 and the retainer opening 32.

[0048] The extension 70 has an internal through-hole 74 formed therein. Fastener 42 (see...) Figure 2 Insertion hole 74 to prevent retainer component 22 from falling off the heel cover 10 during use.

[0049] Inclined surfaces 72a and 72b are formed on the main body 72. These surfaces 72a and 72b converge toward the bottom end of the main body 72. The interior of the receiving portion 40 (see...) Figure 9 They are similarly thinner.

[0050] Now refer to another source Figure 13 A detailed cross-sectional view is shown, representatively illustrating the engagement between the retainer member 22 and each of the wear-resistant member 18 and the base 20. In this view, it can be seen that when the retainer member 22 is fully installed in the receiving portion 40, the inwardly facing inclined surface 72a on the body 72 engages with the outwardly facing inclined surface 32a of the retainer opening 32. This engagement between the inclined surfaces 32a and 72a is inward (towards the implementing side plate 16, see...). Figure 1The wear-resistant member 18 is offset so that the adjacent surface 30 of the wear-resistant member is biased against the adjacent surface 48 of the base 20.

[0051] There is a gap G between the outward-facing inclined surface 72a of the retainer member 22 and the inward-facing inclined surface 32b of the retainer opening 32. The gap G ensures that the lateral load applied to the wear-resistant member 18 is not transmitted to the retainer member 22.

[0052] It is now fully understood that the above disclosure provides significant advancements in the design, construction, and utilization of heel covers for material handling tools. In one embodiment described above, the wear-resistant member 18 can be conveniently secured to and released from the base 20 by installing and removing the retainer member 22, which is secured in the base by fasteners 42 received in an opening 44 in the base.

[0053] The above disclosure provides a heel cover 10 for use on a material handling tool 12. In one embodiment, the heel cover 10 may include a wear-resistant member 18, a base 20, and a retainer member 22. The base 20 is configured to be mounted to the tool 12 and includes a first leg 34 and a second leg 36. The first leg 34 has a first profile 50 formed thereon, and the second leg 36 has a receiving portion 40 formed therein. The wear-resistant member 18 includes a first leg 24 and a second leg 26. The first leg 24 has a second profile 46 formed therein and is configured to slidably engage with the first profile 50. The second leg 26 has at least one inwardly facing protrusion 28 formed thereon and a retainer opening 32 formed in the protrusion 28. The retainer member 22 is received in the receiving portion 40 and the retainer opening 32.

[0054] The first leg 34 of the base may be orthogonal to the second leg 36 of the base. The receiving portion 40 may be orthogonal to the wear-resistant member receiving opening 38 formed in the second leg 36 of the base.

[0055] At least one wear-resistant component receiving opening 38 may be formed in the second leg 36 of the base, and the protrusion 28 may be received in the wear-resistant component receiving opening 38.

[0056] The retainer member 22 may be wedge-shaped (e.g., the body 72 may have inclined surfaces 72a, 72b formed thereon).

[0057] The heel cover 10 may include a fastener 42 that is fixed to the retainer member 22 and received in a fastener opening 44 in the second leg 36 of the base.

[0058] The second leg 36 of the base may include an outwardly facing abutment surface 48, and a protrusion 28 may extend inwardly from the abutment surface 30 formed in the second leg 26 of the wear-resistant member. The abutment surface 48 may contact the abutment surface 30.

[0059] The displacement of the retainer member 22 into the receiving portion 40 and the retainer opening 32 can cause the adjacent surface 48 to be biased against the adjacent surface 30. The displacement of the retainer member 22 into the receiving portion 40 and the retainer opening 32 can cause the retainer member 22 to be biased against the outward-facing surface 32a of the retainer opening 32. The retainer member 22 can be spaced apart from the inward-facing surface 32b of the retainer opening 32.

[0060] The above disclosure also provides a method for fixing a heel cover wear-resistant member 18 to a heel cover base 20 on a material moving tool 12. In one embodiment, the method may include: sliding a first leg 24 of the wear-resistant member 18 onto a first leg 34 of the base 20, thereby aligning a receiving portion 40 formed in a second leg 36 of the base 20 with at least one retainer opening 32 formed in at least one protrusion 28 of the second leg 26 of the wear-resistant member 18; inserting a retainer member 22 into the receiving portion 40 and the retainer opening 32; and installing a fastener 42 in the retainer member 22 to prevent the retainer member 22 from being removed from the receiving portion 40.

[0061] The sliding step may include receiving the protrusion 28 in the wear-resistant member receiving opening 38 formed in the second leg 36 of the base.

[0062] "At least one" protrusion 28 may include a plurality of protrusions 28. The sliding step may include receiving the protrusions 28 respectively in a plurality of wear-resistant member receiving openings 38 formed in the second leg 36 of the base.

[0063] At least one retainer opening 32 may include a plurality of retainer openings 32. Each protrusion 28 may have a retainer opening 32 formed therein. The insertion step may include inserting the retainer member 22 into each retainer opening 32.

[0064] The retainer member 22 may have at least one inclined surface 72a formed thereon. The insertion step may include the inclined surface 72a abutting against the outward-facing surface 32a of the retainer opening 32.

[0065] The installation steps may include inserting the fastener 42 into the retainer member 22. The installation steps may also include inserting the fastener 42 into the fastener opening 44 formed in the second leg 36 of the base.

[0066] The second leg 36 of the base may include an outwardly facing abutment surface 48. A protrusion 28 may extend inwardly from the abutment surface 30 formed in the second leg 26 of the wear-resistant member. The insertion step may include biasing the abutment surface 48 against the abutment surface 30.

[0067] The insertion step may include biasing the retainer member 22 against the outward-facing surface 32a of the retainer opening 32. The insertion step may also include spaced the retainer member 22 from the inward-facing surface 32b of the retainer opening 32 (e.g., providing a gap G).

[0068] The foregoing also describes one embodiment of the heel cover wear-resistant member 18, comprising: a first leg 24 configured to slidably engage with a heel cover base 20, and a second leg 26 including at least one inwardly extending protrusion 28. At least one retainer opening 32 is formed in the protrusion 28, and the protrusion 28 is configured to be received in a wear-resistant member receiving opening 38 of the heel cover base 20.

[0069] The retainer opening 32 can be orthogonal to the direction of the first leg 24. The second leg 26 can be orthogonal to the direction of the first leg 24.

[0070] The protrusion 28 can extend inward from the abutment surface 30 formed in the second leg 26. The abutment surface 30 can be configured to engage with the abutment surface 48 formed on the heel cover base 20.

[0071] The "at least one" protrusion 28 may include a plurality of protrusions 28. The "at least one" retainer opening 32 may include a plurality of retainer openings 32. Each protrusion 28 may have a retainer opening 32 formed therein. The retainer openings 32 may be axially aligned.

[0072] An outward-facing surface 32a of the retainer opening 32 may be inclined and configured to engage with the inclined surface 72a of the retainer member 22.

[0073] An internal profile 46 can be formed in the first leg 24 of the wear-resistant component. The internal profile 46 can be a dovetail profile.

[0074] While various embodiments have been described above, each with certain features, it should be understood that a particular feature of one embodiment is not necessarily used only in that embodiment. Alternatively, any feature described above and / or depicted in the accompanying drawings may be combined with any embodiment, supplementing or replacing any other feature of those embodiments. Features of one embodiment are not mutually exclusive with features of another embodiment. Alternatively, the scope of this disclosure covers any combination of any features.

[0075] While each embodiment described above includes some combination of features, it should be understood that it is not necessary to use all the features of the embodiments. Instead, any of the features described above may be used without using any other one or more specific features.

[0076] It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein can be utilized in various orientations (such as tilted, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc.) and with various configurations without departing from the principles of this disclosure. The embodiments are described merely as examples of useful applications of the principles of this disclosure and are not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.

[0077] In the description of the above representative embodiments, directional terms (such as "above", "below", "upper", "lower", "upward", "downward", etc.) are used for ease of reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular direction described herein.

[0078] The terms “comprising,” “including,” “consisting of,” “containing,” and similar terms are used in this specification in a non-limiting sense. For example, if a system, method, device, apparatus, etc., is described as “comprising” a feature or element, then the system, method, device, apparatus, etc., may include that feature or element, and may also include other features or elements. Similarly, the term “containing” is considered to mean “including, but not limited to,” “including.”

[0079] Of course, those skilled in the art, upon careful consideration of the foregoing description of representative embodiments of this disclosure, will readily understand that many improvements, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes can be made to particular embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of this disclosure. For example, a structure disclosed as independently formed may be integrally formed in other embodiments, and vice versa. Therefore, the detailed description above is to be clearly understood as being given only as illustration and description, and the concept and scope of the invention are defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A heel cover for use on a material handling tool, the heel cover comprising: A base configured to be mounted to the tool, the base including a first leg and a second leg, the first leg of the base having a first profile formed thereon, and the second leg of the base having a receiving portion formed thereon and at least one wear-resistant member receiving opening intersecting the receiving portion and dividing the receiving portion into a first portion and a second portion; A wear-resistant member includes a first leg and a second leg and a retainer opening. The first leg of the wear-resistant member has a second profile formed therein and configured to slide engage with the first profile. The second leg of the wear-resistant member has at least one inwardly facing protrusion formed thereon, and the retainer opening is formed in the at least one protrusion. and A retainer member is configured to be received simultaneously in the first and second portions of the receiving portion and the retainer opening, thereby securing the wear-resistant member to the base.

2. The heel cover according to claim 1, wherein, The first leg of the base is perpendicular to the second leg of the base.

3. The heel cover according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving portion is orthogonal to the wear-resistant member receiving opening formed in the second leg of the base.

4. The heel cover according to claim 1, wherein, The protrusion is received in the receiving opening of the wear-resistant component.

5. The heel cover according to claim 1, wherein, The retainer component is wedge-shaped.

6. The heel cover according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener secured to the retainer member and received in a fastener opening in the second leg of the base.

7. The heel cover according to claim 1, wherein, The second leg of the base includes an outwardly facing abutment surface, the protrusion extending inwardly from the abutment surface formed in the second leg of the wear-resistant member, and the abutment surface contacting the abutment surface.

8. The heel cover according to claim 7, wherein, The displacement of the retainer member into the receiving portion and the retainer opening causes the adjacent surface to be offset against the adjacent surface.

9. The heel cover according to claim 7, wherein, The displacement of the retainer member into the receiving portion and the retainer opening causes the retainer member to be biased against the outward-facing surface of the retainer opening.

10. The heel cover according to claim 9, wherein, The retainer members are spaced apart from the inward-facing surface of the retainer opening.

11. A method for fixing a wear-resistant heel cover component to a heel cover base on a material moving tool, the method comprising: The first leg of the wear-resistant member is slid onto the first leg of the base, thereby inserting at least one protrusion of the second leg of the wear-resistant member into a corresponding wear-resistant member receiving opening formed in the second leg of the base, and aligning the receiving portion formed in the second leg of the base with at least one retainer opening formed in the at least one protrusion; A retainer member is inserted into the receiving portion and the at least one retainer opening, wherein the insertion includes the retainer member extending simultaneously through a first portion of the receiving portion located above the at least one protrusion and a second portion of the receiving portion located below the at least one protrusion, thereby securing the wear-resistant member to the base; and Fasteners are installed in the retainer component to secure the retainer component in the receiving portion.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The at least one protrusion includes a plurality of protrusions, and the sliding includes receiving the protrusions respectively in a plurality of wear-resistant member receiving openings formed in the second leg of the base.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The at least one retainer opening includes a plurality of retainer openings, each of the protrusions having one of the retainer openings formed therein, and the insertion includes inserting the retainer member into each of the retainer openings.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the retainer member has at least one inclined surface formed thereon, and the insertion includes the inclined surface abutting against an outward-facing surface of the retainer opening.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The installation includes inserting the fastener into the retainer member.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The installation also includes inserting the fastener into a fastener opening formed in the second leg of the base.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The second leg of the base includes an outwardly facing abutment surface, the protrusion extending inwardly from the abutment surface formed in the second leg of the wear-resistant member, and the insertion includes biasing the abutment surface against the abutment surface.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The insertion includes biasing the retainer member against the outward-facing surface of the retainer opening.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, The insertion also includes spacing the retainer member from the inward-facing surface of the retainer opening.

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