Bucket Lip Stabilizer Structure for Adapter Wear Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing earthmoving equipment experiences high loading on adapters and buckets, leading to wear and instability of earth engaging teeth and adapters, necessitating improved stabilization to maintain the adapter in place on the bucket lip.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizer structure comprising a forward and rear stabilizer portion secured to the bucket lip, with a bifurcated adapter leg fitting over the forward stabilizer portion and along the bottom surface, providing additional support through welded connections and a wedge mechanism to secure the adapter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional stabilization structures are added to secure the adapter to the bucket lip, then the stability and reliability of the adapter under high loading is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadapter stabilityVSAvoidstabilizer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer structure is divided into multiple portions: a forward stabilizer portion and a rear stabilizer portion. Each portion is secured to the bucket lip at different locations and provides stabilization in different directions, distributing the stabilizing function across segmented components rather than requiring a single complex structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizer portions extend in different spatial dimensions and orientations relative to the bucket lip and adapter. The forward stabilizer portion extends forward while the rear stabilizer portion extends rearward, creating a multi-dimensional stabilization system that secures the adapter against loads from multiple directions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If the stabilizer structure is secured to the bucket lip using welded connections, then the strength and stability of the connection is improved, but the manufacturing precision and ease of assembly are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidwelding precision
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer portions are designed with pre-configured geometry and positioning features that align with corresponding features on the bucket lip and adapter before welding. This preliminary positioning ensures proper alignment and reduces the precision requirements during the welding process, as the components are already oriented correctly for connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the stability of adapters on bucket lips, reducing wear and maintaining the adapter's position under high loading conditions, allowing for efficient replacement of wear members without replacing the bucket lip.

Implementation Method 1

A stabilizer structure (112) may be secured to a bucket lip (102)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

providing additional support through welded connections and a wedge mechanism to secure the adapter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge mechanism: Wedge

Data Source

PatentEP3665334B1Bucket lip stabilizer structure
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 HENSLEY INDUSTRIES INC
  • EP3665334B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3665334B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3665334B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A stabilizer structure includes an elongated main body portion having an upper portion with outward-facing side surfaces and a lower portion below the upper portion, the lower portion being greater in width than the upper portion. The stabilizer structure also includes a hole in a top surface of the upper portion. The stabilizer also includes a forward portion integrated with the main body portion as a single monolithic piece. The forward portion includes a bridge section, a first prong extending from the bridge section, and a second prong extending from the bridge section. The first prong, second prong, and bridge section share a single forward-facing curved surface and a single rear-facing curved surface, the forward-facing curved surface having a different curve than the rear-facing curved surface.