C-Shaped Lock Retainer for Ground Engaging Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retainer systems for ground engaging tools on earth-working machines face issues with secure attachment and detachment, as well as increased friction due to work material accumulation, which affects the longevity and efficiency of the tools.
Innovation Solution
A retainer system comprising a lock with a C-shaped portion and a retainer bushing, where the lock includes a helical surface and a tool interface for easy rotation, and the retainer bushing is designed to reduce friction through detent projections and recesses, allowing for secure locking and easy detachment of ground engaging tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pin-based retainer system is used to attach ground engaging tools, then the attachment can be securely locked, but the detachment process becomes time-consuming and requires specialized tools
Solution Approach 1:
The lock transitions from a static pinned state to a dynamic rotatable state, allowing it to swing between locked and unlocked positions. This dynamic mechanism enables quick detachment by simply rotating the lock, eliminating the need for specialized tools and reducing replacement time
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer system is divided into separate functional components: the lock, the retainer bushing, and the ground engaging tool. This segmentation allows the lock to be independently operated for detachment while the retainer bushing maintains the connection, enabling quick tool replacement without affecting other components
2Ease of operation
If work material accumulates in the retainer system, then the locking mechanism may become stuck, but increasing clearance to prevent sticking increases overall device size
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer bushing incorporates localized friction-reducing features such as detent projections and recesses at specific contact points. These local modifications reduce friction where work material accumulation would cause sticking, without requiring increased clearance throughout the entire device, thus maintaining compact dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The detent projections and recesses are designed to work with the natural accumulation of work material rather than preventing it entirely. The geometry of these features allows material to settle in specific ways that actually facilitate smooth operation and prevent sticking, converting the potential harm of material accumulation into a beneficial effect
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a lock for a ground engaging tool. The lock may include a head portion and a C-shaped portion extending from the head portion. The C-shaped portion may define a lock slot between two circumferential ends for receiving a portion of a support member to be locked with the ground engaging tool. The C-shaped portion may further include an outer surface configured to be rotatably received in an inner surface of a retainer bushing, an inner surface configured to contact the portion of the support member, and a base extending between the outer surface and the inner surface. The base may include a helical surface with a depth increasing from a first end to a second end.