Collared Shroud Lock Assembly That Resists Vibration Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening mechanisms for securing wear members on excavating equipment, such as shrouds, are prone to wear, require complex construction, and can inadvertently loosen due to vibration and cyclic loading, posing safety hazards and reducing the useful life of the fastening mechanism and shroud.
Innovation Solution
A lock assembly with a collar and pin system, featuring an asymmetrical circumferential profile and snap-in detent mechanisms, secures the wear member to a support structure, preventing inadvertent rotation and providing haptic feedback for secure installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wedge fastening mechanisms are used to secure shrouds to bucket lips, then the shrouds can be removably attached, but the mechanism requires pounding wedges into and out of holes which creates safety hazards and removes material from the bucket lip weakening it
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism is divided into separate components: a wedgeless collar that fits into a recess in the shroud, and a separate pin with detent mechanisms that secures the collar. This segmentation eliminates the need to pound wedges into the bucket lip while maintaining secure attachment through modular fastening elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedgeless collar acts as an intermediary component between the shroud and the pin fastening mechanism. The collar receives the pin and translates the pin's securing action into a firm attachment of the shroud to the bucket lip, eliminating direct impact forces on the bucket lip while maintaining secure fastening.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative fastening mechanisms are used to eliminate pounding wedges, then safety hazards are reduced, but the mechanisms typically present complexity of construction and use or high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The pin features an asymmetrical circumferential profile with a single flat surface, while the collar's recess has a corresponding asymmetrical shape. This asymmetry prevents the pin from rotating once inserted, providing inherent anti-rotation functionality without requiring complex locking mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while eliminating safety hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent mechanisms on the pin automatically engage with the collar's recess features during insertion, providing self-locking functionality. The asymmetrical profile automatically orients the pin correctly and prevents rotation, making the fastening mechanism self-regulating and reducing the need for complex external control systems.
3Reliability
If fastening mechanisms are used to secure wear members, then the wear members are retained on the excavating assembly, but they can inadvertently loosen due to vibration and cyclic loading
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetrical pin profile with a single flat surface mates with a corresponding asymmetrical recess in the collar, creating a non-rotatable connection. This asymmetrical geometry provides inherent mechanical locking that resists vibration and cyclic loading by preventing the pin from rotating or backing out, thereby maintaining retention reliability under harsh operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent mechanisms provide mechanical feedback through audible and tactile engagement when the pin is properly secured in the collar. This feedback confirms correct installation and ensures the anti-rotation feature is properly engaged, providing operator confidence that the wear member is securely retained and resistant to inadvertent loosening.
Data Source
AI summary
A lock assembly for securing a wear member to a support structure includes a collar and a pin. The collar includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, an outer circumferential profile including at least eight planar surfaces extending around a perimeter of the collar between the top and bottom surfaces, and a bore extending along a central axis from the top surface to the bottom surface. The pin is configured for receipt in the bore of the collar.