Excavator Wear Assembly With Offset Socket Surfaces for Load Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wear members for excavating equipment face challenges in durability, stability, and ease of replacement due to harsh conditions and heavy loading, with conventional designs often failing to effectively resist vertical and side loads, leading to premature wear and increased maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

The wear assembly features a nose and socket with offset upper and lower stabilizing surfaces, asymmetrical facets, and inclined sidewalls, which provide enhanced strength, penetration, and stability, along with a integrated lock system for secure attachment and easy installation, reducing the risk of component loss and improving part management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional wear members are used with simple nose and socket designs, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but strength and stability under heavy loading are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by providing offset upper and lower stabilizing surfaces on the nose and socket that are not symmetrically arranged. The upper stabilizing surface is offset from the lower stabilizing surface, creating an asymmetric configuration that provides enhanced strength and stability under heavy loading conditions while maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of stability by adding offset stabilizing surfaces that create multiple contact points between the nose and socket. This dimensional enhancement transforms the simple mating interface into a multi-surface engagement system that resists vertical and side loads more effectively

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

2Shape

If wear members are designed with simpler geometries, then penetration capability is reduced, but manufacturing is easier

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepenetration capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric offset stabilizing surfaces create a streamlined shape that reduces resistance during penetration while maintaining structural integrity. The non-symmetric configuration allows the wear member to cut through material more efficiently compared to conventional symmetric designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If wear members are subjected to heavy loading and harsh conditions, then durability increases, but wear and maintenance frequency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidusable life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The offset stabilizing surfaces are designed beforehand to cushion and distribute the heavy loads and harsh conditions that the wear member will encounter during operation. This pre-engineered load distribution system reduces wear by ensuring forces are evenly dispersed across multiple contact surfaces before they reach critical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite design combining the nose, socket, and stabilizing surfaces into an integrated assembly that functions as a unified wear-resistant system. This composite structure enhances overall durability by distributing stress across different components with optimized material properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Stability of the object's composition

If wear members are designed with better stability, then resistance to vertical and side loads improves, but relative motion between components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidwear
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The offset stabilizing surfaces are pre-configured to cushion and absorb the effects of vertical and side loads, reducing the relative motion between the nose and socket during operation. This beforehand cushioning minimizes wear by preventing excessive movement and friction at the mating interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3249120B1Wear assembly
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 ESCO GROUP LLC
  • EP3249120B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3249120B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3249120B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A wear member (12) for attachment to excavating equipment comprising a front end (44), a rear end (46), a top side, a bottom side, and a socket (16) that opens in the rear end to receive a base (14) fixed to the excavating equipment. The socket (16) has a front end portion (48), a rear end portion (56) and a longitudinal axis, the front end portion (48) including a first surface (52) extending substantially across the width of the front end portion (48) along one of the top or bottom sides to bear against the base and resist vertical loads. A pair of second surfaces (54) face in a direction generally opposite to the first surface (52), the second surfaces (54) being transversely inclined to reduce the spacing of outer corners in the socket (16) along the other of the top and bottom sides and to bear against the base and resist vertical and side loads, wherein the first and second surfaces (52, 54) each axially extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.