Hydraulic Locking Mechanism for Excavator Bucket Adapter Securing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent replacement of digging teeth and their adapters on ground-moving and excavating equipment is time-consuming and costly due to constant wear and tear, leading to idle equipment and reduced profitability.
Innovation Solution
A connection system that securely attaches an adapter with a replaceable digging tooth to the lip of excavating containers using a C-clamp and hydraulic actuator, applying a horizontally acting force to maintain engagement even after pressure relief, ensuring quick and damage-free replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional mechanical connections are used to secure adapters to bucket lips, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the replacement process is time-consuming and requires significant force that can damage components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic actuator with a piston and cylinder arrangement to provide the forcing action for securing adapters to bucket lips. The hydraulic system delivers high force rapidly, enabling quick adapter installation and removal without manual leverage tools, directly resolving the time loss issue while the hydraulic mechanism integrates into the existing bucket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is divided into distinct modular components: the hydraulic actuator, the adapter with legs, the bucket lip with openings, and the stress member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables rapid replacement of adapters without affecting the bucket structure or other adapters, reducing overall replacement time.
2Strength
If high forcing action is applied to secure adapters firmly, then the adapter connection is strong and reliable, but the bucket lip and adapter openings can become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a stress member with a resilient element (such as a spring) that absorbs and distributes the forcing action from the hydraulic actuator. This resilient element cushions the impact during adapter installation, preventing damage to the bucket lip and adapter openings while still achieving firm mechanical engagement through the controlled application of force.
3Productivity
If manual replacement methods are used, then equipment complexity is low, but excavating equipment must sit idle during tooth replacement reducing profitability
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic actuator system enables operators to quickly secure and replace adapters using the equipment's own hydraulic power source, without requiring external lifting equipment, cranes, or multiple manual operations. The system is self-contained and can be operated quickly from the excavator's existing hydraulic controls, minimizing idle time and maintaining high productivity.
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
This solution significantly reduces equipment downtime and maintenance costs by allowing rapid and damage-free replacement of adapters, enhancing operational efficiency and profitability.
Implementation Method 1
A pressure applying unit is arranged inside the openings and generates a generally horizontally acting force which draws the adapter and the lip towards each other
Implementation Method 2
A stress member is operatively coupled to the pressure applying unit and resiliently deforms relative to its relaxed shape when the stress member is subjected to the horizontally acting force
Data Source
AI summary
A connection for firmly securing an adapter for detachably carrying a replaceable digging tooth at its front end to a lip of an excavating container of excavating equipment. The adapter has an upper leg and a lower leg located proximate respective upper and lower surfaces of the lip. The connection has substantially aligned openings in the legs and the lip, and engagement sections of the adapter legs traverse the opening in the lip proximate and forward of an aft end thereof. A pressure applying unit, such as a hydraulic actuator, is arranged inside the opening and generates a generally horizontally acting force which draws the adapter and the lip towards each other. A stress member, which can be a C-clamp, is operatively coupled to the hydraulic actuator and resiliently deforms relative to its relaxed shape when it is subjected to the horizontally acting force. A spacer, such as a wedge, is inserted between the hydraulic actuator and the openings while the horizontally acting force resiliently deforms the stress member. The wedge is shaped so that upon a reduction or cessation of the horizontally acting force the stress member, e.g. the C-clamp, remains in the resiliently deformed state in which it draws the adapter and the lip towards each other and keeps them immovably secured to each other until the wedge can be withdrawn following a repressurization of the hydraulic actuator.