Polymer Bucket Teeth for Utility-Safe Excavation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy equipment used in excavation and grading operations, such as backhoes and excavators, often damage underground utilities due to the hardness of steel teeth, leading to project halts and emergency responses.

Innovation Solution

Replace steel teeth with polymer teeth having a reduced hardness, specifically up to 65 on the Shore A durometer scale, to minimize damage to underground utilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If steel teeth are used on the bucket, then the teeth have high hardness and durability, but they can puncture or rupture underground utilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardness of teethVSAvoiddamage to underground utilities

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the hardness parameter of the teeth by replacing steel with polymer materials having a Shore A durometer hardness of 30-65, specifically selecting a reduced hardness range of 40-60 to balance durability with reduced damage potential to underground utilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polymer composite materials instead of traditional steel, creating a tooth structure that combines sufficient mechanical strength for excavation with reduced hardness to prevent puncturing underground utilities, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If polymer teeth with reduced hardness are used, then damage to underground utilities is minimized, but the teeth may be less durable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to underground utilitiesVSAvoiddurability of teeth

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the hardness parameter within the range of 40-60 on the Shore A durometer scale to achieve the minimum necessary durability while preventing damage to underground utilities, finding the optimal balance point for extended service life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent accepts that polymer teeth may have shorter service life compared to steel but replaces them with affordable, easily replaceable polymer components that prevent utility damage, prioritizing the prevention of harmful effects over maximum durability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20250341078A1Bucket tooth

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 7S IND LLC

AI summary

Disclosed are options for a tooth of bucket for use in heavy earth moving equipment having a reduced hardness. In one application, multiple teeth of a bucket, such as teeth formed from forged steel, may be replaced with teeth of a reduced hardness for certain operations.