Excavator Pulverizer Tooth Rail Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pulverizer attachments for excavators with replaceable teeth face issues due to inadequate retention, leading to rapid wear of teeth and pockets, requiring frequent replacement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates tooth rails with a female T-shaped slot and I-shaped rail configuration, combined with flexible end portions and cover plates, to securely fasten tooth members, ensuring rigid retention and minimizing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If teeth are removably fastened in pockets or sockets, then tooth replacement becomes easier, but the teeth move or rock during use causing rapid wear of pockets
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth assembly is segmented into three main components: the jaw body, the tooth members, and the cover plates. This segmentation allows the teeth to be easily removed and replaced by simply detaching the cover plates, while the tooth members remain securely retained on the jaw body through the T-shaped slots and rails during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tooth members are nested within a retention structure formed by the T-shaped slots in the jaw body and the corresponding T-shaped rails on the cover plates. This nested configuration ensures that the teeth are securely held in place during use, preventing movement and rock that would cause wear, while still allowing easy removal when needed.
2Reliability
If teeth are securely retained to prevent movement, then pocket wear is reduced, but replacement and refurbishment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retention system transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic removable attachment. The T-shaped slots and rails provide secure retention during operation, but the cover plates can be easily detached to allow tooth replacement. This dynamic design adapts between secure retention mode and easy replacement mode based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-shaped slots and rails are pre-configured in the jaw body and cover plates respectively, creating a ready-made retention mechanism before the teeth are installed. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the cover plates are attached, the teeth are immediately and securely retained without requiring additional fastening steps or complex assembly procedures.
3Loss of time
If replaceable teeth are implemented, then downtime is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is segmented into modular components (jaw body, tooth members, cover plates) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation simplifies the overall manufacturing process compared to creating entirely new complex retention mechanisms, as each component can be produced using standard machining operations for the T-shaped slots and rails.
Data Source
AI summary
A pulverizing attachment for an excavator and a method of removably rigidly retaining teeth to one or more jaws of a pulverizer. A plurality of tooth members each have a longitudinal slot with a cross-sectional shape and a relief slot extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal slot producing a flexible end portion capable of deflection upon application of a longitudinal compression force. The tooth rails having a complimentary cross-sectional shape to the longitudinal slot slidably receive the tooth members. The complimentary shape of the longitudinal slot and tooth rail in cooperation with a longitudinal compression force applied to deflect the flexible end portions of each of the tooth members rigidly retains the tooth members on the tooth rails fixed to the pulverizer jaws.