Wear Assembly Lock Mechanism With Sealed Pin And Collar
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wear parts in abrasive environments, such as those used in mining and construction, require frequent replacement due to rapid wear of the wear member, necessitating improved ease and speed of component assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A wear assembly with a lock mechanism using a pin and collar combination, featuring inner and outer seals to prevent contamination and facilitate secure attachment of wear members to bases, utilizing threaded engagement and haptic feedback for reliable installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If wear parts are designed for frequent replacement in abrasive environments, then the wear member can be replaced multiple times before base replacement, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The wear assembly is divided into separable components: a base that remains attached to the digging edge and a wear member that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows the wear member to be replaced multiple times without replacing the entire assembly, reducing waste and replacement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism with pre-positioned pins and collars is designed to enable rapid attachment and detachment of the wear member. The sealing elements are pre-installed to prevent contamination during the replacement process, allowing workers to quickly swap wear members without complex preparation or cleaning steps.
2Ease of operation
If a simple lock mechanism is used for attaching wear members, then assembly is quick and easy, but contamination can enter the locking components causing reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
Sealing elements are introduced as intermediary components between the locking mechanism and the external environment. These seals prevent abrasive contaminants from entering the pin and collar interfaces, maintaining the reliability of the locking mechanism while preserving the simplicity and ease of assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible sealing elements are used to create protective barriers around the locking mechanism components. These thin film seals conform to the geometry of the pin and collar, preventing contamination while allowing the simple, easy-to-assemble lock mechanism to function reliably in abrasive environments.
3Reliability
If sealed lock mechanism is implemented to prevent contamination, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into separate, modular sealing elements that can be independently installed and replaced. This segmentation allows the sealing system to be added to the existing simple lock mechanism without requiring a complete redesign, thus improving reliability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements act as intermediary components that can be added to the existing pin and collar lock mechanism without fundamentally changing its structure. This approach provides contamination protection and improved reliability while keeping the added complexity minimal and manageable.
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
Enhances the ease and reliability of wear part replacement by providing a sealed lock mechanism that prevents contamination and ensures secure, efficient attachment and detachment of wear components.
Implementation Method 1
A wear assembly includes a lock including a seal
Implementation Method 2
utilizing threaded engagement and haptic feedback for reliable installation
Implementation Method 3
The seal may be compressed upon assembly of the lock
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5B
AI summary
A lock that includes a pin and a collar. At least one of the pin and collar include a circular seal and a recess to store the seal. When the pin and collar are engaged in a locking manner, the surfaces of the pin and collar compress the seal such that a barrier is formed to limit ingress of fine earthen material. The lock assembly may be a component of a wear assembly. The lock assembly may be positioned into aligned holes to capture components of the wear assembly together, e.g. a point to an adapter or an adapter to a base. The recess of the pin may be located adjacent the head of the pin. The recess of collar may be located near the bottom of the collar. The application of both an upper and lower seal can further limit the ingress of fine earthen material.