Wear Assembly Retaining Pin for Quick Secure Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wear assemblies for industrial machinery require complex and costly configurations with multiple parts, leading to safety hazards and difficulties in quick and easy attachment and detachment during maintenance and repair operations.
Innovation Solution
A wear assembly featuring a retaining pin with angularly spaced protrusions and an elastomer-mounted first protrusion, allowing for easy insertion and secure locking without the need for significant force, reducing the complexity and cost of assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If retaining pins are forcibly driven into aligned portions of wear elements and support elements using tools like sledge hammers, then the wear elements and support elements are securely attached, but this gives rise to safety hazards for operators and may cause deformation of the retaining pin making extraction difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining pin incorporates an elastomeric element that allows dynamic adjustment and flexing during the attachment process. This elasticity enables the pin to be inserted without excessive force while still achieving secure attachment, and facilitates easier removal by allowing the pin to flex during extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining pin changes its physical state through the elastomeric component that can deform and recover. This parameter change allows the pin to transition from a rigid insertion tool to a flexible locked component, reducing the force needed during both attachment and detachment operations
2Ease of operation
If retaining pins are forcibly pounded out for removal, then the wear elements can be detached, but this gives rise to safety hazards and may cause deformation of the retaining pin
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric element in the retaining pin provides dynamic flexibility that aids in the removal process. When extraction force is applied, the elastomeric component can deform to accommodate the extraction motion, allowing the pin to be removed without excessive force or safety hazards
3Reliability
If multiple parts such as bushings, bolts, and washers are provided with the retaining pin, then the retaining pin is prevented from falling off, but this increases the complexity and cost of the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric element is integrated directly into the retaining pin structure, combining the functions of retention, cushioning, and locking into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate bushings, washers, and other auxiliary parts while maintaining or improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric retaining pin performs multiple functions simultaneously: it retains the wear element, cushions insertion and removal forces, prevents over-tightening, and facilitates easy detachment. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate components
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
The solution enables safe, quick, and secure attachment and detachment of wear elements to support elements, reducing the risk of deformation and operational hazards while simplifying the assembly process and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first retaining protrusion (140) which is resiliently mounted to the body (132)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
It comprises wear and support elements (110, 120) and a retaining pin (130) for attaching them to each other. The retaining pin (130) has protrusions (140, 150) and the wear element (110) has cavities (160, 170) such that the protrusions (140, 150) can be passed therethrough. The support element (120) has a recess (180) for receiving one of the protrusions (150). In a first position the retaining pin (130) can be inserted into the wear and support elements (110, 120). In a second position one protrusion (140) is snap fitted in one cavity (160) so the retaining pin (130) can not be rotated to the wear and support elements (110, 120) and the other protrusion (150) is received into the recess (180) abutting an inner surface of the wear element (110) such that the retaining pin (130) can not be displaced axially to the wear and support elements (110, 120).