Wear Assembly Lock with Tapered Retainer for Point Loss Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wear assemblies for earth working equipment suffer from unreliable locks that lead to point loss, damage to the base, and downtime for equipment maintenance, resulting in production loss and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wear assembly with a lock system that includes a lock body and retainer secured by a fastening element, featuring a tapered design to prevent binding from fines and a keeper system to inhibit disengagement, allowing for quick and safe replacement of worn wear members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple screw member is used to secure the wear member to the base, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the lock is insufficient leading to point loss and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The lock is divided into multiple functional components: a lock body with threaded bore, a retainer with engagement features, and a fastening element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively providing reliable securing of the wear member to the base.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is positioned within the lock body, and the fastening element is inserted through both components. This nested arrangement compactly integrates multiple locking functions into a single integrated lock assembly that secures the wear member reliably without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If a complex lock system is used to ensure reliable attachment, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for quick replacement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock body and retainer are pre-assembled with threaded engagement features and positioning elements before installation. This preliminary preparation allows the wear member to be quickly secured to the base by simply inserting the pre-assembled lock assembly, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable attachment through the integrated locking mechanism.
3Reliability
If a tapered design is added to prevent binding from fines, then the reliability in abrasive conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered design is applied locally to specific surfaces of the lock body that contact the wear member or base, rather than making the entire lock structure complex. This localized tapering prevents binding from fines in the abrasive mining environment while keeping the overall lock assembly simple and straightforward to install.
4Reliability
If a keeper system is added to inhibit disengagement, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keeper system is merged with the retainer component, where the retainer itself serves as the keeper that inhibits disengagement of the fastening element. This integration combines multiple functions into a single component, providing reliable lock security without significantly increasing the overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lock for a wear assembly for an earth working equipment, the lock (16) comprising a retainer (20) with a threaded opening (20C) and a magnet to secure the retainer (20) in the wear assembly during use; and a threaded lock body (18) received in the threaded opening (20C) for inward adjustment of the lock body to hold the wear assembly together and outward adjustment to permit the wear assembly to separate.