Wear Member Locking Assembly for Secure Replaceable Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wear assemblies for earth working equipment face challenges in securing wear members to support structures effectively, leading to premature replacement of entire assemblies when only parts are worn or broken, and there is a need for improved installation, performance, and manufacturing considerations.
Innovation Solution
A lock system is designed for securing wear members to support structures, featuring a lock body with a latch and resilient member that allows transverse movement, a helical engaging structure for axial movement, and a retaining arrangement that provides torsional resistance to prevent axial movement and inhibit rotation, allowing for secure attachment and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a wear assembly is formed of multiple parts (wear member, support structure, lock), then the entire assembly does not need to be discarded when only the wear member is worn, but the complexity of securing and installing the wear member increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wear assembly is divided into distinct segments: the wear member, support structure, and lock. This allows the wear member to be replaced independently without discarding the entire assembly, reducing material waste while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The lock is designed to be extracted or removed easily from the wear member and support structure, enabling quick replacement of the wear member without complex disassembly procedures, thus reducing both material waste and installation complexity
2Reliability
If a lock system is designed with multiple components (lock body, latch, resilient member, engaging structure), then the securing reliability of the wear member is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple locking functions are merged into a single integrated lock body that incorporates the latch, resilient member, and engaging structure. This consolidation improves securing reliability through coordinated action of multiple mechanisms while reducing overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The lock body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the locking mechanism through the latch, provides torsional resistance through the resilient member, and provides axial engagement through the helical engaging structure. This multi-functionality improves reliability while managing complexity through a unified design
3Reliability
If the lock is designed to prevent both axial movement and rotation through multiple mechanisms, then the securing performance is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lock incorporates dynamic elements such as the resilient member that can deform under load and the latch that can move between positions. These dynamic features provide tolerance compensation, maintaining securing performance while reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements compared to purely static locking mechanisms
4Ease of operation
If the lock body is designed to be movable within the locking hole with controlled movement, then the ease of installation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock body is designed to move automatically within the locking hole during installation without requiring external actuators or complex control mechanisms. The resilient member and engaging structure work together to guide and control the movement, providing ease of installation while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
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 lock system effectively secures wear members to support structures, preventing premature replacement, improving installation efficiency, and enhancing manufacturing processes by providing secure attachment and controlled movement under load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member operative to allow transverse movement of the detent on deforming of the resilient member
Implementation Method 2
a helical engaging structure for axial movement
Implementation Method 3
provides torsional resistance to prevent axial movement and inhibit rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A lock is disclosed for securing a wear member to a support structure. The lock is arranged to be movable within the locking hole formed in the wear member. In some forms, at least one latch is disposed on the lock body of the lock mounted within the wear member and has a detent movable transverse to an axis of the lock body and arranged in use to restrain movement of the lock in the locking hole. In some forms, multiple retainers are provided to restrain movement of the lock body in the locking hole. A wear member, wear assembly and associated methods are also disclosed.