Wear-Resistant Components With Surface-Following Hard Cores

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wear resistant components such as teeth, tooth adapters, and ripping tips lack sufficient wear resistance, necessitating improved designs to enhance durability.

Innovation Solution

A wear resistant component comprising a matrix portion made of metal with an embedded core that is harder than the matrix, shaped to follow the surface of the matrix, effectively suppressing local wear progression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a member of high hardness is disposed inside the wear resistant component, then wear resistance is improved, but the component structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidcomponent structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds a core with high hardness (such as cemented carbide or ceramic) inside the matrix portion made of metal, creating a nested structure where the hard core is contained within the softer outer matrix. This nested configuration provides wear resistance at the contact surface while keeping the overall component structure relatively simple and manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining two different materials with complementary properties: a soft, ductile metal matrix (such as steel or iron) and a hard, wear-resistant core material (such as cemented carbide or ceramic). This composite approach leverages the wear resistance of hard materials while using the metal matrix for structural integrity and ease of manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a core with high hardness is embedded in the matrix portion, then wear resistance is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-forming the core with the desired shape and size before embedding it into the matrix portion. The core is prepared in advance with its specific geometry (such as protruding portions or surface features) that will later be embedded into the metal matrix, facilitating a more straightforward manufacturing process rather than requiring complex in-process fabrication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the wear resistant component into two separate parts: the matrix portion and the core. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using optimized processes for their respective materials, and then assembled together. The core can be fabricated separately with precise wear-resistant properties, while the matrix portion is produced separately and then the core is embedded, simplifying overall manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the core shape follows the surface shape of the matrix portion, then wear progression is suppressed, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidshape conformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by ensuring that only the portions of the core that will be in contact with or near the surface of the matrix portion have the specific shape conformity required to suppress wear. The core can have different shapes in different regions - the surface-following shape is provided only where needed for wear resistance, while other portions of the core can have simpler geometries that are easier to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12460393B2Wear resistant component
Publication Date: 2025.11.04 KOMATSU LTD
  • US12460393B2 patent drawing
  • US12460393B2 patent drawing
  • US12460393B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A wear resistant component includes a matrix portion made of metal, and a core that is embedded in the matrix portion and is higher in hardness than the matrix portion. The core has a shape that follows a shape of at least a portion of a surface of the matrix portion.