DRAGLINE BUCKET FOR MOVING SLURRY-TYPE MATERIAL

Abstract

A dragline bucket having a lip for moving slurry-type material, a lip for a dragline bucket, a retrofit kit for a dragline bucket and associated methods are described.

Claims

1. A dragline bucket comprising: a basket having a front ring, a rear wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a basket floor, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall each include a trunnion; a first additional side wall and a second additional side wall extending from a top rail of the basket toward a rear end of the basket at a first angle; and an additional rear wall portion at the rear end of the basket joining the first additional side wall and the second additional side wall, wherein the additional rear wall portion slopes forward at a second angle relative to the basket floor.

2. The dragline bucket of claim 1, wherein the first additional side wall and the second additional side wall slope upwards from the top rail starting at points approximately above respective trunnions and extend upwards at an angle approximately between 20° and 40° relative to the floor towards the rear wall.

3. The dragline bucket of claim 1, wherein the rear wall follows a first plane, and the additional rear wall portion follows a second plane different than the first plane, and wherein the additional rear wall portion slopes forward toward the front ring at an angle of approximately 45° to 60° relative to the floor so as to clear a rigging spreader bar.

4. The dragline bucket of claim 3, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall follow a third plane and the first additional side wall, and the second additional side wall follow fourth and fifth planes, respectively, wherein the fourth and fifth planes are different than the third plane, and wherein reach of the fourth and fifth planes are inclined inward towards a longitudinal center plane of the basket at an angle of approximately 50° to 80° relative to the floor.

5. The dragline bucket of claim 1, wherein the front ring includes an angled lip, and wherein a sludge line of the dragline bucket is defined by a plane containing the first angle of the first and second additional side wall portions and the angled lip, and wherein the sludge line forms a level line of slurry-type material inside the basket when the dragline bucket is oriented at a given angle relative to horizontal and with the angled lip being at a same vertical height as a rear edge of the additional side and rear wall portions of the basket.

6. A lip for a dragline bucket, the lip comprising: a first side wall having a top edge angled relative to a horizontal plane including a bottom edge of the first side wall; a second side wall having a top edge angled relative to a horizontal plane including a bottom edge of the second side wall; and a rear wall joining the first side wall and the second side wall and having a top edge.

7. The lip of claim 6, further comprising a top rail disposed at and extending along at least a portion of the top edge of the first side wall, the top edge of the second side wall, and the top edge of the rear wall.

8. The lip of claim 6, wherein the rear wall slopes forward at an angle relative to the horizontal plane including the bottom edges of the first side wall and the second side wall.

9. The lip of claim 6, wherein the rear wall is oriented vertically with respect to a horizontal plane including the bottom edges of the first side wall and the second side wall.

10. The lip of claim 6, wherein the lip is constructed to be retrofitted onto a non-tapered dragline bucket.

11. The lip of claim 6, wherein the lip is constructed to be retrofitted onto a tapered dragline bucket.

12. The lip of claim 6, wherein the lip is constructed to be formed onto a new non-tapered dragline bucket.

13. The lip of claim 6, wherein the lip is constructed to be formed onto a new tapered dragline bucket.

14. A retrofit kit for a dragline bucket, the retrofit kit comprising: a lip for the dragline bucket, the lip comprising: a first side wall having a top edge angled relative to a horizontal plane including a bottom edge of the first side wall; a second side wall having a top edge angled relative to a horizontal plane including a bottom edge of the second side wall; and a rear wall joining the first side wall and the second side wall and having a top edge.

15. The retrofit kit of claim 14, wherein the lip further comprises a top rail disposed at and extending along at least a portion of the top edge of the first side wall, the top edge of the second side wall, and the top edge of the rear wall.

16. The retrofit kit of claim 14, wherein the rear wall slopes forward at an angle relative to the horizontal plane including the bottom edges of the first side wall and the second side wall.

17. The retrofit kit of claim 14, wherein the rear wall is oriented vertically with respect to a horizontal plane including the bottom edges of the first side wall and the second side wall.

18. The retrofit kit of claim 14, wherein the lip is constructed to be retrofitted onto a non-tapered dragline bucket.

19. The retrofit kit of claim 14, wherein the lip is constructed to be retrofitted onto a tapered dragline bucket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a perspective view of an example dragline bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a side view of an example dragline bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a front view of an example dragline bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a side view of an example dragline bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example angled lip on a tapered bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a side elevation view of an example angled lip on a tapered bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a front elevation view of an example angled lip on a tapered bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example vertical lip on a tapered bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a side elevation view of an example vertical lip on a tapered bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a front elevation view of an example vertical lip on a tapered bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an exploded view of an example lip and bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a rear perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an exploded view of an example lip and bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0043] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations.

[0044] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a rear perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations.

[0045] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example method of manufacturing a lip for slurry-type material in accordance with some implementations.

[0046] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example method of manufacturing a dragline bucket including a lip for slurry-type material in accordance with some implementations.

[0047] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example method of retrofitting a conventional dragline bucket with a lip for slurry-type material in accordance with some implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Some implementations can include a dragline bucket having high side and rear walls, and which include additional side walls and an additional rear wall rear portion towards the rear of the bucket which is angled so as to provide for efficient carrying of sludge/slurry/mud when the carry angle of the bucket is set correctly.

[0049] Some implementations can include a dragline bucket configured to handle a slurry/mud/sludge type of material that does not have a natural angle of repose but would fill any hollow container while exhibiting a flat, horizontal top surface like water.

[0050] FIGS. 1-3 show an example dragline bucket with the additional side and rear wall portion (or lip or soup lip) installed on the rear of the bucket. The additional side walls and rear wall portions can be built into the bucket at manufacture time of the bucket or can be added as an upgrade to an existing bucket. The additional side walls can start at a point, for example at (1) approximately above the trunnion on each side of the basket and extend upwards at an angle (2) relative to the bucket floor. However, it will be appreciated that the starting point of the additional side walls of the lip can be located at any location between the front of the bucket and the rear of the bucket.

[0051] Angle (2) results from a plane (3) between the rear edge of the additional side and rear wall portion (4) and the front, top of the bucket lip (5). The value of this angle is determined by the bucket hanging at a certain angle to horizontal (due to gravity) with a slurry/mud/sludge type material inside. Details of this are discussed below conjunction with FIG. 4. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-3, the rear wall of the additional side and rear wall portion (6) does not follow the plane of the existing rear wall of the bucket but is angled forward, off the vertical plane, with angle (7), relative to the bucket floor. This forward angle (7) of the additional side and rear wall portion is so that the bucket can pivot at the trunnions (8) and still clear the hoist chains or spreader bar, which is situated between the two hoist chains. The additional side walls portion are also angled inwards towards the center plane of the bucket with an angle (9) relative to the bucket floor.

[0052] The existing top rail (10) of the bucket basket can be retained in the bucket structural configuration (which may beneficially provide additional structural support) and a secondary top rail (11) should be made in the additional side and rear wall portion. This secondary top rail (11) can provide structural rigidity to the additional side and rear wall portion as well as prevent the additional side and rear wall portion from being damaged by the rigging should the rigging accidentally be dropped on the bucket. It will be appreciated that an implementation can include the secondary top rail or not. Also, the dragline bucket can include its own top rail at the section where the lip is placed or not include a separate top rail.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows how sludge/mud/slurry type material will fill the bucket to a plane—known as the sludge line (3)—if the bucket carry angle is set correctly to optimize the amount of volume of a slurry/mud/sludge type material in the basket.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example angled lip 502 on a tapered bucket 500 in accordance with some implementations.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a side elevation view of an example angled lip 602 on a tapered bucket 600 in accordance with some implementations.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a front elevation view of an example angled lip 702 on a tapered bucket 700 in accordance with some implementations.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example vertical lip 802 on a tapered bucket 800 in accordance with some implementations.

[0058] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a side elevation view of an example vertical lip 902 on a tapered bucket 900 in accordance with some implementations.

[0059] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a front elevation view of an example vertical lip 1002 on a tapered bucket 1000 in accordance with some implementations.

[0060] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an exploded view of an example lip and bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0061] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a rear perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations. Also shown in FIG. 12, the lip includes stiffening members disposed on the rear wall of the lip.

[0062] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations.

[0063] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an exploded view of an example lip and bucket in accordance with some implementations.

[0064] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a front perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations.

[0065] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a rear perspective view of an example lip in accordance with some implementations.

[0066] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example method of manufacturing a lip for slurry-type material in accordance with some implementations. The method begins with optionally creating engineering drawings, procedures, and specifications.

[0067] Next, the method includes profile cutting (or otherwise fabricating) the steel parts for the top rail and skin plates (e.g., one or more of sidewalls and rear wall).

[0068] Next, the method includes bending applicable steel parts.

[0069] Next, the method includes fitting the top rail to the skin plates.

[0070] Next, the method includes welding (or otherwise attaching) the steel parts together (e.g., connecting the top rail to the skin plates).

[0071] Finally, the method includes optionally cleaning, grinding, and painting the lip.

[0072] It will be appreciated that one or more steps may be omitted and that the steps may be performed in a different order where appropriate and practical.

[0073] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example method of manufacturing a dragline bucket including a lip for slurry-type material in accordance with some implementations. The method begins with optionally designing and engineering a dragline bucket with a soup lip.

[0074] Next, the method includes optionally creating engineering drawings.

[0075] Next, the method includes optionally creating procedures and specifications.

[0076] Next, the method includes profile cutting (or otherwise fabricating) the steel parts of the dragline bucket and soup lip.

[0077] Next, the method includes bending the applicable steel parts and procuring (or making) any necessary cast parts.

[0078] Next, the method includes fitting and welding the front ring.

[0079] Next, the method includes fitting and welding the basket.

[0080] Next, the method includes fitting and welding the front ring to the basket.

[0081] Next, the method includes fitting and welding the extra parts such as wear elements and shrouds, arch anchor brackets, and the soup lip on the top rail.

[0082] Next, the method includes optionally cleaning, grinding, and painting.

[0083] It will be appreciated that one or more steps may be omitted and that the steps may be performed in a different order where appropriate and practical.

[0084] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example method of retrofitting a conventional dragline bucket with a lip for slurry-type material in accordance with some implementations. The method begins with optionally designing and engineering a soup lip to fit an existing conventional dragline bucket.

[0085] Next, the method includes optionally creating engineering drawings, procedures, and specifications.

[0086] Next, the method includes manufacturing the soup lip (e.g., according to the method shown in FIG. 17 and described above).

[0087] Next, the method includes optionally cleaning and grinding the bucket top rail.

[0088] Next, the method includes fitting and welding (or otherwise attaching) the soup lip to the top rail of the bucket.

[0089] Finally, the method includes optionally grinding, cleaning, and painting.

[0090] It will be appreciated that one or more steps may be omitted and that the steps may be performed in a different order where appropriate and practical.

[0091] While some example implementations have been described in terms of one or more embodiments with one or more example modifications, it is recognized that other modifications and variations of the embodiments described above are within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. Applicant intends to embrace any and all such modifications, variations and embodiments.