WEAR OR PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR A TOOL OF A MACHINE FOR MOVING EARTH AND CORRESPONDING PIN

Abstract

The invention relates to a wear or protection system for a tool of an earth moving machine, comprising a wear element (1), a support (3) and a pin (7) with elastic means (13) housed in a housing (5) having a base surface (27) and a compression surface (29). The base surface (27) and a first portion (31) of the compression surface (29) belong to the wear element (1), and the distance between both has a fixed value Df. A second portion (33) of the compression surface (29) belongs to the support (3), and the distance between the base surface (27) and the second portion (33) is variable depending on the wear of the system, having a minimum value Dmin when the system is new and increasing as wear increases. Dmin is less than Df. The pin (7), in the compressed state, has a height H equal to Dmin, and as the system becomes worn, H increases until reaching the value Df. The pin (7) comprises a recess (23) in its upper surface, and in the first portion (31) there is a projection (25), suitable for being housed in the recess (23).

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. A wear or protection system for a tool of an earth moving machine, comprising a wear element (1), a support (3) supporting said wear element (1), and a pin (7), where when said wear element (1) is mounted on said support (3) there is defined between both a housing (5) in the form of a through hole suitable for housing said pin (7), where said pin (7) has a lower surface (17) and as upper surface (19) and elastic means (13) such that the distance between the lower surface (17) and the upper surface (19) is variable depending on the value of a compressive force applied on said upper surface (19), where said housing (5) has a base surface (27) facing said lower surface (17) when said pin (7) is in said housing (5), and a compression surface (29) facing said upper surface (19) when said pin (7) is in said housing (5), said base surface (27) and a first portion (31) of said compression surface (29) belong to one of said wear element (1) and support (3), and the distance between said base surface (27) and said first portion (31) has a fixed value Df, whereas a second portion (33) of said compression surface (29) belongs to the other one of said wear element (1) and support (3), where the distance between said base surface (27) and said second portion (33) is variable depending on the wear of said wear element (1) and said support (3), having a minimum value Dmin when said wear element (1) and said support (3) are new and increasing as said wear element (1) and said support (3) become worn, where Dmin is less than Df, where said pin (7), in the compressed state, has a height H equal to said minimum value Dmin, and as said wear element (1) and said support (3) become worn, said elastic means (13) increase said height H until reaching the value Df, and where said pin (7) comprises a projection or a recess (23) in one of said lower or upper surfaces, and there is a recess or a projection (25), respectively, suitable for housing said projection or said recess (23) of said pin (7), in said base surface (27) or said first portion (31), respectively, so that as said elastic means (13) gradually increase said height H, the projection or recess (23) of said pin (7) goes further into the recess or projection (25) of said base surface (27) or said first portion (31) and the locking capacity that is obtained as a result of this effect gradually increases.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said pin (7) comprises a recess (23) in said upper surface (19) and there is a projection (25), suitable for being housed in said recess (23), in said first portion (31).

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein said base surface (27) and said first portion (31) of said compression surface (29) belong to said wear element (1), and said second portion (33) belongs to said support (3).

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein said pin (7) comprises a shell (9), a retainer (11) and elastic means (13), where: [a] said shell (9) is elongated, defining a longitudinal axis, and has a lower surface which is said lower surface (17) of the pin (7) and a longitudinal hole (35) having a closed front end (37) and an open rear end (39), where said longitudinal hole (35) has an upper opening (15), opposite said lower surface of the shell (9), extending to the rear end (39), where said opening (15) has a width, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, less than the maximum width, measured in said transverse direction, of said hole (35), [b] said retainer (11) is housed in said hole (35) and has an upper surface, which is said upper surface (19) of the pin (7), and projects through said opening (15), and a lower surface (47), where said retainer (11) has an upper segment (21) with a width, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, less than the width of said opening (15), and a lower segment (45) with a width, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, greater than the width of said opening (15), [c] said elastic means (13) are arranged between a lower surface (41) of the hole (35) and said lower surface (47) of the retainer (11).

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein there are first locking means between said hole (35) and said elastic means (13), and there are second locking means between said elastic means (13) and said retainer (11).

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said elastic means (13) are an elongated part that is elastically compressible in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, with an upper surface (59) facing said lower surface (47) of the retainer (11), and a lower surface (55) oriented towards said lower surface (17) of the pin (7).

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said elastic means (13) comprise a first upper segment (51) made of a solid material and a second elastic lower segment (53).

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein said elastic means (13) comprise a first upper segment (51) made of a polymeric material, preferably polyurethane, and a second lower segment (53) made of an elastic polymeric material with multiple gas-filled, closed internal cavities.

30. The system according to claim 26, wherein said first locking means comprise at least one projection (57) with a height, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, increasing from a point close to said front end (37) to a point close to said rear end (39), and a recess (43) suitable for housing said projection (57), where said projection (57) is in said elastic means (13) and said recess (43) is in said hole (35), or vice versa.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said projection (57) is on said lower surface (55) of the elastic means (13) and said recess (43) is on the lower surface (41) of said hole (35).

32. The system according to claim 26, wherein said second locking means comprise at least one projection (49) having a height, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, increasing from a point close to said front end (37) to a point close to said rear end (39), and a recess (61) suitable for housing said projection (49), where said projection (49) is in said retainer (11) and said recess (61) is in said elastic means (13), or vice versa.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein said projection (49) is on the lower surface (47) of said retainer (11) and said recess (61) is in the upper surface (59) of said elastic means (13).

34. A pin (7) for a wear or protection system for a tool of an earth moving machine, comprising a wear element (1), a support (3) supporting said wear element (1), and said pin (7), where when said wear element (1) is mounted on said support (3) there is defined between both a housing (5) in the form of a through hole suitable for housing said pin (7), where said pin (7) has a lower surface (17) and an upper surface (19) and elastic means (13) such that the distance between the lower surface (17) and the upper surface (19) is variable depending on the value of a compressive force applied on said upper surface (19), a shell (9), a retainer (11) and elastic means (13), where: [a] said shell (9) is elongated, defining a longitudinal axis, and has a lower surface which is said lower surface (17) of the pin (7) and a longitudinal bole (35), parallel to said longitudinal axis, having a closed front end (37) and an open rear end (39), where said longitudinal hole (35) has an upper opening (15), opposite said lower surface of the shell (9), extending to the rear end (39), where said opening (15) has a width, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, less than the maximum width, measured in said transverse direction, of said hole (35), [b] said retainer (11) is housed in said hole (35) and has an upper surface, which is said upper surface (19) of the pin (7), and projects through said opening (15), and a lower surface (47), where said retainer (11) has an upper segment (21) with a width, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, less than the width of said opening (15) and a lower segment (45) with a width, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, greater than the width of said opening (15), [c] said elastic means (13) are arranged between a lower surface (41) of the hole (35) and said lower surface (47) of the retainer (11).

35. The pin (7) according to claim 34, wherein there are first locking means between said hole (35) and said elastic means (13), and where there are second locking means between said elastic means (13) and said retainer (11).

36. The pin (7) according to claim 34, wherein said elastic means (13) are an elongated part that is elastically compressible in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, with an upper surface (59) facing said lower surface (47) of the retainer (11), and a lower surface (55) oriented towards said lower surface (17) of the pin (7).

37. The pin (7) according to claim 36, wherein said elastic means (13) comprise a first upper segment (51) made of a solid material and a second elastic lower segment (53).

38. The pin (7) according to claim 36, wherein said elastic means (13) comprise a first upper segment (51) made of a polymeric material, preferably polyurethane, and a second lower segment (53) made of an elastic polymeric material with multiple gas-filled, closed internal cavities.

39. The pin (7) according to claim 35, wherein said first locking means comprise at least one projection (57) with a height, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, increasing from a point close to said front end (37) to a point close to said rear end (39), and a recess (43) suitable for housing said projection (57), where said projection (57) is in said elastic means (13) and said recess (43) is in said hole (35), or vice versa.

40. The pin (7) according to claim 39, wherein said projection (57) is in said lower surface (55) of the elastic means (13) and said recess (43) is in the lower surface (41) of said hole (35).

41. The pin (7) according to claim 35, wherein said second locking means comprise at least one projection (49) having a height, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, increasing from a point close to said front end (37) to a point close to said rear end (39), and a recess (61) suitable for housing said projection (49), where said projection (49) is in said retainer (11) and said recess (61) is in said elastic means (13), or vice versa.

42. The pin (7) according to claim 41, wherein said projection (49) is on the lower surface (47) of said retainer (11) and said recess (61) is in the upper surface (59) of said elastic means (13).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Other advantages and features of the invention can be seen from the following description in which preferred embodiments of the invention are described in reference to the attached drawings in a non-limiting sense. In the drawings:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wear system formed by a wear element, a support and a pin.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a pin.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pin of FIG. 2, mounted and in a decompressed state.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the pin of FIG. 3 in a compressed state.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the area corresponding to the housing of a wear element and a support in the mounted position.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows the view of FIG. 5, with the pin housed in the housing.

[0060] FIG. 7 shows a view equivalent to FIG. 6, with the wear system worn.

[0061] FIG. 8 shows a view of the tooth and the pin of FIG. 6, without the support.

[0062] FIGS. 9 to 12 show left side elevational, plan, right side elevational and front elevational views, respectively, of a pin according to the invention.

[0063] FIGS. 13 to 16 show cross-section, left side elevational, longitudinal section and top perspective views, respectively, of the shell of the pin of FIGS. 9 to 12.

[0064] FIGS. 17 to 20 show bottom perspective, plan, cross-section and side elevational views of the retainer of the pin of FIGS. 9 to 12.

[0065] FIGS. 21 to 24 show bottom perspective, plan, cross-section and side elevational views of the elastic means of the pin of FIGS. 9 to 12.

[0066] FIGS. 25 to 28 show perspective views of a mounting sequence of a pin according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 29 shows a cross-section of the assembly of the pin of FIGS. 9 to 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a wear system comprising a wear element 1, specifically a tooth, and a support 3, specifically an adapter. When the wear element 1 and the support 3 are in their mounted position, there is defined between both a housing 5 suitable for housing a pin 7 therein. The housing 5 is a through hole going through the assembly formed by the wear element 1 and the support 3. When the pin 7 is in the housing 5, the wear element 1 is locked onto the support 3.

[0069] The pin 7 is an elongated part defining a longitudinal axis and is formed by a shell 9, a retainer 11 and elastic means 13 arranged between the shell 9 and the retainer 11 (see FIGS. 2 to 4, 9 to 12 and 29). The retainer 11 projects from the shell 9 through an upper opening 15 existing in the shell 9, pushed by the elastic means 13. The pin 7 has a lower surface 17 (in the shell 9) and an upper surface 19 (in the retainer 11). The elastic means 13 tend to separate the lower surface 17 from the upper surface 19, such that the height H of the pin 7, i.e., the distance between the lower surface 17 of the pin 7 and the upper surface 19 of the pin 7, measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and measured in the actuating direction of the elastic means 13, is variable, adapting to the available space. To that end, the retainer 11 has an upper segment 21 with a width less than the width of the opening 15, such that it can move through the opening 15. FIG. 3 shows the pin 7 with its upper surface 19 far from the shell 9, whereas FIG. 4 shows the pin 7 with the upper surface 19 close to the shell 9 (with the elastic means completely compressed).

[0070] Additionally, the pin 7 comprises a recess 23 in its upper surface 19, suitable for housing a projection 25 that will be described below.

[0071] FIG. 5 shows the housing 5 that is formed when the wear element 1 and the support 3 are in their mounted position. The housing 5 has a base surface 27, which is what will face the lower surface 17 of the pin 7 when the pin 7 is inserted in the housing 5, and a compression surface 29, which is what will face the upper surface 19 of the pin 7 when the pin 7 is inserted in the housing 5. The compression surface 29 is in turn sub-divided into a first portion 31, which is part of the wear element 1, and a second portion 33, which is part of the support 3. The distance Df, which is the distance between the base surface 27 and the first portion 31, and the distance Dmin, which is the distance between the base surface 27 and the second portion 33, can therefore be defined in the housing 5. As can be seen in FIG. 5, Dmin is less than Df, representing the situation when the wear system is new.

[0072] Additionally, the first portion 31 of the compression surface 29 includes a projection 25, suitable for being housed in the recess 23 of the upper surface 19 of the pin 7.

[0073] FIG. 6 corresponds with FIG. 5 in which the pin 7 has additionally been depicted in the housing 5. The elastic means 13 of the pin 7 push its upper surface 19 out, such that it comes into contact with the compression surface 29, in the present case with the second portion 33.

[0074] FIG. 7, which corresponds with FIG. 6, depicts the situation in which the wear system has already been subjected to substantial wear. In this case, due to the wear occurring between the wear element 1 and the support 3, the wear element 1 is moved more towards the left (according to FIG. 6). This leads to as change in geometry in the housing 5, such that Df is now less than Dmin. Accordingly, the upper surface 19 of the pin 7 abuts with the first portion 31 of the compression surface 29. This is the case shown in FIG. 7. Additionally, the projection 25 is housed in the recess 23. As can be seen, the greater the wear, the greater the increase in the distance Dmin, so the greater the increase in the value H, and the more the projection 25 will penetrate the recess 23, increasing its locking effect, until H reaches the value Df. After this point, the pin 7 will be retained between the base surface 27 and the first portion 31, with the projection 25 completely fitted in the recess 23. Regardless of the possible additional wear the wear system may experience, the pin 7 is perfectly locked in the housing 5 without any risk of it being able to come out of same. The pin 7 can be taken out of the housing 5 to replace the wear element 1 with a new one by simply exerting a considerable force on said pin 7 by means of a hammer, for example.

[0075] FIG. 8 shows an equivalent side view of the position shown in FIG. 7, in which the support 3 has been removed in order to better see the exact position of the pin 7, which is locked between the base surface 27 and the first portion 31 of the compression surface 29, and the projection 25 of the wear element 1 is inserted in the recess 23 of the pin 7.

[0076] FIGS. 13 to 16 show the shell 9 of the pin 7 of FIGS. 9 to 12. The shell 9 is elongated in the same way as the housing 5 and the pin 7 itself. Its lower surface is the lower surface 17 of the pin 7. It has a longitudinal hole 35 having a closed front end 37 and an open rear end 39. Additionally, the longitudinal hole 35 has an opening 15 in its upper portion. This opening 15 has a width which is less than the maximum width of the longitudinal hole 35. Opposite the opening 15, the longitudinal hole 35 has a lower surface 41 in which there is a recess 43.

[0077] FIGS. 17 to 20 show the retainer 11 of the pin 7 of FIGS. 9 to 12. The retainer 11 has an upper surface which is the upper surface 19 of the pin 7. The retainer 11 has an upper segment 21 having a width less than the width of the opening 15 and a lower segment 45 with a width greater than the width of the opening 15. So when the retainer 11 is within the longitudinal hole 35, the upper segment 21 may come out more or less through the opening 15, but the lower segment 45 may not go through the opening 15, which will prevent the retainer 11 from being able to come out of the shell 9 through the opening 15. The recess 23 is arranged in the upper surface 19. Opposite the upper surface 19, the retainer 11 has a lower surface 47 in which there is a plurality of projections 49 the height of which is increasing as it approaches the rear end 39 of the longitudinal hole 35.

[0078] FIGS. 21 to 24 show the elastic means 13 of the pin 7 of FIGS. 9 to 12. The elastic means 13 are basically an elongated sheet arranged between the retainer 11 and the lower surface 41 of the longitudinal hole 35. In the mounted position, the elastic means 13 are compressed between the shell 9 and the retainer 11, such that they tend to push the retainer 11 towards the opening 15. The elastic means 13 are formed by two sheets. The first sheet, forming the first upper segment 51 of the elastic means 13, is made of a solid polymeric material, preferably polyurethane. In turn, the second sheet forms the second lower segment 53 of the elastic means 13 and is made of an elastic polymeric material with multiple gas-filled, closed internal cavities. For example, this second sheet can be made of a material commercially known as Cellasto®, by BASF®. The second sheet is basically responsible for exerting the elastic force, whereas the main function of the first sheet is to provide a smooth and relatively hard surface over which the retainer 11 can suitably slide in the mounting operation of the pin 7.

[0079] The elastic means 13 have a lower surface 55 oriented towards the lower surface 17 of the pin 7 in which there is a projection 57, the height of which is increasing as it approaches the rear end 39 of the longitudinal hole 35 and which is suitable for being housed in the recess 43 arranged in the lower surface 41 of the longitudinal hole 35. The recess 43 and the projection 57 therefore define first locking means. The elastic means 13 also have an upper surface 59 facing the lower surface 47 of the retainer 11, in which there is a plurality of recesses 61 suitable for housing therein the projections 49 of the retainer 11. The recesses 61 and the projections 49 therefore define second locking means.

[0080] FIGS. 25 to 28 schematically show the mounting sequence of the pin 7. First (FIGS. 25 and 26) the elastic means 13 are introduced in the longitudinal hole 35 of the shell 9 through the open rear end 39. Given that the elastic means 13 can loosely enter the longitudinal hole 35, there is no problem with the size of the projection 57 of its lower surface 55 or with the fact that it is made of a Cellasto® type material, since no force has to be applied to the elastic means 13 in this operation. Then (FIGS. 27 and 28) the retainer 11 is inserted through the rear end 39 of the longitudinal hole 35. The retainer 11 slides over the upper surface 59 of the elastic means 13 until the projections 49 of the lower surface 47 of the retainer 11 are housed in the corresponding recesses 61 arranged in the upper surface 59 of the elastic means 13. The assembly is therefore locked and cannot be detached, not even through the rear end 39, as a result of the projections 57 and 49 and their respective recesses 43 and 61, or through the opening 15, as a result of the lower segment 45 of the retainer 11 being wider than the opening 15. Preferably, as can be seen in the drawings, the lower segment 45 has a dovetail geometry that fits with the ends of the side walls of the longitudinal hole 35 bordering the opening 15.