Power operated locking system earth moving equipment and method

Abstract

A power operated locking device for securing for example a tooth or an adaptor, to a ground engaging system, the lock having an internal motor, and sensing system operated by remote wireless technology to unlock and lock the locking device, and a wireless transmitting handheld device for the locking, and unlocking of the power operated locking device, wherein the motor and drive and electronic response circuits are all contained within the power operated locking device.

Claims

1. A shovel for earth moving equipment of the type having a shovel lip and a plurality of ground engaging tool bits removably attached to said lip and comprising: a plurality of tool bit mounts on said shovel hp: a plurality of tool bits releasably carried on respective said tool bit mounts, said tool bits each defining a hollow interior cavity adapted to fit over respective said tool bit mounts; a lock receiving recess in each said tool bit mount; power operated tool bit locks received in respective said lock receiving recesses, said power operated tool bit locks incorporating a moveable lock member, and an electrical power operated drive operable to drive said lock member between two positions; a lock receiving socket accessible within said hollow interior of each said tool bit, and oriented to register with a respective said lock receiving recess: and, a remote control device operable to signal respective said electrical power operated drives.

2. The shovel for earth moving equipment as claimed in claim 1 wherein a drive gear rack is attached to each said moveable lock member, a drive gear connected with said gear rack, and an electrical motor coupled to said drive gear, located within said power operated tool bit lock.

3. The shovel for earth moving equipment as claimed in claim 2 wherein said power operated tool bit lock is contained entirely within the tool bit mount, and wherein said moveable lock member is moveable by remote operation of said electrical motor and drive gear, to move said lock member into and out of engagement in said lock receiving socket in said tool bit.

4. The shovel for earth moving equipment as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tool bit mounts are fastened securely to said shovel.

5. The shovel for earth moving equipment as claimed in claim 3 including tooth adaptors removably attached to respective said tool bit mounts.

6. The shovel for earth moving equipment as claimed in claim 3 wherein respective teeth are mounted on respective said tool bit mounts on said shovel.

7. The shovel for earth moving equipment as claimed in claim 3 including lock recesses formed in respective said tool bit mounts, said lock recesses being formed in side portions of said tool bit mounts, and along axes normal to the longitudinal axis of each said tool bit mount, and wherein said lock receiving sockets are formed interiorly in each said tool bit, aligned along axes normal to the longitudinal axis of each said tool bit, and located whereby to be aligned with respective said lock recesses in said tool bit mounts when said tool bit is slid over said tool bit mount.

8. A remotely operable power operated tool lock for securing a tool bit on a tool bit mount on a ground engaging system said tool lock being concealed wholly within a tool bit mount and tool bit, and comprising: a lock housing body adapted to be placed in one of said tool bit, and said tool bit mount of said ground engaging system; a lock member slideably secured in said lock housing body; a drive transmission means connected to said lock member, operable to extend and retract said lock member relative to said lock housing body; a wireless responsive electrical motor operable to control said drive transmission means; and, a remote wireless controller operable to send a specific coded signal to each said tool lock, and operate its respective said wireless responsive electrical motor; and wherein said tool bit mount defines a tool bit support and a lock receiving recess, and wherein said tool bit defines a hollow interior adapted to fit over said tool bit support and a lock receiving socket accessible within said hollow interior of said tool bit, for receiving said lock member from said lock housing body.

9. The power operated tool lock as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said lock member is attached to a gear rack, and including a drive gear engaged with said gear rack, said drive gear being responsive to operation of said motor for extension and retraction of said lock member relative to said lock housing body.

10. The power operated tool lock as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tool bit mounts are fastened securely to said ground engaging system.

11. The power operated tool lock as claimed in claim 10 including tool bit adaptors removably attached to respective said tool bit mounts.

12. The power operated tool lock as claimed in claim 11 wherein respective tool bits are mounted on respective said tool bit mounts.

13. The power operated tool lock as claimed in claim 11 wherein respective tool bits are mounted on respective said tool bit adaptors.

14. The power operated tool lock as claimed in claim 12 including lock recesses formed in respective said tool bit mounts, said lock recesses being formed in side portions of said tool bit mounts, and along axes normal to the longitudinal axis of each said tool bit mount, and wherein said lock receiving sockets are formed interiorly in each said tool bit aligned along axes normal to the longitudinal axis of said tool bit, and located whereby to be aligned with a respective said lock recesses in said tool bit mount when said tool is slid over said tool bit mount.

15. A method of remotely securing a tool hit on a tool bit mount on a ground engaging shovel and comprising: forming said tool bit mount with an internal lock receiving recess; forming a tool bit with a hollow interior defining a lock receiving socket; placing a tool lock in said recess in said tool bit mount, said tool lock having a lock member, slideably secured in a lock housing body, and operable in response to an internally located electrical motor, to move said lock member, remotely controlling said electrical motor by means of a remote wireless controller operable to send a specific coded signal to said tool lock for operation of said electrical motor; and further including the steps of placing said tool bit lock in said recess in said tool bit mount, placing a tool bit defining a hollow interior over said tool bit mount and over said tool lock, said tool bit defining a hollow interior with a lock receiving socket, aligning said lock receiving socket with said tool lock housing recess in said tool bit mount, and operating said wireless responsive motor by a remote wireless controller exterior to said tool bit mount and said tool bit.

Description

IN THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an adaptor, and the tooth; and the locking device;

(2) FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing the locking device exploded;

(3) FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded view of the locking device of FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective of the locking device;

(5) FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the locking device;

(6) FIG. 6 is a section along 6-6 of FIG. 5;

(7) FIG. 7 is a section along line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail of circle 8 of FIG. 7; and,

(9) FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective of a shovel and remote controller to which the invention relates.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

(10) As already explained the invention provides a power operated lock for use on earth moving machinery.

(11) Such machinery has some kind of shovel or scrapers, (FIG. 9).

(12) The lip of such a shovel is provided with teeth.

(13) To secure the teeth, the shovel lip will have a series of mounting members. These may be themselves removable adaptors, or may be welded to the lip at spaced intervals. There may be twenty such mounting members on a shovel, for example, the number depending on the size, and the design of such a shovel. These mounting members usually carry removable adaptors. Teeth are then secured on the adaptors. In most case both the adaptors, and also the teeth are held on the shovel by some kind of lock or wedge. These typical locks or wedges are exposed at least in part to the outside environment around the teeth and adaptors. As a result, during use of the shovel, these locks and wedges are exposed to extreme wear and stresses as the shovels are moved into the earth, and when the earth is tipped out if the shovel, for example. When teeth, or even adaptors, become damaged or worn they must be replaced. This involves removing the wedge, discarding the damaged component and replacing it with a new one.

(14) Often the wedge itself is damaged or difficult to dislodge.

(15) In a typical shovel there may be for example twenty separate adaptors, carrying twenty separate teeth. The locking devices can be such that they will fit both the locking of the adaptors on the shovel mounting members, and also locking of the teeth on the adaptors.

(16) The present invention provides a locking device for such a purpose, i.e. locking either teeth on their adaptors, or locking the adaptors on tool mounts on the shovel. Each locking device is concealed within the adaptor or tooth or tool mount and is self-contained and carries its own internal power operated mechanism.

(17) The teeth and adaptors are formed with internal cavities or recesses. One of the cavities will receive the locking device within it, in the interior of the adaptor or mount. The other tool, either the adaptor or the tooth itself, is provided with an interior socket, which will register with the interior cavity formed in the mount or adaptor. By wireless remote technology, the locking device can be activated so as to lock the adaptor on the mount, or to lock the tooth on the adaptor. The locking devices themselves remain entirely concealed within the mount or adaptor, and are therefore protected from damage in use in the environment.

(18) The internal power operated mechanism incorporates known wireless technology, and can be activated by a wireless remote control.

(19) FIG. 1 shows an adaptor (10), typically such as can be secured on a support member on a shovel (FIG. 9). This adaptor (10) is of the type that can itself be removed from the shovel support member and replaced as needed. The adaptor (10) has a lock recess (12) to receive any suitable lock (not shown), by which the adaptor may be locked on the shovel support member.

(20) The adaptor (10) in this case is designed to support a tooth (14). The tooth (14) has a hollow interior (15) which fits over the leading portion (16) of the adaptor (10).

(21) The leading portion (16) of the adaptor has a body with a transverse cylindrical lock receiving recess (18), in one side.

(22) The adaptor body has a longitudinal axis, extending in the direction of the shovel movement. The cylindrical lock receiving recess is located on an axis normal to longitudinal axis. In this way the locking device will extend outwardly and inwardly in a transverse direction to the axis of the adaptor.

(23) The recess (18) has a rim (20) with two linear portions.

(24) The tooth (14) has a hollow body (15) with an interior hidden lock receiving socket (42) within the hollow body.

(25) A locking device (24) fits within the interior recess (18) of adaptor (10).

(26) The locking device (24) is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 6.

(27) The locking device (24) has a generally cylindrical body (26), defining a hollow interior (28). A sliding lock member (30) of partly cylindrical shape is slidable within the interior (28) of body (26). The lock member (30) is attached to a linear gear rack (32) formed with gear teeth.

(28) A drive gear (34) engages the gear teeth on the rack (32). Gear (34) is driven by an electric motor (36). Motor (36) is controlled and powered by circuits and battery (38), located within the interior of body (26).

(29) Sealing rings (40) are provided as needed on body (26).

(30) Tooth (14) has a hollow interior (15) (FIG. 7) which fits over the leading end (16) of adaptor (10). Tooth (14) is formed with an interior lock receiving socket (42) in one side of the hollow interior of tooth (14), and is inaccessible from the exterior of the tooth (14). When the tooth (14) is fitted over the leading end (16) of the adaptor (10), the socket (42) is located so as to align with interior recess (18) of adaptor (10) and receive locking member (30).

(31) Again, the socket (42) in the tooth is aligned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tooth. Thus when the tooth is fitted over the adaptor, the recess (18) and the socket (42) are both aligned with one another and are aligned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tooth and the adaptor.

(32) Small diameter access drillings (44) are formed in adaptor (10) and in tooth (14), aligned with one another. Drillings (44) connect with the inner end of recess (18) to enable service persons to reach the locking device (24) from outside the tooth (14).

(33) It will thus be seen that the locking device (24) is entirely concealed within the body of the adaptor (10), and the tooth (14), and is not exposed on the exterior of either. In this way, the service life of the locking device (24) is greatly extended, and in practice it's operation by remote wireless technology, enables much quicker attention to servicing of the teeth on the shovel.

(34) In operation the locking device is first inserted in the cylindrical recess (18) of the adaptor (10), with its lock member (30) retracted.

(35) The tooth is then fitted over the leading end (16) of the adaptor (10). The tooth is slid on the adaptor (10) until the lock receiving recess (18) aligns with and registers with the lock receiving socket (42). At this point, the locking device is entirely concealed within and protected by the body of the adaptor (10), and is inaccessible manually from the exterior of the adaptor (10) or the tooth (14). Using a suitable remote wireless device (W) (FIG. 9) the motor (36) is then activated. The gear (34) rotates and moves the lock member (30) out of the body (26). The lock member will enter lock receiving socket (42) of the tooth (14) locking the tooth in position on the adaptor.

(36) In order to remove the tooth, the motor is then activated in reverse. This will retract the lock member (30) from the lock receiving socket (42) in the tooth back into the body (26).

(37) The tooth can then be removed from the adaptor.

(38) Locking of the adaptor on its shovel using such a locking device (24) will involve essentially the same operations.

(39) It will be appreciated that the power operated lock as described is capable of attaching removable attachments on earth moving machinery, whether such removable device is a tooth adaptor, or is a tooth itself, or of some other nature. Reference is therefore made in the claims to a releasable tool bit, it being the intention that this wording is generic to both the adaptor, and the tooth itself.

(40) It is believed that the wireless technology involved in controlling each individual tooth lock, is well-known in the electronics art and requires no special description. It will, of course, be understood that each lock shall have its own unique signal. The operator of the equipment will have a hand-held device (W) capable of sending the separate individual signals, coded for the specific tool locks on the equipment.

(41) The method of the invention is self-explanatory from the above.

(42) Thus the locking of the tooth on the adaptor, or the locking of the adaptor on the support on the shovel, takes place by simply operating the hand held device (W), and moving the locking member along an axis which is transverse to the axis of the tooth or the adaptor. This is achieved without hammering of the tooth or the adaptor, or attempting to operate a threaded locking device or wedge, as was the case in earlier shovels.

(43) While the recess (18) is shown in the adaptor, and the lock socket in the tooth, this arrangement could be reversed in some cases.

(44) It will also be appreciated that while extensive reference has been made to ground engaging system and earth moving equipment, the invention is not necessarily limited solely to earth moving equipment. Other forms of power operated scoops and lifting devices are used, for example, when clearing a construction site, or removing debris from a collapsed building, to give only a few examples.

(45) The foregoing is a description of preferred embodiments of the invention only, and is not thereby limited to such embodiments.