Bucket for a rope shovel

Abstract

An bucket for a rope shovel provides a structure which is resistant to great mechanical forces and stress during operation of the bucket. The bucket comprises a tubular body (11) with an interior having a closed curvature (8). The tubular body (11) is formed by at least one plate (4) which is folded until its ends are butted and has weld beads (9a, 9b, 9c) and/or weld plugs (9c) to form the body (11) with a tubular shape. The tubular body (11) has an exterior with reinforcement layers (12, 13, 14, 15) comprising at least a plate (4). The lower front portion of the tubular body (11) has a lip (25) which is formed sheets (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) that are overlapped and nested. Each sheet is formed by at least one plate (4). The upper portion of the tubular body (11) has engagement supports (20, 21, 22 which are also made of at least one plate (4).

Claims

1. A bucket for a rope shovel providing a resistant structure CHARACTERIZED in that said bucket comprises a tubular body (11) having an interior with a closed curvature (8), wherein said tubular body (11) includes a plurality of laminated steel plates having butted ends and weld beads (9a, 9b, 9c) and/or weld plugs (9c), said tubular body (11) having in its exterior with a plurality of reinforcement layers (12, 13, 14, 15) comprising a plurality of other laminated steel plates, said tubular body (11) having a front lower portion with a lip (25) comprising a plurality of overlapped and nested sheets (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d), each of said overlapped and nested sheets (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) comprising a plurality of further laminated steel plates, and said tubular body (11) having an upper portion with engagement supports (20, 21, 22) comprising a plurality of more laminated steel plates.

2. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said plurality of reinforcement layers (12, 13, 14, 15) comprise a front perimeter reinforcement (12), a rear perimeter reinforcement (13), a lip reinforcement (14), and a wear reinforcement (15).

3. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that said front perimeter reinforcement (12) has a front lower outer surface with front perimeter reinforcement-middle edges (12c, 12d), and said lip reinforcement (14) is positioned below said front lower outer surface of said front perimeter reinforcement (12) and has lip reinforcement upper edges (14a, 14b) positioned in abutment with said middle edges (12c, 12d) of said front lower outer surface of the front perimeter reinforcement (12), and wherein said front perimeter reinforcement middle edges (12c, 12d) are located at approximately half height of said front perimeter reinforcement (12).

4. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that said overlapped and nested sheets (25) comprise: a first nested sheet (25a), a second nested sheet (25b), a third nested sheet (25c), and a fourth nested sheet (25d).

5. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that said tubular body (11) has a tubular body-outer surface and tubular body-upper edges (11a, 11b), and said front perimeter reinforcement (12) is positioned on said tubular body-outer surface and has front perimeter reinforcement-upper edges (12a, 12b) positioned in abutment with said tubular body-upper edges (11a, 11b) of said tubular body-outer surface of said tubular body (11).

6. The bucket for the rope shovel as claimed in claim 5, CHARACTERIZED in that said rear perimeter reinforcement (13) has an upper center part with separated portions (24) defining first right rear slots (24a) and second left rear slots (24b) to receive and house said engagement supports (20, 21).

7. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that said tubular body has tubular body-middle edges (11c, 11d), and said wear reinforcement (15) is positioned below said tubular body outer surface of said tubular body (11) and has wear reinforcement-upper edges (15a, 15b) in abutment with said tubular body-middle edges (11c, 11d), and wherein said tubular body-middle edges (11c, 11d) are located at approximately half height of said tubular body (11).

8. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 7 CHARACTERIZED in that said front perimeter reinforcement (12) has a right side portion and an upper right portion with a plurality of first side right front ribs providing first transverse reinforcements (16a) covered by at least one first front side right cover (17a); and said front perimeter reinforcement (12) has a left side portion and a left upper portion with a plurality of second side left front ribs providing second transverse reinforcements (16b) covered by at least one second front side left cover (17b).

9. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that said rear perimeter reinforcement (13) has a plurality of first side right rear ribs providing third transverse reinforcements (16c) covered by at least one first rear side right cover (17c) and said rear perimeter reinforcement (13) has a plurality of second side left rear ribs providing fourth transverse reinforcements (16d) covered by at least one second rear side left cover (17d).

10. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 9, CHARACTERIZED in that between said at least one first front side right cover (17a) and said at least one first rear side right cover (17c) is positioned a center right cover (17e); and between said at least one second front side left cover (17b) and said at least one second back side left cover (17d) is positioned a center left cover (17f).

11. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 10, CHARACTERIZED in that said tubular body (11) has an upper center portion with a plurality of transverse upper ribs (18) and a plurality of upper covers (19).

12. The bucket for the rope shovel as claimed in claim 11, CHARACTERIZED in that said front perimeter reinforcement (12) has an upper center part defining separated portions (23) comprising first right front slots (23a) and second left front slots (23b) to receive and house said engagement supports (20, 21).

13. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 12, CHARACTERIZED in that said tubular body (11) has an outer rear surface and said rear perimeter reinforcement (13) is positioned on said outer rear surface of said tubular body (11) and has rear perimeter reinforcement-upper edges (13a, 13b) in abutment with said tubular body-upper edges (11a, 11b) of said tubular body (11).

14. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 13, CHARACTERIZED in that said engagement supports comprise a first pair of engagement supports (20) and a second pair of engagement supports (21).

15. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 14, CHARACTERIZED in that said engagement supports further comprise a pair of break supports (22) positioned along each side of said first pair of engagement supports (20) and second pair of engagement supports (21).

16. The bucket for the rope shovel as claimed in claim 15, CHARACTERIZED in that at least some of said transverse upper ribs (18) are positioned in proximity to said first and second pairs of engagement supports (20, 21) and said pair of break supports (22).

17. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said tubular body (11) has a front perimeter with a rectangular shape.

18. The bucket for a rope shovel as claimed in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said tubular body (11) has a front perimeter with an elliptical shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The attached drawings are included in order to show the preferred embodiments as well as the principles of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hot cast or forged piece.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the same piece showed in FIG. 1 but built from a plurality of plates.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of FIG. 2 wherein the piece has weld beads so as to connect the plates.

(5) FIG. 4a shows a perspective view of a piece formed by plurality of butt-bent plates which explains the basic principles of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 4b shows a perspective view of a piece formed by a plurality of butt-bent plates, with the weld plugs and weld beads, explaining the basic principles of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 4c shows a perspective view of a piece formed by a plurality of butt-bent plates, with weld plugs and weld beads, explaining the basic principles of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 5 shows a front exploded perspective view of the components of a first embodiment of the bucket of the present invention wherein the F letter represents the front view, T the rear view; D the right view: and I the left view.

(9) FIG. 6 shows a back exploded perspective view of the components of a first embodiment of the bucket of the present invention wherein the F letter represents the front view, T the rear view; D the right view: and I the left view.

(10) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bucket of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 8 shows an elevation front view of a first embodiment of a bucket of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 9 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a bucket of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 10 shows a front exploded perspective view of the components of a second embodiment of the bucket of the present invention wherein the F letter represents the front view, T the rear view; D the right view: and I the left view.

(14) FIG. 11 shows a back exploded perspective view of the components of a second embodiment of the bucket of the present invention wherein the F letter represents the front view, T the rear view; D the right view: and I the left view.

(15) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bucket of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 13 shows an elevation front view of a second embodiment of a bucket of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 14 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a bucket of the present invention.

(18) FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bucket of the present invention wherein the components of the lip are showed in an exploded view.

(19) FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bucket of the present invention wherein the lip construction is showed.

(20) FIG. 17 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a bucket of the present invention wherein the lip construction is showed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(21) The present invention relates to a bucket for an excavator shovel, for instance, an electric rope shovel, which is formed by components made of at least one laminated steel plate. The basic concept of the present invention is explained based on FIGS. 1 to 4c.

(22) FIG. 1 shows a piece (1) having an open curvature (2) and a thickness (3). If said thickness (3) is of a large dimension, for instance, in the order of 6 inches (15.2 cm), said piece (1) needs to be manufactured by hot casting or forging.

(23) However, if said thickness (3) is divided into a plurality of small thicknesses (3a, 3b), for instance, of 1 inch (2.54 cm) each, then it is possible to form the piece (1) by means of cold bending of a plurality of plates (4) keeping the same open curvature (2) which is the case of this example would be six plates.

(24) In order to produce a solid assembly of plates (4) it will be necessary to apply weld beads (5, 6).

(25) According to FIGS. 4a and 4b, a more resistant piece (7) can be manufactured if the folding thereof is continuous and the plurality of plates (4) has butted ends, thereby generating a closed curvature (8) which means that it would be required a weld bead of an upper joint (9a), a perimeter weld bead (9b) and when necessary, weld plugs (9c) which are required in order to increase the resistance of the assembly.

(26) FIG. 4c shows a higher resistance piece (7) made by means of a continuous folding having a closed curvature (8) on which lower part a first reinforcement piece (1a) and a second reinforcement piece (1b) are located, both pieces (7, 1a, 1b) being placed in a nested way, which are connected by a weld bead of higher joint (9a), multiple perimeter weld beads (9b), multiple longitudinal weld beads (9d) and multiple weld plugs (9c) where also said pieces (7, 1a, 1b) are each formed by a solid assembly of cold-bent plates (4).

(27) The present invention proposes the construction of a bucket (10) for an excavator shovel for instance a rope shovel (dipper) wherein the body (10) in formed in a tubular way leaving in its interior a closed curvature (8) wherein said body is formed by at least one plate (4) which is folded until its ends are butted, requiring a single weld bead (9a) in order to form said body (11) in a tubular way.

(28) Said body having in its exterior a plurality of reinforcement layers (12, 13, 14, 15) which are constituted by at least a plate (4). In the front lower portion of the body (8) is present the lip (25) which is formed by a plurality of sheets (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) overlapped and nested, each sheet being formed by at least one plate (4). In the upper portion of the body (11) engagement means (20, 21, 22) are placed which are also made of at least one plate (4).

(29) One of the embodiments of this invention is shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 wherein the bucket (10) comprises a body (11) which is constituted by at least one plate (4), being folded in a tubular way, thereby forming the upper wall, the lower wall and the side walls wherein said folding is made until the ends of said at least one plate (4) are butted, which are joined by means of a weld bead (9a).

(30) On the front outer surface of said body (11) a front perimeter reinforcement (12) is mounted which is constituted by at least one plate (4) which is folded following the front outer outline of the body (11) until its right upper edge (12a) is in contact (abutment) with its left upper edge (11a) of the outer body surface (11) and until its left upper edge (12b) is in contact (abutment) with the left upper edge (11b) of the outer body surface (11).

(31) The central upper portion of the front perimeter reinforcement (12) has separated portions (23) comprising first front right slots (23a) and second front left slots (23b) which are provided to house the pivoting engagement supports (20, 21).

(32) On the back outer surface of said body (11) an rear perimeter reinforcement (13) is mounted which is constituted by at least one plate (4) which is folded following the front outer outline of the body (11) until its right upper edge (13a) is in contact with (abutment) its right upper edge (11a) of the outer body surface (11) and until its left upper edge (13b) is in contact (abutment) with the left upper edge (11b) of the outer body surface (11). The center upper part of the rear perimeter reinforcement (13) has separated portions (24) which comprise first right rear slots (24a) and second left rear slots (24b) which are provided to house the engagement supports (20, 21) and the break support (22).

(33) Below the lower center outer surface of said body (11) a wear reinforcement (15) is mounted which is constituted by at least one plate (4) which is folded following the lower outer outline of the body (11) until its right upper edge (15a) is in contact (abutment) with its right middle edge (11c) of the outer body surface (11) and until its left upper edge (15b) is in contact (abutment) with the left middle edge (11d) of the outer body surface (11) wherein said right and left middle edges (11c, 11d) are located at approximately half height of the body (11).

(34) Below the lower outer front surface of said front perimeter reinforcement (12) a lip reinforcement (14) is mounted which is constituted by at least one plate (4) which is folded following the lower outer outline of the front perimeter reinforcement (12) until its right upper edge (14a) is in contact (abutment) with its right middle edge (12c) of the outer surface of the front perimeter reinforcement (12) and until its left upper edge (14b) is in contact (abutment) with the left middle edge (12d) of the outer surface of the front perimeter reinforcement (12) wherein said right, left and middle edges (12c, 12d) are located at approximately half height of the front perimeter reinforcement (12).

(35) On the right side outer surface and right upper surface of said front perimeter reinforcement (12) is mounted a plurality of first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16a) which are constituted by at least one plate (4).

(36) These first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16a) are straight and its lower outline is cut following the right side outline of the right upper half of the front perimeter reinforcement (12) and the outline of the right upper edge (12a) until they are slightly extended on the upper outer right surface of the front perimeter reinforcement (12).

(37) The upper outline of the first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16a) is cut to support at least one first front right side cover (17a) which laterally wraps the front perimeter reinforcement (12) on the right side and at the same time, it wraps the upper right portion of said front perimeter reinforcement (12).

(38) Said at least one first front right side cover (17a) is constituted by at least one plate (4) and folded following the upper outline of the first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16a).

(39) On the left side outer surface and left upper surface of said front perimeter reinforcement (12) is mounted a plurality of second side left ribs (16b) as transverse reinforcements (16a) which are constituted by at least one plate (4).

(40) These second side left ribs as transverse reinforcements (16b) are straight and its lower outline is cut following the left side outline of the left upper half of the front perimeter reinforcement (12) and the outline of the left upper edge (12b) until they are slightly extended on the upper outer left surface of the front perimeter reinforcement (12).

(41) The upper outline of second side left ribs as transverse reinforcements (16b) is cut to support al least one second front left side cover (17b) which laterally wraps the front perimeter reinforcement (12) on the left side and at the same time it wraps the upper left portion of said front perimeter reinforcement (12).

(42) Said at least one second front left side cover (17b) is constituted by at least one plate (4) and folded following the upper outline of the second side left ribs as transverse reinforcements (16b).

(43) On the right side outer surface and right upper surface of said rear perimeter reinforcement (13) is mounted a plurality of first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16c) which are constituted by at least one plate (4).

(44) These first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16c) are straight and its lower outline is cut following the right side outline of the right upper half of the rear perimeter reinforcement (13) and the outline of the right upper edge (13a) until they are slightly extended on the upper outer right surface of the rear perimeter reinforcement (13).

(45) The upper outline of the first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16c) is cut to support at least one first back right side cover (17c) which laterally wraps the rear perimeter reinforcement (13) on the right side and at the same time, it wraps the center right portion of said rear perimeter reinforcement (13).

(46) Said at least one first rear right side cover (17c) is constituted by at least one plate (4) and folded following the upper outline of the first side right ribs as transverse reinforcements (16c).

(47) On the left side outer surface and left upper surface of said rear perimeter reinforcement (13) is mounted a plurality of second side left ribs as transverse reinforcements (16d) which are constituted by at least one plate (4).

(48) These second side left ribs as transverse reinforcements (16d) are straight and its lower outline is cut following the left side outline of the left upper half of the rear perimeter reinforcement (13) and the outline of the left upper edge (13b) until they are slightly extended on the upper outer left surface of the rear perimeter reinforcement (13).

(49) The upper outline of second side left ribs as transverse reinforcements (16d) is cut to support al least one second back left side cover (17d) which laterally wraps the rear perimeter reinforcement (13) on the left side and at the same time it wraps the center left portion of said rear perimeter reinforcement (13).

(50) Said at least one second back left side cover (17d) is constituted by at least one plate (4) and folded following the upper outline of the second side left ribs as transverse reinforcements (16d).

(51) Between said at least one first front side right cover (17a) and said at least one first back side right cover (17c) a center right cover (17e) is mounted. Between said at least one second front side left cover (17b) and said at least one second back side left cover (17d) a center left cover (17f) is mounted.

(52) On the upper surface of said body (11) near to the side edge are mounted: a first pair of engagement supports (20) which are constituted by at least a plate (4) and a second pair of engagement supports (21) which are also constituted by at least one plate (4).

(53) These first and second pairs of engagement supports (20, 21) are located on the upper surface of the body (11). At each side of said first and second engagement support pairs (20, 21) and towards the center of the upper surface of said body (11) are mounted a pair of break supports for the cover (22). Said pair of break supports for the cover (22) is also constituted by the at least one plate (4). The cover of the bucket (10) that is mounted on the rear part is not shown in the drawings.

(54) Among said first and second pairs of engagement support (20, 21) and said pair of break supports (22) a plurality of upper transverse ribs (18) are mounted, which are a continuation of the side ribs as transverse reinforcement (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) on which a plurality of upper covers (19), which is a continuation of the plurality of side covers (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f) is mounted.

(55) Both the plurality of transverse upper ribs (18) and the plurality of upper covers (19) are constituted by at least one plate (4).

(56) In a first embodiment, according to FIGS. 5 to 9, the body (11) of the bucket (10) has a front perimeter of rectangular shape.

(57) However, in other preferred embodiment of the present invention, according to FIGS. 10 to 14, the body (11) of the bucket (10) has a front perimeter of elliptical shape.

(58) The front lower portion of the buckets in the previous art is provided with a lip on which the excavation teeth (gets) are engaged.

(59) The present invention also proposes a solution of forming said lip. Thus, according to FIGS. 15 to 17, the lip is formed by multiple nested sheets (25) which are constituted by at least one plate (4).

(60) A first nested sheet (25a) follows the lower outline of the lip reinforcement (14), being slightly overlapped towards the front portion of said lip reinforcement (14).

(61) A second nested sheet (25b) follows the lower outline of the first nested sheet (25a) being slightly overlapped towards the front portion of said first nested sheet (25a). A third nested sheet (25c) follows the lower outline of the second nested sheet (25b) being slightly overlapped towards the front portion of said second nested sheet (25b). A forth nested sheet (25d) follows the lower outline of the third nested sheet (25c) being slightly overlapped towards the front portion of said third nested sheet (25c).

(62) The multiple nested sheets (25) which are used to form the lip of the bucket (10) will depend on the thickness of said lip as designed for each case.