TRUNNION FOR A REAR TAPER DRAGLINE BUCKET

Abstract

Described are a rear taper dragline bucket having a trunnion, a trunnion system, and a trunnion that permit a rear taper dragline bucket to be operated without a spreader bar while providing reduced wear on the trunnion, trunnion link, and trunnion pin.

Claims

1. A dragline bucket comprising: a basket having a first sidewall and a second sidewall; a first trunnion disposed on the first sidewall, the first trunnion having a female clevis and a trunnion pin hole; a first trunnion link having a male clevis constructed to engage the female clevis of the first trunnion and a trunnion link hole, wherein the female clevis of the first trunnion is configured to align the first trunnion link along a first plane defined a hoist chain as the hoist chain rotates about the first trunnion from a first position to a second position during a dump phase of the dragline bucket; a first trunnion pin constructed to be inserted into the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole, wherein the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole are configured to receive the first trunnion pin and to align the first trunnion pin at a first angle, wherein the first angle is perpendicular to the first plane; a second trunnion disposed on the second sidewall, the second trunnion having a female clevis and a trunnion pin hole; a second trunnion link having a male clevis constructed to engage the female clevis of the second trunnion and a trunnion link hole, wherein the female clevis of the second trunnion is configured to align the second trunnion link along a second plane defined a hoist chain as the hoist chain rotates about the second trunnion from a first position to a second position during a dump phase of the dragline bucket; and a second trunnion pin constructed to be inserted into the trunnion pin hole of the second trunnion and the trunnion link hole of the second trunnion link, wherein the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole are configured to receive the second trunnion pin and to align the second trunnion pin at a second angle, wherein the second angle is perpendicular to the first plane.

2. The dragline bucket of claim 1, wherein the dragline bucket is a rear taper dragline bucket.

3. The dragline bucket of claim 2, wherein the first trunnion and the second trunnion are disposed forward of a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

4. The dragline bucket of claim 2, wherein the first trunnion and the second trunnion are disposed at a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

5. The dragline bucket of claim 2, wherein the first trunnion and the second trunnion are disposed rear of a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

6. A trunnion system comprising: a first trunnion configured to attach to a first sidewall of a dragline bucket, the first trunnion having a female clevis and a trunnion pin hole; a first trunnion link having a male clevis constructed to engage the female clevis of the first trunnion and a trunnion link hole, wherein the female clevis of the first trunnion is configured to align the first trunnion link along a first plane defined a hoist chain as the hoist chain rotates about the first trunnion from a first position to a second position during a dump phase of the dragline bucket; a first trunnion pin constructed to be inserted into the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole, wherein the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole are configured to receive the first trunnion pin and to align the first trunnion pin at a first angle, wherein the first angle is perpendicular to the first plane; a second trunnion configured to attach to a second sidewall of the dragline bucket, the second trunnion having a female clevis and a trunnion pin hole; a second trunnion link having a male clevis constructed to engage the female clevis of the second trunnion and a trunnion link hole, wherein the female clevis of the second trunnion is configured to align the second trunnion link along a second plane defined a hoist chain as the hoist chain rotates about the second trunnion from a first position to a second position during a dump phase of the dragline bucket; and a second trunnion pin constructed to be inserted into the trunnion pin hole of the second trunnion and the trunnion link hole of the second trunnion link, wherein the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole are configured to receive the second trunnion pin and to align the second trunnion pin at a second angle, wherein the second angle is perpendicular to the first plane.

7. The trunnion system of claim 6, wherein the dragline bucket is a rear taper dragline bucket.

8. The trunnion system of claim 7, wherein the first trunnion and the second trunnion are disposed forward of a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

9. The trunnion system of claim 7, wherein the first trunnion and the second trunnion are disposed at a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

10. The trunnion system of claim 7, wherein the first trunnion and the second trunnion are disposed rear of a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

11. A trunnion configured to attach to a sidewall of a dragline bucket, the trunnion having a female clevis and a trunnion pin hole, wherein the female clevis is configured to engage a male clevis of a trunnion link, wherein the female clevis of the trunnion is configured to align the trunnion link along a plane defined by a hoist chain as the hoist chain rotates about the trunnion from a first position to a second position during a dump phase of the dragline bucket.

12. The trunnion of claim 11, further comprising a trunnion link having a trunnion link hole.

13. The trunnion of claim 12, further comprising a trunnion pin constructed to be inserted into the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole, wherein the trunnion pin hole and the trunnion link hole are configured to receive the trunnion pin and to align the trunnion pin at an angle, wherein the angle is perpendicular to the plane.

14. The trunnion of claim 13, wherein the dragline bucket is a rear taper dragline bucket.

15. The trunnion of claim 14, wherein the trunnion is disposed forward of a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

16. The trunnion of claim 14, wherein the trunnion is disposed at a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

17. The trunnion of claim 14, wherein the trunnion is disposed rear of a taper line of the rear taper dragline bucket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional dragline bucket.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional dragline bucket.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example rear taper bucket with a trunnion in accordance with some implementations disposed before the taper line.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example rear taper bucket with a trunnion in accordance with some implementations disposed on the taper line.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example rear taper bucket with a trunnion in accordance with some implementations disposed on the taper line.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example rear taper bucket with a trunnion in accordance with some implementations in loaded position.

[0040] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example rear taper bucket with a trunnion in accordance with some implementations in dump position.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example rear taper bucket with a trunnion in accordance with some implementations showing loaded and dump chain positions.

[0042] FIG. 9 is an exploded view diagram showing detail of an example trunnion, trunnion link, and trunnion pin in accordance with some implementations.

[0043] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing detail of an example trunnion, trunnion link, and trunnion pin coupled together in accordance with some implementations.

[0044] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a rear view of an example rear taper bucket having a trunnion in accordance with some implementations.

[0045] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example rear taper bucket having a trunnion in accordance with some implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Some implementations can include trunnion for a rear taper dragline bucket and rigging combination where the rigging has no spreader bar. Some implementations can include a trunnion for a rear taper dragline bucket specifically placed (permanently located) on the taper transition line, in other words, the fold in the bucket side wall where the traditional vertical, or slightly upwards taper side wall, transition into the inwards rear taper, creating a fold in the side wall.

[0047] Some implementations can include a trunnion for a rear taper dragline bucket specifically placed (permanently located) on the surface of the rear taper of the bucket, or in other words placed behind the rear taper transition line which is the fold in the bucket side wall where the traditional vertical, or slightly upwards taper side wall, transition into the inwards rear taper creating a fold in the side wall.

[0048] Some implementations can include a trunnion for a rear taper dragline bucket as described herein, which has a female or male clevis where the trunnion link of the hoist chain is attached with the trunnion pin.

[0049] Some implementations can include a trunnion for a rear taper dragline bucket as described herein, which has the hole provided for the trunnion pin in the male or female clevis of the trunnion so aligned that the axis of this hole is perpendicular to a plane formed by the hoist chain on that side of the bucket as the chain rotates relative to the bucket, during the dump action of the bucket. Because the hoist chains of a bucket can change in length, the hole in the trunnion for the trunnion pin should be more or less perpendicular to this plane. Perfect perpendicular alignment of the pin hole may not be possible due to different buckets geometries, different lengths of hoist chains, and different ways of connecting the hoist chain to the hoist rope.

[0050] Some implementations can include a trunnion for a rear taper dragline bucket as described herein, specifically placed (permanently located) on the surface of the side wall of the bucket, which may also be a slightly upwards taper side wall forward of the taper transition line, which is the fold in the bucket side wall where the traditional vertical, or slightly upwards taper side wall, transition into the inwards rear taper creating a fold in the side wall.

[0051] Some implementations can include a rear taper bucket having trunnions with axially aligned cylindrical mating surfaces of the trunnion link bushing and the trunnion pin. Some implementations can include a geometrically shaped trunnion for a rear taper dragline bucket where the trunnion can be placed forward of (FIG. 3), on (FIG. 4), or rear of (FIG. 5) the taper transition line of the side wall of the dragline bucket.

[0052] In some implementations, the trunnion pin hole, in the (female or male) clevis of the disclosed trunnion is angled to be perpendicular to the plane described by movement of the hoist chain on that side of the bucket, relative to the bucket, during the dump action of the bucket, e.g., from a first position (bucket loaded) to a second position (dumping). This plane is referred to herein as the hoist chain plane for discussion purposes, and may be close to, but not necessarily on the same plane of the surface of the rear taper of the bucket. The hoist chain plane is defined by two imaginary lines made by the hoist chain, the first line (or first position of the chain) is shown in FIG. 6 as reference number 602 and is defined with the bucket hanging under the boom (e.g., with a full load of dirt), and the second line (or second position of the chain) shown in FIG. 7 as reference number 702 is defined with the bucket hanging under boom point in the dump position. In the first position of the bucket and hoist chains, hanging under the boom with a full load, the hoist chains are approximately perpendicular to the bucket floor, while in the second position of the bucket and the hoist chains, in the dump position under the boom point, the hoist chains are almost parallel to the bucket floor. The hoist chains have therefore rotated relative to the bucket around the trunnion pin in the clevis of the trunnion about 90° and hoist chain plane is defined between these two imaginary lines (FIGS. 8, 802 and 804).

[0053] By placing the trunnion on the taper transition line, or behind this line, it may be easier to align the trunnion pin hole in the clevis of the trunnion perpendicular with the hoist chain plane, and this location will also allow more clearance between the hoist chains and the bucket side top rail.

[0054] FIG. 9 is an exploded view diagram showing detail of an example trunnion 902, trunnion link 908, and trunnion pin 906 in accordance with some implementations. The trunnion 902 includes a female clevis 910 and a trunnion pin hole 904. The trunnion link 908 includes a male clevis and a trunnion pin hole 912.

[0055] In operation, the trunnion link 908 male clevis is inserted into the female clevis 910. The trunnion pin hole in the trunnion link 908 and the trunnion pin hole 904 of the trunnion 902 are aligned so that the trunnion pin 906 can be inserted to secure the trunnion link 908 to the trunnion 902.

[0056] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing detail of an example trunnion 902 and trunnion link 908. FIG. 10 also shows a different view of the female clevis 1004 and angled side 1002 of the trunnion 902.

[0057] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a rear view of an example bucket 1102 with a rear taper 1104 having a trunnion 902 in accordance with some implementations. FIG. 11 shows a trunnion pin axis 1106.

[0058] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example rear taper bucket having a trunnion in accordance with some implementations. In particular, FIG. 12 shows angles of hoist chain planes (1202, 1206) relative to trunnion pin axes (1204, 1208). For example, a trunnion pin axis may be perpendicular to a respective hoist chain plane.

[0059] The dashed lines 1202 and 1206 are in the hoist chain planes (e.g., the plane formed by lines 802 and 804) about the trunnion pins 1204 and 1208, respectively. In general, the trunnion pin hole and bushing axis should be perpendicular to the hoist chain plane, or nearly perpendicular. The angle may not be exactly perpendicular and may not stay perpendicular as the chains and bushing wear during operation. As discussed above, different implementations can have different trunnion placement, e.g., before, on or after the taper transition line. The trunnion pin hole/bushing axis being perpendicular to the hoist chain plane remains the same regardless of where the trunnion is placed.

[0060] In some implementations, the trunnion link bushing hole can be more axially aligned with the trunnion pin during the entire rotational movement of the bucket dump action, and even if this is not achieved perfectly due to different buckets and different lengths of hoist chains, the improvement or advantage provided by the disclosed trunnion is still significant. The improvement or advantage includes reduction, or even elimination, of the abnormal wear between the cylindrical mating surfaces of the trunnion link bushing and the trunnion pin, eliminating their early replacement, hence saving on maintenance downtime and costs.

[0061] In some implementations, the trunnion pin hole in the female clevis of the trunnion should be as close to possible perpendicular to the hoist chain plane. However, perfect alignment may not be possible due to different buckets geometries, different lengths of hoist chains, and different ways of connecting the hoist chain to the hoist rope.

[0062] In some implementations, the placement of the trunnion on a dragline bucket influences the dump performance of the bucket, the force on the dump rope and consequential wear on that component and setting of the bucket carry angle. These parameters should be considered when the new invention trunnion is designed and placed on a rear taper bucket.

[0063] 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.