LIP FOR EARTH MOVING MACHINE SHOVEL AND LIP MANUFACTURING METHOD

Abstract

A lip for an earth moving machine shovel, comprising: a main body (1a, 1b), and a plurality of noses (3) protruding from the main body (1a, 1b); the at least one transmission surface (4a, 4b) between each nose (3) and the main body (1b) has a 5 slope variation of between 0 and 10, each transmission surface (4a, 4b) comprising at least a portion of a stabilisation surface (9a, 9b) of the respective nose (3) and a portion of a surface of the main body (1b). Also, a method for manufacturing a lip comprising: introducing molten steel into a lip mould through one or more openings in the mould, the mould comprising a plurality of risers; cooling or 0 waiting for the molten steel introduced into the mould until it solidifies; and removing the plurality of risers from the lip manufactured with the mould.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A lip for an earth moving machine shovel, comprising: a main body; and a plurality of noses protruding from the main body; wherein at least one transmission surface between each nose of the plurality of noses and the main body has a slope variation of between 0 and 10, each transmission surface comprising at least a portion of a stabilisation surface of a respective nose of the plurality of noses and a portion of a surface of the main body.

22. The lip of claim 21, wherein each transmission surface of the at least one transmission surface extends from the respective nose to a portion of the main body between a pair of noses of the plurality of noses with one nose thereof being the respective nose of the at least one transmission surface.

23. The lip of claim 21, wherein each transmission surface of the at least one transmission surface includes a surface of the lip closest to a secant plane that delimits a front portion of the main body from a rear portion of the respective nose.

24. The lip of claim 21, wherein the slope variation of each transmission surface of the at least one transmission surface is between 0 and 1.

25. The lip of claim 21, wherein each transmission surface of the at least one transmission surface includes one or both of: a stabilisation surface of the respective nose extending more than 10% of a length of each nose along an axis that defines a direction in which the noses of the plurality of noses protrude from the main body; and a surface of the main body extending more than 5% of a length of the main body along the axis.

26. The lip of claim 21, wherein each transmission surface of the at least one transmission surface includes a first transmission surface and a second transmission surface, the first transmission surface being opposite the second transmission surface.

27. The lip of claim 21, wherein at least one surface between one or both sides of each nose of the plurality of noses and the main body has a continuous transition geometry.

28. The lip of claim 21, further comprising one or two reinforcing ribs in each nose of the plurality of noses, each reinforcing rib extending to the main body.

29. The lip of claim 28, wherein the at least one transmission surface of one or more noses of the plurality of noses comprises a first transmission surface and a second transmission surface, wherein the first transmission surface and the second transmission surface are each on a different side of a reinforcing rib of the respective nose.

30. The lip of claim 21, further comprising two lateral walls protruding from the main body.

31. The lip of claim 28, further comprising two lateral walls protruding from the main body, wherein a reinforcing rib in each nose of the plurality of noses at one end of the lip extends to a lateral wall of the two lateral walls by means of an attachment surface with a continuous transition geometry.

32. The lip of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of riser necks, each riser neck of the plurality of riser necks being next to a reinforcing rib of the one or two reinforcing ribs of each respective nose.

33. The lip of claim 32, further comprising two lateral walls protruding from the main body; wherein each riser neck of the plurality of riser necks is on a surface of the main body opposite the surface from which the two lateral walls protrude.

34. The lip of claim 21, wherein a ratio of a maximum height, T3, of each nose of the plurality of noses divided by a maximum height, T2, of the main body has a value such that: 0.90T3/T21.10.

35. The lip of claim 21, wherein one or both of: a ratio of a maximum height, T2, of the main body divided by a height, T1, of the main body on a surface opposite to a surface from which the plurality of noses protrudes has a value such that: 1.60T2/T12.00; and a ratio of a maximum height, T3, of each nose of the plurality of noses divided by the height T1 of the main body has a value such that: 1.60T3/T12.00.

36. The lip of claim 30, wherein one or both of: a ratio of a maximum height, T3, of each nose of the plurality of noses divided by a maximum thickness, T4, of each lateral wall of the two lateral walls has a value such that: 1.20T3/T41.60; and a ratio of a maximum height, T2, of the main body divided by the maximum thickness T4 of each lateral wall of the two lateral walls has a value such that: 1.20T2/T41.60.

37. A shovel for an earth moving machine comprising: a shovel body, and a lip welded to the shovel body, the lip comprising: a main body; and a plurality of noses protruding from the main body; wherein at least one transmission surface between each nose of the plurality of noses and the main body has a slope variation of between 0 and 10, each transmission surface comprising at least a portion of a stabilisation surface of the respective nose and a portion of a surface of the main body.

38. A method for manufacturing an earth moving machine shovel lip, comprising: introducing molten steel into a lip mould through one or more openings in the lip mould, the lip mould comprising a plurality of risers; cooling or waiting for the molten steel introduced into the lip mould until it solidifies; and removing the plurality of risers from the lip manufactured with the lip mould.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the plurality of risers of the lip mould comprises at least as many risers as noses in the lip, and each riser of the plurality of risers is at an end of a reinforcing rib of a different nose and on a surface opposite the surface from which two lateral walls of the lip protrude, the end being on a main body of the lip.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the manufactured lip comprises: a main body; and a plurality of noses protruding from the main body; wherein at least one transmission surface between each nose of the plurality of noses and the main body has a slope variation of between 0 and 10, each transmission surface comprising at least a portion of a stabilisation surface of the respective nose and a portion of a surface of the main body.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0099] As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the described aspects more readily understandable, in accordance with embodiments thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, wherein by way of illustration and not limitation, the following has been represented:

[0100] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lip for an earth moving machine shovel according to embodiments.

[0101] FIGS. 2 and 3 are a perspective view of a portion of a lip according to embodiments.

[0102] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a lip according to embodiments.

[0103] FIGS. 5 and 6 are upper and lower plan views of a lip according to embodiments.

[0104] FIG. 7 is a front view of a portion of a lip according to embodiments.

[0105] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a lip according to embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0106] A detailed explanation of embodiments of the present disclosure is provided below, with the aid of the figures described above, only as non-limiting examples. To facilitate understanding of the explanation, each figure shows Cartesian axes that have been represented in such a way that they are common to all figures; it should be understood that it is possible to use a different configuration of Cartesian axes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0107] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lip for an earth moving machine shovel according to embodiments. The lip comprises a main body 1a-1d, two lateral walls 2, and noses 3 protruding from the front portion of the main body 1a-1d. The main body 1a-1d, the lateral walls 2 and the noses 3 are integrally formed, i.e., the lip shown is a single part, therefore, each of these elements is a portion of the part.

[0108] The term main body is used to denote the body or portion of the lip that has a volume greater than that of the lateral walls 2 and noses 3, and from which the lateral walls 2 and noses 3 protrude. In this example, the main body 1a-1d extends mainly along the X and Z axes (although a portion 1b extends with some inclination as explained later), and has a height or thickness that is measured by means of the normal vector of the main plane wherein the corresponding portion 1a, 1b is contained. Also the surface of the shovel to which the lip is fixed extends mainly along the X and Z axes. In this example, the axis , dependent on the angle of attack as will be explained later, is the axis used to define the length of the noses 3 and of at least the portion of the main body 1b from which the noses protrude, although at least the longitudinal axis of the main body 1a-1d would be the axis X since it is the axis wherein the maximum dimension of the main body 1a-1d is contained for axes defined in such a way that a rectangular prism that encloses the main body in a tangential way has the smallest possible volume.

[0109] The main body has at least two distinguished portions 1a, 1b: a first portion 1a with a longer first side 1d adapted for attaching the lip to an earth moving machine shovel, typically by means of welding between the first side 1d and a surface of the shovel; and a second portion 1b defining an angle of attack with respect to the first portion 1a and with a longer second side 1c from which the noses 3 protrude; thus, the second portion 1b does not extend on a plane defined by the axes X and Z but on a plane defined by the axis X and the axis , with Y and Z components in this case. In the context of the present disclosure, the first side 1d is considered a rear side or portion of the lip, and the second side 1c is considered a front side or portion of the lip. For the sake of clarity only, the front side 1c has been illustrated in the portions between noses 3, however, it should be understood that the front side 1c extends along one or more front faces (when there are several faces, said faces may define, for example, a delta geometry as can be seen in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6) of the main body from which the noses 3 protrude.

[0110] As is known in the art, the main body 1a-1d is provided with the front portion 1b with an angle of attack relative to the rear portion 1b so that the surface of the shovel that is to make contact with a material to be excavated also has the angle of attack; said portion 1b is the one that supports or wherein the teeth and lip shrouds are fixed. The direction of the second portion 1b relative to the first portion 1a is illustrated by the axis .

[0111] The lateral walls 2 protrude from one of the two larger surfaces of the first and second portions 1a, 1b. In this example, the surface from which the lateral walls 2 protrude is considered the upper surface of the main body. The lateral walls 2 are arranged on opposite sides on said surface, although not necessarily on the edge of the main body as there may be a gap relative to the edge, and are adapted to be fixed to the lateral walls of the shovel. In some embodiments such as the one illustrated, each lateral wall 2 is centred relative to the respective corner nose 3.

[0112] The noses 3 protrude from the main body 1b with respect to the front side 1c, preferably in the direction of an axis according to the angle of attack that the second portion 1b forms with respect to the first portion 1a (axis ), and with stabilisation or contact surfaces 9a, in this case at least upper ones, which together with one or more surfaces of the main body 1a, 1b produce flat or substantially flat transition surfaces 4a as explained and observable in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, the noses 3 have lower stabilisation or contact surfaces 9b, and the lip is also provided with flat or substantially flat transition surfaces 4b at the lower portion of the noses 3 as can be seen in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.

[0113] The stabilisation surfaces 9a, 9b and the transition surfaces 4a, 4b can be on both sides of the respective reinforcing rib 6a, 6b. In this sense, in preferred embodiments, each nose 3 has two stabilisation surfaces 9a in the upper portion, each one on one side of the reinforcing rib 6a, and another two stabilisation surfaces 9b in the lower portion, each one on one side of the reinforcing rib 6b.

[0114] Furthermore, the lip is also preferably provided with transition surfaces 5 between the lateral portion of the noses 3 and the front side 1c of the main body 1b which are continuous as explained and observable in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

[0115] In embodiments such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, each nose 3 comprises at least one reinforcing rib 6a which. Preferably, each nose 3 comprises two reinforcing ribs 6a, 6b protruding superiorly and inferiorly from the nose 3. Each reinforcing rib 6a, 6b of the at least one rib is preferably centred on the respective surface of the nose 3 and extends to the main body 1 or to a lateral wall 2, depending on whether the nose is a nose at the ends or a central nose. In the case of the corner noses 3, the reinforcing rib 6a preferably extends to the respective lateral wall 2 with an attachment surface 11 with a continuous transition geometry; said geometry is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 and preferably forms a surface which may have a preferably smooth curved profile. In this way, sudden changes in cross section are avoided and, therefore, the appearance of stress concentrators and/or that the stress concentrators that appear concentrate less stress, since this area is subjected to great forces during the work of the shovel when the machine is working. Consequently, the attachment of the lateral walls 2 of the lip with the lateral walls of the shovel will also be uniform, enabling the shovel to withstand work forces for longer periods.

[0116] Preferably, the lip has reduced dimensions in terms of height, and/or reduced dimensions in terms of the direction in which the noses 3 protrude, in this case along the axis . In such embodiments, the lip meets one or more of the following ratios: [0117] The maximum height (or maximum thickness) T3 of each nose 3 divided by the maximum height (or maximum thickness) T2 of the main body 1a, 1b has a value such that: 0.90T3/T21.10. [0118] The maximum height T2 of the main body 1a, 1b divided by the height (or thickness) T1 of the main body 1a on the surface of the rear side 1d has a value such that: 1.60T2/T12.00. [0119] The maximum height T3 of each nose 3 divided by the height T1 of the main body 1a on the surface of the rear side 1b has a value such that: 1.60T3/T12.00. [0120] The maximum height T3 of each nose 3 divided by the maximum thickness T4 of each lateral wall 2 has a value such that: 1.20T3/T41.60. [0121] The maximum height T2 of the main body 1a, 1b divided by the maximum thickness T4 of each lateral wall 2 has a value such that: 1.20T2/T41.60.

[0122] As can be seen in FIG. 8, the heights of the main body 1a, 1b and of the noses 3 are measured by means of a vector normal to the plane mostly containing each portion. Therefore, if the height of the main body 1a, 1b is in the rear portion 1a (mostly contained in the plane X-Z), the height (for example, T1 and T2 in FIG. 8) is measured in this case along the axis Y which corresponds to the vertical axis. However, if the height of the main body 1a, 1b is in the front portion 1b (mostly contained in the X- plane), the height (in the embodiments according to FIG. 8, the maximum height is in the rear portion 1b) is in this case along an axis perpendicular to the axis and contained in the plane Y-Z, illustrated in FIG. 8 as the axis for the sake of clarity only. The height of the noses 3 (for example, the height T3) is also measured as in the case of the front portion 1b of the main body, i.e., along the axis perpendicular to the axis and contained in the plane Y-Z. For the maximum height of the noses 3, the reinforcing rib or ribs 6a, 6b are taken into account if it includes them. For the maximum height of the main body 1a, 1b, neither the lateral walls 2 nor any part of reinforcing ribs 6a, 6b of noses 3 that may be on the main body 1a, 1b are taken into account, but any other reinforcement ribs in the main body 1a, 1b are taken into account in those embodiments wherein the main body includes them. The thickness of the lateral walls 2 is measured along the axis X corresponding to the horizontal axis.

[0123] As described above, in some other embodiments, the lip meets one or more of the above ratios and does not have constant transmission surfaces, i.e., a surface between the noses and the main body has a slope variation greater than 10.

[0124] FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in a partial perspective of a lip, surfaces 4a, 5 adapted to reduce the appearance or intensity of stress concentrators on the lip.

[0125] With reference to FIG. 2, for the sake of clarity only axes 20 with dashed lines are shown. In the case of the corner noses 3 (one of which is illustrated in FIG. 2), the axis 20 is parallel to the frontmost surface of the front side 1c of the main body 1b. In the case of the central noses 3 (one of which is illustrated in FIG. 2), the axis 20 has a direction defined by the ends of the frontmost surface of the front side 1c of the main body 1b that are on each side of the nose 3; this is seen more clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each axis 20 is contained in a plane (for the sake of clarity only, a representation of plane 20 seen from the side with dotted line is shown in FIG. 8) that also contains a perpendicular axis (the axis illustrated in FIG. 8) to the axis and delimiting the end of the main body 1b on the front side 1c and the beginning of each nose 3, i.e., from where each nose 3 of the main body 1b protrudes.

[0126] In this example, at least one upper transmission surface 4a extending between an upper stabilisation surface 9a of each nose 3 and an upper surface of the main body 1b has a slope variation of between 0 and 10.

[0127] To calculate the slope variation, in this example a first point 30a is taken on the upper stabilisation surface 9a of each nose 3, and a second point 30b on the upper surface of the main body 1b; preferably both points are close to the aforementioned plane 20 (and which by way of illustration is represented more simply with the axis 20), but may be further apart within the transmission surface. The first point 30a has a tangent 31a or a normal vector 32a on the surface, and the second point 30b has a tangent 31b or a normal vector 32b on the surface. In the case of tangents 31a, 31b, these are taken such that they are contained in the same plane or in parallel planes. The slope variation is calculated as the smallest angle formed by both normal vectors 32a, 32b or both tangents 31a, 31b.

[0128] Preferably, the slope variation less than or equal to 10 is given for a surface extension that includes points at a certain distance from the aforementioned plane. To this end, reference is made to FIG. 3, wherein for the corner nose 3, in addition to the axis 20, a first additional axis 21 and a second additional axis 23 have been illustrated, both parallel to the respective axis 20 between nose 3 and main body 1b, and both actually being planes parallel to plane 20 of axis 20. The first and second additional axes 21, 23 are represented at a distance 22, 24 from the corresponding axis 20 up to the point where the upper 4a (and/or lower 4b) transmission surface has a slope variation less than or equal to 10, which can be calculated in the manner explained in relation to FIG. 2 despite the fact that no specific points, tangents, or normal vectors are illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0129] The distances 22, 24 are measured according to the direction in which the noses 3 protrude from the main body 1b. The distance 22 from the first additional axis 21 to the axis 20 shows the length of surface extension of the nose 3 up to where the reduced slope variation is located and is preferably between 25% and 75% of the length of the nose (along the axis in this example). The distance 24 from the second additional axis 23 to the axis 20 shows the length of surface extension of the main body 1b up to where the reduced slope variation is located, and is preferably between 10% and 50% of the length of the main body 1b (along the axis in this example), and/or reaches the start of the portion of the main body 1b that forms an angle of attack with respect to the remaining portion of the main body.

[0130] Also illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are the axes 20, 21, 23, and the distances 22, 24 in embodiments depicted from other views for greater clarity.

[0131] Referring to FIG. 2 again, it is preferable that there are extension distances such as those illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the surface has reduced slope variation. By way of example, it is preferable that there is at least 5% distance relative to the plane of the axis 20 on each side, that is, on the nose portion 3 and on the main body portion 1b.

[0132] Surfaces 4b with the same slope variation characteristics but in the lower portion of the lip can be additionally or alternatively provided. FIG. 6 shows said surfaces 4b in the lower portion. When the lips have upper 4a and lower 4b transmission surfaces, the respective axes 21 and 23 (therefore flat) can be different for the same nose.

[0133] The useful life of the lip is longer the smaller the slope variation in the transmission surfaces 4a, 4b; therefore, the lip has a superior mechanical behaviour when there is no slope variation and the surface is contained in the same plane.

[0134] FIG. 3 also shows surfaces 5 with continuous transition geometry between the sides of the noses 3 and the front side 1c of the main body 1b. The same axis 20 of plane 20 between the noses 3 and the main body 1b can be used to characterise the surfaces 5. The surfaces 5 can also extend a distance 26 with respect to the length of the noses 3 as represented by the third additional axis 25, which actually corresponds to a plane parallel to the plane 20 of the axis 20.

[0135] The surfaces 5 have continuous transition geometry when normal vectors or lines tangent to different points on the surface do not have a slope variation with respect to adjacent points indicative of an abrupt jump, that is, the slope variation can be represented with a curve without discontinuities. The greater the radius of curvature of the surfaces 5, the less the tendency to create stress-concentrating areas or volumes.

[0136] FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of a portion of a lip according to embodiments. In addition to the main body 1a, 1b, the lateral walls 2 and the noses 3, the lip includes points or teeth 7. Additionally or alternatively, the lip may include shrouds (not illustrated). The points 7 and the shrouds are the elements responsible for scratching and penetrating the ground, in addition to protecting the front side 1c of the lip, for this reason they are the elements that suffer the most wear and impacts and must be changed more often.

[0137] The shrouds are coupled to the main body 1b, specifically on the front portion of the lip that is between the projections or noses 3. The points 7 are coupled on the noses 3, for this purpose the points 7 are provided with an internal cavity with a geometry complementary to the geometry of the nose 3. In this way, the points 7 are coupled on the noses 3, the internal contact surfaces of each point 7 make contact with the contact or stabilisation surfaces 9a, 9b of the nose 3 enabling the fluid passage of the forces from the contact area of the point with the ground, to the lip and then to the shovel.

[0138] The shrouds make contact with the main body 1a, 1b with contact areas on the upper and lower surfaces of the main body 1b. There is also another contact area between the shrouds and the main body 1b, particularly on the surface of the front side 1c of the main body 1b between the noses 3.

[0139] FIG. 6 shows the lower portion of a lip, for example of the lip of embodiments such as that shown in FIG. 5, wherein the upper portion is shown.

[0140] In these embodiments, each nose 3 includes a reinforcing rib 6b on the lower surface adjacent to two contact or stabilisation surfaces 9b. The lip also includes riser necks 10 on the main body 1a. Each riser neck 10 is away from the respective nose 3, i.e., the riser necks 10 are further back than known lip necks, that is to say out of the nose section. Each riser neck 10 may be at one end of a reinforcing rib 6b, as in the example of FIG. 6.

[0141] FIG. 7 is a front view of a portion of a lip according to embodiments. Particularly, the view is along an axis of the front portion of the main body 1b with an angle of attack relative to the rear portion of the main body.

[0142] As can be seen in FIG. 7 and also in FIG. 8, a portion of the upper 9a and lower 9b stabilisation surfaces of the noses 3 and the main body 1b, in the upper and lower portion thereof, have a slope variation less than or equal to 10, i.e., the lip has upper 4a and lower 4b continuous force transmission surfaces. In this way, the maximum height of the nose 3 is equal or similar to the height of the main body 1b on the surface of the front side 1c, therefore, there is no change in height (or it does exist, but with a reduced value) at the attachment between the nose 3 and said surface of the main body 1b, and even between the nose 3 and the midpoint of the surface between each pair of noses 3, which enables the stresses to flow more uniformly.

[0143] Despite having referred to specific examples of the invention, it is evident for a person skilled in the art that the lips that have been described and illustrated are susceptible to a number of variations and modifications, and that all the mentioned details can be replaced with other technically equivalent ones without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

[0144] In this text, the word comprises and its variants (such as comprising, etc.) should not be understood in an exclusive sense, i.e. they do not exclude the possibility of that which is described including other elements, steps, etc.

[0145] Moreover, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather encompasses, for example, the variations that a person skilled in the art could make (for example, regarding the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the scope of what may be deduced from the claims.