CHANGE SYSTEM FOR WEAR PARTS OF AN EXCAVATOR BUCKET OF AN EARTHMOVING MACHINE

Abstract

The invention relates to a change system for wear parts of an excavator bucket of an earthmoving machine, comprising a carrier structure which can be fastened to or is formed on the excavator bucket and which has a projection and also an exchange part with a pocket-like cavity for releasably plugging the exchange part onto the projection of the carrier structure, wherein, to secure the exchange part on the carrier structure, there is provided at least one connection member which is connected to the carrier structure via a first connecting mechanism and to the exchange part via a second connecting mechanism physically separated from the first connecting mechanism, wherein at least one of the two connecting mechanisms is a releasable connection.

Claims

1. A change system for wear parts of an excavator bucket of an earthmoving machine, comprising a carrier structure which can be fastened to or is formed on the excavator bucket and which has a projection and an exchange part having a pocket-like cavity for releasably plugging the exchange part onto the projection of the carrier structure, wherein for securing the exchange part on the carrier structure, at least one connecting member is provided which is connected to the carrier structure via a first connection mechanism, and to the exchange part via a second connecting mechanism, which is physically separated from the first connection mechanism, wherein at least one of the two connection mechanisms is a releasable connection.

2. The change system according to claim 1, wherein one of the connection mechanisms is a permanent connection.

3. The change system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member sits on the circumferential side on the carrier structure.

4. The change system according to 1, wherein between the connecting member and the exchange part, the second connection mechanism exerts a tensile force on the connecting member.

5. The change system according to claim 4, wherein the first connection mechanism is formed by one or more longitudinal and/or vertical grooves, into which one or more guide projections of the part to be connected engage.

6. The change system according to claim 5, wherein the carrier structure has one or more wedge-shaped longitudinal grooves into which one or more wedge-like guide projections of the connecting member engage, wherein the groove width ideally decreases towards the exchange part.

7. The change system according to claim 5, wherein the connecting member has one or more wedge-shaped longitudinal grooves into which one or more wedge-like guide projections of the carrier structure engage, wherein the groove width ideally decreases towards the exchange part.

8. The change system according to claim 4, wherein the second connection mechanism is a screw connection between connecting member and exchange part, by means of which screw connection the tensile force on the connection member towards the exchange part can be adjusted.

9. The change system according to claim 8, wherein the screw connection has a retensioning device.

10. The change system according to claim 8, wherein components of the screw connection are embedded in one or more pocket-like recesses of the circumferential surface of the exchange part and/or of the connecting member.

11. The change system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is connected to the carrier structure and/or to the exchange part via at least one additional securing means.

12. The change system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member serves as wear protection for the exchange part and/or the carrier structure.

13. An excavator bucket for an earthmoving machine having at least one change system according to claim 1.

14. An earthmoving machine having an excavator bucket according to claim 13.

15. The change system according to claim 2, wherein one of the connection mechanisms is permanently connected using a welded or adhesive connection, or a single-piece design.

16. The change system according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member engages around the carrier structure at least partially in a clip-like manner.

17. The change system according to claim 4, wherein the second connection mechanism exerts the tensile force axially towards the exchange part.

Description

BRIEF DSCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] Further properties of the invention are to be described below based on a few exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the individual drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the excavator bucket according to the invention including a detailed view of the lip of the excavator bucket

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the carrier structure including the exchange part in the form of a bucket tooth

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through the change system according to the invention including the novel connecting member

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the change system according to a first embodiment,

[0029] FIG. 5 shows the change system according to a second embodiment,

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the change system according to the invention,

[0031] FIGS. 7-9 show various modifications of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 provides a brief overview of the design of an excavator bucket for earthmoving machines of the mining equipment. The illustration shows the bucket in a perspective side view and a detail of the cutting edge of the bucket. The excavator bucket shown consists mainly of a main plate 6 with side plates 7 arranged thereon. On the front edge of the base plate 6 there is a lip 1, which represents the cutting plate of the excavator bucket. On this lip 1, a plurality of intermediate adapters 2 are mounted, which can also be releasably connected to the lip 1. The adapters 2 serve to receive the actual bucket teeth 3. Shields 4 can be mounted between the teeth 3 to protect against wear. The same can also be implemented for end edges of the side plates 7, on which corresponding wear protection elements 5 can be attached.

[0033] The present invention relates to the fastening of the individual components 2 to 5 to the excavator bucket. Hereinafter, the mechanism according to the invention is shown primarily based on the fastening of the bucket teeth 3 to the intermediate adapters 2. However, it is noted that the inventive concept is also suitable for fastening the adapters 2 to the lip 1 and for the direct fastening of any teeth 3 to the lip 1. The connection mechanism can also be used just as well for attaching the shields 4 to the lip 1, and the shields 5 to the side plates 7 of the bucket.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the principle of such a system consisting of the adapter 2 and a tooth 3 which can be plugged thereon. The adapter 2 forms a carrier structure with a corresponding projection 2a for receiving the tooth 3. The tooth 3 has a corresponding pocket-shaped cavity 3a, which approximately corresponds to the volume of the projection 2a of the carrier part 2. In the right-hand representation in FIG. 2, the tooth 3 is at least partially plugged onto the projection 2a of the carrier structure 2.

[0035] The tooth 3 is a wear part which must be exchanged from time to time. A releasable connection between the two components 2, 3 is therefore absolutely essential, which according to the present invention is realized with the aid of an additional component in the form of the connecting member 10. As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 3, this is attached on the circumferential side on the surface of the adapter 2 and is permanently connected to the adapter 2 by means of a first connection point 11. A second connection point 12, which is physically separated from the first connection point, is created between the first connecting member 10 and the tooth 3. Thanks to this measure, in particular the use of an additional connecting member 10, which is connected to the respective components 2, 3 by two separate connection points 11, 12, the disadvantages of the prior art can be largely overcome. More particularly, the shape of the carrier structure 2, i.e. of the adapter, can be kept ideal, since the structure of the carrier 2 no longer requires weakening bore holes. The same is naturally true for the design of the tooth 3.

[0036] A concrete exemplary embodiment can be seen in FIG. 4, which shows a side view of the interface between tooth 3 and adapter 2 on the left and a section along the axis X-X on the right. In this embodiment, the connecting member 10 is designed as a kind of clip, which is placed on the surface of the adapter 2 and at least partially clasps the side walls of the adapter.

[0037] On the inside of the side walls of the connecting member 10, longitudinal grooves 13 are formed, which in the assembly position extend to the adapter 2 in the axial direction of the tooth 3. The groove width of the longitudinal grooves 13 increases towards the tooth 3. The opposite side faces of the adapter 2 are designed with complementary guide projections 15, which also extend in the axial direction of the tooth and the width of which also increases towards the tooth 3. For assembly, the connecting member 10 is placed on the adapter 2 and there is displaced in the axial direction towards the tooth 3. As a result of the somewhat smaller groove width as compared to the width of the guide projection 14, a force fit occurs between adapter 2 and connecting member 10 the closer the latter is moved towards the tooth 3.

[0038] The connection between the tooth 3 and the connecting member 10 is established by a further independent connection mechanism. This causes a tensile force on the connecting member 10, as a result of which the connecting member is pulled towards the tooth 3.

[0039] The arrangement and form of the guide projections and longitudinal grooves can also be slightly modified. According to FIG. 5, grooves 13 here are formed in the side regions of the adapter 2, while corresponding guide projections 14 are provided on the inside of the side walls of the connecting member 10. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the groove or the guide projections here extend together in the axial direction towards the tooth 3, i.e. the width of the groove 13 and the guide projections 14 decreases towards the tooth. However, the assembly of the connecting member 10 is the same as that according to FIG. 4.

[0040] The connection mechanism between connecting member 10 and tooth 3 can, as shown in FIG. 6, be designed as a screw connection 15. Tightening the screw connection 15 exerts a tensile force on the connecting member 10, and the connecting member is therefore pulled axially towards the tooth part 3.

[0041] It can also be seen from the embodiment in FIG. 6 that the individual components of the screw connection are embedded in corresponding recesses 16 on the outer diameter of the connecting member 10 and of the tooth part 3. As a result, they do not penetrate into the working space of the bucket and are also somewhat protected against the received bulk material.

[0042] Minor modifications to the design of FIG. 6 are shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in which the screw connection is configured with an additional retensioning device. According to FIG. 7, simple elastic discs 17 are used here, which are arranged between thread and screw head and which can, as a result of their elasticity, compensate for potential deformations. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, additional pockets 18 are created in the connecting member for placement of the discs 17. In the example of FIG. 9, an elastic ring 19 is additionally used.