AU730061B2 - Connection pin assembly - Google Patents
Connection pin assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU730061B2 AU730061B2 AU76292/98A AU7629298A AU730061B2 AU 730061 B2 AU730061 B2 AU 730061B2 AU 76292/98 A AU76292/98 A AU 76292/98A AU 7629298 A AU7629298 A AU 7629298A AU 730061 B2 AU730061 B2 AU 730061B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- spool
- wedge
- connection pin
- pin assembly
- screw means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Description
1 Australia Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification Standard Patent CONNECTION PIN ASSEMBLY Thefollowing statement is a fitll description of this invention, including the best method ofperforming it known to me.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to connection pin assemblies for attaching replaceable "implements to earthworking buckets of excavating equipment and the like. The invention also relates to a method of attachment, and to earthworking buckets with .replaceable implements attached by means of the connection pin assemblies.
Earth working buckets used for heavy earthworks applications such as mining are fitted with teeth for engaging the ground surface. Due to the highly abrasive nature of *aa.
the materials encountered by the teeth, they wear more quickly than the bucket. For this reason, they are detachably connected to the bucket to allow replacement.
On smaller buckets, the teeth are generally attached directly to an adaptor on the '"bucket by means of a connection pin. On larger buckets, intermediate adaptors are S• attached to the bucket nose and the teeth are attached to respective of the intermediate adaptors. Both connections are by means of connection pins, so that the teeth and intermediate adaptors can be replaced as required.
Connection pin assemblies of the type generally employed, and with which this invention is concerned, are known in the art as spool and wedge (or clamp and wedge) assemblies.
Prior art spool and wedge assemblies include a spool, often C-shaped with tapered engagement surfaces, which can be inserted into aligned apertures in the parts to be connected. A wedge is then inserted to contact the rear surface of the C and is driven 2 home by sledgehammer to cause lateral expansion of the spool and wedge until it bears firmly against appropriate parts of the inner walls of the apertures to provide lateral loading and optionally a clamping action of the adaptor in the case of 'Whisler' style attachments. Any part of the spool and wedge protruding above or below the aligned apertures is then cut off by oxy acetylene equipment.
The tightness of the connections must be regularly monitored, and when a tooth or intermediate adaptor works loose the spool and wedge must be tightened by hammering the wedge in further. This can be difficult as the protruding part of the wedge may already have been removed and thus the end of the wedge is not readily accessible. When the tooth or intermediate adaptor requires replacement, the spool and wedge often has to be cut out.
It will be appreciated that the fitting, monitoring, adjustment and removal of the prior art spool and wedge assemblies is time consuming and labour intensive, particularly as each bucket will have a number of teeth and an equal number of adaptors, each attached by respective spool and wedge assemblies.
Patent Application No. PCT/AU94/00035 describes a spool and wedge assembly in which a pair of spools are forced apart by a pair of wedges which are drawn together •"by a bolt. While that disclosure is in some respects an improvement over the prior art, oooit leaves much scope for improvement. For example, the arrangement is relatively complicated, still requires regular monitoring and adjustment and, in practice, may need to be cut out for removal.
The arrangement in Australian Patent Application No. 65583/96 overcomes at least some of disadvantages by providing a spool and wedge drawn together by a bolt, and disengagement means engaging with the wedge to bear against the bolt, forcing separation of the spool and wedge.
The present invention aims to provide an alternative arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed herein a connection pin assembly for attaching a replaceable implement to an earthworking bucket, comprising: a spool having a first ramping surface; a wedge having a second ramping surface, said first and second ramping surfaces cooperating to form a ramp arrangement which causes lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly upon relative axial movement in a first direction in which said spool and said wedge are drawn towards each other; and a screw means associated with one of said spool and said wedge for moving said one of said spool and said wedge axially relative to the other, the other of said spool and said wedge having formations which engage with a thread portion of said screw means such that rotation of said screw means drives said relative axial movement in said first direction and thereby said lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly, wherein said thread portion is a segment of said screw means which extends beyond said ramping surface of said one of said spool and said wedge and said thread engaging formations are formed in said ramping surface of said other of said spool and said wedge.
There is further disclosed herein a connection pin assembly for attaching a replaceable implement to an earthworking bucket, comprising: a spool having a first ramping surface; a wedge having a second ramping surface, said first and second ramping surfaces cooperating to form a ramp arrangement which causes lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly upon relative axial movement in a first 25 direction in which said spool and said wedge are drawn towards each other; and a screw means associated with one of said spool and said wedge for moving said one of said spool and said wedge axially relative to the other, the other of said spool and said wedge having formations in its ramping surface which engage with a thread portion of said screw means such that rotation of said screw means drives said relative axial movement in said first direction and thereby said lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly, wherein said screw means is located in a Z" recess of the ramping surface of said spool.
There is further disclosed herein a connection pin assembly for attaching a replaceable implement to an earthworking bucket, comprising: a spool having a first ramping surface; a wedge having a second ramping surface, said first and second ramping surfaces cooperating to form a ramp arrangement which causes lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly upon relative axial movement in a first direction in which said spool and said wedge are drawn towards each other; and a screw means associated with one of said spool and said wedge for moving said one of said spool and said wedge axially relative to the other, said screw means having a rotational axis substantially parallel to the respective one of said first and said second ramping surfaces, the other of said spool and said wedge having formations which engage with a thread portion of said screw means, said thread portion being a segment of said screw means which extends beyond said ramping surface of said one of said spool and said wedge and said thread engaging formations being formed in said ramping surface of said other of said spool and said wedge and including a series of recesses and ribs, such that rotation of said screw means drives said relative axial movement in said first direction and thereby said lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly.
i 20 Preferably said ribs are spaced at a pitch substantially equal to a pitch of said thread portion.
S: Preferably said recesses are wider than a thickness of said thread portion.
Preferably said screw means has a rotational axis substantially parallel to the respective one of said first and said second ramping surfaces.
Preferably said screw means has a rotational axis substantially parallel to the 30 respective one of said first and said second ramping surfaces.
It OO said screw means has a drive portion accessible from an end of said spool.
Preferably said drive portion is located in a recess open to an end of said spool.
Preferably said spool is tapered toward an end and said drive portion is accessible from said end of said spool.
Preferably said spool is tapered toward an end and said drive portion is accessible from said end of said spool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side cross-section of a spool and wedge assembly fixing the adaptor to a bucket nose of an earthworking bucket; Fig. 2 is a schematic side cross-section of the spool and wedge; Fig. 3 is a front view of the ramping surface and screw of the spool, with the wedge removed; i! 2 Fig. 4 is a rear view of the ramping surface of the wedge; and Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-section of the wedge along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.
4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 illustrates the positioning of an excavator intermediate adaptor 10 on a bucket nose 12 using a Whisler type attachment.
The bucket has a projecting lip or nose 14 which is received in a corresponding cavity 16 of the adaptor or intermediate adaptor. When positioned properly on the bucket nose, an aperture 18 of the intermediate adaptor aligns with an aperture 20 of the bucket nose to allow insertion of a spool (or clamp) and wedge assembly 22.
i The spool 24 is generally C-shaped and is dimensioned to pass between the rear 26 and front 28 walls of the aperture 20 in the bucket nose and then be positioned so that the tapered projections 30a, 30b, contact tapered blocks 32 on the intermediate adaptor either side of projection 14.
Insertion of the wedge 33 causes lateral expansion of the assembly so that the wedge bears against the front wall 28 of the bucket nose aperture 20 and the spool pushes against and squeezes in the tapered blocks 32. This forces the intermediate adaptor rearwards relative to the nose, tightening the engagement, and also clamps the tapered blocks 32 against lip or nose 14, thereby securing the intermediate adaptor to the bucket.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the spool 24 has a recess 34 in its ramping surface 36 for receiving a screw member 38 which rotates on an axis parallel to the ramping surface.
A passage 40 in the narrow end of the spool allows access to a drive block or other drive means 42 for rotating the screw.
An outermost segment of the screw thread extends beyond the ramping surface 36 to engage with formations 44 in a hollowed out portion 46 of the wedge's ramping surface 48. As the screw is rotated by use of the drive means 42, the wedge moves along the screw thread, and thus moves relative to the spool. The co-operating ramping surfaces 36, 48 on the spool and wedge translate this relative movement into lateral expansion of the assembly to tighten the connection between the bucket nose and adaptor. Rotation of the drive means in the other direction causes lateral contraction of the assembly to allow its removal from the aligned apertures.
The screw may be biased axially within the recess toward the thicker end of the spool, for example by a spring washer (not shown) or the like at the other end of the recess.
As the assembly is tightened against the surfaces of the aligned apertures of the bucket nose and adaptor, the reaction force on the screw will compress the spring washer, which will decompress in the event that the assembly works slightly loose and thus provide some degree of self-tightening.
Alternatively, a serrated double washer arrangement (not shown) of the type known per se may be provided, such that any tendency for the screw to rotate in the direction causing loosening of the assembly will be resisted by serrations of the washers riding up relative to each other.
With specific reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the formations 44 on the wedge ramp surface may consist of a series of parallel projecting webs set in an S arcuate (in end view) hollow in the ramping surface of the wedge. The arc defined by the hollow accommodates the segment of the screw thread which projects past the spool's ramping surface, while the projecting webs are set at the same pitch and angle S"as the screw thread. The gap 50 between adjacent formations is larger than the thickness of the screw thread, to allow sufficient clearance for operation under the dirty conditions in which such equipment is used.
While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
6 For example, while the Whisler type assembly is illustrated, the invention is also applicable to spool and wedge assemblies of the type which effect lateral tightening alone without a clamping action.
So *•eee *ee *e o
Claims (12)
1. A connection pin assembly for attaching a replaceable implement to an earthworking bucket, comprising: a spool having a first ramping surface; a wedge having a second ramping surface, said first and second ramping surfaces cooperating to form a ramp arrangement which causes lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly upon relative axial movement in a first direction in which said spool and said wedge are drawn towards each other; and a screw means associated with one of said spool and said wedge for moving said one of said spool and said wedge axially relative to the other, the other of said spool and said wedge having formations which engage with a thread portion of said screw means such that rotation of said screw means drives said relative axial movement in said first direction and thereby said lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly, wherein said thread portion is a segment of said screw means which S. extends beyond said ramping surface of said one of said spool and said wedge and said thread engaging formations are formed in said ramping surface of said other of said spool and said wedge.
2. A connection pin assembly for attaching a replaceable implement to an earthworking bucket, comprising: a spool having a first ramping surface; a wedge having a second ramping surface, said first and second ramping surfaces cooperating to form a ramp arrangement which causes lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly upon relative axial movement in a first S•direction in which said spool and said wedge are drawn towards each other; and a screw means associated with one of said spool and said wedge for moving said one of said spool and said wedge axially relative to the other, the other of said spool and said wedge having formations in its ramping surface which engage with a thread portion of said screw means such that rotation of said screw means drives said relative axial movement in said first direction and thereby said lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly, wherein said screw means is located in a 0 recess of the ramping surface of said spool. 8
3. A connection pin assembly for attaching a replaceable implement to an earthworking bucket, comprising: a spool having a first ramping surface; a wedge having a second ramping surface, said first and second ramping surfaces cooperating to form a ramp arrangement which causes lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly upon relative axial movement in a first direction in which said spool and said wedge are drawn towards each other; and a screw means associated with one of said spool and said wedge for moving said one of said spool and said wedge axially relative to the other, said screw means having a rotational axis substantially parallel to the respective one of said first and said second ramping surfaces, the other of said spool and said wedge having formations which engage with a thread portion of said screw means, said thread portion being a segment of said screw means which extends beyond said ramping surface of said one of said spool and said wedge and said thread engaging formations being formed in said ramping surface of said other of said spool and said wedge and including a series of recesses and ribs, such that rotation of said screw means drives said relative axial movement in said first direction and thereby said lateral expansion of said connection pin assembly.
4. A connection pin assembly according to claim 3 wherein said ribs are spaced *at a pitch substantially equal to a pitch of said thread portion.
5. A connection pin assembly according to claim 4 wherein said recesses are wider than a thickness of said thread portion. r
6. A connection pin assembly according to claim 2, wherein: o ~said screw means has a rotational axis substantially parallel to the respective •one of said first and said second ramping surfaces.
S"7. A connection pin assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said screw means has a rotational axis substantially parallel to the respective one of said first and said second ramping surfaces.
8. A connection pin assembly according to claim 1 wherein said screw means has a drive portion accessible from an end of said spool.
9. A connection pin assembly according to claim 8 wherein said drive portion is located in a recess open to an end of said spool.
10. A connection pin assembly according to claims 9 wherein said spool is tapered toward an end and said drive portion is accessible from said end of said spool.
11. A connection pin assembly according to claim 8 wherein said spool is tapered toward an end and said drive portion is accessible from said end of said spool.
12. A connection pin assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ao 9o« a *oo
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU76292/98A AU730061B2 (en) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-07-17 | Connection pin assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPO8426 | 1997-08-06 | ||
AUPO8426A AUPO842697A0 (en) | 1997-08-06 | 1997-08-06 | Connection pin assembly |
AU76292/98A AU730061B2 (en) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-07-17 | Connection pin assembly |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU7629298A AU7629298A (en) | 1999-02-18 |
AU730061B2 true AU730061B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 |
Family
ID=25638248
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU76292/98A Expired AU730061B2 (en) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-07-17 | Connection pin assembly |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU730061B2 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3032152A (en) * | 1959-11-06 | 1962-05-01 | Titsler Wayne | Locking device for insertible cutting blade |
AU6558396A (en) * | 1995-09-13 | 1997-03-20 | Cutting Edges Replacement Parts Pty Ltd | Spool and wedge assembly |
AU7535796A (en) * | 1995-12-22 | 1997-06-26 | Bradken Resources Pty Limited | A wedging device |
-
1998
- 1998-07-17 AU AU76292/98A patent/AU730061B2/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3032152A (en) * | 1959-11-06 | 1962-05-01 | Titsler Wayne | Locking device for insertible cutting blade |
AU6558396A (en) * | 1995-09-13 | 1997-03-20 | Cutting Edges Replacement Parts Pty Ltd | Spool and wedge assembly |
AU7535796A (en) * | 1995-12-22 | 1997-06-26 | Bradken Resources Pty Limited | A wedging device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU7629298A (en) | 1999-02-18 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5964547A (en) | Connection pin assembly | |
CA2185413C (en) | Spool & wedge assembly | |
US5638621A (en) | Spool and wedge assembly and method of use thereof | |
AU673946B2 (en) | Hydraulic fastening device and method | |
USRE42629E1 (en) | Wear assembly for a digging edge of an excavator | |
JP4584247B2 (en) | Wear assembly for excavator edge | |
AU2008234400B2 (en) | Mounting of wear members | |
AU715552B2 (en) | Wear resistant excavating apparatus | |
EP1361313B1 (en) | Wear assembly for an excavating machine and method of securing a wear member | |
US6839990B2 (en) | Excavator teeth | |
US20040060435A1 (en) | Attachment system | |
US5417518A (en) | Tooth mounting adaptor for excavation bucket | |
CA2524102C (en) | Tooth adapter having an elastomeric clamp assembly and method for using same | |
EP1644588A1 (en) | Tooth system | |
AU664512B2 (en) | Resilient, ratcheted wedge and spool retaining structure for an excavation tooth | |
SK4012002A3 (en) | Working tool with replaceable working bit | |
AU730061B2 (en) | Connection pin assembly | |
AU773435B2 (en) | Retention crank assembly | |
CA2316712A1 (en) | A wedge and spool assembly | |
AU2013100615A4 (en) | Mounting of wear members | |
NZ273555A (en) | Transversely sliding piston in elongate pin hydraulically locks one component to another |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) | ||
MK14 | Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired |