Retainer sleeve for ground engaging tools

• US 10,544,568 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Serrurier, Doug, Balan, Mihai Mircea, Schick, Scott Anthony, Sinn, Eric Thomas, Jura, Jason Grant, Venugopal, Arun, Muthusamy, Kadirvel
• Primary Examiner(s): Troutman, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US15/479,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20170328037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 411517, 411519
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/20 Direct sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/30 Process control
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/80 Data acquisition or data processing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/393 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 70/00 Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2825 using adapters
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2833 Retaining means, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2841 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35134 3-D cad-cam
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49007 Making, forming 3-D object, model, surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.

Claims

1. A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool, the retainer sleeve comprising:

a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge;

the radially inner edges of the plurality of sections forming part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system, the inner surface extending partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other;

the radially outer edges of the plurality of sections forming part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip; and

at least one lock detent arm connected at a first, base end to a plate-like section at one of the opposite circumferential ends of the substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve, wherein the at least one lock detent arm includes a detent projection extending from a radially inner surface adjacent a second, distal end of the lock detent arm, the detent projection being configured for engagement with a detent recess formed in the locking member of the retainer system.

2. The retainer sleeve of claim 1, wherein the plurality of plate-like sections are flexibly joined together such that the substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve is compressible for insertion into the lock cavity, and expandable when the substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve seats inside the lock cavity.

3. The retainer sleeve of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plate-like sections are substantially trapezoidal or triangular in shape.

4. The retainer sleeve of claim 1, wherein the retainer sleeve is made from metal.

5. The retainer sleeve of claim 1, wherein the at least one lock detent arm includes a top lip at a second, distal end configured to slidably engage with a bottom surface of the locking member of the retainer system to retain the locking member in position relative to the retainer sleeve and the lock cavity;

and

the at least one lock detent arm being configured to resiliently deflect outwardly at its second, distal end to allow passage of the locking member past the top lip when the locking member is inserted into the retainer sleeve.

6. The retainer sleeve of claim 5, wherein a lock detent arm including a top lip at a second distal end is connected at each of the opposite circumferential ends of the substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve.

7. The retainer sleeve of claim 1, wherein the segmented inner surface is elliptical in shape before engagement with the outer surface of the locking member of the retainer system.

8. A retainer system for a ground engaging tool, the retainer system comprising:

a lock configured to be rotated about a lock rotation axis; and

a metal retainer sleeve, wherein the metal retainer sleeve includes;

an outer surface configured to mate with a lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip;

an inner surface extending at least partially around the lock rotation axis and being aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the lock rotation axis, and wherein the inner surface is configured to receive the lock rotatably about the lock rotation axis and in a direction substantially parallel to the lock rotation axis; and

a plurality of sections joined together along radially inner edges of adjacent sections or along radially outer edges of adjacent sections in an accordion-like arrangement configured such that the metal retainer sleeve is compressible for insertion into the lock cavity, and expandable when the metal retainer sleeve seats inside the lock cavity.

9. The retainer system of claim 8, wherein:

the radially inner edges of adjacent sections form part of the inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of the lock, the inner surface extending partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other; and

the radially outer edges of adjacent sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in the lock cavity of the ground engaging tool tip.

10. The retainer system of claim 8, wherein the lock further includes:

a head portion; and

a skirt portion extending from the head portion and defining a lock slot for receiving a post extending from a portion of an adapter configured to lock a ground engaging tool tip to a support member of a machine, the skirt portion including an outer surface extending about the lock rotation axis to rotatably engage the inner surface of the metal retainer sleeve,

wherein the outer surface of the skirt portion of the lock is extended about the lock rotation axis and aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the lock rotation axis.

11. The retainer system of claim 8, wherein at least some of the sections are substantially trapezoidal or triangular in shape.

12. The retainer system of claim 9, further including at least one lock detent arm connected at a first, base end to a section at one of the opposite circumferential ends of the substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve.

13. The retainer system of claim 12, wherein the at least one lock detent arm includes a top lip at a second, distal end configured to slidably engage with a bottom surface of the lock to retain the lock in position relative to the retainer sleeve and the lock cavity;

and

the at least one lock detent arm being configured to resiliently deflect radially outwardly relative to the central axis of the retainer sleeve at its second, distal end to allow passage of the lock past the top lip when the lock is inserted into the retainer sleeve.

14. The retainer system of claim 12, wherein a lock detent arm including a top lip at a second distal end is connected at each of the opposite circumferential ends of the substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve.

15. The retainer system of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one lock detent arm includes a detent projection extending from a radially inner surface adjacent a second, distal end of the lock detent arm, the detent projection being configured for engagement with a detent recess formed in the lock.

16. The retainer system of claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the metal retainer sleeve forms a substantially elliptical shape before engagement with the outer surface of the lock of the retainer system.