Excavating implement

• US 6,363,633 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Astrazeneca AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Astrazeneca AB (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Holzer, Diane, Holzer, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US09/646,549
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 374/46, 374/43, 374/44, 374/49, 374/50, 414/694, 172/772, 172/772.5, D15/32
• US Class Current: 37/446
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/40 Dippers; Buckets ; Grab devices, e.g. manufacturing processes for buckets, form, geometry or material of buckets devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3604; teeth therefor E02F9/28
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2883 Wear elements for buckets or implements in general

Abstract

An excavating implement which includes a blade defining a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, a rear edge, a front edge, and opposed end surfaces. Primary cutting edges are spaced apart along the front edge, and secondary cutting edges positioned between the primary cutting edges. The secondary cutting edges are recessed relative to the primary cutting edges. The secondary and primary cutting edges intersect with the bottom surface. The blade also defines primary and secondary beveled surfaces forming acute angles with the bottom surface, and which extend angularly toward the rear edge from the respective primary and secondary cutting edges to intersect with the top surface.

Claims

1. In an earth excavating bucket having a bottom wall with a beveled surface leading to a leading edge and a substantially flat bottom surface adjacent the leading edge, an excavating implement, comprising:

a blade defining a top surface configured for flush engagement with the bottom surface of the excavating bucket, a bottom surface, a rear edge, a front edge, and opposite ends;

primary cutting edges defined by the blade and spaced apart along the front edge;

secondary cutting edges defined by the blade and situated between the primary cutting edges;

wherein the secondary cutting edges are recessed with respect to the primary cutting edges;

wherein the blade defines primary and secondary beveled surfaces forming acute angles with the bottom surface, and which extend angularly toward the rear edge from the respective primary and secondary cutting edges and intersect with the top surface;

a blade-to-bucket mounting attachment configured to rigidly secure the blade to the excavating bucket with the primary and secondary cutting edges spaced forwardly of the leading edge and with the secondary beveled surfaces forming a substantially continuous surface with the beveled surface of the excavating bucket bottom wall; and

the bottom surface being substantially planar and intersecting the primary and secondary cutting edges.

2. The excavating implement of claim 1 wherein:

the primary cutting edges are formed integrally with the blade and are spaced apart along a length dimension of the blade and projecting in a given direction therefrom;

the primary cutting edges each has a width dimension which is measured along the length dimension of the blade;

the secondary cutting edges are individually interspersed between the primary cutting edges along the blade; and

wherein at least some of the secondary cutting edges are recessed relative to the primary cutting edges by a distance which is less than about twice the width dimension of the primary cutting edges.

3. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein

the primary cutting edges each include a cutting edge width dimension measured along the blade length dimension;

the blade includes a thickness dimension measured between the top and bottom surfaces; and

wherein the thickness dimension of the blade is about 20% to about 50% of the primary cutting edge width dimension.

4. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein:

the primary beveled surfaces are located forwardly of the secondary cutting edges.

5. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein:

the rear edge is spaced from the primary cutting edges and which define a blade width dimension;

the secondary cutting edges are recessed relative to the primary cutting edges by a gullet depth dimension that is less than about 50% of the blade width dimension.

6. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein

the individual primary cutting edges each include a width dimension and wherein the secondary cutting edges are spaced toward the rear edge from the primary cutting edges by distances at least approximately equal to said width dimension of the primary cutting edges.

7. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein

said blade includes a blade length dimension spanning the opposed ends;

the individual primary cutting edges each have a width dimension and wherein the sum of the primary width dimensions of the primary cutting edges is greater than one half the length dimension of the blade spanning the opposed ends; and

wherein the primary and secondary cutting edges are substantially coplanar with the bottom surface.

8. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein

the respective primary and secondary cutting edges are substantially coplanar with the bottom surface and are substantially aligned with each other;

and wherein gullet side walls are defined by the blade and join the primary and secondary cutting edges; and

wherein fillets are formed in the blade and are located between the gullet side walls and the secondary cutting edges.

9. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein the blade is monolithic and has a length dimension which is defined between the ends;

the primary cutting edges are integral with the blade and spaced apart along the front edge, each primary cutting edge having a given width dimension and wherein the sum of the width dimensions of the primary cutting edges is greater than half the length dimension of the monolithic blade;

the secondary cutting edges are integral with the monolithic blade and inwardly located between the primary cutting edges, and wherein the secondary edges are substantially parallel to the primary cutting edges and recessed relative to the primary cutting edges; and

the respective primary and secondary cutting edges being substantially coplanar along the bottom surface.

10. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein

said blade includes a thickness dimension between the top and bottom surfaces, a length dimension between the opposite ends, and a blade width dimension between the front and rear edges;

each of said primary and secondary cutting edges include an individual edge width dimension measured along the length of the blade;

the thickness dimension of the blade is less than about half the individual edge width dimension;

the secondary cutting edges are spaced toward the rear edge from the primary cutting edges by a distance less than about half the blade width dimension; and

the secondary and primary cutting edges are positioned along a plane that is coplanar with the bottom surface.

11. The excavating implement of claim 1, wherein

the secondary and primary cutting edges intersect with the bottom surface;

and

the primary and secondary beveled surfaces form similar acute angles with the bottom surface.

12. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary beveled surfaces are substantially parallel;

and further comprising gullet side walls joining the primary and secondary beveled surfaces; and

fillets joining the secondary beveled surfaces and gullet side walls.

13. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are substantially planar and parallel.

14. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the bottom surface is substantially flat and continuous across the blade.

15. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the blade has a length dimension from about 0.61 meters to about 3.66 meters.

16. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the blade includes a thickness dimension of about 1.27 centimeters to about 5.08 centimeters.

17. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the blade, primary cutting edges, secondary cutting edges, primary bevel surfaces and secondary bevel surfaces are formed as a casting.

18. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the blade is formed as a casting.

19. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary cutting edges are substantially parallel.

20. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary cutting edges are substantially parallel to the rear edge.

21. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the primary cutting edges are aligned along the blade.

22. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the secondary cutting edges are aligned along the blade.

23. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the primary cutting edges are aligned along the blade and the secondary cutting edges are aligned along the blade and offset toward the rear from the primary cutting edges.

24. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the individual primary and secondary cutting edges each have a width dimension as measured along the front edge, and wherein the width dimension of each primary cutting edge is substantially equal to the width dimension of each secondary cutting edge;

and further comprising substantially parallel gullet side walls joining the primary and secondary cutting edges.

25. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the individual primary cutting edges each have a primary edge width dimension, and wherein each secondary cutting edge is recessed from an adjacent width dimension, and wherein each secondary cutting edge is recessed from an adjacent primary cutting edge by a distance which is greater than the primary edge width dimension;

and further comprising substantially parallel gullet side walls extending from the primary cutting edges to join at fillets with the secondary cutting edges.

26. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the individual primary cutting edges have a primary cutting edge width dimension, and wherein the secondary cutting edges are recessed from the primary cutting edges by a distance which is equal to about the primary cutting edge width and is not greater than about twice the primary cutting edge width dimension;

and further comprising gullet walls that are substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the blade and join the primary and secondary cutting surfaces.

27. The excavating as defined by claim 1, wherein:

the blade has a blade length dimension;

the individual primary cutting edges each have a primary cutting edge width dimension; and

wherein the sum of the primary cutting edge width dimensions is greater than half the blade length dimension; and

wherein at least some of the secondary cutting edges are formed along a line that is recessed relative to the primary cutting edges by a distance that is less than about twice the width dimension of the primary cutting edges.

28. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the acute angles lie within a range of about 18°

to about 27°

.

29. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, wherein the acute angles are substantially equal and wherein the primary and secondary cutting edges are separated by equal distances.

30. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, and further comprising mounting apertures formed through the blade between the top and bottom surfaces, and wherein the apertures are disposed between the secondary cutting edges and the rear edge.

31. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, and further comprising gullet side walls defined by the blade and which join with the primary and secondary cutting edges and that are substantially perpendicular to the primary and secondary cutting edges.

32. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, and further comprising substantially parallel gullet side walls which are formed in the blade and which join with the primary and secondary cutting edges.

33. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, and further comprising gullet side walls which are formed in the blade and which are substantially normal relative to the top and bottom surfaces.

34. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, and further comprising substantially parallel gullet side walls which are formed in the blade and which are substantially normal to the top and bottom surfaces, and wherein the gullet sidewalls join the primary and secondary cutting edges.

35. The excavating implement as defined by claim 1, and further comprising substantially parallel gullet side walls which are formed in the blade and which join with the primary and secondary cutting edges;

and

wherein the secondary cutting edges and respective secondary bevels are joined by fillets formed along the gullet side walls.

36. An excavating implement for attachment to an excavating bucket, comprising:

a blade defining a top surface configured for flush engagement with the excavating bucket, a bottom surface, a rear edge, a front edge, and opposite ends;

primary cutting edges formed integrally with and defined by the blade and spaced apart along the front edge;

secondary cutting edges formed integrally with the blade substantially parallel to the primary cutting edges and situated between the primary cutting edges;

wherein the secondary cutting edges are recessed with respect to the primary cutting edges;

wherein the blade defines primary and secondary beveled surfaces forming acute angles with the bottom surface, and which extend angularly toward the rear edge from the respective primary and secondary cutting edges and intersect with the top surface;

gullet side walls that are substantially parallel to one another and join the primary and secondary cutting edges;

a blade-to-bucket mounting attachment configured to rigidly secure th eblad to the excavating bucket; and

the bottom surface being substantially planar and intersecting the primary and secondary cutting edges.

37. The excavating implement of claim 36 wherein:

the primary cutting edges are spaced apart along a length dimension of the blade and projecting in a given direction therefrom;

the primary cutting edges each has a width dimension which is measured along the length dimension of the blade;

the secondary cutting edges are individually interspersed between the primary cutting edges along the blade; and

wherein at least some of the secondary cutting edges are recessed relative to the primary cutting edges by a distance which is less than about twice the width dimension of the primary cutting edges.

38. The excavating implement of claim 36, wherein:

the primary cutting edges each include a cutting edge width dimension measured along the blade length dimension;

the blade includes a thickness dimension measured between the top and bottom surfaces; and

wherein the thickness dimension of the blade is about 20% to about 50% of the primary cutting edge width dimension.

39. The excavating implement of claim 36, wherein:

the primary beveled surfaces are located forwardly of the secondary cutting edges.

40. The excavating implement of claim 36, wherein:

the rear edge is spaced from the primary cutting edges and which define a blade width dimension;

the secondary cutting edges are recessed relative to the primary cutting edges by a gullet depth dimension that is less than about 50% of the blade width dimension.

41. The excavating implement of claim 36, wherein:

the individual primary cutting edges each include a width dimension and wherein the secondary cutting edges are spaced toward the rear edge from the primary cutting edges by distances at least approximately equal to said width dimension of the primary cutting edges.

42. The excavating implement of claim 36, wherein

the respective primary and secondary cutting edges are substantially coplanar with the bottom surface.

43. The excavating implement of claim 36, wherein

said blade includes a thickness dimension between the top and bottom surfaces, a length dimension between the opposite ends, and a blade width dimension between the front and rear edges;

each of said primary and secondary cutting edges include an individual edge width dimension measured along the length of the blade;

the thickness dimension of the blade is less than about half the individual edge width dimension;

the secondary cutting edges are spaced toward the rear edge from the primary cutting edges by a distance less than about half the blade width dimension; and

the secondary and primary cutting edges are positioned along a plane that is coplanar with the bottom surface.

44. The excavating implement of claim 36, wherein

the secondary and primary cutting edges intersect with the bottom surface;

and

the primary and secondary beveled surfaces form similar acute angles with the bottom surface.

45. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are substantially planar and parallel.

46. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the bottom surface is substantially flat and continuous across the blade.

47. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the blade has a length dimension from about 0.61 meters to about 3.66 meters.

48. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the blade includes a thickness dimension of about 1.27 centimeters to about 5.08 centimeters.

49. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the blade, primary cutting edges, secondary cutting edges, primary bevel surfaces and secondary bevel surfaces are formed as a casting.

50. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the blade is formed as a casting.

51. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the primary and secondary cutting edges are substantially parallel to the rear edge.

52. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the primary cutting edges are aligned along the blade.

53. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the secondary cutting edges are aligned along the blade.

54. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the primary cutting edges are aligned along the blade and the secondary cutting edges are aligned along the blade and offset toward the rear edge from the primary cutting edges.

55. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the gullet side walls extending from the primary cutting edges to join at fillets with the secondary cutting edges.

56. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the gullet side walls intersect with and are substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the blade and join the primary and secondary cutting surfaces and the primary and secondary bevel surfaces.

57. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the acute angles lie within a range of about 18°

to about 27°

.

58. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the acute angles are substantially equal.

59. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, and further comprising mounting apertures formed through the blade between the top and bottom surfaces, and wherein the apertures are disposed between the secondary cutting edges and the rear edge.

60. The excavating implement as defined by claim 36, wherein the gullet side walls are substantially perpendicular to the primary and secondary cutting edges and to the top and bottom surfaces.