Digging or gripping tool

• US 7,357,163 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Inventors: Wager, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BENA B
• Application Number:
  US11/219,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 414/729, 414/739, 373/40, 373/41, 374/44, 374/06, 294/902, 144/335, 144/336, 144/339, 144/4.1, 144/34.1, 144/34.5, 144/24.12, 144/3.1, 144/34.4, 144/2.1
• US Class Current: 144/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 3/04 Tine grabs
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/404 comprising two parts movable relative to each other, e.g. for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/413 with grabbing device E02F3/404 takes precedence; with grab buckets moved by cables or hoisting ropes E02F3/47; grab equipment for cranes B66C

Abstract

This invention relates to a digging or gripping tool with at least one cutting edge, wherein rollers are disposed along the outer edge of the cutting edge in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A digging or gripping tool comprising at least one cutting edge, wherein the cutting edge has an outer edge, the outer edge having a plurality of adjacently disposed cutting edge rollers mounted thereon, wherein a plurality of vertical webs are disposed on the outer edge of the cutting edge, between which the rollers are mounted, wherein each adjacent roller shares at least one of the webs, the webs and rollers defining a substantially continuous assembly, the individual rollers being adapted to independently rotate on contact with an opposing surface.

2. The digging or gripping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digging or gripping tool comprises a clamshell grab having opposed cutting edges, at least one of said opposed cutting edges having said cutting edge rollers mounted thereon.

3. The digging or gripping tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein each respective opposed cutting edges have said cutting edge rollers mounted thereon.

4. The digging or gripping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digging or gripping tool comprises timber tongs, having opposed cutting edges, at least one of said opposed cutting edges having said cutting edge rollers mounted thereon.

5. The digging or gripping tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein each respective opposed cutting edges have said cutting edge rollers mounted thereon.

6. The digging or gripping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting edge is welded onto a foundation of the digging or gripping tool.

7. The digging or gripping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting edge extends along a length having a first end and a second end, wherein the plurality of vertical webs includes at least first, second, and third vertical webs and the plurality of adjacently disposed cutting edge rollers includes at least first and second cutting edge rollers, wherein the first vertical web is mounted between the first end and second end, the first cutting edge roller being mounted between the first vertical web and the second vertical web, the second cutting edge roller being mounted between the second vertical web and the third vertical web, thus forming a series of adjacently mounted rollers.

8. The digging or gripping tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first vertical web is mounted proximate to the first end and additional series of adjacently mounted rollers are mounted between the first end and the second end, wherein the series of adjacently mounted rollers extends from the first end to the second end.

9. A digging or gripping tool comprising at least two opposing cutting edges pivotally mounted with respect to one another and movable between a first open position wherein said cutting edges are spaced from one another and a closed position wherein said cutting edges are disposed in juxtaposed alignment, at least one of said cutting edges having a plurality of adjacently disposed cutting edge rollers mounted thereon, wherein a plurality of vertical webs are disposed on the outer edge of the cutting edge, between which the rollers are mounted, the individual rollers being adapted to independently rotate.