Excavator bucket top assembly

• US 8,069,593 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: McClallen, Samuel Lucas, Agurkis, Michael R., Folkerts, Jeremy Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/103,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 374/43, 374/44, 374/68, 379/03, 372/64, 373/41, 373/98, 374/42, 374/11, 373/79, 37403-409, 374/48, 172/713, 172/762, 172/766, 172/540, 172/553, 414/694, 414/722, 198/701, 198711-714, 299/39.8, 299/110
• US Class Current: 37/444
• 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

Abstract

An excavator bucket top assembly can be completed as an assembly before being attached to other components to form an excavator bucket. The top assembly includes a flat bottom plate and a top plate with two bends, each having relatively simple geometry for ease of manufacturing. Two hinge plates penetrate through the top plate and are joined to both the bottom plate and the top plate. The top assembly includes strategically positioned, continuous weld joints to avoid weld starts and stops that create stress risers. The top assembly produces a torque tube which is stiff and resistant to fatigue.

Claims

1. A top assembly for an excavator bucket comprising:

a bottom plate having a front edge, a rear edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface;

a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate each having a bottom edge approximately the same length as the distance between the front edge and the rear edge of the bottom plate, each hinge plate being normal to and butted against-the bottom plate along their respective bottom edges approximately from the front edge to the rear edge plate of the bottom plate, the two hinge plates positioned parallel to one another and each featuring two bores, each of the bores on one hinge plate combining with one of the bores on the other hinge plate to form two sets of two axially aligned bores;

a top plate normal to the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate and having a front edge, a rear edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the top plate comprising three sections divided from one another by one of the hinge plates with a first section positioned on an outboard side of the first hinge plate, a second section positioned inboard of the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate, and a third section positioned outboard of the second hinge plate;

a first weld joint joining the top plate and the bottom plate, the first weld joint formed proximate the rear edge of the top plate and the rear edge of the bottom plate, and formed on the top surface of the bottom plate; and

a second weld joint joining the top plate and the bottom plate, the second weld joint formed proximate the front edge of the top plate and the front edge of the bottom plate, and formed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate.

2. A top assembly according to claim 1 wherein the top plate, bottom plate, first hinge plate, and second hinge plate are joined together to form a torque tube for transferring torque from the middle of the torque tube to its ends.

3. A top assembly according to claim 2 wherein the second weld joint is continuous from one end of the torque tube to the opposite end.

4. A top assembly according to claim 1 wherein the entire bottom plate is flat.

5. A top assembly according to claim 1 wherein the top plate comprises a first bend and a second bend, each of the first bend and the second bend being formed approximately parallel to the front edge of the top plate.

6. A top assembly according to claim 5 wherein the first bend has an included angle of approximately 115 degrees, and the second bend has an included angle of approximately 110 degrees.

7. An excavator bucket comprising:

a first side section and an opposite second side section;

a curved heel section normal to and extending between the first side section and the second side section;

a top assembly joining and fixed to the first side section, the second side section, and the curved heel section, the top assembly including;

a flat bottom plate having a front edge, a rear edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface;

a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate each having a bottom edge, each hinge plate being normal to and butted against and welded to the bottom plate along their respective bottom edges, each bottom edge spanning approximately from the front edge to the rear edge of the bottom plate, the two hinge plates positioned parallel to one another and each featuring two bores, each of the bores on one hinge plate combining with one of the bores on the other hinge plate to form two sets of two axially aligned bores;

a top plate having a front edge, a rear edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the top plate comprising three sections divided from one another by one of the hinge plates, with a first section positioned on an outboard side of the first hinge plate, a second section positioned inboard of the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate, and a third section positioned outboard of the second hinge plate;

the top plate overlaps the front edge of the bottom plate;

a first weld joint joining the top plate and the bottom plate, the first weld joint formed on the top surface of the bottom plate at the intersection of the rear edge of the top plate with the bottom plate; and

a second weld joint joining the top plate and the bottom plate, the second weld joint formed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate at the intersection of the front edge of the bottom plate with the top plate.

8. An excavator bucket according to claim 7 wherein the second weld joint extends continuously from the first side section to the second side section.

9. An excavator bucket according to claim 8 wherein the top plate, bottom plate, first hinge plate, and second hinge plate are joined together to form a torque tube for transferring torque from the middle of the torque tube to its ends.

10. An excavator bucket according to claim 8 wherein the top plate has at least a first bend formed therein parallel to the front edge of the top plate.

11. An excavator bucket according to claim 8 wherein the top plate has a first bend and a second bend formed therein, with each of the first bend and the second bend being approximately parallel to the front edge of the top plate.

12. An excavator bucket according to claim 11 wherein the first bend has an included angle of between 105 to 125 degrees, and the second bend has an included angle of between 100 and 120 degrees.

13. An excavator bucket according to claim 7 wherein the first hinge plate and a second hinge plate are not directly attached to the curved heel section.

14. An excavator bucket according to claim 7 wherein the bottom plate overlaps and is welded to a portion of the curved heel section.