Bucket for implement system having symmetrical tooth mounting members
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorPhillip Kunz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bucket for an implement system includes a bucket body, and a first tooth mounting member and a second tooth mounting member forming first and second corners of the bucket body. The first and second tooth mounting members may be identical to one another, and are each bilaterally symmetrical. A flared shape of a longitudinal fin of each of the tooth mounting members enables abutment against a side wall of a bucket at a plurality of orientations, enabling tooth mounting members of the same design to be used at opposite corners of the bucket for positioning digging teeth at kicked-out orientations.
Claims20
A bucket for an implement system in a machine comprising:
- a bucket body including a curved body wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, and defining a center plane positioned equidistant to the first side wall and the second side wall and vertically bisecting the curved body wall;
- a first tooth mounting member forming a first corner of the bucket body;
- a second tooth mounting member forming a second corner of the bucket body;
- the first tooth mounting member and the second tooth mounting member each having a forwardly projecting nose for mounting a digging tooth, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a longitudinally extending fin defining a plane of symmetry between the corresponding first lateral side and second lateral side;
- the longitudinally extending fins each being positioned vertically beneath and abutting one of the first side wall or the second side wall, and having a lateral width that is increased in one of a rearward direction or a forward direction, such that each has a flared shape, and an upper surface of each of the longitudinally extending fins are wider towards one of a back end or a front end of the corresponding tooth mounting member, to accommodate a plurality of angles of contact with the corresponding one of the side walls;
- and
- the first tooth mounting member and the second tooth mounting member being angled in opposite outward directions relative to the center plane such that the nose of the first tooth mounting member and the nose of the second tooth mounting member are positioned for mounting a first digging tooth and a second digging tooth to extend from the first corner and the second corner, respectively, at kicked-out orientations such that a plane of symmetry defined by the first digging tooth and a plane of symmetry defined by the second digging tooth each form an angle, greater than zero, with the center plane that opens in a forward direction from the bucket.
A tooth mounting member for mounting a digging tooth upon a bucket in an implement system of a machine comprising:
- a one-piece body including a front end having a forwardly projecting nose for mounting the digging tooth, a back end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a lower side, and an upper side having a longitudinal fin structured for positioning beneath and abutting a side wall of the bucket;
- the longitudinal fin including a forward surface, and an upper surface extending from the forward surface to the back end of the one-piece body;
- and
- the longitudinal fin further defining a plane of symmetry between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, and including a vertical height dimension and a lateral width dimension, and the lateral width dimension being increased in one of a rearward direction or a forward direction, such that the longitudinal fin has a flared shape, and the upper surface of the longitudinal fin is wider toward one of the back end or the front end of the one-piece body, to accommodate a plurality of angles of contact with the side wall of the bucket.
A tooth mounting member for mounting a digging tooth upon a bucket in a hydraulically actuated implement system of a machine comprising:
- a one-piece body including a front end having a forwardly projecting nose for mounting the digging tooth, a back end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a lower side, and an upper side having a longitudinal fin structured for positioning beneath and abutting a side wall of the bucket;
- the longitudinal fin defining a plane of symmetry between the first lateral side and the second lateral side;
- the longitudinal fin further having a lateral width dimension that is increased in one of a rearward direction or a forward direction, such that the longitudinal fin has a flared shape, and the upper surface of the longitudinal fin is wider towards one of the back end or the front end of the one-piece body, to accommodate a plurality of angles of contact with the side wall of the bucket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.