US 10,538,899 B2Granted

Edge shroud and method for removing edge shroud from an implement

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorPhillip John Kunz

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Abstract

An implement assembly includes an implement having a forward edge and an edge protection system. The edge protection system includes at least one edge shroud having a lower leg that includes a lower end and a lower end inner surface, an upper leg, and a wedge portion, the upper leg including an upper end portion and a connecting portion. The upper end portion has an upper end inner portion that may be angled to the lower end inner surface and/or a horizontal plane extending between the upper leg and the lower leg. The system also includes a boss assembly structured to couple the edge shroud to the implement, and including a pry boss. The angle of the upper end inner surface may be such that a clearance is formed between the upper end inner surface and the pry boss when moving the edge shroud forward in a disengaging direction relative to the implement. The clearance reduces frictional force opposing movement of the edge shroud in the disengaging direction. The pry boss may also include at least one pry notch having a pry surface, the pry notch being structured to receive a free end of a pry tool for prying the pry boss out of the assembly in a pry off direction.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An edge shroud for an implement comprising:

a lower leg including a lower end portion having a lower end, and a lower end inner surface extending forward from the lower end and oriented parallel to a horizontal plane;
a wedge portion including a forward projecting nose and a wedge inner surface;
an upper leg attached to the lower leg by the wedge portion, the upper leg including an upper end portion and a connecting portion extending between the upper end portion and the wedge portion, the upper end portion having an upper end and an upper end inner surface extending forward from the upper end, and the connecting portion having a connecting portion inner surface;
a first implement-engaging surface and a second implement-engaging surface positioned, respectively, upon opposite sides of the upper end inner surface and each extending in a fore-aft direction and being oriented parallel to the horizontal plane;
an opening being formed in part by the lower end inner surface, the upper end inner surface, the wedge inner surface, and the connecting portion inner surface for fitting the edge shroud upon a forward edge of an implement;
the upper end inner surface being inclined to the connecting portion inner surface at a first angle;
the connecting portion inner surface being inclined to the lower end inner surface at a second angle;
the upper end inner surface being inclined to the lower end inner surface at a third angle;
and
the first angle being larger than the second angle, and the second angle being larger than the third angle, and the third angle opening in a rearward direction such that the upper end inner surface slopes downward towards the forward projecting nose to form a draft for assisting in disengagement of the edge shroud from the implement.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.