Bolt with wear protection
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsThomas Marshall Congdon, Justin William Haller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener or bolt is fabricated by forming a cavity in a head of the bolt and attaching a hard insert at least partially over the head and within the cavity. The bolt may be used to attach a cutting edge to a tool such that the head of the bolt may be subject to an abrasive environment. The hard insert is harder than the head of the bolt and provides protection to the head of the bolt to reduce the rate of wear of the bolt. The hard insert may be fabricated by sintering and may include tungsten carbide and/or cobalt. The hard insert may be press fit and/or brazed onto the head of the bolt. The hard insert may include spacers on a side that engages the cavity of the head to allow room for the brazing material.
Claims19
A bolt, comprising:
- a shank having an end;
- threading extending at least partially along an outer surface of the shank;
- a head coupled to the shank opposing the end, the head having a surface;
- and
- an insert disposed at least partially over the surface of the head, the insert having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, wherein:
- the first side defines spacers that protrude from the first side and contact the surface of the head and provide an offset between the surface of the head and the insert,
- the first side defines a topographical feature configured to indicate wear of the insert;
- the insert includes tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt (Co), and
- the insert is harder than the head.
9-15. (canceled)
A machine, comprising:
- a tool;
- a cutting edge;
- and
- a bolt used to attach the cutting edge to the tool, the bolt further comprising:
- a shank having an end;
- threading extending at least partially along an outer surface of the shank;
- a head coupled to the shank opposing the end, the head having a surface;
- and
- an insert disposed at least partially over the surface of the head, wherein the insert has a hardness greater than the hardness of the head.
A bolt, comprising:
- a shank having an end;
- a head coupled to the shank opposing the end, the head having a surface;
- and
- an insert disposed at least partially over the surface of the head, the insert having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, wherein:
- the first side defines spacers that protrude from the first side and contact the surface of the head and provide an offset between the surface of the head and the insert,
- the insert includes a lip that extends over a sidewall surrounding the cavity within the head, and
- the insert includes tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt (Co).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.