Bimaterial flight assembly for an elevator system for a wheel tractor scraper
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorAshish A. Shah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved flight assembly for an elevator used with a wheel tractor scraper is provided. The flight assembly comprises a support member made of one type of material and an edge plate made of a second type of material that is harder and less flexible than the support member material. The edge plate is mounted to the support member and includes the cutting/digging edge of the flight assembly. In one embodiment the support member is made of a rolled steel material having a hardness of about 205 BHN and the edge plate is made of a hardened, heat treated steel material having a hardness of between about 360 BHN and about 440 BHN.
Claims12
A bimaterial flight assembly for an elevator used to carry material upwardly and rearwardly into a bowl of a wheel tractor scraper, the bimaterial flight assembly having a contact edge that cuts into the material and is susceptible to wear, the flight assembly comprising:
- a support member comprising an elongated body portion having an asymmetrical U-shaped side profile, the support member made of a first material, wherein said support member includes left and right hand bracket members affixed to opposing ends;
- and
- an edge plate mounted to the support member, the edge plate including an elongated, substantially planar upper portion and an elongated substantially planar lower portion including the contact edge of the flight assembly, joined along a longitudinal bend and defining an obtuse included angle, the edge plate being made of a second material that is harder and less flexible than the first material.
A method of making a work tool for an off-highway machine comprising the steps of:
- providing a carrying component comprising an elongated body portion having an asymmetrical U-shaped side profile, the carrying component made of a first steel material;
- providing a working component having an elongated, substantially planar upper portion and an elongated substantially planar lower portion including a cutting edge and joined along a longitudinal bend and defining an obtuse included angle, the working component made of a second steel material that is harder and less flexible than the first steel material;
- and
- affixing the working component to the carrying component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.