Wear plate assembly

Abstract

A bucket assembly is provided with a kit that includes a base plate for permanent connection to a lower part of the bucket, and sacrificial, impermanent replaceable wear edge segments for the forward lip and corner leading edges of an excavator or loader bucket. These segments form a set of “bolt on” cast wear members and wing wear segments. The base plate and wear plates are drilled and machined to accommodate the precision fitting bolting on of the replaceable lips and cast wing segments. The cast lip segments are of both left and right hand configurations and come in a variety of widths that, in combination, may tend to fit a large number of different commercially available bucket sizes. The lip top and bottom faces are shaped in a profile that may tend to result in relatively uniform wear and a reduction in friction when digging into various materials.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A loader bucket assembly comprising: 
 a loader bucket having a backshell and a pair of opposed end walls mounted thereto;    said back shell and said end walls defining a bucket cavity having a width;    said backshell having a lower portion;    said end walls being spaced from each other a distance defining a width of said loader bucket;    a base plate mounted to said lower portion of said backshell, said base plate extending forwardly thereof, said base plate having a width extending across the width of said loader bucket;    said base plate having a leading edge, a first surface oriented inwardly relative to said backshell and a second surface oriented outwardly relative to said backshell;    said base plate having bores defined therethrough, said bores being inset from said leading edge;    at least one wear segment mounted to said base plate, said wear segment having a leading edge oriented forwardly away from said base plate;    said wear segment having a trailing portion having an accommodation for said leading edge of said base plate; and    said leading edge of said base plate having a male profile;    said accommodation of said wear segment having a female profile matching said male profile of said leading edge of said base plate, said female profile including a first portion engaging said first surface of said base plate and a second portion engaging said second surface of said wear plate;    said wear segment having at least one bore formed therein, said bore of said wear segment and a corresponding one of said bores of said base plate being aligned when said male and female profiles are engaged; and    said wear segment and said base plate being connected at said aligned bores by an impermanent mechanical fastener mounted across a single connection interface.    
     
     
         2 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said trailing portion of said wear segment includes first and second spaced apart flanges and a root section from which said flanges extend rearwardly, said flanges and said root co-operating to define said accommodation.  
     
     
         3 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 2  wherein: 
 when said loader bucket rests with said base plate adjacent a ground surface, said first flange is an upper flange and said second flange is a lower flange;  
 said lower flange extends further rearwardly than said upper flange;  
 said bores of said wear segment are formed in said lower flange;  
 said upper flange has tool access accommodations formed therein adjacent said bores of said lower flange.  
 
     
     
         4 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 3  wherein said bores of said lower flange have centerlines lying in a plane, and said upper flange has a rearward edge lying abreast of the plane of the centerlines.  
     
     
         5 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 3  wherein said bores of said lower flange are countersunk to accommodate a locknut.  
     
     
         6 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 5  wherein said bores of said base plate are countersunk to accommodate a tapered countersunk head of a threaded fastener.  
     
     
         7 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said male profile has a chamfer, and said female profile has a matching chamfer.  
     
     
         8 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said assembly includes a plurality of said segments having a combined width corresponding to the width of the base plate  
     
     
         9 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said base plate has a central point and left and right hand leading edges trailing rearwardly and outwardly from said point; and  
 said assembly includes a plurality of said wear segments, half of said segments being left handed, and half of said segments being right handed.  
 
     
     
         10 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein, when said bucket assembly is resting with said base plate on a ground surface, said first surface of said base plate is an upper surface, and said leading edge of said wear member includes a tip having an abutment intersecting said plane of said second surface of said base plate.  
     
     
         11 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein all of said bores in said base plate are on a uniform setback distance from said leading edge.  
     
     
         12 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wear segment includes an upper surface extending rearwardly from said tip of said wear segment, and said upper surface is scalloped to encourage rolling action in the work material.  
     
     
         13 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  said bucket has a width in the range of 58 to 112 inches, and said leading edge of said base plate are chosen from an inventory of segments consisting of segments of less than 24 inches in width.  
     
     
         14 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said bucket has a width in the range of 58 to 112 inches, and said wear segments for said base plate are chosen from an inventory of wear segments including wear segments of at least two widths.  
     
     
         15 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 14  wherein said at least two widths are chosen from an inventory of wear segments of up to four widths selected from the set of widths consisting of (a) about 14-½ inches; (b) about 16 inches; (c) about 18 inches; and (d) about 20 inches.  
     
     
         16 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wear segment has at least two of said bores formed therein, and said wear segment is connected to said base plate by at least two of said impermanent mechanical fasteners.  
     
     
         17 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 16  wherein said impermanent mechanical fasteners are threaded fasteners.  
     
     
         18 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 16  wherein said at least two bores are spaced apart and stand at a common setback distance relative to said leading edge of said base plate.  
     
     
         19 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wear segment has a pair of side faces, said side faces lying in parallel vertical planes, said vertical planes being oriented in a fore-and-aft direction relative to said width of said bucket.  
     
     
         20 . The loader bucket assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said base plate has a central lead point and left and right hand leading edges tapered sideways outwardly and rearwardly;  
 a plurality of left handed wear segments is mounted side-by-side along said left hand leading edge;  
 a plurality of right hand wear segments is mounted side-by-side along said right hand leading edge; and  
 at least one of said left hand wear segments has a leading abutment tip running parallel to said left hand leading edge and a pair of parallel side faces extending in a fore-and-aft orientation relative to the width of said bucket.  
 
     
     
         21 . The combination of a base plate and replaceable wear segments for a loader bucket having a width, wherein: 
 said base plate has a trailing portion for attachment to a lower portion of the loader bucket, and a leading portion extending forwardly thereof, and a width corresponding to the width of the bucket;    said leading portion has a leading edge having a male profile;    said base plate has a first surface and a second surface, said first and second surfaces being on opposite sides of said plate and lying in first and second parallel planes, and, when mounted to the bucket, said first surface of said base plate being for orientation inwardly relative to the bucket;    said plate has a plurality of apertures formed therein, said apertures extending through said plate, said apertures being set back from said leading edge;    said wear segments have a combined width corresponding to the width of the base plate;    each said segment has a first flange for engaging said first surface of said base plate, and a second flange for engaging said second surface of said base plate, said first and second flanges being joined at a common root portion of said segment;    said flanges and said root portion defining between them a rearwardly facing socket, said socket having a female profile matingly engageable with said male profile of said leading edge of said base plate;    each said wear segment has a pointed leading portion for engaging material to be carried in the loader bucket, said leading portion extending forwardly of said socket;    said second flange has at least one aperture formed therein for alignment with a corresponding one of said apertures of said base plate;    said aperture of said wear segment being aligned with said corresponding aperture of said base plate when said male and female profiles are engaged; and    said base plate and said wear segment are securable by a mechanical fastener mounted through said apertures across a single fastening interface.    
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein said male profile of said base plate includes a chamfered edge, and said female profile has a mating chamfer.  
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein said base plate has a first through thickness, and said first flange has a second through thickness, said second through thickness being less than said first through thickness.  
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein said base plate has a first through thickness, and said second flange has a second through thickness, said second through thickness being greater than said first through thickness.  
     
     
         25 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein said bores in said base plate are countersunk from said first surface to admit a fastener having a countersunk head lying in a position chosen from the set of positions consisting of (a) flush with; and (b) shy of, said first surface of said base plate.  
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein said first flange has tool access reliefs formed therein, said reliefs being located in positions corresponding to said bores of said second flange.  
     
     
         27 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein: 
 said leading portion of said segment has first and second diverging flanks extending rearwardly of said tip thereof;  
 said first flank extends from said tip toward said first flange;  
 said second flank extend from said tip toward said second flange; and  
 said first flank has a surface having a convex profile relative to said second flank.  
 
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein: 
 said leading portion of said segment includes an abutment face;  
 said abutment face and said first flank meet along a vertex;  
 said vertex lies between said first and second planes; and  
 said vertex lies closer to said second plane than to said first plane.  
 
     
     
         29 . The combination of  claim 28  wherein: 
 said leading portion includes an abutment face;  
 said abutment face and said first flank meet at a first vertex;  
 said abutment face and said second flank meet along a second vertex; and  
 said first vertex lies to one side of said second plane, and said second vertex lies to the other side of said plane.  
 
     
     
         30 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein: 
 said assembly includes wear segment attachment fitting for mounting to vertical edges of side walls of the bucket, and shrouds for mounting to said wear segment attachment fitting;  
 said shrouds each include a pair of rearwardly extending parallel flanges and a rearwardly facing slot defined therebetween;  
 said attachment fittings each include a forwardly facing web;  
 said web and said slot being matable; and  
 said web and one of said flanges having corresponding bores formed therein to admit a fastener to connect each said shroud to a respective side wear segment attachment fitting in single shear.  
 
     
     
         31 . A replaceable wear segment for impermanent mating with a leading edge of a base plate of a loader bucket assembly, the base plate having apertures formed therethrough adjacent to said leading edge, wherein said wear segment comprises: 
 a body having a leading portion and a trailing portion;    said trailing portion having a pair of first and second spaced apart flanges, said flanges having proximal ends joined at a root, and distal ends extending rearwardly of the root;    said first and second flanges having respective opposed faces lying in respective first and second spaced apart parallel planes;    said opposed faces and said root co-operating to define a rearwardly facing socket having a profile to match the leading edge of the base plate;    said socket admitting sliding entry of the base plate between said flanges;    said socket admitting sliding entry of the base plate between said flanges; and    said second flange having an aperture defined therein to admit an impermanent mechanical fastener to be inserted therethrough, and through an aperture of the base plate for impermanent single flange connection of the wear segment to the base plate.    
     
     
         32 . The combination of  claim 31  wherein said segment is a casting.  
     
     
         33 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein said trailing portion of said wear segment includes first and second spaced apart flanges and a root section from which said flanges extend rearwardly, said flanges and said root co-operating to define said accommodation.  
     
     
         34 . The wear segment of  claim 34  wherein: 
 when said first flange rests on a ground surface, said first flange is an upper flange and said second flange is a lower flange;  
 said lower flange extends further rearwardly than said upper flange;  
 said bores of said wear segment are formed in said lower flange; and  
 said upper flange has tool access accommodations formed therein adjacent said bores of said lower flange.  
 
     
     
         35 . The wear segment of  claim 34  wherein said apertures of said lower flange have centerlines lying in a plane, and said upper flange has a rearward edge lying abreast of the plane of the centerlines.  
     
     
         36 . The wear segment of  claim 34  wherein said apertures of said lower flange are bores having a countersink to accommodate a locknut.  
     
     
         37 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein said accommodation has a chamfered surface at said root.  
     
     
         38 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein, said leading edge of said wear member includes a tip having an abutment intersecting said plane of said second surface.  
     
     
         39 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein said wear segment includes an upper surface extending rearwardly from said tip of said wear segment, and said upper surface is scalloped to encourage rolling action in the work material.  
     
     
         40 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein said wear segment has at least two of said bores formed therein.  
     
     
         41 . The wear segment of  claim 40  wherein said at least two bores are spaced apart and stand at a common setback distance relative to said leading edge of said base plate.  
     
     
         42 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein said accommodation has a first through thickness measured between said first and second parallel planes, and said first flange has a second through thickness, said second through thickness being less than said first through thickness.  
     
     
         43 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein said accommodation has a first through thickness measured between said first and second parallel surfaces, and said second flange has a second through thickness, said second through thickness being greater than said first through thickness.  
     
     
         44 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein said first flange has tool access reliefs formed therein, said reliefs being located in positions corresponding to said apertures of said second flange.  
     
     
         45 . The wear segment of  claim 31  wherein: 
 said leading portion of said segment has first and second diverging flanks extending rearwardly of said tip thereof;  
 said first flank extends from said tip toward said first flange;  
 said second flank extend from said tip toward said second flange; and  
 said first flank has a surface having a convex profile relative to said second flank.  
 
     
     
         46 . The combination of  claim 31  wherein: 
 said leading portion of said segment includes an abutment face;  
 said abutment face and said first flank meet along a vertex;  
 said vertex lies between said first and second planes; and  
 said vertex lies closer to said second plane than to said first plane.  
 
     
     
         47 . The combination of  claim 46  wherein: 
 said leading portion includes an abutment face;  
 said abutment face and said first flank meet at a first vertex;  
 said abutment face and said second flank meet along a second vertex; and  
 said first vertex lies to one side of said second plane, and said second vertex lies to the other side of said plane.