Shear resistant excavation component

Abstract

An excavation component is disclosed herein. The excavation component includes a cutter structure carrier and a cutter structure carried by the cutter structure carrier. The excavation component also includes a fastener for securing the cutter structure to the cutter structure carrier. The cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure have an interlocking geometry for transferring shear between the cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure so as to reduce an amount of shear applied to the fastener during excavation operations.

1 . An excavation component comprising:
 a cutter structure carrier;   a cutter structure carried by the cutter structure carrier;   a fastener for securing the cutter structure to the cutter structure carrier; and   the cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure having an interlocking geometry for transferring shear between the cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure so as to reduce an amount of shear applied to the fastener during excavation operations.   
     
     
         2 . The excavation component of  claim 1 , wherein the cutter structure includes a cutting tooth secured to a cutter mounting plate. 
     
     
         3 . The excavation component of  claim 2 , wherein the cutting tooth includes a trenching tooth. 
     
     
         4 . The excavation component of  claim 1  wherein the interlocking geometry includes a projection defined by one of the cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure, wherein the interlocking geometry includes a receptacle defined by the other of the cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure, wherein the projection is received within the receptacle, and wherein the fastener secures the cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure together such that the projection is retained within the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The excavation component of  claim 4 , wherein the fastener clamps the cutter structure to the cutter structure carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The excavation component of  claim 4 , wherein the cutter structure carrier includes a chain. 
     
     
         7 . The excavation component of  claim 4 , wherein the cutter structure carrier is selected from the group consisting of a belt, a chain, a rope and a drum. 
     
     
         8 . The excavation component of  claim 4 , wherein the cutter structure includes a cutting tooth secured to a cutter mounting plate. 
     
     
         9 . An excavation component comprising:
 a chain including an inner link and an outer link pivotally connected to the inner link by a pin;   a cutter structure mounted to the chain, the cutter structure including a cutter mounting plate secured to the chain by fasteners, the cutter structure also including at least one cutter mounted to the cutter mounting plate; and   an interlocking geometry defined between the chain and the cutter mounting plate for transferring shear between the chain and the cutter mounting plate.   
     
     
         10 . The excavation component of  claim 9 , wherein the interlocking geometry includes a projection provided on one of the chain and the cutter mounting plate that fits within a receptacle defined by the other of the chain and the cutter mounting plate. 
     
     
         11 . The excavation component of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer links includes a side bar and a flange that projects outwardly from the side bar, and wherein the interlocking geometry includes a projection provided on one of the flange and the cutter mounting plate that fits within a receptacle defined by the other of the flange and the cutter mounting plate. 
     
     
         12 . The excavation component of  claim 9 , wherein the outer link includes flanges each defining at least first and second fastener openings that receive the fasteners to secure the cutter mounting plate to the outer link, wherein the flanges include portions that project outwardly from side bars of the outer links, wherein interlocking geometries are provided between the outer link and the cutter mounting plate at each of the flanges, and wherein at least portions of the interlocking geometries are intersected by an axis that is parallel to the pivot pin and extends through regions defined between the fasteners mounted through the first and second fastener openings. 
     
     
         13 . An excavation component comprising:
 a chain including a plurality of links pivotally connected together;   a cutter structure mounted to the chain, the cutter structure including a cutter mounting plate secured to the chain by fasteners, the cutter structure also including at least one cutter mounted to the cutter mounting plate; and   an interlocking geometry defined between the chain and the cutter mounting plate for transferring shear between the chain and the cutter mounting plate.   
     
     
         14 . The excavation component of  claim 13 , wherein the interlocking geometry includes a projection provided on one of the chain and the cutter mounting plate that fits within a receptacle defined by the other of the chain and the cutter mounting plate. 
     
     
         15 . The excavation component of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the links includes a side bar and a flange that projects outwardly from the side bar, and wherein the interlocking geometry includes a projection provided on one of the flange and the cutter mounting plate that fits within a receptacle defined by the other of the flange and the cutter mounting plate. 
     
     
         16 . An excavation component comprising:
 a chain including a plurality of links pivotally connected together;   a cutter structure mounted to the chain, the cutter structure including a cutter mounting plate secured to the chain by fasteners that extend through openings defined by the chain and the cutter mounting plate, the cutter structure also including at least one cutter mounted to the cutter mounting plate;   the fasteners including bolts having heads, the fasteners also including nuts that thread on the bolts;   at least one of the openings including a receptacle for receiving and preventing rotation of either the head or the nut of a corresponding one of the fasteners; and   wherein the chain includes mounting flanges to which the cutter mounting plates are secured by the fasteners, wherein the openings include first openings defined by the mounting flanges and second openings defined by the cutter mounting plates, and wherein the receptacles are defined by the first openings at undersides of the mounting flanges.   
     
     
         17 . The excavation component of  claim 16 , further comprising an interlocking geometry defined between the chain and the cutter mounting plate for transferring shear between the chain and the cutter mounting plate, wherein the first and second openings align with one another when the interlocking geometry is interlocked.