Wear-resistant attachments for high-wear applications

Abstract

A wear-resistant assembly, including: a surface; a base; and a plurality of wear-resistant attachments removably coupled to the base, each of the plurality of wear-resistant attachments including an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the outer portion of each of the plurality of wear-resistant attachments is coupled to the outer portion of at least one other wear-resistant attachment so that a plurality of coupled wear-resistant attachments include a substantially continuous surface, the substantially continuous surface including at least a portion of the surface of the wear-resistant assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wear-resistant assembly, comprising:
 a surface;   a base; and   a plurality of wear-resistant attachments removably coupled to the base, each of the plurality of wear-resistant attachments comprising an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the outer portion of each of the plurality of wear-resistant attachments is coupled to the outer portion of at least one other wear-resistant attachment so that a plurality of coupled wear-resistant attachments comprise a substantially continuous surface, the substantially continuous surface comprising at least a portion of the surface of the wear-resistant assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The wear-resistant assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portion further comprises a plurality of layers, each layer chosen from the group consisting of a hardface material, a tough material, and a joining interface, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least one layer of a hardface material. 
     
     
         3 . The wear-resistant assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion further comprises an attachment member selected from the group consisting of a stud and an insert, wherein the attachment member couples the wear-resistant attachment to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The wear-resistant assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion does not comprise an attachment member selected from the group consisting of a stud and an insert. 
     
     
         5 . The wear-resistant assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion comprises at least one side-wall. 
     
     
         6 . The wear-resistant assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one side wall is coupled to a side wall of at least one other wear-resistant attachment, and wherein the coupling comprises a filler material between the at least one side wall and the side wall of the at least one other wear-resistant attachment, wherein the filler material has been heated above a melting point of the filler material and allowed to cool. 
     
     
         7 . The wear-resistant assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one side wall is coupled to a side wall of at least one other wear-resistant attachment by at least one of a weld, a braze, or a solder. 
     
     
         8 . The wear-resistant assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portion comprises a wear-resistant material having a Rockwell C hardness of at least 60 Rc. 
     
     
         9 . A method of replacing a first wear-resistant attachment in a wear-resistant assembly comprising:
 removing the first wear-resistant attachment;   placing a second wear-resistant attachment in place of the first wear-resistant attachment, wherein the second wear-resistant attachment comprises an inner portion and an outer portion; and   coupling the outer portion of the second wear-resistant attachment to at least one other wear-resistant attachment, wherein coupling comprises
 inserting a material filler between the second wear-resistant attachment and the at least one other wear-resistant attachment, and 
 heating the filler material above a melting point of the filler material. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the inner portion further comprises a plurality of layers, each layer chosen from the group consisting of a hardface material, a tough material, and a joining interface, wherein the plurality of layers comprises at least one layer of a hardface material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the outer portion further comprises an attachment member selected from the group consisting of a stud and an insert, wherein the attachment member couples the second wear-resistant attachment to a base of the wear-resistant assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the outer portion does not comprise an attachment member selected from the group consisting of a stud and an insert. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the outer portion comprises at least one side-wall. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one side wall is coupled to a side wall of at least one other wear-resistant attachment by the filler material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the outer portion of the second wear-resistant attachment is coupled to the at least one other wear-resistant attachment by at least one of a weld, a braze, or a solder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the inner portion comprises a wear-resistant material having a Rockwell C hardness of at least 60 Rc.