Monitoring ground-engaging products for earth working equipment

Abstract

A product and system for identifying and monitoring a characteristic including the part ID, presence, condition, usage and/or performance of a ground-engaging product used on various kinds of earth working equipment.

1 . A wear part for securing to a base of earth working equipment comprising:
 an interior surface that opposes the base and includes a margin surface situated adjacent an exterior surface that engages the ground;   a recess in the margin surface; and   a monitoring device secured in the recess.   
     
     
         2 . The wear part of  claim 1  wherein the monitoring device is positioned so that a gap exists between a rearward face of the monitoring device and the base. 
     
     
         3 . The wear part of  claim 1 , wherein the recess has a central axis that is angled laterally from a longitudinal direction of assembly of the wear part on the base. 
     
     
         4 . The wear part of  claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the recess is at an angle of 0 to 90 degrees to a longitudinal direction of assembly of the wear part on the base. 
     
     
         5 . The wear part of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is located on a laterally outer third of a width of the interior surface. 
     
     
         6 . The wear part of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is located on a laterally outer 5% of a width of the interior surface. 
     
     
         7 . The wear part of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is located on a top leg, a bottom leg, or a bight portion of the margin surface. 
     
     
         8 . The wear part of  claim 1 , wherein the wear part is a shroud. 
     
     
         9 . The wear part of  claim 1 , wherein the recess has a greater height on a portion of the recess that is more laterally inward. 
     
     
         10 . The wear part of  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface includes a fitting pad to engage the base and the recess is located at least partially within the fitting pad. 
     
     
         11 . A wear part comprising
 an upper leg;   a lower leg; and   a bight portion that connects the upper and lower legs,   wherein each of the legs and bight portion define an interior surface facing a direction of mounting with a base, the bight portion including a recessed portion for receiving a base for mounting the wear part to earth working equipment, and   wherein each leg includes a recess that opens in the rear of the wear part and is located within the recessed portion is a recess sized and shaped to secure a monitoring device.   
     
     
         12 . A shroud for mounting on a front edge portion of a bucket, the shroud comprising:
 a pair of spaced legs to straddle the front edge portion;   an interior surface including an inner surface of each of the legs and a front surface connecting the inner surfaces, the interior surface being configured to define a cavity to receive the front edge portion of the bucket, the cavity having a central cavity axis that extends rearwardly from the front surface; and   a monitoring device secured to the interior surface laterally offset from the central cavity axis.   
     
     
         13 . The shroud of  claim 12  wherein the interior surface includes a recess having a central recess axis that is laterally angled relative to the central cavity axis, and the monitoring device is secured in the recess. 
     
     
         14 . The shroud of  claim 12  wherein the interior surface includes a central surface to contact the front edge portion, and a flank surface to each lateral side of the central surface, and wherein each of the flank surfaces curves outwardly and forwardly from the central surface, and includes a recess having a central recess axis that is laterally angled relative to the central cavity axis, and a monitoring device secured in the recess. 
     
     
         15 . The shroud of  claim 12 , wherein the monitoring device is spaced from the front edge portion. 
     
     
         16 . A shroud for mounting on a front edge of a bucket, the shroud comprising:
 a pair of spaced legs to straddle the front edge portion;   an interior surface defined by an inner surface of each of the legs and a front surface connecting the inner surfaces, and configured to define a cavity to receive the front edge portion, wherein the interior surface includes (i) bearing surfaces to contact the front edge portion and (ii) a recess with a base surface that is spaced inward of the bearing surfaces to define a gap between the base surface and the front edge portion; and   a monitoring device secured to the interior surface within the recess such that the monitoring device is spaced inward of the bearing surface and spaced from the front edge portion.   
     
     
         17 . The shroud of  claim 15  wherein the recess extends from the exterior surface to a first location spaced from the exterior surface, and the monitoring device is secured to the interior surface in communication with the recess. 
     
     
         18 . A shroud for mounting on a front edge of a bucket, the shroud comprising:
 a pair of spaced legs to straddle the front edge portion;   an exterior surface;   an interior surface defined by an inner surface of each of the legs and a front surface connecting the inner surfaces, and configured to define a cavity to receive the front edge portion, wherein the interior surface includes (i) bearing surfaces to contact the front edge portion and (ii) a recess extending from the exterior surface to a first location spaced from the exterior surface; and   a monitoring device secured to the interior surface in communication with the recess.   
     
     
         19 . A shroud for mounting on a front edge of a bucket, the shroud comprising:
 a pair of spaced legs to straddle the front edge portion;   an interior surface defined by an inner surface of each of the legs and a front surface connecting the inner surfaces, configured to define a cavity to receive the front edge portion, the cavity having a central cavity axis that extends rearwardly from the front surface, wherein the interior surface includes a central surface to contact the front edge portion, and a flank surface to each lateral side of the central surface, and wherein each of the flank surfaces curves outwardly and forwardly from the central surface, and includes a recess having a central recess axis that is laterally angled relative to the central cavity axis;   a monitoring device secured in the recess.   
     
     
         20 . The shroud of  claim 19  wherein the central surface defines a recess for receiving a support of the front edge portion. 
     
     
         21 . The shroud of  claim 12 , including a hole for receiving a lock to releasably secure the shroud to the front edge portion. 
     
     
         22 . The shroud of  claim 12 , wherein the interior surface includes a pocket to receive a support secured to the front edge portion. 
     
     
         23 . A bucket comprising 
 a shell defining a containment portion to receive earthen materials, the shell including a front edge portion, and a shroud including:
 a pair of spaced legs to straddle the front edge portion; 
 an interior surface including an inner surface of each of the legs and a front surface connecting the inner surfaces, the interior surface being configured to define a cavity to receive the front edge portion of the bucket, the cavity having a central cavity axis that extends rearwardly from the front surface; and 
 a monitoring device secured to the interior surface laterally offset from the central cavity axis. 
   
     
     
         24 . The bucket of  claim 23  wherein the monitoring device opposes and is spaced from the front edge portion.