Excavating finger and associated excavating bucket

Abstract

The invention relates to an excavating finger of a bucket that is designed to be fitted to an excavating chain for a device for excavating ballast beneath a railroad track, the finger being in one piece and comprising: a retention portion that is rotationally symmetric about a reference axis of the finger, the retention portion being designed to be accommodated in a cylindrical cavity of the bucket; and a tip designed to project out of the cylindrical cavity of the bucket, the excavating finger ( 132 ) wherein the retention portion comprises at least one annular channel that is configured to receive at least part of an immobilizing rod, designed to provide axial retention of the retention portion in the cylindrical cavity in such a way that the finger is free to rotate about its reference axis.

1 . An excavating finger of a shovel to be fitted to an excavating chain for a device for excavating ballast beneath a railroad track, the finger being in one piece and comprising:
 a retention portion that is rotationally symmetrical about a reference axis of the finger, the retention portion being intended to be accommodated in a cylindrical recess of the shovel, and   a tip intended to project out of the cylindrical recess of the shovel,
 wherein the excavating finger comprises at least one annular groove designed to receive at least part of a locking pin to ensure axial retention of the retention portion in the cylindrical recess to allow the finger to rotate about the reference axis thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The excavating finger of  claim 1 , further comprising a body with at least one retention portion, the body of the finger extending in accordance with a cylindrical casing. 
     
     
         3 . The excavating finger of  claim 2 , wherein the retention portion further comprises a plurality of annular grooves mutually parallel and spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         4 . The excavating finger of  claim 1 , wherein the finger is rotationally symmetrical about the reference axis. 
     
     
         5 . The excavating finger of  claim 1 , wherein it is made of steel. 
     
     
         6 . The excavating finger of  claim 1 , wherein it comprises, in the region of the tip, a reinforcement made of a cutting material, said cutting material chosen from either carbon steel, tungsten steel or carbide steel. 
     
     
         7 . The excavating finger of  claim 1 , wherein the annular groove has a circular arc-shaped profile, in a plane containing the reference axis. 
     
     
         8 . A shovel for equipping an excavation chain for a device for excavating ballast beneath a railroad track, the shovel comprising:
 a body comprising at least one cylindrical recess defining an insertion axis, and a fixing hole having an axis extending in a plane perpendicular to the insertion axis, the fixing hole leading into the cylindrical recess;   at least one excavating finger comprising a retention portion of which is accommodated in the cylindrical recess, and a tip projecting from the body of the shovel,   a locking pin which penetrates into the fixing hole and into the groove of the finger to axially retain the finger on the shovel, the excavating finger being free to rotate about the reference axis thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The shovel of  claim 8 , wherein it comprises a plurality of cylindrical recesses which receive one excavating finger. 
     
     
         10 . The shovel of  claim 8 , wherein each recess is positioned on a rear part of the shovel, such that the associated excavating finger extends in an extension of the shovel. 
     
     
         11 . The shovel off  claim 8 , wherein the locking pins comprise a screw, the fixing hole or a separate member having a tapped portion so as to receive the screw.