Assembly for wear monitoring and prevention of bushings and pins in pivot connections of electric shovel buckets

Abstract

A set of monitoring and prevention of wear of bushings and pins in connections in buckets of electric shovels is disclosed that has the objective of monitoring the condition of bushings to inform the moment of replacement of the component, in addition, to reduce wear by which is subjected to extend its useful life. The assembly comprises devices for locking pins in the bucket connections of electric excavator shovels, such as handles (bail) or padlocks (padlock), restricting the movement of the pins that interact with the bushings during the operation of the electric shovel bucket, preventing that rotate on their own axis so that rotational friction does not occur between said pin and the bushing, reducing wear. The set also includes wear indicators for the bushings of electric excavator shovels that use handles (bail) or padlocks (padlock), allowing the wear status of the bushings to be monitored and reported, to schedule maintenance, replace components and avoid critical failure of components that may generate unscheduled stoppages.

1 . An assembly set for monitoring and preventing wear of bushings ( 4 ) and pins ( 2 ) in bucket connections ( 16 ) of electric shovels that use padlocks ( 11 ) or padlocks, wherein it comprises:
 a pin-locking device ( 1 ) in each connection of the bucket ( 16 ) with the padlocks ( 11 ), comprising:
 a pin ( 2 ) that connects with an ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) with the connecting elements of a padlock ( 11 ); 
 two removable shackles ( 9 ) at one of the ends of the pin ( 2 ), joined together by bolts in housings ( 10 ) at the ends of said shackles ( 9 ), restricting the longitudinal movement of the pin ( 2 ); 
 a fin ( 8 ) or retaining arm located at the other end of the pin ( 2 ), being arranged perpendicular to the axis ( 3 ) of rotation of the pin ( 2 ), which comprises a rim that surrounds and joins said end of the pin ( 2 ) and a fin edge portion ( 8 ) projecting from said edge; 
 a bushing ( 4 ) between the pin ( 2 ) and the ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) and the connection elements of the lock ( 11 ), which receives the rotational friction; and 
 retaining elements that receive and engage with the edge portion of the fin ( 8 ), so that said fin ( 8 ) restricts the longitudinal and rotational movement of the pin ( 2 ), 
 where the retention elements correspond to two guide straps ( 7 ), installed in the upper front part of the bucket ( 16 ), on the outside of each connection of the bucket ( 16 ) between an ear ( 6 ) and the padlock ( 11 ), the guide straps ( 7 ) being separated from each other, so that it allows receiving and retaining the fin edge portion ( 8 ), in which the separation distance (B) of the guide straps ( 7 ) is greater than the width (C) of the end of the fin edge portion ( 8 ) so that there is a play that allows a small movement of the fin ( 8 ) between said guide straps ( 7 ) without said fin ( 8 ) being able to free itself from these, preventing the transfer of the load, by restricting the movement of the pin ( 2 ), towards the retention elements, preventing them from detaching from the bucket ( 16 ); and 
   a first wear indicator ( 15 ) of the bushing ( 4 ) installed in each of the connections of the bucket ( 16 ) with the padlocks ( 11 ), comprising:
 a status plate ( 18 ) comprising at least three colors, these being a first color ( 20 ), a second color ( 21 ) and a third color ( 22 ) that represent a wear level of the bushing ( 4 ), being located close to the connection of the bucket ( 16 ) with the padlock ( 11 ) and oriented in a position in which its longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the padlock ( 11 ) when it operates at 45°; and 
 an indicator element attached to the edge of the padlock ( 11 ) to display or signal at least one color ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) of the status plate ( 18 ) depending on the level of wear on the hub ( 4 ), so that It moves together with said padlock ( 11 ) such that when a displacement of the position of the padlock ( 11 ) is generated due to the wear of the bushing ( 4 ), the position of the indicator element varies, being in an initial state without wear, in a position in which the longitudinal axis of said indicator element is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the padlock ( 11 ) when it operates at 45°. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicator element corresponds to a tip ( 19 ), comprising a rectangular body where one of its ends includes a tip portion and the other end is attached to the edge of the padlock ( 11 ) in a position that, in an initial state without wear, when said padlock ( 11 ) operates at 45°, the body of the tip ( 19 ) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the padlock ( 11 ) and to the longitudinal axis of the lock plate state ( 18 ), so that the tip ( 19 ) overlaps the state plate ( 18 ), without contacting it, so that said tip ( 19 ) indicates the first color ( 20 ) of the state plate ( 18 ) which represents no wear or a low level of wear on the bushing ( 4 ). 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide straps ( 7 ) having a curved hexahedral shape, comprising a straight portion and a curved portion that deviates with respect to the longitudinal axis of said straight portion, favoring the distribution of loads. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation distance (B) of the guide straps ( 7 ) is between 1.04 to 1.08 times the width (C) of the end edge portion of the fin ( 8 ). 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the state plate ( 18 ) corresponds to a metal plate, of rectangular hexahedral shape with rectangular faces, where one of its largest faces is divided into at least three sections to include the at least three colors ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) that represent the wear levels and the opposite major face is attached to the bucket ( 16 ). 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each color of the status plate ( 18 ) is related to the thickness of the upper or outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) that experiences wear, such that the first color ( 20 ) represents that the outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) has a thickness between 85 to 100% of its thickness without wear; The second color ( 21 ) represents that the outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) has a thickness between 70 to 85% or between 25 to 85% of its thickness without wear; and the third color ( 22 ) represents that the thickness of the outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) has a thickness less than 70% or less than 25% of its thickness without wear. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein it also comprises a second wear indicator ( 26 ) on the front part of a door ( 30 ) of the buckets ( 16 ) to monitor wear on bushings ( 27 ) in the connections between the door ( 30 ) and the bucket ( 16 ), where the second wear indicator ( 26 ) is located on each side of the bucket ( 16 ), specifically, in at least one contact area between an edge and the door ( 27 ) and a bucket edge ( 16 ), the second wear indicator ( 26 ) comprising a bucket plate ( 28 ) and a door plate ( 29 ), identical, positioned near the bucket edge ( 16 ) and the door ( 27 ), where said bucket plate ( 28 ) and said door plate ( 29 ) include a horizontal reference line, which are aligned in an initial state without wear of the bushings ( 27 ) and are misaligned when wear occurs. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly set for monitoring and preventing wear of bushings ( 4 ) and pins ( 2 ) in bucket connections ( 16 ) of electric shovels that use handles ( 12 ) or bails, wherein it comprises:
 a pin-locking device ( 1 ) in each connection of the bucket ( 16 ) with the handles ( 12 ), comprising:
 a pin ( 2 ) that connects with an ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) with the connecting elements of a handle ( 12 ); 
 two removable shackles ( 9 ) at one of the ends of the pin ( 2 ), joined together by bolts in housings ( 10 ) at the ends of said shackles ( 9 ), restricting the longitudinal movement of the pin ( 2 ); 
 a fin ( 8 ) or retaining arm located at the other end of the pin ( 2 ), being arranged perpendicular to the axis ( 3 ) of rotation of the pin ( 2 ), which comprises a rim that surrounds and joins said end of the pin ( 2 ) and a fin edge portion ( 8 ) projecting from said edge; 
 a bushing ( 4 ) between the pin ( 2 ) and the ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) and the connecting elements of the handle ( 12 ), which receives the rotational friction; and 
 retaining elements that receive and engage with the edge portion of the fin ( 8 ), so that said fin ( 8 ) restricts the longitudinal and rotational movement of the pin ( 2 ), 
 wherein the retention elements correspond to a fork-shaped piece ( 14 ) that is installed on the outer face of the connection ear ( 6 ) of the handle ( 12 ) of the bucket ( 16 ), where said fork ( 14 ) It comprises a first straight end and an opposite end that corresponds to a “C”-shaped opening mouth that allows receiving and retaining the fin edge portion ( 8 ) of the pin ( 2 ), 
 wherein the fork ( 14 ) is placed in the bucket ( 16 ) so that the straight end is attached to the outer face of the ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) so that the opening mouth is perpendicular to the portion of fin edge ( 8 ), being parallel to the axis of rotation of the pin ( 2 ), 
 where the opening (A) of the mouth of the fork ( 14 ) is greater than the width (C) of the end of the fin edge portion ( 8 ) so that there is a play that allows a small movement of the fin ( 8 ) and the fork ( 14 ) without said fin ( 8 ) being able to be released from it, preventing the transfer of the load, due to the restriction of the movement of the pin ( 2 ), towards the retaining elements, preventing them from coming off. from the bucket ( 16 ); and 
   a first wear indicator ( 15 ) of the bushing ( 4 ) installed in each of the connections of the bucket ( 16 ) with the handles ( 12 ), comprising:
 a status plate ( 18 ) comprising at least three colors, these being a first color ( 20 ), a second color ( 21 ) and a third color ( 22 ) that represent a wear level of the bushing ( 4 ), being located close to the edge of the connection of the bucket ( 16 ) with the handle ( 12 ) and oriented in a position such that the longitudinal axis of the status plate ( 18 ) coincides with the longitudinal axis of the handle ( 12 ) when it operates at 45°, where the third color ( 22 ) is closer to the edge of the handle ( 12 ); and 
 an indicator element attached to the edge of the handle ( 12 ) in a position in which its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the handle ( 12 ) superimposing the status plate ( 18 ) when the handle operates at 45° allowing the user to be visualized or signaled minus one color ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) of the status plate ( 18 ) depending on the level of wear on the bushing ( 4 ), so that the indicator element moves together with said handle ( 12 ) such that when a displacement of the position of the handle ( 12 ) is generated due to the wear of the bushing ( 4 ) the position of the indicator element changes, 
   
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the indicator element is an indicator plate ( 23 ) that superimposes the status plate ( 18 ), without contacting it, when the handle ( 12 ) operates at 45°, so that said indicator plate ( 23 ) at least partially covers said status plate ( 18 ) allowing the colors ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) to be displayed depending on the level of wear on the hub ( 4 ). 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the indicator plate ( 23 ) has a rectangular shape whose longer sides remain parallel to the longer sides of the status plate when the handle ( 12 ) operates at 45°, which extend a length such that, in an initial state without wear, the indicator plate ( 23 ) at least partially covers the section that includes the first color ( 20 ), indicating the absence of wear. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according  claim 8 , wherein the opening (A) of the mouth of the fork ( 14 ) is between 1.04 to 1.08 times the width (C) of the end edge portion of the fin ( 8 ). 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the state plate ( 18 ) corresponds to a metal plate, of rectangular hexahedral shape with rectangular faces, where one of its largest faces is divided into at least three sections to include the at least three colors ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) that represent the wear levels and the opposite major face is attached to the bucket ( 16 ). 
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein each color of the status plate ( 18 ) is related to the thickness of the upper or outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) that experiences wear, such that the first color ( 20 ) represents that the outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) has a thickness between 85 to 100% of its thickness without wear; the second color ( 21 ) represents that the outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) has a thickness between 70 to 85% or between 25 to 85% of its thickness without wear; and the third color ( 22 ) represents that the thickness of the outer face of the bushing ( 4 ) has a thickness less than 70% or less than 25% of its thickness without wear. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein it also comprises a second wear indicator ( 26 ) on the front part of a door ( 30 ) of the buckets ( 16 ) to monitor wear on bushings ( 27 ) in the connections between the door ( 30 ) and the bucket ( 16 ), where the second wear indicator ( 26 ) is located on each side of the bucket ( 16 ), specifically, in at least one contact area between an edge and the door ( 27 ) and a bucket edge ( 16 ), the second wear indicator ( 26 ) comprising a bucket plate ( 28 ) and a door plate ( 29 ), identical, positioned near the bucket edge ( 16 ) and the door ( 27 ), where said bucket plate ( 28 ) and said door plate ( 29 ) include a horizontal reference line, which are aligned in an initial state without wear of the bushings ( 27 ) and are misaligned when wear occurs. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the “C”-shaped mouth of the fork ( 14 ) comprises an interior portion ( 31 ), adjacent to the straight end of said fork ( 14 ), formed by straight sections so that the opening (A) of the mouth has the same separation along said interior portion ( 31 ); and an outer portion ( 32 ), adjacent to the inner portion ( 31 ), which has inclined inner sides that deviate in opposite directions, so that the opening (A) increases towards the outside of the mouth, where the larger opening (A) in the outer portion ( 32 ) of the mouth of the fork ( 14 ) generates a relief or relief angle that makes it easier to insert/remove the edge of the fin ( 8 ), ensuring that the fin ( 8 ) remains retained in the inner mouth portion ( 31 ) in a suitable position. 
     
     
         16 . A wear indicator ( 15 ) for monitoring and preventing wear of bushings ( 4 ) and pins ( 2 ) in bucket connections ( 16 ) of electric shovels that use padlocks ( 11 ) or padlocks, wherein it comprises:
 a status plate ( 18 ) comprising at least three colors, these being a first color ( 20 ), a second color ( 21 ) and a third color ( 22 ) that represent a wear level of the bushing ( 4 ), being located close to the connection of the bucket ( 16 ) with the padlock ( 11 ) and oriented in a position in which its longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the padlock ( 11 ) when it operates at 45°; and   an indicator element attached to the edge of the padlock ( 11 ) to display or signal at least one color ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) of the status plate ( 18 ) depending on the level of wear on the hub ( 4 ), so that It moves together with said padlock ( 11 ) such that when a displacement of the position of the padlock ( 11 ) is generated due to the wear of the bushing ( 4 ), the position of the indicator element varies, being in an initial state without wear, in a position in which the longitudinal axis of said indicator element is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the padlock ( 11 ) when it operates at 45°.   
     
     
         17 . A pin-locking device ( 1 ) for monitoring and preventing wear of bushings ( 4 ) and pins ( 2 ) in each bucket connection ( 16 ) of electric shovels that use padlocks ( 11 ) or padlocks, wherein it comprises:
 a pin ( 2 ) that connects with an ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) with the connecting elements of a padlock ( 11 );   two removable shackles ( 9 ) at one of the ends of the pin ( 2 ), joined together by bolts in housings ( 10 ) at the ends of said shackles ( 9 ), restricting the longitudinal movement of the pin ( 2 );   a fin ( 8 ) or retaining arm located at the other end of the pin ( 2 ), being arranged perpendicular to the axis ( 3 ) of rotation of the pin ( 2 ), which comprises a rim that surrounds and joins said end of the pin ( 2 ) and a fin edge portion ( 8 ) projecting from said edge;   a bushing ( 4 ) between the pin ( 2 ) and the ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) and the connection elements of the lock ( 11 ), which receives the rotational friction; and   retaining elements that receive and engage with the edge portion of the fin ( 8 ), so that said fin ( 8 ) restricts the longitudinal and rotational movement of the pin ( 2 ),   where the retention elements correspond to two guide straps ( 7 ), installed in the upper front part of the bucket ( 16 ), on the outside of each connection of the bucket ( 16 ) between an ear ( 6 ) and the padlock ( 11 ), the guide straps ( 7 ) being separated from each other, so that it allows receiving and retaining the fin edge portion ( 8 ), in which the separation distance (B) of the guide straps ( 7 ) is greater than the width (C) of the end of the fin edge portion ( 8 ) so that there is a play that allows a small movement of the fin ( 8 ) between said guide straps ( 7 ) without said fin ( 8 ) being able to free itself from these, preventing the transfer of the load, by restricting the movement of the pin ( 2 ), towards the retention elements, preventing them from detaching from the bucket ( 16 ).   
     
     
         18 . A wear indicator ( 15 ) for monitoring and preventing wear of bushings ( 4 ) and pins ( 2 ) in bucket connections ( 16 ) of electric shovels that use handles ( 12 ) or bails, wherein it comprises:
 a status plate ( 18 ) comprising at least three colors, these being a first color ( 20 ), a second color ( 21 ) and a third color ( 22 ) that represent a wear level of the bushing ( 4 ), being located close to the edge of the connection of the bucket ( 16 ) with the handle ( 12 ) and oriented in a position such that the longitudinal axis of the status plate ( 18 ) coincides with the longitudinal axis of the handle ( 12 ) when it operates at 45°, where the third color ( 22 ) is closer to the edge of the handle ( 12 ); and   an indicator element attached to the edge of the handle ( 12 ) in a position in which its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the handle ( 12 ) superimposing the status plate ( 18 ) when the handle operates at 45° allowing the user to be visualized or signaled minus one color ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) of the status plate ( 18 ) depending on the level of wear on the bushing ( 4 ), so that the indicator element moves together with said handle ( 12 ) such that when a displacement of the position of the handle ( 12 ) is generated due to the wear of the bushing ( 4 ) the position of the indicator element changes.   
     
     
         19 . A pin-locking device ( 1 ) for monitoring and preventing wear of bushings ( 4 ) and pins ( 2 ) in each bucket connection ( 16 ) of electric shovels that use handles ( 12 ) or bails, wherein it comprises:
 a pin ( 2 ) that connects with an ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) with the connecting elements of a handle ( 12 );   two removable shackles ( 9 ) at one of the ends of the pin ( 2 ), joined together by bolts in housings ( 10 ) at the ends of said shackles ( 9 ), restricting the longitudinal movement of the pin ( 2 );   a fin ( 8 ) or retaining arm located at the other end of the pin ( 2 ), being arranged perpendicular to the axis ( 3 ) of rotation of the pin ( 2 ), which comprises a rim that surrounds and joins said end of the pin ( 2 ) and a fin edge portion ( 8 ) projecting from said edge;   a bushing ( 4 ) between the pin ( 2 ) and the ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) and the connecting elements of the handle ( 12 ), which receives the rotational friction; and   retaining elements that receive and engage with the edge portion of the fin ( 8 ), so that said fin ( 8 ) restricts the longitudinal and rotational movement of the pin ( 2 ),   wherein the retention elements correspond to a fork-shaped piece ( 14 ) that is installed on the outer face of the connection ear ( 6 ) of the handle ( 12 ) of the bucket ( 16 ), where said fork ( 14 ) It comprises a first straight end and an opposite end that corresponds to a “C”-shaped opening mouth that allows receiving and retaining the fin edge portion ( 8 ) of the pin ( 2 ),   wherein the fork ( 14 ) is placed in the bucket ( 16 ) so that the straight end is attached to the outer face of the ear ( 6 ) of the bucket ( 16 ) so that the opening mouth is perpendicular to the portion of fin edge ( 8 ), being parallel to the axis of rotation of the pin ( 2 ),   where the opening (A) of the mouth of the fork ( 14 ) is greater than the width (C) of the end of the fin edge portion ( 8 ) so that there is a play that allows a small movement of the fin ( 8 ) and the fork ( 14 ) without said fin ( 8 ) being able to be released from it, preventing the transfer of the load, due to the restriction of the movement of the pin ( 2 ), towards the retaining elements, preventing them from coming off. from the bucket ( 16 ).   
     
     
         20 . A wear indicator ( 26 ) for monitoring and preventing wear of bushings ( 27 ) in bucket ( 16 ) and door ( 30 ) connections of electric shovels that use padlocks ( 11 ) or padlocks, or handles ( 12 ) or bails, wherein it is located in the front part of the door ( 30 ) of the buckets ( 16 ) on each side of the bucket ( 16 ), specifically, in at least one contact area between an edge of the door ( 27 ) and an edge of the bucket ( 16 ), comprising a bucket plate ( 28 ) and a door plate ( 29 ), identical, placed near the edge of the bucket ( 16 ) and the door ( 27 ), where said bucket plate ( 28 ) and Said door plate ( 29 ) includes a horizontal reference line, which is aligned in an initial state without wear of the bushings ( 27 ) and is misaligned when wear is generated. 
     
     
         21 . The wear indicator ( 26 ) according to  claim 20 , wherein the door plate ( 29 ) corresponds to a status plate ( 18 ), which comprises at least three colors, these being a first color ( 20 ), a second color ( 21 ) and a third color ( 22 ) that represent a level of wear of the bushing ( 4 ), being arranged so that the longitudinal axis of the status plate ( 18 ) is perpendicular to the horizontal line of the status plate. bucket ( 28 ), where said horizontal line of the bucket plate ( 28 ) indicates one of the colors  10  ( 20 ,  21 ,  22 ) of the status plate ( 18 ) depending on the level of wear on the bushing ( 27 ).