Blank for fabricating wear member for a ground-engaging tool

Abstract

A blank for fabricating a wear member for a ground-engaging tool includes a one-piece block having a boss channel and a lock bore each formed therein. The one-piece block includes a peripheral edge that projects upon lateral sides and a front end of the one-piece block, the peripheral edge originating and terminating at a back end of the block, to form a continuous welding interface that is partially perimetric of the one-piece block, for welding to a body of a wear member. The blank can be used to fabricate a variety of different wear members including shrouds, tooth tips, edge protectors, or others.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A fabricated wear member for a ground- engaging tool comprising:
 a wear member body configured for releasable installation on a ground-engaging tool and having a cutout formed therein;   a blank assembly positioned within the cutout, and including a one-piece block, and a lock positioned within the one-piece block;   the one-piece block having a front end, a back end, an upper surface, a bottom surface, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, and having formed therein a boss channel that is open at the bottom surface and at the back end;   the one-piece block further having a peripheral edge projecting upon each of the first lateral side, the second lateral side, and the front end, and having a shape that is complementary to a shape of the cutout; and   a weld attaching the wear member body to the peripheral edge.   
     
     
         17 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 16  wherein the wear member body includes one of an edge shroud, an edge protector, or a tooth piece. 
     
     
         18 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 17  wherein the wear member body includes a first plate piece having the cutout formed therein, and a second plate piece arranged in opposition to the first plate piece such that a gap extends therebetween. 
     
     
         19 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 17  wherein:
 the peripheral edge includes a welding lip, and a first groove is formed between the peripheral edge and the wear member body upon a first side of the welding lip and is at least partially filled by material of the weld; and 
 a second groove is formed between the peripheral edge and the wear member body upon a second side of the welding lip and is at least partially filled by material of a second weld. 
 
     
     
         20 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 16  wherein the peripheral edge has a U-shape and originates and terminates at the back end of the one-piece block. 
     
     
         21 . A fabricated wear member for a ground-engaging tool comprising:
 a one-piece block including a front end, a back end, an upper surface, a bottom surface, a first lateral side and a second lateral side;   a boss channel is formed in the one-piece block and is open at the bottom surface and at the back end;   a lock bore is formed in the one-piece block and extends downwardly from the upper surface to the boss channel, and the boss channel extends in a forward direction from the back end and is open continuously at the bottom surface from the back end to a location of the lock bore;   the one-piece block further including a peripheral edge that projects upon each of the first lateral side, the second lateral side, and the front end;   the peripheral edge is located vertically between the upper surface and the bottom surface, and the peripheral edge forming a welding interface that is partially perimetric of the one-piece block;   a wear member body having a cutout formed therein, and receiving the one-piece block in the cutout; and   a weld attaching the wear member body to the peripheral edge.   
     
     
         22 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 21  wherein the peripheral edge includes a welding lip. 
     
     
         23 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 22  wherein a transverse vertical plane is defined orthogonal to the welding lip, and the peripheral edge has a cross-sectional shape that is vertically symmetric about the welding lip in the transverse plane. 
     
     
         24 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 21  further comprising a non-metallic insert positioned within the boss channel. 
     
     
         25 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 21  wherein the one-piece block further includes a sloping surface extending between the upper surface and the peripheral edge, and a transition surface extending horizontally between the sloping surface and the peripheral edge, and wherein each of the sloping surface, the transition surface, and the peripheral edge originates and terminates at the back end of the one-piece block 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A fabricated wear member for a ground-engaging tool comprising:
 a one-piece block including a front end, a back end including a back end surface, an upper surface, a bottom surface, a first lateral side and a second lateral side;   a downwardly opening boss channel is formed in the one-piece block and extends to the back end surface for receiving a boss attached to a ground-engaging tool;   the one-piece block further including a peripheral edge that projects upon each of the first lateral side, the second lateral side, and the front end;   the peripheral edge is located vertically between the upper surface and the bottom surface; and   a wear member body welded to the peripheral edge.   
     
     
         29 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 28  wherein the peripheral edge including a welding lip originating and terminating at the back end surface, and the welding lip upon the first lateral side is parallel to the welding lip upon the second lateral side. 
     
     
         30 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 29  wherein the welding lip forms a U-shape. 
     
     
         31 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 28  wherein the peripheral edge is located outside of a footprint defined by the upper surface, and outside of a footprint defined by the bottom surface, in a projection plane. 
     
     
         32 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 28  wherein a roof slot in communication with the boss channel is formed in the one-piece blank. 
     
     
         33 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 32  wherein a rail slot in communication with the boss channel is formed in the one-piece blank. 
     
     
         34 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 28  wherein a lock bore is formed in the one-piece block and extends downwardly from the upper surface to the boss channel. 
     
     
         35 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 34  further comprising a lock within the lock bore. 
     
     
         36 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 28  wherein the wear member body includes a plate piece. 
     
     
         37 . The fabricated wear member of  claim 36  wherein the plate piece includes a first plate piece, and further comprising a second plate piece and a connector coupling the first plate piece to the second plate piece.