Durable cutting edges with edge protection

Abstract

A cutting edge of a machine is fabricated by cutting one or more grooves within a base cutting edge and incorporating one or more hard tiles in the grooves. An edge groove may be cut into a ground-engaging edge of the cutting edge and hard tiles may be disposed therein. Additionally, a face groove may be cut into a corner of the cutting edge, within which hard tiles may be disposed. At the face of the cutting edge, distanced from the ground-engaging edge, a wear indicator groove may be cut and wear indicator tiles may be disposed therein. Furthermore, laser-clad abrasion resistant material may be provided on a face of the cutting edge to improve the wear resistance of the face. Further still, the corners of the cutting edge may be rounded at its end(s) to remove the sharp corners that wear faster than the rest of the cutting edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cutting edge, comprising:
 a ground-engaging edge;   an end edge;   a face extending up to the ground-engaging edge and the end edge;   a first tile disposed within a first groove within the ground-engaging edge; and   a second tile disposed within a second groove at an interface of the ground-engaging edge and the face, the second tile including a first facet and a second facet, wherein the second tile has a different composition than the first tile.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting edge of  claim 1 , wherein the second tile includes a greater percentage of cobalt than the first tile. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting edge of  claim 1 , wherein the first tile has a cobalt composition in the range of 5% to about 12%. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting edge of  claim 1 , wherein the second tile includes a third facet, a fourth facet, and a ridge between the first facet, the second facet, the third facet, and the fourth facet. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting edge of  claim 4 , wherein the ridge protrudes beyond the face. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting edge of  claim 1 , further comprising a rounded corner between the ground-engaging edge and the end edge, wherein the rounded corner is at least one of a quarter circle, chamfered, or fillet. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting edge of  claim 6 , further comprising a third tile disposed within the first groove at the rounded corner, wherein the third tile includes a rounded profile. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting edge of  claim 7 , further comprising a fourth tile disposed within the second groove at the rounded corner, wherein the third tile includes a rounded profile. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting edge of  claim 1 , further comprising a wear indicator tile disposed within a third groove on the face, wherein the wear indicator tile is disposed at a location where wear of the cutting edge corresponds to an end of life of the cutting edge. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting edge of  claim 1 , further comprising a face wear protector on the face, the face wear protector comprising tungsten carbide. 
     
     
         11 . A method of fabricating a cutting edge, comprising:
 forming a base cutting edge using steel, the base cutting edge including a ground-engaging edge, an end edge, and a face extending to the ground-engaging edge and the end edge;   cutting a first groove into the ground-engaging edge;   cutting a second groove into an interface between the ground-engaging edge and the face;   providing a first tile within the first groove; and   providing a second tile within the second groove, wherein the first tile is harder than the second tile.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 rounding a corner between the ground-engaging edge and the end edge to form a rounded corner, wherein the first groove and the second groove extend into the rounded corner;   providing a third tile within the first groove at the rounded corner; and   providing a fourth tile within the second groove at the rounded corner.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the first tile within the first groove comprises brazing the first tile in place within the first groove. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 powder sintering the first tile using tungsten carbide (WC) powder and cobalt (Co) powder, such that the first tile has a Co content in a range of about 6% to about 13%; and   powder sintering the second tile using the WC powder and Co powder, such that the second tile has a Co content in a range of greater than about 13%.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 laser cladding a face wear protector onto the face.   
     
     
         16 . A machine, comprising:
 a tool;   a cutting edge disposed on the tool, the cutting edge further comprising:
 a ground-engaging edge; 
 an end edge; 
 a face extending up to the ground-engaging edge and the end edge; 
 a first tile disposed within a first groove within the ground-engaging edge; and 
 a second tile disposed within a second groove at an interface of the ground engaging edge and the face, wherein the first tile is harder than the second tile. 
   
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 16 , wherein the second tile includes a first facet, a second facet, a third facet, a fourth facet, and a rectangular ridge between the first facet, the second facet, the third facet, and the fourth facet. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 16 , further comprising a rounded corner between the ground-engaging edge and the end edge, wherein the rounded corner is at least one of a quarter circle, chamfered, or fillet. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 18 , further comprising a third tile disposed within the first groove at the rounded corner, wherein the third tile includes a rounded profile. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 16 , further comprising a wear indicator tile disposed within a third groove on the face, wherein the wear indicator tile is disposed at a location where wear of the cutting edge corresponds to an end of life of the cutting edge.