Arch Back Dragline Bucket and Work Machines, Systems, and Assemblies Thereof

The present disclosure relates to a dragline bucket, and work machines, systems, and assemblies thereof.

Machines, such as dragline excavators, typically include a dragline bucket associated therewith. The dragline bucket may be used in mining and earth moving operations. For example, the dragline bucket may be used to capture materials such as rocks/aggregate, or other large finds. The dragline bucket is suspended from a boom of the machine by a rigging assembly, and the dragline bucket is maneuvered by control of the rigging assembly.

During positioning of a conventional bucket at the start of digging (pointing vertically downwards), an arm thereof may take direct hits from the ground, especially in underwater digging. This can result in notches and/or material wear in the arm, which can lead to cracks in the weldment and parent material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,738 (“the '738 patent”) describes a dragline bucket wherein the center of gravity is along a line making an angle of at least 90 degrees with a line from the tooth tip to the horizontal pivot axis of the dragline hitch.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a dragline machine can be provided or implemented. The dragline machine can comprise: a boom; a rigging assembly operatively coupled to the boom via plurality of ropes; and a fabricated dragline bucket having an inner working volume, the fabricated dragline bucket including: a bottom wall, a first sidewall extending from the bottom wall and defining a first upper edge, the first sidewall having a window portion having a single uniform plate thickness, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, extending from the bottom wall, and defining a second upper edge, the second sidewall having a window portion having the single uniform plate thickness, a first forward-facing drag lug on a first side of the fabricated dragline bucket, a second forward-facing drag lung on a second side of the fabricated dragline bucket opposite the first side, a lip assembly at a front of the bottom wall, the lip assembly having a plurality of ground engaging tools extending downward and away from the bottom wall of the fabricated dragline bucket, an arm in the form of an arch extending from the first side of the fabricated dragline bucket to the second side of the fabricated dragline bucket, a distal end of the arm being at a height greater than a height of respective first and second upper edges of the first and second sidewalls, and one or more dump anchors each having a connection interface, each of the one or more dump anchors being welded to an upper surface of the arm, wherein each of the first and second forward-facing drag lugs has an attachment point, wherein in a side elevational view of the fabricated dragline bucket, the arm is tilted away from the rear wall at an angle of from 17.5 degrees to 22.5 degrees, inclusive, relative to a vertical plane extending through a forward-most edge of the arm, wherein a portion of the arm overlaps a portion of the lip assembly in a vertical direction, and wherein the forward-most edge of the arm does not overlap the attachment points of the first and second forward-facing drag lugs in the vertical direction.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a dragline bucket can be provided or implemented. The dragline bucket can comprise: a bottom wall; a first sidewall extending from the bottom wall and defining a first upper edge; a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, extending from the bottom wall, and defining a second upper edge; a first forward-facing projection on a first side of the dragline bucket; a second forward-facing projection on a second side of the dragline bucket opposite the first side; a lip assembly at a front of the bottom wall, the lip assembly having a plurality of ground engaging teeth; an arm in the form of an arch extending from the first side of the dragline bucket to the second side of the dragline bucket, a distal end of the arm being at a height greater than a height of respective first and second upper edges of the first and second sidewalls; and one or more dump anchors each having a connection interface, each of the one or more dump anchors being welded to an upper surface of the arm, wherein each of the first and second forward-facing projections has an attachment point, wherein in a side elevational view of the dragline bucket, the arm is tilted away from the rear wall at an angle of from 17.5 degrees to 22.5 degrees, inclusive, relative to a vertical plane extending through a forward-most edge of the arm, and wherein the dragline bucket has the following dimensions: FH/AH=0.39 to 0.49 (e.g., 0.44) and/or FH/AL=0.27 to 0.37 (e.g., 0.32), where FH is defined as a vertical distance from a first horizontal plane extending through the base to a second horizontal plan extending through a portion of the first and second upper edges, AH is defined as a vertical distance from the second horizontal plan extending through the first and second upper edges to a third horizontal plane above the second horizontal plane that passes through a base portion of the arm, and AL is defined as a horizontal distance from a sixth vertical plane extending through a portion of the arm to the second vertical plane extending through the upper capacity point.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method can be implemented. The method can comprise: providing a dragline bucket, the dragline bucket including: a bottom wall, a first sidewall extending from the bottom wall and defining a first upper edge, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, extending from the bottom wall, and defining a second upper edge, a first forward-facing drag lug on a first side of the dragline bucket, a second forward-facing drag lung on a second side of the dragline bucket opposite the first side, a lip assembly at a front of the bottom wall, the lip assembly having a plurality of ground engaging teeth, an arm extending from the first side of the dragline bucket to the second side of the dragline bucket, a distal end of the arm being at a height greater than a height of respective first and second upper edges of the first and second sidewalls, and one or more dump anchors each having a connection interface, each of the one or more dump anchors being welded to an upper surface of the arm, wherein each of the first and second forward-facing drag lugs has an attachment point, wherein in a side elevational view of the dragline bucket, the arm is tilted away from the rear wall at an angle of from 17.5 degrees to 22.5 degrees, inclusive, relative to a vertical plane extending through a forward-most edge of the arm, wherein a portion of the arm overlaps a portion of the lip assembly in a vertical direction, wherein the forward-most edge of the arm does not overlap the attachment points of the first and second forward-facing drag lugs in the vertical direction, and wherein the fabricated dragline bucket has the following dimensions: FH/AH=0.39 to 0.49 (e.g., 0.44) and/or FH/AL=0.27 to 0.37 (e.g., 0.32), where FH is defined as a vertical distance from a first horizontal plane extending through the base to a second horizontal plan extending through a portion of the first and second upper edges, AH is defined as a vertical distance from the second horizontal plan extending through the first and second upper edges to a third horizontal plane above the second horizontal plane that passes through a base portion of the arm, and AL is defined as a horizontal distance from a sixth vertical plane extending through a portion of the arm to the second vertical plane extending through the upper capacity point.

As noted above, the present disclosure relates to a dragline bucket, and work machines, systems, and assemblies thereof. According to one or more embodiments, the dragline bucket according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be regarded or referred to as an arch-back dragline bucket or an arch-centered dragline bucket.

illustrates an exemplary machine. The machineis embodied as a dragline excavator herein. Alternatively, the machinemay include another type of earthmoving machine that employs a dragline bucketthat will be explained later in this section. The machinemay perform one or more operations associated with an industry such as mining, construction, forestry, farming, transportation, or any other industry known in the art. The machinemay be embodied as a manual, autonomous, or semi-autonomous machine, without any limitations. Thus, machines according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, including the machine, may be regarded as work or working machines.

The machinecan include a house, which may be regarded as a cabin or more generally an operator area. The machinecan further include a power source supported by the houseor other component, such as a chassis or frame. The power source may supply power to various components of the machinefor operation, movement, and the like. In one example, the power source may include an engine, such as a diesel engine, a gasoline engine, a gaseous fuel-powered engine, or any other type of combustion engine. In other examples, the power source may additionally or alternatively include an electric drive assembly having one or more electric motors.

The machinecan include a boom. The boomcan be controlled by a suspension systemconnected to a mastand a gantry frame. The machinecan further include a rigging assemblycoupled to one or more hoist ropes. The machinecan also include the dragline bucketcoupled to the rigging assembly. Optionally, the dragline bucketmay be regarded as separate from the machine, though operably coupleable to the machine, particularly operably coupleable to the rigging assemblythereof, such as shown in. The rigging assemblycan include a drag socketand one or more drag ropes. The hoist rope(s)can pass over a boom point sheaveof the boomand suspend the dragline buckettherefrom. The dragline bucketcan be coupled to the drag rope(s)by the drag socket. An amount of material that can be carried by the dragline bucketis typically governed by a volume of the dragline bucket. Further, the volume of the dragline bucketmay vary based on a shape and/or size of the dragline bucket, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g., according to the cubic volume). Exemplary dragline bucket volumes include from 3 mto 125 m.

Turning to, these figures show the dragline bucketaccording to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure, however, are not limited to the specific dragline bucketshown in. The dragline bucketitself may be regarded as a dragline bucket assembly. And the dragline bucketmay be regarded as a clipped bucket (i.e., a clipped dragline bucket). However, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are not limited to the dragline bucketshown inor even the type of dragline bucket shown inand may include other dragline bucket types or styles.

The dragline bucket, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, can include a bodyhaving a base, which may be regarded as a floor or bottom wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewallopposite the first sidewall, and a rear or end wall. The first sidewallcan define a first upper edgeopposite the base, and the second sidewallcan define a second upper edgeopposite the base, which can be opposite the first upper edge. At least the first upper edgeand the second upper edgeeach can be regarded as an upper rail. Further, the base, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the rear or end wallcan be arranged to define an interior volume of the dragline bucket, such as shown in. The interior volume may be regarded as a working volume. The working volume of the dragline bucketmay be from 3 mto 125 m, as an example range. The interior volume of the dragline bucketmay additional or alternatively be referred to or regarded as bucket capacity (e.g., from CIMA capacity calculation). According to one or more embodiments, a horizontal plane Pcan extend through the base, such as shown in. The horizontal plane Pmay be regarded as a first horizontal plane.

According to one or more embodiments, the first sidewall, the first upper edge, the second sidewall, and the second upper edgemay be regarded as a first sidewall portion, a first upper edge portion, a second sidewall portion, and a second upper edge portion, respectively. According to one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the baseand a portion of each of the first and second upper edges,can be parallel with each other at least in a side elevational view of the dragline bucket, such as shown in.

Optionally, each of the first sidewalland the second sidewallcan comprise or consist of a plate or plates having a single thickness. Such single-thickness plate(s) per sidewall may be regarded as window plates. In this regard, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first sidewalland the second sidewallcan be formed of a single plate that extends from the baseto the respective first and second upper edges,, and such single plate can have a single or uniform thickness. A single thickness sidewall may be regarded as a single plate with no lap plates or interruption in plate “homogeneousness.” Area and thickness of the plate or plates having single thickness, i.e., single-thickness sidewall, can vary based on capacity and/or application. Optionally, each single-thickness plane per sidewall may not extend to the corresponding first or second upper edge,and/or to the base.

The dragline bucketcan further include or define a first forward-facing projectionand a second forward-facing projectionopposite the first forward-facing projectionin a width direction of the dragline bucket. Optionally, the first forward-facing projectionand the second forward-facing projectioncan be part of the first sidewalland the second sidewall, respectively. Each of the first and second forward-facing projections,may be regarded as a drag lug. The first and second forward-facing projections,may each provide or otherwise have an attachment point, which may be, according to one example, a clevis pin-compatible attachment point. Further, such attachment pointmay be regarded as a hitch point of the cheek plate. The attachment pointof each of the first and second forward-facing projections,may be coupled directly or indirectly to respective drag ropes or draft rope portions (e.g., indirectly through a chain or chains connected directly to the attachment pointsat one end and the drag rope(s) at the other end).

A lip assemblycan be provided at the front edge of the baseopposite the rear wall. Optionally, the lip assemblymay be part of the base. The lip assemblycan include a plurality of edge protectorsand/or a plurality of ground engaging tools. A vertical plane P, which can be regarded as a first vertical plane, can extend through the horizontal plane Pat an edge of the cutting lip of the lip assembly. Such edge of the cutting lip may also be referred to or regarded as a shroud base leading edge point. The vertical plane Pcan be regarded as a front capacity line. Further, where the vertical plane Pcrosses the horizontal plane Pcan be regarded as a lower capacity point LCP. The lower capacity point LCP can be vertically above the edge of the cutting lip/shroud base leading edge point. A horizontal plane P, which may be referred to as a second horizontal plane, can extend through at least a portion of the first upper edge portionor the second upper edge portionin a side elevational view, such as shown in. Where the vertical plane Pcrosses the horizontal plane Pcan be regarded as an upper capacity point UCP. A plane corresponding to at least a portion of each of the first upper edge portionand the second upper edge portionin the side elevational view, for instance, extending from the UCP, can be +/−eight (8) degrees relative to the horizontal plane P.

According to one or more embodiments, the lip assemblyand the first and second sidewalls,may define a mouth of the dragline bucket. Optionally, according to one or more embodiments, the first and second forward-facing projections,may not define the mouth of the dragline bucket. The first and second forward-facing projections,may be regarded as cheek portions or plates. Optionally, as noted above, the first and second forward-facing projections,may be part of the first sidewalland the second sidewall, respectively. As such, front or leading portions of the first sidewalland the second sidewallmay be regarded as cheek portions or plates.

The dragline bucketmay also include an arm. According to one or more embodiments, the arm, the lip assembly, and the front edges of the first and second sidewalls,(including or excluding the first and second forward-facing projections,) may define a front ring assembly. The front ring assembly, according to one or more embodiments, may comprise or consist of the arm, the lip assembly, and at least the front edges of the first and second sidewalls,. The front ring assembly of the dragline bucketmay define a front or loading area of the dragline bucket. The armmay be in the form of an arch, such as shown in the front elevational view of. Accordingly, the armmay be regarded or characterized as a ring-shaped arch. Further, based on positioning of arm, the dragline bucketcan be regarded or characterized as an arch-centered dragline bucket.

At least a portion of the arm, such as a distal end portion away from the first and second sidewalls,, can be forward of the lip assembly, such as shown in. However, according to one or more embodiments, the distal end portion of the armmay not extend past the attachment pointsof the first and second forward-facing projections,, such as shown in.

The arm, which may be linear or extend straight from the first and second sidewalls,to the distal end thereof in a side elevational view, for instance, may also be tilted forward at an angle θrelative to a vertical plane P, again, in the side elevational view, such as shown in. The vertical plane Pmay be regarded as a second vertical plane and can extend through the first and second forward-facing projections,. Thus, the arch ring, which can be defined at least in part or fully by the arm, can be tilted forward at the angle θwith respect to the lip assembly. The angle θcan be acute, for instance, in a range from 17.5 degrees to 22.5 degrees. According to one or more embodiments, the angle θcan be 20 degrees. Having the armtilted forward at the angle θcan increase the stability of the dragline bucket.

The armcan have a first endfixedly coupled (e.g., welded) to the first sidewalland a second endfixedly coupled (e.g., welded) to the second sidewall. The first and second ends,can be respectively fixedly coupled to an outside or outer portion of the first and second sidewalls,. Further, such fixed couplings of the first and second ends,to the first and second sidewalls,can be at the first and second upper edges,, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Such fixed couplings may be regarded as side weldings.

One or more dump anchors, each of which can be a fabrication or a casting, can be provided and fixedly coupled (e.g., welded) to an upper surfaceof the arm.andshow two dump anchors, though only one dump anchormay be implemented. According to one or more embodiments, each dump anchormay be regarded as part of the dragline bucket. The dump anchoror dump anchors(e.g., a pair of dump anchors) may be centered along the length of the arm, such as shown in. Optionally, the dump anchorsmay be separated from each other along the length of the arm, such as shown in.

The base of the dump anchorcan be fixedly coupled to the upper surfaceof arm. According to one or more embodiments, the base of the dump anchormay be a relatively thick base plate, i.e., thicker than portions of the dump anchorabove the base.

According to one or more embodiments, a concave or cutout portioncan be between the armand each of the first and second forward-facing projections,, such as shown in. Another concave or cutout portionmay be between each of the first and second forward-facing projections,and the lip assembly, such as shown in.

Referring still to, the dragline bucketaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure can have the dimensions AL, AH, and/or FH. FH/AH can equal 0.39 to 0.49 (e.g., 0.44) and/or FH/AL can equal 0.27 to 0.37 (e.g., 0.32). The weight distribution of the dragline bucketfrom teeth to heel, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, can have a balance of from 55% to 58% (e.g., 56%) on the teeth and 42% to 45% (e.g., 44%) on the heel.

The dimension FH may be defined as a vertical distance from the first horizontal plane P, for instance, a horizontal extending through the base, to the second horizontal plane P, for instance, a horizontal plane above the first horizontal plane that extends to a base portion of the arm, such as shown in. The dimension AH may be defined as a vertical distance from the second horizontal plane Pto a third horizontal plane Pextending through a center line or plane of the armangled at the angle θrelative to the second vertical plane Pin the side elevational view of the dragline bucket, such as shown in. The dimension AL can be defined as a horizontal distance from a vertical plane P, which may be regarded as a third vertical plane, extending through both the third horizontal plane Pand the center line or plane of the armangled at the angle θrelative to the second vertical plane Pin the side elevational view of the dragline bucketat same point, such as shown in.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to dragline buckets, and work machines, systems, and assemblies thereof.

During positioning of a conventional bucket at the start of digging (pointing vertically downwards), an arm thereof may take direct hits from the ground, especially in underwater digging. This can result in notches and/or material wear in the arm, which can lead to cracks in the weldment and parent material.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a dragline bucket can be implemented or provided, such as the dragline bucket.

The dragline bucketcan have opposing sidewalls, such as the first sidewalland the second sidewall. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first sidewalland the second sidewallcan comprise or consist of a plate or plates having a single thickness. Such single-thickness plate(s) per sidewall may be regarded as window plates. In this regard, the first sidewalland the second sidewallcan be formed of a single plate that extends from the baseto the respective first and second upper edges,, and such single plate can have a single or uniform thickness. Alternatively, each of the single-thickness planes may not extend to the baseand/or corresponding ones of the first and second upper edges,. Implementing a single window plate per side of the dragline bucketcan reduce the weight of the dragline bucket, the number of parts for the dragline bucket, manufacturing and process costs, assembly setup time costs, and/or welding costs.

The dragline bucket can have an arm, such as the arm, which may be linear or extend straight from the first and second sidewalls,to the distal end thereof in a side elevational view, for instance. The armmay be tilted at an angle θrelative to vertical, again, in the side elevational view, such as shown in. Thus, the arch ring, which can be defined at least in part or fully by the arm, can be tilted at the angle θwith respect to the lip assembly. The angle θcan be acute, for instance, in a range from 17.5 degrees to 22.5 degrees. According to one or more embodiments, the angle θcan be 20 degrees. Having the armtilted at the angle θrelative to the second vertical plane Pand with a forward front edge at a length such that the second vertical plane Pis within a predetermined horizontal distance away from the a vertical plane extending through the attachment pointcan cause the dragline bucketto be more evenly balanced, which can increase the stability of the dragline bucket.

At least a portion of the arm, such as a distal end portion away from the first and second sidewalls,, can be forward of the lip assembly, such as shown in. However, according to one or more embodiments, the distal end portion of the armmay not extend past the attachment pointsof the first and second forward-facing projections,, such as shown in. As noted above, having the armtilted forward relative to the second vertical plane Pand with a forward front edge at a length such that the second vertical plane Pis within a predetermined horizontal distance away from the vertical plane extending through the attachment pointcan cause the dragline bucketto be more evenly balanced, which can increase the stability of the dragline bucket.

The dragline bucket, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, can have the dimensions AL, AH, and/or FH. FH/AH can equal 0.39 to 0.49 (e.g., 0.44) and/or FH/AL can equal 0.27 to 0.37 (e.g., 0.32). The dimension FH may be defined as a vertical distance from the first horizontal plane P, for instance, a horizontal extending through the base, to the second horizontal plane P, for instance, a horizontal plane above the first horizontal plane that extends to a base portion of the arm, such as shown in. The dimension AH may be defined as a vertical distance from the second horizontal plane Pto a third horizontal plane Pextending through a center line or plane of the armangled at the angle θrelative to the second vertical plane Pin the side elevational view of the dragline bucket, such as shown in. The dimension AL can be defined as a horizontal distance from a vertical plane P, which may be regarded as a third vertical plane, extending through both the third horizontal plane Pand the center line or plane of the armangled at the angle θrelative to the second vertical plane Pin the side elevational view of the dragline bucketat same point, such as shown in.

Generally speaking, dragline buckets according to embodiments of the present disclosure, including the dragline bucket, can be regarded as implementing a repositioning and/or a reorienting of the arm, which may be in the form of an arch, to reduce overall weight without compromising structural integrity. In general, such repositioning can involve the armbeing set to overlap (e.g., be centered over) the lip assembly, such as the lip assembly, in a vertical plane, such as shown in. For instance, the base of the armcan overlap a portion of the lip assemblyin the vertical direction. The forward edge of the armcan overlap the first and second forward-facing projections,in the vertical direction in the side elevational view of the dragline bucket. Thus, the center of gravity CG can be forward of the center of the dragline bucket, for instance, to provide more force on the ground engaging tool(e.g., bucket teeth).

Further, such repositioning and reorienting of the armmay be such that the center of gravity CG position of the dragline bucketis not driven towards the front of the dragline bucket, i.e., less of a cantilever. The weight distribution of dragline buckets according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, from teeth to heel, can have a balance of 55% to 58% (e.g., 56%) on the teeth and 42% to 45% (e.g., 44%) on the heel.

In that dragline buckets according to embodiments of the present disclosure can have a concave or cutout portion, such as the concave/cutout portion, between the armand each of the first and second forward-facing projections,, such configuration can use relatively less material to connect the armand the each of the first and second forward-facing projections,. This can reduce the overall weight of the dragline bucket.

Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can also be as set forth according to the following parentheticals.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. That is, unless clearly specified otherwise, as used herein the words “a” and “an” and the like carry the meaning of “one or more.” The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B” or one or more of A and B″) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B; A, A and B; A, B and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Similarly, as used herein, the word “or” refers to any possible permutation of a set of items. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” refers to at least one of A, B, C, or any combination thereof, such as any of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C; or multiple of any item such as A and A; B, B, and C; A, A, B, C, and C; etc.

Additionally, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer,” and the like that may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, points of reference, operations and/or functions as described herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to any particular configuration or orientation.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, assemblies, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.