CN117616179A - Holding device and wear element for an excavator or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a holding device and a wear element, preferably a female part, for use in an excavator or the like for ensuring the holding between the female part and the male part. The female part has a cavity and the male part has a protrusion inserted into the cavity of the female part, the two parts being coupled to each other in that the retaining means are used together with at least one pin which at least partly passes through the female part, the retaining means and the male part.

Description

Holding device and wear element for an excavator or the like

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a holding device and a wear element, preferably a female part, for ensuring the holding between the wear element and an adapter, in other words between a female part and a male part in a coupling system of an excavator or the like. The holding device has a body defining a hollow space joined to the body and having a support element made of an elastic material joined to one end of the body of the holding device. The support element enables the holding device to be supported when it is arranged inside the master and supports a data storage code that enables, among other applications, the identification of the different components of the system and the access to a video showing how to assemble and disassemble the components and to the manufacturer's website, the product's website, catalogs, technical support chat, information about the assembly of the components, information about the manufacturing method, the mechanical properties of the components and their composition, etc.

The female component has a cavity and may be a wear part or element, tooth, tip or intermediate adapter (in a three-part system with an adapter or a welded or cast nose; intermediate adapter; and tip). The male member has a protrusion into which the above-described cavity of the female member may fit, and the male member may be a tooth holder or adapter, an intermediate adapter (in a three-part system with an adapter or a welded or cast nose; an intermediate adapter; and a tip), a cast lip nose or a welded nose. The intermediate adapter has a cavity on one side and a protrusion on the opposite side such that it acts as a female on one side and a male on the other side.

The female part is coupled to the male part, which two parts remain coupled by the interaction of the pin and the holding means. The female part is removably coupled to the male part and maintains a position between the two due to the interaction of the pin with the retaining means, which also retains the pin in its position. By means of the pin and the retaining means, the female and male parts are prevented from coming out of their locking position, thus maintaining the coupling between the two parts. The removable coupling requires removal of the pins for replacement of the female part and the retaining means, if necessary.

The invention is particularly suitable for the fields of public engineering, mining and excavation and various earthmoving machines.

Background

Excavators, such as those used in public works, mining and excavation sites, are used to move and handle soil, ground and rock. Often, these machines are provided with a shovel or bucket engaged with a robotic arm. The shovel is provided with a blade on the front edge, which blade is intended to penetrate the ground. To prevent excessive wear of the blade and to assist in penetrating the ground, a wear element associated with the blade is typically assembled, which protrudes from the blade leading edge. However, the wear element is also exposed to impact, wear and tear, for which it must be replaced frequently. Furthermore, depending on the application, it may be advisable to change the type or shape of the wear element in order to increase the excavation efficiency. To facilitate said replacement, an adapter fastened to the blade of the shovel in a more or less permanent manner is used, and a wear element is used which is removably coupled in the adapter by means of a fixing system provided with at least one pin. It is common for the coupling system between the wear member and the adapter to be formed of complementary cavities and noses such that the cavities mate with the noses, with the wear member having the cavities and the adapter having the noses, although this type of coupling is generally identified as an inverse system, but the opposite is also possible.

The pin is usually passed through at least one hole arranged in one wall of the wear element and a tube through the nose of the adapter, which tube secures the wear element to said adapter by the action of the pin. Alternatively, the wear member may have two holes in opposite walls such that the pin passes through the two holes and through the tube of the nose of the adapter. In any case, in order to ensure the coupling between the wear element and the adapter, the pin is located between the wear element and the adapter and is secured in its assembled position by a retaining means which prevents the pin from coming out of said position when the system is in operation; in other words, when the assembly formed by the wear element, the adapter and the fixation system formed by the pin and the holding device are subjected to high tension.

The retaining element is used to prevent the pin from coming out of its assembled position, as it is responsible for the following: for locking the pin in its assembled position; ensuring the coupling between the wear element and the adapter; and thus ensure assembly of the system or collection. When the coupling system is operated in difficult conditions, the teeth tend to disengage from their assembled position fitted in the adapter due to these forces, the pins being pins that keep the wear element or tooth part fastened to the adapter or tooth holder and supporting all the tension forces, the pins tend to move, disengage and/or break due to said tension forces. If this happens, both the pin and the wear element separate from the adapter may be lost. The loss of the wearing element (mainly tooth) can cause considerable damage, depending on the working site, not only because of the loss of time, but also because it can damage the adapter and cause malfunctions of other machines, such as crushers, which can work at the same production site as the machine using the tooth, for example in mines or quarries.

As mentioned above, the fastening system includes a retaining device associated with the pin to prevent the pin from being disengaged from its assembled position between the wear member and the adapter. The holding means has elastic properties such that the pin can be fastened and released in a simple manner and preferably without the use of a hammer.

US patent 3952433 relates to an earth working device having a support member and a tip, the earth working device being detachably mounted on the front end of the support member. A pin is disposed in an aligned bore formed through the support member and the distal end, and a spring clip rides on the pin in locking engagement with the pin. The spring clip is encapsulated by a resilient member that helps to maintain the spring clip in frictional engagement with the pin.

International application WO2017137619A1 describes a female part for an excavator or the like, comprising two holes in the wall, a first hole for enabling the insertion of a pin and a second hole for fastening and receiving a retaining device in a cavity of the female part. It proposes a retaining device that is directly coupled to the inner chamber of the female piece or wear element, which is then coupled to the male piece, by means of an integrated engagement device. When the two pieces are coupled, the retaining means are located laterally inside the female chamber and between the walls of the chamber and the walls of the male piece. In said position, the retaining means are protected from impacts inside the chamber when the coupling is in operation. The engagement means of the holding means enable the holding means to be engaged to the female part, thereby integrating said engagement means with the female part. Furthermore, the holding device can be joined to the female part in the manufacturing installation, so that both elements of the female part and the holding device can be supplied together as one piece to the workplace. In this working place the female part will be coupled to the male part and the pin will ensure the coupling between the male part and the female part by the interaction of said pin with the retaining means. When the female part, tooth or intermediate adapter has to be replaced due to wear, the retaining means are replaced at the same time, ensuring correct operation, since all parts are new. The insertion and extraction of the coupling pin takes place without a hammer, which means that the insertion or extraction of the pin does not require a hammer impact. In fact, the pin is extracted by rotating it, which makes the pin system easy to use and safe.

However, in the solution described in the above document WO2017137619A1, the assembly of the holding means requires that said holding means be subjected to forces which hinder its assembly in the female part. For example, it must be bent in order to be inserted and remain engaged in the cavity formed in the second hole of the female part, which requires the force of the operator in order to place the holding device in said cavity. In order to prevent fines from entering the interior of the coupling between the male part and the female part through the hole in which the holding means are fixed to the female part, in the prior art it is necessary to use a part separate from the previous part to block the hole from the outside, resulting in an additional step in assembly and the risk of the additional part loosening from the hole to open the hole.

As such, as the number of components used increases, the logistics for organizing said components becomes complex and the information about existing products increases, which makes it necessary to have elements that facilitate the identification of the different components involved in the coupling and, taking into account the type of components and their working conditions, to be able to access the information about the different components and the holding means in a simple manner. Visual information is conveniently accessed through video or images, which enables identification of the different components of the system, shows the user how to assemble and disassemble the components correctly, securely, and enables access to the manufacturer's website, the product's website, catalogs or technical support chat, etc.

The present invention makes it possible to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome the above drawbacks, the support or fastening of the holding device in the cavity of the female part and the data storage code capable of supporting all or some of the elements involved in the coupling between the male part and the female part are mainly simplified, and therefore a first object of the present invention is a holding device according to claim 1. The data storage code enables access to information related to the different components of the system, instructions for assembling or disassembling them, video or images of the instructions, information from the manufacturer, information about other related products, and products of the manufacturer among other information. Preferably, the information is accessed by a mobile device having a camera and internet access, to subsequently capture the data storage code, and to access one or more web pages having the required information. Preferably, the data storage code is a QR code or a BIDI code.

Preferably, the holding means comprises a body made of metal having a hollow space defined by an upper section, a lower section opposite the former and a rear section, and further comprises a support element having elastic properties joined to one end of said body. The body is not completely encapsulated in a supporting element having elastic properties as in the prior art. The support element has a body with elastic properties, made of an elastic material such as polyurethane, TPU, rubber, etc., and having a first base and a second base opposite the first base. Also, preferably, a data storage code is arranged on said first base, which enables access to the identification of one or all of the components constituting the coupling between the female part, the male part, the holding device object of the invention and the pin, as well as to another type of information as described above. The material of the support element with elastic properties is different from the material of the body of the holding device and from the material of the master. The latter two are less elastic than the support element and are preferably metallic.

The holding device is inserted into a cavity of the female part and is supported or fixed in the cavity by a support element. In particular, the female part has a body with a chamber with an inner end, an open end and side walls, wherein at least one of the walls has a first through hole for inserting a pin and a second through hole separated from the first through hole and located between the inner end of the chamber and the first hole. The purpose of the holding device of the invention is to be supported in the female part by inserting the support element into the second through hole of the female part such that it is self-fixing, self-fastening or self-supporting in said second hole, in other words the support element is fixed, fastened or supported by itself, due to the elastic or compression properties of the material of said support element. In the hollow space of the holding device, a pin is inserted for fastening it to the coupling formed by the male and female part.

According to the foregoing, a second object of the invention is a wear element according to claim 9. Preferably, the wear element is a female part having a retaining means in a cavity of the female part and a support element of the retaining means is inserted into a second hole of the female part. The wear element may be a female piece, such as a tooth, tip or intermediate adapter (in a three-part system: adapter, intermediate adapter and tip), but may also be a male piece. The wear element may include a data storage code accessible from outside the master.

The fixing of the information storage code on the body of the wear element, directly or through intermediate elements, enables access to information about any element constituting the coupling formed by the female part, the male part, the pin and the holding means, as well as information about the assembly thereof, about the manufacturing method, the mechanical properties of the component and its composition and other data, etc. Preferably, the information storage code is a BIDI code, QR code, bar code or the like, preferably it is a sheet adhered to the wear element.

The female part, tooth or wear element receives the retaining means and comprises a cavity which mates with a protrusion of the male part, typically an adapter or tooth holder or intermediate adapter or a welded or cast nose. In other cases, which are less common, the coupling is reversed, so the previous male and female pieces are interchanged, such that, for example, the tooth or wear element has a protrusion instead of a cavity, and the tooth holder or adapter has a cavity. In these possible embodiments, the retaining means will engage to the tooth holder or the cavity of the adapter.

The configuration of the retaining means is not only able to ensure the coupling between the female and male parts by acting as a retainer for the pin passing through the first two parts, but also able to:

-fixing the holding means in the cavity of the female part by inserting the support element with elastic properties by pressure into the second hole of said female part, and

-fixing also by means of said support element, in particular by means of its first base, the information storage code of any one of the elements constituting the coupling formed by the female part, the male part, the pin and the retaining means. Preferably, the information storage code is a BIDI code, QR code, bar code or the like, preferably it is a sheet adhered to the support element.

By arranging the holding means of the support element with these elastic properties it is sufficient for the user to insert the support element into the second hole by means of pressure, thereby preventing the body of the holding means, which has to be treated more rigidly and preferably made of metal, in order to insert the holding means into the housing in the chamber arranged therefor, as occurs in the prior art. Furthermore, the prior art solutions require more complex manufacturing moulds for the female part with the inner housing. The elastic nature of the support element, compared to the lower elasticity of the female element, allows said support element to be deformed so as to be inserted into the second hole and expand therein, ensuring its fixation inside said second hole. Typically, the female part is obtained by a casting process, wherein, due to the sufficient tolerances of the process, it is difficult to specify the size of the hole, so that the elasticity of the support element enables it to fit well for retention in the second hole of the female part.

When the support element is inserted into the second hole, the second base of the support element will be held within the chamber, while the first base of the element will face outwards. On this first base, the information storage code will be arranged, preferably adhered, so that the operator can access the information storage code from outside the master through a corresponding reader device, preferably a camera of a mobile device or a bar code reader, depending on the type of code used.

The fixation of the information storage code on the support element prevents that the code has to be placed on the female part or on the male part as described above. The arrangement of the code on either of these two pieces has the major disadvantage that the code is difficult to adhere to the casting. After the part is manufactured, it may be dried and painted before the code is attached. In addition to the problem of the code sticking to the castings, it must be considered that these parts may be impacted by other parts during handling and transport, which may damage the code and cause the code to fall off the part. In this way, by arranging the code on the support element, the code is protected by ensuring its function.

In order to protect the information code arranged on the first base of the support element while being accessible from the outside, it is preferred that the distance between the first base and the second base of the support element is smaller than the depth of the second hole of the female part or the thickness of the side wall comprising said second hole.

Likewise, the cross section of the support element inserted into the second hole is greater than the cross section of the second hole to ensure that the element is inserted into said hole by pressure and to ensure fastening therein. Preferably, the cross-section of the second hole and the cross-section of the support element are similar in shape in order to achieve a perfect fit between them, preventing unwanted movements of the holding means and the entry of fines into the mother piece.

The coupling method between the female and male parts with the purpose of the holding device of the invention is as follows:

inserting the retaining means into the cavity of the female part,

inserting the support element into a second through hole in one of the walls of the female part with the hollow space of the body of the holding device facing the first hole of the female part,

placing the female part on the male part by fitting the cavity of the female part with the nose of the male part, leaving the body of the holding device between the female part and the nose of the male part,

-inserting a pin through a hole in the wall of the female part such that the pin passes through the wall and then through the hollow space of the holding body until it reaches the nose of the male part, the end of the pin remaining held in the hollow of the holding body. Alternatively, the pin may be inserted through a hole in the wall of the female part, followed by the nose of the male part, in order to then pass through the hollow space of the retaining body. Thus, the retaining body may be arranged on either side of the nose, between the wall of the female part and said nose or even on both sides of the nose. The shape and material properties of the body of the holding device must provide the holding device with a certain flexibility enabling the pin to pass through the hollow space defined by the body so that the pin can be fastened and released as it passes through said hollow space.

Although throughout the description reference is made only to the arrangement of the retaining elements within the cavity of the female part, it is possible to insert two retaining means into the walls facing each other, both walls therefore having to have at least one first hole for receiving the pin and a second hole for receiving the supporting element of each retaining means. In this case, the two pins are arranged, one on each side of the nose of the male part, so that each pin passes through approximately half of said nose, in other words they do not pass through the entire nose. It may also be one that passes through the entire male member.

The holding means may have different configurations. In a first configuration, the retaining device has an elongate body with upper and lower sections generally parallel to each other and a rear section perpendicular to both, the retaining device being located at a first end of the body, the three sections defining a U-shape with a hollow space. Each of the two segments (upper and lower) has a front segment with a free end at the second end opposite the first end and thus opposite the rear segment, each of these free ends being joined to a support element. Preferably, the front sections approach each other in the inclined section until they reach the support element.

The elongate body of the holding means is made of a rigid material, preferably a wire or a band with a circular cross-section, although they may also have a square or rectangular cross-section. The material is preferably steel, although it may also be a plastic or teflon material.

It is also preferred that the free end forms a bend of at least 90 ° so as to define a section perpendicular to the front section for joining it to the support element. The free ends may be inserted into the support element or they may be coupled to the side of the support element having the slit, wherein the free ends of the support element are to be coupled to the slit and to a part of the upper and lower sections of the second end of the body of the holding device. In this second configuration, the free end and the segment coupled to the support element are inserted locally into the slit of the wear element, so that the cross section of the retaining body protrudes from the support element, enabling the material (usually metal) of the retaining element to come into contact with the material (also metal) of the female part. Such contact helps to prevent tension losses that may occur if there is substantial wear to the support member.

In both previous arrangements, the support element has an L-shaped longitudinal cross-section such that one portion is inserted into the second aperture of the female part and the other portion is retained within the chamber, which is where the upper and lower sections of the second end of the body of the retaining means are located. Furthermore, the support element may have different flexible ribs or tabs which, depending on their position, will contribute to a better fit between the support element and the component in contact therewith. For example, when the tab is arranged on the surface of the support element that is in contact with the interior of the second hole, the fit between the support element and the hole will be improved. Furthermore, when the ribs or fins are arranged on the surface of the support element that will face the nose of the male part, a greater tension sensation will be obtained in the lateral movement and damping will be obtained in the vertical movement of the female part relative to the male part.

In addition to inserting the ends into the support elements, the engagement or coupling between the free ends of the arms of the elongated body and the support elements can also be reinforced by using different fastening means. For example, the free end may be adhered to the inside of the support element, or the free end may be inserted into a cavity in the inside of the support element by means of pressure, or the support element may be injection molded onto the free end. Other fastening means may be present which ensure that the free end remains fastened to the inside of the support element, so as to ensure the integrity of the retaining means during its assembly, use and disassembly.

Sometimes, for example, in fittings having large dimensions, in which the length of the body of the holding device is large and has fastening points to the female part, the position of which is not completely stable, it may be necessary not only to secure the position of the holding device in the female part by inserting the support element into the second hole to secure the front part of the holding device, but also to secure the position of the holding device in the rear part of its opening closer to the cavity of the female part by its first end, so that the holding device remains secured to the wall of the female part by two different points.

To this end, in a first alternative, the upper and lower sections may be bent at about 90 ° at their first or rear ends near and before reaching the rear section of the body of the device, thereby defining second upper and second lower sections at about 90 ° relative to the upper and lower sections of the body of the holding device. The purpose of the second section is to act together with the rear section as a support for the holding means on the peripheral surface of the opening of the cavity of the female part.

In order to fix the holding device at its rear or first end, a second alternative consists of arranging the second support element between the opening of the cavity of the female part and the first hole in which the pin is inserted. For this solution, the female part must incorporate a third through hole between the first through hole and the opening of the chamber, which will receive said second support element.

In an alternative configuration of the holding device, the body of the device is a sheet body, preferably made of metal, having an upper section and a lower section parallel to each other, separated by a rear section and a front section also parallel to each other, and said upper and lower sections are preferably vertical. These four segments define a closed frame with a hollow space. At least one of the two upper and/or lower segments has at least one flexible flange joined to one of the segments at one of its ends on one side of the hollow space such that the free end of the flange is opposite its joined end to the segment. The free end of the flange moves away from the hollow space. The front section of the body remains engaged with the support element. For said joint, engagement means are provided at least between the front side of the holding body and the support element. The engagement means may be formed by an extension of the front side of the body of the device, which extension comprises a hole, wherein a protrusion present in the same body of the support element is inserted into the hole, such that the shape of the hole of the extension of the front side is complementary to the shape of the protrusion of the support body. The projections of the support body are inserted into the holes by pressure.

Likewise, the body preferably has two flanges, one in the upper section and the other in the lower section, such that the free ends of the flanges move away from the hollow space of the body as they approach each other. These flanges are extensions of the upper and lower sections and may be flat or slightly curved.

In this arrangement the material of the body of the holding device is a plate, preferably made of steel, although it may also be a teflon or plastic material.

In a second object of the invention, a female part according to claim 9, the cavity of which has a second hole in the same wall as the first hole and towards the lower end of the cavity. Preferably, the centers of the first and second holes are on the same axis, with respect to which the two holes are symmetrical, or which divides the wall of the master into two portions of similar dimensions. Preferably, the first and second holes are located inside a flat recess or recessed surface in the wall within the chamber. Furthermore, it is preferred that the depth of the recessed surface is the same as or slightly greater than the width of the elongate body of the retaining means, so as to prevent interference of the retaining means engaged inside the female part with the male part when the latter is inserted into the cavity of the female part. The recessed surface may alternatively be placed on the outer wall of the nose or the protrusion of the male member, whereby interference when the male member is inserted into the cavity of the female member will be prevented.

The female part must be coupled to a male part comprising a protrusion or nose to be inserted into the cavity of the female part, and said protrusion or nose is provided with a channel or a through pipe from one side of the protrusion to the other. The tube receives the retaining pin during coupling of the female and male members. Sometimes the tube does not pass through the entire protrusion or nose, in other words, the tube need not be a tube. Preferably, the female part will also have two holes for receiving pins when the tube in the male part passes through the protrusion or nose, but this is not mandatory.

The above steps for the coupling of male and female parts are studied more intensively:

before the male and female parts are coupled, the retaining means for securing the pin in its working position must be engaged in the cavity of the female part.

Prior to coupling the holding device into the female part, it is necessary to carry out the assembly of the holding device by engaging the body of the holding device with the support element. This facilitates storage of the holding device, wherein the components of the holding device have been assembled and have been engaged to the interior of the female part, while minimizing possible assembly errors caused by the end user.

In order to engage the holding means to the female part, it will be necessary to insert the holding means into said chamber and then insert the support element by means of pressure into the second hole, so that the outer base of the support element faces outwards through said second hole.

The entire holding device is held inside a recess or lower surface of a wall inside the chamber, the depth of which recess or lower surface is the same as or slightly greater than the width of the body of the holding device.

Once the retaining means is mounted in the cavity of the female part, the segments of the elongated body or the flanges of the laminar body interfere with the first holes in which the pins are inserted, the distance between the parallel segments of the upper and lower segments in the elongated body and between the flanges of the laminar body being smaller than the diameter of the first holes.

Once the retaining means are fastened within the cavity of the female part, more specifically in the recess of the inner wall of the cavity, the cavity of the female part is fitted with the projection or nose of the male part in order to couple said female part to the male part. When the protrusion is located inside the chamber, the retaining means is seated between the surface of the recess of the chamber and the surface of the protrusion of the male member.

In this position, the pin is inserted through the first hole of the female part, with the retaining means interfering with said first hole and being located between said first hole and the inlet of the tube of the protrusion in the male part. The pin separates the parallel upper and lower sections from the retaining means, or the flange from the retaining means, and enables insertion of the pin until at least one of said parallel upper or lower sections or flanges has at least one recess or slot formed in the surface of the pin, wherein the section or flange of the retaining body is received. In this position, the pin is held inside the coupled male and female pieces in the assembled position, both pieces having a mating coupling and preventing the two pieces from separating.

To release the pin, it is only necessary to rotate the pin using a tool inserted into a housing in the base of one of the ends of the pin, so that this rotation releases the pin from the parallel upper and lower sections, or from the flange, as they will disengage from the recess or recesses in the pin.

As mentioned above, a single retaining means or two retaining means may be arranged for fastening a single pin passing completely through the assembly from one wall of the female part to the opposite wall of the female part, or for fastening two pins both inserted through the wall of the female part.

As previously mentioned, the inner wall of the female part which is to receive the holding means may have different configurations. For example, it may have a first hole for the passage of the pin and a second through hole for receiving the support element. Alternatively, it may have a third hole for receiving a second support element arranged in the holding device.

Likewise, the first and second holes may be separated or brought closer to each other when it is desired to increase the strength and flexibility of the female member in the area for fastening to the female member. If the first and second holes are close together, this area of the side wall is provided with greater flexibility for absorbing forces than the wall with the two separate holes, which will have a higher stiffness, as many tensions will be concentrated between the two holes, as they are the areas of the side wall that are in contact with the pin. The fact that the two holes communicate with each other results in the region of the wall losing rigidity, thus better accommodating the tension, in other words it absorbs the tension better by increasing the fracture threshold of the wall in this region.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the previous description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which several practical embodiments are represented schematically and by way of non-limiting example only.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a female part with a holding device.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of a female part with a holding device.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a holding device according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the holding device shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of the holding device shown in fig. 3, with the cover in cross section.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a female part with two holding means in its cavity.

Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal cross section of the female part of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a side view of the female part of fig. 7 with a holding device.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the holding device according to the invention.

Fig. 11 shows a side view of the holding device shown in fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows a plan view of the holding device shown in fig. 10.

Fig. 13 shows a side view of the holding device shown in fig. 10, with the cover in cross section.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the holding device according to the invention.

Fig. 15 shows a further perspective view of a third embodiment of the holding device.

Fig. 16 shows a side view of a female part with the retaining device of fig. 14 and 15 engaged to the female part.

Fig. 17 shows the cross section of fig. 16, wherein the retaining means of fig. 14 and 15 are coupled to the wall of the cavity of the female part according to the cross section line A-A'.

Fig. 18 shows a plan view of a tooth incorporating the retaining device (not shown) of fig. 14 and 15.

Fig. 19 shows the cross section of fig. 18 according to F-F'.

Fig. 20 shows the cross section of fig. 19 according to E-E'.

Fig. 21 shows a perspective view of the interior of the chamber of the female part with an alternative arrangement to that shown in the first few figures for receiving a fourth embodiment of the holding means.

Fig. 22 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a holding device with a support element.

Fig. 23 shows a rear perspective view of the image of fig. 22.

Fig. 24 shows the female part of fig. 21 with the holding means and the support elements of fig. 22 and 23 on both walls of the female part.

Fig. 25 to 28 show different views of the support element of fig. 22 and 23.

Fig. 29 shows a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the holding device according to the invention.

Fig. 30 shows another perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the holding device.

Fig. 31 and 32 show different views of the support element of fig. 29 and 30.

Detailed Description

Starting from the previous figures, different embodiments shown in said figures will be described.

Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a coupling system between a female part 10 and a male part 100 by means of a pin 90 and a holding device 50 according to the invention.

Fig. 2 and 3 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of a female component 10 having a cavity 14, having an inner end 13, an open end or opening 15 opposite the inner end 13, and having a peripheral surface and sidewalls. At least one of the walls has a first through hole 11 and a second through hole 12 separate from the first hole 11, and the second hole is located between the inner end 13 of the chamber 14 and the first hole 11.

Inside said chamber 13, a first embodiment of the holding means 50 is arranged: comprising a support element 20 with elastic properties, which is inserted into the second hole 12, so that the retaining means 50 are supported in the female part 10 by being coupled into the female part by means of said support element 20.

Fig. 4 to 6 show the above-described first embodiment of the object of the holding device 50 according to the invention. In the figures, it is seen that the holding device 50 has an elongated body 30 which is bent so as to define a rear section 33, an upper section 31 and a lower section 32, the latter two being substantially parallel. The body 30 extends from a first closed curvature of the front section 33 to a second end opposite said rear section 33 and wherein the ends of the sections are free and by them the free ends are joined to the support element 20 of the holding means 50. Following the parallel upper and lower sections 31, 32, an inclined section 34 is started which converges the free ends and, after bending by at least 90 °, a section 35 is defined which is substantially perpendicular to the inclined section 34 and which is inserted or joined to the support element 20. The two inclined sections 34 constitute the front section 34 of the body of the holding device 50. The front section 34 has a support element 20 integral therewith, which forms a first embodiment of a holding device 50. The support element 20 is fixed to the body 30 by means of a segment 35 formed by the free ends of the arms 31, 32, which are inserted into said support element 20.

The support element 20 has a prismatic body with a first or outer base 21 and a second or inner base 22. The segments 35 defining the free ends of the segments 31, 32 of the body 30 are inserted into the support element 20 through the inner base 22. The outer base has a data storage code, preferably a QR or BIDI code, which is preferably adhered to said outer base 21. Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the prismatic body of the support element 20 corresponds to the shape of the cross-section of the second hole 12 of the female part 10, wherein the support element 20 is to be inserted to ensure the position of the retaining means 50 inside the female part 10. In order to achieve the fitting between the support means 20 and the second hole 12 of the female part 10, the cross section of said support means 20 must be slightly larger than the cross section of the second hole 12. For this purpose, the holding means 50 are inserted into the cavity 14 of the female part 10 and the elastic body of said support means 20 is fitted inside the second hole, the support means being kept fastened by the tension applied when it is compressed in the second hole, in other words by the pressure reducing force. Thus, the outer base 21 with the data storage code remains outside the master 10, so as to be able to be consulted by the operator and the user, while the inner base remains inside the chamber 13. The data storage code located in the outer base 21 may contain information from any part of the system, in other words it may comprise information about the female part, the male part, the holding means and the pin that will complete the coupling between the female part and the male part. The data storage code allows access to other types of information, such as security instructions, assembly or disassembly instructions for the components, video or images of the instructions, information about the manufacturer, information about other related products, and products of the manufacturer, in addition to information about the different components of the system. Preferably, the information is accessed by a mobile device having a camera and internet access to subsequently capture the information storage code to access one or more web pages having the desired information. Preferably, the data storage code is a QR code or a BIDI code.

In this example, the support element 20 has an L-shaped configuration, but any other configuration is possible depending on the desired configuration requirements.

Also in this first exemplary embodiment, the free ends of the segments 31, 32 of the body 30 of the holding device 50 converge for their engagement with the support element 20, but other possible configurations must be considered as well, wherein for example the free ends do not converge but remain parallel until they are engaged with the support device.

The upper, lower, rear and front sections 31, 32, 33, 34 of the body 30 of the holder 50 define a hollow space 39 therebetween. The hollow space 39 will receive a retaining pin 90 which is used to ensure the coupling between the female part 10 and the male part 100 inserted into the cavity 14 of the female part 10. The pin 90 is inserted into the female part 10 through a first hole 11 of one of the walls of the female part 10 facing each other. The pin 90 has a recess 91 into which the upper and lower sections 31, 32 of the body 30 are to be inserted, thus fixing the position of the pin 90 and ensuring the coupling between the male 100 and female 10 members. Likewise, if the retaining means 50 is arranged in each of the two walls of the female part 10 facing each other, two pins 90 may be used, which will pass through said holes in the walls, and the retaining means insert each of the pins 90 up to half of the tube 101 arranged in the nose 102 of the male part 100.

Fig. 10 to 13 show a second embodiment of a holding device 50' according to the invention. The second device 50' is similar to the previous device, except that the upper and lower sections 31, 32 are bent by about 90 ° by a bend 36 near the rear section 33 of the body 30. In this second example, the rear section 33 remains outside the female part 10, resting on the peripheral surface 15 of the opening of the chamber 14. Fig. 7 to 9 show such a holding device 50' in the cavity 14 of the female part 10. In particular, two retaining means 50' are shown arranged on two walls of the female part 10 facing each other. It can be observed how the holding means 50' pass through the first hole 11 of the wall and how the support element 20 is inserted into the second hole 12 of the wall.

The elongate body 30 of the previous embodiment of the retaining means 50, 50' is preferably a steel wire having a circular cross-section, although the cross-section may also be square or rectangular or the like.

Fig. 14 to 20 show a third exemplary embodiment of a holding device 50″ according to the invention. The third embodiment 50 "of the holding means has a similar body as the first and second embodiments 50, 50' of the holding means, in other words an upper section 31 and a lower section 32, which are substantially parallel, and which are bent by about 90 ° by a bend 36 in the vicinity of the rear section 33 of the body 30. As in the second example of the holding means 50', the rear section 33 is held outside the female part 10 so as to rest on the peripheral surface 15 of the opening of the cavity 14 of the female part 10.

As with the previous two configurations 50, 50', the support element 70 of the third embodiment of the retaining device 50 "has an L-shaped longitudinal cross section such that the front section 35, which is substantially perpendicular to the inclined section 34 of each of the upper and lower sections 31, 32, is pressure coupled to respective slits located in the sides of the support element 70. As shown in fig. 19 (cross-section of the female part of fig. 18), this coupling between the body of the holding element 50 "and the support element 70 enables the front section 35 of the body of the holding element 50" to protrude from the support element 70, so that the metal body of the front section 35 is in contact with the inside of the second hole 12. The support element 70 has an outer base 71 with a data storage code which is thus maintained outside the master 10 so as to be accessible to the operator and the user, while an inner base 72 is maintained inside the cavity 13 in the master 10.

In the third embodiment 50", the support member 70 has flexible ribs or tabs 74 that help to better fit the support member 70 and components in contact therewith. By arranging the tabs 74 on the surface of the support element 70 that is in contact with the interior of the second hole 12, on a surface perpendicular to the outer base 71, the fit between said support element 70 and said hole 12 of the female part 12 will be improved. Fig. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the female part 10 as shown in fig. 16, wherein a third retaining means 50 "is coupled to said female part 10 in use, wherein contact between the tab 74 and the interior of the hole 12 is observed, which increases the fit between the two elements. Likewise, the support element 70 includes a rib or tab 75 on the surface of the support element 70 that will face the nose 102 of the male element 100, as shown in fig. 20, which shows a longitudinal cross-section of the female component 10 coupled with the device 50 ". By means of these tabs 74, 75, a higher tension in the lateral movement of the female part 10 relative to the male part 100 and a better damping in the vertical movement will be achieved.

Fig. 21 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a female part 10' with holes, which has a different configuration from the previous figures. Specifically, the female part 10' of the present embodiment also has four walls, namely: two upper walls 16 and two side walls 17, both of which are facing each other in pairs. Likewise, two holes are arranged in one of the side walls 17, namely: a first hole 11 for inserting the coupling pin between the female part 10 and the male part, and a second hole 12 for receiving the support element 60 of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the holding device 80.

As in the first exemplary embodiment of the master 10, or, as shown in fig. 21, the two holes 11, 12 are separated by a small hole 18 in a portion of the wall, the two holes 11, 12 may be completely separated by a portion of the wall. This chamber 18, which engages the two holes 11, 12, is used to release the tension in the following areas: in this region, the pins are seated in the walls of the female part 10.

A fourth exemplary embodiment of a retaining device 80 used in the previous master batch 10 is shown in fig. 22 and 23 and is incorporated into the master batch 10 in fig. 24.

The fourth embodiment of the retention device 80 has a sheet body 40 defining a closed frame having four sides or sections (i.e., an upper section 41, a lower section 42, a rear section 43, and a front section 44) defining a perimeter of the frame with a hollow space 49 within the frame. At least one flexible flange 48 protruding towards the interior of the hollow space 49 protrudes at least from the upper section 41 and preferably also from the lower section 42, such that the free end of the flange (which is opposite to the engaging end of the upper section 41 and/or the lower section 42) moves away from the hollow space 49. These flanges 48 will be flanges intended to be inserted into recesses 91 present in the surface of the pin 90 that is used for coupling and retention between the female part 10 and the male part 100.

The holding means 80 comprises a support element 60 which is joined to the front section 44 or an extension thereof by joining means. The engagement means is constituted by an extension or elongation of the body 40 of the holding means 80 with the hole 45. In said hole 45, the projection 63 of the support element 60 will be inserted. Preferably, the hole 45 and the protrusion 63 have complementary cross-sections, such that the protrusion 63 is inserted into the hole 45 by pressure due to the elastic nature of the support element 60, thereby keeping the two elements engaged.

Likewise, the holding device 80 has a second extension 46 on the side of the rear section 43, which terminates in a flange 47. This flange 47 will be inserted into a suitable space present in the peripheral surface of the opening 15 of the cavity 14 of the female part 10, thus helping to fix the retaining means 80 in said cavity 14.

Preferably, the body 40 of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the holding device 80 is obtained starting from a steel plate or a flat sheet.

The support element 60 of the fourth embodiment is shown in fig. 25 to 28. As in the previous embodiment, the support element 60 has a second or inner base 61 intended to be held inside the chamber 14, and a first, outer base or surface 62 which will be accessible from the outside and contain a data storage code, preferably in the form of a QR code or a BIDI code. Likewise, the support element 60 has two substantially flat side surfaces, the projection 63 being arranged on one of the side surfaces for inserting it into the hole 45 of the body 40 of the holding device 80. The side surface also contains a recess for inserting the extension of the foil body 40 therein. In order to ensure a press fit between the support element 60 and the first hole 11 of the female part 10, the side surface of the support element 60 has ridges 64 in addition to the side surface comprising the protrusions 63.

As in the support element of the first exemplary embodiment, the material of the support element 60 of the holding device 80 of this fourth embodiment is preferably elastic and has a cross-sectional shape that is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the hole 11, although slightly larger for its press fit.

As can be seen in fig. 22 and 23, a fourth embodiment of the holding device 80 is inserted into the female part 10, wherein, as previously described, the two holes 11, 12 therein meet and are connected to each other, so that the holding device 80 can be mounted in this way in the cavity 14 of the female part 10. As previously mentioned, the female part 10 may alternatively have two holes 11, 12 separated as shown in fig. 7 to 9.

In another preferred embodiment, not shown in the figures, the holding means may comprise two support elements, one in the front section and the other in the rear section of the elongated or laminar body. In order to couple it to the female part, it is necessary that it has three holes, instead of two holes, in which two are intended to receive the support elements of the retaining means and one is intended to receive the pin. Preferably, this fourth hole for receiving the support element will be arranged between the open end 15 or opening of the cavity of the female part and the first through hole. In this solution, the holes may be separated from each other, or close to each other, or two close to each other and two separated from each other.

Fig. 29 and 30 show a fifth exemplary embodiment of a holding device 50' "according to the present invention. Thus, the fifth embodiment 50 '"is similar to the previous embodiments 50, 50', 50" shown in fig. 1-20 with the upper and lower sections 31, 32 being generally parallel and bent approximately 90 ° by the bend 36 near the rear section 33 of the main body 30. As in the second and third embodiments of the holding means 50', 50", the rear section 33 is held outside the female part 10 so as to rest on the peripheral surface 15 of the opening of the cavity 14 of the female part 10. In this embodiment, the elongated body of the holding device 50' "has a square or rectangular cross-section.

As in the previous three configurations of the holding means 50, 50', 50", and in particular as in the third configuration 50", the support element 110 of the fifth embodiment of the holding means 50' "has an L-shaped longitudinal cross section such that the front section 35, substantially perpendicular to the inclined section 34 of each of the upper section 31 and the lower section 32, is coupled by pressure to a respective slit in the side of the support element 110. This coupling between the body of the holding element 50 '"and the support element 110 enables the front section 35 of the body of the holding element 50'" to protrude from the support element 10 as in the third embodiment 50", such that the metal body of the front section 35 is in contact with the interior of the second hole 12. As previously mentioned, the support element 110 has an outer base 111 with a data storage code, which is thus maintained on the outside of the master 10, so as to be able to be consulted by the operator and the user, while the inner base 112 is maintained inside the cavity 13 of the master element 10.

This fifth embodiment 50' "also has a support element 110 with flexible ribs or tabs 114 for better fit between the support element 110 and the components in contact therewith. In addition, the support element 110 includes a rib or tab 115 located between the two front sections 35. The rib or tab 115 functions as: imparting consistency to the resilient support element 110; the two free ends of the front section 35 of the body of the holding means 50' "are kept separate; and the body of the holding device 50' "is joined to the supporting element 110, the free ends 35 of the body of the holding device pressing against said ribs or fins 115, since the natural spacing between said free ends 35 is smaller than the width of said ribs or fins 115.

According to the previous embodiment, and with reference to fig. 1, the coupling between the female 10, 10' and male 100 is carried out by the following steps, although it can be extrapolated to other structures:

the retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80 for fixing the pin 90 in its working position must be engaged to the cavity 14 of the female part 10 before the male part 100 and the female part 10, 10' are coupled.

In order to engage the retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80 in the female part 10, 10', it is necessary to insert said retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80 into said cavity 14 and then insert the support element 20, 70, 110, 60 into the second hole 12 by means of pressure so that the outer base 21, 71, 111, 62 of the support element 20, 70, 110, 60 with the identification code faces outwards through said second hole 12.

The entire holding device 50, 50', 50", 50'", 80 is thus held in a recess or lower surface of the wall 17 located in the cavity 14 of the master 10, the depth of which recess is the same as or slightly greater than the width of the body 30, 40 of the holding device.

Once the retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80 are mounted in the cavity 14 of the female part 10, 10', the distance between the parallel sections of the upper section 31 and the lower section 32 in the first, second, third or fifth embodiment of the retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80 and between the flanges 48 of the sheet body 40 of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the retaining means 80 is smaller than the diameter of the first hole 11, through which the first hole 11 of the pin 90 is to be inserted.

Once the retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80 are fastened in the cavity 14 of the female part 10, 10', more specifically in the recess of the inner wall 17 of the cavity 14, the protrusion or nose 102 of the male part 10 slides in the cavity 14 in order to connect said male part to the female part 11. When the protrusion or nose 102 is located within the chamber 14, the retaining device 50, 50', 50", 50'", 80 is located between the surface of the recess of the chamber 14 and the surface of the protrusion or nose 102 of the male member 100.

In this position, the pin 90 is inserted through the first hole 11 of the female part 10, 10 'and into the tube 101 of the nose 102 of the male part 100, with the retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80 interfering with the first hole 11 of the female part 10, 10' and being located between said first hole 11 and the inlet of the tube to the protrusion or nose 102 in the male part 100. The pin 90 separates the parallel upper and lower sections 31, 32 or separates the flange 48 from the retaining means 50, 50', 50", 50'", 80 and enables the pin 90 to be inserted until at least one of said parallel upper or lower sections 31, 32 or the flange 48 reaches: at least one recess or slot 91 formed in the surface of the pin 90 accommodates the segments 31, 32 or flange 48 of the bodies 30, 40 of the retaining devices 50, 50', 50", 80. In this position, the pin 90 is secured inside the male 101 and female 10, 10 'members coupled in the holding position, both members 101, 10' having mating coupling portions and preventing the two members from separating.

To release the pin 90, it will only be necessary to rotate the pin 90 using a tool inserted into a housing 92 in the base in one end of the pin 90, so that this rotation will release the pin 90 from the parallel upper and lower sections 31, 32 or from the flange 48, as they will come out of the one or more recesses 91 in the pin 90.

Depending on the operational requirements of the assembly between the female and male members 10, 100 and the dimensions of the members, it may be desirable to use a single retaining device 50, 50', 50", 80 between the nose 102 of the female and male members 10, 100 or to use two retaining devices 50, 50', 50", 80 disposed between two opposing walls of the female member 10 and the nose 102 of the male member 100. Once the two pieces 10, 100 have been coupled with the one or more retaining means 50, 50', 50", 80 between them, one or two pins 90 are inserted through one or more holes in the wall of the female piece 100, which will pass completely or partly through a tube 101 arranged in the nose 102 of the male piece 100.

Claims (15)

1. A holding device (50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80) for a female part (10, 10 ') of an excavator or the like, said female part having a chamber for receiving the nose of a male part, and said device comprising a main body (30, 40) having a hollow space (39, 49) defined by an upper section (31, 41) and a lower section (32, 42) opposite the former and by a rear section (33, 43), characterized in that it has a support element (20, 70, 110, 60) with elastic properties engaged to one end of said main body (30, 40) for fastening said holding device (50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80) in said chamber of said female part.

2. The device (50, 50', 50", 50'", 80) of claim 1, wherein the support element (20, 70, 110, 60) has a body with a first outer base (21, 71, 111, 62) and a second base (22, 72, 112, 61) opposite to the first base (21, 71, 111, 62).

3. The device (50, 50', 50", 50'", 80) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a data storage code in said first base (21, 71, 111, 62) of the prismatic body of said support element (20, 70, 110, 60).

4. The device (50, 50', 50", 50'") according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (30) is an elongated body, wherein the upper section (31) and the lower section (32) are parallel and separated by the rear section (33), which determines a first end substantially perpendicular to both the upper section (31) and the lower section (32), and each of these two sections (31, 32) has a front section (34) with a free end (35) at a second end opposite to the rear section (33), such that both free ends (35) are joined to the support element (20).

5. The device (50, 50') according to claim 4, wherein the second base (22) of the support element (20) comprises an opening into which the end (33) of the elongated body (30) is inserted for joining the elongated body to the support element (20, 70).

6. The device (50 ", 50'") according to claim 4, wherein said support element (70, 110) comprises two slits for insertion thereof by pressure of said free end (35) of said elongated body (30).

7. The device (50, 50', 50", 50'") according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support element (20, 70, 110) has an L-shaped longitudinal cross section.

8. A device (80) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body (40) is a sheet body, wherein the upper section (41) and the lower section (42) are parallel and separated by the rear section (43) and a front section (44) parallel to the rear section, thereby defining a closed frame, and in that the body has at least one flexible flange (48) joined at one of its ends to one of the sections (41, 42) of the body (40) by means of the hollow space (49), the free ends of the flanges being opposite and remote from the joining ends with the sections (41, 42) and from at least the front section (44) with the support element (60).

9. A wear element, characterized in that it is a female part (10, 10 ') having a body with a cavity, said female part comprising an inner end (13), an open end (15) and a side wall (14), wherein at least one of said walls (14) has a first through hole (11) and a second through hole (12) located between said inner end (13) of the cavity and said first hole (11), wherein a retaining means (50, 50', 50", 50 '", 80) according to claim 1 is located in the cavity, wherein the support element (20, 70, 110, 60) is inserted into the second hole (12), the second base of the support element being located inside the cavity, and the first base (21, 71, 111, 62) of the support element facing outwards through the second hole (12).

10. A wear element according to claim 9, characterized in that the data storage code is arranged on the first base (21, 71, 111, 62) of the holding device.

11. The wear element according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the thickness of the side wall (14) is greater than the distance between the first and second base of the support element (20, 70, 110, 60).

12. The wear element according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the cross-section of the second hole (12) is smaller than the cross-section of the support element (20, 70, 110, 60).

13. The wear element according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the support element (20, 70, 110, 60) is inserted into the second hole (12) by pressure.

14. A wear element according to claim 9, characterized in that the first hole (11) is adjacent to the second hole (12).

15. The wear element of claim 10, wherein the wear element comprises a data storage code accessible from outside the female member.