AU2004202012B2 - Fill and compaction roller using replaceable cleat assemblies with extended service life - Google Patents

Description

00 FILL AND COMPACTION ROLLER USING REPLACEABLE CLEAT ASSEMBLIES WITH EXTENDED SERVICE LIFE This application relates to an improvement in, or modification of, the invention disclosed in our Australian patent application no. 2001259468. The 'i disclosure of Australian patent application no. 2001259468 is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Ci 10 This invention generally concerns compaction machinery such as a roller or wheel for mounting upon a driven compactor vehicle or tractor, the roller having both destructive and tractive characteristics adapted to break up, crush, grind and compact throwaway materials commonly delivered to sanitary land fill operations. More particularly this invention is directed to cleat assemblies having removable wear caps configured for a long service life.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mere reference to background art herein should not be construed as an admission that such art constitutes common general knowledge in relation to the invention.

Compaction rollers and wheels used on landfill operations, and particularly sanitary landfill operations, are equipped generally with cleats or feet of the type for grinding and crushing materials to reduce the size and bulk of the material. Our prior United States patents nos. 3,922,106 and 4,919,566 disclose an earth and sanitary fill compaction roller employing two different types of feet having a replaceable wear cap as a part of the cleat assemblies. The wear caps are welded to a base portion of the assembly, which in turn is welded to the roller as shown in Patent No. 3,922,106. The wear caps in Patent No. 4,919,566 are readily removable from the base portion of the assembly using common tools available at the job site.

It has been observed that, due in large degree to manufacturing tolerances, the use of removable wear caps coupled to a fixed base in severe service exposes the assembly to twisting forces which in time materially reduce the service 00 2 life of the wear cap and cleat assembly. The '566 patent discloses a cleat assembly having means for restraining twisting of the wear cap relative to the base. The cleat Sassembly of the '566 patent functions entirely satisfactory with compaction equipment i operating in the 70,000 lbs. [approx. 32 tonne] gross weight class. Improvements in the cleat assembly are desired for use on compaction rollers mounted on compaction machines now furnished in the 100,000 to 120,000 Ibs [approx. 45 to 55 tonne] gross vehicular weight class.

More particularly, the compaction vehicles of the higher operating weights now coming into service apply substantially more torque to the compaction 10 rollers via their larger engines and transmissions than was the case with compactors that were 30,000 to 50,000 lbs. [approx. 14 to 23 tonne] lighter in gross vehicle weight. Moreover, landfill operators expect very long service life of the compaction rollers and cleat assemblies. Some landfill operators require assurances that these components will render a service life of the order of 20,000 hours. Thus, it is highly desirable to accommodate in the cleat assemblies on the compaction rollers the higher torque than tractive forces applied by the extra heavy duty compaction machinery now entering into service.

It is an aim of the invention to provide an improved wear cap assembly for a compaction roller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one broad form, the invention provides a heavy duty replaceable wear cap assembly for mounting on a compaction roller configured for operation on a landfill compactor, said roller having a cylindrical rim adapted for mounting and rotation upon an axle of said compactor, each heavy duty assembly comprising a base mounting pad configured from cast steel and including perimeter edge portions serving to receive weld metal to secure said mounting pad fixedly upon said cylindrical rim and a wear cap configured from cast steel and mounted upon said base mounting pad in a tight fit, said wear cap having fore and aft compaction faces configured when mounted on said mounting pad to be oriented in the direction of the compaction roller's rotation on the axle, said base mounting pad and said wear cap including substantially continuous exterior side walls disposed generally normal to the axle and the compaction faces, tightly engaged, exposed mortise and tenon lock 00 3

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C1 joints in said exterior side walls configured so that the exposed tenon extends between said wear cap and said mounting pad in a tight fit connection that resists torsion forces acting on said assembly and resists twisting and rocking forces, and a spaced apart r, pair of fastener assembly means extending completely through the wear cap and mounting pad serving to fixedly secure together said wear cap and mounting pad, the engaged fit between the assembled wear cap and mounting pad being designed to be

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N very tight such that the fit precludes relative twisting and rocking movements between N the wear cap and mounting pad, the fastener assembly means permitting later Odismounting of the wear cap from the base mounting pad.

N 10 The mortise and tenon lock joints may be configured in the sidewalls with the tenon elements projecting downwardly from the wear cap and the mortises may comprise complementary recesses in the base mounting pad.

Optionally, the mortise and tenon lock joints are configured in the sidewalls with the tenon elements projecting upwardly from the base mounting pad and the mortises comprise complementary recesses in the wear cap.

In one embodiment, each mortise and tenon lock joint includes aligned cylindrical recesses and complementary concealed cylindrical slug means fitted within the recesses and extending from the recess in the mounting pad into the recess in the wear cap.

The mortise and tenon lock joint elements may be formed in a substantially rectangular configuration.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs. 1-21 of Australian patent application no. 2001259468 are incorporated herein by reference, and the numbering of drawings in this specification therefore commences at Fig. 22.

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view from below of a cleat assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, equipped with a mortise and tenon lock, each lock being equipped with a pintle.

00 4 N FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a cleat assembly, equipped with a mortise and tenon lock and with pintle anti-twist elements.

SFIG. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 showing an embodiment of a wear r cap employed in bio-mass landfill applications.

_DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS SA preferred form of a traction cleat 110 is illustrated in Fig. 22. As the Straction cleat of Fig. 22 includes parts corresponding to parts of traction cleats previously described in Australian patent application no. 2001259468, those parts are S 10 thus designated with the same reference numerals, but primed or in certain instances double primed. The traction cleat 110 includes a wear cap 31" and a rigid mounting pad unit or adaptor 32" having a base portion for welding to the wheel rim 12 (not shown, but previously described in Australian patent application no. 2001259468).

To protect the attachment weld from abrading during the service life of 1 5 the cleat 110, an undercut or bevel 115 is disposed on the longer sides of the base or adaptor 32" as seen in Fig.22. When the adaptor 32" is welded to the wheel rim along the bevel 115, the attachment weld is protected. Furthermore, the wear cap 31" is configured with depending skirts 118 at the lower margins of the walls 110, and these skirts 118 overlie substantially the attachment welds when the parts are assembled for working use.

The end walls 111 of the traction cleat 110 are substantially enlarged curves bulging outwardly into a rotund and bulbous configuration for substantially their full height. This configuration provides an arrangement of substantial masses of metal for both strength, weight and wear purposes. The traction faces 112 of the wear cap 31" merge into the end walls 111 at enlarged corner bulbous portions extending the full height of the wear cap, thus enhancing the mass and weight of the wear cap.

Two apertures 24' extend through the side walls 112 and are adapted to receive the pins 22' and retainer springs 23'. The two apertures 24' are furnished with counter bores 109 at each side wall, so that the pins 22' may penetrate the cleat assembly and reside in a recessed position beyond the bevel or counter bore 109. This configuration shields the pin ends from being abraded from long service and to 1 00 r'l preserve the pin ends in their original squared off condition for easier removal when changing wear caps 31" At its lower periphery, as clearly shown in Fig. 22, the wear cap 31" in C' each end wall 111 is provided with a generally rectilinear shaped recess or mortise 113a which complements an upstanding, generally rectilinear tenon 113b on each end of the base 32". Thus it will be understood that mortise and tenon lock joint I 13a,b is present on each end wall 111 of the traction cleat 110. The base or pad 32", is (Ni equipped with a substantial thickness of metal to the effect that its upper surfaces Sextend a substantial vertical distance from the wheel rim (not shown). The tenon S 10 element 113b is therefore elevated above the wheel rim.

Complementing the mortise and tenon lock configuration 113a,b is a pintle and hole arrangement extending into the mortise and tenon joint. The pintle and hole arrangement comprises a pintle 98' (or similar pin member) and a hole 99' (or corresponding bore). The mortise and tenon lock acts together with the pintle 98' and the associated recess 99' to insure a rigid, torque resistive interconnection between the wear cap and adapter. This configuration serves to resist and oppose the high traction and twisting forces imparted to the traction cleats by the high horsepower compaction equipment used on sanitary landfill sites today.

Another preferred form of contour cleat 116 is illustrated in Fig. 23. As it includes parts previously described, they are designated with reference numerals primed or double primed. The contour cleat 116 includes a wear cap unit 21' and supportive adaptor base 19' which are configured to interconnect together with a mortise and tenon lock arrangement 117a,b on opposite side walls. In this instance, the generally rectilinear mortises or recesses 117a are arranged along a medial portion of opposite sides of the base 19'. Generally rectilinear tenon elements 118b project downwardly from the opposite sides of the wear cap 21' and constitute its lower extremities.

A plurality of holes or recesses 99' are formed in a registry relationship within both the wear cap 21' and the base 19'. Although the holes 99' in the wear cap 21' are not visible in Fig. 23, it will be understood that they are present to effect the locking interaction with the pintles or slugs 98". Thus, the pintles or billets 98" are adapted for reception into the holes 99' and interact together to secure the wear cap 00 6 r'l 21'from twisting forces with respect to the base 19'. This feature is further enhanced by the lock supplied by the mortise 117a and tenon 117b elements.

As may be perceived from Fig. 23, it will be understood that the wear N' cap 21' has a generally hollow body including sloping, upwardly converging sidewalls 27" and end walls 28". The upwardly sloping converging sidewalls 27" and end walls 28" merge along edges portions that bulge outwardly over substantially the (Ni entire height of the wear cap, as illustrated in Fig. 23. This provides a substantial mass (N of material for enhancement of both strength, wear and weight of the contour cleat S116. This provides steel in optimum locations to resist abrasive wear and to establish N 10 an ideal joint between the wear cap and adaptor that will resist twisting and torsion from the powerful modern compactors employed today at sanitary landfill sites.

A ledge of metal 119 shields the two apertures 24' for the retainer springs 23' and protects the ends of the pins 22' on each side wall 27'. This configuration protects the ends of the pins 22' and maintains them in a substantially unabraded condition for the time for their removal so as to furnish a planar face for engagement by the removal tools. Moreover, at a time after a long service life, the wear cap may be dismounted from the adaptor with the use of common tools available to workmen in the field.

Another preferred form of traction cleat 121 is illustrated Fig. 24. As it includes parts previously described, they are designated with reference numerals primed or double primed. The cleat 121 is especially adapted for work on bio-mass applications at sanitary landfills and provided with a cross-like configuration at its working tip face. The action of this cleat serves to induce improved penetration of air into the landfill materials to encourage good bacterial action analogous to fermentation within the landfill materials. The bio-mass cleat 121 resembles generally the contour cleat 116 and includes a generally similar adapter base. The cleat 121 is equipped with the mortise and tenon lock arrangement including recess 117 in the base and tenon 118' in the sidewalls of the wear cap. The pins 98' and holes 99' are provided for the anti-twist locational functions mentioned above.

T'he sidewalls 122 are each further equipped with a vertically extending spur 123 which extends vertically over half of the length or height of the wear cap. The spurs on each side, acting with the top or tip working face and the ends 00 of the sidewalls, provide the cross-configuration for enhanced punching action into the landfill bio-mass applications.

From the foregoing, it will be readily evident that there have been NI provided improved cleat assemblies for fill and compaction rollers whereby the wear cap and associated adaptors have a long service life. The wear caps are equipped with bulbous metal portions protruding from their plane surfaces for presenting metal in optimum locations to achieve a long wear life, as much as 20,000 useful working N, wear life. It will be further evident that anti-twist means are provided acting between the wear cap and adaptor to resist twisting moments therebetween. This further N, 10 enhances and extends the service life of the cleats by substantially reducing the "working" or vibration between the wear caps and the adaptors which wears down the softer steel adapters from rubbing against the harder steel wear caps.

The embodiments disclosed herein were chosen to best explain and describe the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Throughout this specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term "comprise" and variants thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising" are to be interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers.

Claims (6)

1. A heavy duty replaceable wear cap assembly for mounting on a compaction roller configured for operation on a landfill compactor, said roller having a cylindrical N rim adapted for mounting and rotation upon an axle of said compactor, each heavy duty assembly comprising a base mounting pad configured from cast steel and Cincluding perimeter edge portions serving to receive weld metal to secure said O mounting pad fixedly upon said cylindrical rim and a wear cap configured from cast Ssteel and mounted upon said base mounting pad in a tight fit, said wear cap having Sfore and aft compaction faces configured when mounted on said mounting pad to be N 10 oriented in the direction of the compaction roller's rotation on the axle, said base mounting pad and said wear cap including substantially continuous exterior side walls disposed generally normal to the axle and the compaction faces, tightly engaged, exposed mortise and tenon lock joints in said exterior side walls configured so that the exposed tenon extends between said wear cap and said mounting pad in a tight fit connection that resists torsion forces acting on said assembly and resists twisting and rocking forces, and a spaced apart pair of fastener assembly means extending completely through the wear cap and mounting pad serving to fixedly secure together said wear cap and mounting pad, the engaged fit between the assembled wear cap and mounting pad being designed to be very tight such that the fit precludes relative twisting and rocking movements between the wear cap and mounting pad, the fastener assembly means permitting later dismounting of the wear cap from the base mounting pad.

2. The replaceable wear cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the mortise and tenon lock joints are configured in the sidewalls with the tenon elements projecting downwardly from the wear cap and the mortises comprise complementary recesses in the base mounting pad.

3. The replaceable wear cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the mortise and tenon lock joints are configured in the sidewalls with the tenon elements projecting 00 9 rC upwardly from the base mounting pad and the mortises comprise complementary d recesses in the wear cap. rC

4. The replaceable wear cap assembly of claim 1 wherein each mortise and tenon lock joint includes aligned cylindrical recesses and complementary concealed cylindrical slug means fitted within the recesses and extending from the recess in the oC mounting pad into the recess in the wear cap.

The replaceable wear cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the mortise and tenon rC 10 lock joint elements are formed in a substantially rectangular configuration.

6. A replaceable wear cap assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 22.