Edge protector assembly for bucket assembly

Abstract

An edge protector assembly is attached, via at least one connector, to an edge of at least one wall surface of a bucket assembly. Each connector includes a first mating portion that is mated to at least one second mating portion of an edge protector of the edge protector assembly. One of the first and second mating portions includes a male protrusion with a tapered section and the other includes a tapered female cavity that receives the tapered section. A fastener assembly secures the edge protector to the connectors, and includes a fastener extending through a bore defined by the first and second mating portions. An inner wall of the bore and an outer surface of the fastener are out of contact with one another to avoid shear loads on the fastener(s). The edge protector assembly is preferably flush with the inner bucket wall surface.

1 . An edge protector for use with a bucket comprising: 
 an edge protector that includes a wear surface contiguous with a back surface, a front surface, a lower surface and an upper surface, and including a tapered male mating portion with a fastener receiving bore therethrough; and    the lower and upper surfaces being parallel to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The edge protector of  claim 1  wherein the wear surface is oriented to urge material contacting the wear surface away from the outer surface and toward the inner surface.  
   
   
       3 . The edge protector of  claim 2  wherein the outer surface includes a fastener shield oriented to deflect material away from the outer surface.  
   
   
       4 . The edge protector of  claim 3  wherein the edge protector has a perimeter with a parallelogram shape.  
   
   
       5 . An edge protector assembly comprising: 
 an edge protector that includes a wear surface contiguous with a back surface, a front surface, a lower surface and an upper surface, and including one of a tapered male mating portion and a tapered female mating portion with a fastener receiving bore therethrough;    a connector bracket that includes a bucket contact surface, an other of the male mating portion and the tapered female mating portion with a fastener receiving bore therethrough mated to the mating portion of the edge protector;    a fastener assembly that includes a nut and bolt;    the mating portions being clamped between the nut and bolt when the bolt is received through the fastener receiving bores and attached to the nut.    
   
   
       6 . The edge protector assembly of  claim 5  wherein the wear surface is oriented to urge material contacting the wear surface away from the outer surface and toward the inner surface.  
   
   
       7 . The edge protector assembly of  claim 6  wherein the outer surface includes a fastener shield oriented to deflect material away from the outer surface.  
   
   
       8 . The edge protector assembly of  claim 7  wherein the edge protector has a perimeter with a parallelogram shape.  
   
   
       9 . The edge protector assembly of  claim 8  wherein the fastener assembly is out of contact with the edge protector.  
   
   
       10 . The edge protector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the bolt is a plow bolt; and 
 the fastener receiving bore of the connector bracket interacts with the plow bolt to prevent the plow bolt from rotating.    
   
   
       11 . The edge protector assembly of  claim 10  wherein the connector bracket includes a single flange welded to an outer surface of the bucket.  
   
   
       12 . The edge protector assembly of claim  111  wherein the edge protector includes the male mating portion; and 
 the bracket connector includes the female mating portion.    
   
   
       13 . The edge protector assembly of  claim 5  including a plurality of identical edge protectors arranged on one side of a bucket.  
   
   
       14 . An edge protector for use with a bucket comprising: 
 an edge protector that includes a wear surface contiguous with a back surface, a front surface, a lower surface and an upper surface, and including a tapered male mating portion with a fastener receiving bore therethrough;    the wear surface being oriented to urge material contacting the wear surface away from the outer surface and toward the inner surface; and    the outer surface includes a fastener shield oriented to deflect material away from the outer surface.    
   
   
       15 . The edge protector of  claim 14  wherein the edge protector has a perimeter with a parallelogram shape.