Earth-working bucket with removable wear plates

Abstract

A bucket may have a main body defining an inner cavity. A wear plate(s) covers an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the main body, the wear plate having holes therein. Fasteners passing through the holes and secured to the main body by screwing engagement. The wear plate(s) may cover an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the main body or the door at an interface therebetween.

1 . A bucket comprising:
 a main body defining an inner cavity,   at least one wear plate covering an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the main body, the wear plate having holes therein; and   fasteners passing through the holes and secured to the main body by screwing engagement.   
     
     
         2 . The bucket according to  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners include bolts passing through the holes, and nuts. 
     
     
         3 . The bucket according to  claim 2 , wherein the nuts are secured to the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The bucket according to  claim 3 , wherein the nuts are welded to the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The bucket according to  claim 3 , wherein the nuts are fixed in a retainer cup on the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The bucket according to  claim 2 , wherein the bolts are fixed in a retainer cup on the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The bucket according to  claim 1 , wherein the wear plate has edge portions against supports separated by a spacing, the fasteners being partly received in the spacing. 
     
     
         8 . The bucket according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wear plate is against the inner surface of a bottom portion of the bucket. 
     
     
         9 . The bucket according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wear plate has a surface against the inner surface and/or the outer surface of the bucket, the surface having a complementary negative geometry to that of the inner surface and/or the outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The bucket according to  claim 1 , wherein the holes in the at least one wear plate are counterbore holes. 
     
     
         11 . A bucket comprising:
 a main body defining an inner cavity,   a door pivotally mounted to the main body,   at least one wear plate covering an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the main body or the door at an interface therebetween, the wear plate having holes therein; and   fasteners passing through the holes and secured to the main body or the door by screwing engagement.   
     
     
         12 . The bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein the fasteners include bolts passing through the holes, and nuts. 
     
     
         13 . The bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein the fasteners have heads trapped in a wear plate mounting area defined on the main body or the door. 
     
     
         14 . The bucket according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting area extends along one of a front lip of the door and a rear lip of the main body, the front lip and the rear lip facing each other, the front lip and the rear lip movable towards and away each other as the main body and the door pivot relative to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The bucket according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting area is defined by a mounting plate forming an integral part of the main body. 
     
     
         16 . The bucket according to  claim 13 , wherein the fasteners and the mounting area define a slide lock. 
     
     
         17 . The bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein the wear plate has at least one guiding member at a back thereof, the guiding member engageable with a complementary feature of the main body or the door aligning with the guiding member. 
     
     
         18 . The bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein the wear plate has a L-shape profile, the wear plate covering two faces of the main body, including the inner surface or the outer surface, and an edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. 
     
     
         19 . The bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one wear plate has a surface against the inner surface and/or the outer surface of the bucket, the surface having a complementary negative geometry to that of the inner surface and/or the outer surface. 
     
     
         20 . The bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein the holes in the at least one wear plate are counterbore holes.