Cast top cover for base edge wear protection

Abstract

The top cover defines a first fastener receiving void that is disposed along the direction of material flow between the forward ramp portion and the rear edge. The top male angled surface of the top cover defines a first material flow groove that extends along the direction of material flow, and includes a first flow ramp. The first material flow groove is disposed adjacent along the lateral direction and the direction of material flow to the first fastener receiving void.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A top cover for protecting a base edge comprising:
 a rear attachment portion defining:
 a first fastener receiving void, 
 a vertical direction of assembly, 
 a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction of assembly, and 
 a direction of material flow that is perpendicular to the vertical direction of assembly and the lateral direction,
 the rear attachment portion including a rear edge disposed along the direction of material flow; 
 
   a forward ramp portion that extends:
 forwardly from the rear attachment portion along the direction of material flow, and 
 vertically downwardly forming a front wear edge; 
   a top male angled surface that extends from the rear edge to the front wear edge;   a bottom female angled surface that extends from the rear edge to the front wear edge;   a first lateral outside edge extending from the rear edge to the front wear edge; and   a second lateral outside edge extending from the rear edge to the front wear edge,
 wherein the top male angled surface defines:
 a first cutout region that extends from adjacent the front wear edge to the first lateral outside edge, and 
 a second cutout region that extends from adjacent the front wear edge to the second lateral outside edge. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The top cover of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first cutout region includes a first concave arcuate flow surface that extends from adjacent the front wear edge to the first lateral outside edge, and   wherein the second cutout region includes a second concave arcuate flow surface that extends from adjacent the front wear edge to the second lateral outside edge.   
     
     
         3 . The top cover of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bottom female angled surface defines a first fastener receiving hole extending vertically through the rear attachment portion, and   wherein the bottom female angled surface includes a first rectangularly shaped fit pad centered about the first fastener receiving hole.   
     
     
         4 . The top cover of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the bottom female angled surface further defines a first rectangularly shaped recess that is disposed proximate to the rear edge and the first rectangularly shaped fit pad along the direction of material flow, and   wherein the bottom female angled surface is centered with the first rectangularly shaped fit pad along the lateral direction.   
     
     
         5 . The top cover of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first rectangularly shaped recess carves out a portion of the first rectangularly shaped fit pad, and   wherein the first rectangularly shaped recess surrounds a boss extending from a bottom surface of the first rectangularly shaped recess.   
     
     
         6 . The top cover of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the bottom female angled surface further defines a second rectangularly shaped recess that is disposed between the forward ramp portion and the first rectangularly shaped fit pad along the direction of material flow, and   wherein the bottom female angled surface further is centered with the first rectangularly shaped fit pad along the lateral direction.   
     
     
         7 . The top cover of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom female angled surface defines a first rectangularly shaped recess and includes a first rectangularly shaped fit pad. 
     
     
         8 . The top cover of  claim 7 , wherein the first rectangularly shaped recess defines a first recess lateral width,
 wherein the first rectangularly shaped fit pad defines a pad lateral width, and   wherein a ratio of the first recess lateral width to the pad lateral width is less than 0.75.   
     
     
         9 . The top cover of  claim 8 , wherein the ratio of the first recess lateral width to the pad lateral width is greater than 0.35. 
     
     
         10 . A top cover, comprising:
 a rear attachment portion defining:
 a first fastener receiving void,
 the rear attachment portion including a rear edge; 
 
   a forward ramp portion that extends:
 forwardly from the rear attachment portion, and 
 vertically downwardly forming a front wear edge; 
   a top male angled surface that extends from the rear edge to the front wear edge;   a bottom female angled surface that extends from the rear edge to the front wear edge;   a first lateral outside edge; and   a second lateral outside edge,
 wherein the top male angled surface defines:
 a first cutout region that extends from adjacent the front wear edge to the first lateral outside edge, and 
 a second cutout region that extends from adjacent the front wear edge to the second lateral outside edge. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The top cover of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first lateral outside edge extends from the rear edge to the front wear edge, and   wherein the second lateral outside edge extends from the rear edge to the front wear edge.   
     
     
         12 . The top cover of  claim 10 , wherein the first cutout region includes a concave arcuate flow surface that extends from adjacent the front wear edge to the first lateral outside edge. 
     
     
         13 . The top cover of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom female angled surface defines a first fastener receiving hole extending vertically through the rear attachment portion. 
     
     
         14 . The top cover of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom female angled surface includes a first rectangularly shaped fit pad centered about the first fastener receiving hole. 
     
     
         15 . The top cover of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom female angled surface further defines a first rectangularly shaped recess that is disposed proximate to the rear edge. 
     
     
         16 . The top cover of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the rear attachment portion further defines:
 a vertical direction of assembly, and 
 a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction of assembly, 
   wherein the bottom female angled surface includes a first rectangularly shaped fit pad, and   wherein the bottom female angled surface is centered with the first rectangularly shaped fit pad along the lateral direction.   
     
     
         17 . The top cover of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the bottom female angled surface defines a first rectangularly shaped recess and includes a first rectangularly shaped fit pad,   wherein the first rectangularly shaped recess carves out a portion of the first rectangularly shaped fit pad, and   wherein the first rectangularly shaped recess surrounds a boss extending from a bottom surface of the first rectangularly shaped recess.   
     
     
         18 . The top cover of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the rear attachment portion further defines
 a vertical direction of assembly, 
 a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction of assembly, and 
 a direction of material flow that is perpendicular to the vertical direction of assembly and the lateral direction, 
   wherein the bottom female angled surface includes a first rectangularly shaped fit pad, and   wherein the bottom female angled surface further defines:
 a first rectangularly shaped recess that is disposed proximate to the rear edge, and 
 a second rectangularly shaped recess that is disposed between the forward ramp portion and the first rectangularly shaped fit pad along the direction of material flow. 
   
     
     
         19 . The top cover of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom female angled surface defines a first rectangularly shaped recess and includes a first rectangularly shaped fit pad. 
     
     
         20 . The top cover of  claim 19 , wherein the first rectangularly shaped recess defines a first recess lateral width,
 wherein the first rectangularly shaped fit pad defines a pad lateral width, and   wherein a ratio of the first recess lateral width to the pad lateral width is less than 0.75.