Excavator bucket assembly and side wear protector

Abstract

The present invention provides an excavator bucket assembly, which includes an excavator bucket, having a bucket body, a pair of spaced-apart side plate members, and a lip plate member disposed between the side plate members and forward of the bucket body. The assembly further includes a detachably attachable blade member, attached to an underside of the lip plate member, and having a leading or cutting edge forward of a leading edge of the lip plate member. A pair of side wear protector members are provided, each having a first portion engaging an interior face of their respective side plate members, a second portion extending outwardly from a first edge of the first portion at approximately 90 degrees and engaging an interior or upper face of the lip plate member, and a third portion extending from a second edge of the first portion. The third portion has at least a first part comprising a rearward face extending from the first portion in an opposing direction to the second portion, and which engages a leading edge of the respective side plate members. Furthermore, at least a part of the third portion of each side wear protector member extends beyond a leading edge of the respective side plate members of the excavator bucket.

1 . An excavator bucket assembly, said assembly including:
 a. an excavator bucket having:
 i. a bucket body; 
 ii. a pair of spaced-apart side plate members; and 
 iii. a lip plate member disposed between the side plate members and forward of the bucket body; 
   b. a detachably attachable blade member, attached to an underside of the lip plate member, and having a leading or cutting edge forward of a leading edge of the lip plate member; and   c. a pair of side wear protector members, each of said side wear protector members having:
 i. a first portion engaging an interior face of respective side plate members; 
 ii. a second portion extending outwardly from a first edge of the first portion at approximately 90 degrees and engaging an interior or upper face of the lip plate member; and 
 iii. a third portion extending from a second edge of the first portion, the third portion having at least a first part comprising a rearward face extending from the first portion in an opposing direction to the second portion, and 
 which engages a leading edge of the respective side plate members, 
   characterized in that at least a part of the third portion of each side wear protector member extends beyond a leading edge of the respective side plate members of the excavator bucket.   
     
     
         2 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the third portion of the side wear protector member extends laterally beyond the profile of the excavator bucket. 
     
     
         3 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the third portion includes at least a second part which extends forward of the first part and of the first portion of the side wear protector member. 
     
     
         4 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said second part comprises a face or lip which is angled with respect to the first portion. 
     
     
         5 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the face or lip of the second part extends towards a leading edge of the third portion, said leading edge of the third portion running parallel to but located laterally beyond the leading edge of the respective side plate member of the excavator bucket. 
     
     
         6 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the rearward face of the third portion extends beyond the leading edge of the side plate member of the excavator bucket. 
     
     
         7 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein each side wear protector member includes a fourth portion, extending forwardly of and angled downwardly with respect to the second portion, and which includes a front face in a plane substantially parallel to a leading edge of the third portion. 
     
     
         8 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the fourth portion engages with and extends beyond the lip plate member of the excavator bucket and, a leading edge of the fourth portion is located forward of and below a leading edge of the lip plate member. 
     
     
         9 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner or proximal side of the fourth portion connects to the face or lip of the third portion. 
     
     
         10 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion further includes a spigot member extending downwardly from a lower face of the second portion, engaging with and/or located in a further aperture provided in the lip plate member. 
     
     
         11 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the fourth portion comprises a leading edge, located at the lower end of the front face, and which is parallel with the leading edge of the lip plate member and the leading or cutting edge of the blade member, and which is located intermediate the leading edges of the lip plate member and the blade member. 
     
     
         12 . An excavator bucket assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein a rearward edge of the fourth portion is located at an upper end of the front face, and which is raised with respect to an upper face of the second portion. 
     
     
         13 . A side wear protector member for an excavator bucket, said side wear protector member including:
 a. a first portion arranged to engage an interior face of a side plate of an excavator bucket, in use;   b. a second portion, extending outwardly from a first edge of the first portion at approximately 90 degrees, and arranged to engage an interior or upper face of a lip plate of the excavator bucket, in use; and   c. a third portion, extending from a second edge of the first portion, the third portion having a least a first part comprising a rearward face extending from the first portion in an opposing direction to the second portion, and which is arranged to engage a leading edge of the side plate of the excavator bucket, in use,   characterized in that at least a part of the third portion is arranged to extend beyond a leading edge of the side plate of the excavator bucket, in use.   
     
     
         14 . A side wear protector member according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a part of the third portion of the side wear protector member is arranged to extend laterally beyond the profile of the excavator bucket, in use. 
     
     
         15 . A side wear protector member according to  claim 13 , wherein the third portion includes at least a second part which extends forward of the first part and of the first portion of the side wear protector member, and comprises a face or lip which is angled with respect to the first portion. 
     
     
         16 . A side wear protector member according to  claim 15 , wherein the face or lip of the second part extends towards a leading edge of the third portion, said leading edge being arranged to run parallel to but locate laterally beyond a leading edge of an associated side plate member of the excavator bucket, in use. 
     
     
         17 . A side wear protector member according to  claim 13 , wherein the rearward face of the third portion is arranged to extend beyond the leading edge of the side plate member of the excavator bucket, in use. 
     
     
         18 . A side wear protector member according to  claim 15 , wherein the side wear protector member includes a fourth portion, extending forwardly of and angled downwardly with respect to the second portion, and including a front face in a plane substantially parallel to a leading edge of the third portion. 
     
     
         19 . A side wear protector member according to  claim 13 , wherein the second portion further includes a spigot member extending downwardly from a lower face of the second portion. 
     
     
         20 . A side wear protector member according to  claim 13 , wherein a rearward edge of the fourth portion is located at an upper end of the front face, and which is raised with respect to an upper face of the second portion.