Self-sharpening ground engaging tools

Abstract

The systems and components described herein relate to ground engaging tools configured to attach to a digging bucket of a machine. The ground engaging tool includes a cast body formed of a cast material and having a proximal end including an interface for releasably coupling to the digging bucket, and a distal end having a first shape configured for digging into material. The tool also includes a preform cast within the cast body, the preform having a second shape corresponding with the first shape and sized to fit within the distal end, positioned within the distal end at a first depth from a surface of the distal end, and formed of a wear resistant material.

1 . A ground engaging tool configured to attach to a bucket or blade of a machine, the ground engaging tool comprising:
 a cast body formed of a cast material and having:
 a proximal end comprising an interface for releasably coupling to the machine; and 
 a distal end having a first shape configured for penetrating into material; 
   a preform cast within the cast body, the preform:
 having a second shape corresponding with the first shape and sized to fit within the distal end; 
 positioned within the distal end; and 
 formed of a wear resistant material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the preform comprises a composite including at least one of:
 tungsten carbide;   titanium carbide;   metallic boride;   cemented carbide; or   ceramic oxide; or   a metallic carbide.   
     
     
         3 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the preform comprises at least one of:
 a honeycomb;   a lattice;   rods;   bars;   grids;   triangles;   polygons;   layers;   sheets; or   a varied arrangement of geometric shapes.   
     
     
         4 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cast body has a first length from the distal end to the proximal end; and   defines a wear zone having a second length extending from the distal end towards the proximal end, the wear zone comprising a portion of the ground engaging tool configured to wear away before replacement.   
     
     
         5 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 4 , wherein a length of the preform is in a range of twenty to eighty percent of the second length. 
     
     
         6 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the wear zone has a first thickness comprising a thickness of the cast body; and   the preform has a second thickness less than the first thickness.   
     
     
         7 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 6 , wherein the second thickness is in a range of five to eighty percent of the first thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the preform defines a first portion comprising the wear resistant material and a second portion configured to receive the cast material, the first portion comprising in a range of twenty-five to seventy-five percent of a volume occupied by the preform. 
     
     
         9 . A ground engaging tooth comprising,
 an adapter at a proximal end of the ground engaging tooth configured for attachment to an edge of a ground engaging implement;   a ground engaging tip at a distal end of the ground engaging tooth, wherein the ground engaging tooth comprises a cast body component having a first profile from the proximal end to the distal end; and   a preform cast within the cast body, wherein the preform:
 has a second profile corresponding with the first profile and sized to fit within the ground engaging tip at a first depth; and 
 is formed of a wear resistant material. 
   
     
     
         10 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 9 , wherein the cast body:
 has a first length from the distal end to the proximal end; and   defines a wear zone having a second length extending from the distal end towards the proximal end, the wear zone comprising a portion of the ground engaging tooth configured to wear away before replacement.   
     
     
         11 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 10 , wherein a length of the preform is in a range of twenty to eighty percent of the second length. 
     
     
         12 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the wear zone has a first thickness comprising a thickness of the cast body component; and   the preform has a second thickness less than the first thickness.   
     
     
         13 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 12 , wherein the second thickness is in a range of five to eighty percent of the first thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 10 , wherein the preform defines a first portion comprising the wear resistant material and a second portion defining an open area configured to receive a cast material, the first portion comprising in a range of twenty-five to seventy-five percent of a volume occupied by the preform. 
     
     
         15 . A ground engaging tool component comprising:
 a body comprising:
 an adapter at a proximal end of the ground engaging tooth configured for attachment to an edge of a ground engaging implement; and 
 a ground engaging tip at a distal end of the ground engaging tooth, wherein the ground engaging tooth comprises a cast body component having a first profile from the proximal end to the distal end; and 
   a preform cast within the cast body, wherein the preform:
 has a second profile corresponding with the first profile and sized to fit within the ground engaging tip at a first depth; and 
 is formed of a wear resistant material. 
   
     
     
         16 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 15 , wherein the preform comprises a composite including at least one of:
 tungsten carbide;   titanium carbide;   metallic boride;   cemented carbide; or   ceramic oxide; or   a metallic carbide.   
     
     
         17 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the cast body has a first length from the distal end to the proximal end;   defines a wear zone having a second length extending from the distal end towards the proximal end, the wear zone comprising a portion of the ground engaging tooth configured to wear away before replacement; and   a length of the preform is in a range of twenty to eighty percent of the second length.   
     
     
         18 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the wear zone has a first thickness comprising a thickness of the cast body component; and   the preform has a second thickness less than the first thickness and in a range of five to eighty percent of the first thickness.   
     
     
         19 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 15 , wherein the preform defines a first portion comprising the wear resistant material and a second portion defining an open area configured to receive a cast material of the body, the first portion comprising in a range of twenty-five to seventy-five percent of a volume occupied by the preform. 
     
     
         20 . The ground engaging tooth of  claim 15 , wherein the first depth is in a range of one millimeter to twenty-five millimeters.