Bucket lip and bucket for machine having segmented integral beam

Abstract

A bucket lip for a bucket in a machine includes an elongate one-piece casting including a forward lip edge and a plurality of mounting stations arranged along the forward lip edge. A lower lip side forms a segmented integral bean between the forward lip edge and a back lip edge, having a first outboard segment extending laterally inward from a first lateral edge, a second outboard segment extending laterally inward from a second lateral edge, and a plurality of inboard segments connecting between the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment. The bucket lip is configured for enhanced strength, optimized weight, and installation of a wear package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bucket lip comprising:
 an elongate one-piece casting including an upper lip side having an upper lip surface extending in a lateral direction between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and in a fore-aft direction between a forward lip edge and a back lip edge, and a lower lip side;   a plurality of mounting stations arranged along the forward lip edge; and   the lower lip side forming a segmented integral beam between the forward lip edge and the back lip edge, including a first outboard segment extending laterally inward from the first lateral edge, a second outboard segment extending laterally inward from the second lateral edge, and a plurality of inboard segments connecting between the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment.   
     
     
         2 . The bucket lip of  claim 1  wherein the segmented integral beam is set back from the forward lip edge and set forward from the back lip edge, and the plurality of inboard segments form a stepped beam profile relative to the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment. 
     
     
         3 . The bucket lip of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of inboard segments include a central segment oriented parallel to the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment, a first angular segment between the horizontal central segment and the first outboard segment, and a second angular segment between the horizontal central segment and the second outboard segment. 
     
     
         4 . The bucket lip of  claim 1  wherein the elongate one-piece casting defines a lip lateral width dimension, and the lower lip side further forms a first minor beam and a second minor beam each connecting between the segmented integral beam and the back lip edge. 
     
     
         5 . The bucket lip of  claim 4  wherein a first weight-reduction pocket is formed between the first outboard segment and the first minor beam, and a second weight-reduction pocket is formed between the second outboard segment and the second minor beam. 
     
     
         6 . The bucket lip of  claim 5  wherein a third weight-reduction pocket is formed laterally between the first minor beam and the second minor beam, and fore-aft between the segmented integral beam and the back lip edge. 
     
     
         7 . The bucket lip of  claim 6  wherein the segmented integral beam defines a horizontal plane, and the lower lip side forms a forward pocket surface of the third weight-reduction pocket oriented at an angle to the horizontal plane of 35 degrees to 70 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The bucket lip of  claim 5  wherein an edge-pocket distance is defined between each of the first lateral edge and the first weight-reduction pocket and between the second lateral edge and the second weight-reduction pocket, and the edge-pocket distance is from 15% to 25% of the lip lateral width dimension. 
     
     
         9 . The bucket lip of  claim 4  wherein an edge-beam distance is defined between each of the first lateral edge and the first minor beam and between the second lateral edge and the second minor beam, and the edge-beam distance is from 30% to 40% of the lip lateral width dimension. 
     
     
         10 . The bucket lip of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of mounting stations define a width dimension, and each of the first minor beam and the second minor beam defines a beam width dimension that is at least 50% of the width dimension. 
     
     
         11 . The bucket lip of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of mounting stations includes a plurality of coupler stations and a plurality of shroud stations in an alternating arrangement laterally between a first lateral wing adjacent to the first lateral edge and a second lateral wing adjacent to the second lateral edge. 
     
     
         12 . A bucket lip comprising:
 an elongate one-piece casting including an upper lip side, a lower lip side, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a forward lip edge, and a back lip edge;   the lower lip side forming a segmented integral beam between the forward lip edge and the back lip edge;   the segmented integral beam including a first outboard segment, a second outboard segment, and a plurality of inboard segments together forming a stepped profile relative to the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment; and   a plurality of weight-reduction pockets formed between the segmented integral beam and the back lip edge.   
     
     
         13 . The bucket lip of  claim 12  wherein each of the first outboard segment, the second outboard segment, and the plurality of inboard segments includes a planar lower surface. 
     
     
         14 . The bucket lip of  claim 13  wherein the segmented integral beam is set back from the forward lip edge and set forward from the back lip edge, and wherein the stepped profile is both stepped-up and stepped-forward relative to the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment. 
     
     
         15 . The bucket lip of  claim 14  further comprising an attached wear package including a plurality of wear plates attached to the segmented integral beam. 
     
     
         16 . The bucket lip of  claim 12  wherein at least some of the plurality of inboard segments are angularly oriented relative to the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment. 
     
     
         17 . The bucket lip of  claim 12  wherein the lower lip side forms a first minor beam and a second minor beam each extending between the segmented integral beam and the back lip edge. 
     
     
         18 . The bucket lip of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of inboard segments include a central segment, and the plurality of weight-reduction pockets include a first weight-reduction pocket formed between the first minor beam and the first outboard segment, a second weight-reduction pocket formed between the second minor beam and the first outboard segment, and a third weight-reduction pocket formed between the central segment and the back lip edge. 
     
     
         19 . A bucket for a machine comprising:
 a bucket body;   a bucket lip attached to the bucket body, and including an upper lip side and a lower lip side, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and a segmented integral beam extending upon the lower lip side between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge; and   the segmented integral beam including a plurality of beam segments each including an exposed lower surface and forming a beam profile that is centrally stepped-up and centrally stepped-forward.   
     
     
         20 . The bucket of  claim 19  wherein:
 the segmented integral beam is set back from the forward lip edge and set forward from the back lip edge; 
 the segmented integral beam includes a first outboard segment, a second outboard segment, a central segment, and at least one angular segment extending between the central segment and each respective one of the first outboard segment and the second outboard segment; and 
 the bucket lip further includes a first minor beam extending between the segmented integral beam and the back lip edge, and a second minor beam extending between the segmented integral beam and the back lip edge.