Bucket lip having wear cap retention feature

Abstract

A bucket lip includes an elongate lip body having a plurality of coupler stations arranged along a forward lip edge and each including a top surface stepped down from the upper lip surface. Each of the coupler stations further includes a wear cap retention feature, such as one or more wear cap rails, protruding in at least one of an upper direction or a lateral direction and having a retention feature elevation that is flush with or below the upper lip surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bucket lip comprising:
 an elongate lip body 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;   the elongate lip body further including a plurality of coupler stations arranged along the forward lip edge, each of the coupler stations including a top surface stepped down from the upper lip surface; and   each of the plurality of coupler stations further including a wear cap retention feature protruding in at least one of an upward direction or a lateral direction relative to the respective top surface and having a retention feature elevation that is flush with or below the upper lip surface.   
     
     
         2 . The bucket lip of  claim 1  wherein each respective wear cap retention feature includes at least one wear cap rail. 
     
     
         3 . The bucket lip of  claim 2  wherein the at least one wear cap rail includes a first wear cap rail protruding in a first lateral direction and a second wear cap rail protruding in a second lateral direction. 
     
     
         4 . The bucket lip of  claim 3  wherein each respective top surface is planar, and each of the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail includes a planar rail surface transitioning with the respective top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The bucket lip of  claim 3  wherein a first undercut is defined between the first wear cap rail and a base portion of the respective coupler station, and a second undercut is defined between the second wear cap rail and the base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The bucket lip of  claim 5  wherein each of the first undercut and the second undercut forms a wedge shape opening in a forward direction away from the forward lip edge. 
     
     
         7 . The bucket lip of  claim 3  wherein each of the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail includes a leading edge extending angularly back from the respective nose portion, and a trailing edge extending in the fore-aft direction from the respective leading edge. 
     
     
         8 . The bucket lip of  claim 1  wherein the elongate lip body includes a one-piece casting, and the wear cap retention feature is formed integrally in the one-piece casting. 
     
     
         9 . The bucket lip of  claim 1  wherein each wear cap retention feature is attached to the respective top surface. 
     
     
         10 . The bucket lip of  claim 9  wherein each wear cap retention feature includes a welded-on plate. 
     
     
         11 . The bucket lip of  claim 10  wherein the welded-on plate is set forward from the upper lip surface. 
     
     
         12 . A bucket lip comprising:
 an elongate lip body 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;   the elongate lip body further including a plurality of coupler stations arranged along the forward lip edge;   each of the plurality of coupler stations including a base portion, a nose portion, and a wear cap retention feature positioned at a wear cap engagement location that is flush with or below the upper lip surface.   
     
     
         13 . The bucket lip of  claim 12  wherein the wear cap engagement location is located above the respective base portion and back of at least a majority of the respective nose portion. 
     
     
         14 . The bucket lip of  claim 13  wherein each respective wear cap retention feature includes a first wear cap rail and a second wear cap rail. 
     
     
         15 . The bucket lip of  claim 14  wherein the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail are upon opposite lateral sides of the respective nose portion. 
     
     
         16 . The bucket lip of  claim 15  wherein a first undercut and a second undercut are defined between each respective base portion and the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The bucket lip of  claim 12  wherein each respective wear cap feature includes a plate attached to the respective coupler station and set forward from the upper lip surface. 
     
     
         18 . 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 coupler station upon the forward lip edge and including a top surface stepped down from the upper lip surface, and a wear cap retention feature having a retention feature elevation that is flush with or below the upper lip surface; and   a wear cap installed on the coupler station.   
     
     
         19 . The bucket lip of  claim 18  wherein the wear cap retention feature includes a first wear cap rail and a second wear cap rail upon opposite lateral sides of the coupler station and formed integrally with the elongate one-piece casting. 
     
     
         20 . The bucket lip of  claim 18  wherein the wear cap retention feature includes a plate attached to the coupler station.