Caterpillar Inc.

Samuel L McClallen

Jeremy Dean Folkerts

Howard W Ludewig

Brian B Umbach

Ryan A Rochel

Douglas R Bye

Pandu R Boyapally

Ilhan J Varol

Michael R Agurkis

Matthew K Cox

A machine bucket may include a wrapper. The wrapper may form a portion of a receptacle for holding material. The wrapper may include a curved upper portion defining an arc. The curved upper portion may have a central angle value (&#x3b8;) of between approximately 109.5&#xb0; and 110.5'. The wrapper may also include a curved lower portion defining an arc. The curved lower portion may have a central angle value (&#x3b8;) of between approximately 44.5&#xb0; and 45.5&#xb0;. Such a machine bucket finds particular utility collecting and transporting material that is adherent to itself and the surfaces of the bucket.

Machine bucket

A machine bucket may include a wrapper. The wrapper may form a portion of a receptacle for holding material. The wrapper may include a curved upper portion defining an arc. The curved upper portion may have a central angle value (&#x3b8;) of between approximately 129.5&#xb0; and 130.5&#xb0;. The wrapper may also include a curved lower portion defining an arc. The curved lower portion may have a central angle value (&#x3b8;) of between approximately 29.5&#xb0; and 30.5&#xb0;.

An excavator bucket top assembly can be completed as an assembly before being attached to other components to form an excavator bucket. The top assembly includes a flat bottom plate and a top plate with two bends, each having relatively simple geometry for ease of manufacturing. Two hinge plates penetrate through the top plate and are joined to both the bottom plate and the top plate. The top assembly includes strategically positioned, continuous weld joints to avoid weld starts and stops that create stress risers. The top assembly produces a torque tube which is stiff and resistant to fatigue.

Excavator bucket top assembly

Excavator bucket

The present invention is directed to a corner adapter for attaching a ground engaging tooth to an implement bucket. The corner adapter includes a nose portion, a bottom strap and a top strap. The nose portion and the bottom strap are aligned along substantially common longitudinal axes, the top strap is aligned along a longitudinal axis that defines an offset angle. A cutout portion and gusset are provided in the top strap to permit the corner adapter to engage the side wall.

Corner tooth adapter arrangement for an excavating implement

A method for determining the quality of a weld bead includes producing a weld bead along a work surface during a welding process and scanning the weld bead with a vision system to obtain positional data points for defining a weld bead profile. The weld bead has a weld toe zone or region, which is formed at the interface between the weld bead and the work surface. A curve fit is determined for the weld bead profile bases on the positional data points obtained by the laser scan vision system. The toe radius is derived bases on the curve fit and is then compared to a first predetermined limit and a second predetermined limit, greater than the first predetermined limit, to determine the quality of the weld bead. If the toe radius is less than the first predetermined limit or greater than the second predetermined limit, the welding process is modified to produce a weld bead with a toe radius that falls within the desired range. In one embodiment the weld toe radius is determined from first and second derivations of a numerical relationship representative of the curve fit. In another embodiment the curve fit is compared to a plurality of curves to find a corresponding match and the weld toe radius is determined from the matching

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Eureka, IL, United States of America

Samuel L McClallen