Segmented shape-compliant wear pad for telescoping boom assembly
A construction vehicle includes a telescoping boom assembly that includes a first section and at least a second section configured to nest within and to extend from the first section. At least one wear pad is positioned between the first section and the second section. The wear pad includes a length, a first surface, and a second surface spaced apart a height from the first surface. A first portion of the wear pad includes a first bending stiffness. The wear pad also includes a second portion having a second bending stiffness, wherein the second bending stiffness is different than the first bending stiffness. Optionally, the height of the wear pad between the first surface and the second surface is substantially the same in the first portion and the second portion. Optionally, the construction vehicle is a crane.
1. A wear pad for positioning between a first section and a second section of a telescoping boom assembly, the wear pad comprising:
a material that includes:
a first surface and a second surface spaced apart a height from the first surface;
a length;
a plurality of grooves that extend a depth into at least one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the depth is less than the height between the first surface and the second surface; and
a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end by a length,
wherein the height is substantially the same along the length from the first end to the second end.
2. The wear pad of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of grooves is parallel to at least another portion of the plurality of grooves.
3. The wear pad of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves further comprises a first plurality of grooves in the first surface and a second plurality of grooves in the second surface, the second plurality of grooves extending a depth into the second surface less than the height between the first surface and the second surface.
4. The wear pad of claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of grooves includes a first axis and wherein the second plurality of grooves includes a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel, and wherein a sum of the depth of the first plurality of grooves and the depth of the second plurality of grooves is less than the height between the first surface and the second surface.
5. The wear pad of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are oriented parallel to the width of the material.
6. The wear pad of claim 1 , wherein the wear pad further comprises:
a first portion that includes:
the plurality of grooves; and,
a first bending plane positioned at a first distance between the first surface and the second surface; and,
a second portion that includes a second bending plane positioned at a second distance between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the second distance is different than the first distance.
7. The wear pad of claim 1 , wherein the wear pad further comprises:
a first portion that includes the plurality of grooves, the first portion having a first bending stiffness; and,
a second portion having a second bending stiffness, wherein the second bending stiffness is different than the first bending stiffness.
8. The wear pad of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of (a) a lubricant applied to at least one of the first surface and the second surface and (b) a lubricant integral to the wear pad.
9. The wear pad of claim 1 , wherein the height between the first surface and the second surface is substantially the same across a width of the material.
10. The wear pad of claim 9 , wherein the height between the first surface and the second surface is configured to vary less than 10 percent of an average height across the width of the material.
11. A construction vehicle comprising:
a telescoping boom assembly that includes a first section and at least a second section configured to nest within and to extend from the first section;
at least one shape-compliant wear pad positioned between the first section and the second section, the wear pad comprising a material that includes:
a first surface and a second surface spaced apart a height from the first surface;
a length;
at least one groove that extends a depth into the at least one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the depth is less than the height between the first surface and the second surface;
a first portion that includes a first bending plane positioned at a first distance between the first surface and the second surface; and
a second portion that includes a second bending plane positioned at a second distance between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the second distance is different than the first distance,
wherein the height between the first surface and the second surface is substantially the same in the first portion and the second portion,
wherein the material is configured to bend from an uninstalled position to an installed position, and
wherein the first portion has a first bending stiffness and the second portion has a second bending stiffness, wherein the second bending stiffness is different than the first bending stiffness.
12. The construction vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the construction vehicle comprises a crane.
13. The construction vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising at least one shim, the at least one shim including at least one ridge configured to extend at least partially into the at least one groove.
14. A method of installing a shape-compliant wear pad in position between a first section and a second section of a telescoping boom assembly of a crane, the method comprising:
providing a wear pad that includes:
a length;
a first surface and a second surface spaced apart a height from the first surface;
a first portion having a first bending stiffness;
a second portion having a second bending stiffness, wherein the second bending stiffness is different than the first bending stiffness; and,
wherein the height between the first surface and the second surface is substantially the same in the first portion and the second portion and,
positioning the wear pad between the first section and the second section of a telescoping boom assembly, wherein positioning the wear pad comprises bending the wear pad from an uninstalled position to an installed position.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising applying a lubricant to at least one of the first surface and the second surface.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising positioning at least one shim, the at least one shim including at least one ridge, such that the ridge extends at least partially into the at least one groove.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein positioning the wear pad further comprises:
one of positioning the wear pad within an interior of the first section of the telescoping assembly and positioning the wear pad onto an exterior of the second section of the telescoping assembly;
positioning the second section of the telescoping assembly within the first section of the telescoping assembly.