IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,264,461
Granted Patent B2
US 12,264,461 · App. 17/690,431 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Heel shroud having stress concentration reduction geometry and enhanced durability

Inventors: Ezhil Valavan Karunakaran (Ariyalur, IN); Brandon Hammig McCaffrey (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
E02F9/2883E02F9/2808
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,264,461
App. No.
17/690,431
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heel shroud includes a bottom leg, and a side leg extending orthogonally from the bottom leg, forming an interior corner with the bottom leg. The heel shroud defines a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface, and the bottom leg includes a curved interior surface extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface at least partially forming the interior corner. The first lateral surface defines a stress reduction geometry positioned at the interior corner, or includes a wear member that is attached to the side leg, or the bottom leg.

Claims (38)

1. A heel shroud comprising:

a bottom leg; and

a side leg extending from the bottom leg, forming an interior corner with the bottom leg,

wherein the heel shroud defines a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface,

wherein the bottom leg includes:

a curved interior surface extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface at least partially forming the interior corner, and

a flat bottom surface that defines a lower wear member receiving pocket, and

wherein the side leg includes a side wear member receiving pocket that is bound by a first lateral rib at a first edge of the side leg and a second lateral rib at a second edge of the side leg, wherein the lower wear member receiving pocket and the side wear member receiving pocket are contiguous, forming a L-shaped cavity.

2. The heel shroud of claim 1 , wherein the side leg defines an exterior planar surface that, and

wherein the exterior planar surface defines the side wear member receiving pocket.

3. The heel shroud of claim 1 ,

wherein the heel shroud defines a lateral width measured from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface,

wherein the L-shaped cavity defines a lateral cavity width, and

wherein a ratio of the lateral width of the heel shroud to the lateral cavity width measures from 1.09 to 1.32.

4. The heel shroud of claim 1 ,

wherein the L-shaped cavity is bound by the first lateral rib and the second lateral rib, and

wherein the second lateral rib is symmetrical to the first lateral rib.

5. The heel shroud of claim 1 ,

wherein the side leg further includes a tapered portion including an exterior top cavity that is disposed vertically above the side wear member receiving pocket, and

wherein the exterior top cavity is separated from the side wear member receiving pocket.

6. The heel shroud of claim 1 , further comprising a laterally extending wear member disposed in the side wear member receiving pocket.

7. The heel shroud of claim 6 , wherein the laterally extending wear member is a chocky bar.

8. The heel shroud of claim 7 , further comprising a mounting plate interposed between the side leg and the chocky bar.

9. The heel shroud of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of transversely extending wear members disposed in the lower wear member receiving pocket.

10. The heel shroud of claim 9 , further comprising a pair of mounting plates interposed between the bottom leg and the pair of transversely extending wear members.

11. The heel shroud of claim 10 , wherein the pair of transversely extending wear members are chocky bars.

12. The heel shroud of claim 9 , further comprising a lifting hook disposed laterally between the pair of transversely extending wear members.

13. The heel shroud of claim 9 , further comprising a wear button disposed laterally between the pair of transversely extending wear members.

14. A heel shroud comprising:

a bottom leg; and

a side leg extending orthogonally from the bottom leg, forming an interior corner with the bottom leg,

wherein the heel shroud defines a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface,

wherein the bottom leg includes:

a curved interior surface extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface at least partially forming the interior corner, and

wherein the first lateral surface defines a stress reduction geometry that is disposed at the interior corner and that includes a pocket,

wherein the interior corner includes a concave arcuate surface that has a pocket floor surface,

wherein the pocket extends from the concave arcuate surface, and

wherein the concave arcuate surface has a pocket floor surface that is connected to the concave arcuate surface by a plurality of convex arcuate surfaces.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: KARUNAKARAN, EZHIL VALAVAN; MCCAFFREY, BRANDON HAMMIG
To: CATERPILLAR INC
Reel/Frame 059209/0921 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230287664A1 · Sep 14, 2023
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