Related Applications

[001] This application claims priority from Australian Innovation Patent No. 2017100250 filed on 2 March 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

Technical Field

[002] The invention relates to a wear liner assembly and associated method of use. Background

[003] Wear parts such as wear tiles are often attached to a structure such as a chute to protect the underlying structure. Typical wear tiles may include a wear portion that is attached or formed with a backing. The wear tile may be bolted or otherwise affixed to the underlying structure.

[004] A problem with known wear tiles relates to the wear portion becoming worn in use and the entire wear tile is required to be replaced which may be labour intensive and expensive.

[005] Accordingly, wear tile assemblies that are secured to a backing or the structure by a bolt have been developed. However, a problem with these wear tile assemblies relates to the longevity of the bolt and coupling to the backing. A further problem relates to the fouling of the bolt and difficulties in separating the backing and liner in the event the liner needs to be replaced. A further problem relates to the structural integrity of the coupling between the liner and backing, and the service life of the liner. [006] The invention disclosed herein seeks to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary

[007] In accordance with the first broad aspect there is provided, a wear liner assembly for a structure, the wear liner assembly including a backing, a liner and a coupling arrangement having a fastener adapted to couple with a retainer, wherein the liner includes an liner aperture and the backing includes a retaining portion arranged to removably retain the retainer such that in an installed condition the fastener is passed through the aperture so as to engage the retainer and thereby secure the liner to the backing.

[008] In an aspect, the retaining portion is provided in the form of a slot in which the retainer is receivable in the installed condition.

[009] In another aspect, the retaining portion includes an entry portion leading to the slot, the entry portion allowing removal of the retainer from the backing whilst the backing is secured to the structure.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the slot is vertically arranged in use.

[0011] In yet another aspect, the slot includes shaped or chamfered sidewalls oriented toward the backing in the installed condition.

[0012] In yet another aspect, the retainer has complementary arranged chamfered retainer walls that engage with the chamfered sidewalls of the slot in the installed condition.

[0013] In yet another aspect, the slot and retainer each have rounded ends so as to engage with each other on substantially three sides in the installed condition.

[0014] In yet another aspect, the retainer has a threaded aperture arranged to engage with a threaded stem of the fastener. [0015] In yet another aspect, the liner aperture includes a recessed ledge upon which a head of the fastener bears in the installed condition.

[0016] In yet another aspect, the coupling arrangement includes a cap receivable within the liner aperture to conceal the fastener in the installed condition.

[0017] In yet another aspect, the liner includes a jacking aperture laterally spaced apart from the liner aperture.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the wear liner assembly further includes a plug fittable to conceal the jacking aperture.

[0019] In yet another aspect, the backing includes one or more welding apertures arranged to enable welding of the backing to the structure.

[0020] In yet another aspect, the backing and the liner are adapted to interfit with one another in the installed condition.

[0021] In yet another aspect, the backing includes one or more cutouts and the liner includes one or more locators arranged to be received by the cutouts in the installed condition.

[0022] In yet another aspect, the wherein a back side of the liner and a front side of the backing are adapted to locate with one another in both a first orientation and a second orientation in which the liner is rotated 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

[0023] In yet another aspect, the backing includes one or more cutouts and the liner includes one or more locators arranged to be received by the one or more cutouts in the installed condition, wherein the one or more locators and one or more cutouts are arranged to locate with one another in either of the first and second orientations. [0024] In accordance with a second broad aspect there is provided, a method of securing a wear liner assembly with a structure, the method including the steps of: securing a backing to the structure with a slot of the backing being at least one of vertically aligned and aligned with a direction from which the wear liner assembly is to be impacted, slidably inserting a retainer into the slot such that the retainer locates with an end of the slot, fitting a liner atop the backing and installing a fastener through a liner aperture of the liner so as to couple with the retainer thereby securing the liner with the backing.

[0025] In an aspect, the method further includes: fitting a cap over the fastener to conceal the fastener.

[0026] In another aspect, the method further includes: fitting a plug to a jacking aperture of the liner that is laterally spaced apart from the liner aperture.

[0027] In yet another aspect, to remove the liner, the method includes the steps of: at least one or removing or loosening the fastener; fitting a threaded jacking bolt to a threaded socket of the jacking aperture; and actuating the threaded jacking bolt to at least partially separate the liner from the backing.

[0028] In accordance with a third broad aspect there is provided, a wear liner assembly for a structure, the wear liner assembly including a backing, a liner and a coupling arrangement having a fastener adapted to couple the liner to the backing in an installed condition, wherein a back side of the liner and a front side of the backing are adapted to locate with one another in both a first installed orientation and a second installed orientation in which the liner is rotated 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

[0029] In an aspect, the backing includes one or more cutouts and the liner includes one or more locators arranged to be received by the one or more cutouts in the installed condition, wherein the one or more locators and one or more cutouts are arranged to locate with one another in either of the first and second orientations. [0030] In another aspect, the wear liner assembly includes a retainer and the backing includes a retaining portion arranged to removably retain the retainer such that in either of the first installed orientation and the second installed orientation the fastener is passed through a liner aperture of the liner so as to engage the retainer and thereby secure the liner to the backing.

Brief Description of the Figures

[0031] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which;

[0032] Figure 1 is an exploded parts view illustrating a wear liner assembly;

[0033] Figure 2 is a front perspective view illustrating the wear liner assembly in an installed condition;

[0034] Figure 3 is a front view illustrating the wear liner assembly in the installed condition;

[0035] Figure 4 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the wear liner assembly in the installed condition;

[0036] Figure 5 is a side sectional view illustrating the wear liner assembly in the installed condition;

[0037] Figure 6 is a perspective rear view of the wear liner assembly with the backing omitted for clarity;

[0038] Figure 7 is an exploded parts view illustrating a second example of a wear liner assembly including a flat faced liner;

[0039] Figure 8 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the second example of the wear liner assembly in the installed condition; and [0040] Figure 9 is a perspective rear view illustrating the wear liner assembly with the backing omitted for clarity.

Detailed Description

[0041] Referring to Figures 1 to 6, there is shown a wear liner assembly 10 for a structure 12 such as a wall or other supporting surface. The wear liner assembly 10 includes a backing 14, a liner 16 and a coupling arrangement 18 having a fastener 20 adapted to couple with a retainer 22. The liner 16 includes a liner aperture 24 and the backing 14 includes a retaining portion 26 arranged to removably retain the retainer 22 such that in an installed condition, as shown in Figure 2, the fastener 20 is passed through the liner 24 aperture to engage the retainer 22 and thereby secure the liner 16 to the backing 14.

[0042] In more detail, the retaining portion 26 is provided in the form of an elongate slot 28 in which the retainer 22 is slidably receivable in the installed condition. The retaining portion 26 includes an enlarged entry portion 30 leading to the slot 28. The entry portion 30 allows removal of the retainer from the slot 28 and backing 14 whilst the backing 14 is secured to the structure 12. The slot 28 is vertically arranged in use or aligned with a force that impacts the liner 16. Of course, the slot 28 is deeper relative to the retainer 22 or otherwise arranged so that the retainer 22 is slidable whist the backing 14 is secured to the structure 12.

[0043] The slot 28 includes shaped, in this example, chamfered sidewalls 32 oriented toward the backing 14 in the installed condition. The chamfered sidewalls 32 extend from the enlarged entry portion 30, and extend and meet at a rounded end 34 of the slot 28 that defines an end of travel stop for the retainer 22.

[0044] The backing 14 includes a front face 17, a back face 19, a top end 21, a bottom end 23 and opposing sides 25. The slot 28 is located so as to extend from the top end 21 to the bottom end 23 with the rounded end 34 of the slot 28 about in the centre of the backing 14. The enlarged entry portion 30 is provided by a rectangular locating cutout 31 that spans widthwise and is located between the rounded end 34 and the top end 21, and a further rectangular locating cutout 33 is located between the rounded end 34 and the bottom end 23.

[0045] The locating cutouts 31, 33 receive and locate with rectangular locating portions or blocks 35, 37 that extend from a backside 39 of the liner 16. The opposing sides 25 and ends 21, 23 may include further cutouts or recesses 41 that are arranged to allow adjacently fitted backings 14 to abut against each other at flat edge sides 47 thereof to form welding apertures or spaces 49 within the cutouts or recesses 41.

[0046] It noted that that liner 16 is generally symmetrical about its horizontal axis such that the liner 16 can be installed on a first orientation and then rotated 180 degrees to a second orientation. In particular, the locating portions 35, 37 fit within the locating cutouts 31, 33 in either of the first and second orientations. In either orientation, the locating cutouts 31, 33 bear on the locating cutouts 31, 33 to provide support, especially in relation to shear forces, between the liner 16 and the backing 14. The coupling arrangement 18 can couple the backing 14 and the liner 16 in either of the first and second orientations and be actuated to facilitate movement between the first and second orientations.

[0047] The backing 14 may be formed from a metal material such as mild steel. The backing 16 may further include one or more welding apertures 43 arranged to enable welding of the backing 16 to the structure. In this example, the welding apertures 43 are located on opposing sides of the slot 28. It is noted that the backing 14 may be relatively long or wide and connect to a plurality of the removable liners 16. Accordingly, some arrangements may have only a few large backings 14 and a greater number of liners 16 that fit adjacent one another in the installed condition.

[0048] The retainer 22 has complementary arranged chamfered retainer walls 36 and a rounded end 38 that engage with the chamfered sidewalls 32 of the slot 28 in the installed condition. The retainer 22 has opposing front and back faces 40, 29 between which a threaded retainer aperture 42 extends. The threaded aperture 42 is arranged to engage with the fastener 20. Accordingly, the slot 28 and the retainer 22 each have rounded ends 34, 38 so as to engage with each other on substantially three sides in the installed condition. The retainer 22 may be formed from a metal, such as a soft metal, and may be replaced as required along with the liner 16 and other parts of the coupling arrangement 18.

[0049] The liner aperture 24 may be centrally arranged relative to the liner 16. The liner aperture 24 includes a recessed ledge 44 upon which a head 46 of the fastener 20 bears in the installed condition with a threaded neck 48 thereof engaged with the retainer aperture 42. In this example, the liner 16 has a square shape. However, it may be any suitable shape and have any suitable pattern on the front face 50 thereof. For example, a second example of the liner 16 is shown in Figures 7 to 9 that include a generally flat face 50. The coupling arrangement 18 may include a cap 52 receivable within the liner aperture 24 to conceal the fastener 20 in the installed condition. The fastener 20 may be a metal socket head screw and the cap 52 may be metal or a plastic disc or plug.

[0050] The liner 16 also may include a jacking aperture 54 laterally spaced apart from the liner aperture 24. The jacking aperture 54 is adapted to provide an access point to insert a tool or bolt to assist with dislodging the liner 16 in a removed condition. In this example, the jacking aperture 54 is threaded and a jacking bolt (not shown) may be threadedly coupled thereto to extend through the jacking aperture 54 and bear on the backing 14. This allows rotation of the jacking bolt to "jack" the liner 16 away from the backing 14 thereby assisting with the removal of the backing 14.

[0051] The jacking aperture 54 may be covered by a plug 56 fittable to conceal the jacking aperture 54. The plug 56 may be a plastic threaded bolt. The locating portions 35, 37 that extend from the backside 39 of the liner 16 are shaped to assist to locate and secure the liner 16 when received by the locating cutouts 31, 33 of the backing 14. The liner 16 has opposing top and bottom ends 51, 53 and opposing sides 55 that are each relatively straight. The liner 16 may be formed from a high wear resistant cast material such as those including tungsten carbide.

[0052] Referring to Figures 7 to 9, there is shown a second example of the wear liner assembly 10 that is similar to the above-described first example aside from the shape of the front face 50 of the liner 16 that in this case is relatively flat. Accordingly, like numerals are used to denote like parts and the parts are not again described here in any detail. The second example illustrates that the wear liner assembly 10 may be used with a variety of liner 16 shape and styles whilst retaining the same underlying function having a liner aperture 24, and locating portions 35, 37 that extend from the backside 39 of the liner 16. The locating portions 35, 37 are received by the locating cutouts 31, 33 of the backing 14. The fastener 20 is similarly fitted to the liner aperture 24 to couple with the retainer 22 fitted to the retaining portion 26 of the backing 14.

[0053] In use, a method of securing first or second example the wear liner assembly 10 with the structure 12, includes the steps of securing the backing 14 to the structure 12 with the slot 28 of the backing 16 being at least one of vertically aligned and aligned with a direction from which the wear liner assembly 10 is to be impacted. The chamfered walls 32 of the slot 28 are arranged to face the structure 10. The backing 14 may be welded in place at the welding apertures or recesses 43, 49 within and alongside the backing 14.

[0054] The retainer 22 is then inserted into the slot 28 via the entry portion 20 and is slid along the slot 28 such that the retainer 22 locates with the end of the slot 34. The liner 16 is then fitted atop the backing 14 with the locating portions 35, 37 that extend from the backside 39 of the liner 16 received by the locating cutouts 31, 33 of the backing 14. The fastener 20 is then fitted through the liner aperture 24 of the liner 16 so as to engage with the retainer 20 thereby securing the liner 16 with the backing 14. The cap 52 may be fitted to conceal the liner aperture 24 and the jacking aperture 54 may be concealed with the plug 54. The cap 52 and the plug 54 serves to inhibit material such as dirt entering the respective apertures 24, 54.

[0055] To replace the liner 16, the cap 52 and plugs 54 may be removed to reveal the fastener 20 and jacking aperture 54, respectively. The fastener 20 may be loosened and removed. The jacking aperture 54 is threaded so that if the liner 16 is stuck, the plug 54 can be removed and a suitable threaded bolt can be inserted into the jacking aperture 54 to "jack" the liner 16 from the backing 14. The liner 16 may then be rotated 180 degrees, removed or replaced. The retainer 22 may be slidably removed and replaced whilst the backing 14 remains welded to the structure 12.

[0056] It is noted that pluralities of the wear liner assembly 10 may be fitted adjacent one another and with adjacent liners 16 proximate one another. In some examples, the backing 14 may be provided as a common backing to which pluralities of adjacent liners 16 liners are fitted.

[0057] Advantageously, there has been disclosed a wear liner assembly having a cast wear liner and a backing plate that are arranged to allow the wear liner to be easily replaced using a coupling arrangement. As such, welding is usually not required when changing the liners.

[0058] The wear liner and backing plate are arranged to inter-fit with one another as well as securely and releasably couple with one another in the installed condition. In particular, the retainer that is slidably received by the backing is easily replaceable and therefore extends the life of the backing plate in the event that the retainer becomes damaged or worn. The other components of the coupling arrangement are also replaceable. The wear liner assembly may be used in most applications including structures such as bins, tubs, crushers, chutes, skips, and buckets. The coupling allows the liner to be removed directly away from the backing without lateral or vertical movement of the liner which allows adjacent wear liners to be fitted at relatively close spacing and the adjacently liners being able to be removed and fitted to the backing.

[0059] Further advantageously, the liner can be coupled to the backing in two opposing orientations thereby allowing the wear face to be rotated and gaining further life from the wear liner. The location portions of the liner and cutouts of the backing take shear stress loads subjected to the liner. Forces on the coupling arrangement thereby being reduced or minimised.

[0060] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0061] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

[0062] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[0063] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.