INTEGRALLY CAST HINGE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MACHINE BUCKET

摘要

An integrally cast hinge assembly (240) for a bucket, including a first and second hinge plates (242,246), a first torque tube portion (234) extending from the first hinge plate, a secon (248) extending between the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate, and a support plate (222) extending along a bottom portion of the hinge assembly. The first torque portion is weldlessly connected to the first hinge plate, the second torque tube portion is weldlessly connected to the second hinge plate, the third torque tube portion is weldlessly connected to both the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate, and the support plate is weldlessly connected to the first hinge plate, the second hinge plate, the first torque tube portion, the second torque tube portion, and the third torque tube portion. A method of manufacturing a machine bucket (210), comprises the steps of welding a first side plate (218) to a first side edge of a wrapper (224); welding a second side plate (220) to a second side edge of a wrapper; providing a cast hinge assembly having a width formed as an integral, weldless structure; cutting cast hinge assembly such that the width of the cast hinge assembly fits between, and spans the distance between, the first side plate and the second side plate, and welding the cast hinge assembly to the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate.