Abstract: The present fastener securely couples a first body to a second body, where the fastener includes an elongate arcuate body curved along a longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional area taken planar normal to the longitudinal axis, the elongate arcuate body includes a first portion separated along the longitudinal axis from a second portion with the cross-sectional area of the elongate body increasing from the first portion to the second portion. The fastener further includes a retaining portion configured to selectively secure the elongate arcuate body in the inserted configuration. In use, the present fastener is configured to be inserted into a passage delineated between a first body and a second body which are overlapping at least in part, to selectively lock the first body and the second body in the coupled configuration.

Abstract: The present fastener securely couples a first body to a second body, where the fastener includes an elongate arcuate body curved along a longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional area taken planar normal to the longitudinal axis, the elongate arcuate body includes a first portion separated along the longitudinal axis from a second portion with the cross-sectional area of the elongate body increasing from the first portion to the second portion. The fastener further includes a retaining portion configured to selectively secure the elongate arcuate body in the inserted configuration. In use, the present fastener is configured to be inserted into a passage delineated between a first body and a second body which are overlapping at least in part, to selectively lock the first body and the second body in the coupled configuration.

Abstract: The present fastener securely couples a first body to a second body, where the fastener includes an elongate arcuate body curved along a longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional area taken planar normal to the longitudinal axis, the elongate arcuate body includes a first portion separated along the longitudinal axis from a second portion with the cross-sectional area of the elongate body increasing from the first portion to the second portion. The fastener further includes a retaining portion configured to selectively secure the elongate arcuate body in the inserted configuration. In use, the present fastener is configured to be inserted into a passage delineated between a first body and a second body which are overlapping at least in part, to selectively lock the first body and the second body in the coupled configuration.

Abstract: A fastener is provided that securely couples a first body to a second body, where the fastener includes an elongate arcuate body curved along a longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional area taken planar normal to the longitudinal axis, the elongate arcuate body includes a first portion separated along the longitudinal axis from a second portion with the cross-sectional area of the elongate body increasing from the first portion to the second portion. The fastener further includes a retaining portion configured to selectively secure the elongate arcuate body in the inserted configuration. In use, the present fastener is configured to be inserted into a passage delineated between a first body and a second body which are overlapping at least in part, to selectively lock the first body and the second body in the coupled configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing and removing shrouds from the lips of an earth moving bucket. The lips have forwardly converging upper and lower surfaces which are engaged by correspondingly rearwardly diverging legs of the shrouds that overly and are in contact with the lip surfaces. A hole is provided in the lip and an oblong hole in one of the legs that is aligned with the hole and has axially extending, spaced-apart flat walls which define engagement ledges that face and overlap the bore. A connector for securing the shroud to the lip is placed in the bore and the hole and has shaped exterior surfaces for positioning between the walls so that the connector is axially movable along the walls and past the engagement ledges while relative rotations between the connector and the hole in the leg are prevented.

Abstract: A lip to be applied to a bucket of excavating equipment for moving ground materials that includes a lip adapted to be attached to an open end of a container of the excavating equipment having a front end facing in a forward direction of the container, the lip defining a substantially horizontal bottom lip portion and side portions extending upwardly from lateral ends of the bottom lip portion, and a multiplicity of like projections extending forwardly relative to the lip from at least one of the portions of the lip.

Abstract: A connection for firmly securing an adapter for carrying a digging tooth to a lip of an excavating container. The connection has substantially aligned openings in the adapter and the lip. A pressure applying unit, such as a hydraulic actuator, is arranged inside the opening and generates a generally horizontally acting force which draws the adapter and the lip towards each other. A stress member is operatively coupled to the hydraulic actuator and resiliently deforms relative to its relaxed shape when it is subjected to the horizontally acting force. The wedge is shaped so that upon a reduction or cessation of the horizontally acting force the stress member, remains in the resiliently deformed state in which it draws the adapter and the lip towards each other and keeps them immovably secured to each other until the wedge can be withdrawn following a repressurization of the hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing and removing shrouds from the lips of an earth moving bucket. The lips have forwardly converging upper and lower surfaces which are engaged by correspondingly rearwardly diverging legs of the shrouds that overly and are in contact with the lip surfaces. A hole is provided in the lip and an oblong hole in one of the legs that is aligned with the hole and has axially extending, spaced-apart flat walls which define engagement ledges that face and overlap the bore. A connector for securing the shroud to the lip is placed in the bore and the hole and has shaped exterior surfaces for positioning between the walls so that the connector is axially movable along the walls and past the engagement ledges while relative rotations between the connector and the hole in the leg are prevented.

Abstract: A connection for firmly securing an adapter for carrying a digging tooth to a lip of an excavating container. The connection has substantially aligned openings in the adapter and the lip. A pressure applying unit, such as a hydraulic actuator, is arranged inside the opening and generates a generally horizontally acting force which draws the adapter and the lip towards each other. A stress member is operatively coupled to the hydraulic actuator and resiliently deforms relative to its relaxed shape when it is subjected to the horizontally acting force. The wedge is shaped so that upon a reduction or cessation of the horizontally acting force the stress member, remains in the resiliently deformed state in which it draws the adapter and the lip towards each other and keeps them immovably secured to each other until the wedge can be withdrawn following a repressurization of the hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A connection for firmly securing an adapter for detachably carrying a replaceable digging tooth at its front end to a lip of an excavating container of excavating equipment. The adapter has an upper leg and a lower leg located proximate respective upper and lower surfaces of the lip. The connection has substantially aligned openings in the legs and the lip, and engagement sections of the adapter legs traverse the opening in the lip proximate and forward of an aft end thereof. A pressure applying unit, such as a hydraulic actuator, is arranged inside the opening and generates a generally horizontally acting force which draws the adapter and the lip towards each other. A stress member, which can be a C-clamp, is operatively coupled to the hydraulic actuator and resiliently deforms relative to its relaxed shape when it is subjected to the horizontally acting force.

Abstract: A lip to be applied to a bucket of excavating equipment for moving ground materials is disclosed, that includes a lip adapted to be attached to an open end of a container of the excavating equipment having a front end facing in a forward direction of the container, the lip defining a substantially horizontal bottom lip portion and side portions extending upwardly from lateral ends of the bottom lip portion, and a multiplicity of like projections extending forwardly relative to the lip from at least one of the portions of the lip.

Abstract: A connector for earth-moving equipment subjected to contact with earth, abrasive materials and the like has a nut with a body and a hole extending through the body. A bolt with a shank adapted to extend into the hole has an enlarged head at one end of the shank. Cooperating thread formations are defined on the shank and in the hole. The thread formations have cooperating matching cross-sections that decrease from a vicinity of the head of the screw towards the other end of the screw and that extend over a circumference of less than 360° and typically of no more than 270°. The connector is adapted to connect various components, including teeth and adapters, to each other and to lips at the front end of earth moving buckets and the like.

Abstract: A connection for firmly securing an adapter for detachably carrying a replaceable digging tooth at its front end to a lip of an excavating container of excavating equipment. The adapter has an upper leg and a lower leg located proximate respective upper and lower surfaces of the lip. The connection has substantially aligned openings in the legs and the lip, and engagement sections of the adapter legs traverse the opening in the lip proximate and forward of an aft end thereof. A pressure applying unit, such as a hydraulic actuator, is arranged inside the opening and generates a generally horizontally acting force which draws the adapter and the lip towards each other. A stress member, which can be a C-clamp, is operatively coupled to the hydraulic actuator and resiliently deforms relative to its relaxed shape when it is subjected to the horizontally acting force.

Abstract: A connector for earth-moving equipment subjected to contact with earth, abrasive materials and the like has a nut with a body and a hole extending through the body. A bolt with a shank adapted to extend into the hole has an enlarged head at one end of the shank. Cooperating thread formations are defined on the shank and in the hole. The thread formations have cooperating matching cross-sections that decrease from a vicinity of the head of the screw towards the other end of the screw and that extend over a circumference of less than 360° and typically of no more than 270°. The connector is adapted to connect various components, including teeth and adapters, to each other and to lips at the front end of earth moving buckets and the like.

Abstract: A lip assembly is disclosed and includes a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, and a plurality of holes disposed between the front portion and the rear portion and extending from the upper surface to the lower surface. The first and second side portions are on opposite sides of the front portion of the lip, and the front portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion include projections and valleys. Tooth assemblies extend away from at least the front portion of the lip and are respectively coupled to the lip via the plurality of holes.

Abstract: A lip assembly is disclosed. The lip assembly comprises a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, and a rear portion. A plurality of holes is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion. The lip also includes support members. Each support member is disposed adjacent to a hole within the plurality of holes and is positioned to inhibit movement of a tooth assembly coupled to the hole. A plurality of tooth assemblies extend away from the lip and are respectively coupled to the lip via the plurality of holes. The lip assembly may be used with an excavation bucket body.

Abstract: A lip assembly is disclosed. The lip assembly comprises a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, and a rear portion. A plurality of holes is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion. The lip also includes support members. Each support member is disposed adjacent to a hole within the plurality of holes and is positioned to inhibit movement of a tooth assembly coupled to the hole. A plurality of tooth assemblies extend away from the lip and are respectively coupled to the lip via the plurality of holes. The lip assembly may be used with an excavation bucket body.

Abstract: An excavating bucket assembly for excavation apparatus that does not use pins to connect teeth to adaptors on the excavation bucket. Each adaptor includes a receiving portion defined therein that is at least partially defined by an abutment wall. Each tooth includes an interference portion. The connection system includes a biasing portion adjacent the abutment wall and a locking portion adjacent the biasing portion. The locking portion includes a locking section and an interference section that engages the interference portion of its respective tooth. The locking section and the interference section are capable of movement relative to one another to thereby couple the tooth to the adaptor. The locking section included at least one biasing plunger that engaged a corresponding biasing pin within the biasing portion when the connection system is in use.

Abstract: A cleat assembly for trash compactor vehicle wheels that does not use pins to attach replaceable cleats to cleat bases on the trash compactor vehicle wheels. The cleat assembly includes a cleat base with a receiving portion that has a cleat base abutment wall. The cleat assembly also includes a re-useable connection system and a replaceable cleat with an interference portion. The connection system includes a biasing portion that is adjacent to the cleat base abutment wall and a locking portion that is adjacent to the biasing portion when the connection system is in use. The locking portion includes a locking section and an interference section that engage the interference portion of the replaceable cleat. The locking section and the interference section are capable of movement relative to one another to thereby couple the replaceable cleat to the cleat base.

Abstract: A lip assembly is disclosed. The lip assembly comprises a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, and a rear portion. A plurality of holes is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion. The lip also includes support members. Each support member is disposed adjacent to a hole within the plurality of holes and is positioned to inhibit movement of a tooth assembly coupled to the hole. A plurality of tooth assemblies extend away from the lip and are respectively coupled to the lip via the plurality of holes. The lip assembly may be used with an excavation bucket body.