Abstract: An excavation tooth point longitudinally extending along an axis and having a pocket area extending inwardly through a rear end thereof is telescoped onto a nose portion of an adapter structure by inserting the nose portion into the tooth point pocket area. The inserted nose portion has a tapered side opening therein that is positioned between a corresponding pair of similarly tapered tooth side wall openings. The tooth point is removably coupled to the adapter nose using an elongated, wedge shaped connector member which is inserted, small end first, through the generally aligned tooth and adapter openings. An internal passage longitudinally extends through the large connector member end and receives an inner portion of a force exerting member which compresses a spring within the passage, the spring in turn resiliently biasing an outer portion of the force exerting member into abutment with an interior surface portion of the tooth.

Abstract: A mechanical retention system is disclosed for detachably retaining a ground engaging tool onto an earthworking implement. The retention system uses an elongated steel retainer, which has a convolute spring portion between opposite the end portions of the retainer to allow the retainer to be compressible in one direction in order to be mounted through a retainer opening in the tool into a retainer pocket in the mounting portion of the implement.

Abstract: A multipiece excavating tooth assembly including an adapter, a digging or excavating tooth, and retaining pin structure for interconnecting the adapter and tooth in operable combination relative to each other. The tooth and adapter have a uniquely configured interface or conjuncture therebetween. Moreover, the conjuncture between the digging tooth and adapter is configured to advantageously orientate the retaining pin structure to avoid those problems inherent with conventional vertical and horizontal pin systems.

Abstract: In an excavation bucket, the nose of an adapter has two surfaces to take the horizontal loads and four surfaces to take the vertical loads. A pin holds and locks a tooth to the adapter. Projections on the pin engage sloping surfaces of the nose. A recess placed ahead of the nose of the adapter will become visible as the tooth erodes due to wear. A recess at the nose of the adapter indicates that the tooth has worn too much and, unless the tooth is replaced, will commence to cause wear of the adapter and adjacent parts. To attach the adapter to the lip of the excavation bucket, wedge members are joined together near one end thereof to form a wedge-shaped block insertable into a wedge-shaped space formed by a C-clamp surface and a slot in the lip. The block is forced into the space, and spring biased teeth carried by the lock box progressively enter and leave the recesses in the outer surface of the C-clamp. When the C-clamp is tight enough in the gap, the installation of the lock box is complete.

Abstract: A cutter tooth assembly for impingement of a material (e.g., a stump, wood, brush or earth strata). The assembly attaches to a driven member (e.g., a rotatable wheel). The assembly includes a cutter tooth which has an elongate body with a leading end and a trailing end, as well as a hard insert at the leading end of the tooth. The assembly also includes a pocket which has a base portion and a holder portion. The pocket attaches to the wheel at the base portion thereof. The cutter tooth is retained to the pocket at the holder portion thereof. The base portion of the pocket has a leading surface and a trailing surface. The cutter tooth is retained by the holder portion of the pocket so that the hard insert extends circumferentially past the leading surface of the base portion of the pocket.

Abstract: An excavating tooth point is captively retained externally on an adapter nose with a specially designed lock structure removably received in a side wall opening of the tooth point and an underlying opening in the adapter nose. The rotary lock structure includes a cylindrical body having a side portion from which a resiliently biased force exerting member and a spring-loaded detent pin outwardly project. With the adapter nose received in the tooth pocket the lock structure body is axially inserted into the tooth and adapter openings in a first rotational orientation and then forcibly rotated to a second rotational orientation. The surfaces of the tooth and nose openings are configured to radially inwardly displace the radially outwardly biased force exerting member in response to such rotation, in a manner causing the force exerting member and the lock structure body to exert on the adapter nose and tooth point a continuous resilient force tending to tighten the tooth point onto the adapter nose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in tooth of ore recovery buckets which comprises a single monobloc body 10 having an extreme posterior portion 1 with its upper face provided with an oblong undercut 2 provided with a pair of throughout round orthogonal holes 3 constituting the single body 10 definer of the tooth. Intermediately the single body 10 has a structural thickening 4 that extends itself downwards according to a prismatic shape providing a wedge 5 with a fluted anterior-inferior end 6. The entire surface of the upper inclined wall 7 and the lower horizontal wall 8 of this wedge 5 incorporates fluted transversal undercuts 9 parallel and spaced between themselves.

Abstract: The coupling joint has on the mating contact surfaces between the tooth and the tooth holder the following characteristics: the upper and lower surfaces which define the stabilisation planes comprise a substantially flat central surface and another two flat surfaces, one on each side of the said central surface, so that the interstice between the central flat surface and the corresponding facing surface of the tooth holder is smaller than the respective interstices between the lateral flat surfaces and the corresponding facing surfaces of the receiving cavity of the tooth; the upper and lower rear edges of the lugs of the tooth have a convex transverse structure; the internal vertical rear edge of the rear lugs of the tooth have surfaces of a shape matching the opposed faces of the tooth holder, giving rise to higher bearing surfaces in the case of transverse bearing on the tooth.

Abstract: A tip assembly for an edge of an implement of a work machine includes an adapter secured to the edge of the implement. The adapter has an adapter aperture extending therethrough. The tip assembly also includes an implement tip having a tip aperture extending therethrough, the implement tip is positioned relative to the adapter such that the adapter aperture and the tip aperture align to form a passageway. The tip assembly further includes a sleeve subassembly positioned within the passageway. The sleeve subassembly includes (i) a first member, (ii) an intermediate member, and (iii) a second member. In addition, the tip assembly includes a fastener mechanically coupled to the sleeve subassembly wherein rotation of the fastener causes (i) the intermediate member to move in a first direction, and (ii) the first and second members to move in a second direction so as to tightly secure the sleeve subassembly within the adapter aperture.

Abstract: Retaining pin assemblies for use in releasably securing an excavating tooth or point to a mounting adaptor. Each pin assembly includes one or more holders insertable lengthwise in registering apertures in the adaptor and tooth and movable thereafter widthwise to cause interengagement. The holder and the apertures are provided with complementary portions. A locking member is inserted after engagement of the pin to fix the adaptor and tooth together.

Abstract: An excavation tooth arrangement including a point adapter, a holder and a dowel. The ends of the point adapter and of the holder have male and female parts which are configured to be joined and held together by insertion of a dowel into a groove which includes a pocket. The dowel includes a part which snaps into this pocket and thus remains in a desired position.

Abstract: A wear assembly for attaching to a digging edge of an excavator includes a boss, a wear member and a lock. The boss is fixed to the excavator and defines a T-shaped coupling structure. The adapter includes a rearwardly extending mounting leg and a forwardly extending working end. The leg includes a T-shaped slot adapted to be received over the T-shaped structure of the boss. The adapter leg further includes an opening for receiving a lock. The lock includes an adjustment assembly for eliminating any looseness which may exist between the adapter and the boss.

Abstract: A tooth assembly includes a tip and an adapter, with the tip being replaceably secured to the adapter by a retaining mechanism. It is advantageous to have a tooth assembly that, due to mating load transfer surfaces between the tip and adapter, allows the effective transfer of forces from the tip directly into the adapter without creating undesired resultant forces on the retaining mechanism. In the subject arrangement, the retaining mechanism utilizes a double flex pin that eliminates the need for supplemental devices or components to retain such retaining pin. In particular, the pin is provided with a pair of protrusions defining a detent valley therebetween on one surface thereof that receives a detent protrusion provided on the nose of the adapter.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for an excavating cutterhead comprising the combination of a blade socket with a hemispherical recess, an adapter with a hemispherical-bottomed shaft to fit in the socket, and a mounting ring around the adapter head which can be indexed with respect to each other such that the adapter may be precisely replaced in an operating assembly without need to reorient the entire assembly. This is accomplished by means of mutually indexing each of the adapter and the mounting ring prior to the initial orientation of the assembly.

Abstract: Couplers have been utilized to connect a tooth to an adapter of an implement. It is advantageous to have a coupler that effectively and efficiently transfers forces subjected to the tooth to the adapter of the implement. Furthermore, it is advantageous to have a coupler that can be quickly and easily mounted to the adapter and likewise is able to quickly and easily assemble and disassemble a tooth thereto. In the subject arrangement, a coupler is provided and has a tooth mounting portion with a nose portion having a pair of load bearing surfaces, a pair of spaced apart grooves, a pin opening, and a transverse opening that is oriented perpendicular with and in intersecting relationship with the pin opening. The coupler also includes an adapter receiving portion which has a cavity defined therein with a pair of spaced apart load transferring surfaces located in the cavity generally adjacent the bottom thereof and a retainer opening defined therein in intersecting relationship with the cavity.

Abstract: A digging tooth assembly has a base nose, a replaceable tooth tip mounted on the base nose and a pin securing the tip to the nose. The pin includes a locking head eccentric to the pin and a pad-like resilient member is placed between the head and the tooth tip. The locking head is rotated so that the resilient member is compressed to urge the tooth tip in a direction such that the tip is maintained in a nose-contacting position.

Abstract: An excavating tooth includes an aperture for bolting the tooth to a shank plate and a lug configured to provide a friction fit in a recess formed in the shank plate. The bolt and lug combination prevent relative movement between the tooth and shank plate. In addition, tooth load is absorbed in the shank plate through the connection between the lug and shank plate, thereby reducing the stress transferred through the bolt.

Abstract: A reversible tooth includes alternate surfaces mounting to a shank plate. The surfaces are constructed so that the attack angle of the tooth, i.e., the angle at which the tooth penetrates the earth, is changed by turning the tooth over and alternating the mounting surface secured to the shank plate.

Abstract: Tooth assemblies having a tip attached to an adapter by a retaining mechanism is normally utilized in order to readily replace the tip which is a high wear element. It is advantageous to have a tip that due to its interface with the adapter allows effective transfer of forces being subjected to the tip directly to the adapter without creating undesired resultant forces trying to force the tip from the adapter. In the subject arrangement, a tip has a cavity with a load bearing bottom surface at the bottom of the cavity and a pair of parallel spaced apart load bearing surfaces adjacent thereto. The tip also has an ear extending from one of the side walls thereof, a longitudinally extending groove defined therein, and a pin receiving opening 56 defined therein that extends through a top wall, the one side wall and a bottom wall of the tip and intersects the longitudinally extending groove.

Abstract: A cutting-edge member for scraper blades having interlocking engagement with adjacent members, each cutting edge member being adjustable and reversible in a position relative to the other members. The interlocking engagement is achieved by the use of non-tapered, angled dove-tailed members spaced along each side of the cutting edge member and being separated by recesses, each dove-tailed member being of a size and shape the same as each of the recesses.

Abstract: An assembly of an inner conical adapter nose and an outer tooth having a coaxial conical inner recess, the tooth having spaced helical ears which mesh with spaced helical grooves in the base of the adapter, and at least one key adapted to be inserted into a keyway passing through the adapter base and one tooth ear in a direction generally perpendicular to the coaxis and tangential to the recess. The recess is conical with a mating conical adapter head and the tooth ears are arranged in a square and mate with grooves on the adapter base arranged in a square, and the lands between the grooves of the base substantially fill the spaces between the tooth ears.

Abstract: Cleaner teeth or bars are used in many applications to remove debris from a compacting wheel that is wedged between respective rows of compacting tips. It is advantageous to have a cleaner tooth that is simple in construction and effective to remove the debris with the least amount of effort. In the subject arrangement, a cleaner tooth is provided having an arcuate upper surface that, in use, is located immediately adjacent an outer peripheral surface of a compacting wheel and has a trailing lower surface that intersects the arcuate outer surface at a forward end portion thereof. The forward end portion is effective to remove the debris with minimal effort. A fastening portion provides a structure which allows ease of assembly and disassembly of the cleaner tooth to a compacting machine.

Abstract: A tooth assembly for mounting on the tooth horns of excavating or levelling apparatus buckets, shovels or alternative digging mechanisms. In a preferred embodiment the tooth assembly includes a wedge-shaped adapter for seating on a tooth horn, an insert removably seated in an insert cavity provided in each side of the adapter and a tooth point frontally engaging and bolted to the adapter by means of bolts threaded in the inserts, for engaging the material to be excavated. In another preferred embodiment top and bottom wear caps transversely slidably engage and bolt to the adapter adjacent to the tooth point for extending the life of the tooth assembly in the excavating or levelling operation.

Abstract: A digging wheel assembly includes a supporting wheel having a peripheral zone and a plurality of receiving elements affixed to the supporting wheel in the peripheral zone in a spaced, circumferential distribution. Each receiving element has a receiving pocket and a receiving slot. Digging tool components are disposed along the peripheral zone of the supporting wheel in a circumferential distribution. Each digging tool component is disposed between two circumferentially adjoining receiving elements; one being a leading receiving element and one being a trailing receiving element as viewed in the rotary working direction of the assembly. Each digging tool component has a leading part extending from a front end of the digging tool component in the rotary working direction and being accommodated in the receiving pocket of the leading receiving element.

Abstract: An attachment, adapted to mount to the front edge of an excavating bucket, includes a working structure and a base. The front edge of the bucket defines an inner surface, an outer surface, and a beveled surface oriented at an inclination to the inner and outer surfaces. The base of the attachment includes a single leg or pair of legs having opposed engagement surfaces. The engagement surfaces on the two legged attachments diverge from one another to define a gap therebetween for receiving the lip of the bucket. One of the engagement surfaces defines a convex surface which enables the attachment to be mounted to a variety of different buckets irrespective of the inclination of the beveled surface of the front edge.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism (10) for captively retaining an adapter (4) to the forward lip (2) of a bucket for earth excavating utilizes a ratcheted pawl (14) within a C-clamp (12). The pawl ratchet (24) engages a complementary pawl surface (26) of the rear half (16b) of a split pin assembly (16). The forward half (16a) of the split pin can be attached to the rear half (16b) by shear screws (52). Moreover, the forward half (16a) of the split pin can be attached to the rear half (16b) by an elastomeric element (64). The split pin assembly (16) acts as a wedge member, firmly securing the adapter (4) to the lip (2). To remove the retaining mechanism (10) from the adapter (4) and lip (2), the pawl (14) may be disengaged from the rear split pin (16b) by manipulating the pawl through an access port (28 ) in the C-clamp (12). Alternatively, the forward split pin (16) may be driven through the opening in the adapter and lip.

Abstract: A one-piece locking pin (100) for use captively retaining a tooth (14) on an adapter portion (12) of an excavating tooth and adapter assembly has a primary wedge member (110) with an integral spring (120) extending upward from the member's distal end (116). A first positive stop member (130) extends from the wedge member (110) while an opposing second positive stop member (122) extends from the integral spring (12). After insertion, the locking pin (100) prevents separation of tooth (14) from adapter portion (12) while the first and second positive stop member (130, 122) prevent accidental loss of the locking pin (100) from the assembly. To remove the locking pin, a force sufficient to separate the first positive stop member (130) from the pin (100) is exerted to drive the pin (100) from the assembly.

Abstract: Retaining mechanisms are normally utilized for securing a tooth to an adapter. Many times the forces necessary to secure the retaining mechanism in an assembled position is not high enough to maintain assembly during use. In the subject arrangement, the retaining mechanism includes a pin having a means thereon for forming a shoulder and a plurality of conical spring washers each having an inner surface defining an opening having a diameter of a predetermined size which is smaller than the outer diameter of the shoulder means. During assembly, the shoulder means of the pin is forced through the opening of the respective conical spring washers from a concave side thereof. In order to disassemble the pin, the shoulder means of the pin must be forced through the respective openings. In instances where the pin must be removed from the same side that it is installed, a much higher force is required to force the shoulder means through the opening of the respective first, second, and third conical spring washers.

Abstract: A sidebar is provided for an offset sidebar trenching chain. The sidebar has an inner edge which slides along a boom of a trenching machine, when the trenching chain is in use. The sidebar is induction hardened through a portion thereof extending from the inner edge, for increased resistance to wear due to friction.