Abstract: A compactor tooth has a replaceable wear tip mounted to a mounting block carried on the cylindrical exterior surface of a landfill-compactor wheel of a compactor machine. The mounting block has an external surface formed to engage a complementary internal cavity of the wear tip and includes a pair of circumferentially-spaced sides oriented not more than 5 degrees from perpendicular to the cylindrical exterior surface of the wheel. The replaceable tip has a body with an exterior ground-engaging surface, a mounting end and a mounting-base receiving cavity opening through the mounting end. The cavity is configured to receive the mounting block thereinto and has a pair of circumferentially-spaced side surfaces configured to be in close abutting relationship to a respective one of the circumferentially-spaced sides of the mounting block.

Abstract: A dump truck is provided with a mooring device for maintaining a dump body of the truck in a raised position when the truck is being serviced. The mooring device utilizes two tension members or cables and includes a load distribution mechanism so as to prevent one of the tension members from carrying a substantially greater tensile load than the other member.

Abstract: A bucket assembly is disclosed. The bucket assembly includes a bucket having a base edge. The bucket assembly also includes a base edge protection assembly having (i) a digging plate having a forward edge with a pair of notches defined therein so that a tooth is formed from a portion of the digging plate that is interposed between the notches and (ii) a cover plate secured to the digging plate so that an edge slot is defined between the digging plate and the cover plate. The base edge protection assembly is secured to the bucket such that the base edge of the bucket is positioned within the edge slot of the base edge protection assembly.

Abstract: A hammerless mechanical attachment system comprising a C-clamp member, a first wedge member, a second wedge member and a threaded tensioning device for attaching a tooth adapter to a base cutting edge of an implement. The C-clamp member has a generally C-shaped body with a forwardly facing abutment surface and a forwardly extending flange having a threaded aperture therein. The first wedge member has a forward side having a first wedge surface thereon, an opposite rearward side having a second abutment surface thereon positionable against the first abutment surface of the C-clamp member, and a through bolt hole disposed along a longitudinal axis parallel to the second abutment surface. The bolt hole is disposed in alignment with the threaded aperture in the flange when the second abutment surface is placed in abutment with the first abutment surface of the C-clamp.

Abstract: A wear protection system is disclosed for protecting a parent member of an earthworking machine, such as a bed of an off-highway truck for instance. The protection system includes a replaceable wear member, which is detachably mounted to a mounting base by a retainer. The wear member is provided with a skeletal frame with a large window-like opening and outstretched legs to reduce the weight of the wear member. The pockets formed by the window opening and in the spaces between adjoining wear members fill with material so as to insulate the parent member of the truck bed from frictional wear due to material sliding over the bed when dumping material therefrom.

Abstract: An earthworking implement adapted to normally engage the ground in a primary direction of travel has a replaceable ground engaging tool retained onto a tool mounting portion of the implement by an elongated retainer. The tool mounting portion has an exterior surface with a first retainer pocket providing a first abutment surface facing in a direction substantially away from the primary direction of travel. The ground engaging tool, in turn, has an interior surface with a second retainer pocket positionable in alignment with the first retainer pocket and provides a second abutment surface disposed in a generally spaced, diametrically opposing relationship to the first abutment surface. An elongated retainer is positionable within the retainer pockets and has a pair of opposite solid end portions oriented to abut the first and second abutment surfaces such that the end portions restrict the tool from coming off the mounting portion in the direction of the primary direction of travel.

Abstract: An rear engine end frame for a compact wheel loader has an engine compartment with open corners behind the rear wheels of the loader. The open corners are closed by wraparound bumper corners made from relatively heavy metal castings that serve as counterweights as well as bumper corners. The bumper corners are detachably mounted to the engine compartment to permit ready access to the ends of the transversely mounted engine and to other components located in the rear corners of the engine compartment.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for sealing lubricating oil in and debris out of a final drive of an earth moving machine is disclosed. The sealing arrangement includes a secondary seal for use in severe environments to protect a primary oil seal. The secondary seal is disposed radially outboard of the primary seal and includes a continuous annular ring having a wear resistant reinforced composite sealing portion. The sealing portion is constructed of a cured mix of an elastomer and reinforcing fibers, having an axial sealing face positionable in dynamic sealing contact with a radial surface of a first member of the final drive.

Abstract: A bottom mount pin retainer is disclosed for retaining a mounting pin detachably mounting a first member of a ground engaging tool to a second member thereof. The pin retainer utilizes a retainer assemblage that is adapted to relieve a snap-ring employed for retaining the pin from high axial loads in an upward direction while preventing axial movement of the pin in a downward direction. A non-load bearing member used has sufficient load bearing capacity to restrain the upward movement of the snap-ring during the insertion of the pin into the pin openings in order to seat the snap-ring in its snap-ring groove in the pin.

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 height control mechanism for a strike-off plate of an asphalt paver screed assembly is disclosed. The screed assembly is pivotally connected to a pair of tow arms of an asphalt paver and has at least one main screed unit and at least one screed extension unit mounted in front of the main screed unit. The screed extension is laterally movable beyond one end of the main screed unit. The screed assembly also has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pitch angle of the screeds relative to the ground. The height control mechanism includes a support mechanism adapted to mount the strike-off plate in front of the main screed unit at a position ahead of the screed extension unit. The height control mechanism also includes a linkage arrangement adapted to automatically control the height of the strike-off plate upon the adjustment of the pitch angle of the screeds.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for a tractor is disclosed, which includes a rotatable carriage support that is carried on a fixed trunnion for providing oscillation of the hitch frame about horizontal first axis. The rotatably carriage support also pivotally mounts a hitch carriage about a second axis to provide the hitch assembly with the ability to articulate as well. Camming apparatus is also provided to progressively restrict the oscillation of the hitch frame as it is being raised and stop surfaces restrict articulation when the hitch frame is in its raised position. The articulation and oscillation ability of the hitch provides improved ease of steering and control of the tractor and improved ground contact of a ground-contacting implement on the hitch frame. A power-take-off shaft extends through said center of the fixed trunnion supporting the hitch mounting to permit simultaneous connection of the implement with the hitch and the power-take-off shaft for transmitting rotary power to the implement.

Abstract: A bucket arrangement for an earthworking machine is provided with a cutting edge plate which is bowed outwardly and has a serrated leading edge such that a center tooth assembly is disposed in a plane of engagement with the soil ahead of and below the plane of engagement of a pair of side tooth assemblies. Thus, the center tooth makes penetrating engagement with the soil prior to the side teeth, providing the bucket arrangement with greater penetrating ability. The ability of the bucket to cut or slice through the soil is also enhanced by the serrated portions of the cutting edge plate.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing a solenoid. The method includes the step of providing a single piece ferromagnetic housing. The method also includes the step of forming a groove around the perimeter of the housing. The method further includes the step of filling the groove with a non-ferromagnetic material such that the non-ferromagnetic material forms an annular ferromagnetic piece that spans the entire groove in the housing. Finally, the method includes the step of removing an inside portion of the housing such that two separate ferromagnetic pieces are formed joined by the non-ferromagnetic piece.

Abstract: A variable position detent mechanism for latching a control lever at an infinite number of operating positions includes a semi-circular member connected to a support so that its axis coincides with the pivot of the control lever. A pair of electric detent coils are connected to the lever at a location adjacent the semi-circular member so that when the detent coils are energized they operate co-axially sandwiching the semi-circular member securing the lever with respect to the semi-circular member.

Abstract: An apparatus for an active suspension system provides independent control of each adjustable spring rate mechanism. Ride height, spring rate, and oscillation control are achieved with the use of transducers that send signals to a controller. The controller receives the signals and responsively generates signals to adjust pressure and flow between an accumulator and the adjustable spring rate mechanism.

Abstract: Replaceable wear members used in the past have usually includes shortcomings which have caused the product to be less than desirable. The present system for attaching a wear member to a parent member provides many advantages over the past configurations. For example, the unique configuration of the mounting base and wear member include cooperating slide and place engagement elements for mounting purposes. Also, a unique low profile retainer is used to retain the wear member, which allows for more use of the wear member before replacement is required, thus resulting is less throw-away material.

Abstract: A tip and adapter assembly for an earthworking bucket has a replaceable tip mounted on an adapter. The adapter has a mounting end fitted into a socket cavity of the tip, which are provided with suitable mating surfaces for transferring loading forces from the tip to the adapter. The adapter is provided with an ear that projects into a U-shaped notch in each side of the tip. A gap is provided between the ear and the notch to indicate that excessive wear has not occurred in the tip/adapter interface. However, contact between the ear and notch serves as a visual indicator that excessive wear has occurred. The notch also serves as a fuse to ensure that the tip breaks due to excessive loads before the adapter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic alloy composite composition having the alloy spontaneously infiltrated into the ceramic, with the preferred ceramic alloy composite composition being a Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 /TiN/Cu-Ti composite composition and a method for forming the ceramic alloy composite composition.