Abstract: A wear member attachment system for an excavation implement lip can include a wear member that protects an edge of the lip, and a wear member adapter that attaches the wear member to the lip, the wear member adapter being secured to the lip by a fastener, and the wear member being secured to the wear member adapter by another fastener. A method of protecting an excavation implement lip can include securing a wear member adapter to the implement, the wear member adapter including at least one receptacle, and inserting a protrusion on a wear member into the receptacle. Another system can include a wear member that protects a forward edge of a lip, and a wear member adapter that attaches the wear member to the lip between two adjacent teeth. The wear member can comprise a shroud and the adapter can wrap about an edge of the lip.

Abstract: A wear member attachment system for an excavation implement can include a retainer with an abutment that engages a forward side of an opening extending through a lip of the excavation implement, the retainer further including a cam. Rotation of the cam displaces the abutment forward relative to a body of the retainer. Another wear member attachment system can include a retainer with a cam and an abutment. Rotation of the cam displaces the abutment outward relative to a body of the retainer. The abutment displacement is in a direction orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the cam.

Abstract: A wear member stabilization system can include a wear member having recesses formed therein on opposing sides of an excavator lip receiving slot, the recesses receiving therein respective stabilization abutments which protrude outwardly from respective opposing inner and outer sides of the lip. A method of stabilizing a wear member on an excavator lip can include welding stabilization abutments to respective inner and outer sides of the lip, sliding the wear member onto the excavator lip, thereby engaging the stabilization abutments with respective recesses formed in the wear member, the stabilization abutments contacting lateral sides of the recesses between a forward end of the excavator lip and an opening extending through the excavator lip, thereby limiting lateral movement of the wear member relative to the excavator lip.

Abstract: An attachment system for use with an excavation implement can include a retainer which secures a wear member to a lip of the excavation implement, the retainer being fixedly attached to the lip, and a biasing device retained within the retainer. The biasing device biases the wear member toward the lip. A method of attaching a wear member to a lip of an excavation implement can include installing a biasing device in a retainer fixedly secured to the lip, and then positioning the wear member on the lip. Another attachment system can include a biasing device which is compressed between the retainer and the locking device. Another method of attaching a wear member can include positioning the wear member on the lip, then extending the locking device from the wear member, and then compressing the biasing device between the locking device and the retainer.

Abstract: An attachment system for use with an excavation implement can include a retainer which secures a wear member to a lip of the excavation implement, the retainer being fixedly attached to the lip, and a biasing device retained within the retainer. The biasing device biases the wear member toward the lip. A method of attaching a wear member to a lip of an excavation implement can include installing a biasing device in a retainer fixedly secured to the lip, and then positioning the wear member on the lip. Another attachment system can include a biasing device which is compressed between the retainer and the locking device. Another method of attaching a wear member can include positioning the wear member on the lip, then extending the locking device from the wear member, and then compressing the biasing device between the locking device and the retainer.

Abstract: A wear assembly for use on a material handling apparatus can include a base having an attachment surface which attaches to the material handling apparatus and an engagement surface which is substantially parallel to the attachment surface, and a cover which protects the base from wear, the cover including another engagement surface which complementarily engages the base engagement surface. Another wear assembly can include a base having an attachment surface which attaches to the apparatus, and engagement surfaces which are inclined and not perpendicular relative to the attachment surface. The wear assembly can also include a cover with engagement surfaces which complementarily engage the base engagement surfaces. Yet another wear assembly can include a base having an attachment surface which attaches to the material handling apparatus, a cover which protects the base from wear, and an internally threaded nut received in a recess in the base.

Abstract: An excavator implement attachment system can include a tooth having a pocket formed therein, an insert received in a recess formed in an adaptor nose and a threaded fastener which releasably secures the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a helical thread formed thereon which is eccentric relative to a fastener body. A tooth can include a pocket with at least one side wall which has an insert-receiving recess and generally planar insert-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, with one interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about a longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction. An excavator tooth can include a pocket bounded by opposing side walls, with at least one of the side walls having an insert-receiving recess internally formed thereon, whereby the recess receives an insert installed in an adaptor nose.

Abstract: A wear assembly for use on a material handling apparatus can include a base having an attachment surface which attaches to the material handling apparatus and an engagement surface which is substantially parallel to the attachment surface, and a cover which protects the base from wear, the cover including another engagement surface which complementarily engages the base engagement surface. Another wear assembly can include a base having an attachment surface which attaches to the apparatus, and engagement surfaces which are inclined and not perpendicular relative to the attachment surface. The wear assembly can also include a cover with engagement surfaces which complementarily engage the base engagement surfaces. Yet another wear assembly can include a base having an attachment surface which attaches to the material handling apparatus, a cover which protects the base from wear, and an internally threaded nut received in a recess in the base.

Abstract: An excavator implement attachment system can include a tooth having a pocket formed therein, an insert received in a recess formed in an adaptor nose and a threaded fastener which releasably secures the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a helical thread formed thereon which is eccentric relative to a fastener body. A tooth can include a pocket with at least one side wall which has an insert-receiving recess and generally planar insert-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, with one interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about a longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction. An excavator tooth can include a pocket bounded by opposing side walls, with at least one of the side walls having an insert-receiving recess internally formed thereon, whereby the recess receives an insert installed in an adaptor nose.

Abstract: A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.

Abstract: A fastening method and adapter configuration for mounting an excavation tooth to an excavation implement lip. A fastening system for the adapter can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through the implement lip. The retainer cannot be removed from the opening while the adapter remains fully engaged with the lip. A method of fastening an adapter to an excavation implement lip can include: installing a retainer in an opening formed through the lip; then engaging the adapter with the retainer and the lip; and then securing the adapter to the lip by biasing the retainer forward. Another fastening system can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through an excavation implement lip, with the retainer including one or more movable teeth and one or more stationary serrations. A wedge biases the retainer forward when the retainer teeth displace relative to the retainer serrations.

Abstract: An excavator implement attachment system can include a tooth having a pocket formed therein, an insert received in a recess formed in an adaptor nose and a threaded fastener which releasably secures the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a helical thread formed thereon which is eccentric relative to a fastener body. A tooth can include a pocket with at least one side wall which has an insert-receiving recess and generally planar insert-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, with one interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about a longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction. An excavator tooth can include a pocket bounded by opposing side walls, with at least one of the side walls having an insert-receiving recess internally formed thereon, whereby the recess receives an insert installed in an adaptor nose.

Abstract: A fastening method and adapter configuration for mounting an excavation tooth to an excavation implement lip. A fastening system for the adapter can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through the implement lip. The retainer cannot be removed from the opening while the adapter remains fully engaged with the lip. A method of fastening an adapter to an excavation implement lip can include: installing a retainer in an opening formed through the lip; then engaging the adapter with the retainer and the lip; and then securing the adapter to the lip by biasing the retainer forward. Another fastening system can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through an excavation implement lip, with the retainer including one or more movable teeth and one or more stationary serrations. A wedge biases the retainer forward when the retainer teeth displace relative to the retainer serrations.

Abstract: A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.

Abstract: A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.

Abstract: A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.

Abstract: A modular ground engaging assembly having teeth with inserts. The teeth have a pointed forward prow and a trailing rib that in combination provide an improved cutting surface having relatively lower drag than comparable prior art grader tools.