Abstract: A connector pin assembly for releasably retaining a replaceable excavating tooth point on an adapter nose has opposite rigid body portions that are threadingly connected to one another in a manner permitting them to be selectively moved axially toward and away from one another, and a resilient structure captively retained between facing ends of the body portions. The connector pin assembly may be operatively inserted into the aligned point and adapter openings without the need to pound it in. Once the connector pin assembly is in place within the point and adapter openings the rigid body portions are threadingly moved toward one another to thereby compress the resilient structure in a manner forcing it against an interior surface portion of the adapter opening.

Abstract: A specially designed quick coupler is representatively used to removably attach an excavation bucket to the outer boom end of an excavator. A top portion of the quick coupler is pinned to the outer boom end and has a bottom portion with spaced apart recesses configured to releasably receive portions of stick and curl pins on the bucket. An arcuate latch hook is translationally drivable by a hydraulic cylinder assembly toward one of the implement pins to releasably lock it in its associated coupler recess in a manner also captively retaining the other implement pin in its associated coupler recess. Stop structures oppose the latch hook and, using a simple shim arrangement, may be translationally shifted toward and away therefrom to easily adjust the coupler for wear and/or changes in the implement pin spacing. A redundant safety system is incorporated in the coupler and serves to hold the latch hook in its locking position.

Abstract: A generally C-shaped wear member, representatively an excavating tooth adapter, is mounted on a front edge portion of an excavating bucket lip with top and bottom leg portions of the adapter respectively extending along top and bottom sides of the lip and interlocked with top and bottom ends of a base structure removably received in an opening in the lip. The top and bottom legs of the adapter are respectively and removably secured to the top and bottom ends of the base structure with top and bottom fastening structures. The bottom fastening structure has a disconnection portion which is conveniently accessible from a front bottom location on the adapter, and is useable to disconnect the bottom leg of the adapter from the base without having to reach under the lip to the rear end of the bottom adapter leg to effect such disconnection.

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: 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 wear resistant excavating apparatus provides reduced wear, resilient compensation for such wear, reduced time required for installation, maintenance, and repair, and reduced hazards of operation. In a preferred embodiment, a wear resistant excavating apparatus has a lip which penetrates the earth, a structure which overlaps the lip, a fastener which biases the overlapping structure to contact the lip, and a compression member which resiliently maintains the overlapping structure in contact with the lip.

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. To removably couple the tooth point to the adapter nose an elongated, wedge shaped connector member is inserted, small end first, through the generally aligned tooth and adapter openings. A bolt is then passed through a central opening in a flat spring member and tightened into a threaded axial opening in the small connector member end.

Abstract: An upper end portion of an excavation ripper shank is captively and removably retained in a ripper box using a specially designed flex pin connector longitudinally driven into generally aligned openings in the ripper box and shank. The connector includes first and second rigid pin members held in a spaced apart, parallel, laterally facing relationship by a plurality of elastomeric members bonded to facing side surfaces of the pin members. When the connector is driven into the aligned box and shank openings the elastomeric members are compressed, causing the first and second pin members to drive the shank and box into forcible abutment with one another to substantially eliminate relative side-to-side play therebetween. Additionally, as the connector passes through the first and second openings its first and second pin members are caused to pivot relative to one another about an axis parallel to the compression direction of the elastomeric members.

Abstract: A 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 means (130) extends from the wedge member (110) while an opposing second positive stop means (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 means (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 means (130) from the pin (100) is exerted to drive the pin (100) from the assembly. In another embodiment, the integral spring extends from a lateral surface of the locking pin (700, 800).

Abstract: An elongated resilient wedge and spool retaining structure longitudinally extends through generally aligned openings formed in a replaceable excavating tooth point, and an adapter nose portion received in a tapered socket within the tooth point, to captively hold the tooth point in place on the adapter nose. The retaining structure includes a tapered spool member having an enlarged side portion received in the tooth socket and blocking removal of the spool member, and a tapered wedge member driven into the tooth and adapter openings to a position in which longitudinally extending series of ratchet teeth on facing sides of the spool and wedge members are intermeshed and releasably lock the structure in place within the tooth and adapter assembly. A recess formed in a nontoothed side of the wedge member receives a locking member that forcibly bears against a surface portion of the adapter nose opening and is movable into the recess in a manner compressing a plurality of elastomeric members therein.

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: An earthworking tooth point and adapter assembly is provided with a visual wear indicating system which permits tooth point use to be maximized without subjecting the adapter nose within the tooth point pocket to earth abrasion. The wear indicating system includes a pair of generally U-shaped ribs formed on a front end portion of the adapter nose and wrapping around its front end and top and bottom side surfaces. With the adapter nose operatively positioned within the tooth point pocket the ribs are received in complementarily configured, generally U-shaped wear indicating grooves formed in the interior surface of the pocket at its front. As the tooth point is used, its front end is worn away until small holes are created therein which open into front portions of the pocket grooves, thereby exposing the previously concealed adapter nose ribs to view.

Abstract: An improved wear assembly for a ground engaging tool, such as an excavator bucket, comprises a lip protector shroud which is detachably mounted on the bucket lip to cover the lip and provide a wear bearing surface that covers the lower surface of the tooth adapter and which is detachably held in place by abutment against a tooth detachably mounted on the adapter and a flexible pin extending through registering apertures in the adapter and the shroud.

Abstract: A flex pin includes an elongated rigid locking member having an elongated lateral recess formed therein. An elongated rigid wedge member is intersecured to the locking member by means of a spaced series of elastomeric segments positioned in the recess, and is laterally movable into the recess against the resilient resistance of the elastomeric segments. The wedge member has a longitudinally intermediate portion which is engageable by a forward side surface of the adapter nose opening and is interlockable therewith, and a pair of rearwardly swept outer end portions which underlie opposite end surfaces of the locking member recess and are engageable therewith as the flex pin is being driven into its installed position to prevent shearing of the elastomeric segments.

Abstract: An improved excavating tooth and wear cap assembly is provided in which the front pin that interconnects the replaceable point to the adapter nose is protected from undesirable deformation by interlocking stabilizing lugs and grooves formed respectively on the wear cap and adapter base portions of the assembly. The cooperation between these lugs and grooves prevents earth forces from driving the wear cap portion of the assembly forwardly along the adapter base into the point and thereby causing the point to deform the connecting pin. Field installation of a lower wear cap portion of the assembly is facilitated by the provision of cooperating support lugs on the wear cap and shoulders on the adapter which, together with a pivotal interconnection between the adapter and wear cap, permits the lower wear cap to be hung from the adapter in a temporary support position until the point can be installed and interconnected to the wear cap to complete the assembly.

Abstract: A combination of digging teeth, mounting shank, and backhoe bucket. The shank of each tooth has a rear part by which it can be permanently affixed to the bucket lip. The forward part of the shank has a pocket formed therewithin of a particular configuration which receives a digging tooth in close tolerance relationship therewithin such that a forward marginal part of the tooth extends forwardly from the bucket lip and engages the earth. Each opposed marginal end of each of the teeth has identical cutting edges formed thereon so that a tooth can be reversed as well as being substituted one for the other. The teeth are easily field dressed so as to restore a sharp cutting edge thereon.

Abstract: An excavating bucket having spaced sides attached to a rear wall and a flat bottom which lies in a curved plane. The sides and rear are joined to the bottom, and the bucket opening has a periphery defined by the upper edge portion of the rear wall, sides, and the forward edge of the bottom. The marginal, forward end of the bottom is in the form of a bucket lip. A plurality of digging teeth are mounted to the forward end of the lip and arranged respective to one another to provide a continuous cutting edge from one to the other side of the bucket. The geometrical configuration of the digging teeth, together with the bucket design and tooth distribution pattern, increases the digging efficiency and provides a smooth excavated surface.