WEAR MEMBER ASSEMBLY FOR EARTH WORKING BUCKET

Abstract

A tooth adaptor for a leading edge of excavation equipment has a body having legs defining a cavity, the body adapted to be mounted to the excavation equipment by the leading edge received in the cavity. A tooth interface is at a leading end of the body, a contact surface of the body being defined in the cavity and being configured to be opposite a leading surface of the leading edge and in contact with the leading surface. A boss projects in a trailing direction from the contact surface, wherein at least one of contact surfaces including a slot extending in a leading-to-trailing direction of the tooth adaptor. The slot may define a flaring section in which sidewalks) of the slot diverges from the leading-to-trailing direction. A trailing surface(s) at an end of the legs has a flaring geometry flaring away from the tooth interface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priorities of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/970,335, filed on Feb. 5, 2020, and of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/970,347, filed on Feb. 5, 2020, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to excavation equipment such earth-working buckets and dippers, and more particularly to wear member assemblies at the attacking edge of such equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Excavation equipment, and in particular earth working buckets such as cable shovel dippers, are used, amongst other applications, for heavy earthwork applications such as mining and excavation. Many have components particularly subjected to wear by friction against the earthen materials during normal use, and are thus designed to be replaceable. Among these components, those which are perhaps the most subjected to wear and digging forces are the teeth which are subjected to direct engagement against the material to be transported by the bucket. To this end, the teeth are mounted to corresponding tooth adaptors (a.k.a. tooth holders), but even the tooth holders are subjected to wear and must eventually be replaced. So as to reduce equipment downtime, it is contemplated to improve the robustness of the wear members.

SUMMARY

Therefore, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tooth adaptor for a leading edge of excavation equipment, comprising a body having legs defining a cavity, the body adapted to be mounted to the excavation equipment by the leading edge received in the cavity, a tooth interface at a leading end of the body, a contact surface of the body being defined in the cavity and being configured to be opposite a leading surface of the leading edge and in contact with the leading surface, a boss projecting in a trailing direction from the contact surface.

Further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, the boss has an arcuate geometry.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, the boss has a cylindrical section surface.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, an axis of the cylindrical section surface is transverse to a leading-to-trailing direction.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, the contact surface has an arcuate geometry.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, the contact surface has a cylindrical section surface.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, the boss has a cylindrical section surface, the contact surface has a cylindrical section surface, and wherein projection of axes of the cylindrical section surfaces are perpendicular to a plane to which a vector of the leading to trailing direction is normal.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, at least one fillet is a junction between the contact surface and the boss.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, the tooth adaptor has a monoblock body.

Still further in accordance with the first aspect, for example, the body has a U-shape.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an assembly for a leading edge of excavation equipment, the assembly comprising the tooth adaptor of the first aspect; and excavation equipment having a leading edge, a depression being formed in the leading edge for accommodating the boss in the cavity when the tooth adaptor is mounted onto the leading edge.

Further in accordance with the second aspect, for example, the depression has a semi-cylindrical surface.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tooth adaptor for a leading edge of excavation equipment, comprising a body having legs defining a cavity, the legs having contact surfaces delimiting the cavity, the body adapted to be mounted to the excavation equipment by the leading edge received in the cavity, a tooth interface at a leading end of the body, wherein at least one of contact surfaces including a slot extending in a leading-to-trailing direction of the tooth adaptor, the slot defining a flaring section in which at least one sidewall of the slot diverges from the leading-to-trailing direction.

Further in accordance with the third aspect, for example, the at least one sidewall diverges at an angle ranging between 1 and 15 degrees.

Still further in accordance with the third aspect, for example, both of the sidewalls of the slot diverge from the leading-to-trailing direction.

Still further in accordance with the third aspect, for example, the slot extends and opens to a trailing end of the tooth adaptor.

Still further in accordance with the third aspect, for example, the flaring section has a constant depth.

Still further in accordance with the third aspect, for example, the flaring section is adjacent to at least one straight section in which the sidewalls are parallel to the leading-to-trailing direction.

Still further in accordance with the third aspect, for example, both of the contact surfaces have one of the slot.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an assembly for a leading edge of excavation equipment, the assembly comprising: a tooth adaptor of the third aspect; and excavation equipment having a leading edge and a main surface, at least one abutment member projecting from the main surface and having at least one lateral surface flaring away from the leading edge and accommodated in the flaring section of the at least one slot when the tooth adaptor is mounted onto the leading edge.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tooth adaptor for a leading edge of excavation equipment, comprising a body having legs defining a cavity, the body adapted to be mounted to the excavation equipment by the leading edge received in the cavity, a tooth interface at a leading end of the body, and at least one trailing surface at an end of the legs having a flaring geometry flaring away from the tooth interface.

Further in accordance with the fifth aspect, for example, the trailing surface has a cylindrical section surface.

Still further in accordance with the fifth aspect, for example, an axis of the cylindrical section surface is transverse to a leading-to-trailing direction.

Still further in accordance with the fifth aspect, for example, both of the legs have the trailing surface with the flaring geometry.

Still further in accordance with the fifth aspect, for example, the tooth adaptor has a monoblock body.

Still further in accordance with the fifth aspect, for example, the body has a U-shape.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an assembly for a leading edge of excavation equipment, the assembly comprising: the tooth adaptor according to the fourth aspect; and excavation equipment having a leading edge and a main surface, at least one abutment member projecting from the main surface and having a leading surface flaring away from the leading edge and abutting against the trailing surface of the tooth adaptor when the tooth adaptor is mounted onto the leading edge.

Further in accordance with the sixth aspect, for example, the at least one abutment member has a slot opening away from the main surface.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector assembly for a wear member of a bucket-type tool, the connector assembly comprising: a body member having an elongated body for contacting a periphery of an opening in a bucket-type tool, the elongated body defining an elongated channel, and projections extending from the elongated body for the body member to define a C-shape; an endless screw received in the elongated channel and supported by the elongated body to rotate; and a wedge member defining a face for contacting the periphery of the opening in a bucket-type tool, the wedge member being in sliding engagement with the body member and having thread portions operatively coupled to the endless screw to convert a rotation of the endless screw to a translation along the body member; and wherein a joint is formed between the wedge member and the body member to hold the wedge member captive in the connector assembly and to constrain the wedge member to movement along a translational degree of freedom.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector assembly for a wear member of a bucket-type tool, the connector assembly comprising: a body member having an elongated body for contacting a periphery of an opening in a bucket-type tool, the elongated body defining an elongated channel, and projections extending from the elongated body for the body member to define a C-shape; an endless screw received in the elongated channel and supported by the elongated body to rotate; and a wedge member defining a face for contacting the periphery of the opening in a bucket-type tool, the wedge member being in sliding engagement with the body member and having thread portions operatively coupled to the endless screw to convert a rotation of the endless screw to a translation along the body member; wherein a nail projects from one of the projections toward the other of the projections.

In accordance with a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector assembly for a wear member of a bucket-type tool, the connector assembly comprising: a body member having an elongated body for contacting a periphery of an opening in a bucket-type tool, the elongated body defining an elongated channel, and projections extending from the elongated body for the body member to define a C-shape; an endless screw received in the elongated channel and supported by the elongated body to rotate, the endless screw having a head and a body separated by a neck, wherein both the head and the body are threaded in a corresponding spiral; and a wedge member defining a face for contacting the periphery of the opening in a bucket-type tool, the wedge member being in sliding engagement with the body member and having thread portions operatively coupled to the endless screw to convert a rotation of the endless screw to a translation along the body member.

In accordance with a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a wear member for a bucket-type tool comprising: a shroud body having a leading end and a tail end, the shroud body defining an opening in its tail end adapted to receive a connector assembly therein, the shroud body further sequentially defining a curb and a receptacle located adjacent to the opening and from a leading to a trailing direction, the curb and receptacle configured for collaborating with a nail of the connector assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable shovel dipper using connector assemblies to connect shrouds and/or teeth to the dipper;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of shrouds and a tooth adaptor connected to an edge portion of the cable shovel dipper in accordance with a variant of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented perspective view of the tooth adaptor of FIG. 2 connected to the edge portion of the cable shovel dipper in accordance with a variant of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the tooth adaptor on the edge portion as in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tooth adaptor of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section view of the tooth adaptor of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the edge portion of a tool such as the cable shovel dipper of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the edge portion of a tool such as the cable shovel dipper of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a shroud connected to the cable shovel dipper by the connector assembly of a variant of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the shroud in the process of being connected to the cable shovel dipper by the connector assembly as in FIG. 4, prior to wedging;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of the present disclosure, prior to wedging;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of FIG. 11, during wedging;

FIG. 13 is a perspective sectional view of the connector assembly of FIG. 11, during wedging;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the connector assembly of FIG. 11, prior to wedging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a cable shovel dipper 1 of the type generally used on electric-cable shovels to scoop ore from the ground, and is an example of the numerous types of excavation equipment that may benefit from the configuration described hereinafter for a tooth adapter set (a tooth and its tooth adaptor interfacing it to tool). Other types of excavation equipment and like earth working buckets include electric rope shovels, hydraulic face shovels, hydraulic backhoe, loader, dragline, bucket-wheel excavator, etc. However, for simplicity, the present disclosure refers to the cable shovel dipper 1, although it is understood that other excavation equipment may use the configuration described hereinafter.

The cable shovel dipper 1 has a plurality of components which are subjected to wear during normal use, and which are thus designed to be replaceable, which components may be referred to globally as wear members. Among these components, are the tooth sets which feature teeth 10 that are subjected to direct engagement against the material to be excavated and transported by the dipper 1. To be easily replaceable, the teeth 10 may be removably mounted to corresponding tooth adaptors 12 (a.k.a., tooth holders). In FIGS. 1 and 2, different configurations of tooth adaptors 12 are shown, with a referential system X,Y,Z added to some of the figures so to explain the orientation of some of the components. The tooth adaptors 12 may also be subjected to wear and must eventually be replaced. To this end, the tooth adaptors 12 are removably engaged with an edge portion 13 of the dipper 1, also known as lip or lip portion. Furthermore, lip shrouds 14 are used to protect exposed parts of the edge portion 13 of the dipper 1, which exposed parts extend between the tooth adaptors 12. The tooth adaptors 12 and/or the lip shrouds 14 may be releasably connected to the edge portion 13, or lip, by way of connector assemblies 15, with 15′ in FIG. 2 showing where a connector assembly would be received in one of the lip shrouds 14. The connector assemblies 15 may also be known as C-clamps, and may for instance be as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/116,235, filed on Nov. 7, 2013, which describes one possible configuration of the connector assembly 15 and which is incorporated herein by reference. Other versions and/or configurations of the connector assembly 15 may also be used, one of which is described subsequently. Furthermore, wing shrouds 16 and corner shrouds 18 may be used to protect lateral edge portions 17 of the dipper 1, and are referred to as wings, and the corner portion, respectively. The wing shrouds 16 and corner shrouds 18 may also be connected to the dipper 1 by connector assemblies 15. In this specification, replaceable wear components such as the teeth 10, the tooth adaptors 12, lip shrouds 14, wing shrouds 16 and corner shrouds 18 which are removably secured to buckets will be referred to generally as wear members.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, an example of tooth adaptor 12 is shown in greater detail. The tooth adaptor 12 has a generally U-shaped body, as a possibility (e.g., V-shape an alternative) with a pair of legs extending spaced apart from one another, in a trailing direction, i.e., in the direction X, with a web portion interconnecting the legs. The legs and web portion concurrently define a cavity of the U-shape that is received on the edge portion 13 of the dipper 1. The tooth adaptor 12 has at its leading end a tooth interface 12A that will be received in a cavity of a tooth 10 (FIG. 1). Appropriate connection means are provided in the tooth interface 12A, by which the tooth 10 will be releasably secured to the tooth interface 12A. One example in FIG. 4 is a lateral slot, extending in direction Y. The tooth adaptor 12 has an appropriate shape so as to be precluded from moving along the edge portion 13, for instance by including a boss 12B (FIGS. 5 and 6) at a base of the U-shaped body that will collaborate with the edge portion 13 in a manner described below. In an embodiment, the boss 12B is a cylindrical section and defines a cylindrical section surface, with a longitudinal axis Y1 thereof being generally parallel to Y. Other complementary shapes are contemplated, the cylindrical section being given as an option. As observed in FIG. 6, the boss 12B projects from a contact surface 12B1 that abuts against a leading surface of the edge portion 13. In an embodiment, the contact surface 12B1 is semi-cylindrical, or a cylindrical section surface, as possible arcuate shapes. A radius of curvature of the contact surface 12B1 may be shown as Z1 and may be parallel to the axis Z. In an embodiment, axes Y1 and Z1 are transverse. In an embodiment, projections of axes Y1 and Z1 on a Y-Z plane are perpendicular to one another (the Y-Z plane being a plane to which a vector of the leading to trailing direction is normal). Fillets 12B2 may be at a junction between the boss 12B and the contact surface 12B1. The boss 12B and the contact surface 12B1 may be said to be at a bottom of the cavity of the U-shaped body of the tooth adaptor 12. These features may be said to be part of a monoblock body of the tooth adaptor 12.

Connection bores 12C (FIGS. 5 and 6) are provided in alignment on the legs of the U-shaped body of the tooth adaptor 12, i.e., aligned for example along direction Y. The connection bores 12C are aligned with one another, whereby the connector assembly 15 may be received therein to lock the tooth adaptor 12 in place to the edge portion 13 as described below. Trailing surfaces 12D of the legs of the tooth adaptor 12 may have a non-flat geometry in an example, though they may also be flat. In the illustrated embodiment, one or both of the trailing surfaces 12D have a flaring geometry, i.e., the trailing surface(s) 12D increase in width from a leading-to-trailing direction. In an embodiment, the flaring geometry is concave, such as by being arcuate, or forming an arc of a circle. In an embodiment, an axis for the radii of the trailing surfaces 12D is parallel to Y, and transverse to the leading-to-trailing direction. The trailing surfaces 12D, as a possibility, may flare in a trailing direction. The trailing surfaces 12D may also an angle 12D′ such that the trailing surfaces 12D slope in the trailing end direction toward the edge portion 13, with complementary surfaces for a corresponding abutment member 30 described below, to force the legs toward the edge portion 13.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the tooth adaptor 12 may further include for example a hook 12E. The hook 12E may be used for instance with a crane and hook to bring the tooth adaptor 12 into close proximity to the edge portion 13 for subsequent engagement. The cavity of the U-shaped body may also have slots 12F in one or both of the legs (also referred to as channels). The slot(s) 12F may be described as being relative to main contact surfaces 12F1 of the legs of the tooth adaptor 12. The main contact surfaces 12F1 are in close proximity or in contact with the planes of the edge portion 13, especially in a leading-most portion. The main contact surface 12F1 may optionally have a groove or clearance 12F1′ to provide an access to the connector assembly 15, but the clearance 12F1′ is optional. The slot(s) 12F may extend all the way to the trailing end of the tooth adaptor 12, for the sliding penetration of an abutment member(s) into the slot(s) 12F. The slot(s) 12F may define a flaring section 12F2 between the boss 12B and the connection bores 12C, the flaring section 12F2 flaring along direction X toward a trailing direction. The flaring section 12F2 may be defined by a pair of sidewalls both diverging away (and straight or curved) from the X axis (i.e., the leading to trailing direction), or a single one of the sidewalls diverging away from the X axis (the other being parallel to the X axis for example). Flaring can be described as an increase in width from a leading-to-trailing direction The sidewalls may be parallel to a X-Z plane in a variant. As shown, the flaring section 12F2 of the slot(s) 12F may be between straight segments 12F3 and/or 12F4 of the slot(s) 12F, though this is optional. An angle β of the sidewall of the flaring section 12F2 may be between 1 degree and 15 degrees (but it may be greater as well). A depth of the flaring section 12F2 may be constant relative to the surrounding main contact surface 12F1, but this is an option, as it may flare from the leading to the trailing direction.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8, there is illustrated the edge portion 13 of the dipper 1 (or like tool), with and without the tooth adaptor 12. While the edge portion 13 may be known as a lip or lip portion, reference is made herein to edge portion 13 for consistency. The edge portion 13 may have surface features thereon for the wear members to be blocked in position when connected to the edge portion 13. The edge portion 13 may include noses 13A1 for the lip shrouds 14 and ribs 13A2 on the leading edge of the edge portion 13, among other features. Depressions 13B, one shown in the figures, may be defined in the leading edge of the edge portion 13, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The depressions 13B are for blocking the tooth adaptors 12 in position, by mating engagement with the boss 12B in the tooth adaptor 12 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Therefore, the depressions 13B may have a shape that is complementary to that of the boss 12B. For example, the depressions 13B may define a cylindrical section surface, with a longitudinal axis thereof being generally parallel to Y. The complementary shapes of the boss 12B and depression 13B, along with the male-female connection that may be used, results in abutment engagement blocking movement of the tooth adaptor 12 in the trailing direction of X, and along Z also, i.e., along the edge of the edge portion 13. Moreover, in comparison to prior art arrangements in which the tooth adaptor 12 was connected to a nose on the leading edge of the edge portion 13, the depression 13B may not be broken off as noses could, as a response to lateral loads of the tooth adaptor 12 on noses. The use of an arcuate shape, for instance having a large radius, though being an option, may reduce stress constraints on the leading edge of the edge portion 13. It is contemplated to machine depressions 13B in a retrofitting of the edge portion 13 for use with the tooth adaptor 12 of FIGS. 5 and 6, as a possibility.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, openings 13C may be defined through the edge portion 13 to each receive one of the connector assemblies 15. In an embodiment, the peripheral walls defining the openings 13C are perpendicular to a main surface of the edge portion 13, but other arrangements are possible. A plane of the main top surface lies in X,Z, while the openings 13C extend along Y. The openings 13C may be adjacent to a boss 13D projecting upwardly from a main surface of the edge portion 13. The boss 13D is distal to the leading edge of the edge portion 13. The boss 13D may define a plateau thereon, as a possibility among others. When the tooth support 12 is secured to the edge portion 13 by a connector assembly 15, in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector bores 12C are aligned with the opening 13C in the edge portion 13. The connector assembly 15 therefore passes through the connection bores 12C and the opening 13C, and collaborates with a tail end of the tooth adaptor 12, to fix the tooth adaptor 12 in position on the edge portion 13.

Referring to FIG. 7, an abutment member 20 may project upwardly from the main top surface of the edge portion 13, i.e., in the Y direction. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8, a similar abutment member 20 may project downwardly from the main bottom surface of the edge portion 13, i.e., in the —Y direction. Stated differently, the edge portion 13 may have either one or both of the abutment members 20. In an embodiment, the abutment members 20 are added onto the main surface(s) of the edge portion 13, even though they may be a monoblock part of the edge portion 13. For example, they may be welded to the edge portion 13, for example in a retrofitting operation. It may be thus desired to provide a suitable distance between the depression 13B and the abutment member(s) 20 so as to distance welding zones from the depression 13B. The abutment member(s) 20 is located between the depression 13B and the opening 13C, in alignment with the X direction for example. Lateral surfaces 22F of the abutment member(s) 20 may diverge away from one another along direction X toward a trailing direction, with the same angles as for the flaring section 12F2. The lateral surfaces 22F may for example be perpendicular to the main surface(s) of the edge portion 13. The abutment member(s) 20 is(are) accurately positioned so as to be received in the slots 12F of the tooth adaptors 12. More particularly, when the abutment member(s) 20 is(are) engaged in the slots 12F of the tooth adaptors 12, the lateral surfaces 22F may be within the flaring section of the slot 12F, for abutment contact. A top surface of the abutment member(s) 20 may optionally flare toward the trailing end.

Therefore, the abutment member(s) 20 may be viewed as stabilizing components as they assist in blocking lateral movements of the tooth adaptors 12. Moreover, the complementary flaring sections of the slots 12F and lateral surfaces 22F also provide some blocking against longitudinal movement, i.e., along direction X. As tooth adaptors 12 have a tendency to move in the trailing direction over use, the abutment member(s) 20 will oppose gradually greater force against the trailing movement tendency of the tooth adaptor 12. The complementary flaring sections of the slots 12F and lateral surfaces 22F may also facilitate removal of a used tooth adaptor 12 by the taper in the leading X direction.

Referring to FIG. 7, an abutment member 30 may project upwardly from the main top surface of the edge portion 13, i.e., in the Y direction. The abutment member 30 may gradually reduce in height in the leading-to-trailing direction, to maintain a low profile, in an embodiment. The abutment member 30 may be on the boss 13D, if present. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8, a similar abutment member 30 may project downwardly from the main bottom surface of the edge portion 13, i.e., in the —Y direction. Stated differently, the edge portion 13 may have either one or both of the abutment members 30. In an embodiment, the abutment members 30 are added onto the main surface(s), even though they may be a monoblock part of the edge portion 13. For example, they may be welded to the edge portion 13, for example in a retrofitting operation. The abutment member(s) 30 is located at a trailing X position relative to the opening 13C, in alignment with the X direction as a possibility. Leading surface(s) 32D of the abutment member 30, for example perpendicular to the main surface, may have a shape that is complementary to the shape of the trailing surface 12D of the tooth adaptor 12. For example, the leading surface 32D may define a cylindrical section surface, with a longitudinal axis thereof being generally parallel to Y. Other shapes are contemplated. The complementary shapes of the trailing surface 12D and of the leading surface 32D, along with the male-female connection that may be used as shown, results in abutment engagement blocking movement in the trailing direction of X, and along Z also. The leading surface 32D is(are) accurately positioned so as to be in abutment contact with the tail of the tooth adaptor 12, i.e., as defined by the trailing surface 12D.

Therefore, the complementary shapes of the trailing surface 12D and of the leading surface 32D may be viewed as stabilizing components as they assist in blocking lateral movements of the tooth adaptors 12. Moreover, the flaring shapes of the trailing surface 12D and of the leading surface 32D also provide some blocking against longitudinal movement, i.e., along direction X. As mentioned above, tooth adaptors 12 have a tendency to move in the trailing direction over use, the abutment member(s) 20 will oppose gradually greater force against the trailing movement tendency of the tooth adaptor 12. The complementary flaring shapes of trailing surface 12D and of the leading surface 32D may also facilitate removal of a used tooth adaptor 12 by the taper in the leading X direction. This being said, it is contemplated for the trailing surface 12D to be male, and for the leading surface 32D to be female, or for other shapes, including non circular ones, and including non male-female shapes, to be used.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a slot 33 may be defined in the abutment member 30. The slot 33 may be accessible from a top (FIG. 7) or bottom (FIG. 8) of the abutment member, for receiving a prying tool to separate the tooth adaptor 12 from the edge portion 13. The slot 33 may be absent or may be in the tooth adaptor 12 as well. The slot 33 may be said to open away from the main surface of the edge portion 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-14, an exemplary connector assembly 15 is shown, that may be used with the tooth adaptor 12, or with other tooth adaptors. The edge portion 113 may have surface features thereon for the wear members to be blocked in position when connected to the edge portion 113. For example, openings 113A may be defined through the edge portion 113 to each receive a connector assembly 15. In an embodiment, the peripheral walls defining the openings 113A are perpendicular to a main surface of the edge portion 113, but other arrangements are possible. The openings 113A may be adjacent to a boss 113B projecting upwardly from a main surface of the edge portion 113. The boss 113B is distal to the lip of the edge portion 113A. The boss 113B may define a plateau thereon, as a possibility among others. Other features of the edge portion 113 include noses 113C and ribs 113D on the lip of the edge portion 113B, among other features. Finally, a depression 113E may be defined in the opening 113A, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the connector assembly 15 is shown as being used with a lip shroud 14 to lock the lip shroud 14 to the edge portion 113. The connector assembly 15 may also be used with the tooth adaptors 12, wing shrouds 16, corner shrouds 18, but for simplicity the connector assembly 15 will be described with the lip shroud 14. It can be seen that the lip shroud 14 mounts onto the edge portion 113 to cover the lip. The lip shroud 14 may have a cavity for accommodating the nose 113C. The lip shroud 14 may also have an opening 114A at its tail end and a receptacle 114B. The opening 114A is aligned with the opening 113A in the edge portion 113, while the receptacle 114B may be seated on the boss 113B. The receptacle 14B may define a curb 114C, in an embodiment. The connector assembly 15 therefore passes through the openings 113A and 114A, and collaborates with the tail end of the lip shroud 14, at the receptacle 14B and curb 114C, to fix the lip shroud 14 in position on the edge portion 113, as described below. The receptacle 114B and curb 114C may ensure that that connector assembly 15 remains clipped prior to being tightened. Therefore, the shrouds can be defined as wear members including a shroud body having a leading end and a tail end, the shroud body defining the opening 114A in its tail end adapted to receive the connector assembly 15 therein, the shroud body further sequentially defining a curb 114C and a receptacle 114B located adjacent to the opening 114A and from a leading to a trailing direction, the curb 114C and receptacle 114B configured for collaborating with a nail of the connector assembly 15.

The connector assembly 15 is shown alone in FIGS. 11 to 14. The connector assembly includes a body member 130 and an adjustment mechanism 140. The body member 130 may form the structural component of the connector assembly 15, while the adjustment mechanism 140 is movable to lock the lip shroud 14 to the edge portion 113.

The body member 130 is now described, with components or parts therefore in the 130s. In the illustrated embodiment, the body member 130 is generally C-shaped and may hence be known a C-clamp member. The body member 130 may also be known as a spool, clamp, connector, etc. The body member 130 has an elongated body 131 with two projections 132 extending transversally rearwardly at its opposed ends. One of the projections 132 may define a nail 132C, whereby the projection 132 with the nail 132C may form a hook-like structure. As observed from FIGS. 9 and 10, the nail 132C may penetrate into the receptacle 114B of the lip shroud 14 and abut against curb 14C. The nail 132C may assist in keeping the body member 130 hooked to the lip shroud 14 due to its hooking to the curb 14C. Therefore, if the connector assembly 15 loosens due to wear, for example, the nail 132C may assist in ensuring that the connector assembly 15 remains connected to the lip shroud 14. The nail 132C may be described as pointing from one of the projections 132 to the other.

As also observed, the surface of the projection 132 in contact with a complementary angled surface of the lip shroud 14 is at an angle e1 relative to a plateau of the boss 113B or relative to the plane of the edge portion 113 aligned with axis X. Angle e1 may be between 0 degrees and 80 degrees, and may result in a pushing impact on the lip shroud 14 when the connector assembly 15 is loaded.

The other projection 132 may be located in the depression 113E of the opening 113A. As also observed, the surface of the projection 132 received in the depression 113E in contact with a complementary angled surface of the depression 113E is at an angle e2 relative to the plane of the edge portion 113 aligned with axis X. Angle e2 may be between 0 degrees and 80 degrees, and may result in a pushing impact on the lip shroud 14 when the connector assembly 15 is loaded.

As best seen in FIG. 13, the body member 130 has an elongated channel 133 on a front side thereof. A shoulder 133B may project inwardly into the elongated channel 133. The shoulder 133B may be known as an inner flange, a wall, a support, etc. The elongated channel 133 opens forwardly. The elongated channel 133 may narrow at an inner end thereof, to define a counterbore-like portion 133D. On both sides of the elongated channel, the body member 130 has sliding surfaces 135. The sliding surfaces 135 may not be parallel to axis Y.

When the body member 130 is inserted in the openings 113A and 114A as in FIGS. 9 and 10, the rearwardly extending projections 132 may thus contact corresponding sloped surfaces of the lip shroud 14 and edge portion 113, to pull the lip shroud 14 against the lip of the edge portion 113 by way of the sloping faces. In an embodiment, the body member 130 has a monoblock construction.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 14, the adjustment structure 140 is shown with its components in the 140s. The adjustment structure 140 has an endless screw 141, or other equivalent fastener, bolt, etc. The endless screw 141 may have various configurations, with the one shown including a head 141A, a neck 141B and a body 141C, which body 141C forms the main threaded component of the endless screw 141. The endless screw 141 may also have a tip 141D. The endless screw 141 is lodged in the elongated channel 133 of the body member 130, in such a way that the neck 141B is against the shoulder 133B, with the shoulder 133B acting as a journal bearing, for example. The head 141A may be sized so as to be entirely concealed below a plane of the top surface of the body member 130, though this may only be an option. According to an embodiment, the head 141A may be of the type having a socket. Moreover, the socket of the head 141A may be a square socket (a.k.a., robertson socket), although other socket shapes are considered. As shown in FIG. 8, the head 141A may also have threading thereon, which threading is in spiral alignment with the threading on the body 141C. If the head 141A has such optional threading thereon, a portion of the endless screw 141 with threading is increased in comparison to cylindrical heads. This results in an enhanced torque spread when tightening the connector assembly 15. The tip 141D of the endless screw 141 may penetrate the portion 133D, for instance with the presence of washer 141E interfacing the endless screw 141 to a surface of the elongated channel 133. The collaboration between the portion 133D and the tip 141D may also be akin to a journal bearing. Plates 142B and 142D may also contribute to the formation of the journal bearings, the plates 142B and 142D surrounding the neck 141B and the tip 141D, respectively, with the shoulder 133B and portion 133D, respectively. The plates 142B and 142D may be attached to the body member 130 in any appropriate way, or may be replaced with integral parts of the body member 130. Accordingly, the endless screw 141 is held captive to the body member 130. The endless screw 141 is free to rotate, but does not translate. Stated differently, the endless screw 141 is constrained to moving in one rotational degree of freedom (DOF) when assembled to the body member 130. As observed in FIGS. 9 and 10, a longitudinal axis of the endless screw 141 is not parallel to axis Y. The longitudinal axis of the endless screw 141 may be parallel to the sliding surfaces 135 on opposite sides of the elongated channel 133.

Wedge member 143 is mounted against the body member 130, and is operatively coupled to the endless screw 141. The wedge member 143 has an elongated body defining a main front face 143A. When the wedge member 143 is mounted against the body member 130 in the edge portion 113, the main front face 143A may be generally parallel to axis Y, though a variation may also be possible and/or may depend on the geometry of the peripheral wall of the opening 113A. Flanges 143B may project laterally from the main face 143A, and may extend along the main face 143A. The flanges 143B may be known as side walls, lips, etc, and may slidingly engage with the sliding surfaces 135 of the body member 130. The flanges 143B may be angled relative to axis Y and with respect to the main face 143A, to be complementary to the angle of the sliding surfaces 135, and hence ensure that the orientation of the main face 143A is constant relative to the body member 130.

A surface opposite to the main face 143A may have threading (discontinued) or thread portions 143C (e.g., spaced apart tabs, crenellations, etc) so as to be engaged with the endless screw 141, as seen in FIG. 13. The threading 143C has its parameters (e.g., pitch, diameter) complementary to those of the endless screw 141 for operative threaded coupling therebetween. Therefore, when the wedge member 143 is assembled to the body member 130 and coupled to the endless screw 141, a rotation of the endless screw 141 causes a translation of the wedge member 143 along the sliding surfaces 135 of the body member 130.

According to an embodiment, a joint is formed between the body member 130 and the wedge member 143 constraining movement of the wedge member 143 to a single DOF, a translational DOF, relative to the body member 130. The joint may be referred to as a translational joint or a sliding joint, and may be formed by one or more brackets 144, two shown in FIG. 11, that define slots with the sliding surfaces 135 of the body member 130, to hold the wedge member 143 captive via its flanges 143B. The brackets 44 may be referred to as wings, or clips, may be integrally connected to the body member 130. For instance, the brackets 44 may be welded to the body member 130 (and hence be part of the body member 130 and not of the adjustment mechanism 140). In an embodiment, slots are formed directly in the body member 130, to form the joint with the flanges 143B. In another embodiment, slots 144A (FIGS. 11 and 14) are formed in the wedge member 143 with flanges or like male members fixed to the body member 130. Numerous other translational joint configurations are contemplated. In another embodiment, due to clearances, the wedge member 143 may have some play when retained by the slots in the body member 130. The play, whether it be in rotation or in translation, is on a much smaller scale than the one DOF of translation. Stated differently, it may be said that the wedge member 143 is held captive by the body member 130, or vice versa, and that at least a translational movement between the body member 130 and the wedge member 143 is possible, to cause a wedging effect. Also, the endless screw 141 blocks the translational DOF by the contact between its helical thread abutting the threading in the direction of translational.

Thus, when the wedge member 143 is displaced along the sliding surfaces of the body member 130 via a rotation of the endless screw 141, it moves toward or away from the peripheral surface of the opening 113A in the edge portion 113. The endless screw 141 is rotated until the connector assembly 15 is firmly loaded into the opening 113A. The collaboration between the body member 130 and the tail of the lip shroud 14 results in the lip shroud 14 being rigidly clamped to the edge portion 113.

The tightening action of the connector assembly 15 may be employed both in the initial installation of the lip shroud 14 or like wear member on the edge portion 13113, and after their interface areas wear away due to usage. By rotating the endless screw 141 in the opposite direction, the wedge member 143 is moved upwardly relative to the body member 130, thereby causing the connector assembly 15 to be contracted so that it may be removed from the openings 113A, 114A and unhooked from the lip shroud 14 (if the nail 132C is present), to permit removal of the lip shroud 14 from the edge portion 113.

To facilitate the use of the connector assembly 15 between the removal and the wedging configurations described above, the components of the assembly 15 may be lubrified. Lubrication may assist in the insertion of the assembly in the opening 113A, and may also assist in the movement of the components, such as the rotational of the endless screw 141, the translation of the wedge member 143.

It is the elongated body 131 and the wear member 143 (via the face 143A) that come into contact with the peripheral surface of the opening 113A. Hence, the connector assembly 15 may have a simplified configuration in comparison to prior art connector assemblies in which the wedge member was concealed from contact with the edge portion 113.

Claims

1. A tooth adaptor for a leading edge of excavation equipment, comprising a body having legs defining a cavity, the body adapted to be mounted to the excavation equipment by the leading edge received in the cavity, a tooth interface at a leading end of the body, a contact surface of the body being defined in the cavity and being configured to be opposite a leading surface of the leading edge and in contact with the leading surface, a boss projecting in a trailing direction from the contact surface.

2. The tooth adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the boss has an arcuate geometry.

3. The tooth adaptor according to claim 2, wherein the boss has a cylindrical section surface.

4. The tooth adaptor according to claim 3, wherein an axis of the cylindrical section surface is transverse to a leading-to-trailing direction.

5. The tooth adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface has an arcuate geometry.

6. The tooth adaptor according to claim 5, wherein the contact surface has a cylindrical section surface.

7. The tooth adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the boss has a cylindrical section surface, the contact surface has a cylindrical section surface, and wherein projection of axes of the cylindrical section surfaces are perpendicular to a plane to which a vector of the leading to trailing direction is normal.

8. The tooth adaptor according to claim 1, wherein at least one fillet is a junction between the contact surface and the boss.

9. The tooth adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the tooth adaptor has a monoblock body.

10. The tooth adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the body has a U-shape.

11.-12. (canceled)

13. A tooth adaptor for a leading edge of excavation equipment, comprising a body having legs defining a cavity, the legs having contact surfaces delimiting the cavity, the body adapted to be mounted to the excavation equipment by the leading edge received in the cavity, a tooth interface at a leading end of the body, wherein at least one of contact surfaces including a slot extending in a leading-to-trailing direction of the tooth adaptor, the slot defining a flaring section in which at least one sidewall of the slot diverges from the leading-to-trailing direction.

14. The tooth adaptor according to claim 13, wherein the at least one sidewall diverges at an angle ranging between 1 and 15 degrees.

15. The tooth adaptor according to claim 13, wherein both of the sidewalls of the slot diverge from the leading-to-trailing direction.

16. The tooth adaptor according to claim 13, wherein the slot extends and opens to a trailing end of the tooth adaptor.

17. The tooth adaptor according to claim 13, wherein the flaring section has a constant depth.

18. The tooth adaptor according to claim 13, wherein the flaring section is adjacent to at least one straight section in which the sidewalls are parallel to the leading-to-trailing direction.

19. The tooth adaptor according to claim 13, wherein both of the contact surfaces have one of the slot.

20. (canceled)

21. A tooth adaptor for a leading edge of excavation equipment, comprising a body having legs defining a cavity, the body adapted to be mounted to the excavation equipment by the leading edge received in the cavity, a tooth interface at a leading end of the body, and at least one trailing surface at an end of the legs having a flaring geometry flaring away from the tooth interface.

22. The tooth adaptor according to claim 21, wherein the trailing surface has a cylindrical section surface.

23. (canceled)

24. The tooth adaptor according to claim 21, wherein both of the legs have the trailing surface with the flaring geometry.

25.-28. (canceled)