WEAR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A wear assembly that includes a base and at least one wear member. The wear member can have a bit portion that has an increased dimension relative to the mounting portion and/or a mounting portion with one or more reliefs located on each side and/or bottom of the wear member. The reliefs may include a portion that extends upward near the rear of the wear member.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure pertains to a wear member for earth working equipment. In particular, the present disclosure pertains to wear members suited for attachment to a bucket.

BACKGROUND

Wear parts are commonly attached along the front edge of earth working equipment, such as buckets, dredge cutterheads, drumrolls, etc. to protect the equipment from wear and to enhance the digging operation. The wear parts may include teeth, shrouds, adapters, wing shrouds, picks, etc. Such wear parts typically include a base, a wear member, and a lock to releasably hold the wear member to the base.

In regard to teeth, the base typically includes a nose which is fixed to the front edge of the equipment (e.g., a lip of a bucket). The nose may be formed as an integral part of the front edge or as part of one or more adapters that are fixed to the front edge by welding or mechanical attachment. A point or adapter is fit over the nose. The point narrows to a front digging edge for penetrating and breaking up the ground. The assembled nose and point cooperatively define an opening into which the lock is received to releasably hold the point to the nose.

These kinds of wear parts are commonly subjected to harsh conditions and heavy loading. Accordingly, the wear members wear out over a period of time and need to be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure pertains to an improved wear assembly for securing wear members to earth working equipment for enhanced wear life, utilization of material, flexibility in design for locking mechanisms, and/or strength.

In one example, a wear member includes a rear mounting portion having a rearward-opening mounting cavity, and a front bit portion with one or more transverse dimension that is larger than the same transverse dimension(s) of the rear mounting portion.

A wear member for excavating equipment including a rear mounting portion and a front bit portion. The rear mounting portion has an exterior surface, a rearwardly-opening mounting cavity for receiving a base, and an opening for receiving a lock to secure the wear member to a base. The front bit portion is forward of the mounting cavity and includes an exterior surface that is wider and/or deeper than at least portions of the exterior surface of rear mounting portion.

In another example, a wear member includes a rear mounting portion having a rearward-opening mounting cavity, and a front bit portion which is enlarged along its side regions with respect to the side regions of the mounting portion.

In another example, a wear member includes a rear mounting portion having a rearward-opening mounting cavity, and one or more large, exterior recess defining a thinner wall structure extends rearward and/or below a side lock-receiving opening while a thicker wall structure extends above and forward of the lock-receiving opening.

In another example, a wear member includes a rear mounting portion having a rearward-opening mounting cavity, and a front bit portion. The exterior of the mounting portion includes a recess extending from rearward of the lock-receiving opening to the front of the mounting portion below the lock-receiving opening.

In another example, a wear member for earth working equipment includes a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base, and an exterior wearable surface. The exterior wearable surface includes side surfaces, a lock-receiving opening on at least one of the side surfaces for situating a lock therein to secure the wear member to the base, and at least one side recess extending (i) between the at least one lock-receiving opening and the rear end of the wear member and (ii) below and forward of the at least one lock-receiving opening.

In another example, a wear member includes a rear mounting portion having a rearward-opening mounting cavity, and a front bit portion. The exterior of the mounting portion includes a recess on each side that encompasses most of the lower half of the mounting portion.

In one other example, a wear member includes an exterior wearable surface and a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base. The exterior surface includes a hole on a side surface for situating a lock therein and a recess located behind the hole and in front of the rear end of the wear member. The recess may optionally continue below and/or forward of the lock hole in some examples.

In another example, a wear member includes an exterior wearable surface and a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base. The exterior wearable surface includes a hole on a side outer surface, the hole for situating a lock therein, and a recess located below the hole and extending inward from both the side outer surface and a bottom surface.

In another example, a wear member includes an exterior wearable surface and a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base. The exterior wearable surface includes a hole on a side outer surface, the hole for situating a lock therein, and a recess extending from behind the hole to forward of the hole and inward from both the side outer surface and a bottom surface. A portion of the recess is situated between the rear end of the wear member and the hole, wherein the portion of the recess has a side to side length along a longitudinal axis that is between 10-15% of the overall length of the recess.

In another example, a wear member includes an exterior wearable surface and a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base. The exterior wearable surface includes a hole on a side outer surface, the hole for situating a lock therein, and a recess extending from behind the hole to forward of the hole and inward from both the side outer surface and a bottom surface.

In a further example, a wear member includes an exterior wearable surface and a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base. The exterior wearable surface includes a hole on a side outer surface, the hole for situating a lock therein, a recess extending from behind the hole to forward of the hole and inward from both the side outer surface and a bottom surface, and a second recess located on a bottom surface of the exterior wearable surface.

In one example, a wear member includes an exterior wearable surface and a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base. The exterior wearable surface includes a hole on a side outer surface, the hole for situating a lock therein, a recess extending rearward of the hole to forward of the hole and inward from both the side outer surface and a bottom surface to create a recess surface that outlines the mounting cavity.

In another example, a wear member includes an exterior surface having a bit portion, a medial portion, and a mounting portion rearward of the bit portion and including a cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base. The medial portion being a portion of the bit portion that extends over the mounting cavity. The bit portion having a wider width than the medial and mounting portions exteriors. This construction reduces and/or maintains an overall weight and increases useful life. The bit portion may also be raised above the mounting portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wear assembly and lip in accordance with the present disclosure with a portion of the lip.

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the wear assembly and lip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is an exploded view of a second wear assembly in accordance with the present disclosure with a portion of the lip.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first wear member of the wear assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the first wear member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the first wear member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the first wear member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is the opposite side view of the first wear member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the first wear member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the first wear member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first wear member of FIG. 3 taken along the line 10-10.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the first wear member of FIG. 3 taken along the line 11-11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2A, a wear assembly 11 is shown as a tooth system having a wear member 45 that releasably secures to a base, which in this example is a nose 19 of an adapter 14, which in turn, mounts onto a support structure or base 12 of an earth working equipment. For example, the adapter 14 can be secured to a lip by welding, bolts, locks, etc. In the illustrated example, wear member 45 includes a cavity 70 for receiving nose 19 and a lock 17 to releasably secure wear member 45 to adapter 14. A second wear member 13 is optionally provided on the adapter 14 rearward of the nose 19. The illustrated tooth system 11 includes a wear member 45 in the form of a point, a second wear member in the form of a wear cap 13, and a base in the form of an adapter 14, though other configurations are possible.

For ease of discussion, the mounting of a tooth system 11 to a digging edge 12 of a bucket is disclosed herein but other kinds of wear members and/or other kinds of earth working equipment could be used. Likewise, while the illustrated support structures are lips of a bucket, the support structures could be the front edges of bucket sidewalls, dredge cutter heads, rolling drums, blades, etc. Relative terms such as upper, lower, inner, outer, forward, rearward, vertical, or horizontal are used herein for convenience of explanation with reference to FIG. 1; other orientations are possible.

In one example, the digging edge 12 is defined by the lip of a bucket (e.g., a dipper of a cable shovel) that includes a leading surface 16, an inner face 18 and an outer face 20. Although a Whisler-style lip and adapter are shown, wear members 13, 45 such as disclosed herein can be used on a wide variety of earth working machines, can be secured to other kinds of digging edges (with or without holes), can be secured to other kinds of adapters, noses, etc., and/or secured in a variety of ways to the support structure. The leading surface 16 is shown as a curved surface but other variations are possible. While only a small portion of the digging edge 12 is shown in the drawings, the digging edge 12 may include a series of through-holes for the mounting of other teeth to the bucket. Various constructions and/or other wear parts (not shown) could also be provided on other parts of the digging edge.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 2B, the base 212 is a forwardly-projecting nose 219 as part of a cast lip 212 instead of a separately secured adapter (see, e.g., FIG. 2A). In this example, wear assembly 211 is shown as a tooth system that includes a wear member 245 in the form of a point and a second wear member in the form of a wear cap 213. Herein, a wear assembly component may be referred to as either a wear member and/or base depending on whether in the context of the discussion the component is supporting a wear member (in which case it may be referred to as a base) and/or is itself being supported by a base (in which case it may be referred to as a wear member). The wear member 245 fits onto a nose 219 of a cast digging edge 212 and the wear cap 213 is slotted into a retention area of the lip 212 behind the point 245. Wear member 245 includes a cavity 270 to receive the nose 219. In this example, point 245, wear cap 213, nose 219 and cavity 270 have the same design as wear member 45, wear cap 13, nose 19, and cavity 70, but they could have different designs. Either tooth system 11, 211 could have variations including, e.g., different nose and cavity configurations (one example includes those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,649), different locks (one example includes locks disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,222,243), and the like. Likewise, while the illustrated support structures are lips of a bucket, the support structures could be the front edges of bucket sidewalk, dredge cutter heads, rolling drums, blades, etc. Locks 217 similar to locks 17 are used to releasably secure the point 245 to the base or lip 214 as further discussed below. Further, other kinds of wear caps could be used or the wear caps could be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 3-11, wear member 45 is a point with a body 25 that includes a bit portion 26 at the front end and a mounting portion 29 at the rear end. The mounting portion 29 includes a medial portion 27 proximate the bit portion 26, and a rear portion 28 rearward of the medial portion 27. In some examples, there is no medial portion as there is no overlap between the bit and mounting portions 27, 28. In general, the mounting portion includes that portion of the wear member that includes the mounting cavity and the bit portion is the exterior portion forward of the mounting cavity. The medial portion 27 is the portion of the bit portion that rearwardly overlaps the mounting portion (FIG. 5). These terms as used herein are intended to be general terms such that the division between the bit portion and the mounting portion are only approximate the front thrust face (or front wall) of the mounting cavity. Herein the bit portion is defined by the exterior structure of the wear member approximate the front of the mounting cavity

The wear member 45 is not limited to a point and could include other wear member types, such as an intermediate adapter, a dredge tooth, a shroud, or a wear cap as non-limiting examples. The body 25 extends along a longitudinal axis A, and has a generally tapering configuration toward the front end though there may be variations in the configurations along the point exterior surface. The mounting portion 29 includes mounting cavity 70 opening in a rear face to receive nose 19.

In one example, the bit portion 26 is wider than the mounting portion at the junction of the bit portion and the mounting portion. With this arrangement, the wear member can enjoy a longer life with more wear material in the bit portion without a meaningful increase in weight as compared to similar wear members having a conventional, generally continuous tapering exterior design. A longer useable life can provide less machine downtime, increased productivity, and/or reduced cost per tons of material moved. Alternatively, the wear member may have a reduced weight to a comparable conventional wear member while retaining sufficient material in the bit portion to avoid premature wearing and breakage during use. Reduced weight can provide a reduced need for raw materials in manufacturing, a lower cost, a more sustainable solution for wear parts and/or a greater load capacity for the bucket.

In the illustrated example, the bit portion 26 has a width W that is larger than a width W′ of the mounting portion 28 (FIG. 4), such that the sides of the bit portion 26 are wider than the sides of the mounting portion 28. The additional material in the bit portion 26 is generally comparable to the reduction of material in the mounting portion due to the side recesses in the form of reliefs 86, 86′ that will be discussed further below. To maintain weight or lower the weight of the overall point 45, the material that is omitted in the mounting portion by the presence of the reliefs 86, 86′ can be at least partially included in the bit portion 26. This added material is what creates a bit portion 26 with a width W greater than the W′ of the mounting portion 28. In one example, the front bit portion 26 has an exterior surface that is wider and/or deeper than at least portions of the exterior surface of the rear mounting portion 29. Wider is considered a side-to-side dimension, and deeper is considered a top-to-bottom dimension irrespective of whether the dimension intersects the longitudinal axis.

In one example, 10 kg of material is omitted from the mounting portion 29 by reliefs 86, 86′ and a range of material from 60-100% (e.g. 6 kg-10 kg) is included in the bit portion 26 to extend the bit portion 26 outward. In this way, the weight of the point 45 can remain relatively similar to a point without an enlarged bit portion 26 and without reliefs 86, 86′. One benefit of the design of the point 45 can be to increase the life of the wear member 45 without adding significant or meaningful weight that requires more energy to move the wear member (as a unit and as a plurality of wear members) in a digging operation. The weight is preferably limited to maximize an overall efficiency for the earth working equipment the wear members are designed to attach to. Another benefit is cost of materials, as more steel is utilized in the places where wear occurs more frequently. The amount of steel aids in reducing the overall cost of manufacturing the wear part.

The reliefs 86, 86′ positioned in the rear mounting portion of the wear member avoid the more abrasive penetrating actions borne by the bit portion, lie at least partially in the shadow of the thicker wall portions of the wear member, and/or facilitate dead bedding to minimize premature wearing notwithstanding a thinner wall thickness.

In one example, the reliefs 86, 86′ are located rearward and/or below a side lock-receiving opening to be more sheltered from the movement of the wear member into, through and/or out of the ground during a digging operation. The reliefs 86, 86′ may extend from the bit portion 26 to the mounting portion 29. In the illustrated example, the reliefs 86, 86′ do not extend to a rear surface 95, 95′, but stop near the rear surface 95, 95′ (near being between 0.2 mm to 35 mm away from the rear surface). The reliefs 86, 86′ give an adequate protective layer over the nose 19 of the adapter by thinly outlining the nose 19 along the sides and bottom of the wear member 45. This use of a thin wall thickness allows for a maximum amount of material to be omitted from wear member without leading to premature breakthrough and/or breakage. The thin wall thickness may be from 20 mm to 35 mm, and in some examples may not be a uniform thickness. In some examples, the thickness changes to be thicker in the forward direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, each relief 86, 86′ includes an upper portion 93, 93′ that extends upwardly to be directly rearward of the lock-receiving opening in a side of the wear member and a lower portion 87, 87′ that occupies most of the side of the respective mounting portion below the lock-receiving opening. The lower portion extends axially from a location rearward of the lock-receiving opening and forward to the bit portion, and vertically from near the lock-receiving opening to a bottom axial ridge 55. Other variations are possible.

The reduction of material in the reliefs 86, 86′ can allow the bit portion 26 to also be raised outward along the top and bottom surfaces from the mounting portion 28 (e.g. about 3-7 mm though certain portions of the bit portion 26 may have different distances above the mounting portion 28). For example, the top, bottom, and side surfaces of bit portion 26 may have different thicknesses when measured against the respective surfaces of the mounting portion 2. Nevertheless, the bit portion could have a configuration that was not wider and/or outward of the medial portion or any portion of the mounting portion. In one such example, the mounting portion may include reliefs that are rearward of the bit portion such that at least portions of the mounting portion have the same thickness as the proximate bit portion. In the illustrated embodiment, a top and bottom ridge 34 is formed in the mounting portion that has about the same transverse dimension as the adjacent bit portion. The same transverse dimension is a second dimension that has the same orientation as the first dimension but is axially displaced.

The bit portion 26 may be between 40-65% of the total overall length of the body 25, but other configurations are possible. In one example, the bit portion 26 may be longer or shorter on the top surfaces of the body 25 than the bottom surfaces of the body 25. The bit portion 26 represents the leading earth-penetrating end of the point 45. Once the bit portion 25 is worn away, the cavity 70 within the point 45 may become exposed potentially damaging the nose 19 of the adapter 14 (or nose 219 of the cast lip) positioned within the cavity 70.

The front bit portion 26 presents a tapered profile that improves penetration into the ground during a digging operation (FIG. 8). In other words, the front bit portion 26 may include at least some surfaces that converge in a forward direction about the longitudinal axis A.

In the illustrated example, the front portion 26 includes side surfaces 30, 30′, 32, 32′, top surfaces 36, 36′, 38, 38′, bottom surfaces 40, 40′, 42, 42′, and front surfaces 44, 44′, though other variations are possible. In the illustrated example, the mounting portion 29 may also include a rearward extending, relatively narrow flange or ridge 34 as an extension of the enlarged bit portion. The flange 34 may have one or more surfaces, though other variations are possible (e.g. without flange 34). The flange 34 extends rearward from top surfaces 36, 36′ into the medial and rear portions 27, 28 of the point 45, though the extension may be longer or shorter. The flange 34 may blend into the reduced areas of the rear portion 28. The flange 34 is centrally illustrated, but other configurations are possible. For example, the flange may be a mesh including a plurality of flanges or angled so as not to be centrally located, the flange may also be located on the sides 53, 53′ of the mounting portion 28 or just located on the sides 53, 53′ instead of the top and bottom as illustrated.

A lifting eye 62 and/or an end of life latching aperture and connector 64, such as the one disclosed in US 2022/0325504, which is incorporated by reference herein, may be formed on the bit portion or the ridge 34.

The front surfaces 44, 44′ may be laterally and vertically inclined to the longitudinal axis and converging to a central intersection 50 in the longitudinal direction A. In the illustrated example, the front surfaces 44, 44′ also incline rearward in the transverse direction from top to bottom, but other configurations are possible. Side surfaces 30, 30′ may forwardly converge in the longitudinal direction A to the respective front surfaces 44, 44′ at the same angle. Side surfaces 32, 32′ are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A, but other angles are possible. The term “substantially parallel” is intended to include parallel surfaces as well as those that diverge from the longitudinal angle at a small angle (e.g., of about 0-7 degrees) for manufacturing purposes. For example, side surfaces 32, 32′ may converge forwardly in the longitudinal direction to respective side surfaces 30, 30′ though other configurations are possible.

The side surfaces 30, 30, 32, 32′ and top surfaces 38, 38′ may optionally include at least one recess 63, but other locations are possible as well. The bit portion recesses 63 could be omitted. The recess 63 may be used as a wear indicator, a weight reducer, and/or an indicia to be used in a visual monitoring system that monitors for a characteristic of a wear member, such as wear or replacement. For example, once the last recess 63 in the rearward direction is no longer visible, then the wear member is meant to be replaced. The recesses may also simply be decorative.

The bottom surfaces 40, 40′ may further include a projection or contact point 51 and a recess 56, that may be used to aid in manufacturability and/or reduce weight of the wear member. The bottom surfaces 40, 40′ may converge in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A (e.g. vertically downward). The other bottom surfaces 42, 42′ may also converge in an outward direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A (e.g. vertically downward). In the illustrated example top surfaces 38, 38′ and bottom surfaces 42, 42′ converge forwardly respectively in the longitudinal direction. Likewise, the top surfaces 36, 36′ and the bottom surfaces 40, 40′ converge forwardly respectively in the longitudinal direction. The top surfaces 38, 38′ and bottom surfaces 42, 42′ respectively converge outwardly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. The forward convergence of bit portion 26 surfaces aids in penetration and directing material flow.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting portion 29 includes top surfaces 43, 43′, 46, 46′, side surfaces 53, 53′, and bottom flange or ridge 55, but other configurations are possible. The bottom flange may meet up with rear portion surfaces 60, 60′ or end before the rear portion surfaces 60, 60′. The bottom flange may be angled instead of longitudinally extending rearward. The bottom flange may be a plurality of flanges or a mesh. The top surfaces 43, 43′,46, 46′ may be parallel with top surfaces 36, 36, 38, 38′ of the bit portion 26. In that, the top surfaces 43, 43′, 46, 46′ converge forwardly in a longitudinal direction. The top surfaces 46, 46′ converge outwardly in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis A. The side surfaces 53, 53′ may converge at a similar rate as side surfaces 32, 32′. In the illustrated example, side surfaces 53, 53′ are substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis A.

The side surfaces 53, 53′ each include reliefs 86, 86′ that extend inwardly into the point 45 from the exterior. The reliefs 86, 86′ are defined by several outlining surfaces and a surface 87, 87′ that surrounds the interior of the cavity 70. The outlining surfaces may come in various different shapes.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, one such outlining surface that defines the reliefs 86, 86′ is a forward upwardly inclined surface 90, 90′ located below the lock hole 82, 82′ and mounting hole 84, 84′. The reliefs 86, 86′ include a front surface 88, 88′ that is adjacent the respective upwardly inclined surface 90, 90′. The reliefs are further defined by a substantially horizontal or longitudinal surface 91, 91′ that extends from front surface 88, 88′ to a convex surface 92, 92′. The convex surface 92, 92′ surrounds a portion of the lock hole 82 and partially defines a pocket or narrow recess 93, 93′ in the relief 86, 86′ located between the lock hole 82 and the rear portion side surface 54. The narrow recess 93, 93′ having a side to side length L of between 10-15% of the overall length L′ of the relief 86, 86′. A semi-circular surface 94, 94′ is adjacent a rear surface 95, 95′ and the convex surface 92, 92. The rear surface 95, 95′ may run parallel with concave surface 72, 72′. The rear surfaces 95, 95′ are adjacent respective bottom surfaces 97, 97′. The bottom surfaces 97, 97′ of the relief 86, 86′ may align with the bottom outward facing surfaces 58, 58′, in that, the bottom surfaces 97, 97′ converge inwardly in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis A. The bottom surfaces 97, 97′ are adjacent bottom inwardly converging surfaces 99, 99′. The bottom inwardly converging surfaces 99, 99′ are adjacent the rear portion bottom surface 60, 60′. The front surface 88, 88′ is adjacent a inwardly and rearwardly converging bottom surface 101, 101′. The rearwardly converging bottom surface 101, 101′ connects to the bottom forwardly converging surfaces 99, 99′ by connecting surfaces 103, 103′. The connecting surfaces 103, 103′ are adjacent the bottom flange 55 of the medial portion 27. The connecting surfaces 103, 103′ and bottom surface 55 bridge the bottom surface 40, 40′ of the bit portion 26 with the bottom surfaces 60, 60′ of the mounting portion 29. The reliefs 86, 86′ may be proximate the rear end of the point 45 on one end and proximate the bit portion 26 on the other end. The reliefs 86, 86′ extend forward and rearward of the lock hole 82. The reliefs 86, 86′ themselves have a length between 35-55% of the overall length of the point 45. The reliefs 86, 86′ may include a narrow recess 93, 93′ located directly behind the lock hole 82.

The length of the reliefs 86, 86′ do not, in the illustrated embodiment, extend or communicate with the recess 56 on the bottom surface 40, 40′, but other configurations are possible.

The depth of the reliefs 86, 86′ from front to rear and side to bottom creates a thickness T1 surrounding a portion of the cavity 70 (See FIG. 10) such that a lower portion of the interior of the cavity shape and nose 19 is outlined, but other configurations are possible. For example, the thickness T1 may be a uniform thickness throughout the length of the relief 86, 86′. In another example, the thickness T1 may be uniform laterally, but longitudinally the thickness changes throughout the length of the relief 86, 86′. In another example, the reliefs 86, 86′ may have a uniform thickness at the rear most end and a separate uniform thickness at the front most end of the reliefs 86, 86′. In this case the thickness will transition from one to the other. The thicknesses T1 may be between 25-43 mm, but may be scaled for smaller wear part sizes.

The side surfaces 53, 53′ may each include a lock hole 82, 82′ for placement of a lock and an optional mounting hole 84, 84′ that may be used for gripping the point 45 in installation and removal. The mounting hole 84, 84′ generally aligns with the respective lock hole 82, 82′ in the longitudinal direction, but other configurations are possible. The lock hole 82, 82′ and mounting hole 84, 84′ may be generally circular to mate with a lock hole on the base, though other configurations are possible. Single or multiple locks 17 may also be located in other surfaces of the wear member and base. In situations of asymmetric wear (e.g. corner teeth), a single lock may be swapped to the other side. With the two lock holes 82, 82′, the point 45 can alternatively utilize one of the lock holes 82, 82′ for attachments, such as sensors, plugs, and/or end of life attachments, such as in US 2020/0378091 and US 2019/0002248, each of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. The lock holes 82, 82′ are illustrated to be identical, but other configurations are possible.

The mounting portion 29 includes a mounting cavity 70 on the rear face 72, 72′ (FIG. 9). The mounting cavity 70 may be between 35-55% of the overall length of the point 45 (see FIG. 11). As explained above, the cavity 70 is protected by the overall length of the bit portion 26, so a rule of thumb for replacement is once the bit portion 26 ends, the cavity 70 begins, though there may some variation. This means that the bit portion 26 may be between 45-65% of the overall length of the point, measuring from the side of the bit portion 26. The mounting cavity 70 may have virtually any configuration that will adequately support the wear member. As one example, the mounting cavity may be shaped like those in US 20220290413, of which the entirety is incorporated by reference herein.

The rear portion 28 includes outward facing surfaces defined as top outward facing surfaces 48, 48′, 52, 52′, side outward facing surfaces 54, 54′, and bottom outward facing surfaces 58, 58′, 60, 60′. The top outward facing surfaces 48, 48′, 52, 52′ may converge inwardly in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis A (e.g. converging to a top point). In the illustrated example, the top outward facing surfaces 48, 48′, 52, 52′ incline forwardly from a rearward top to a forward bottom in the longitudinal direction. Top outward facing surfaces 52, 52′ and bottom outward facing surfaces 58, 58′ may converge outwardly, but other shapes are possible. The bottom outward facing surfaces 60, 60′ converge inwardly in a vertically downward direction. The side outward facing surfaces 54, 54′ are flat in a vertical direction and extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis A, but may forwardly converge in the longitudinal direction to aid in penetration.

The rear portion 28 also includes rearward facing surfaces that surround the cavity defined as top rearward facing surfaces 61, 61′, 66, 66′, side rearward facing surfaces 72, 72′, and top and bottom rearward facing surfaces 80, 80′. At least some of these rearward facing surfaces may be similar to those disclosed in US 20220290413 (e.g. pentagonal shape). The side rearward facing surfaces 72, 72′ are concave in a vertical direction (e.g. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A). The top rearward facing surfaces 61, 61′, 66, 66′ are inclined rearwardly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The top rearward facing surfaces 61, 61, 66, 66′ are illustrated as inclining rearwardly to converge inwardly towards a center of the point 45.

The lock 17 is used to releasably secure a wear member to the base 12. In general, the lock 17 includes a body for holding point 45 to the base, and a collar for engaging an interior retaining structure in the cavity of the point 45 for securing the lock 17 in hole 82, 82′, but other configurations, such as fasteners could be used. The lock 17 may be a type of lock including the pin and collar lock of U.S. Pat. No. 9,222,243, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. The lock 17 may include a shipping position within the hole that allows the lock 17 to remain in the lock hole 82, 82′ while the base 12 is installed and a locked position that locks the point 45 to the adapter 14 with the lock 17 engaging a lock hole in the adapter 14. Locks 217 could be used to secure tip (not shown) to an intermediate adapter, and intermediate adapter to nose 219. Many other lock designs could be used to secure the wear member to the nose. For example, lock 17 may be a conventional sandwich pin construction, which is hammered into the assembly. Such a lock could also pass through holes in the centers of the nose and point, either vertically or horizontally, in a well-known manner. Another example, the locks disclosed in US 20220333358, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

1. A wear member for earth working equipment comprising a body extending in a longitudinal direction and including:

a rear mounting portion having an exterior surface and a rearward-opening mounting cavity; and

a front bit portion forward of the mounting cavity and having an exterior surface with at least one transverse dimension that is larger than at least one same transverse dimension of the exterior surface of the rear mounting portion.

2. The wear member of claim 1, wherein the at least one transverse dimension is along a horizontal plane.

3. The wear member of claim 1, wherein the at least one transverse dimension is along a vertical plane.

4. A wear member for earth working equipment comprising:

a rear mounting portion having an exterior surface, a rearwardly-opening mounting cavity for receiving a base, and an opening for receiving a lock to secure the wear member to a base; and

a front bit portion forward of the mounting cavity and including an exterior surface that is wider and/or deeper than at least one axially aligned portion of the exterior surface of the rear mounting portion.

5. The wear member of claim 1, wherein the rear mounting portion includes at least one recess in the exterior surface.

6. The wear member of claim 1, wherein the rear mounting portion includes at least one of a top and/or bottom ridge extending from the front bit portion, wherein at least a portion of the ridge has the same depth dimension as at least a portion of the front bit portion.

7. The wear member of claim 1, wherein the front bit portion is between 45-65% of an overall length of the wear member.

8. A wear member for earth working equipment comprising:

a front bit portion;

a rear mounting portion having a rearward-opening mounting cavity, and

an exterior with one or more exterior recess rearward of the front bit portion and below a side lock-receiving opening.

9. The wear member of claim 8, wherein exterior recess extends rearward of the side lock-receiving opening.

10. The wear member of claim 8, wherein the one or more exterior recess extends to near a rear surface of the wear member.

11. A wear member for earth working equipment comprising:

a rear end and a front end;

a mounting cavity opening in the rear end to receive a supportive base; and

an exterior wearable surface including side surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces having a lock-receiving opening for situating a lock therein to secure the wear member to the base, and a side recess extending (i) between the lock-receiving opening and the rear end and (ii) below and forward of the lock-receiving opening.

12. The wear member of claim 11, wherein each of the side surfaces includes one said lock-receiving opening and one said side recess.

13. The wear member of claim 12, wherein the side recesses are separated by an axial ridge along the bottom of the wear member.

14. The wear member of claim 12, wherein each said side recess extends into a bottom portion of the wear member.

15. The wear member of claim 11, wherein the side recess creates a thickness by thinly outlining the base along sides and a bottom of the wear member.

16. The wear member of claim 15, wherein the thickness changes rearwardly to become thinner.

17. The wear member of claim 12 including a bit portion forward of the mounting cavity that includes a bottom recess on a bottom of the wear member, wherein the bottom recess does not communicate with any said side recess.

18. The wear member of claim 12, wherein the side recess on at least one side surface axially rearward of the center of the lock-receiving opening has an axial dimension that is between 10-15% of the largest axial dimension of the side recess.

19. The wear member of claim 15, wherein the exterior recess creates a recess surface that outlines the mounting cavity.