Including Pin Or Key Patents (Class 37/456)
  • Patent number: 11976439
    Abstract: A cutting edge tip includes an attachment portion defining an adapter receiving void. A working portion extends forwardly from the attachment portion. A first lateral end portion is disposed along the lateral direction, the first lateral end portion defining a first lateral end surface that jogs laterally. Also, a second lateral end portion is disposed along the lateral direction opposite of the first lateral end portion. The second lateral end portion also defines a second lateral end surface that jogs laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Michael Wells, Douglas C. Serrurier, Jason Grant Jura
  • Patent number: 11970842
    Abstract: A retaining system includes a lock including a drive portion that defines an axis of rotation, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and further includes a locking portion including an outer peripheral surface. A wing extends radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface, while the locking portion is connected to the drive portion by a wall. A rib extends axially from the wall toward the drive portion forming an annular cavity, defining at least one detent receiving aperture that is disposed in the annular cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan R. Bjerke
  • Patent number: 11970843
    Abstract: A wear member having an opening with retention features for engaging and retaining a lock for securing the wear member to earth-working equipment. The lock can engage the opening in the wear member at an inner hold position to secure the wear member to the earth-working equipment or an outer release position. In a folded orientation the lock disengages from the opening of the wear member. The wear member and lock cooperate with a base to form a wear assembly for earth working equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Scott H. Zenier, Michael B. Roska, Joel S. Hankland
  • Patent number: 11926997
    Abstract: A wear assembly such as an adapter for a cable shovel having a Whisler-style lip has two legs extending over the lip, and a hole in the legs arranged to align with a hole in the lip. A locking member is inserted in the hole, and hooked around a pivot surface in the lower leg. An actuator is inserted into the hole in the upper leg, and engages with t top end of the locking member. Movement of the actuator causes pivoting of the locking member, and results in the locking member bearing against the lip hole in order to lock the wear assembly in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Talon Engineering SDN BHD
    Inventor: Neil Robert Dennis
  • Patent number: 11879235
    Abstract: A wear member includes a forward working portion that is disposed along its longitudinal axis including a closed end, and a rear attachment portion that is disposed along the longitudinal axis including an open end with an exterior surface, and an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior counterbore with a major diameter, and a minor diameter. A ratio of the major diameter to the minor diameter ranges from 1.8 to 2.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Serrurier, Eric T. Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Corey Michael Wells
  • Patent number: 11808018
    Abstract: A bucket tooth adapter for a bucket includes a mounting portion and a nose portion extending from the mounting portion. The mounting portion includes a first body portion and a wide portion. The wide portion is wider than the first body portion and is provided between the first body portion and the nose portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori Nagata, Daijirou Tanaka, Yudai Furudate, Tatsuo Aira, Monta Kondou
  • Patent number: 11649614
    Abstract: A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Serrurier, Mihai Mircea Balan, Scott Anthony Schick, Eric Thomas Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Arun Venugopal, Kadirvel Muthusamy
  • Patent number: 11634892
    Abstract: A lock pin assembly including a main body, a pin assembly, and a lock assembly. The main body includes a first bore extending longitudinally inwardly from a main body outer face and a second bore extending radially inwardly. The pin assembly is threadably disposable in the first bore to an inserted position and includes a pin body having a pin body outer face and a pin body inner face. The pin assembly also includes a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally through the pin body, wherein the rotatable shaft is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a cam rotationally coupled to the rotatable shaft. The lock assembly is disposed in the second bore and is biased radially inwardly to inhibit removal of the pin assembly from the main body when the pin assembly is at the inserted position and the rotatable shaft is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Halike Gururaj, Sean M. Pitts
  • Patent number: 11396739
    Abstract: A tooling system includes a dipper having a lip with a plurality of apertures, the apertures extending at least partially through the lip. The tooling system also includes a modular adapter configured to be inserted partially into one of the apertures along an axis of insertion. The adapter is configured to be releasably coupled to the lip. The adapter includes a first portion configured to extend into the aperture, and a second portion configured to extend out of the aperture. The tooling system also includes a locking system including a fastener configured to extend at least partially into the aperture and couple to the adapter to the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL SURFACE MINING INC
    Inventors: James R. Popp, Richard Nicoson
  • Patent number: 11306461
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 11155982
    Abstract: Wear members for wear assemblies include a lock configured to secure the wear member to a base, where the lock has two engagement positions, namely: (a) a first position that secures the lock to the wear member, and (b) a second position that secures the wear member to the base. The locks are further configured to be unlatched and removed from the wear member in two phases, a first retraction of the latching mechanism, followed by a rotation of the lock itself with removal from the wear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Johnston, Donald M. Conklin, Michael B. Roska, William D. Rossi, Kevin S. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 11136746
    Abstract: A locking pin assembly for securing a ground engaging element to a support structure may include a body portion and may include a shaft portion disposed within the body portion and rotatable between a first position that mechanically inhibits removal of a ground engaging element from a support structure and a second position that permits removal of the ground engaging element from the support structure. A camshaft may be rotatably disposed within the shaft portion and may be arranged to cooperate with the shaft portion to rotate through a first range of motion and to apply a rotational force on the shaft portion through a second range of motion. A radially extending locking element may be configured to selectively mechanically interfere with one of the shaft portion and the body portion to selectively prevent rotation of the shaft portion relative to the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Prakash Vegunta, Mohamad Youssef Bilal
  • Patent number: 10900203
    Abstract: An attachment pin assembly includes a first pin body, a second pin body, and a bolt for fastening and fixing the first pin body and the second pin body to each other. A tip end of the first pin body is formed in a planar shape across a substantially entire area excluding a first bolt hole extending in an axial direction. A tip end of the second pin body is formed in a planar shape across a substantially entire area excluding a second bolt hole extending in the axial direction. The first pin body and the second pin body are fastened and fixed with the bolt in a state in which the planar tip ends contact each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKI KOEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunori Motomura
  • Patent number: 10883257
    Abstract: A shroud retention system for a work tool is disclosed. The shroud retention system may have an adapter attached to the work tool, and a shroud having a channel that slides over the adapter. The channel may have a retainer slot. The shroud retention system may further have a spring assembly disposed in the channel and connectable to the adapter. The spring assembly may have a slide compressor that can slide within the channel relative to the adapter. The slide compressor may have a compressor mating feature. The spring assembly may further have a resilient member disposed between the adapter and the slide compressor. The shroud retention system may have a retainer plate disposed in the retainer slot. The retainer plate may have a retainer mating feature that mates with the compressor mating feature such that the retainer plate and the slide compressor are engaged in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bjerke, Scott A. Schick, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 10767350
    Abstract: An attachment pin assembly includes a first pin body, a second pin body, and a bolt for fastening and fixing the first pin body and the second pin body to each other. The first pin body has a first shaft portion and a flange portion formed at an end of the first shaft portion. The second pin body has a second shaft portion. The bolt is inserted into the flange portion and the first shaft portion of the first pin body and the second shaft portion of the second pin body. Moreover, a housing recessed portion for housing a head of the bolt is formed at the first pin body, and a bottom surface of the housing recessed portion is arranged on a tip end side of the first shaft portion as a second pin body side with respect to a seating surface of the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKI KOEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunori Motomura
  • Patent number: 10724211
    Abstract: A wearing-part holder includes a first stop surface, which is arranged on the front portion of the wearing-part holder, a first contact surface and a second contact surface symmetrically arranged from a centre line L-L from the first stop surface of the wearing-part holder to a second stop surface and a third stop surface, where the second stop surface and the third stop surface are symmetrically arranged on each side of the centre line L-L from the first contact surface and the second contact surface to a third contact surface and a fourth contact surface, where the third contact surface and the fourth contact surface are symmetrically arranged on each side of the centre line L-L from the second stop surface and the third stop surface. A wearing part and a wearing-part system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: COMBI WEAR PARTS AB
    Inventors: Per Quarfordt, Adnan Gabela, Paull Baghramian, Cornelis Wempe, Klaas Geert Wijma
  • Patent number: 10577778
    Abstract: A wearing part system includes a wearing part holder, a wearing part, where the wearing part and the wearing part holder jointly define at least one locking opening, a wedge for locking of the wearing part to the wearing part holder, where the wearing part is arranged with a rotatable rotary disk, where the rotary disk can be arranged in a first open position and a second closed position, and the wedge can move in the locking opening through the rotary disk, when the rotary disk is oriented in a first open position, and the wedge is locked and retains the wearing part against the wearing part holder when the rotary disk is oriented in a second closed position. A lock and a method for releasable locking of a wearing part to a wearing part holder are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: COMBI WEAR PARTS AB
    Inventors: Per Quarfordt, Adnan Gabela, Jonas Lindblad, Niclas Wechselberger, Michael Fasth
  • Patent number: 10494793
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Patent number: 10487479
    Abstract: A device for protecting an edge of a bucket including a rail having a retaining notch, the device including a protective part which is designed so as to be slipped onto the rail and which includes at least one locking abutment, the device also including a shim which is designed to be mounted on the protective part so as to be inserted into the retaining notch in order to block the sliding of the protective part, the device including a locking key which is movable relative to the shim, between a first angular position, in which it allows installation and removal of the shim in the window, and a second angular position, in which the key abuts against the locking abutment and thus prevents removal of the shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SAFE METAL
    Inventor: Fabrice Marchand
  • Patent number: 10480162
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 10364553
    Abstract: A wear assembly for earth working equipment includes a base, a wear member and a lock. The lock includes a retainer and a lock body. The retainer is seated in a recess in the base. A key of the retainer is received in the keyway of the wear member as the cavity receives the base. A lock body passes through aligned openings of the base, retainer and wear member to engage the retainer and secure the wear member to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Christopher D. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10221543
    Abstract: An attachment pin assembly includes a pin body to be inserted into first through-holes of a drilling tool and a second through-hole of an adaptor, the first and second through-holes being arranged eccentrically with respect to each other; a bush portion provided on one end side of the pin body; a detachment prevention member of the bush portion screwed to one end of the pin body; and a stopper portion provided on the other end side of the pin body and configured such that a side surface portion arranged on the outside of the pin body in a radial direction thereof in the first through-hole is locked on an inner wall surface of the tooth forming the first through-hole to stop rotation of the pin body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKI KOEI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunori Motomura
  • Patent number: 10030368
    Abstract: A locking pin assembly for securing a ground engaging element to a support structure may include a body portion and may include a shaft portion disposed within the body portion and rotatable between a first position that mechanically inhibits removal of a ground engaging element from a support structure and a second position that permits removal of the ground engaging element from the support structure. A camshaft may be rotatably disposed within the shaft portion and may be arranged to cooperate with the shaft portion to rotate through a first range of motion and to apply a rotational force on the shaft portion through a second range of motion. A radially extending locking element may be configured to selectively mechanically interfere with one of the shaft portion and the body portion to selectively prevent rotation of the shaft portion relative to the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Prakash Vegunta, Mohamad Youssef Bilal
  • Patent number: 9938696
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock for releasable locking of an excavating tooth to a wearing-part holder in a wearing-part system, where the excavating tooth and the wearing-part holder together define a lock opening for receiving the lock, where the lock comprises a threaded conical screw and a first thread half designed with a first thread bed, where the first thread half and a second thread half, designed with a second thread bed, are mounted in the lock opening, where the first thread half and the second thread half, with the thread beds directed towards each other, together define an opening for threaded fastening of the threaded conical screw, such that rotation of the threaded screw moves the threaded screw along the thread beds in the axial direction of the screw into the lock opening, locking the lock when the first thread half is moved towards the excavating tooth and the second thread half is moved towards the wearing-part holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: COMBI WEAR PARTS AB
    Inventors: Per Quarfordt, Adnan Gabela
  • Patent number: 9926687
    Abstract: A lock assembly (1) including a main body (4) and a protruding member (5). The protruding member (5) is biased to normally protrude outwardly of the main body (4) by a biasing component (6), which is formed of rubber or like material. An operating mechanism, operated by a key (9) effects movement of the protruding member (5) between a protruded or locked position, and, a withdrawn or unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Keech Castings Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Alexander Edward Hand, Luke Daniel Giudice, Balamurali Manjil Hebbar
  • Patent number: 9920503
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical system (1), comprising a support (10), a wearing part (20) and a connecting device (30) between the wearing part (20) and the support thereof (10). The device (30) comprises an elastic sheath (40) provided with an internal cavity (47) and with an external wall (44) that is adjustable in a housing (14) of the support (10), and a pin (50) having an elongate body along a pin axis (X50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SAFE METAL
    Inventor: Fabrice Marchand
  • Patent number: 9850641
    Abstract: A coupling for connecting ground engaging tools to a lip of an excavator bucket or similar uses an eccentric rotating lock, whereby rotation of the lock alters the distance between bearing surfaces and thus allows tightening of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Talon Engineering SDN BHD
    Inventor: Benjamin D. Hughes
  • Patent number: 9617718
    Abstract: A digging tooth mounting assembly has an adapter, a digging tooth and a retainer assembly. The adapter includes a front surface facing the digging tooth, a recess formed on the front surface, an inserted part projecting from the front surface, and a insertion through hole formed in the inserted part for receiving the retainer assembly. The digging tooth includes a rear surface facing the front surface of the adapter, a projecting part formed on the rear surface for insertion into the recess, an insertion hole formed on the rear surface for receiving the inserted part, and a pair of shaft bores for receiving the retainer assembly. An outer peripheral surface of the projecting part is spaced apart from an inner bottom surface and an inner side surface of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Tanaka, Tatsuo Aira
  • Patent number: 9562347
    Abstract: A multipiece wear assembly including an adapter and a wear part. The adapter has a nose portion with a first predetermined configuration. The wear part is assembled onto the adapter nose portion by relative longitudinal movement and defines a blind cavity opening to a rear thereof. The blind cavity of the wear part has a second predetermined configuration. The second predetermined configuration defined by the blind cavity is greater than the first predetermined configuration defined by the adapter nose portion such that a relief is provided between the adapter nose portion and the blind cavity when the adapter and wear part are arranged in operable combination relative to each other. Lock structure is provided on the adapter nose portion for maintaining the wear part and adapter nose portion in operable combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: H&L TOOTH COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Clendenning, Russell N. Drake, Brian L. Launder
  • Patent number: 9540795
    Abstract: A wear assembly for attachment to a digging device. The wear assembly can include a wear member arranged to be assembled with the digging device in an assembled condition and a lock mounted to the digging device. The lock can be adjustable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration and can include at least one locking element that projects outwardly from its mounting in the extended configuration of the lock and is operative to be displaced inwardly from the extended configuration towards its mounting to adopt the retracted configuration of the lock. With the wear member in the assembled condition with the digging device, movement of the at least one locking element from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration can cause the wear member to be locked to the digging device in the assembled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Bradken Resources Pty Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Freund, Mark Hurley, David Hoad, Matthew Reushle
  • Patent number: 9512598
    Abstract: Device for detachable fastening of two mechanical components between which a channel or housing is defined, including a peg, with at least two grooves on opposite faces, and a band accommodated in the grooves, fastened by pinching at the lower part of the peg and with a flexible portion that has the upper end thereof bent in order to retain the peg/band assembly in a transverse grove of the channel The invention applies in particular to the fastening of a tooth in a tooth holder of the scoop of an excavating machine or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: METALOGENIA, S.A.
    Inventors: Javier Rol Corredor, Javier Jimenez García, Francisco Pérez Soria, Jorge Triginer Boixeda, Ester Alonso Frigola
  • Patent number: 9322150
    Abstract: Wear members for wear assemblies include a lock configured to secure the wear member to a base, where the lock has two engagement positions, namely: (a) a first position that secures the lock to the wear member, and (b) a second position that secures the wear member to the base. The locks are further configured to be unlatched and removed from the wear member in two phases, a first retraction of the latching mechanism, followed by a rotation of the lock itself with removal from the wear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Johnston, Donald M. Conklin, Michael B. Roska, William D. Rossi, Kevin S. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 9315971
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a retainer bushing for use with a lock of a ground engaging tool. The retainer bushing may include a skirt extending around a retainer axis, where the skirt may include an outer surface configured to mate with a lock cavity of the ground engaging tool and an inner surface configured to rotatably receive an outer surface of the lock. The retainer bushing may also include a detent projection extending radially inward from the inner surface and configured to engage a detent recess of the lock to resist rotation of the lock. The skirt and the detent projection may be integrally constructed of a thermoplastic material comprising polyoxymethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: James Robert LaHood
  • Patent number: 9309651
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a retainer bushing for use with a lock in a ground engaging tool. The retainer bushing may include a skirt extending around a retainer axis, where the skirt may include an outer surface configured to mate with a lock cavity of the ground engaging tool and an inner surface configured to rotatably receive an outer surface of the lock. The retainer bushing may also include a detent projection extending radially inward from the inner surface with respect to the retainer axis and configured to engage a detent recess of the lock to releasably hold the lock. The detent projection may include a convex surface with a substantially constant radius, and a center of the radius of the convex surface may be positioned at a first distance from the retainer axis that is greater than a second distance between the retainer axis and the outer surface of the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Otto Jeske, James Robert LaHood
  • Patent number: 9267270
    Abstract: An excavating tooth is mountable onto an adapter, and includes a tooth body, an insertion cavity and a pair of supporting portions. The tooth body has a base end face and extends in a first direction. The insertion cavity is formed in the base end face and is acceptable to the adapter. The supporting portions project from an innermost part of the insertion cavity. The insertion cavity has a depressed portion and a pair of extending recesses. The depressed portion is formed between the pair of supporting portions. The pair of extending recesses extend in the first direction, and the pair of extending recesses are formed on both sides of the pair of supporting portions. A ground engaging tool includes an excavating tool body an excavating tooth and an adapter having a fixed portion fixed to the ground engaging tool body and an insertion portion inserted in the insertion cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Tanaka, Tatsuo Aira
  • Patent number: 9242247
    Abstract: A wear assembly for use on a driven roll for earth-working machines and the like operations that eases replacement of the wear parts, lengthens the life of the bases, reduces the amount of throw-away material to be discarded, and has a lower manufacturing cost. The wear part overlies and protects the base to prolong the useable life of the base, lessen machine downtime, and reduce throw-away material. The use of an overlying adapter eases and speeds replacement of the wear parts to further limit downtime of the machine. The wear part is preferably a two-piece component with no machined parts for a lower manufacturing cost and easy replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ESCO Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Lafond, Cameron R. Leedham, Christopher M. Carpenter, Dallas Chapple
  • Patent number: 9228325
    Abstract: A retention system is provided for use with a ground engaging tool. The tool retention system may have a generally C-shaped clamp configured to be disposed within an aperture of a work implement and to engage apertures in a tool adapter. The retention system may also have a wedge configured to be disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and the work implement and against the generally C-shaped clamp. The retention system may additionally have a generally C-shaped slider configured to be disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and to engage the aperture of the work implement. The C-shaped slider may have an opening oriented away from the generally C-shaped clamp, and the retention system may further have a fastener configured to connect the generally C-shaped slider to the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Simon Campomanes
  • Patent number: 9057176
    Abstract: A retention system for a ground-engaging tool includes a pin. The pin may include a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the pin; a radial projection extending from a first end of the shaft; and a head disposed at a second end of the shaft, the head having a non-circular axial cross-section. The system may also include a retainer collar. The collar may include an annular wall surrounding a recess configured to receive the first end of the shaft; an axial slot in an inner surface of the annular wall, the axial slot extending from a first end of the annular wall inward and being configured to receive the radial projection; and a circumferential slot connected to the axial slot in the inner surface of the annular wall, the circumferential slot being configured to receive the radial projection of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Renski
  • Publication number: 20150113839
    Abstract: A ground engaging wear member is telescoped onto and releasably retained on a support member by a connector pin assembly extending through aligned openings in the wear and support members. A pin portion of the assembly is rotatable relative to the wear and support members between locking and unlocking positions in which opposite end tabs of the pin respectively block and unblock removal of the wear member from the support member. A drive bolt is threaded into an end or the pin and is connected to locking structure within the pin. Rotation of the bolt in one direction rotates the pin to and statically locks it in its locking position, while rotation of the bolt in the opposite direction rotates the pin to and statically locks it in its unlocking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Mohamad Y. Bilal
  • Patent number: 9009995
    Abstract: A wear assembly for attachment to a digging device, the wear assembly comprising: a wear member arranged to be assembled with the digging device in an assembled condition; and a lock mounted to the digging device, the lock adjustable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, the lock comprising at least one locking element that projects outwardly from its mounting in the extended configuration of the lock and is operative to be displaced inwardly from the extended configuration towards its mounting to adopt the retracted configuration of the lock; wherein, with the wear member in the assembled condition with the digging device, movement of the at least one locking element from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration causes the wear member to be locked to the digging device in the assembled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Bradken Resources Pty Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Freund, Mark Hurley, David Hoad, Matthew Reushle
  • Publication number: 20150096207
    Abstract: A retention system is provided for use with a ground engaging tool. The tool retention system may have a generally C-shaped clamp configured to be disposed within an aperture of a work implement and to engage apertures in a tool adapter and a wedge disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and the work implement and against the generally C-shaped clamp. The retention system may additionally have a generally C-shaped slider disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter to engage the aperture of the work implement and a fastener configured to connect the generally C-shaped slider to the wedge. A retention cap with an expandable retention washer may be secured over a head of the fastener to prevent unwanted rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Vasil S. Tasovski
  • Patent number: 8997384
    Abstract: Wear assembly for machinery includes wear and support elements and a retaining pin for attaching them to each other. The retaining pin has protrusions and the wear element has cavities such that the protrusions can be passed therethrough. The support element has a recess for receiving one of the protrusions. In a first position the retaining pin can be inserted into the wear and support elements. In a second position one protrusion is snap fitted in one cavity so the retaining pin cannot be rotated to the wear and support elements and the other protrusion is received into the recess abutting an inner surface of the wear element such that the retaining pin cannot be displaced axially to the wear and support elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Javier Bartolome Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8978277
    Abstract: An excavator tooth mounting member attachable to an abutment of an excavator shovel, for supporting an excavator tooth, wherein the abutment has an opening, and having a tooth mounting member with an opening, attachable to the abutment, a two part wedge secured within the openings which can be operated to expand or contract, and a rotary bolt in the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Raptor Mining Products Inc.
    Inventor: Garrett D. Knight
  • Patent number: 8959807
    Abstract: An edge protector for mounting to a lip of a ground engaging tool and shielding an edge of the lip is disclosed. The edge protector may include a tip configured to extend forward from the edge of the lip of the ground engaging tool. The edge protector may also include a first mounting leg extending rearward from the tip. Additionally, the edge protector may include a second mounting leg extending rearward from the tip and spaced from the first mounting leg by a recess configured to receive the lip of the ground engaging tool between the first mounting leg and the second mounting leg. The first mounting leg may include a lock cavity configured to house a lock in such a manner that the lock is sandwiched between the first mounting leg and the lip of the ground engaging tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Robert LaHood, Murray A. Smith, Craig Harder
  • Publication number: 20150033593
    Abstract: [Problem] The present invention provides an adapter with concealing portion at a bucket tip end having an existing adapter function in this type of adapters, that is, a function as an adapter tool when a tooth board or a point is attached to a bucket tip end portion, and if being used as an adapter when the tooth board is attached to the bucket tip end portion, by being configured to cover/conceal the bucket tip end portion (edge portion), abrasion at the bucket tip end portion is drastically reduced and a life of the bucket itself is drastically extended and thus, a replacement period/replacement work of a bucket can be drastically extended and as a result, cost reduction of this type of working machines can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: ECHIGO SHOJI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150027009
    Abstract: A retention system is provided for use in connecting a replaceable tool to a work implement. The retention system may have a sleeve configured to be received within corresponding bores in the work implement and the replaceable tool. The sleeve may have a radially oriented hole passing through an outer surface thereof. The retention system may also have a pin disposed within the sleeve. The pin may have a cam lobe located at an end adjacent the radially oriented hole of the sleeve and radially offset from a central axis. The retention system may additionally have a key disposed within the radially oriented hole of the sleeve and configured to ride on the cam lobe. The key may be movable during rotation of the pin from a retracted position to an activated position at which the key extends beyond the outer surface of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Shevon Anthony VANNITAMBY, Terry Ray LAMPRECHT, Ryan Christopher SOMMER, Mitchell Meyer POREMBSKI
  • Publication number: 20150013198
    Abstract: A digging tooth mounting assembly has an adapter, a digging tooth and a retainer assembly. The adapter includes a front surface facing the digging tooth, a recess formed on the front surface, an inserted part projecting from the front surface, and a insertion through hole formed in the inserted part for receiving the retainer assembly. The digging tooth includes a rear surface facing the front surface of the adapter, a projecting part formed on the rear surface for insertion into the recess, an insertion hole formed on the rear surface for receiving the inserted part, and a pair of shaft bores for receiving the retainer assembly. An outer peripheral surface of the projecting part is spaced apart from an inner bottom surface and an inner side surface of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Tanaka, Tatsuo Aira
  • Publication number: 20150007464
    Abstract: A wear part for earthmoving and mining equipment, the wear part having a mounting portion for engaging with a mount such as a nose mount or adaptor, a cheek plate, a boot, a cable hitch or the like provided on or by a bucket, the wear part having a cavity in the mounting portion defined at least in part by an outer wall having an inner face and an outer face, at least one passage formed through said outer wall and opening at one end to the inner face of said outer wall and at the other end to the outer face, and a retainer in said at least one passage and adapted to be selectively engaged with the mount to which the wear part is to be mounted, said outer wall including stop means engaged by said retainer and arranged to stop said retainer escaping from said at least on passage via the outer face end of said passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Charles Simpson, Oswald Dannhauser Zaayman
  • Publication number: 20140366408
    Abstract: A retention system is provided for use with a ground engaging tool. The tool retention system may have a generally C-shaped clamp configured to be disposed within an aperture of a work implement and to engage apertures in a tool adapter. The retention system may also have a wedge configured to be disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and the work implement and against the generally C-shaped clamp. The retention system may additionally have a generally C-shaped slider configured to be disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and to engage the aperture of the work implement. The C-shaped slider may have an opening oriented away from the generally C-shaped clamp, and the retention system may further have a fastener configured to connect the generally C-shaped slider to the wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick Simon CAMPOMANES
  • Publication number: 20140366409
    Abstract: A tooth for earthmoving and mining equipment, including a cutting tip; and a mounting portion rearward of the cutting tip, the mounting portion having ‘a cavity therein opening to the rear and including a cone portion extending forward from the rear opening and terminating in a beak portion. The cone portion being defined at least in part by spaced apart upper and lower faces and opposed spaced apart side faces, the upper and lower faces being joined to the side faces by curved corner faces and the opposed upper and lower faces converging towards each other and the opposed side faces converging towards each other away from the rear opening so that the curved comer faces diminish away from the rear opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Charles Simpson, Oswald Dannhauser Zaayman