Abstract: An assembly of an inner conical adapter nose and an outer tooth having a coaxial conical inner recess, the tooth having spaced helical ears which mesh with spaced helical grooves in the base of the adapter, and at least one key adapted to be inserted into a keyway passing through the adapter base and one tooth ear in a direction generally perpendicular to the coaxis and tangential to the recess. The recess is conical with a mating conical adapter head and the tooth ears are arranged in a square and mate with grooves on the adapter base arranged in a square, and the lands between the grooves of the base substantially fill the spaces between the tooth ears.

Abstract: A locking pin (100) for use captively retaining a tooth (14) on an adapter portion (12) of an excavating tooth and adapter assembly has a primary wedge member (110) with an integral spring (120) extending upward from the member's distal end (116). A first positive stop means (130) extends from the wedge member (110) while an opposing second positive stop means (122) extends from the integral spring (12). After insertion, the locking pin (100) prevents separation of tooth (14) from adapter portion (12) while the first and second positive stop means (130, 122) prevent accidental loss of the locking pin (100) from the assembly. To remove the locking pin, a force sufficient to separate the first positive stop means (130) from the pin (100) is exerted to drive the pin (100) from the assembly. In another embodiment, the integral spring extends from a lateral surface of the locking pin (700, 800).

Abstract: Tooth assemblies having a tooth attached to an adapter by a retaining mechanism is normally utilized in order to readily replace the tooth which is a high wear element. It is advantageous to have a retaining mechanism that is both simple, easy to install and remove and provides a high holding force to the pin to offset any tendency of the pin coming out during use. In the subject arrangement, a substantially flat leaf spring retainer is provided and is located in a retainer opening transverse to a pin. Upon installing the pin, the leaf spring is forced to flex. The force needed to flex the leaf spring is likewise the effective force holding the pin in its assembled position. A central groove is defined in the pin and is of a sufficient size to receive the portion of the leaf spring in contact therewith once the pin is in its installed position. Once the leaf spring drops into the central groove, the degree of deflection of the leaf spring is reduced resulting in the life of the leaf spring being increased.

Abstract: Retaining mechanisms are normally utilized for securing a tooth to an adapter. Many times the forces necessary to secure the retaining mechanism in an assembled position is not high enough to maintain assembly during use. In the subject arrangement, the retaining mechanism includes a pin having a means thereon for forming a shoulder and a plurality of conical spring washers each having an inner surface defining an opening having a diameter of a predetermined size which is smaller than the outer diameter of the shoulder means. During assembly, the shoulder means of the pin is forced through the opening of the respective conical spring washers from a concave side thereof. In order to disassemble the pin, the shoulder means of the pin must be forced through the respective openings. In instances where the pin must be removed from the same side that it is installed, a much higher force is required to force the shoulder means through the opening of the respective first, second, and third conical spring washers.