Wear assembly

• US 7,882,649 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ESCO Group LLC (WEIR Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: ESCO Corporation (WEIR Group PLC)
• Inventors: Durand, Severn D., Conklin, Donald M., Carpenter, Christopher M., Bearden, James E., Morris, Ray J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/729,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 37452-458, 374/49, 172/753, 172/772, 172/772.5, 1727011-7013, 403/376, 403/375, 403/379.2, 403/379.4
• US Class Current: 37/452
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/28 Small metalwork for digging elements, e.g. teeth scraper bits ploughs for agriculture A01B15/00; teeth of harrows A01B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2808 Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2825 using adapters
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2833 Retaining means, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2841 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2866 for rotating digging elements for milling machines B28D1/186; for mining machines E21C35/18
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2875 Ripper tips
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2883 Wear elements for buckets or implements in general
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2891 Tools for assembling or disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A wear assembly for excavating equipment which includes a wear member and a base each with upper and lower stabilizing surfaces that are offset and at overlapping depths to reduce the overall depth of the assembly while maintaining high strength and a stable coupling. The nose and socket each includes a generally triangular-shaped front stabilizing end to provide a highly stable front connection between the nose and wear member for both vertical and side loading. The lock is movable between hold and release positions to accommodate replacing of the wear member when needed, and secured to the wear member for shipping and storage purposes.

Claims

1. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising:

a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment;

a rear end;

a socket that opens in the rear end to receive a base fixed to the excavating equipment and that has a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of first stabilizing surfaces and a plurality of second stabilizing surfaces, each of the first and second stabilizing surfaces being near the rear end and axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against a complementary surface on the base, the first stabilizing surfaces facing generally downward and the second stabilizing surfaces facing generally upward, the first and second stabilizing surfaces being laterally offset from each other and free of overlapping stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against complementary surfaces on the base.

2. A wear member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first stabilizing surfaces are located outside the socket, and the second stabilizing surfaces are located within the socket.

3. A wear member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the second stabilizing surfaces are transversely angled relative to each other.

4. A wear member in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first stabilizing surfaces are generally coplanar with each other.

5. A wear member in accordance with claim 4 wherein one said first stabilizing surface is located along each side of the wear member.

6. A wear member in accordance with claim 5 further including an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

7. A wear member in accordance with claim 2 including a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls with the front and bottom walls converging toward the front end, wherein the first stabilizing surfaces each has a front edge and a rear edge, and wherein a top portion of the wear member including the top wall and upper portions of the side walls extends generally to the rear edge of the first stabilizing surfaces and a bottom portion including the bottom wall and lower portions of the side walls is forward of the front edge of the first stabilizing surfaces to expose the first stabilizing surfaces for contact with the base and define an offset at the rear end generally along each said side wall.

8. A wear member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the socket includes a front portion with a plurality of front stabilizing surfaces each axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a rear portion having a first portion defining a generally hexagonal shape transverse to the longitudinal axis.

9. A wear member in accordance with claim 8 wherein the rear portion of the socket rearward of the first portion has a second portion with a generally octagonal shape transverse to the longitudinal axis.

10. A wear member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the socket includes a front portion with a plurality of front stabilizing surfaces each axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, one of the front stabilizing surfaces is a generally horizontal lower surface extending laterally across substantially the entire width of the front portion, and two other of the front stabilizing surfaces includes a pair of the upper surfaces angled to form an inverted generally V-shaped configuration.

11. A wear member in accordance with claim 10 including an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

12. A wear member in accordance with claim 8 including a rear wall portion defining the socket, an opening passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and a lock movable in the opening between a hold position where the lock projects into the socket to retain the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock is retracted from the hold position so that the wear member can be released from the base, wherein the lock is secured to the rear wall portion to be releasably retained alternatively in the hold position and the release position.

13. A wear member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the socket includes a front portion having upper and lower front stabilizing surfaces each axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against complementary surfaces on the base.

14. A wear member in accordance with claim 1 including an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

15. A wear member in accordance with claim 1 including a rear wall portion defining the socket, an opening passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and a lock movable in the opening between a hold position where the lock projects into the socket to retain the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock is retracted from the hold position so that the wear member can be released from the base, wherein the lock is secured to the rear wall portion to be releasably retained alternatively in the hold position and the release position.

16. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment, a rear end, and a socket that opens in the rear end to receive a base fixed to the excavating equipment, the socket having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis, the front portion of the socket including a plurality of front stabilizing surfaces, the rear portion of the socket including a plurality of rear stabilizing surfaces, each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against a complementary surface on the base, two of said front stabilizing surfaces being transversely angled to each other, and two of said rear stabilizing surfaces being transversely angled to each other, and each of the transversely angled front and rear stabilizing surfaces being angled so as to resist both vertical and horizontal loading.

17. A wear member in accordance with claim 16 wherein the front stabilizing surfaces transversely angled to each other face generally in one of an upward or downward direction, and the rear stabilizing surfaces transversely angled to each other face generally in the other of an upward or downward direction.

18. A wear member in accordance with claim 16 including an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

19. A wear member in accordance with claim 17 including a rear wall portion defining the socket, an opening passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and a lock movable in the opening between a hold position where the lock projects into the socket to retain the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock is retracted from the hold position so that the wear member can be released from the base, wherein the lock is secured to the rear wall portion to be releasably retained alternatively in the hold position and release position.

20. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment, a rear end, a socket that opens in the rear end to receive a base fixed to the excavating equipment, a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls, the rear end having an offset portion defining a shoulder along each said side wall, each said shoulder defining a bearing surface for bearing against a complementary surface on the base, and one of a top or bottom portion defined by one portion of the side walls and one of the top or bottom wall the to or bottom portion overlapping and extending laterally from shoulder to shoulder at the rear end to provide support for the shoulders, and the other of the top or bottom portion including another portion of the side walls being forward of the shoulders to expose the shoulders and define the offset portion at the rear end.

21. A wear member in accordance with claim 20 wherein the shoulders face generally downward with the top wall extending between each of the shoulders and farther rearward than the bottom wall.

22. A wear member in accordance with claim 20 wherein the socket has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the shoulders axially extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

23. A wear member in accordance with claim 22 wherein the socket includes stabilizing surfaces that axially extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and face in a direction generally opposite to the shoulders.

24. A wear member in accordance with claim 23 including an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

25. A wear member in accordance with claim 20 wherein the socket includes a front end having upper and lower front stabilizing surfaces each axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

26. A wear member in accordance with claim 20 including a rear wall portion defining the socket, an opening passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and a lock movable in the opening between a hold position where the lock projects into the socket to retain the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock is retracted from the hold position so that the wear member can be released from the base, wherein the lock is secured to the rear wall portion to be releasably retained alternatively in the hold position and the release position.

27. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment, a rear end, and a socket that opens in the rear end to receive a base fixed to the excavating equipment, the socket having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis, the front portion including a first stabilizing surface extending laterally across substantially the entire front portion, and a pair of second stabilizing surfaces facing generally toward the first surface, the second stabilizing surfaces being at opposite sides of the socket and inclined in opposite directions transversely to the longitudinal axis to reduce the outward lateral extension of outer corners in the socket at the front portion along one of the top and bottom sides, and each of the first and second stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

28. A wear member in accordance with claim 27 wherein the first stabilizing surface extends along a bottom side of the socket and faces generally upward.

29. A wear member in accordance with claim 27 wherein the first and second stabilizing surfaces are each generally planar.

30. A wear member in accordance with claim 27 including an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

31. A wear member in accordance with claim 27 including a rear wall portion defining the socket, an opening passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and a lock movable in the opening between a hold position where the lock projects into the socket to retain the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock is retracted from the hold position so that the wear member can be released from the base, wherein the lock is secured to the rear wall portion to be releasably retained alternatively in the hold position and the release position.

32. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment, a rear end, and a socket opening in the rear end to receive a base fixed to the excavating equipment, the socket including a front portion, a rear portion, and a longitudinal axis, the front portion including a front thrust surface, an upper side including a pair of stabilizing surfaces facing generally downward and transversely inclined to each other and a central upper surface between the stabilizing surfaces, the stabilizing surfaces and the upper surface being adjacent the front thrust surface, each of the stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the upper central surface converging toward a lower side of the front portion at a substantial inclination to the longitudinal axis as the upper central surface extends to the front thrust surface.

33. A wear member in accordance with claim 32 further including an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

34. A wear member in accordance with claim 32 including a rear wall portion defining the socket, an opening passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and a lock movable in the opening between a hold position where the lock projects into the socket to retain the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock is retracted from the hold position so that the wear member can be released from the base, wherein the lock is secured to the rear wall portion to be releasably retained alternatively in the hold position and the release position.

35. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment, a rear end, and a socket opening in the rear end for receiving a base fixed to the excavating equipment and having a longitudinal axis, the socket including a first portion defining a front stabilizing end including upper and lower stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against complementary surfaces on the base, and a second portion generally defining a hexagonal transverse cross section rearward of the first portion and including a rear wall portion defining the socket, an opening passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and a lock movable in the opening between a hold position where the lock projects into the socket to retain the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock is retracted from the hold position so that the wear member can be released from the base, wherein the lock is secured to the rear wall portion to be releasably retained alternatively in the hold position and the release position.

36. A wear member in accordance with claim 35 wherein the socket includes a third portion rearward of the second portion that generally defines an octagonal transverse cross section.

37. A wear assembly for excavating equipment comprising:

a base fixed to the excavating equipment;

a wear member including a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment, a rear end, a socket that opens in the rear end to receive the base fixed to the excavating equipment and has a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of first stabilizing surfaces and a plurality of second stabilizing surfaces, each of the first and second stabilizing surfaces being near the rear end and axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against a complementary surface on the base, the first stabilizing surfaces facing generally downward and the second stabilizing surfaces facing generally upward, the first and second stabilizing surfaces being laterally offset from each other and free of overlapping stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against complementary surfaces on the base; and

a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

38. A wear assembly in accordance with claim 37 wherein the lock is adjustable between a hold position where the lock retains the wear member to the base and a release position where the wear member can be released from the base, and wherein the lock is securable in the hold position to resist inadvertent release of the wear member and securable to the wear member in release position to remain integrally connected to the wear member during installation and removal of the wear member relative to the base.

39. A wear assembly for attachment to excavating equipment comprising:

a base fixed to the excavating equipment;

a wear member including front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment, a rear end, and a socket that opens in the rear end to receive a base fixed to the excavating equipment, the socket having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis, the front portion of the socket including a plurality of front stabilizing surfaces, and the rear portion of the socket including a plurality of rear stabilizing surfaces, each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against complementary surfaces on the base, two of said front stabilizing surfaces being transversely angled to each other, two of said rear stabilizing surfaces being transversely angled to each other, and each of the transversely angled front and rear stabilizing surfaces are angled to resist both vertical and horizontal loading; and

a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

40. A wear assembly in accordance with claim 39 wherein the wear member includes front stabilizing surfaces transversely angled to each other that face generally in one of an upward or downward direction, and wherein the rear stabilizing surfaces transversely angled to each other face generally in the other of an upward or downward direction.

41. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising:

a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment;

a rear end;

a socket opening in the rear end to receive a base fixed to the excavating equipment and having a longitudinal axis, the socket having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion of the socket including a plurality of rear stabilizing surfaces, the rear stabilizing surfaces being transversely angled to each other, facing generally upward, and axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against complementary surfaces on the base;

an outer stabilizing surface along each side of the wear member outside of the socket, each of the outer stabilizing surfaces facing generally downward and axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to bear against a complementary surface on the base; and

an opening for receiving a lock to releasably secure the wear member to the base.

42. A wear member in accordance with claim 41 wherein the front portion has upper and lower front stabilizing surfaces each axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

43. A wear member in accordance with claim 42 wherein the lower front stabilizing surface extends laterally across substantially the entire front portion, a pair of the upper front stabilizing surfaces face generally toward the lower front stabilizing surface, and the upper front stabilizing surfaces are at opposite sides of the socket and inclined in opposite directions transversely to the longitudinal axis to reduce the outward lateral extension of outer corners in the socket along a top side.

44. A wear member in accordance with claim 43 wherein the rear portion of the socket is defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the rear end has an offset portion defined in the side walls that defines the outer stabilizing surfaces, the top wall and an upper portion of the side walls extend laterally from one outer stabilizing surface to the other at the rear end to provide support for the outer stabilizing surface, and wherein bottom wall and a lower portion of the side walls are forward of the outer stabilizing surfaces to expose the outer stabilizing faces for contact with complementary surfaces on the base and to define the offset portion at the rear end.

45. A wear member in accordance with claim 44 including a rear wall portion defining the socket, wherein the opening extends through the rear wall portion and communicates with the socket, the lock is integrally connected to the rear wall portion for movement in the opening between a hold position where the lock secures the wear member to the base and a release position where the wear member can be released from the base, and the lock remains secured to the wear member in the release position.

46. A wear member in accordance with claim 41 wherein the rear portion of the socket is defined by a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the rear end has an offset portion defined in the side walls that defines the outer stabilizing surfaces, the top wall and an upper portion of the side walls extend laterally from one outer stabilizing surface to the other at the rear end to provide support for the outer stabilizing surface, and wherein bottom wall and a lower portion of the side walls are forward of the outer stabilizing surfaces to expose the outer stabilizing faces for contact with complementary surfaces on the base and to define the offset portion at the rear end.

47. A wear member in accordance with claim 41 wherein including a rear wall portion defining the socket, wherein the opening extends through the rear wall portion and communicates with the socket, the lock is integrally connected to the rear wall portion for movement in the opening between a hold position where the lock secures the wear member to the base and a release position where the wear member can be released from the base, and the lock remains secured to the wear member in the release position.

48. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising

a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment,

a rear mounting end including a rear wall portion defining a socket to receive a base secured to the excavating equipment, the socket having a longitudinal axis, the socket including a front portion having a plurality of front stabilizing surfaces and a front thrust face, and a rear portion having a plurality of rear stabilizing surfaces, the front and rear stabilizing surfaces and the front thrust face to bear against complementary surfaces on the base, each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces being transversely inclined to resist both vertical and side loading,

a plurality of outer stabilizing surfaces outside of the socket to bear against complementary surfaces on the base, each of the outer stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and

a through-hole passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket for receiving a lock to releasably hold the wear member to the base.

49. A wear member in accordance with claim 48 wherein the rear wall portion includes a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls, and each of the outer stabilizing surfaces are formed in one of the side walls.

50. A wear member in accordance with claim 49 wherein a top side of the rear wall portion includes the top wall and upper portions of the sidewalk, and the top side overlaps with and extends between the outer stabilizing surfaces to support loads resisted by the outer stabilizing surfaces.

51. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising

a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment,

a rear mounting end including a rear wall portion defining a socket to receive a base secured to the excavating equipment, the socket having a longitudinal axis, the socket including a front portion having a plurality of front stabilizing surfaces and a front thrust face, and a rear portion having a plurality of rear stabilizing surfaces, the front and rear stabilizing surfaces and the front thrust face to bear against complementary surfaces on the base, each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces being transversely inclined to resist both vertical and side loading,

a through-hole passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and

a lock secured to the rear wall portion for movement in the through-hole between a hold position where the lock can secure the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock permits release of the wear member from the base, the lock being alternatively secured to the rear wall portion in the hold position and the release position regardless of whether the base is received into the socket.

52. A wear member in accordance with claim 51 wherein the lock is pivotally attached to the rear wall portion for movement between the hold and release positions.

53. A wear member for attachment to excavating equipment comprising

a front end to contact materials being excavated and protect the excavating equipment,

a rear mounting end including a rear wall portion defining a socket to receive a base secured to the excavating equipment, the socket having a longitudinal axis, the socket including a front portion having a plurality of front stabilizing surfaces and a front thrust face, and a rear portion having a plurality of rear stabilizing surfaces, the front and rear stabilizing surfaces and the front thrust face to bear against complementary surfaces on the base, each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of each of the front and rear stabilizing surfaces being transversely inclined to resist both vertical and side loading,

a plurality of outer stabilizing surfaces outside of the socket to bear against complementary surfaces on the base, each of the outer stabilizing surfaces axially extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis,

the rear wall portion including a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls, each of the outer stabilizing surfaces being formed in one of the side walls, and a top side including the top wall and upper portions of the sidewalls, the top side overlapping with and extending between the outer stabilizing surfaces to support loads resisted by the outer stabilizing surfaces,

a through-hole passing through the rear wall portion to communicate with the socket, and

a lock pivotally secured to the rear wall portion for movement in the through-hole between a hold position where the lock can secure the wear member to the base, and a release position where the lock permits release of the wear member from the base, the lock being alternatively secured to the rear wall portion in the hold position and the release position regardless of whether the base is received into the socket.