US20040118021A1 - Longitudinal orientation of a retainer for a bucket tip - Google Patents

Abstract

A retainer for removably attaching a ground engaging tooth to an adapter. The retainer comprises a cylindrical steel member adapted to fit into a pocket defined in the outside surface of the adapter and an opening defined in an inside surface of the tooth. The retaining pin is further held in a locking position by a secondary retainer made of spring steel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates generally to an excavating bucket and more specifically to a retention arrangement for a ground engaging tooth and adapter.[0001]
BACKGROUND
• Excavating apparatus is commonly equipped with a bucket that serves for accepting and moving a discreet quantity of material, such as soil, rock, and gravel. The bucket is typically controllably and pivotally mounted on one or more arms, enabling an operator to control the bucket. One, or preferably more teeth, extending from the bucket in such a way as to engage and break loose the material as the bucket is driven into the material. Because of the varying characteristics of the materials upon which excavating apparatus is used, it is common to provide these bucket tips as tooth subassemblies.[0002]
• These tooth subassemblies, typically are comprised of a tooth mounted upon an adapter that may be selectively secured to the bucket. As the bucket tips are the primary material engaging elements, they are subjected to a high degree of wear. This wear reduces the functionality of the bucket tips over time necessitating their occasional replacement. One of the more successful methods of assembling a bucket tip to the tooth sub-assembly has been to provide a bucket tip having a rearward facing opening designed to cooperatively accept a mounting protrusion from the tooth adapter base. This mounting protrusion typically provides sufficient structural support to ensure that the bucket tip remains generally in the appropriate alignment with respect to the tooth subassembly.[0003]
• In order to retain the bucket tip on the tooth adapter base, openings are provided for accepting a securing means through the bucket tip and the adapter. Typically a retaining pin is oriented transversely though the bucket tip the adapter base to secure the tip. Depending on the type of digging operation being performed, the retaining pin may be subject to high shear loads at the intersection between the tip and adapter. During digging operations such as back-dragging, forces tend to pull the tip from the adapter, creating abnormally high shear loads on the pin. Failure of the pin will cause loss of the tip.[0004]
• It is desirable to provide a tip and adapter assembly that is capable of overcoming one or more of the above stated problems.[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A ground engaging tooth having a central axis, a mounting end portion and a ground engaging portion. The tooth includes an outside surface and an inside surface. A retainer opening extends from the outside surface to the inside surface and is oriented substantially parallel to the nose surface. An access bore is defined in the inside surface and configured to lock a secondary retainer with a retainer pin.[0006]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adapter having a tooth position on and mechanically retention system the present invention.[0007]
• FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tooth, adapter and retention system as shown in FIG. 1.[0008]
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the retention system taken generally along line[0009]3-3 of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of retention system taken generally along line[0010]3-3 of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a secondary retainer of the present invention.[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Referring to FIGS.[0012]1-3, atooth14 positioned on anadapter16 for use with an implement bucket (not shown) is illustrated. Theadapter16 is typically secured to a cutting edge of the bucket by welding. Theadapter16 includes a forward tooth mounting portion ornose18, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Thenose18 extends along acentral axis22. Thetooth14 is a replaceable groundengaging tool24, which in this case is a tooth is removably fastened to theadapter16. Thetooth18 retained on theadapter14 by amechanical retention system26 to be more fully described below.
• Referring to FIG. 2, the[0013]nose18 is generally oriented along the normal direction of working forces exerted on thetooth14 as it is in working engagement with the ground, and is depicted by arrow28. Thenose18 includes ablunt abutment surface30 that is oriented perpendicular to the arrow28. Theblunt surface30 is configured to receive the loading forces of thetooth14 caused by earthworking. A plurality ofangled surfaces32 extend rewardly from theblunt surface30 and radially outward from thecentral axis22. The plurality ofangled surfaces32 define a somewhatconical member34. Aretainer pocket36 is provided in theconical member34. Theretainer pocket36 having a shape that substantially one half of a cylinder and is oriented longitudinally. Theretainer pocket36 includes a bottom surface38 and an end abutment surface40. Theretainer pocket36 is preferably positioned along a side of thenose18, although may be positioned in any one of the plurality of theangled surfaces32.
• The[0014]tooth14 includes a frontground engaging portion42 and a rearmounting end portion44. The groundengaging portion42 includes atop surface46 and abottom surface48 that are tapered toward the front and converge to definehorizontal edge50. A pair of side surfaces48 (one shown) extend between thetop46 andbottom surface48. Themounting end portion46 includes anoutside surface50 and aninside surface52 defining awall54 there between. Acavity56 is defined by theinside surface52 and configured to snuggly fit over thenose18 of theadapter16. Thecavity56 includes an abutment surface (not shown) defined at the bottom ofcavity56. The abutment surface mates with theblunt surface30 for transferring loads to theadapter16. A generallyrectangular retainer opening58 is formed in thewall54 and extends from theoutside surface50 through to theinside surface52. When thetooth14 is positioned on theadapter16 theretainer pocket36 and the retainer opening58 align. Aretainer pin60, defining a substantially cylindrical member is inserted into the retainer opening58 and contacts the bottom surface38 of theretainer pocket36.
• Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a section view of the[0015]tooth14 showing theretainer pin60 positioned in theretainer pocket36. As illustrated theretainer pin60 includes a first end62, a second end64 and a shoulder portions66 disposed at each end62,64. A recess68 is defined between the shoulder portions66. With thepin60 seated in the retainer pocket36 a portion of thepin60 remains in the retainer opening58 of thetooth14. Interference of thepin60 with theretainer pocket36 and the retainer opening58 prevents thetooth14 from being removed from theadapter16. Asecondary retainer70 engages thepin60 and thetooth14 oradapter16 to hold thepin60 in theretainer pocket58.
• One embodiment of the[0016]secondary retainer70 is shown in FIG. 3. Thesecondary retainer70 is formed of spring steel or a similar resilient material. Thesecondary retainer70 includes awidth72 that is slightly smaller than the recess in theretainer pin60. With thepin60 seated in theretainer pocket36 the secondary retainer fits into a gap74 defined between the inside surface of thetooth14cavity56 and theadapter16. Thesecondary retainer70 includes a hook portion76 that engages and holds theretainer pin60 in place and abore78 that can be fastened to either thetooth14 oradapter16. An access bore79 in thetooth14 aligns with thebore78 of thesecondary retainer70. Afastener80 such as a rivet or bolt engages thebore78.
• Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment the[0017]retainer pocket36 is wider than the diameter of theretainer pin60 and theretainer opening58 aligns partially withretainer pocket36. Thesecondary retainer70′ includes a horseshoe shapedportion82 and atab portion84. Thesecondary retainer70′ is installed into the prior to inserting the retainingpin60. Thetab portion84 of thesecondary retainer70 engages the access bore79 of thetooth14 locking thesecondary retainer70 in place. Thesecondary retainer70 can be released by depressing thetab portion84. As theretainer pin60 is inserted, thepin60 engages and compresses thehorseshoe portion82. Upon being fully inserted into theretainer pocket36, thehorseshoe portion82 urges thepin60 away from theretainer opening58, thus locking the pin in engaging contact with thetooth14 andadapter16.
• It should be noted, numerous alternative[0018]secondary retainer70 embodiments might used without deviating from the scope of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
• In operation the[0019]tooth14 andadapter16 of the present invention function in a typical fashion. As the implement digs or otherwise applies forces in the normal direction, theabutment surface56 of thetooth14 pushes on theblunt surface30 of theadapter22. In situations such as back-dragging, forces tend to pull thetooth24 away from theadapter16, the retainingpin60 is compressed between theretainer pocket36 and theretainer opening58. Because thesteel retainer pin60 can withstand high compressive loading, it may be smaller than a laterally oriented pin.
List of Elements
• Title: Longitudinal Orientation of a Retainer for a Bucket Tip[0020]
• File: 01-832[0021]
• [0022]tooth14
• [0023]adapter16
• nose (adapter)[0024]18central axis22
• [0025]ground engaging tool24
• [0026]mechanical retention system26
• arrow (direction of forces)[0027]28
• [0028]blunt surface30
• plurality of angled surfaces (nose)[0029]32
• [0030]conical member34
• [0031]retainer pocket36
• bottom surface (pocket)[0032]38
• end abutment surface (pocket)[0033]40
• get[0034]portion42
• [0035]ground engaging portion42
• mounting[0036]end portion44
• top surface (get end)[0037]46
• bottom surface (get end)[0038]48
• pair of side surfaces (get end)[0039]48
• outside surface (mounting[0040]end50
• inside[0041]surface52
• [0042]wall54
• [0043]cavity56
• abutment surface (cavity)[0044]58
• retainer opening (tooth surface)[0045]58
• [0046]retainer pin60
• first end (retainer pin)[0047]62
• second end (retainer pin)[0048]64
• shoulder portions (retainer pin)[0049]66
• recess (retainer pin)[0050]68
• [0051]secondary retainer70
• width (retainer)[0052]72
• gap (tooth and adapter)[0053]74
• hook portion[0054]76
• bore ([0055]secondary retainer78
• access bore[0056]secondary retainer79
• fastener (secondary retainer)[0057]80
• [0058]horseshoe portion82
• [0059]tab portion84

Claims (13)

What is claimed is:

1. A ground engaging tooth having a central axis, a mounting end portion and a ground engaging portion, said tooth comprising:

an outside surface;

an inside surface having an end abutment surface;

a retainer opening extending from said outside surface to said inside surface, wherein said retainer opening is oriented substantially parallel to said nose surface; and

an access bore is defined in said inside surface, wherein said access bore is configured to permit one of locking and releasing a secondary retainer to and from an engagement position with a retainer pin.

2. The ground engaging tooth ofclaim 1, wherein said secondary retainer is fixed to one of a tooth or adapter using a rivet.

3. The ground engaging tooth ofclaim 1, wherein said secondary retainer is fixed to one of said tooth and adapter using a bolt.

4. The ground engaging tooth ofclaim 1, wherein said secondary retainer is fixed to one of a tooth and an adapter using a tab being defined on said secondary retainer.

5. The ground engaging tooth ofclaim 1, wherein said secondary retainer is constructed of spring steel.

6. The ground engaging tooth ofclaim 1, wherein said secondary retainer is configured to urge said retaining pin into a pocket defined between said tooth and an adapter.

7. A retaining apparatus adapted for removably attaching a tooth to an adapter, said apparatus comprising:

a retaining pin configured to fit partially within a retainer pocket defined longitudinally on a surface of said adapter and extend partially into a retainer opening defined in the wall of said ground engaging tooth; and

a secondary retainer configured to fit in a gap defined between an inside surface of said tooth and a nose portion of said adapter, wherein said secondary retainer maintains said retaining pin in a position preventing said tooth from being removed from said adapter.

8. The retaining apparatus ofclaim 7, including a fastener adapted to attach said secondary retainer to one said tooth and said adapter.

9. The retaining apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein said fastener is a tab defined on said secondary retainer.

10. The retaining apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein said fastener is a bolt.

11. The retaining apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein said fastener is a pin disposed through a bore on said secondary fastener.

12. The retaining apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein said secondary retainer is constructed of spring steel.

13. The retaining apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein said secondary retainer is configured to urge said retainer pin into said retainer pocket.

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