US20230323640A1

US20230323640A1 - Excavating assembly with pivot fastening system

Info

Publication number: US20230323640A1
Application number: US18/190,576
Authority: US
Inventors: Yusuke Kiyama; Mohamad Youssef Bilal; Venkata Prakash Vegunta
Original assignee: Hensley Industries Inc
Current assignee: GH Hensley Industries Inc
Priority date: 2022-04-11
Filing date: 2023-03-27
Publication date: 2023-10-12
Also published as: CA3246994A1; PE20250147A1; WO2023200674A1; GEAP202516622A; CN116892229A; CO2024015095A2; AU2023254745A1; MX2024012610A; JP2025513828A; UY40212A; KR20240168456A; EP4508281A1

Abstract

A lock assembly includes a lock body with a bore extending from a top surface to a lateral side surface and a pin configured for receipt in the bore. A wear member configured for use with the lock assembly has an upper leg, a passage extending through the upper leg, and a fixation base recess formed into a lower side of the upper leg. The fixation base recess extends laterally between two opposing channels each having a lower surface angled downward toward each other. A fixation base configured for use with the lock assembly has a central opening extending through the top surface and bounded at a front side by a lock wall configured to engage a portion of a lock. Opposing first and second wings extend upward and laterally outward away from the central opening and have a lower surface angled downward toward the central opening.

Description

PRIORITY

This disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/329,803, filed Apr. 11, 2022, titled Excavating Assembly with Pivot Fastening System, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is generally directed to an excavating assembly including a fastener assembly that secures a wear member component to an excavating assembly. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to a wear member system secured using a releasable fastening system having an improved lock assembly with a pivoting lock assembly.

BACKGROUND

Material displacement apparatuses or base structures, such as excavating buckets and/or lips secured to excavating buckets found on construction, mining, and other earth moving equipment, often include replaceable wear members such as earth engaging teeth, adapters, wear runners, shrouds, etc. These wear members often come into abrasive, wearing contact with the earth or other material being displaced. For example, excavating tooth assemblies forming a part of material displacement apparatuses or being attached to base structures, such as excavating buckets or lips and the like, typically comprise a relatively massive adapter portion which is suitably anchored to a structure of the equipment such as a forward bucket lip. A replaceable tooth typically includes an opening that releasably receives a nose of an adapter and the tooth is secured to the adapter with a fastening mechanism.
To reduce wear or damage to the base structure between the tooth assemblies, which are typically spaced apart along the edge of the base structure, shrouds may be secured to the base structure between tooth assemblies. Shrouds may also be positioned along vertical sides or wings at the edges of the base structure.
There are a number of different types of fastening mechanisms to secure shrouds to a bucket lip or other base structure. One method of mounting shrouds to a bucket is to form a series of holes vertically through the forward lip portion of the bucket lip. Corresponding holes are formed vertically through the shrouds, and, with the shrouds in place on the forward lip portion, the corresponding holes are aligned and wedges are driven therethrough. There are, however, disadvantages of the above-described wedge method of mounting shrouds to an excavating bucket. For example, the wedge method removes material from the forward lip portion by forming a series of holes through the bucket. This may weaken the forward lip portion and provide additional surface exposure where wear may occur. Further, these wedge methods may require hammering the wedge into place. The need to pound in and later pound out a wedge with a hammer can be challenging and time consuming.
Various alternatives to pound-in fastening mechanisms have been proposed to releasably retain a shroud on an excavating bucket. While these alternative fastening mechanisms desirably eliminate the need to pound a wedge into and out of a bucket lip, they typically present various other types of problems, limitations, and disadvantages including, but not limited to, complexity of construction and use or undesirably high cost. In one example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,145 to Ruvang, a shroud having a generally C-shaped cross section is removably attached to the front edge of an excavating bucket lip by first placing the front lip edge in the interior of the wear shroud so that the top and bottom legs of the shroud respectively extend along the top and bottom sides of the lip. A rear end portion of the top shroud leg is then removably secured, using a J-bolt inserted into the top leg after the shroud is positioned on the bucket lip, to a base structure welded to the top side of the lip. A nut threaded onto the J-bolt at the rear end of the top shroud leg and facing the welded base structure prevents the forward removal of the installed wear shroud from the bucket lip. While this particular system has proven to be well suited for its intended purpose, it has room for improvement. For example, the system requires that a portion of each shroud have a relatively high frontal projection area which increases the resistance to penetration of the shroud into the material being excavated. Additionally, portions of the fastening mechanism exposed to material being excavated may be subject to undesirable abrasion wear.
Some types of fastening mechanisms include a component rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. However, the continuous vibration, high impact, and cyclic loading of the shroud can result in inadvertent rotation of the fastening mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position. This may cause excess wear on the fastening mechanism and/or inadvertent release of the shroud or it may affect the useful life of both the fastening mechanism and the shroud.
A need accordingly exists for an improved shroud assembly fastening mechanism.

SUMMARY

Consistent with some examples, a lock assembly for securing a wear member to a support structure may include a lock body and a pin. The lock body may have a top surface, a first lateral side surface, and a bore extending linearly along an axis that intersects the top surface and the first lateral side surface. The pin may be configured for receipt in the bore of the lock body. The pin may include a head, a tip, and a shaft extending between the head and the tip. The pin may have a retracted configuration in which the tip is retained within the bore and a seated configuration in which the shaft extends laterally outward from the bore beyond the first lateral side surface.
In some examples, the pin may be configured to transition between the retracted and seated configurations by rotation about the axis. The bore of the lock body may include a first set of threads and the shaft of the pin may have a second set of threads corresponding to the first set of threads. The lock body may have a pin detent mechanism. A portion of the pin detent mechanism may extend into the bore. The pin may have a first indentation disposed along an upper portion of the second set of threads. The first indentation may be configured to receive the portion of the pin detent mechanism when the pin is in the seated configuration. The pin detent mechanism may include a flexible member and a rigid member secured to the flexible member. The portion of the pin detent mechanism extending into the bore may include a portion of the rigid member. The pin may have a second indentation disposed along a lower portion of the second set of threads. The second indentation may be configured to receive the portion of the pin detent mechanism when the pin is in the retracted configuration. Engagement of the portion of the pin detent mechanism with the second indentation may retain the tip of the pin in the bore and resists rotation of the pin.
In some examples, a first recess may be formed into the top surface of the lock body and the bore may open into the first recess. A second recess may be formed into the lock body and extend between the bore and the first recess. The second recess may be configured to receive the flexible member of the pin detent mechanism. The head of the pin may be positioned within the first recess when the pin is in the seated configuration.
In some examples, the lock body includes a second lateral side surface disposed on a side of the lock body opposite the first lateral side surface and a bottom surface extending between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface. The bottom surface may be planar. The first lateral side surface of the lock body may be wider than the second lateral side surface. The lock body may include a toe extending laterally outward from the second lateral side surface. The toe may have an upper surface facing upward and away from the second lateral side surface and a lower surface facing downward and away from the second lateral side surface. A channel may be formed at an interface of the upper surface of the toe with the second lateral side surface and a crest may be formed at an interface of the upper surface of the toe with the lower surface of the toe. The lock body may include a front surface extending between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface and a rear surface disposed on a side of the lock body opposite the front surface. At least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the rear surface may be angled outward away from one another from the bottom surface to the top surface. At least a portion of the front surface of the lock body may be angled rearward from the first lateral side surface to the second lateral side surface.
In some examples, the lock body may have a biased detent mechanism extending outward from the front surface of the lock body. The biased detent mechanism may include a rigid member secured to a flexible member. The flexible member may be disposed within a pocket formed through the front surface and the rigid member may extend outward away from the pocket. The lock body may have a tab extending outward from the front surface.
Consistent with some examples, a wear member assembly includes a wear member and a lock assembly. The wear member may include an upper leg extending rearward away from a leading edge of the wear member to a rear surface. A passage may extend through the upper leg from a top surface of the upper leg. A support structure recess may be formed into a lower side of the upper leg and may extend rearward through the rear surface of the upper leg. The support structure recess may be configured to receive a support structure when the wear member is secured to excavating equipment. The passage may extend into the support structure recess. The lock assembly may include a lock body and a pin. The lock body may include a top surface, a first lateral side surface, and a bore extending linearly along an axis that intersects the top surface and the first lateral side surface. The pin may be configured for receipt in the bore of the lock body. The pin may have a head, a tip, and a shaft extending between the head and the tip. The pin may have a retracted configuration in which the tip is retained within the bore and a seated configuration in which the shaft extends laterally outward from the bore beyond the first lateral side surface.
In some examples, the wear member may include a guide channel extending along a wall of the passage and the lock body may include a tab extending outward from a side of the lock body. The tab may be configured to travel within the guide channel as the lock body is inserted into the passage from the top surface of the upper leg of the wear member. The lock body may have a biased detent mechanism extending from a side of the lock body. The biased detent mechanism may include a rigid member secured to a flexible member. The flexible member may be disposed within a pocket formed into the lock body and the rigid member may extend outward away from the pocket. The wear member may include an installation channel formed within a wall of the passage. The installation channel may taper inward toward the passage in a direction extending from the top surface of the upper leg to the support structure recess. The biased detent mechanism may be configured to travel along a surface of the installation channel as the lock assembly is installed through the passage. The wear member may include an indentation disposed adjacent to a bottom end of the installation channel. The indentation may be formed deeper into the wall of the passage than the bottom end of the installation channel. The biased detent mechanism may be configured to snap into the indentation when the lock body is installed.
In some examples, the lock body and passage may be sized and shaped such that the lock body is installable into the passage in only one orientation about a vertical axis. A central region of the upper leg may have an increased vertical profile relative to portions of the upper leg on each lateral side of the central region.
In some examples, the lock body includes a front surface, a bottom surface, and a rear surface. The front surface may be tapered outward from the bottom surface to the top surface of the lock body. The front surface of the lock body may be angled at approximately 1-10° with respect to a vertical plane, for example, at approximately 2-4°. The lock body may include a second lateral side surface disposed on a side of the lock body opposite the first lateral side surface, and a bottom surface extending between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface. The bottom surface may be planar. The first lateral side surface of the lock body may be wider than the second lateral side surface. A first sidewall of the passage may have a width corresponding to the first lateral side surface of the lock body and a second sidewall of the passage may have a width corresponding to the second lateral side surface of the lock body. The width of the second sidewall of the passage may be less than the width of the first lateral side surface of the lock body.
In some examples, the lock body includes a toe extending laterally outward from the second lateral side surface. The lock body may include a front surface extending between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface, and a rear surface disposed on a side of the lock body opposite the front surface. At least a portion of the front surface of the lock body and at least a portion of the rear surface of the lock body may be angled outward away from one another from the bottom surface of the lock body to the top surface of the lock body.
In some examples, the support structure recess may extend between two opposing channels extending forward from the rear surface of the upper leg and may be configured to receive opposing wings of a fixation base. The wear member may be a shroud and may include a lower leg extending rearward away from the leading edge. The shroud may include a transverse channel formed between the upper leg and the lower leg. The transverse channel may be configured to receive a bucket lip. The shroud may include at least one engagement region extending rearward in the transverse channel. The at least one engagement region may be configured to engage a front surface of the bucket lip. In some examples, a portion of the lower leg adjacent to a bottom surface of the lip, spaced from or in contact with bottom surface of the lip, may be angled at approximately 10-20° with respect to a portion of the upper leg configured to engage an upper surface of the lip, for example, at approximately 15°. In some examples, the portion of the lower leg adjacent to a bottom surface of the lip may be parallel to the portion of the upper leg configured to engage the upper surface of the lip. It is contemplated that the portion of the lower leg adjacent to a bottom surface of the lip may be angled at approximately 1-35° with respect to the portion of the upper leg configured to engage the upper surface of the lip.
In some examples, when the lock body is seated within the passage of the wear member, the top surface of the lock body may be positioned in the passage and a bottom surface of the lock body may be substantially flush with a bottom surface of the upper leg of the wear member.
Consistent with some examples, a wear member for excavating equipment may include a leading edge, an upper leg extending rearward away from the leading edge, a passage extending through the upper leg from a top surface of the wear member, and a fixation base recess formed into a lower side of the upper leg and extending through a rear surface of the upper leg. The fixation base recess may extend laterally between two opposing channels that extend forward from the rear surface of the upper leg. Each of the two channels may have a lower surface. The lower surface of each of the two channels may be angled downward toward each other. The fixation base recess may be configured to receive a fixation base secured to a lip of excavating equipment with wings of the fixation base received in the two channels. A portion of a bottom surface of the upper leg below each of the two channels may form a planar contact surface configured to engage the lip. In some examples, the portions of the bottom surface of the upper leg forming a planar contact surface may extend along a majority of the length of the upper leg.
In some examples, each of the two channels may have an upper surface. The upper surface of each of the two channels may be angled downward toward each other. The lower surface of each of the two channels may be angled downward at approximately 10-30° with respect to a bottom surface of the upper leg, for example, at approximately 18-22°. The two channels may be longitudinally angled inward toward one another from the rear surface toward the leading edge. Each of the two channels may extend forward beyond a front wall of the passage.
In some examples, the wear member may include a pry surface extending between the rear surface of the upper leg and a ceiling of the fixation base recess. At least one pry surface may extend between the top surface of the wear member and an interior wall of the passage.
In some examples, the passage is generally shaped as a trapezoid with rounded corners. A guide channel may extend along a wall of the passage. The guide channel may extend upward through the top surface and terminate at a lower end within the passage. An installation channel may be formed along a front wall of the passage. The installation channel may taper inward toward a rear wall of the passage in a direction extending from the top surface of the upper leg to the fixation base recess. An indentation may be disposed adjacent to a bottom end of the installation channel. The indentation may be formed deeper into the front wall of the passage than the bottom end of the installation channel.
In some examples, at least a portion of a front wall of the passage may be angled with respect to a rear wall of the passage, forming a narrower opening at a bottom of the passage than at a top of the passage. The portion of the front wall may be angled at approximately 1-20° with respect to the rear wall, for example, at approximately 2-16°. The portion of the front wall may be angled at approximately 6° with respect to the rear wall.
In some examples, the portion of the upper leg configured to contact the lip may be angled at approximately 10-20° with respect to a portion of a lower leg of the wear member configured to lie adjacent the lip. In some examples, the portion of the upper leg may be parallel to the portion of the lower leg. At least one engagement region may be formed in a transverse channel between the upper leg and the lower leg. The at least one engagement region may be configured to engage a front surface of the lip. The portion of the lower leg may be configured to engage a bottom surface of the lip or lie adjacent thereto. The portion of the upper leg may be configured to contact an upper surface of the lip. The engagement region may extend between the portion of the lower leg and the portion of the upper leg.
A central region of the upper leg may have an increased vertical profile relative to portions of the upper leg on each lateral side of the central region. A raised region may be formed in the top surface of the upper leg in the central region. The passage may extend through the raised region.
Consistent with some examples, a fixation base may include a bottom surface, a top surface, a central opening extending through the top surface, and opposing first and second wings. The central opening may be bounded at a front side by a lock wall configured to engage a portion of a lock. Each of the first and second wings may extend upward and laterally outward away from the central opening. The first and second wings may have a lower surface angled downward toward the central opening.
In some examples, a rear opening may extend through the top surface and the bottom surface in an extension extending from a rear side of the fixation base. The rear opening may be separated from the central opening by a lateral wall. A rear wall of the extension may include a pry surface extending between a top surface of the rear wall and a front surface of the rear wall. The lateral wall may include a pry surface extending between a top surface of the lateral wall and a front surface of the lateral wall.
In some examples, the first and second wings may be angled apart from a front side of the fixation base toward a rear side of the fixation base at approximately 1-10°, for example, at approximately 2-8°. The lower surface of each of the first and second wings may be angled at approximately 10-30° with respect to the bottom surface of the fixation base, for example, at approximately 18-22°.
In some examples, the fixation base may include opposing first and second sidewalls. Each of the first and second sidewalls may support a respective one of the first or second wings. Each of the first and second sidewalls may form a lock recess opening into the central opening. The lock recess may form an overhang extending laterally inward.
In some examples, the lock wall may be angled with respect to a front surface of the fixation base such that a thickness of the lock wall adjacent to the first wing is less than a thickness of the lock wall adjacent to the second wing. An inner surface of the lock wall facing the central opening may be substantially planar. The inner surface of the lock wall may be angled outward with respect to the bottom surface of the fixation base from the bottom surface toward the top surface.
Consistent with some examples, a wear member assembly may include a fixation base, a wear member, and a lock assembly. The fixation base may be disposed on a lip and positioned behind a leading edge of the lip. The fixation base may include a bottom surface, a top surface, a central opening extending through the top surface, and opposing first and second wings extending upward and laterally outward away from the central opening. The central opening may be bounded at a front side by a lock wall and laterally by opposing first and second sidewalls. Each of the first and second sidewalls may include a lock recess. The wear member may include an upper leg, a passage, and a fixation base recess. The upper leg may extend rearward away from a leading edge of the wear member to a rear surface. The leading edge may be configured to engage ground. The passage may extend through the upper leg from a top surface of the upper leg. The fixation base recess may be formed into a lower side of the upper leg and may extend rearward through the rear surface of the upper leg. The fixation base recess may be configured to receive a fixation base when the wear member is secured to excavating equipment. The passage may extend into the fixation base recess. The lock assembly may include a lock body and a pin. The lock body may include a top surface, a first lateral side surface, and a bore extending linearly along an axis that intersects the top surface and the first lateral side surface. The pin may be configured for receipt in the bore of the lock body. The pin may have a head, a tip, and a shaft extending between the head and the tip. The pin may have a retracted configuration in which the tip is retained within the bore and a seated configuration in which the shaft extends laterally outward from the bore beyond the first lateral side surface.
In some examples, the lock assembly may be positionable through the top surface of the upper leg of the wear member such that a lower portion of the lock body is disposed in the central opening of the fixation base and an upper portion of the lock body is disposed in the passage of the wear member. When the pin of the lock assembly is in the seated configuration, the lock assembly may be secured in the fixation base with the tip of the pin disposed in the lock recess of the first sidewall and a portion of the lock body opposite the first lateral side surface disposed in the recess of the second sidewall.
Consistent with some examples, a wear member assembly may include a wear member having an upper leg extending rearward away from a leading edge of the wear member to a rear surface. A passage may extend through the upper leg from a top surface. A lock assembly may include a lock body shaped to fit within the passage. The lock assembly may include a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, with a portion of the top side having a width greater than a portion of the bottom side. The lock assembly may also include a front side and an opposing rear side extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, with the front side being angled relative to the rear side from a first lateral side of the lock body to a second lateral side of the lock body. A pin may be received in a bore of the lock body. The pin may be extendable from the lock body to prevent the lock body from being removed from the passage.
In some examples, the pin may include a head, a tip, and a shaft extending between the head and the tip. The pin may have retracted configuration in which the tip is retained within the bore of the lock body and a seated configuration in which the shaft extends laterally outward from the bore beyond the first lateral side surface. In some examples, the bore may extend linearly along an axis that intersects the top surface and a first lateral side surface.
Consistent with some examples, a wear member for excavating equipment may include a leading edge, an upper leg extending rearward away from the leading edge, and a passage extending through the upper leg from a top surface of the upper leg. The passage may have a front wall and an opposing rear wall, the front wall being angled away from the rear wall from one lateral side of the passage to an opposing lateral side of the passage. The passage may be shaped to receive a portion of a lock assembly.
In some examples, the front wall may comprise a guide channel formed therein to receive a portion of a lock assembly. The passage may comprise an indentation shaped to interface with a portion of a lock assembly, the indentation being disposed at a lower portion of the passage adjacent an inner surface of the leg. The wear member may include a fixation base recess formed into a lower side of the upper leg and extending through a rear surface of the upper leg. The fixation base recess may extend laterally between two opposing channels that extend forward from the rear surface of the upper leg. Each of the two channels may have a lower surface, with the lower surface of each of the two channels being angled downward toward each other. The fixation base recess may be configured to receive a fixation base secured to a lip of excavating equipment with wings of the fixation base received in the two channels.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following drawings and detailed description are exemplary and explanatory in nature and are intended to provide an understanding of the present disclosure without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In that regard, additional aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate implementations of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an excavation system embodying principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through a lip shroud assembly of the excavation system of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of a shroud according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shroud of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the shroud of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the shroud of FIG. 3 .

FIGS. 7-10 are perspective views of an example of a lock body according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the example of a lock body of FIGS. 7-10 .

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an example of a pin detent according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an example of an installation detent according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a side view of an example of a pin according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an example of a lock assembly according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a cross-section view of the lock assembly of FIG. 15 .

FIG. 17 is a top view of an example of a fixation base according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the fixation base of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 19 is a cross-section of the fixation base of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an example of a fixation base positioned on a bucket lip according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 21-23 are perspective views of assembling a lip shroud assembly according to an example of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 24-26 are cross-section views of installing a lock assembly in a lip shroud assembly according to an example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a cross-section view of an example of a lip shroud assembly according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 28-30 are cross-section views of disassembling a lip shroud assembly according to an example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 31 illustrates an example of a shroud according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 32A-32B illustrate an example of a lock assembly according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 33 illustrates an example of a fixation base according to the present disclosure.

These Figures will be better understood by reference to the following Detailed Description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the implementations illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is intended. Any alterations and further modifications to the described devices, instruments, methods, and any further application of the principles of the present disclosure are fully contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. In addition, this disclosure describes some elements or features in detail with respect to one or more implementations or Figures, when those same elements or features appear in subsequent Figures, without such a high level of detail. It is fully contemplated that the features, components, and/or steps described with respect to one or more implementations or Figures may be combined with the features, components, and/or steps described with respect to other implementations or Figures of the present disclosure. For simplicity, in some instances the same or similar reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Orientation terms herein may refer to directions corresponding to an installed excavating assembly, generally based on a surface of a bucket lip. Terms such as “up,” “top,” and “above” may refer to a direction extending generally away from a surface of the bucket lip and terms such as “down,” “bottom,” “below,” or “under” may refer to a direction extending generally toward the bucket lip. The term “lateral” may refer to a direction extending along an axis generally parallel to a front edge of a lip of the excavating assembly or toward the sides of the lip. The term “front” may refer to a direction generally facing the front edge of the lip while the term “rear” may refer to a direction generally facing away from the front edge or into a bucket on which the lip is positioned.
The present disclosure is directed to an excavating assembly that may include a fastening system that secures a wear member component within the excavating assembly. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to a lip shroud assembly that may include a shroud secured to a fixation base using a releasable fastening system having a lock assembly that includes a lock body, a pin positionable within the lock body, and detent mechanisms for securing the lock body in the lip shroud assembly and the pin in the lock body. The lock body may be positionable within a portion of the shroud and a portion of the fixation base and secured thereto with snap-in detent mechanism. The pin may be advanced into the lock body and secured therein by threads and a snap-in detent mechanism which may provide haptic feedback to a user and/or prevent inadvertent loosening or removal of the pin. When so positioned, a portion of the pin may extend into the fixation base or other excavating structure such that the pin interferes with removal of the lock body from the fixation base and shroud and the lock body interferes with removal of the shroud from the fixation base. It should be appreciated that although described in the context of a wear member comprising a shroud and a support structure comprising a fixation base, the present disclosure may also be applicable for securing other wear members to support structures, for example, a tooth to an adapter, an intermediate adapter to an adapter, or a wear runner to an excavating structure.
Since the lock assembly employs mechanical interference to prevent inadvertent rotation of the pin, the lock assembly may be able to withstand vibration, high-impact, and cyclic loading while minimizing the chance of becoming inadvertently unlocked. In addition, some embodiments of the lock assembly may be arranged to emit an audible noise such as a click when various components achieve a locked or secured condition. Because of this, users such as machinery operators may have an easier time installing new shrouds and replacing old shrouds as compared to conventional fastening mechanisms.
FIG. 1 shows an example of an excavation system 100 according to the present disclosure, including a bucket lip 102 which may be an integral part of a bucket or a separate component that may be secured to a bucket by welding or fasteners. The excavation system 100 also includes tooth assemblies 150 at spaced apart positions along a forward edge of the bucket lip 102. Between the tooth assemblies 150 are shrouds 104 secured to the bucket lip 102 using lock assemblies 106. At each side of the bucket lip is a vertically extending wing with a side shroud 105. The side shrouds may be secured to the bucket lip 102 using the same or similar lock assembly 106. The excavation system 100 may find particular utility on earth moving equipment. For example, the excavation system 100 may be used in construction, mining, drilling, and other industries.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the excavation system 100 of FIG. 1 , specifically through one of the shrouds 104. A fixation base is 108 secured to the bucket lip 102. A lock assembly 106 is positioned such that it is positioned partially within the shroud 104 and partially within the fixation base 108 to retain the shroud 104 on the bucket lip 102. It should be appreciated that although described in relation to a shroud secured to a bucket lip, assemblies according to the present disclosure may include any type of wear member and corresponding support structure to which a wear member is affixed with a lock assembly. The shroud 104 may be configured to engage a bottom surface of the bucket lip and a top surface of the bucket lip. An angle between the bottom and top surfaces of the bucket lip may be approximately 5-30°, for example, approximately 15° in the illustrated example. In some examples, the top and bottom surfaces of the bucket lip may be parallel. Portions of the shroud 104 configured to engage the bottom and top surfaces of the bucket lip may be planar and may have an orientation within 0-4° of the corresponding top or bottom surface of the bucket lip.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a shroud 104. The shroud 104 has a transverse channel 114 extending across a rear side of the shroud and a leading edge 116 extending across a front side. The channel 114, which is formed between an upper leg 120 and a lower leg 122 of the shroud 104, is configured to receive a forward edge of a bucket lip. In some examples, the shroud may include only one leg, such as only an upper leg 120 without a corresponding lower leg 122 or vice versa. When installed, the shroud 104 straddles the forward edge of the bucket lip with the upper leg 120 on a top side of the bucket lip and the lower leg 122 on the bottom side of the bucket lip, as shown in FIG. 2 . A passage 110 that is elongated in a transverse or lateral direction extends through the upper leg 120 from a top surface 118 of the shroud to the channel 114 along a central axis 111 and is enclosed on all radial sides. The passage 110 is configured to receive a lock assembly 106. On a lateral side of the passage 110, a pry surface 112 is formed into the top surface 118. The pry surface 112 extends at an angle between the top surface 118 and a wall forming a portion of the passage 110. The pry surface 112 is configured to permit a pry bar or other tool to be inserted into the passage 110 to engage the lock assembly for removal. In the illustrated embodiment, the top surface 118 includes a raised region in which the passage 110 is disposed. The raised region includes sloping side surfaces extending from the passage 110 to the side regions of the upper leg 120 forming the top surface 118. A portion of one of these sloping side surfaces may form a ridge where it meets the pry surface 112, providing a fulcrum for lifting the lock assembly 106 from the passage 110 with a tool. Although illustrated with one pry surface 112, it should be appreciated that fewer or more pry surfaces 112 may be formed around the passage 110. Further, a pry surface 112 may be positioned at any circumferential location around the circumference of the passage 110, for example, rearward or forward of the passage 110.
FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the shroud of FIG. 3 from rear and bottom perspectives. A bottom surface 119 of the upper leg 120 is disposed opposite the top surface 118, although not necessarily parallel to the top surface 118. The upper leg 120 terminates rearwardly at a rear surface 126 extending across the upper leg. A fixation base recess 121 is formed into the upper leg 120 extending upward from the bottom surface 119 to a ceiling 133 and forward from the rear surface 126. A pry surface 124 is formed at an angle between the rear surface 126 and ceiling 133 of the fixation base recess 121. The pry surface 124 may be configured to permit a pry bar or other tool to be inserted into the fixation base recess 121 to engage a fixation base for removal of the shroud 104. A channel 128 is formed on either side of the fixation base recess 121 and is configured to receive a corresponding wing portion of a fixation base. Each of these two channels extends forward from the rear surface 126 in a direction perpendicular to the rear surface or angling slightly toward one another along their longitudinal length for ease of installation and removal from a fixation base. For example, the channels may be angled inward at approximately 1-5° with respect to plane of symmetry between them, preferably at approximately 2°. Surfaces forming the top and bottom of each channel 128 may be parallel to the bottom surface 119 of the upper leg 120 or may angle upward with respect to the bottom surface 119 as the channels 128 extend laterally outward. In other words, a lower surface of each channel may be angled toward the other channel at approximately 10-30°, preferably at 20°, with respect to a horizontal plane. An upper surface of each channel may be angled in a similar manner. The upper and lower surfaces of each channel may be parallel or oriented at different angles.
A central region 130 of the ceiling 133 of the fixation base recess 121 extends downward toward the channel 114 in a similar manner to the raised region of the top surface on the opposite side of the upper leg 120. The region has a vertical profile which is increased with respect to regions of the shroud outside the central region. Within the central region 130 are a pair of channels, a guide channel 135 a and an installation channel 135 b. An indentation 136 is formed below the installation channel 135 b and separated therefrom by a ridge having an angled surface on either side.
Within the channel 114 are two ribs 132 extending along a top side of the lower leg 122. The ribs 132 have a substantially planar top surface which may be configured to engage a bottom surface of a bucket lip or to be adjacent to and spaced from the bottom surface of the bucket lip when the shroud 104 is installed. Each rib extends upward on a front wall of the channel and form engagement regions 131 where the shroud 104 contacts and bears against a front surface of a bucket lip during use. One or more portions of the lower leg 122 adjacent a bottom surface of the bucket lip, for example a top surface of each rib 132, may be parallel to or may be angled with respect to one or more portions of the upper leg 120 configured to contact a top surface of the bucket lip, for example a planar region disposed below a respective one of the two channels 128. In the illustrated example, the top surface of the ribs 132 is angled at approximately 15° with respect to the bottom surface of the upper leg 120. It should be appreciated that in some examples, one or more of the engagement regions 131 and/or the ribs 132 may be omitted.
The passage 110 has an asymmetric shape in both a lateral direction (side to side in FIG. 6 ) and a longitudinal direction defined by a rear/front direction (up and down in FIG. 6 ). This dual asymmetrical shape of the passage 110 may prevent installation of a lock assembly 106 into the passage 110 in an incorrect orientation. That is, a lock body of a lock assembly having a shape profile corresponding to the passage 110 will only fit into the passage in the proper orientation. The passage 110 is defined by a front wall 137 and an opposing rear wall 139. A sidewall 140 and an opposing sidewall 141 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the rear wall 139. A curve extends between adjacent pairs of the walls 137, 139, 140, and 141. Each of the curves may have the same radius or may have a different radius. The channels 135 a, 135 b and indentation 136 are formed into the front wall 137. However, it should be appreciated that one or both of these channels may be omitted or may be formed into a different wall of the passage 110. The passage 110 is generally shaped as a trapezoid having rounded corners with the sidewalls 140 and 141 being substantially parallel in cross section along a horizontal plane, the rear wall 139 being substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and the front wall 137 being angled with respect to the rear wall. However, the passage 110 may have any suitable shape, which may be, in part, dependent upon the shape of a lock assembly configured for use with the shroud. Generally, it is desirable for the rear wall 139 to have an orientation and position that closely corresponds to a rear surface of a lock assembly for force distribution during loading.
FIGS. 7-11 illustrate a lock body 152 of the lock assembly 106 configured to be received within the passage 110. The lock body 152 is a block of rigid material, such as steel, that includes a top surface 154 and an opposing bottom surface 155 which may be parallel to or angled with respect to one another. Extending between the top surface 154 and bottom surface 155 are a front side 158, a rear side 159, and opposing lateral sides 160 and 161. These sides of the lock body 152 are each defined by one or more surfaces which may collectively be referred to herein as a front, rear, or lateral side or a front, rear, and lateral surface, respectively. A tab 157 extends outward from the front side 158 forming an extension of the top surface 154. A toe 153 is formed on the lateral side 161 with an upper surface facing upward and away from the side 161 and a lower surface facing downward and away from the side 161. An interface or intersection of an upper surface of the lateral side 161 with the upper surface of the toe 153 forms a v-shaped channel or groove extending across the lateral side 161 from the front side 158 to the rear side 159. An interface or intersection of the upper surface of the toe 153 with the lower surface of the toe forms a ridge or crest extending across the lateral side 161 from the front side 158 to the rear side 159.
Front side 158 and rear side 159 may be parallel or may be angled away from one another as they extend from the bottom surface 155 to the top surface 154. In the illustrated example, the front side 158 and the rear side 159 are angled outward from the bottom surface 155 at approximately 3° with respect to a vertical plane (e.g., perpendicular to the bottom surface). In some examples, the front side 158 and rear side 159 may be angled outward at different angles that one another and may be angled with respect to a vertical plane at approximately 1-15°. One or both of the front and rear sides may be vertical (e.g., perpendicular to the bottom surface 155). Lateral side 160 is wider than lateral side 161, with the front side 158 angled rearward from lateral side 160 to lateral side 161. At least a portion of the front side 158 may be curved or warped to urged to lock body 152 in a direction of lateral side 160 during loading of the excavation system. In some examples, lateral sides 160 and 161 may have the same width.
As shown in FIG. 16 , lateral side 161 has an angle α with respect to a vertical plane. The upper surface of the toe 153 has an angle β with respect to a horizontal plane. Lower surface of the toe 153 has an angle γ with respect to a horizontal plane. Lateral side 160 has an angle δ with respect to a horizontal plane. In the illustrated example, α is approximately 0-5°, β is approximately 35-60° (preferably about 37°), γ is approximately 30-60°, and δ is approximately 30-60°. The geometry of the various sides and surfaces of the lock body 152 reduces the possible orientations in which the lock body 152 can be inserted into the passage 110, simplifying installation and preventing improper assembly.
A recess 151 is formed into the lock body 152 from the top surface 154. A bore 156 extends linearly through the lock body 152 from a planar wall forming a portion of the recess 151 to the lateral side 160. At least a portion of the bore is threaded with threads 166. A detent recess 145 is formed into lock body 152 within the planar wall and a curved wall forming the recess 151. The detent recess 145 also extends from an upper portion of the bore 156. A pin detent 164 as shown in FIG. 12 may be positioned within the detent recess 145 and is biased radially inward toward an axis of the bore 156. The pin detent 164 includes a flexible member 168 having a pentagonal shape and a prong 170 extending therefrom. The flexible member 168 may be formed from a resilient material, such as a rubber or polymer to exert a biasing force on the prong 170 when compressed, and the prong 170 may be formed from a rigid material, such as steel or another metal. The prong 170 is partially embedded within the flexible member 168 to bond the two together and extends through an outer surface thereof which is oriented radially inward toward the axis of the bore 156. The prong 170 may be positioned adjacent to an upper terminal end of the threads 166 with a tip of the prong extending into the bore 156.
An installation detent 162 as shown in FIG. 13 is positionable partially within the pocket 146 formed into the front side 158 of the lock body 152. The installation detent 162 includes a flexible member 172 and a rigid member 174. The flexible member 172 may be formed from a resilient material, such as a rubber or polymer, and the rigid member 174 may be formed from steel or another metal. The rigid member 174 may have a stem or other extension (not shown) that is embedded within the flexible member 172 to bond the rigid member 174 to the flexible member 172. The installation detent 162 may be positioned such that the flexible member 172 is fully disposed within the pocket 146 and the rigid member 174 is at least partially disposed outside the pocket. The flexible member 172 may have a width dimension that is less than a corresponding width of the pocket 146 to allow the flexible member 172 to be compressed and deformed within the pocket when the rigid member 174 is pressed inward toward the pocket.
As shown in the top vide of FIG. 11 , the lock body 152 has a size and shape closely corresponding to the passage 110 of the shroud. Front side 158, rear side 159, and lateral sides 160 and 161 are positioned and sized similar to the front wall 137, rear wall 139, and sidewalls 141 and 140, respectively, of the passage 110.
FIG. 13 illustrates a pin 180 of the lock assembly 106. A head 181 defines a top of the pin 180 and a tip 190 defines a bottom of the pin with a shaft 192 extending between the head 181 and the tip 190. A portion of the head 181 has a hexagonal outer profile configured to be engaged by a socket for rotation of the pin about its longitudinal central axis during installation or removal of the pin. Helical threads 186, corresponding to the threads 166 of the lock body 152, are formed around the outer circumference of the shaft 192. An indentation 188 a corresponding to an unlocked position of the pin is formed into the shaft 192 in a lower region of the threads 186 and an indentation 188 b corresponding to a locked position of the pin is formed into the shaft 192 in an upper region of the threads 186. The indentations 188 may be formed along the helical path of the channel between adjacent threads. The indentations 188 have a size and shape corresponding to the prong 170 of the pin detent 164 of the lock body 152. In the illustrated example, the prong 170 and the indentations 188 have a triangular shape. In will be appreciated that in some examples, the pin detent 164 may be housed in the pin 180 and the indentations 188 may be formed within the lock body 152. Further, in some examples, one or both indentations 188 may be omitted.
FIGS. 15-16 illustrate the lock assembly 106 in a locked configuration. The pin 180 is threadingly engaged with the bore 156 of the lock body 152. The head 181 of the pin is fully disposed within the recess 151 in the lock body 152. The tip 190 of the pin 180 is extended beyond the side 160 along the central axis 194. The prong 170 of the pin detent 164 is situated within the locked indentation 188 b. Engagement of the pin detent 164 with the indentation 188 b may resist rotation of the pin 180 during use as a substantial rotational force is required to compress the flexible member 168 to remove the prong 170 from the indentation 188 b. Because typical use of the assembly is unlikely to impart such a rotational force, the engagement of the pin detent 164 with the indentation 188 b aids in preventing inadvertent back-out (or unlocking) of the pin 180.
FIGS. 17-19 show a fixation base 108 to which the shroud 104 may be attached using the lock assembly 106. The shroud 108 has a top side 195 and a bottom surface 197 that is configured to be secured to a bucket lip. A central opening 196 extends through the fixation base 108 from the top side 195 to the bottom surface 197. A rear opening 198 is positioned rearward of the central opening 196 and also extends from a surface of the top side 195 to the bottom surface 197. A lateral wall 200 defines a rear of the central opening 196 and separates the central opening 196 from the rear opening 198, although in some examples the rear opening 198 may be formed as part of the central opening 196. The fixation base extends from a front side 201 to a rear side 202 and from a lateral side 203 to a lateral side 204. An extension 205 extends rearward from a central portion of the rear side 202, forming at least a portion of the rear opening 198.
The central opening 196 is enclosed laterally by sidewall 212 and sidewall 214. A front side of the central opening 196 is defined by a lock wall 206, at least a portion of which is shaped, sized, and oriented in a manner corresponding to the shape, size, and orientation of the front side 158 of the lock body 152. The sidewalls 212 and 214 are angled outward away from one another. A recess 213 (“or lock recess”) is formed into each sidewall 212 and 214, each recess having an overhang 220 with a surface facing generally downward and toward the center of the fixation base. These downward facing surfaces may be angled at approximately 35-60° (preferably about 37°) with respect to a horizontal plane (e.g., the bottom surface 197 of the fixation base). The lock wall 206 is angled in manner similar to (equal or within 3°) the front side 158 of the lock body 152, in one or both of a lateral or vertical direction.
A pry surface 208 is formed on the lateral wall 200 and a pry surface 210 is formed on a rear portion of the extension 205. The pry surfaces 208 and 210 are angled with respect to a top surface of the lateral wall 200 and extension 205 to facilitate access into the central opening 196 and rear opening 198 with a pry bar or other tool during removal of the shroud 104 and may provide a fulcrum for prying the shroud forward.
An outer surface 219 of each of the sidewalls 212 and 214 may be angled laterally outward and upward from the bottom surface 197 at approximately 45°, although it should be appreciated that surfaces 219 may be vertical or may be angled at any suitable angle with respect to the bottom surface. An inner surface of each sidewall 212 and 214 extending outward from the central opening 196 may parallel to the outer surface 219. The outer surface 219 and inner surface of each sidewall extends to a wing 218 formed on each lateral side of the fixation base 108. The wings 218 extend laterally outward and upward away from the central opening 196. The wings 218 are sized and shaped to be received in the channels 128 of the shroud 104 and to engage one or more surfaces forming the channels 128. Longitudinally (e.g., from top to bottom of FIG. 17 ), the wings 218 may be substantially parallel or otherwise angled with respect to one another in a manner corresponding to the channels 128. In some examples, the wings 218 angle outward toward the rear side 202 of the fixation base 108 to facilitate ease of installation and removal of the shroud 104. A bottom surface of each wing 218, disposed laterally outward from the outer surfaces 219 of the sidewalls 212 and 214, may be horizontal or may be angled with respect to the bottom surface 197 of the fixation base 108 at an angle of approximately 10-45°, preferably about 20°. Having the wings angled upward in this manner may facilitate access with a welder to weld the fixation base 108 to a bucket lip around an outer perimeter of the bottom surface 197. The vertical profile of the fixation base 108 may include a depression in between the wings 218 and above the central opening as can be seen in FIG. 19 . This depression may accommodate the lowered central region 130 of ceiling 133 in the shroud 104.
FIG. 20 illustrates the fixation base 108 secured to a bucket lip 102. Typically, the fixation base 108 is secured to the bucket lip 102 by welding (may be referred to as a “weld base”), although it is contemplated that one or more fastening mechanisms may be used to secure the fixation base 108 to facilitate removal and replacement of the fixation base. In some examples, the fixation base 108 may be formed as an integral part of a bucket lip or other support structure. As illustrated, the fixation base 108 is welded to a top surface of the bucket lip 102, which may also be described as “within” or “inside” the bucket. However, it will be appreciated that a fixation base 108 may be positioned at any suitable location on the bucket lip 102, including on a bottom side or “outside” of the bucket, for securing a wear member in a desired location.
FIGS. 21-24 illustrate various stages of assembly of a shroud assembly. Initially, as shown in FIG. 21 , the shroud 104 may be slid rearward onto the fixation base 108. The channels 128 extending forward from the rear surface 126 of the shroud receive the wings 218 of the fixation base 108. In examples in which the top surface and bottom surface of the bucket lip are not parallel (e.g., the top surface of the lip is angled upward away from the front edge of the bucket lip), the fixation base 108 will generally be parallel to the top surface but not the bottom surface. In this regard, the wings 218 may be angled upward. As the shroud 104 is slid onto the fixation base 108, the ribs 132 on the lower leg 122 of the shroud 104 may be drawn upward near to or into contact with the bottom surface of the bucket lip. The shroud 104 is slid rearward until the engagement regions 131 on the shroud contact the bucket lip. In this installed configuration of the shroud as shown in FIG. 22 , the rear surface 126 of the shroud is generally aligned with the rear side 202 of the fixation base. The extension 205 of the fixation base, including the rear opening 198, remains exposed behind the rear surface 126 of the shroud 104. In this installed configuration, the passage 110 of the shroud 104 is aligned along a common axis which is aligned with a corresponding portion of the central opening 196 of the fixation base 108 for proper installation of the lock assembly 106. The locking assembly 106 can then be inserted through the passage 110 and into the fixation base 108 from the top side of the shroud 104. As shown in FIG. 23 , the bottom surface of the lock body 152 of the lock assembly 106 is substantially flush with the bottom of the fixation base 108.
FIGS. 24-26 show cross sections of the shroud assembly as the lock assembly 106 is inserted. Initially, the lock assembly 106 may be assembled during manufacturing by positioning the pin detent 164 into the recess 145. The tip 190 of the pin 180 may be inserted into the bore 156 in the lock body 152 from the top surface 154 and partially threaded into the bore 156 along its central axis 194 until the prong 170 of the pin detent 164 snaps into the unlocked indentation 188 a, which provides haptic feedback that the pin 180 is properly engaged. The lock assembly 106 may be stored and shipped in this unlocked (or “retracted”) configuration shown in FIG. 24 . In this configuration, the lateral side 161 of the lock body 152 may be first inserted into the fixation base with the tab 157 positioned within the guide channel 135 a. The toe 153 may be inserted into the recess 213 and adjacent to the overhang 220 of the sidewall 214. The tab 157 may engage a bottom surface defining an end of the guide channel 135 a when the lateral side 161 is properly positioned for rotation of the lock body 152. The other lateral side 160 may then be lowered to pivot the lock body 152 into a seated position with the channel at the top of the toe 153 resting on the tip of the overhang 220. As the lock body 152 is pivoted using the overhang 220 as a fulcrum, the installation detent 162 extending from the front side 158 of the lock body 152 may ride along a surface within the installation channel 135 b. Because the installation channel 135 b is angled with its lower end being nearer the center of the passage 110 than its upper end, the engagement of the installation channel 135 b with the installation detent 162 compresses the flexible member of the installation detent as the lock assembly 106 is inserted. Upon nearing the fully seated position of the lock assembly 106, the installation detent 162 reaches the indentation 136 (FIG. 5 ) below the installation channel 135 b and snaps into place, providing haptic feedback confirming the lock assembly has been properly seated.
In the seated configuration of the lock assembly 106 as shown in FIG. 25 , the bottom of the lock body 152 is resting on the bucket lip. The crest of the toe 153 of the lock body 152 is nested into the recess of the sidewall 214 of the fixation base 108 with the lower surface of the toe 153 being aligned with the inner surface of the sidewall 214 and the upper surface of the toe 153 being aligned with the downward facing surface of the overhang 220.
With the lock body fully seated, the pin 180 may be rotated to further advance the tip 190 of the pin 180 through the lateral side 160. The prong 170 of the pin detent 164 may ride along the channel formed between adjacent threads 186 with the flexible member 168 compressed and deformed, thereby biasing the prong 170 radially toward the pin 180. Upon reaching the locked (or “extended” or “seated”) configuration of the pin 180 in the lock body 152 as illustrated in FIG. 26 , the flexible member 168 may at least partially decompress as the prong 170 slides down a ramped surface of the indentation 188 b and snaps into place. Snapping of the prong 170 into the indentation 188 b may provide a user with haptic feedback confirming the pin 180 is fully seated. Engagement of the pin detent 164 with the indentation 188 b may also resist rotation of the pin 180 during use as a substantial rotational force is required to compress the flexible member 168 to remove the prong 170 from the indentation 188 b. Because typical use of the assembly is unlikely to impart such a rotational force, the engagement of the pin detent 164 with the indentation 188 b aids in preventing inadvertent back-out (or unlocking) of the pin 180. In this fully assembled configuration of the shroud assembly (or other wear member assembly), the tip 190 of the pin 180 is in contact with, or nearly in contact with, the sidewall 212 and overhang 220. The overhang 220 on each sidewall 212 and 214 of the fixation base interferes with vertical lifting or pivoting of the lock assembly 106, such that the lock assembly 106 is fixed in place and cannot be removed from the shroud assembly.
FIG. 27 shows a cross section through the shroud assembly along a plane transverse to that of FIGS. 24-26 , showing the front side 158 of the lock body 152 engaged with the lock wall 206 of the fixation base 108. As will be appreciated, the interference caused by the lock body 152 prevents the shroud 104 from being removed from the bucket lip in response to a force that would otherwise tend to pull the shroud forward with respect to the bucket lip, for example, as the bucket is moved rearward dragging the shroud along the ground. Such loading causes the shroud 104 to exert a forward force on rear side of the lock body 152 which, in turn, transfers the force with its front side to the fixation base 108 via the lock wall 206.
While the rear or the extension 205 of the fixation base 108 may be vertical or substantially vertical, the front surface along the front side 201 of the fixation base 108 is angled with respect to the bottom surface 197 at an angle of approximately 20-50°.
FIGS. 28-30 show various stages of removal of the shroud. Initially, the pin 180 is rotated in a direction opposite the direction of installation, thereby retracting the tip of the pin from under the overhang 220 in the sidewall 212 and into the lock body 152, until haptic feedback confirms the pin detent 164 has snapped into the unlocked indentation 188 a, effectively returning the lock assembly 106 to the configuration shown in FIG. 25 . As shown in FIG. 28 , a pry bar 225 can then be inserted into the passage 110 of the shroud 104 along on the pry surface 112. The pry bar 225 may be rotated about the pry surface to lift the lock assembly 106 out of the fixation base 108 and the shroud 104. With the lock body 152 no longer interfering with forward movement of the shroud 104, the pry bar 225 may be inserted into the rear opening 198 of the fixation base 108, as shown in FIG. 29 . The pry surface 210 along the rear wall of the extension 205 may be used to pivot the pry bar 225 forward against the pry surface 124 at the rear of the shroud 104, thereby sliding the shroud 104 forward. Once the shroud 104 is slid forward far enough, the pry surface 208 on the lateral wall 200 may be exposed allowing the pry bar 225 to be inserted into the central opening 196, as shown in FIG. 30 . Again, the pry bar 225 may be pivoted forward to further advance the shroud 104 off of the fixation base 108.
FIG. 31 illustrates an example of a shroud 104′. Shroud 104′ is similar to shroud 104 such that only some of the differences will be described with reference to shroud 104′. As compared to shroud 104, a front wall 137′ of the passage in the upper leg of the shroud 104′ does not include a guide channel 135 a. Furthermore, a central longitudinal channel or groove is formed is the ceiling 133′ extending from the pry surface 124′ to a front wall of the fixation base recess 121′. The central channel may be formed of a first central channel 147 a and a second central channel 147 b.
FIGS. 32A-32B illustrate an example of a lock assembly 106′. Lock assembly 106′ is similar to lock assembly 106 such that only some of the differences will be described with reference to lock assembly 106′. The front side 158′ of the lock body 152′ does not include a tab 157. Further, the lateral side 160′ of the lock body 152′ includes an undercut 199 configured to receive the tip of a pry bar or other tool to lift the lock body 152′ during removal.
FIG. 33 illustrates an example of a fixation base 108′. Fixation base 108′ is similar to fixation base 108 such that only some of the differences will be described with reference to fixation base 108′. The lateral wall 200′ includes a central longitudinal ridge 247 a. The pry surface 208′ extends up the central ridge 247 a. Similarly, the lock wall 206′ includes a central longitudinal ridge 247 b. In some examples, the central ridge 247 a may extend higher, with respect to the bottom surface of the fixation base 108′, than the central ridge 247 b. For example, the central ridge 247 a may extend above the top surface of the wings or may be flush therewith. In some examples, the central ridges 247 a, 247 b may have the same height.
The central ridge 247 a may be shaped and sized for receipt in the first central channel 147 a of the shroud 104′ and the central ridge 247 b may be shape and sized for receipt in the second central channel 147 b of the shroud 104′. In this regard, in some examples, the central channels 147 a, 147 b may have the same depth and, in some examples, the first central channel 247 a may have a greater depth into the ceiling 133′ than the second central channel 247 b.
The additional height of the lock wall 206′ provided by the central ridge 247 b, as compared to the height of the lock wall 206 of fixation base 108, may resist tilting of the lock body 152′ in response to forces tending to pull the shroud 104′ forward, such as dragging of the bucket lip rearward. The additional height may also improve distribution of loads over a greater surface area.
It should be appreciated that features of the shroud 104′, the fixation base 108′, and the lock assembly 106′ that are not described as being different than corresponding features of shroud 104, fixation base 108, and lock assembly 106, respectively, are substantially the same.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the implementations encompassed by the present disclosure are not limited to the particular exemplary implementations described above. In that regard, although illustrative implementations have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change, combination, and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. It is understood that such variations may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A lock assembly for securing a wear member to a support structure, comprising:

a lock body comprising:

a top surface;

a first lateral side surface; and

a bore extending linearly along an axis that intersects the top surface and the first lateral side surface; and

a pin configured to be received in the bore of the lock body, the pin comprising:

a head;

a tip; and

a shaft extending between the head and the tip, the pin having a retracted configuration in which the tip is retained within the bore and a seated configuration in which the shaft extends laterally outward from the bore beyond the first lateral side surface.

2. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the pin is configured to transition between the retracted and seated configurations by rotation about the axis.

3. The lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the bore of the lock body comprises a first set of threads and the shaft of the pin comprises a second set of threads corresponding to the first set of threads.

4. The lock assembly of claim 3, wherein the lock body further comprises a pin detent mechanism, a portion of the pin detent mechanism extending into the bore, the pin further comprising a first indentation disposed along an upper portion of the second set of threads, the first indentation being configured to receive the portion of the pin detent mechanism when the pin is in the seated configuration.

5. The lock assembly of claim 4, wherein the pin detent mechanism comprises a flexible member and a rigid member secured to the flexible member, the portion of the pin detent mechanism extending into the bore comprising a portion of the rigid member.

6. The lock assembly of claim 5, wherein the pin further comprises a second indentation disposed along a lower portion of the second set of threads, the second indentation being configured to receive the portion of the pin detent mechanism when the pin is in the retracted configuration, wherein engagement of the portion of the pin detent mechanism with the second indentation retains the tip of the pin in the bore and resists rotation of the pin.

7. The lock assembly of claim 5, wherein a first recess is formed into the top surface of the lock body and the bore opens into the first recess.

8. The lock assembly of claim 7, wherein a second recess is formed into the lock body and extends between the bore and the first recess, the second recess configured to receive the flexible member of the pin detent mechanism.

9. (canceled)

10. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock body further comprises:

a second lateral side surface disposed on a side of the lock body opposite the first lateral side surface; and

a bottom surface extending between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface.

11. (canceled)

12. The lock assembly of claim 10, wherein the first lateral side surface of the lock body is wider than the second lateral side surface.

13. The lock assembly of claim 10, wherein the lock body further comprises a toe extending laterally outward from the second lateral side surface, the toe having an upper surface facing upward and away from the second lateral side surface and a lower surface facing downward and away from the second lateral side surface.

14-20. (canceled)

21. A wear member assembly, comprising:

a wear member comprising:

an upper leg extending rearward away from a leading edge of the wear member, the leading edge configured to engage ground, to a rear surface;

a laterally oriented passage extending through the upper leg from a top surface of the upper leg; and

a support structure recess formed into a lower side of the upper leg and extending rearward through the rear surface of the upper leg, the support structure recess configured to receive a support structure when the wear member is secured to excavating equipment, the passage extending into the support structure recess; and

a lock assembly comprising:

a lock body comprising:

a top surface;

a first lateral side surface; and

a head;

a tip; and

22. (canceled)

23. The wear member assembly of claim 21, wherein the lock body further comprises a biased detent mechanism extending from a side of the lock body, the biased detent mechanism comprising a rigid member secured to a flexible member, the flexible member being disposed within a pocket formed into the lock body and the rigid member extending outward away from the pocket.

24-26. (canceled)

27. The wear member assembly of claim 21, wherein the lock body and passage are sized and shaped such that the lock body is installable into the passage in only one orientation about a vertical axis.

28. (canceled)

29. The wear member assembly of claim 21, wherein the lock body further comprises:

a front surface;

a bottom surface; and

a rear surface, the front surface being tapered outward from the bottom surface to the top surface of the lock body.

30. The wear member assembly of claim 29, wherein the front surface of the lock body is angled at approximately 1-10° with respect to a vertical plane.

31. The wear member assembly of claim 21, wherein the lock body further comprises:

32. The wear member assembly of claim 31, wherein the bottom surface is planar.

33. The wear member assembly of claim 31, wherein the first lateral side surface of the lock body is wider than the second lateral side surface, a first sidewall of the passage has a width corresponding to the first lateral side surface of the lock body and a second sidewall of the passage has a width corresponding to the second lateral side surface of the lock body, the width of the second sidewall of the passage being less than the width of the first lateral side surface of the lock body.

34. The wear member assembly of claim 31, wherein the lock body further comprises a toe extending laterally outward from the second lateral side surface.

35. The wear member assembly of claim 31, wherein the lock body further comprises:

a front surface extending between the first lateral side surface and the second lateral side surface; and

a rear surface disposed on a side of the lock body opposite the front surface.

36. The wear member assembly of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the front surface of the lock body and at least a portion of the rear surface of the lock body are angled outward away from one another from the bottom surface of the lock body to the top surface of the lock body.

37-39. (canceled)

40. The wear member assembly of claim 21, wherein when the lock body is seated within the passage of the wear member, the top surface of the lock body is positioned in the passage and a bottom surface of the lock body is substantially flush with a bottom surface of the upper leg of the wear member.

41-75. (canceled)

76. A wear member assembly comprising:

a fixation base disposed on a lip and positioned behind a leading edge of the lip, the fixation base comprising:

a bottom surface;

a top surface;

a central opening extending through the top surface, wherein the central opening is bounded at a front side by a lock wall and laterally by opposing first and second sidewalls, each of the first and second sidewalls including a lock recess; and

opposing first and second wings extending upward and laterally outward away from the central opening;

a wear member comprising:

a passage extending through the upper leg from a top surface of the upper leg; and

a fixation base recess formed into a lower side of the upper leg and extending rearward through the rear surface of the upper leg, the fixation base recess configured to receive a fixation base when the wear member is secured to excavating equipment, the passage extending into the fixation base recess; and

a lock assembly comprising:

a lock body comprising:

a top surface;

a first lateral side surface; and

a head;

a tip; and

a shaft extending between the head and the tip, the pin having a retracted configuration in which the tip is retained within the bore and a seated configuration in which the shaft extends laterally outward from the bore beyond the first lateral side surface;

wherein the lock assembly is positionable through the top surface of the upper leg of the wear member such that a lower portion of the lock body is disposed in the central opening of the fixation base and an upper portion of the lock body is disposed in the passage of the wear member, and wherein when the pin of the lock assembly is in the seated configuration, the lock assembly is secured in the fixation base with the tip of the pin disposed in the lock recess of the first sidewall and a portion of the lock body opposite the first lateral side surface disposed in the recess of the second sidewall.

77-83. (canceled)