BRPI0811427B1 - wear assembly for excavation equipment - Google Patents

Description

(54) Title: WEAR ASSEMBLY FOR EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT (51) lnt.CI .: E02F 9/28 (30) Unionist Priority: 10/05/2007 US 60 / 928,780,10 / 05/2007 US 60 / 928,821, 05/15/2007 US 60 / 930,483 (73) Holder (s): ESCO CORPORATION (72) Inventor (s): CHARLES G. OLLINGER IV; CHRIS D. SNYDER; JOHN S. KREITZBERG (85) National Phase Start Date: 10/11/2009

DESCRIPTION REPORT OF THE INVENTION PATENT FOR ASSEMBLY

WEAR FOR EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wear assembly for holding a wear member close to the excavation equipment, and in particular, a wear assembly that is well suited for connection and use in a dredge guillotine head.

Background of the Invention

Dredge guillotine heads are used to excavate earthy material that is underwater, such as a riverbed. In general, a dredge guillotine head 1 includes several arms 2 that extend forward from a base rim 3 to a hub 4 (Figure 21). The arms are separated around the base rim and formed with a wide spiral around the central geometric axis of the guillotine head. Each arm 2 is provided with several separate teeth 5 for excavating the soil. The teeth are made up of adapters or bases 6 that are fixed close to the arms, and of the ends 7 that are connected so that they can be loosened near the bases by the latches 8.

During use, the guillotine head is rotated around its central geometric axis to excavate the earthy material. A suction tube is provided close to the rim to remove the dredged material. To excavate the desired strip of soil, the guillotine head is moved side by side as well as forward. Considering ripples and other water movements, the guillotine head also tends to move up and down, and periodically collides with the bottom surface. Additional difficulties are caused by the operator's inability to see the soil being excavated under the water; that is, unlike most other excavation operations, the dredge guillotine head cannot be guided effectively along a path to better fit the terrain to be excavated. In view of the heavy loads and the hostile environment, the tip and base interconnection needs to be stable and secure.

The guillotine heads are rotated so that the teeth are directed inward and through the ground at a rapid rate. Consequently, considerable power is required to drive the guillotine head, particularly when digging in the rock. In an effort to minimize power requirements, dredge tips are typically provided with thin elongated drills for easier penetration into the ground. However, as the drill bit becomes shorter due to wear, the tip mounting sections will begin to engage with the ground in the cutting operation. The mounting section is wider than the drill and is not shaped for reduced drag. Considering the resulting increased drag of the mounting sections imposed on the guillotine head, the tips are usually changed at this time before the drills are completely worn.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the invention, a wear member for excavation equipment is formed with lateral relief in the functional and assembly sections to minimize the drag associated with the excavation operation and, in turn, minimize the power required to drive the equipment. Reduced energy consumption, in turn, leads to more efficient operation and longer life for the wear member.

According to the invention, the wear member has a transverse configuration where the width of the front side is greater than the width of the corresponding rear side, so that the side walls of the wear member follow the shadow of the front side to decrease the drag. This use of a smaller rear side is provided not only through the functional end, but also at least partially at the mounting end. As a result, the drag experienced by the worn wear member of the invention is less than that of a conventional wear member. Less drag means less energy consumption and longer wear of the wear member before it needs to be replaced. As a result, the functional ends of the wear member can be further worn before replacement is necessary.

According to another aspect of the invention, the wear member has an excavation profile which is defined by the transverse configuration of this part of the wear member which penetrates the ground in an excavation passage and in the direction of movement through the ground. In another aspect of the present invention, lateral relief of the wear member is provided in the excavation profile to decrease the drag experienced during an excavation operation. In a preferred embodiment, lateral relief is provided in each expected excavation profile through the life of the wear member, including those that span the mounting section.

In another aspect of the invention, the wear member includes a socket for receiving a projection from a fixed base next to the excavation member. The fitting is formed with the generally trapezoidal transverse shape that generally corresponds to the transverse trapezoidal outer profile of the wear member. This general association of the fitting with the exterior of the assembly section facilitates fabrication, maximizes the size of the protrusion, and improves the strength to weight ratio.

In a preferred construction, one or more of the top surface, the bottom surface or the side surface of a trapezoidal ledge and the corresponding walls of the fitting are arched to fit. These surfaces and walls have a gradual curvature for ease of installation, to improve the stability of the wear member and to resist rotation of the wear member around the longitudinal geometric axis during use.

According to another aspect of the invention, each of the grooves and the projection includes rear stabilizing surfaces that extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis of the wear member and substantially around the perimeter of the groove and the projection to resist rear loads. applied in all directions.

According to another aspect of the invention, the groove and the protrusion are formed with complementary front support faces that are substantially hemispherical to decrease the tension in the components and to better control the vibration that occurs between the wear member and the base.

In another aspect of the invention, the groove and the ledge are formed with curved front support faces at their front ends, and with transverse shapes generally trapezoidal behind the front ends to improve stability, ease of manufacture, maximize the size of the ledge, reduce drag, tension and wear, and to improve the strength-to-weight ratio.

According to another aspect of the invention, the wear assembly includes a base, a wear member that is mounted close to the base, and an axially oriented lock that in a compressive state keeps the wear member close to the base in a manner which is safe, easy to use, readily manufactured, and can tighten the wear member fitting close to the base. In a preferred embodiment, the wear member includes an adjustable axial lock.

In another aspect of the invention, the wear member includes an opening into which the lock is received, and a hole that is formed in a rear wall of the opening to accommodate the passage of a lock to stabilize the lock and facilitate easy tightening of the lock. hangs.

In another aspect of the invention, the base interacts with the lock only through the use of a projecting stop. As a result, there is no need for a hole, recess or passage in the protrusion, as is typically provided to receive the lock. The resistance of the projection is thus accentuated.

In another aspect of the invention, the locking arrangement for holding the wear member close to the base can be adjusted to consistently apply a predetermined clamping force to the wear member regardless of the amount of wear that may exist on the base and / or on the wear member.

In another aspect of the invention, the wear member includes a marker that can be used to identify when the lock has been properly tightened.

In another aspect of the invention, the wear member is installed and secured at the base through a new, easy-to-use process involving an axial lock. The wear member fits over a projection of a fixed base next to the excavation equipment. The base includes a stop that projects outwards from the projection. An axial lock is received within an opening in the wear member and extends between the stop and a support surface on the wear member to maintain so that the wear member can be released close to the protrusion.

In another aspect of the invention, the wear member is first slid on a fixed base next to the excavation equipment. An axially oriented lock is positioned with a support face next to a stop at the base and another support face next to a support wall on the wear member, so that the lock is in axial compression. The lock is adjusted to move the wear member firmly over the base.

In another aspect of the invention, a lock for maintaining a wear member so that it can be released close to a base includes a threaded linear shaft, with a supporting end and a tool engaging end, a nut screwed onto the shaft , and a spring including several alternating annular elastomeric discs, and annular spacers fit around the shaft with threads between the bearing end and the nut.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 is a wear assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of a wear member of the invention.

Figure 2A is a side view of a conventional wear member.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3A-3A in Figure 2A.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 2.

Figure 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6A-6A in Figure 2A.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a top view of the wear member.

Figure 11 is a rear view of the wear member.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a protrusion of a base of the invention.

Figure 13 is a front view of the projection.

Figure 14 is a side view of the projection.

Figure 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a lock on the wear assembly.

Figure 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the lock on the wear assembly prior to tightening.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the lock.

Figure 18 is a side view of the lock.

Figure 19 is an exploded perspective view of the lock.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the lock with the protrusion (the tip has been omitted).

Figure 21 is a side view of a conventional dredge guillotine head.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The present invention relates to a wear assembly 10 for the excavation equipment, and is particularly well suited for dredging operations. In this application, the invention is described in terms of a dredge tooth adapted for connection with a dredge guillotine head. However, the different aspects of the invention can be used in conjunction with other types of wear assemblies (for example, wear plates) and for other types of excavation equipment (for example, buckets).

The assembly is sometimes described in relative terms, such as, up, down, horizontal, vertical, front, and rear; such terms are not considered essential and are provided simply for ease of description. The orientation of a wear member in an excavation operation, and particularly in a dredge operation, can change considerably. These relative terms are to be understood with reference to the orientation of the wear assembly 10, as illustrated in Figure 1, unless otherwise stated.

The wear assembly 10 includes a secure base 12 next to a dredge guillotine head, a wear member 14, and a lock 16 that secures the wear member close to the base 12 so that it can be loosened (Figures 1 to 10).

The base 12 includes a protruding projection 18 on which the wear member 14 is mounted, and a mounting end (not shown) that is attached to an arm of a dredge guillotine head (Figures 1, 9 and 11 up to 14). The base can be molded as part of the arm, welded to the arm, or connected by mechanical devices. As examples only, the base can be formed and mounted next to the guillotine head, as described in US Patent 4,470,210 or in US Patent 6,729,052.

In a dredge tooth, the wear member 14 is a tip provided with a functional section 21 in the form of an elongated drill bit 8 and a mounting section 23 that defines a socket 20 for receiving the protrusion 18 (Figures 1 to 10) . Tip 14 is rotated by the guillotine head so that it engages with the ground generally in the same way with each excavation pass. As a result, tip 14 includes a front side 25 and a rear side 27. Front side 25 is the side that first engages and leads the ground penetration with each rotation of the guillotine head. In the present invention, the rear side 27 has a smaller width than the front side 25 (that is, along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal geometric axis 28 of the tip 14) through the drill 21 (Figure 5) and at least partially through mounting section 23 (Figure 4). In a preferred embodiment, the rear side 27 has a smaller width than the front side 25 over the entire length of the tip 14 (Figures 4, 5 and 7).

The bit 21 of the tip 14 preferably has a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration with the front side 25 which is wider than the rear side 27 (Figure 5). The term transverse configuration is used to refer to the two-dimensional configuration along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal geometric axis 28 of the wear member 14. Due to this narrowing of the tip, the side walls 29, 31 follow the shadow of the front side 25 during the excavation and thereby create less drag over the cutting operation. In a preferred construction, the side walls 29, 31 converge towards the rear side 27 at an angle Θ of about 16 degrees (Figure 5); however, other angular configurations are possible. The front side 25, the rear side 27 and the side walls 29, 31 can be flat, curved or irregular. In addition, shapes other than trapezoidal can be used, which provide lateral relief.

During use, the tip of dredge 14 penetrates the ground to a certain depth with each excavation pass (that is, with each rotation of the guillotine head). For most of the tip's life, the drill alone penetrates the ground. As an example, the ground level in an excavation cycle generally extends along line 3-3 (Figure 2) at the center point of an excavation pass. Since only the drill bit penetrates the ground and the drill bit is relatively thin, the drag placed over the excavation operation is within manageable limits. However, with several teeth constantly being driven through the ground at a rapid rate, power requirements are always high and reducing drag even on the drill is beneficial for the operation, especially when digging through rock.

In a preferred construction, the side walls 29, 31 not only converge towards the rear side 27, but are configured so that the side walls are within the shadow of the front side 25 in the excavation profile. The excavation profile is used to mean that the cross-sectional configuration of the part of the tip 14 that penetrates the ground along a plane that is (i) parallel to the direction of travel 34 at the central point of an excavation passage through the ground and (ii) laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal geometric axis. The excavation profile is a better indication of the drag to be imposed on the tip during use than a true cross section. The provision of lateral relief in the excavation profile is dependent on the angle at which the side walls converge towards the rear side and the axial inclination or expansion of the tip surfaces in a backward direction. The intention is to provide a width that generally narrows from the front to the rear when viewed from the perspective of the excavation profile. The lateral relief in the excavation profile preferably extends through the expected excavation angles of the guillotine head, but benefit can still be obtained if such lateral relief exists in at least one excavation angle. Just as an example, the cross-sectional configuration illustrated in Figure 3 represents an excavation profile 35 for a part of the tip 14 being driven through the ground. As can be seen, drill 21 is still provided with lateral relief even in the excavation profile as the side walls 29, 31 converge towards the rear side 27 for reduced drag.

As the drill bit 21 wears out, the ground level gradually slips backwards so that more thicker parts behind the tip 14 are pushed through the soil with each digging cycle. Therefore, more power is required to drive the guillotine head as the tips wear out. Eventually, a large part of the drill bit wears out so that the mounting section 23 of the tip 14 is being driven through the ground with each excavation pass. In the present invention, the mounting section 23 continues to include the side relief at least at the front end 40 (Figure 4), and preferably throughout the mounting section (Figures 4 and 7). As cyst in Figure 4, the mounting section 23 is wider than the drill bit 21 to accommodate the reception of the protrusion 18 within the socket 20 and to provide sufficient strength for the interconnection between the tip 14 and the base 12. The side walls 29, 31 are inclined to converge towards the rear side 27. The inclination of the side walls 29, 31 along line 4-4 is, in this example, at an α angle of about 26 degrees (Figure 4), but other inclinations can also be used. As discussed above, the desired lateral relief in the excavation profile depends on the relationship between the transverse inclination of the side walls and the axial expansion of the tip.

At a conventional tip 14a, drill 21a has a trapezoidal cross-section with a front side 25a that is wider than the rear side 27a. However, drill 21a does not provide lateral relief in the excavation profile. As seen in Figure 3A, the excavation profile (i.e., along line 3A-3A) in Figure 2A does not have the side walls 29a, 31a that converge towards the rear side 27a (Figures 2A and 3A). Instead, the side walls 29a, 31a in the excavation profile 35a expand outward at an increasingly greater inclination as the side walls extend towards the rear side. This widening to the outside of the side walls 29a, 31a will generate an increased drag on the guillotine head. The effective use of lateral relief at tip 14 for the excavation profile is a better drag reduction than simply using the side walls that they carry in a cross-sectional configuration.

In another example, drill 21 wears to an extent where the part of the mounting section 23 along line 6-6 (Figures 2 and 6) is directed through the ground. Even the mounting section 23 provides lateral relief for reduced drag; that is, the side walls 29, 31 converge towards the rear side even in the excavation profile 35. The presence of the lateral relief in the excavation profile 45 imposes less drag and, therefore, requires less power to be driven through the ground. The reduced drag, in turn, allows the guillotine head to continue to operate with worn ends to the point where the mounting section penetrates the ground. At the conventional tip 14a, the mounting section 23a does not have a trapezoidal cross-section with the side walls 29a, 31a that converge towards the rear side 27a. In addition, as seen in Figure 6A, the side walls 29a. 31a deviate from the front side 25a in the excavation profile 45a along line 6a-6a covering the front end 40a of the mounting section 23a. The absence of lateral relief in the excavation profile imposes a heavy drag on the tip 14a as it is directed through the ground, especially compared to the tip of the present invention 14. With the heavy drag produced by the tips 14a in this condition, several operators will replace the tips when the mounting sections 23a start to drive through the ground even though the drills 21a are not fully worn. With the present invention, the tips 14 can remain on the bases 12 until the drills 21 are completely worn.

In a preferred construction, the tapering of the side walls 29, 31 continues from the front end 37 to the rear end 47 of the tip 14. As seen in Figure 7, the side walls 29, 31 converge towards the rear side 27 even at rear of the mounting section 23. In addition, lateral relief is provided even in an excavation profile 55 along line 8-8 (Figures 2 and 8), that is, the side walls 29, 31 converge towards the side rear 27 even in this backward excavation profile 55.

The use of a tip 14 with side relief on the drill 21 and the mounting end 23 as described above can be used with virtually any projection and fit configuration. However, in a preferred construction, the front end 58 of the projection 18 includes a forward facing support face 60 that is convex and curved around two perpendicular geometric axes (Figures 1, 9 and 11 through 14). Likewise, the front end 62 of the socket 20 is formed with a complementary concave and curved support face 64 to fit close to the support face 60 (Figures 1, 7, 9 and 11). In the illustrated construction, each of the front support faces 60, 64 conforms to a spherical segment to decrease the stress on the components due to the application of non-axial loads as described in US Patent 6,720,052, which is incorporated in its entirety in this document by reference.

Preferably, each of the front ends 58, 62 is generally hemispherical to reduce chatter between the tip 14 and the base 12 and more effectively resist loads from all directions. The front support surface 64 of the socket 20 is preferably slightly wider than hemispherical at its ends and the center to accommodate the reliable mounting of the tips 14 on different bases (ie without coupling or seating), but what, under common loads, or following wear, operates as a true hemispherical engaging surface on the hemispherical spherical surface of the base 12. In a conventional tooth 10a (Figure 2A), the tip 14a moves around the protrusion as the tooth is forced through the ground. The front ends of the socket and the protrusion are angled with flat support surfaces and rigid corners. During use, tip 14a moves around the ledge so that the front of the socket 20a shakes around and against the front end of the ledge, and the rear end of the socket moves around and shakes near the rear end of the ledge . This displacement and chatter cause the tip and base to wear out. In the present invention, the use of generally hemispheric front support faces 60, 64 substantially reduces chatter at the front end of the socket 20 and the protrusion 18 (Figures 1 and 9). Instead, the use of smooth, continuous front support faces allows the tip to roll around the boss to reduce wear. A small strip 65, substantially parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis 28, preferably extends directly behind the generally hemispheric support surfaces to provide additional capacity for the protrusion to wear and still maintain the desired support. The term, substantially parallel, is intended to include parallel surfaces, as well as those that deflect axially backwards from geometric axis 28 at a small angle (for example, from about 1 to 7 degrees) for manufacturing or other purposes . Preferably, the small strip 65 is axially inclined no more than 5 degrees from the geometric axis 28, and more preferably, it is axially inclined about 2 to 3 degrees.

The protrusion 18 includes the body 66 behind the front end 58 (Figures 11 through 14). The body 66 is defined by an upper surface 68, a lower surface 69 and the side surfaces 70, 71. In a preferred construction, the surfaces of the body 68 to 71 deflect backwards so that the projection 18 expands outwards from the front end 58 to provide a more robust protrusion to withstand the rigors of excavation. However, it is possible that only the upper and lower surfaces 68, 69 deviate from each other and that the side surfaces 70, 71 extend axially substantially parallel to each other. The socket 20 has a main part 76 behind the front end 62 for receiving the body 66. The main part 76 includes an upper wall 78, the lower wall 79 and the side walls 80, 81 which conform to the surfaces of the body 68 to 71. In a preferred embodiment, each of the body 66 and the main part 76 has a trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration. The use of a trapezoidal shape predominantly along the length of the projection 18 and the socket 20 provides four corners 67, 77, which act as spaced edges to resist the rotation of the wear member 14 around the geometric axis 28.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the body surfaces 68 to 71 and the housing walls 78 to 81 (and preferably all of them) have mutually arched configurations (Figures 7, 11 and 13); that is, the surfaces of the body 68 to 71 are preferably concave and curved across substantially all of their widths to define a track 84 on each of the four sides of the body 66. Likewise, the walls of the socket 78 to 81 of they are preferably convex and curved across substantially all their widths to define the projections 86 received within the gutters 84. The preferred arching of the surfaces of the projection 68 to 71 and the walls of the fitting 78 to 81 across substantially all of their widths accentuates the corners 67, 77 to provide increased resistance to the rotation of the tip 14 around the base 12 during operation. Gutters and projections will also reduce rotational chatter from tip to base. While arched surfaces 68 to 71 and walls 78 to 81 are preferred, other rail and projection configurations, as described in US Patent Application 11 / 706,582, which is incorporated herein by reference, could also be used. Other rotational resistance constructions could also be used.

The use of rails 84 and projections 86, and particularly those that are gradually curved and extending substantially across all widths of surfaces 68 to 71 and walls 78 to 81 facilitate the assembly of the tip 14 on the projection 18; that is, rails 84 and projections 86 cooperatively direct the tip 14 to the appropriate mounted position on the ledge 18 during assembly. For example, if the tip 14 is initially installed on the projection 18 out of proper alignment with the projection as it is fitted over the projection, the engagement of the projections 86 being received inside the rails 84 will tend to rotate the tip for alignment. appropriate as the tip is fed back over the projection 18. This cooperative effect of the rails 84 with the projections 86 greatly facilitates and speeds up the installation and adjustment of the corners 67 within the corners 77. Some variations could also be used between the fit and protrusion shapes as long as the fit predominantly matches the shape of the protrusion.

Each of the surfaces of the ledge 68 through 71 with the rails 84 is preferably angled axially to expand outward as they extend backward to provide resistance for the ledge 18 until reaching a rear stabilizing surface 85 of the ledge 18. Likewise, each of the walls of the fitting 78 to 81 with the projections 86 also expands to conform to the surfaces 68 to 71. The walls of the fitting 78 to 81 also define rear stabilizing surfaces 95 to support next to the stabilizing surfaces 85. The rear stabilizing surfaces 85, 95 are substantially parallel to the longitudinal geometry axis 28. In a preferred embodiment, each stabilizing surface 85, 95 deflects axially backward at an angle to the geometric axis 28 about 7 degrees. The rear stabilizing surfaces 85, 95 also preferably involve (or at least substantially surround) the projection 18 and the socket 20 to better resist non-axial loads. While contact between the various surfaces of the joint and the protrusion is likely to occur during an excavation operation, contact between the corresponding front supporting surfaces 60, 64 and the stabilizing rear surfaces 85, 95 is intended to provide primary resistance to loads applied to the tooth in this way provide the desired stability. While the stabilizing surfaces 85, 95 are preferably formed with short axial extensions, they could have longer or different constructions. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example, in light load operations, the benefits can be achieved without the stabilizing surfaces 85, 95.

The front support faces 60, 64 and the rear stabilizing surfaces 85, 95 are provided to stabilize the tip on the protrusion and to reduce the stress on the components. The generally hemispherical support faces 60, 64 at the front ends 58, 62 of the projection 18 and the socket 20 are able to stably resist the axial and non-axial forces backwards in direct opposition to the loads regardless of their applied directions. This use of continuous, curved front support surfaces reduces tip chatter on the protrusion and reduces the stress concentrations that otherwise exist when corners are present. The stabilizing rear surfaces 85, 95 complement the front support faces 60, 64 by reducing tip chatter and providing stable resistance to the tip rear parts, as described in US Patent 5,709,043 incorporated in this document by reference. With the stabilizing surfaces 85, 95 extending around the entire perimeter of the projection 18 or at least substantially around the entire perimeter (Figures 7, 9 and 11 through 14), they are also able to withstand the directed loads of non-axial shape applied in any direction.

The main part 76 of the socket 20 preferably has a cross-section generally trapezoidal to receive a projection in a corresponding shape 18 (Figures 7 and 11). The generally trapezoidal transverse configuration of the socket 20 generally follows the generally trapezoidal transverse configuration of the outside 97 of the tip 14. This cooperative formatting of the socket 20 with the outside 97 maximizes the size of the protrusion 18 that can be accommodated within the tip 14, facilitates fabrication the tip 14 in a modeling process, and improves the resistance-to-weight ratio.

A wide variety of different locks can be used to hold the wear member 14 close to the base 12 so that, in a preferred embodiment, the lock 16 is received within an opening 101 in the wear member 14, preferably formed on the rear wall 27, although it could be formed anywhere else (Figures 1, 9 and 15 to 20). The opening 101 preferably has an elongated axial shape and includes a front wall 103, a rear wall 105 and side walls 107, 109. A rim 111 is mounted around the opening 101 for protection of the latch and for additional strength. The rim 111 is also extended along the rear wall 105 to extend further from the outer surface 97 and define a hole 113 for the passage of the lock 16. The hole stabilizes the position of the lock 16 and allows easy access to it by the operator.

The projection 18 includes a stop 115 projecting outwardly from the upper side 68 of the projection 18 to engage with the latch 16. The stop 115 preferably has a rear face 119 with a curved concave recess 121 within which an end front 123 of latch 16 is received and retained during use, but other arrangements could be used to cooperate with the latch. In a preferred construction, the opening 101 is long enough and the rear wall 27 is sufficiently inclined to provide free space for the stop 115 when the wear member 14 is installed on the projection 18. However, a relief or other forms of free space could be provided in the socket 20 if necessary for the passage of the stop 115. Additionally, the projection of the stop 115 is preferably limited by the provision of a depression 118 to accommodate a part of the lock 16.

The lock 16 is a linear lock generally oriented axially to hold the wear member 14 on the base 12, and to tighten the fit of the wear member 14 on the projection 18. The use of an axially oriented linear lock increases the latch's ability to tighten the wear member fitting over the protrusion; that is, it provides a longer clamping length. In a preferred embodiment, cap 16 includes a threaded shaft 130 having a front end 123 and a rear end with head 134, a nut 136 screwed onto shaft 130, and a spring 138 (Figures 1, 9 and 15 through 20) . The spring 138 is preferably formed of a series of elastomeric discs 140 composed of foam, rubber or other resilient material, separated by the spacers 142 which are preferably in the form of washers. The washers isolate the elastomeric discs so that they operate as a series of individual spring members. Washers 142 are preferably made of plastic, but could be made of another material. In addition, the preferred construction spring is economical to manufacture and mount on shaft 130. However, other types of springs could be used. A thrust washer 142a or other preferred device is provided at the end of the spring to provide ample support.

The shaft 130 extends centrally through the spring 138 to engage with the nut 136. The front end 123 of the shaft 130 fits within the recess 121 so that the shaft 130 is fixed next to the stop 115 for support. The rear end 134 of the latch 16 extends through the hole 113 in the wear member 14 to allow the user to access the latch outside of the opening 101. The axis is preferably set at an angle to the geometric axis 28 so that the head 134 easier to access. The spring 138 is established between the rear wall 105 and the nut 136, so that it can apply a tendency to the wear member when the lock is tightened. The hole 113 is preferably larger than the head 134 to allow it to pass during the installation of the lock 16 within the assembly 10. The hole 113 could also be formed as an open slot to accommodate the insertion of the shaft 130 simply from up. Other tool coupling structures could be used instead of the illustrated head 134.

In use, the wear member 14 is slid over the protrusion 18 so that the protrusion 18 is engaged within the recess 20 (Figures 1 and 9). The lock can be temporarily held in hole 113 for dispatch, storage and / or installation by a detachable retainer (for example, a single metal wire) provided around shaft 130 outside opening 101 or it can be installed after the wear member is fitted over the protrusion. In any case, the shaft 130 is inserted through the hole 113 and its front end 123 placed in the recess 121 of the stop 115. The latch 16 is positioned to be located along the outside of the projection 18 so that no holes, slits or anything A similar shape needs to be formed on the ledge to contain the latch to resist loads. The head 134 is engaged and rotated by a tool to tighten the lock to a compressive state to hold the wear member, i.e., the shaft 130 is rotated in relation to the nut 136 so that the front end 123 presses against the stop 115 This movement, in turn, pulls nut 136 back against spring 138, which is compressed between nut 136 and rear wall 105. This tightening of latch 16 pushes wear member 14 firmly over the protrusion 18 (ie, with the front support faces 60, 64 engaged) for a firm fit and less wear during use. The continued rotation of the shaft 130 additionally compresses the spring 138. The compressed spring 138 then pushes the wear member 14 backward as the protrusion and the socket begin to wear. The stability of the preferred projection 18 and tip 14 allows the use of an axial lock, that is, no substantial bending force will be applied to the lock so that the high resistance to axial compression of the screw can be used to hold the limb. wear close to the base. The latch 16 is lightweight, without a hammer, easy to manufacture, does not consume much space, and does not require any openings in the protrusion.

In a preferred construction, the lock 16 also includes an indicator 146 fitted on the shaft 130 in association with the nut 136 (Figures 15 to 20). Indicator 146 is preferably a sheet formed of steel or other rigid material that has side edges 148, 149 that fit tightly with side walls 107, 109 of opening 101, but not firmly within opening 101. Indicator 146 includes an opening that fully or partially receives nut 136 to prevent rotation of the nut when the shaft 130 is rotated. Reception close to the side edges 148, 149 next to the side walls 107, 109 prevents the indicator 146 from turning. Alternatively, the indicator could have a threaded hole to act as the nut; if the indicator was omitted, another device would be required to prevent nut 136 from turning. Indicator 146 could also be separated from nut 136.

Indicator 146 provides a visual indication of when shaft 130 has been properly tightened to apply the desired pressure to the wear member without applying undue pressure to shaft 130 and / or spring 138. In a preferred construction, indicator 146 cooperates with a marker 152 formed along the opening 101, for example, along the rim 111 and / or the side walls 107, 109. The marker 152 is preferably on the rim 111 along one or both of the side walls 107, 109, but it could have other constructions. The marker 146 is preferably an edge or some structure that is more than a mere indication so that it can be used to retighten the lock 16 when the wear begins to develop as well as at the time of the initial tightening.

When axis 130 is rotated and nut 136 is pulled back, indicator 146 moves backwards (from the position in Figure 16) with nut 136 into opening 101. When indicator 146 is aligned with the marker 152 (Figure 15), the operator knows that tightening can be stopped. In this position, the lock 16 applies a predetermined pressure on the wear member 14 regardless of the wear on the protrusion and / or the socket

20. Consequently, both insufficient tightening and over tightening of the lock can be easily avoided. As an alternative, indicator 146 can be omitted and axis 130 tightened to a predetermined amount of torque.

The various aspects of the invention are preferably used together for optimal performance and advantage. However, the different aspects can be used individually to provide the benefits that each provides.

Claims (21)

1. Wear member (14) for excavation equipment, comprising a functional section (21) and an assembly section (23), generally aligned along a longitudinal geometric axis (28), the 5 mounting section (23) including a socket (20) to receive a base (12) fixed to the excavation equipment, characterized by an opening (101) in communication with the socket (20) to receive a lock (16) in a generally axial direction to reliably hold the wear member (14) close to the excavation equipment, the opening (101) 10 having a front wall (103) and a rear wall (105), wherein the rear wall (105) defines a surface for keeping the latch (16) in a compressive state, and the rear wall (105) includes a hole ( 113) through which the lock (16) extends from the opening (101) at an inclination with respect to the longitudinal geometric axis (28) for easy access out of the 15 opening (101) by an operator to tighten the latch (16). 2. Wear member (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that a marker is provided adjacent the opening to provide a visual indication to the operator when the lock (16) has been sufficiently tightened. 20 3. Wear member according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fitting (20) includes rear stabilizing surfaces extending axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal geometric axis (28) and positioned behind the hole (113) . 4. Wear member (14) according to claim 1, 25 characterized by the fact that the rear wall is generally perpendicular to the extension of the latch. 5. Wear member (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear wall defines a support surface for the lock. 30 6. Wear member (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening is at the top of the wear member. Petition 870180045133, of 05/28/2018, p. 4/12 7. Wear assembly for excavation equipment, characterized by the fact that it comprises: a base attached to the excavation equipment and including a first surface; 5 a wear member (14) including a functional section (21) and a mounting section (23) generally aligned along a longitudinal axis, the mounting section (23) having a socket (20) for receiving the base , and an opening having a second surface; and 10 an elongated lock (16) oriented in the same general direction as the longitudinal geometry axis (28) to fit between the first surface and the second surface in a compressive state to keep the wear member (14) together so that it can be loosened together to the base, where the latch (16) includes a first face for contacting the first surface on the base and 15 a second face to contact the second surface on the wear element, the first and second surfaces aligned and facing in opposite directions and the latch being adjustable so that the first and second faces can be moved apart when contracting the first and second surfaces to tighten the lock fitting between the components and tighten the 20 wear member (14) on the base. 8. Wear assembly according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the first and second faces of the lock move apart from each other along an inclined axis in relation to the longitudinal axis (28). 25 9. Wear assembly for excavation equipment characterized by the fact that it comprises: a base attached to the excavation equipment and including a first surface; a wear member (14), including a working section and 30 a mounting section (23) generally aligned along a longitudinal axis (28), the mounting section (23) has a socket (20) to receive the base, and an opening that has a second surface; and Petition 870180045133, of 05/28/2018, p. 5/12 an elongated lock oriented in the same general direction as the longitudinal axis, to fit between the first surface and the second surface in a compressive state to reliably keep the wear member (14) close to the base, where the lock includes a threaded shaft to 5 support against the first surface, a nut threaded on the shaft, and a spring around the axis to be compressed between the second surface and the nut. 10. Wear assembly according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the elongated lock (16) is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in a foreground and inclined in relation to the axis 10 longitudinal in a second transverse plane. 11. Method for installing a wear member (14) in excavation equipment, characterized by the fact that it comprises: fit a wear member (14) with a socket (20) on a shoulder fixed to the excavation equipment so that the shoulder is 15 received within the socket; position an elongated lock (16) in an opening in the wear member, so that a first support surface of the lock engages with a support surface on the shoulder, a second support surface of the lock engages next to a support surface in the wear member, and 20 a longitudinal geometric axis (28) of the lock is generally oriented in the direction in which the wear member (14) is fitted over the shoulder; adjust the lock with the first support surface fitted with the shoulder and the second support surface fitted with the wear member (14) to tighten the fit (20) of the wear member (14) on 25 the shoulder so that the lock is in a compressive state to keep the wear member (14) close to the base. Method for installing a wear element according to claim 11, characterized in that the elongated lock is inclined to a longitudinal axis of the wear member (14). 30 13. Method for installing a wear member (14) for excavation equipment characterized by the fact that it comprises: fitting (20) of a wear member (14) with a fitting Petition 870180045133, of 05/28/2018, p. 6/12 on a shoulder fixed to the excavation equipment in such a way that the shoulder is received in the socket, placing an elongated lock in an opening in the wear member (14) so that a first support surface of the lock fits with a support surface on the ledge, 5 a second support surface of the lock engages with a support surface on the wear member (14), and a longitudinal axis of the lock is oriented generally in the direction in which the wear member (14) is fitted over the shoulder, adjusting the lock to tighten the fitting of the wear member (14) on the shoulder, so that the lock is in a 10 compressive state to hold the wear member (14) close to the base, where the lock includes a threaded shaft to support the first surface, a nut screwed to the shaft, and a spring around the shaft to be compressed between the second surface and the nut. 14. Method for installing a wear member (14) according to 15 with claim 13, characterized by the fact that the elongated lock is positioned with an inclination in relation to a longitudinal axis of the wear member. 15. Method for installing a wear member (14) in excavation equipment, characterized by the fact that it comprises: 20 providing a shoulder fixed to the excavation equipment having a stop projecting outwards from one side thereof; engaging the wear member with a recess on the shoulder so that an opening extending through the wear member is placed in general axial alignment with the stop behind the stop; 25 insert a latch into the opening and a hole in the wear member to extend out of the opening and out of the boss along an outer side of the boss, to contact the stop and a wall of the opening to reliably maintain the wear member near the shoulder. 30 16. Method according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the latch (16) is tightened to be in a compressive state between the stop and the opening wall. Petition 870180045133, of 05/28/2018, p. 7/12 17. Method for installing a spot on an adapter attached to excavation equipment characterized by the fact that it comprises: adjust the point with a fit defined by an upper wall, a back wall, and side walls on a projecting ledge 5 forward fixed to the excavation equipment in such a way that the shoulder is received in the socket, position an elongated lock (16), which has a threaded rod in an opening in the point such that the lock generally extends axially through the opening so that a front end of the 10 latch fits with a stop on the shoulder, and a nut threaded on the shaft, which adjusts the latch to move the nut along the length of the shaft in a backward direction relative to the shoulder so that the nut comes into contact with a rear wall of the opening and a front support face at the point fitting is tightened with a support face facing forward 15 of the boss. 18. Method for installing a point according to claim 17, characterized in that the positioning of the lock (16) includes positioning the lock inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the point. 19. Method for installing a stitch on an adapter according to claim 17, characterized in that the stitch is tightened on the shoulder until a visual indicator of the lock (16) generally aligns with a marker on the stitch. 20. Method for installing a point on an adapter according to claim 17, characterized in that the nut (136) enters 25 in contact with a spring (138) around the axis and the spring contacts a rear wall of the opening. Petition 870180045133, of 05/28/2018, p. 12/8 1/13