US2576225A - Detachable locking means for an excavating bucket tooth - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 27, 1951 M HQSTETTER 2,576,225

DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATING BUCKET TOOTH Filed April 2, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MOQGAN DAQSTETTE/Q A TTOQNEY.

Nov. 27, 1951 M. D. HOSTETTER 2,576,225

DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATING BUCKET TOOTH Filed April 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 vbii? v INVENTOR. I MORGAN DJE OSTETTER,

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 27, 1951 M. D. HOSTETTER 2,576,225

DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATING BUCKET TOOTH Filed April (2, 1946 3 ShGehS-Shefl; 3

1 INVENTOR- Moeemv D. .HbSTEfTEE,

In ummy,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 OFFICE DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATIN G BUCKET TOOTH Morgan D. Hostetter, El Monte, Calif. Application April 2, 1946, Serial No. 659,047

Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improved digger tooth construction for digging buckets, shovel dippers, trenching machines and the like, and particularly to that type of tooth construction which includes a socketed digging point mounted on a tapered tang of a supporting body or base carried by the bucket or other earth moving implement, the point being detachably secured on the supporting body to permit of resharpening or replacement thereof.

Various means has been heretofore provided for releasably locking the digging point on the tang and in such manner as to maintain the point against loose play on the body. In all cases with which I am familiar, the construction of the point or the tang or both, is such that earth and other foreign matter can enter and clog or other wise interfere with operation of the locking means to effect release and detachment of the point from the body. Also, the parts of the locking means are associated with the point and tang so as to be subjected to those forces produced as a result of the point being thrust into hard formations. Resultant of these forces the parts of the locking means become damaged or jammed and, hence, the locking means cannot be actuated to effect release and detachment of the point from the tang, nor does it remain effective to absorb play occurring between the point and the tang.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a digger tooth construction embodying a locking means which is constantly and effectively operable to maintain the point releasably locked on the tang, and to automatically take up any slack occurring between the point and the tang during use of the tooth.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide in a digger tooth construction, a point locking means which operates by gravity, or by spring pressure, or by cams, to take up play of the point on the tang to maintain the point tightly seated on the tang.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a digger tooth construction in which the locking means is associated with the point and tang in such manner as to be completely housed, and thus protected against the entrance of earth formations to insure permanent operativeness thereof both to the end of absorbing play of the point on the tang, and releasing the point for detachment when desired.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a point locking means which is correlated with the point and tang as to be protected against damage by the forces produced by the point being thrust into formations, and thus operativeness of its parts is preserved.

I will describe only four forms of digger teeth constructions, each embodying my invention, and

will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of digger tooth construction embodying my invention in applied position on the forward edge of a bucket.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing in side elevation, and partly in section the tooth construction of Fig. l, and with the tooth point in locked position on the tang.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the point in released position to allow detachment thereof from the tang.

Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view partly in section showing the locking means for the tooth point.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another form of tooth construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 and showing the locking key in a released position.

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 8 showing a.

third form of digger tooth construction embody-- ing my invention.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line I 2-- I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a fourth form of digger tooth bodying my invention.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the point shown in Fig. 13.

Referring specifically to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to '7, the supporting body N5 of this tooth construction, is of rectangular form in cross section, tapers forwardly from its rear end; and its rear end formed with rearwardly opening socket ll receiving a supporting boss I8 which, by any suitable means, is fixedly secured on and projects from the forward edge I9 of a bucket.

This supporting body I 6 includes an integral and forwardly extending tang 20 also tapered, and bordered at its rear end on both sides and the top and bottom by shoulders indicated generally at 2 I. Ahead of the top shoulder, the tang 20 is formed with a slot 22 which communicates at its forward side with an opening or keyway 23 having parallel side walls 24 and downwardly converging front and rear walls 25 and 26 to give a wedge form to the opening as a whole, with the wide end uppermost and opening to the top side construction emof the tang. The slot 22 and the opening or keyway 23 are disposed in the same vertical plane, and one which preferablycoincides with the major axisof the tang.

Laterally of the opening 23 the tang 29 is formed with a pocket 27 which opens to the top Likewise for a purpose to be described later herein, the body it and the tang 23 are provided at their undersides witha common passage 3| which extends upwardly and forwardly to communicate with the lower end of the wedge opening 23. This passage has an entrance end 32 leading to a screw-threaded portion 33, the end portion exceeding in diameter that of the passage proper, and the portion receiving a plug 34 to normally close the passage;

The removable digging point of the tooth construction is indicated at 35, and is tapered substantially symmetrically with the taper of the body IS, with its rear end formed with a forwardly tapering, rearwardly opening socket 36. This socket is adapted to receive the tang 20 with a close fit, but with the rear edges of the digging point at the sides, bottom and top spaced from the shoulders 21.

Fixed adjacent the rear upper edge of the point '35 so as to extend downward into the socket 36,

is'a lug 31 of a width to be received in the slot 22 without contacting the walls thereof, when the tang 29 is seated in the socket. The shape of the mg 3'! is such that when within the slot, its forward edge is forwardly of but parallel'to the rear wall 26 of the opening 23, for a purpose to be later described herein.

The locking means of this form of my invention, for releasably securing the digging point 35 on the tang 26, may comprise a key 38 in the form of a solid body of a size to be received in the opening or keyway, and having substantially parallel sides 39, and forward and rear edges 40 and 4| converging downward to a sloping bottom edge 42, to give a wedge form to the body.

Extending inwardly from the edge 42 is a socket 43 for receiving the rounded free end 44 of a shifting to0l45 having'a handle 43. The wedge key 38 may be associated with a cam 41 mounted on its upper or wide end by a pair of studs 48 fixed to the cam and surrounded by coiled compression springs 49, and the studs and springs are received in recesses 56 in the key body to allow the studs to telescope in the body against the.

tension of the springs.

The cam- 4'! is adapted to have contact with a complemental cam surface 51 formed by recessing the underside ofthe top wall of the socket 3B Thewidth of this cam surface is substantially twice the width of the cam 41, and that portion thereof directly above the opening 23 terminates at the deep end in an abrupt shoulder 52, while the corresponding end of that portion of thesurface above the pocket 21, terminates in a rearwardly sloping shoulder 53.

To mount the point on the tang, the key 38 must be first positioned in the pocket 2'! (see Figs. 5 and 6) in order that it shall be disposed at -one side of the path of movement of the lug 31. as the point is passed onto the tang. During thisoperation the cam. 41 is engaged by the under flat surface of the point and depressed against of the tang and to the opening 23 at one of its edge of the lug 31.

. of the lower end of the keyway and the upper cam recess when it will rise into contact with the cam surface 5|. Because of the outer inclined wall 28 of the pocket 21, both the cam and the key will assume a tilted position as shown in Fig. 5, and for the lug 3? to clear the key, it may be beveled on one corner thereof as indicated at 3711.

The point having been moved onto the tang so that the latter is snugly fitted in the socket 36 (see Fig. 2), the forward edge of the lug 31 is now in a position to permit the key 38 to be shifted from the pocket 21 into the opening or keyway 23. Such shifting of the key may be accomplished by first removing the plug 34, and then extending the tool 45 upwardly into the passage 3|, until.

its end 44 engages within the socket 43. By now moving the tool laterally away from the pocket 21, (the diameter of the passage permitting of. this) the key 38 together with the cam 41, can be shifted into the keyway 23 to be interposed between the forward wall 25 and the forward edge of the lug 31. (See Fig. 2). In this shifted position of the key 38, the cam 41 is still in contact with the cam surface 5!, and the springs 49 are compressed to urge the key downwardly in the keyway. Also, because the rear wall 26 of the opening 23 is to the rear of the rear wall 30 of the pocket 21, the key, once moved into the opening, cannot fallback into the pocket.

Because of the tapering form of the wall 25,

the forward edge of the lug 31, and thecorresponding tapering of the forward and rear edges 40 and 4| of the key 33,v it becomes clear that:

thekey, under the pressure of the springs, functions to lock the point on the tang. Once. such locking is effected, the tool 45 is withdrawn from. the passage 3|, and the plug 34 reapplied to close the passage against the entrance of earth or other foreign matter. As so locked the point is snugly fitted on the tang, but therear edges of the point are and permanently remain out of contact with the body shoulders 2|, as also does the forward However, there isa bridging ends of the keyway, pocket 2'! and. slot 22, by the point 35 to close these cavities against the entrance of earth and other foreign matter, so that in conjunction with the plug 34, the parts of the point locking means are completely housed and thus maintained operative to release the point when desired.

With the point 35 locked on the tang 20 as described, any movement of the point rearwardly on the tang causes a corresponding movement of the lug 31. As this occurs, the key under the action of the springs 49, moves downward in the keyway to absorb the movement of the lug, and take up any possible play of the point on the tang to maintain the point tightly fitted on the tang.

Under rearward movement of the point the cam surface 5| is moved likewise, to force the cam 47 downward, and in this manner any loss of tension of the springs 49 by reason of downward adjustment of the key to compensate for rearward movement of the lug 3'1, is restored to insure holding of the key in firm contact with bothv the lug 3'! and the tang wall 25.

Any tendency of the point to move forwardly on the tang resultant of dragging the point rearwardly out of a formation, is resisted not only by the key 38 but by the cam 41 abutting the shoulder 52.

The greater the angle between the surfaces of the wall and the forward edge of the lug 31, the greater the tendency of the wedge key to slip upwardly in the keyway and loosen the point. As so designed this angle is about degrees in order that the key may be easily moved upward by the tool to release the point as will be later described, but to prevent such accidental movement as well as to insure proper downward feeding of the key, the springs 49 are employed. Should the angle be decreased to prevent any such upward slipping tendency, then the springs could be dispensed with but naturally, it would require more manual efiort to raise the key by the tool. Also, where no springs are employed, gravity can be relied upon to feed the key downward to take up any play occurring between the point and tang and thus maintain the point tightly on the tang.

To operate the locking means to release the point for detachment from the tang, the plug 34 is first removed, and then the tool 45 extended through the passage 3| into the socket 43, whereupon by first forcing the tool upwardly the key is raised in the keyway, and then by pressing the tool toward the pocket 21, the key can be pushed back into the pocket. Thus the key is now to one side of the lug 31, so that the point is ready for removal from the tang.

As the point is removed, the wide end of the cam 41 engages surface 53, and because the latter slopes downward, it presses the cam downward against the tension of the springs 49 to permit the point to pass over the cam and off of the tang. The key cannot fall back into the keyway during this point removing operation, because the key is in tilted position against the pocket wall 28 and pressed downward in the pocket by the springs 49 and the cam 41, to hold it in such position.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, I have here shown another digger tooth construction in which the tang 20 and the point 35 are the same in construction as in the first form, with the following exceptions:

The tang is without the passage 3!, and the point is without the cam recess 5|. The point instead has in its upper socket wall, an opening therethrough directly above the pocket 21, normally closed by a compressible plug 56 preferably formed of rubber. may be rectangular with its end walls chamfered (see Fig. 8), and the plug correspondingly shaped so as to be under compression when within the opening, to secure the plug against accidental removal from the opening.

The wedge key 38 is also identical to the first form, except it is provided in one of its sides with a groove 57 leading downward to asocket 58. Also, the cam 41 is substituted by a flat head 59, with a recess in its right hand edge.

The key 38 is insertable into the pocket 21 through the opening 55 by first removing the plug 55, and it can be moved laterally into the keyway 23 and in advance of the lug 31, by extending the hooked end 6| of a tool 62 downwardly through the opening, the recess 60, the groove 57, and finally into the socket 58, when, by moving the tool toward the keyway and pressing downwardly, the key and the head 59 can be moved into the keyway with the head beneath the upper wall of the point socket (see Fig. 9).

In this position, the key coacts with the wall 25 and the lug 31 to lock the point on the tang and to take up any play which might develop between the point and the tang, as in the first form of my invention.

Once the key is in looking position, the plug 56 The opening way 55 is replaced in the opening 55 to close such opening against the entrance of earth formations into the pocket 21, and there being no other openings through which earth can enter the point socket or the tang, it becomes manifest that operativeness of the point locking parts is preserved to insure release and detachment of the point when desired.

When detaching the point, the key can be shifted from the keyway 23 to the pocket 21 by first removing the plug 56, extending the tool 62 downwardly through the opening, and then laterally to cause the hook 6| to seat within the socket 58, when, by reversing the aforesaid movements of the tool, the key can be moved into the pocket, and withdrawn from the pocket if desired.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12, this digger tooth construction likewise comprises a digging point 35 having a tapered socket 36 receiving a tapered tang 26. The tang has a tapered keyway 23 extending vertically therethrough, and a slot 22 to the rear of the keyway, but the pocket 21 is omitted.

The point 35 is likewise provided with the lug 31 receivable in the slot 22, but the upper wall of the point socket is formed with circular opening 65 directly above the keyway, which is normally closed by a plug 66 screw-threaded therein, and having a wrench receiving socket 61 for turning the plug. The locking wedge key 38 is insertable into the keyway 23 through the opening 65, upon removal of the plug 66.

For urging the key downward to lock and absorb play of the point on the tang, a stud 68 is telescopically fitted in the upper end of the key, and on the upper end of the stud is fixed a fiat head 59. Surrounding the stud and fitted in the key, is a coiled spring Ill. 5

With the plug 66 applied, its inner side bears against the head 69 to maintain the spring 16 under compression and thereby cause the spring to urge the key downward and hold it in firm contact with the wall 25 and the lug 31 to lock the point on the tang, and to feed the key downward as the lug moves rearward to absorb any play which may develop between the point and the tang. To detach the point from the tang, the key can be removed from the keyway by first removing the plug.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, a fourth form of digger tooth construction is disclosed, which is identical to the form shown in Figs. ll and 12, with the following exceptions:

The head 69a is in the form of a cam, and under the pressure of the spring 10, engages a cam surface H on the under side of a plug 66a removably secured in an opening 65a in the top of point 35 by a bayonet slot connection '12.

The cam 69a coacts with the surface ll in the same and for the same purpose as described in connection with the cam 41 and the surface 5|, of the first form of my invention.

To prevent possible shearing of the cam 66a off of the stud 68, under the forceexerted axially thereagainst by the surface H as the point is moved rearwardly on the tang, a projection 13 is fixed to the key 38 at the wide end of the cam to engage the latter and thus brace the cam against axial movement.

Certain structural and functional characteristics are common to all forms of my invention. The wedge key being within a vertically disposed Wedge keyway, is responsive to gravity to automatically feed the key downward to maintain it in engagement with the lug, which serves-not only to lock the point on the tang, but to absorb any play developing between the point and tang.

To preventpossible slippage of the key upwardly, springs areemployed to positively urge the key downwardly.

In addition, inal'l cases the keyway, the key and the other parts of the pointlocking means are completely enclosed in the tang by the point socket, so that earth formations cannot gain access toithe locking means and thus damage or interfere with operation of the lockingmeans when required to release and detach the point. Last,'but not least, the lockin means parts, by virtue of being contained wholly within the tang,

are not subject to the damaging forces of thepoint whendigging, and, hence, remain operative at all times.

Although I have herein shown and described only four forms-of digger tooth constructions embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit or my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. 'A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having a forwardly extending tang-provided with a tapered opening extending downwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket laterally of and communicating with said opening, and a recess rearwardly of and alined with said opening; a point having a rearwardly opening socket receiving said tang-,"a lug fixed to said point within said socket; and a wedge key normally in said pocket to allow application of said 1 point to said tang, but after application shiftable from said pocket into said opening by extending a tool upwardly through the bottom of said opening, so as to be interposed between said lug and the forward tapered wall of said opening to coact therewith in looking said point on said tang, and whereby as said lug moves rearwardly under rearward movement of said point, said key will gravitate downwardly in said opening to take up play between the key and the lug.

2. A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having a forwardly extending tang provided with a tapered opening extending downwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket laterally of and communicating with said opening,

and-a recess rearwardly of and alined with said opening; a point having a rearwardly opening socket receiving said tang; a lug fixed to said point within said socket; a wedge key normally in said pocket to allow application of said point to said tang, butafter application shiftable from said pocket into said opening by extending a tool upwardly through the bottom of said opening', so as to be'interposed between said lug and the forward tapered wall of said opening to coact' therewith in looking said point on said tang and resilient means between said point and said key forurging said key downwardly insaid opening whereby as said lug moves rearwardly under rearward movement of said point, said key operates to take up play between the key and the lug.

3.'A'digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body havinga forwardly extending tang provided with atapere'd opening extending downwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket laterally of and communicating with said opening, and a recess rearwardly of and alined with said opening; a point having a rearwardly opening socket receiving said tang; a lug fixed to said point within said socket;..a wedge key normally 8 V in said pocket to allow application of said point to said tang, but after application shiftable from said pocket into said opening by extending a tool upwardly through the bottom of said opening, so

as to be interposed between said lug and the'for ward tapered wall of said opening to coact therewith in looking said point on said tang; and cams on said point and said key coacting under rearward movement of said'point' on said tang to press said key downwardly to take up play between the key and the lug.

l; A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having a forwardly extending tang provided with a tapered opening extending V downwardly therethrcugh, a tapered pocket lat-- erally of and communicating with said opening, and a recess rearwardly of and alined with said opening; a point having a rearwardly opening socket receiving said tang; a lug fixed-to said point within said socket; a wedge key normally in said pocket to allow application of saidpoint to said tang, but'after application shiftable from said pocket into said opening by extending a tool upwardly through the bottom of said opening, so

as to be interposed between said lug and the forward tapered wall of said opening to coast therewith in locking said point on said tang; cams on said point and said key coacting under rearward movement of said point on said tang to press said key downwardly to take up play between the key and the lug; and springmeans between the key and the key for urging the key downwardly.

5. A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having a forwardly extending tang provided with a tapered opening extending downwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket lat ing', so as to be interposed between said lug and the forward tapered wall of "said opening to coact therewith in looking said point on said tang; resilient means between said point andsaid key for urging said key downwardly m said opening,

whereby as said lug moves rearwardly under rearward movement of said point, said key operates to take up play between the key and the lug; and cam means between said point and said resilient-means, acting under rearward movement of said point on said tang, to compensate for any loss in tension of said resilient means result ant of downward movement of said key.

MORGAN D. HOSTETTER. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 864,185 D'avison Nov. 7, 1905 1,849,728 Backmann Mar. 15, 1932 1,934,415 Fisher Nov. 7, 1933 2,227,674 Ratkowski Jan. 7,1941 2,251,169 I Seal July 29, 1941 2,307,359 Crawford Jan. 5,1943 2,312,802 Crawford Mar. 2, 1943 2,325,991

White AllEJ 3, 1943'

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