# US 10,480,162 B2 · Implement ground engaging tip assembly having tip with tapered retention channel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,162 B2 - Document ID: US10480162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/782,889 - Filed: 2017-10-13 - Published: 2018-06-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-15 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Douglas Serrurier; Eric Sinn; Jason Jura; Mihai Mircea Balan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480162B2 ## CPC - E02F 9/2833: {Retaining means, e.g. pins} - E02F 9/2825: {using adapters} - E02F 9/2858: {characterised by shape} - E02F 9/2883: {Wear elements for buckets or implements in general} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter. The retention channel has an untapered portion and a tapered portion, with the tapered portion extending from the rear edge to the untapered portion and the untapered portion extending from the tapered portion to the aperture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement, wherein the ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the ground engaging implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, the ground engaging tip comprising: a rear edge; a top outer surface; a bottom outer surface, wherein the top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip; first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge; a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined by the converging top and bottom outer surfaces and the first and second side outer surfaces, for receiving the adapter nose therein, the nose cavity comprising: first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second outer surfaces, respectively; an aperture in at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces; and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces, the retention channel extending from the rear edge to the aperture and being configured to guide a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter, wherein the retention channel comprises an untapered portion and a tapered portion, the tapered portion extending from the rear edge to the untapered portion, and the untapered portion extending from the tapered portion to the aperture and ending at the aperture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ground engaging tip of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is narrowest at the front edge of the tapered portion and widest at the rear edge of the ground engaging tip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ground engaging tip of claim 1, wherein a taper angle of the tapered portion relative to the untapered portion is about 5-10 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ground engaging tip of claim 1, wherein a length of the tapered portion is about two-thirds of a length of the retention channel, and a length of the untapered portion is about one-third of the length of the retention channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ground engaging tip of claim 1, wherein the top outer surface of the ground engaging tip has a forward portion including the front edge and a rear portion including the rear edge, and the rear portion has a concave section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ground engaging tip of claim 1, further comprising a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ground engaging tip of claim 6, wherein both of the first and second side outer surfaces have the support rib. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ground engaging tip of claim 6, wherein the ground engaging tip further includes an earpad on at least one of the first and second side outer surfaces at a location of the aperture, wherein the support rib extends lengthwise from the bottom outer surface to the earpad. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ground engaging tip of claim 8, wherein the earpad includes a notch configured to accommodate the base edge of the ground engaging implement when the ground engaging tip assembly is installed on the ground engaging implement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ground engaging tip of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is longer than the untapered portion in a lengthwise direction of the retention channel. ### Claim 11 A ground engaging tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement, the ground engaging ground engaging tip assembly comprising: an adapter having a nose and top and bottom straps defining a gap for receiving a base edge of the ground engaging implement; and a ground engaging tip, comprising: a rear edge; a top outer surface; a bottom outer surface, wherein the top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip; first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge; a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined by the converging top and bottom outer surfaces and the first and second side outer surfaces, for receiving the adapter nose therein, the nose cavity comprising: first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively; an aperture in at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces; and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces, the retention channel extending from the rear edge to the aperture and being configured to guide a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter, wherein the retention channel comprises an untapered portion and a tapered portion, the tapered portion extending from the rear edge to the untapered portion, and the untapered portion extending from the tapered portion to the aperture and ending at the aperture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 11, wherein a taper angle of the tapered portion relative to the untapered portion is about 5-10 degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 11, wherein a length of the tapered portion is about two-thirds of a length of the retention channel, and a length of the untapered portion is about one-third of the length of the retention channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 11, wherein the top outer surface of the ground engaging tip has a forward portion including the front edge and a rear portion including the rear edge, and the rear portion has a concave section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 11, further comprising a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 15, wherein both of the first and second side outer surfaces have the support rib. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 15, wherein the ground engaging tip further includes an earpad on at least one of the first and second side outer surfaces at a location of the aperture, wherein the support rib extends lengthwise from the bottom outer surface to the earpad. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 11, wherein the tapered portion is narrowest at the front edge of the tapered portion and widest at the rear edge of the ground engaging tip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 11, wherein the tapered portion is longer than the untapered portion in a lengthwise direction of the retention channel. ### Claim 20 A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement, wherein the ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the ground engaging implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, the ground engaging tip comprising: a rear edge; a top outer surface; a bottom outer surface, wherein the top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip; first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge; a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined by the converging top and bottom outer surfaces and the first and second side outer surfaces, for receiving the adapter nose therein, the nose cavity comprising: first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second outer surfaces, respectively; an aperture in at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces; and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces, the retention channel extending from the rear edge to the aperture and being configured to guide a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter, wherein the retention channel comprises an untapered portion and a tapered portion, the tapered portion extending from the rear edge to the untapered portion, and the untapered portion extending from the tapered portion to the aperture, and wherein a length of the tapered portion is about two-thirds of a length of the retention channel, and a length of the untapered portion is about one-third of the length of the retention channel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The ground engaging tip of claim 20, wherein the tapered portion is narrowest at the front edge of the tapered portion and widest at the rear edge of the ground engaging tip. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The ground engaging tip of claim 21, wherein a taper angle of the tapered portion relative to the untapered portion is about 5-10 degrees. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The ground engaging tip of claim 20, wherein the tapered portion ends at the aperture.