# US 11,306,461 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 11,306,461 B2 - Document ID: US11306461B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/655,789 - Filed: 2019-10-17 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - 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/US11306461B2 ## 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 comprising: a wedge-shaped body with a rear edge and a front edge that is narrower than the rear edge; first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge; a nose cavity defined within the wedge-shaped body of the ground engaging tip and extending from the rear edge toward the front edge, the nose cavity comprising: first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively; an aperture in each of the first and second side inner surfaces; and a retention channel defined in each of the first and second side inner surfaces, each retention channel extending from the rear edge to the respective aperture, wherein each 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 respective aperture and ending at the respective 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 a 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 a bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip toward a respective one of the retention channels. ### 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 a respective one of the apertures, 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 a base edge of a ground engaging implement. ### Claim 10 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 wedge-shaped body with a rear edge and a front edge that is narrower than the rear edge; first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge; a nose cavity, defined within the wedge-shaped body of the ground engaging tip and extending from the rear edge toward the front edge, 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 each of the first and second side inner surfaces; and a retention channel defined in each of the first and second side inner surfaces, each retention channel extending from the rear edge to the respective 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 each 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 11 (depends on 10) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 10, 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 12 (depends on 10) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 10, wherein a taper angle of the tapered portion relative to the untapered portion is about 5-10 degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 12, 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 10) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 10, wherein a 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 10) The ground engaging tip assembly of claim 10, 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 a bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip toward the retention channel. ### 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 A ground engaging tip comprising: a wedge-shaped body with a rear edge and a front edge that is narrower than the rear edge; first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge; a nose cavity defined within the wedge-shaped body of the ground engaging tip and extending from the rear edge toward the front edge, the nose cavity comprising: first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively; an aperture in each of the first and second side inner surfaces; and a retention channel defined in each of the first and second side inner surfaces, wherein each 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 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 18) The ground engaging tip of claim 18, wherein each retention channel is configured to guide a lug of an adapter into the respective aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The ground engaging tip of claim 18, 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.