Disassembly of inter-fitting components

A tool in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the legs further comprise an outer portion adjacent the wedge shaped portion which is of thicker width that the wedge shaped portion.

A method of disassembling an excavation tooth assembly comprising first and second tooth members which are coupled together such a gap is defined at a join between the two assembled members, the method comprising forcing a wedge into the gap in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the excavation tooth assembly so as to cause separation of the first and second tooth members, the separation being generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the assembly.

An excavation tooth member adapted to be mounted on a body portion of a supporting tooth member, the excavation tooth member having an end structure which at least partially surrounds a cavity in which the body portion of the supporting tooth member fits;

• the end structure having a raked portion defining an abutment surface arranged so that an inwardly tapering gap is defined between the abutment surface and a confronting portion of the supporting tooth member;
• whereby the members may be disassembled by application of a tool having a wedge shaped element which is arranged to be driven into the gap.

An excavation tooth support member comprising a body portion adapted to mount a second tooth member, the body portion comprising a shoulder section having a raked portion defining an abutment surface arranged so that an inwardly tapering gap is defined between the abutment surface and a confronting end structure of the second tooth member when in an assembled state;

• whereby the members may be disassembled by application of a tool having wedge shaped element which is arranged to be driven into the gap.

An excavation tooth system comprising first and second excavation tooth members, the first and second tooth members being assembled such that a body portion of the first tooth member is located substantially within a socket defined in a body of the second tooth member, the system further comprising a disassembly tool comprising a wedge portion which is arranged to locate in gap defined at a join between the first and second tooth members, in use the wedge portion of the tool being arranged to be driven into the gap so as to cause separation of the first and second tooth members in a direction transverse to the movement of the wedge portion.

A mount for a disassembly tool for an excavation tooth assembly comprising first and second tooth members, the mount comprising:

• a mounting portion arranged to detachably mount to one or both of the first and second tooth members;
• and
• a reaction portion connected to or integrally formed with the mounting portion and arranged in use to be spaced from the first and second tooth members, the reaction portion being arranged to mount a force actuating device which, in use, is arranged to impart a force to the disassembly tool so as to cause separation of the first and second tooth members, wherein the reaction portion is arranged to accommodate the reaction loading induced by the force actuating device.

An apparatus for disassembling a first excavation tooth member from a second excavation tooth member, the tool comprising:

• a body comprising a mounting portion arranged to mount to a body of the mid-adaptor;
• and
• a disassembly tool movably coupled to the body, the tool comprising a driven portion and a separating wedge portion which is arranged to locate in a gap defined between a collar of the mid-adaptor and a neck of the end adaptor, in use the driven portion arranged to receive a force to drive the separating wedge portion into the gap so as to cause separation of the first and second tooth members in a direction transverse to the movement of the separating wedge.

A disassembly tool, apparatus, mount and/or method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the excavation tooth assembly comprises a combination of two of the following excavation tooth members:

• a digging point, adaptor, mid-adaptor, end adaptor, plate lip adaptor and cast lip integral nose.

A mount for a disassembly tool for an excavation tooth assembly comprising first and second tooth members, the mount comprising:

• a mounting portion arranged to detachably mount to one or both of the first and second tooth members;
• and
• a stabilising member coupled to the mounting portion and movable between a retracted position and an abutting position whereby an end of the member abuts a surface of the tooth member to which it is secured for stabilising the tooth member during removal.