Excavating tooth wear indicator and method
AssigneeVolvo Construction Equipment AB
InventorsSuksan Ok, Kevin F. Luft
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an excavating tooth for construction machinery and a method for replacing an excavating tooth of construction machinery. The excavating tooth is provided with a working end and a mountable end. The mountable end defines a means for receiving an adaptor mounted on a work tool. The working end defines a bore. A wear indicator is located within the bore and provided with a length that is less than an unworn length of the working end and a color that visibly contrasts with a color of the working end. As the excavating tooth is worn down during use, the wear indicator becomes visible to provide a visual indication of the need to replace the excavating tooth.
Claims18
An excavating tooth for construction machinery, comprising:
- an excavating tooth provided with a working end and a mountable end,
- the mountable end defining a means for receiving an adaptor mounted on a work tool;
- the working end defining a bore;
- and
- a wear indicator that is located within the bore and provided with:
- a length that is less than an unworn length of the working end;
- and
- a color that visibly contrasts with a color of the working end.
A method of replacing an excavating tooth on a working tool of a construction machine wherein the working tool is provided with an adaptor, the excavating tooth is provided with a working end and a mountable end, the mountable end defines a recess that receives the adaptor, the working end defines a bore and is provided with a unworn length and a worn length, a wear indicator is located in the bore and includes a length that is less than the unworn length and a color that contrasts with a color of the working end, the method comprising the steps of:
- abrasively wearing down the excavating tooth from the unworn length to the worn length, whereby the wear indicator becomes visible;
- and
- replacing the excavating tooth after the wear indicator becomes visible.
An excavating tooth for construction machinery, comprising:
- an excavating tooth provided with a working end and a mountable end,
- the mountable end defining an adaptor receiving recess;
- the working end defining a bore;
- and
- a wear indicator that is located within the bore and provided with:
- a length that is less than an unworn length of the working end and greater than or equal to a worn length of the working end;
- and
- a color that visibly contrasts with a color of the working end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.