Wear component installation and retention systems for jaw crushers

A jaw crusher comprising:

• a crusher frame;
• a stationary jaw and a movable jaw disposed within the crusher frame and forming a crushing chamber therebetween;
• a jaw backing structure on at least one of the stationary jaw or the movable jaw;
• a die retainer disposed at lower end of the jaw backing structure;
• a jaw die having a crushing face and an opposing mounting face, a lower end configured to be supported by the die retainer, and an upper end, the mounting face of the jaw die configured to be positioned against the jaw backing structure of the jaw crusher;
• a retaining wedge having a wedge face configured to contact the upper end of the jaw die and an opposing back face, wherein the jaw die is positioned between the retaining wedge and the die retainer;
• a wedge bolt having a first end attached to the back face of the retaining wedge and a second end extending through the jaw backing structure and terminating externally to the jaw crusher;
• a retaining fastener configured to engage the second end of the wedge bolt, wherein advancing the retaining fastener on the wedge bolt against a surface of the jaw crusher draws the retaining wedge into contact with the jaw die to secure the jaw die in an operational position against the jaw backing structure;
• and
• a jacking member having a tip configured to contact the back face of the retaining wedge, extending through the jaw backing structure, and providing an opposing end that terminates externally to the jaw crusher;
• wherein advancement of the jacking member pushes the retaining wedge and the top portion of the jaw die outward from the operational position to a service position.

A method of replacing a jaw die in a jaw crusher, the method comprising:

• from an exterior of the jaw crusher, loosening a retaining fastener from a wedge bolt that secures a retaining wedge against an upper end of a jaw die;
• from the exterior of the jaw crusher, advancing a jacking member through a jaw backing structure to push the retaining wedge and the upper end of the jaw die outward from an operational position to a service position, wherein the jaw die pivots on a die retainer that supports a lower end of the jaw die;
• attaching lifting equipment to the jaw die while the jaw die is supported in the service position by the jacking member and the die retainer;
• removing the jaw die from the jaw crusher using the lifting equipment;
• positioning a replacement jaw die within the jaw crusher such that a bottom edge of the replacement jaw die rests upon the die retainer;
• from the exterior of the jaw crusher, retracting the jacking member, thereby allowing the retaining wedge and the replacement jaw die to move inward toward the operational position;
• and
• from the exterior of the jaw crusher, tightening the retaining fastener to apply a clamping force on the replacement jaw die via the retaining wedge and thereby secure the replacement jaw die in the operational position between the die retainer and the retaining wedge;
• wherein the entire method is performed without personnel entering a crushing chamber of the jaw crusher.