Ground engaging tool system

#The field of this invention is ground engaging tools, and more specifically systems for retaining ground engaging tools on buckets, blades, and other work tools.

#Many construction and mining machines, such as excavators, wheel loaders, hydraulic mining shovels, cable shovels, bucket wheels, and draglines make use of buckets to dig material out of the earth. The buckets can be subjected to extreme wear from the abrasion and impacts experienced during digging. Other construction and mining machines, such as bulldozers, also include blades or other tools that are used to move material such as soil and rock. These blades and other tools can also be subjected to extreme wear through abrasion and other wear mechanisms.

#Buckets and blades and other earth-working tools can be protected against wear by including ground engaging tools (GET). GET is typically fashioned as teeth, edge protectors, and other components which are attached to the bucket or blade in the area where the most damaging abrasion and impacts occur. For example, the cutting edge of a bucket can be protected with edge protectors that wrap around and protect the edge.

#FIGS. 1-3 are schematic assembly views representing a GET attachment system according to the principles of the invention. In FIG. 1, a post (normally attached to the adapter) is sliding into the slot of a lock, the lock being engaged with the tip. In FIG. 2, the post is engaged in the slot, and in FIG. 3, the lock is rotated to the locking position.

#FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a tip, locking retainer, and lock of a first embodiment, and the manner in which they may be assembled together.

#FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the tip, retainer bushing, and lock assembly according to the first embodiment of FIG. 4, with the lock in an unlocking position.

#FIGS. 1-22 illustrate embodiments and schematic concepts for GET attachment systems according to the invention. The purpose of these figures is only to aid in explaining the principles of the invention. Thus, the figures should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention to the embodiments and schematic concepts shown therein. Other embodiments of GET attachment systems may be created which follow the principles of the invention as taught herein, and these other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of patent protection.

#FIGS. 1-3 demonstrate schematically how the GET attachment system holds the GET onto the bucket or blade, and how it locks and unlocks.

#With reference first to FIG. 1, a post, or pin, 10 is illustrated. The post 10 may be connected or associated with a bucket, blade, or other work tool. In FIG. 1, only a portion of the post 10 is shown. The portion of post 10 that connects with the bucket, blade, or other work tool has been removed from this view for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the GET attachment system interacts with the post. A lock 20 is also illustrated. The lock 20 includes a slot 21 formed therein for accepting a portion of post 10. Lock 20 is received in a lock cavity 41 of a tip 40. The lock cavity 41 is shaped to allow the lock 20 to fit therein, and also to allow lock 20 to rotate relative to tip 40. Lock 20 may be placed in lock cavity 41 directly, or a retainer bushing 30 may be disposed around a portion of lock 20, and disposed between the lock 20 and lock cavity 41. The purpose and benefits of the optional retainer bushing 30 will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.