Quick release screw connector for earth-moving equipment

An assembly for earth moving equipment for releasably connecting a tooth thereof to an adapter for connection to a lip of an earth moving component bucket, the assembly comprising,

• an adapter for connection to the lip of the earth moving component including a forward nose defined by forwardly tapering upper and lower surfaces and spaced-apart, substantially parallel side walls,
• a tooth having a rearwardly open interior cavity configured and dimensioned to be received over and engaged by the nose of the adapter, and a forward digging end,
• the adapter and the tooth, when engaged, defining an elongated bore between them which is open at least one end and which is defined by cooperating, adjacent sections of the adapter and the tooth configured for receiving a lock bolt that extends through the bore, and
• the lock bolt in the bore having a head proximate the open end of the bore for substantially immovably securing the tooth to the adapter,
• wherein the bolt and the bore define a cooperating thread formation including a generally helically curved thread and a cooperating helically curved groove extending over no more than 360°, wherein an axial height of the thread and the groove decreases in an axial direction away from the head,
• wherein a periphery of the thread formation on the bolt decreases in an axial direction away from the head, and
• whereby upon assembly of the adapter, the tooth and the bolt releasably secure the tooth to the adapter.

An assembly for earth moving equipment for releasably connecting a tooth thereof to an adapter for connection to a lip of an earth moving component bucket, the assembly comprising,

• an adapter for connection to the lip of the earth moving component including a forward nose defined by forwardly tapering upper and lower surfaces and spaced-apart, substantially parallel side walls,
• a tooth having a rearwardly open interior cavity configured and dimensioned to be received over and engaged by the nose of the adapter, and a forward digging end,
• the adapter and the tooth, when engaged, defining an elongated bore between them which is open at least one end and which is defined by cooperating, adjacent sections of the adapter and the tooth configured for receiving a lock bolt that extends through the bore, and
• the lock bolt in the bore having a head proximate the open end of the bore for substantially immovably securing the tooth to the adapter,
• wherein the bolt and the bore define a cooperating thread formation including a generally helically curved thread and a cooperating helically curved groove extending over no more than 360°, wherein an axial height of the thread and the groove decreases in an axial direction away from the head,
• wherein a periphery of the thread formation on the bolt decreases in an axial direction away from the head, and
• whereby upon assembly of the adapter, the tooth and the bolt releasably secure the tooth to the adapter, and
• wherein the lock bolt comprises an enlarged cross-section head, a reduced diameter shaft depending from the head, a shank including a central aperture into which the shaft extends and in which the shaft is axially and rotationally movable, a pin extending radially from the shank into the shaft in the aperture limiting relative movements between the shank and the shaft, wherein the helical thread is formed on the head of the bolt and the helical groove is formed in the bore, and a radially projecting, movable metallic detent located proximate the helical thread resiliently biased into a stop hole foamed in the bore which releasably, substantially immovably locks the bolt in the bore in place.