Retainer systems for ground engaging tools
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorJames Robert LaHood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a retainer bushing for use with a lock of a ground engaging tool. The retainer bushing may include a skirt extending around a retainer axis, where the skirt may include an outer surface configured to mate with a lock cavity of the ground engaging tool and an inner surface configured to rotatably receive an outer surface of the lock. The retainer bushing may also include a detent projection extending radially inward from the inner surface and configured to engage a detent recess of the lock to resist rotation of the lock. The skirt and the detent projection may be integrally constructed of a thermoplastic material comprising polyoxymethylene.
Claims15
A retainer bushing for use with a lock of a ground engaging tool, comprising:
- a skirt extending around a retainer axis, the skirt including:
- an outer surface configured to mate with a lock cavity of the ground engaging tool;
- and
- an inner surface configured to rotatably receive an outer surface of the lock;
- and
- a detent projection extending radially inward from the inner surface with respect to the retainer axis and configured to engage a detent recess of the lock to resist rotation of the lock,
- wherein the skirt and the detent projection are integrally constructed of a thermoplastic material comprising polyoxymethylene;
- wherein the detent projection comprises a convex surface with a substantially constant radius;
- and
- wherein a center of the radius of the convex surface is positioned at a first distance from the retainer axis that is greater than a second distance between the retainer axis and the outer surface of the skirt.
A retainer bushing for use with a lock to secure a ground engaging tool to a support member, the lock including an outer surface, the ground engaging tool including a lock cavity, comprising:
- a C-shaped body constructed of polyoxymethylene, the body including:
- an outer surface configured to mate with the lock cavity of the ground engaging tool;
- an inner surface configured to rotatably receive the outer surface of the lock;
- and
- a detent formed on the inner surface and configured to engage a detent of the lock to resist rotation of the lock,
- wherein a portion of the outer surface of the body directly opposite to a portion of the inner surface of the body on which the detent is formed comprises a frustoconical surface.
A retainer system for a ground engaging tool, comprising:
- a lock including:
- a head including a tool interface;
- a skirt extending from the head and including an outer surface;
- and
- a first detent formed on the outer surface of the skirt;
- and
- a retainer bushing including a C-shaped body constructed of polyoxymethylene, the retainer bushing including:
- an outer surface configured to mate with a lock cavity of the ground engaging tool;
- an inner surface configured to rotatably receive the outer surface of the lock;
- and
- a second detent formed on the inner surface of the retainer bushing and configured to engage the first detent of the lock,
- wherein a portion of the outer surface of the body directly opposite to a portion of the inner surface of the body on which the second detent is formed comprises a frustoconical surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.