Arrangements for mounting a ground engaging member to a mechanical earth-working tool

Abstract

Ground engaging members are arranged to be mounted to a mechanical earth-working tool, such as an excavator bucket or the like. A mounting element is affixed to the mechanical earth-working tool and a ground engaging member is positioned relative to the mounting element and a leading edge of the earth-working tool. First engagement elements are formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, and engage with the mounting element. Second engagement elements are formed with or attached to the ground engaging member and engage with an edge of the mechanical earth-working tool. Tightening a threaded fastener draws the ground engaging member onto the earth-working tool.

Description

[0001] ARRANGEMENTS FOR MOUNTING A GROUND ENGAGING M EMBER TO A MECHANICAL EARTH-WORKING TOOL

[0002] CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application relates to and claims priority from Australian provisional application No. 2024900368 filed 16 February 2024 and Australian provisional application No. 2024902376 filed 31 July 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention relates to mechanical earth-working tools and machinery, in particular to ground-engaging members and arrangements, systems, components and methods for mounting ground-engaging members to mechanical earth-working tools.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] Earth-working machinery is used in various applications, including mining, quarrying, construction and road-building. Among other machines, excavators, wheel-loaders and load haul dump (LHD) machines are well known.

[0008] The loads experienced by earth-working machinery are significant, leading to high rates of wear. This has led to the use of sacrificial or replaceable components in order to reduce costs and down-time. Replaceable wear plates are known - usually these are welded to the body of an excavator bucket or the like. Removable ground engaging tools or teeth (GETs) are also used to provide a replaceable component attached at or near a leading edge of an excavator bucket.

[0009] GETs have traditionally been welded to the excavator bucket, usually to a replaceable lip or wear plate at the bucket's leading edge. However, significant work is involved in individually removing worn GETs and welding new GETs to the bucket.

[0010] As an alternative, AU2006252273 discloses a mounting lug that is welded to the lip or wear plate and to which a suitable GET can be mounted using a bolt-driven plunger mounted in the GET. The GETs can therefore be removed and replaced without further welding. Periodically the wear or lip plate and the mounting lugs may need to be replaced. Nevertheless, such an arrangement significantly reduces the work involved in removal and replacement of GETs.

[0011] However, the arrangement in AU2006252273 is complex, with problems in fitting and removing the GET. Fitting requires several movements of components relative to each other, which can be difficult and slow. Once installed, the plunger mechanism tends to seize up. If it is firmly seized then the removal mechanism becomes inoperable and the GET must be cut from the lip plate, which takes time. If the plunger remains operable, removal is still somewhat time-consuming, requiring: removal of the bolt, removal of a locking or spacer plate, forcing the plunger back, removing the lock block and removing the GET. Further, in some circumstances GETs tend to come loose, resulting in lost function and / or downtime for repair.

[0012] It would be desirable to provide an improved arrangement for mounting ground engaging members to earth working tools, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

[0013] SUMMARY

[0014] A mounting system may allow rigid mounting of a ground engaging member to a mechanical earthworking tool. The mounting system may include a mounting element that is configured to be affixed, in use, to the mechanical earth-working tool. One or more first engagement elements may be formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the first engagement elements being configured to engage with the mounting element. One or more second engagement elements may be formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the second engagement elements being configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earth-working tool. A threaded fastener may have a head that is arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element. A female thread may be positioned, in use, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool. Tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, may draw the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and may draw the second engagement elements into engagement with the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool, thereby mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earth-working tool.

[0015] The mounting element may be configured to be affixed, in use, to a lip plate of the earth-working tool. The mounting element may be configured to be welded to the earth-working tool. The mounting element may include an aperture configured to receive a weld to, in use, affix the mounting element to the mechanical earth-working tool (e.g. a plug weld).

[0016] The mounting element may include one or more undercut retainers positioned on each side of the mounting element, the retainers being arranged to cooperate with the one or more first engagement elements, allowing sliding motion of the ground engaging member onto the mounting element but restricting movement of the ground engaging member away from the surface of the earth-working tool. The undercut retainers and first engagement elements may be angled features forming a sliding dovetail. The undercut retainers and first engagement elements may be angled at between 30 and 60 degrees from the surface of the earth-working tool.

[0017] The mounting element may include a groove arranged to receive at least partially a shaft of the threaded fastener. The mounting element may include one or more raised bearing sections extending the bearing surface above a body of the mounting element.

[0018] The second engagement elements include one or more upper elements configured to engage with an upper surface of the earth-working tool and one or more lower elements configured to engage with a lower surface of the earth-working tool.

[0019] The edge may be a shaped leading edge of the earth-working tool having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces. The second engagement elements may form a shaped recess arranged to cooperate with the upper and lower surfaces of the shaped leading edge. The upper surface may be bevelled.

[0020] The female thread may be formed in a nut, which may be located in a cooperating housing in the ground engaging member, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool. The nut and the cooperating housing may be located between the mounting element and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool.

[0021] The nut may have one or more ridges formed along at least one of its sides and the cooperating housing may have a corresponding shape. The nut may have a generally dog-bone cross-sectional shape and the cooperating housing may have a corresponding shape.

[0022] The nut may be prevented from rotating by the cooperating housing.

[0023] The mechanical earth-working tool may be an earth-working bucket.

[0024] The ground engaging member may be a ground engaging tooth.

[0025] A ground engaging member may be configured to rigidly mount to a mechanical earth-working tool. The mechanical earth-working tool may include a mounting element and a threaded fastener having a head may be arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element. The ground engaging member may include one or more first engagement elements configured to engage with the mounting element; one or more second engagement elements configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earthworking tool; and a female thread positioned, in use, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool. Tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, may draw the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and may draw the second engagement elements into engagement with the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool, thereby mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earth-working tool.

[0026] The one or more first engagement elements may be arranged to cooperate with one or more undercut retainers positioned on each side of the mounting element, allowing sliding motion of the ground engaging member onto the mounting element but restricting movement of the ground engaging member away from the surface of the earth-working tool.

[0027] The undercut retainers and first engagement elements may be angled features forming a sliding dovetail.

[0028] The second engagement elements may include one or more upper elements configured to engage with an upper surface of the earth-working tool and one or more lower elements configured to engage with a lower surface of the earth-working tool.

[0029] The second engagement elements may form a shaped recess having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces, arranged to cooperate with a shaped leading edge of the earth working tool.

[0030] The upper surface may be bevelled.

[0031] The female thread may be formed in a nut, which may be located in a cooperating housing, wherein, in use, the nut and the cooperating housing may be located between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool.

[0032] The nut and the cooperating housing may be located between the mounting element and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool.

[0033] The nut may have one or more ridges formed along at least one of its sides and the cooperating housing may have a corresponding shape.

[0034] The nut may have a generally dog-bone cross-sectional shape and the cooperating housing may have a corresponding shape.

[0035] The nut may be prevented from rotating by the cooperating housing.

[0036] A mounting system for rigidly mounting a ground engaging member to a mechanical earth-working tool may include a mounting element configured to be affixed, in use, to the mechanical earth-working tool. One or more first engagement elements may be formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the first engagement elements being configured to engage with the mounting element. One or more second engagement elements may be formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the second engagement elements being configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earthworking tool. A threaded fastener may have a head arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element A nut with a female thread may be located in a cooperating housing in the ground engaging member, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool. Tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, may draw the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and may draw the second engagement elements to the edge of the mechanical earthworking tool, thereby mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earth-working tool.

[0037] A mounting system for rigidly mounting a ground engaging member to a mechanical earth-working tool may include a mounting element configured to be affixed, in use, to the mechanical earth-working tool. One or more first engagement elements may be formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the first engagement elements being configured to engage with the mounting element. One or more second engagement elements may be formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the second engagement elements being configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earthworking tool. A threaded fastener may have a head arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element. A nut with a female thread may have one or more ridges extending along at least one side thereof and may be located in a cooperating housing in the ground engaging member, the housing having one or more grooves arranged to receive the one or more ridges. Tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, may draw the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and may draw the second engagement elements to the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool, thereby mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earth-working tool.

[0038] The other aspects, features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings for exemplary but nonlimiting embodiments, in which like reference numerals designate related elements.

[0039] The above presents a simplified summary of the invention as claimed below in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later.

[0040] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] The invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] Figure 1 shows an earth-working tool with installed ground engaging members, according to one embodiment;

[0043] Figure 2 shows one embodiment of ground engaging member installed on a lip plate of an earthworking tool; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 2;

[0044] Figure 4 is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 2;

[0045] Figure 5 is a cross-section along the line 5' -5' in Figure 4;

[0046] Figure 6 is a cross-section along the line 6'-6' in Figure 4;

[0047] Figure 7 shows the ground engaging member of Figure 2;

[0048] Figure 8 shows an underside of the ground engaging member of Figure 2;

[0049] Figure 9 is a top view of the ground engaging member of Figure 7;

[0050] Figure 10 is a cross-section along the line 10'-10' in Figure 9;

[0051] Figure 11 is a cross-section along the line ll'-ll' in Figure 10;

[0052] Figure 12 is a detailed view of the area marked 12' in Figure 10;

[0053] Figure 13 is a detailed view of the area marked 13' in Figure 12;

[0054] Figure 14 is a detailed view of the area marked 14' in Figure 12;

[0055] Figure 15 is another top view of the ground engaging member of Figure 7;

[0056] Figure 16 is a cross-section along the line 16'-16' in Figure 15;

[0057] Figure 17 is a cross-section along the line 17'-17' in Figure 16;

[0058] Figure 18 is a detailed view of the area marked 18' in Figure 16;

[0059] Figure 19 is a detailed view of the area marked 19' in Figure 16;

[0060] Figure 20 shows the mounting element of Figure 3;

[0061] Figure 21 is an end view of the mounting element of Figure 20;

[0062] Figure 22 is a top view of the mounting element of Figure 20;

[0063] Figure 23 is a cross-section along the line 23'-23' in Figure 22;

[0064] Figure 24 is a detailed view of the area marked 24' in Figure 21;

[0065] Figure 25 shows the nut of Figure 3;

[0066] Figure 26 is a top view of the nut of Figure 25;

[0067] Figure 27 is a side view of the nut of Figure 25; Figure 28 is a cross-section along the line 28'-28' in Figure 27;

[0068] Figure 29 is a detailed view of the area marked 29' in Figure 26;

[0069] Figure 30 is a detailed view from the perspective marked 30' in Figure 16;

[0070] Figure 31 is a detailed view of the area marked 31' in Figure 30;

[0071] Figure 32 shows a further embodiment of mounting element;

[0072] Figure 33 is an end view of the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0073] Figure 34 is an opposite end view of the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0074] Figure 35 is a side view of the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0075] Figure 36 is a top view of the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0076] Figure 37 is a bottom view of the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0077] Figure 38 is a rear view of a ground engaging member and mounting system, including the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0078] Figure 39 is a rear perspective view of the ground engaging member and mounting system, including the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0079] Figure 40 is an exploded view of the ground engaging member and mounting system, including the mounting element of Figure 32;

[0080] Figure 41 shows a bolt that may be used in some embodiments of mounting system; and

[0081] Figure 42 shows a locking washer that may be used in some embodiments of mounting system.

[0082] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0083] The Applicant's mounting arrangements may be used for rigid, secure mounting of any ground-engaging member to a mechanical earth-working tool. In general, these may be used on excavators, wheel-loaders, or load haul dump (LHD) machinery (including e.g. underground LHD machinery). The ground engaging member may be a ground engaging tool or tooth (GET). The ground engaging member may be attached at or near the leading edge of an earth-working tool. The Applicant's invention is not concerned with flexible mountings using springs or the like to absorb loads. Rather, the Applicant's arrangements use a fixed, rigid connection of the ground-engaging member to the earth-working tool. The earth-working tool may be any suitable implement, such as a bucket. The earth-working tool may include one or more wear or lip plates, as is well known in the field. Such attached wear or lip plates are to be considered part of the earth-working tool for the purposes of this specification.

[0084] The Applicant's system may be adapted for any required size of earth-working tool and / or groundengaging member. The size and shape of the various components may differ while falling within the scope of the invention.

[0085] Figure 1 shows an earth-working tool 1, in the form of an excavator bucket. The bucket 1 may include suitable pins or other features 2 for coupling to earth-working machinery, such as an excavator, as is well known in the field.

[0086] A lip or wear plate 3 may be attached to a body of the bucket 1 and is to be considered part of the bucket for the purposes of this specification. The lip or wear plate 3 is generally welded to the body of the bucket and may be removed and replaced when worn.

[0087] A plurality of ground engaging members 4 may be mounted at or near the leading edge of the bucket 1. In some embodiments the ground engaging members 4 may all be the same. However, in the embodiment shown these ground engaging members may include side members 5, 5a, straight-edged members 6 and angle-edged members 7. The straight-edged ground engaging members 6 may have the same width, or different widths. In general, any suitable combination of ground engaging members may be used in order to provide acceptable coverage along the leading edge of the bucket. Other shapes of the leading edge may be used.

[0088] The mounting arrangement used for mounting the ground engaging member to the bucket will be described with reference to a straight-edged member. However, a similar mounting arrangement may be used for any other style of ground engaging member.

[0089] Figures 2 to 6 show a ground engaging member 4, lip or wear plate 3 and the mounting system used for mounting the ground engaging member 4 to the lip or wear plate 3. Figure 3 shows a mounting element 10, nut 11, washer 12 and fastener 13, which together contribute to mounting the ground engaging member 4 to the lip or wear plate 3. In general, the ground engaging member may include a number of engagement elements that contribute to mounting of the ground engaging member 4 to the earthworking tool. These may include a number of first engagement elements that cooperate with the mounting element 10 and / or a number of second engagement elements that cooperate with other parts of the earth-working tool.

[0090] The mounting element 10 may be affixed to an upper surface of the lip or wear plate 3. This may be achieved by any suitable attachment method - welding may be preferred. In the embodiment shown, the mounting element 10 may include an aperture 15 arranged to receive a weld (e.g. a plug weld) to affix the mounting element 10 to the lip or wear plate 3. The mounting element 10 may also be welded along its lower 16 and upper edges 17 to the lip or wear plate 3. However, in the embodiment shown the mounting element is not welded along its sides, for reasons that will become clear below.

[0091] The nut 11 may be received in a housing 20 formed in an upper stem or mounting arm 21 of the ground engaging member 4. The nut 11 has a hole with a female thread 22 that receives the male thread of the fastener 13.

[0092] The fastener 13 may be any suitable threaded and headed fastener, including any suitable cap screw, bolt, hex bolt, socket head bolt or other suitable fastener. The head of the fastener 13 bears against a bearing surface on the upper edge 17 of the mounting element. This bearing may be direct, or may be indirect via a washer 12 (e.g. a lock washer such as a Nord Lock wedge-locking washer) or another intermediate component. The fastener also engages with the female thread 22 of the nut 11, such that tightening the fastener tends to draw the nut 11 and the ground engaging member towards the mounting element 10, in the direction 'D' shown in Figure 3. Further tightening of the fastener 13 in the nut 11 will draw the shaped engagement elements 24 of the ground engaging member 4 against the correspondingly shaped front or leading edge 25 of the lip or wear plate 3, i.e. to the position shown in Figures 2 and 5. This mechanism is described further below.

[0093] Figures 7 to 19 show the ground engaging member 4 in further detail. In general, the ground engaging member may include a leading end 30, a body generally formed with a lower leg 31 and an upper leg 32 and a mounting arm 21. A lifting loop 34 (Figure 19) may be provided to assist in mounting or removal of the ground engaging member 4 (these can be heavy depending on their size - in one embodiment each ground engaging member weighs around 90-100kg). The angle h in one embodiment may be around 5 degrees.

[0094] The lower and upper legs 31, 32 may create a number of (second) engagement elements forming a shaped recess, as shown e.g. in Figure 18. The recess may be shaped to cooperate with the shape of the leading edge of the bucket (e.g. the leading edge 25 of the lip or wear plate 3 as shown in Figure 5). This shape may include non-parallel upper and lower surfaces. For example, in the embodiment shown the upper surface may be bevelled. In the embodiment shown, angle 'a' may be around 25 degrees. Grooves or rebates 36 may provide clearance to corners of the lip plate 3. Angle 'b' in one embodiment may be around 10 degrees.

[0095] These cooperating shapes may ensure a positive engagement of the ground engaging member with the leading edge 25 of the lip plate 3, contributing to a rigid mounting of the ground engaging member 4 to the earth working tool. In the embodiment shown, the surfaces 38 and 39 (Figure 18) may provide second engagement elements. These resist up or down movement of the ground engaging member relative to the lip plate 3. However, the skilled reader will understand that many different configurations of second engagement elements with cooperating features of the lip plate 3 or other part of the earth-working tool may achieve a similar function. These may include one or more elements that engage an upper surface of the lip or wear plate and one or more elements that engage a lower surface of the lip or wear plate. Further, the second engagement elements may be formed as part of the ground engaging element (e.g. as shown) or may be attached to the ground engaging member.

[0096] Figure 8 shows the underside of the mounting arm 21. This shows the housing 20 and a second housing or recess 40. The cross-sectional shape of an upper portion of the recess 40 is shown in Figure 11, this being a cross-section along the line ll'-ll' in Figure 10. A number of (first) engagement elements 42 may be arranged to cooperate with features of the mounting element 10. In the embodiment shown these may be in the form of angled or undercut walls 42, which may be arranged to form a sliding fit with angled side walls of the mounting element 10. This cooperation is shown e.g. in Figure 6. The angled or undercut walls 42 allow the ground engaging member 4 to slide over the mounting element but restrict movement of the mounting arm 21 away from the surface of the lip plate 3.

[0097] As shown in Figure 8, a groove 43 and holes 44, 45 may provide clearance for the fastener 13. A larger groove 46 may provide clearance for the head of the fastener 13. Figure 12 shows the cross-sectional shape of the groove 43. In one embodiment angle 'g' may be around 45 degrees.

[0098] Returning to Figure 18, one or more wear indicators 37 may be provided. The shape of the indicator 37 may a smooth, generally circular dimple or recess. As the lower leg 31 wears away with use, a small hole will eventually form and will increase in size with further wear. This indicates that the ground engaging member 4 is worn and should be replaced.

[0099] Figures 20 to 24 show the mounting element 10 in greater detail. The mounting element 10 may include a body 50 with the aperture 15 passing through the body 50, such that it can be welded to the underlying earth-working tool. A groove 51 may pass along the length of the mounting element 10, such that the shaft of the headed fastener 13 may partially or wholly reside in the groove 51. The mounting element 10 may have a bearing surface 52 against which the head of the headed fastener 13 acts. In the embodiment shown, raised sections 53 may extend upwards from the body 50 of the mounting element 10, increasing the size of the bearing surface 52.

[0100] The end view of Figure 21 shows that the sides 55, 56 are undercut. In general, any suitable undercut retainers may be formed into the sides 55, 56 of the mounting element 10 to cooperate with any suitable cooperating first engagement elements on the ground engaging member. In the embodiment shown, the sides are straight, undercut sides at an angle 'c' of between 30 and 60 degrees, or between 40 and 50 degrees, or around 45 degrees to the base 58 of the mounting element 10 (or to the surface of the lip or wear plate when installed). These undercut sides 55, 56 interact with the angled walls 42 of the ground engaging member (which may also be angled at angle c' of between 30 and 60 degrees, or between 40 and 50 degrees, or around 45 degrees), as described above and shown e.g. in Figures 6 and 11. This is essentially a sliding dovetail mechanism, which allows the ground engaging member 4 to slide over the mounting element but restricts movement of the mounting arm 21 away from the surface of the lip plate 3. In this embodiment the angled walls 42 of the ground engaging member form first engagement elements that are arranged to cooperate with the mounting element 10. Further, the first engagement elements may be formed as part of the ground engaging element (e.g. as shown) or may be attached to the ground engaging member.

[0101] Figure 23 is a cross-section along the line 23'-23' in Figure 22. This shows that the end surfaces 59 may also be bevelled. Weld may be formed in these bevelled areas, in addition to in the aperture 15. In one embodiment the angle 'd' of this bevel may be around 45 degrees.

[0102] The raised bearing sections 53 may have an angled front surface, with angle 'e' being in one embodiment around 135 degrees.

[0103] In one embodiment the angle 'f' shown in Figure 24 may also be around 135 degrees.

[0104] Figures 25 to 29 show the nut 11 in greater detail, and Figures 30 and 31 show the cooperating housing 20 in greater detail. In general, the nut 11 and housing 20 may have cooperating shapes. Any arrangement may be used in which the nut 11 is received and prevented from rotating in the housing as the fastener is tightened. The nut may be square, rectangular, hexagonal or any other suitable shape.

[0105] In the embodiment shown, the nut 11 has a pair of ridges 60 extending along each side, separated by a groove 61. The housing 20 has a cooperating shape, with a number of grooves 62 extending along its length separated by a ridge 63. The shape shown in the drawings may be considered an "H", "I" or generally dog-bone shape. The sides of the ridges may be straight or angled. In one embodiment the angle 'i1(Figure 26) may be around 35-45 degrees with angle 'j' (Figure 31) a corresponding angle.

[0106] However, alternative shapes may be used, e.g. using any number of one or more ridges on one or both sides, curved shapes etc.

[0107] In alternative embodiments, the female thread 22 may be formed directly into the body of the ground engaging member. However, the use of a separate nut as shown is expected to provide greater ease of manufacture, since the ground engaging member may be cast without, or with reduced, subsequent machining. In general, when installed, the female thread (e.g. the nut carrying the female thread) may be positioned between the bearing surface of the mounting element and the edge of the earth-working tool. Alternatively, the female thread (e.g. the nut carrying the female thread) may be positioned between the mounting element and the edge of the earth-working tool. For example, the nut 11 may be located between the lip of the earth-working tool and an edge of the mounting element closest to that lip. This forward mounting of the nut 11 places the nut relatively close to the load bearing face and may reduce undesirable movement during use.

[0108] In order to install the ground engaging member on the earth-working tool, the mounting element 10 may first be welded into position. The ground engaging member may then be positioned with the first engaging elements 42 beginning to slide over the side walls 55, 56 of the mounting element 10. (This sliding motion is in contrast to some prior systems which require the ground engaging member to rotate into place on the lip plate.) The nut 11 may be introduced into the housing 20 and the bolt 13 may be engaged with the female threads of the nut 11, either before the ground engaging member is positioned relative to the mounting element 10 or afterwards. The bolt may now be tightened in the nut. This draws the ground engaging member 4 in the direction 'D' shown in Figure 3, with the first engaging elements 42 sliding over the side walls 55, 56 of the mounting element 10. The bolt is tightened until the second engagement elements 24, 38, 39 bear against the leading edge 25 of the lip plate 3. At this point further tightening will not be possible, with the ground engaging member rigidly mounted to the earth-working tool.

[0109] The installed position of the various components is shown, for example, in Figure 2 and the cross-sections of Figures 5 and 6. Here, the bolt 13 is acting against the nut 11 and the bearing surface 52 (via washer 12) to hold the ground engaging member 4 on the lip plate 3. The nut 11 acts against the walls of the housing 20, to hold the second engagement elements 24, 38, 39 against the leading edge 25 of the lip plate 3. The first engagement elements 42 cooperate with the mounting element 10 to resist lifting of the ground engaging member away from the lip plate 3 (see Figure 6).

[0110] When a ground engaging member is worn and requires replacement, the fastener 13 may be loosened and the ground engaging member removed. A new ground engaging member may be installed in the same manner described above. Other components, including the nut 11, bolt 13, washer 12 and mounting element 10 may be reused if they remain in acceptable condition.

[0111] Figures 32 to 40 illustrate a further embodiment, similar to those described above, where the mounting element 10a is adapted to provide a greater bearing surface area. The raised section 53a extends further upwards from the body 50 of the mounting element 10 and closes above an aperture 70. The shaft of the headed fastener passes through this aperture 70, with the head of the fastener acting against the bearing surface 52. This may help to retain the fastener in place. The mounting element is otherwise similar to that described above. Figure 40 also shows an optional plastic (e.g. nylon) insert 75 which may be inserted into a corresponding cavity 76 (Figure 41) in the bolt thread. This insert may aid bolt retention. The insert when installed into the bolt, may sit level with the outside of the bolt thread. When the bolt assembly is inserted or fastened into the nut, the nut thread may cut into the nylon insert and resist loosening of the bolt. Other forms of bolt retainer may be suitable.

[0112] The various components of Applicant's system may be formed from suitable materials that are well known in the industry. The fastener 13 and washer 12 may be standard components. The ground engaging member may be formed from cast steel, preferably a suitable wear resistant steel. The ground engaging member may have a hardness around 46-50 HRC. In some embodiments the ground engaging member is straight from casting, with no subsequent machining required.

[0113] The nut 11 and mounting element may also be formed from cast steel. The nut 11 may be cast and then machined to form the female thread. The mounting element may be straight from casting, or subsequent machining may be used, e.g. to form the undercut sides 55, 56.

[0114] Any suitable casting method may be used, as is well known in the field. The skilled reader will understand that other manufacturing methods may be used.

[0115] In one embodiment, the various components may be sized approximately as follows. The lip plate 3 may be around 50mm thick, with each ground engaging member being sized to fit and having a weight of approximately 90-100kg. Each mounting element may weigh around 1.1kg and be around 90-100mm square by 30-40 mm high at the highest point of the bearing surface. The nut may be around 0.9kg and around 50-70mm by 60 to 80mm and around 30 to 50mm thick. The fastener may be an M24 socket head bolt and the washer a Nord-Lock or other locking washer. Figure 42 shows one form of locking washer 12 in greater detail, and any such wedge-locking washer of a suitable size for the bolt 13 may be used. However locking washers of various forms and sizes are available and the skilled reader will understand that other types of washer may be suitable.

[0116] In a further embodiment the fastener may be an M30 socket head bolt and the washer a Nord-Lock or other locking washer. The bolt may be of any suitable grade, with higher grades expected to provide longer or better performance. For example, metric grade 10.9 or better may be preferred in some applications, e.g. metric grade 12.9.

[0117] The Applicant has found that the mounting system with an M30 x 3.5mm grade 12.9 bolt and Nord-Lock washer works well, with a significant reduction in loosening of the mounting and the need for periodic re-tensioning, which is a known problem in prior arrangements. In this embodiment the bolt / nut may be capable of tightening to 1000 - 1400 Nm of torque with only minor deformation and an acceptable margin of safety against failure. However, the skilled reader will understand that different sizes and / or shapes of the various components may be used. For example, larger machines or larger earth-working tools may in general employ larger lip plates and / or ground engaging members than smaller machines or earth-working tools.

[0118] The various components may be supplied individually or in a kit suitable for installation on a known earth- working tool.

[0119] While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Further, the above embodiments may be implemented individually, or may be combined where compatible. Additional advantages and modifications, including combinations of the above embodiments, will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mounting system for rigidly mounting a ground engaging member to a mechanical earth-working tool, the mounting system including: a mounting element configured to be affixed, in use, to the mechanical earth-working tool; one or more first engagement elements formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the first engagement elements being configured to engage with the mounting element; one or more second engagement elements formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the second engagement elements being configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earth-working tool; a threaded fastener having a head arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element; and a female thread positioned, in use, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool; wherein tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, draws the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and draws the second engagement elements into engagement with the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool, thereby rigidly mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earth-working tool.

2. A mounting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting element is configured to be affixed, in use, to a lip plate of the earth-working tool.

3. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting element is configured to be welded to the earth-working tool.

4. A mounting system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mounting element includes an aperture configured to receive a weld to, in use, affix the mounting element to the mechanical earth-working tool.

5. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting element includes one or more undercut retainers positioned on each side of the mounting element, the retainers being arranged to cooperate with the one or more first engagement elements, allowing sliding motion of the ground engaging member onto the mounting element but restricting movement of the ground engaging member away from a surface of the earth-working tool.

6. A mounting system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the undercut retainers and first engagement elements are angled features forming a sliding dovetail.

7. A mounting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the undercut retainers and first engagement elements are angled at between 30 and 60 degrees from the surface of the earth-working tool.

8. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting element includes a groove arranged to receive at least partially a shaft of the threaded fastener.

9. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting element includes one or more raised bearing sections extending the bearing surface above a body of the mounting element.

10. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second engagement elements include one or more upper elements configured to engage with an upper surface of the earth-working tool and one or more lower elements configured to engage with a lower surface of the earth-working tool.

11. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the edge is a shaped leading edge of the earth-working tool having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces and the second engagement elements form a shaped recess arranged to cooperate with the upper and lower surfaces of the shaped leading edge.

12. A mounting system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the upper surface is bevelled.

13. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim, including a nut in which the female thread is formed, the nut being located in a cooperating housing in the ground engaging member, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool.

14. A mounting system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the nut and the cooperating housing are located between the mounting element and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool.

15. A mounting system as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein the nut has one or more ridges formed along at least one of its sides and the cooperating housing has a corresponding shape.

16. A mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the nut has a generally dog-bone cross-sectional shape and the cooperating housing has a corresponding shape.

17. A mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the nut is prevented from rotating by the cooperating housing.

18. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mechanical earth-working tool is an earth-working bucket.

19. A mounting system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ground engaging member is a ground engaging tooth.

20. A ground engaging member configured to rigidly mount to a mechanical earth-working tool, the mechanical earth-working tool including a mounting element, wherein a threaded fastener having a head may be arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element; wherein the ground engaging member includes: one or more first engagement elements configured to engage with the mounting element; one or more second engagement elements configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earth-working tool; a female thread positioned, in use, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool; wherein tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, draws the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and draws the second engagement elements into engagement with the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool, thereby rigidly mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earth-working tool.

21. A ground engaging member as claimed in claim 20 wherein the one or more first engagement elements are arranged to cooperate with one or more undercut retainers positioned on each side of the mounting element, allowing sliding motion of the ground engaging member onto the mounting element but restricting movement of the ground engaging member away from a surface of the earthworking tool.

22. A ground engaging member as claimed in claim 21 wherein the undercut retainers and first engagement elements are angled features forming a sliding dovetail.

23. A ground engaging member as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein the second engagement elements include one or more upper elements configured to engage with an upper surface of the earth-working tool and one or more lower elements configured to engage with a lower surface of the earth-working tool.

24. A ground engaging member as claimed in claim 23 wherein the second engagement elements form a shaped recess having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces, arranged to cooperate with a shaped leading edge of the earth working tool.

25. A ground engaging member as claimed in claim 24 wherein the upper surface is bevelled.

26. A ground engaging member as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, including a nut in which the female thread is formed, and a cooperating housing in which the nut is located, wherein, in use, the nut and the cooperating housing are located between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool.Tl. A ground engaging member as claimed in claim 26 wherein, in use, the nut and the cooperating housing are located between the mounting element and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool.

28. A ground engaging member as claimed in claim 26 or 27 wherein the nut has one or more ridges formed along at least one of its sides and the cooperating housing has a corresponding shape.

29. A ground engaging member as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28 wherein the nut has a generally dog-bone cross-sectional shape and the cooperating housing has a corresponding shape.

30. A ground engaging member as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 29 wherein the nut is prevented from rotating by the cooperating housing.

31. A mounting system for rigidly mounting a ground engaging member to a mechanical earth-working tool, the mounting system including: a mounting element configured to be affixed, in use, to the mechanical earth-working tool; one or more first engagement elements formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the first engagement elements being configured to engage with the mounting element;one or more second engagement elements formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the second engagement elements being configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earth-working tool; a threaded fastener having a head arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element; a nut with a female thread, the nut being located in a cooperating housing in the ground engaging member, between the bearing surface and the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool; wherein tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, draws the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and draws the second engagement elements to the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool, thereby rigidly mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earthworking tool.

32. A mounting system for rigidly mounting a ground engaging member to a mechanical earth-working tool, the mounting system including: a mounting element configured to be affixed, in use, to the mechanical earth-working tool; one or more first engagement elements formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the first engagement elements being configured to engage with the mounting element; one or more second engagement elements formed with or attached to the ground engaging member, the second engagement elements being configured to engage with an edge of the mechanical earth-working tool; a threaded fastener having a head arranged to act against a bearing surface of the mounting element; a nut with a female thread, the nut having one or more ridges extending along at least one side thereof and being located in a cooperating housing in the ground engaging member, the housing having one or more grooves arranged to receive the one or more ridges; wherein tightening the threaded fastener in the female thread, while the first engagement elements are positioned to engage with the mounting element, draws the ground engaging member towards the bearing surface, and draws the second engagement elements to the edge of the mechanical earth-working tool, thereby rigidly mounting the ground engaging member to the mechanical earthworking tool.

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