Protection systems

Abstract

A protection system including a mount adapted to be fixed to a wear panel of equipment or machinery, said mount having a lower face adapted to rest against a face of the wear panel to be protected and an upper face spaced from said lower face for engagement by a wear part, a wear part adapted to be releasably mounted on or to said mount, a lock assembly adapted to releasably lock said wear part to said mount, said lock assembly including a locking member arranged for spiral movement from an unlocked position to a locked position and vice versa, wherein said mount and said wear part have complementary engagement means adapted to allow relative sliding movement therebetween from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa, wherein said mount and said wear part each have a first recess or opening therein arranged to at least partially align when said wear part and said mount are in the engaged position, and wherein said mount and / or said wear part has at least one second recess or opening therein opening into said first recess or opening, wherein said lock assembly is adapted to be fitted to said first recess or opening in said wear part so as to extend into said first recess or opening in said mount to at least substantially prevent sliding movement of said wear part relative to said mount towards the disengaged position, and wherein said locking member can be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position to engage in one or more of the at least one second recess or opening in said mount and / or said wear part. 20 26 20 51 75 30 J un 2 02 6 3 0 J u n 2 0 2 6 A B S T R A C T 2 0 2 6 2 0 5 1 7 5

Description

This invention relates to protection systems for earthmoving, mining, conveying, crushing and processing equipment and the like. In particular, the invention relates to protection systems for protecting faces and edges of equipment and machinery which would otherwise be directly contacted by abrasive material moving relative thereto. Such faces include lips and wings of excavator buckets, face shovel buckets and dragline buckets and various faces of many other types of equipment and machinery which would otherwise be subject to abrasive wear or wear by other component contact. Some known face protection systems typically incorporate two main components, the first component being a mount which rests on a face of the panel to be protected or an adjacent face and is retained by welding it onto the item to be protected and the second being a wear part such as a lip shroud, wing shroud, wear plate or wear pad (or runner) which is removably mounted, retained, secured, or locked to the mount. Such systems are sometimes referred to as retainer systems or locking systems or sometimes simply as locks. For example, in the case of an excavator bucket, various components of the bucket are protected from abrasion by overburden, coal, iron ore or some other material (referred to generally herein as spoil) by replaceable wear parts of various forms. For example, the bucket lip is generally protected by lip shrouds mounted to the lip between the teeth and the wings or side walls of the bucket are protected by wing shrouds, so that the shrouds wear rather than the lip or the wings and can be more easily replaced when worn to a predetermined state. In this 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 specification, the component or part being protected by the wear part is sometimes referred to as a “mother part” even though such a part might itself eventually be replaced. One example of such a part is the lip of an excavator bucket or dragline bucket. Another part might be the wing of a dragline bucket or excavator bucket which is normally protected by wing shrouds. The bottom panels and / or the side panels of an excavator bucket would generally be taken to be a mother part even though they may eventually wear out and sometimes can be replaced. A protection system of the present type typically includes one or more wear parts removably mounted on a corresponding number of mounts which are fixed to the mother part generally by welding. When the wear parts wear to a predetermined extent, the wear parts are removed from the mounts and replaced by new wear parts which are fitted to the same mounts. Eventually the mounts also become too worn and then must be removed and replaced by new mounts. In this specification, the term “wear panel” is intended to encompass panels of equipment or machinery such as the side walls and bottom walls of face shovels, excavator buckets, dragline buckets, and similar panels which are subject to abrasive wear, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning. The term may also extend to other components such as lips and wings and also rigging components which might be subject to abrasive wear. One of the difficulties faced by protection systems is that wear parts can loosen on their respective mounts which results in an increased wear rate of both the wear parts and their respective mounts. Such loosening can be the result of wear between the wear part and the mount or loosening of the locking, retaining 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 or securing mechanism due to abrasive wear of the locking mechanism itself or in the case of buckets, continual changing movement of the bucket in various directions such as changing from the forward direction to the backward direction and vice versa. While various attempts have been made to overcome or ameliorate problems associated with wear protection systems, problems still remain. Another problem is that fines work their way into various components of some protection systems causing increased wear rates of the wear part or the locking mechanism and sometimes causing difficulties in removing worn wear parts. Another problem with some systems is that a wear part and its locking system or retaining system includes numerous components and some components get lost on site or in transit which can result in longer machine downtimes. Consequently it would be advantageous in some cases to have a lesser number of components in a protection system and in some cases it would be advantageous to be able to assemble a wear part together with its locking components in some manner for transit and in some cases also with its mount. The specification of the present applicant’s earlier patent application No. 2024203091 describes and illustrates a protection system which includes a wear part, a mount and a lock assembly which is adapted to releasably lock the wear part to the mount. That specification is incorporated herein by way of reference. The present invention is aimed at providing a lock assembly for protection systems which include a wear part and a mount which 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 is more effective and / or more easily used or replaced than some known systems, in at least some cases. In this specification, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the term “forward” and its derivatives are to be understood as being in the direction of movement of the bucket, blade or other working part when digging, filling or transferring spoil. Terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “side”, “front”, “rear”, and the like are to be understood in the context of the bucket, blade or other working part so that the leadingedge of the bucket is the edge of the bucket at the front where spoil enters the bucket or the leading edge of the blade where contact is initially made with the spoil. In the case of a working part such as a chute, the entry point of the spoil would be the “leading edge” or end although terms like “entry point” or “exit” may be used. Further, in some cases terms such as “upper” and “lower” may be used but are not intended to limit the invention to use in any particular orientation but to more easily describe the invention in a manner which can be more easily understood by persons skilled in the art. In some cases, the term “upper” is intended to refer to the outer face of a component and the term “lower” to refer to an inner face, the inner face being the face intended to engage the face of a wear panel other component to be protected. With the foregoing in view, the invention in a first aspect resides broadly in a protection system including: a mount adapted to be fixed to a wear panel of equipment or machinery, said mount having a lower face adapted to rest against a face of the wear panel to be protected and an upper face spaced from said lower face for engagement by a wear part; 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 a wear part adapted to be releasably mounted on or to said mount, said wear part having a lower face adapted to rest on or adjacent the upper face of said mount; and a lock assembly adapted to releasably lock said wear part to said mount, said lock assembly including a locking member arranged for pivoting movement from an unlocked position to a locked position and vice versa; wherein said mount and said wear part have complementary engagement means adapted to allow relative sliding movement therebetween from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; and wherein said mount and said wear part each have a first recess or opening therein arranged to at least partially align when said wear part and said mount are in the engaged position, and wherein said mount and / or said wear part has at least one second recess or opening therein opening into said first recess or opening; and wherein said lock assembly is adapted to be fitted to said first recess or opening in said wear part so as to extend into said first recess or opening in said mount to at least substantially prevent sliding movement of said wear part relative to said mount towards the disengaged position; and wherein said locking member can be pivotally moved from the unlocked position to the locked position to engage in one or more of the at least one second recess or opening in said mount and / or said wear part. In a second aspect, the invention resides broadly in a protection system including: a mount adapted to be fixed to a wear panel of equipment or machinery, said mount having a lower face adapted to rest against a face of the wear panel to be protected and an upper face spaced from said lower face for engagement by a wear part; 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 a wear part adapted to be releasably mounted on or to said mount, said wear part having a lower face adapted to rest on or adjacent the upper face of said mount; and a lock assembly adapted to releasably lock said wear part to said mount, said lock assembly including a locking member arranged for spiral movement along an axis from an unlocked position to a locked position; wherein said mount and said wear part have complementary engagement means adapted to allow relative sliding movement therebetween from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; and wherein said mount and said wear part each have a first recess or opening therein arranged to at least partially align when said wear part and said mount are in the engaged position, and wherein said mount and / or said wear part has at least one second recess or opening therein opening into said first recess or opening; and wherein said lock assembly is adapted to be fitted to said first recess or opening in said wear part so as to extend into said first recess or opening in said mount to at least substantially prevent sliding movement of said wear part relative to said mount towards the disengaged position; and wherein said locking member is arranged to move from the unlocked position to the locked position to engage in one or more of the at least one second recess or opening in said mount and / or said wear part. In the second aspect, it is preferred that said lock assembly includes a main body with a cavity or recess therein adapted to at least partially house the locking member therein and at least one spiral ramp in said cavity or recess, said at least one spiral ramp being adapted for engagement by said locking member to cause said locking member to move through a predetermined 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 angle about an axis from the unlocked position to the locked position. It will be appreciated that the term “spiral” is intended to convey the concept of movement along an axis together with simultaneous pivoting movement about the axis. In the second aspect, it is preferred that said at least one spiral ramp is arranged to turn the locking member through 90 degrees. In a preferred form of the invention the at least one spiral ramp is comprised of two spaced apart spiral ramps. In such case it is preferred that each ramp spirals through 90 degrees. In such form, it is also preferred that the two ramps be diametrically opposite each other and provide support for the locking member at opposite sides. Preferably, the lock assembly includes actuation means for actuating the locking member to move from the disengaged position to the engaged position. In the first aspect of the invention it is preferred that the actuation means includes a pin or shaft and that the locking member be mounted on a pin or shaft for pivoting movement or rotation therewith about a pivot axis to move the locking member from the disengaged position to the engaged position and vice versa such that pivoting or rotation of the pin or shaft causes corresponding pivoting or rotation of the locking member. In such form, it is preferred that the pin or shaft have a hex head or a socket head. In a preferred form, the pin or shaft is a socket head cap screw bolt and in another preferred form it is a hex head bolt. In the second aspect of the invention, the actuation means includes a screw threaded shaft selected to cause spiralling movement of the locking member relative to the main body along the at least one spiral ramp while simultaneously moving along the screw threaded shaft as the screw threaded shaft screws into 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 8 the locking member and causes movement of the locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position. In such form of the invention, it is preferred that the screw- threaded shaft be arranged so that it can be unscrewed from the locking member when the locking member is in the locked position if desired. It is also preferred that the screw threaded shaft be secured to the main body of the lock assembly in a manner which allows the main body together with the screw threaded shaft to be separated from the locking member to allow the main body to be removed without the locking member if desired. Advantageously, such arrangement allows the main body and the screw threaded shaft to be separated from the locking member if the locking member becomes jammed in the wear part or the mount with which it is being used. Advantageously, in such arrangement, separation and removal of the main body from the locking member allows the main body to be lifted from the wear part which in turn allows access to the locking member. Advantageously, the arrangement allows easy access to a jammed locking member which can then be removed by way of levers or destruction by cutting equipment. In a preferred form of the invention in the second aspect, the screw threaded shaft is secured to the main body of the lock assembly in a manner which allows rotation of the shaft relative to the main body but prevents relative axial movement. In such arrangement rotation of the screw threaded shaft relative to the main body causes the main body to separate from the locking member and move axially relative thereto with the screw threaded shaft. It will be appreciated that in such arrangement, axial movement of the screw threaded shaft should be substantially prevented and in a preferred form of the invention, such movement is prevented by the outer end of the screw threaded shaft 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 9 engaging a circlip or the like which is arranged to form a stopper at the outer end of the screw threaded shaft. In such form of the invention in the second aspect, it is preferred that the screw threaded shaft be the shank of a bolt which extends through a passage in the main body of the lock assembly and is freely rotatable relative thereto. In such arrangement, it is preferred that the bolt be a socket head bolt. Further, in such form of the invention, it is also preferred that axial movement of the bolt towards the locking member be prevented by a shoulder or the like in the passage in the main body, towards the inner end thereof, and at the outer end by a removable circlip or the like. That is, in the case of the screw threaded shaft being a socket head bolt, axial movement of the bolt will be prevented by a shoulder in the bolt passage at the inner end and by a circlip or the like at the outer end, the circlip or the like being removable for assembly and disassembly of the lock assembly. In such arrangement, it will be appreciated that rotation of the screw threaded shaft will move the locking member towards and away from the main body depending on the direction of rotation of the screw threaded shaft. Preferably the lock assembly is fitted to the first recess or opening in the wear part by pushing it into the first recess manually or mechanically by use of a hammer or a pneumatic or hydraulic tool or clamping device. Preferably, said at least one second recess or opening is entirely in said mount. However, in some embodiments of the invention, the at least one second recess is entirely in the wear part and in other embodiments the at least one second recess is partly in the mount and partly in the wear part. In one 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 10 embodiment, the one or more recess is entirely in the mount and closed at its upper end by the lower face of the wear part. However, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the one or more recess is entirely in the mount and closed at its upper end by a portion of the mount. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a method of fitting a wear part to a mount including: providing a wear part adapted to be releasably mounted on or to a mount fitted to a mother part, the mount having a first face resting against a face of the wear panel being protected and a second face spaced from the first face for engagement by a wear part, and engagement means for engaging with complementary engagement means of the wear part to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative thereto from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa, the mount also having a first recess or opening therein; said wear part having a first recess or opening therein arranged to at least partially align with the first recess in the mount when said wear part and the mount are in the engaged position; the method further including sliding said wear part onto the mount such that the complementary engagement means of the wear part engage the engagement means of the mount; providing a lock assembly adapted to releasably lock said wear part to the mount, said lock assembly including a locking member arranged for pivoting movement from an unlocked position to a locked position and vice versa; fitting the lock assembly to the first opening or recess in said wear part and extending into the first recess or opening in the mount so as to at least substantially prevent sliding movement of said wear part relative to the mount towards the disengaged position; and 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 actuating said lock assembly to lock said wear part to the mount by engagement of said one or more locking members in one or more second recesses in the mount and / or the wear part or partly in one or the other of the mount and the wear part. In one preferred form of the invention, the one or more locking members are arranged for pivoting movement in one plane, but in another especially preferred form, the one or more locking members are arranged for spiral movement, that is simultaneous pivoting movement and axial movement along the pivot axis. Thus, in the method of fitting the wear part to the mount, in one form, the actuating step will be different from the actuating step in the other form. In the second aspect of the invention it is preferred that the lock assembly includes a main body or housing and that the locking member is mounted in or to the main body or housing and arranged to move from a disengaged position in which the locking member is at least substantially within or adjacent the main body or housing to an engaged position in which a predetermined portion of the locking member extends outwardly beyond the housing. In such form of the invention, it is preferred that the external shape of the housing be selected to complement the shape of the first recess or opening in the wear part and in the mount and to substantially engage therein to substantially prevent sliding movement of the wear part relative to the mount towards the disengaged position. In that respect, it will be appreciated that the main body or housing will bear forces which tend to force the wear part to slide off the mount. In one such form the main body or housing is slightly tapered towards the mount to allow easier fitting of the lock assembly into the first recess or opening in the respective wear part and 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 mount. Where the first recess or opening is rectangular in cross section, it is preferred that such taper be in the direction orthogonal to the direction of sliding engagement of the wear part and mount. Where the lock assembly includes a main body or housing it is preferred that the locking member be mounted in the housing for spiral movement from the disengaged position to the engaged position. In yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a method of removing a lock assembly as described herein from a wear part, the method including: rotating the screw threaded shaft in a direction to unscrew it from the locking member so as to cause the main body of the lock assembly to separate from the locking member; removing the main body from the wear part; and then removing the locking member from the wear part. Preferably, the lock assembly includes two locking members or one member with two locking portions. In such form it is preferred that the two locking members or portions be diametrically opposite whereby they can engage in respective second recesses on opposite sides of the first recess in the mount. In some embodiments of the invention the lock assembly includes a plurality of actuation means with each having one or more locking members or locking portions connected thereto or integral therewith. In other embodiments of the invention, the system includes two or more lock assemblies with each lock assembly incorporating one or more locking members. Preferably, the lock assembly includes securing means for releasably and / or selectively securing the locking member in the 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 engaged position. In a preferred form, the securing means secures the locking member in the engaged position until or unless a predetermined torque or force is applied to the actuation means. In a preferred form of the invention where the lock assembly includes a housing it is preferred that the securing means be contained within the housing. It will be appreciated that when the locking member moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position it may leave a void in the housing and in an embodiment which includes two diametrically opposite locking members each locking member may leave a void in the housing. Such voids could be subject to the ingress of fines. Consequently, it is preferred that the lock assembly include void filling means adapted to fill any such voids when the locking member / s are in the engaged position. It is also preferred that such void filling means be collapsible so as to allow the locking member / s to return to the disengaged position when desired. In one embodiment, the void filling means takes the form of an expandable and contractable cushion. Such a cushion may be constructed of a flexible synthetic or natural material such as rubber with air pockets therein and adapted to release air so as to contract upon a predetermined disengaging force being applied to the locking member or members. It is also preferred that the (or each) second recess in the mount be shaped to match the shape of the locking member / s so as to minimise the size of any voids created in the mount when the locking member or members are in the engaged position. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a mount for a protection system, including: 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 a first portion having a lower face adapted to rest against a face of the wear panel to be protected and an upper face spaced from said lower face; said mount having engagement means adapted to engage with complementary engagement means on a wear part to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative to the mount from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; and wherein said mount has a first recess or opening therein extending from said upper face towards said lower face and adapted to partially receive therein a lock assembly including a housing and a locking member mounted in or to said housing and wherein said mount has at least one second recess or opening therein opening into said first recess or opening and adapted to at least partially receive therein the locking member of the lock assembly. In some embodiments of the invention, the at least one second recess also opens to the upper face of the mount while in others, the second recess is closed at the upper face and the only opening opens directly to the first recess or opening. In yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a wear part for a protection system, including: a wear portion having an upper face adapted to bear against ore or spoil to be moved and a lower face spaced from said upper face and adapted to rest on or adjacent a mount secured to a wear panel to be protected, and engagement means extending from said lower face and adapted to engage with complementary engagement means on a mount to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative to the mount from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; said wear portion having at least one passage extending therethrough from said upper face to said lower face and between 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 said engagement means, the upper face being defined at least in part by an outer portion extending substantially about said passage and said lower face being defined at least in part by a portion adjacent said passage. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a wear part for a protection system, the protection system including a mount having a first portion with a lower face adapted to rest against a face of a wear panel to be protected and an upper face spaced from the lower face and engagement means adapted to engage with complementary engagement means on a wear part to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative to the mount from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa and the mount having a first recess or opening therein extending from the upper face towards the lower face and one or more second recesses or openings therein opening into the first recess or opening and to the upper face, the wear part including a wear portion having an upper face adapted to bear against ore or spoil to be moved and a lower face spaced from said upper face and adapted to rest on or adjacent the upper face of the mount, said wear portion having at least one passage extending therethrough from said upper face to said lower face, said upper face being defined at least in part by an outer portion extending substantially about said passage; and said lower face being defined at least in part by a portion adjacent said passage, said portion adjacent said passage being arranged to close at least one of the openings to the upper face of the one or more second recesses or openings in the mount. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in the combination of a mount and a wear part for a protection system, the mount having a first portion with a lower face adapted to rest against a face of a wear panel to be protected and an upper 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 face spaced from the lower face, and engagement means adapted to engage with complementary engagement means on the wear part to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative to the mount from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa, the mount having a first recess or opening therein extending from the upper face towards the lower face and one or more second recesses or openings therein opening into the first recess or opening and opening to the upper face, and the wear part including a wear portion having an upper face adapted to bear against ore or spoil to be moved and a lower face spaced from said upper face and adapted to rest on or adjacent the upper face of the mount, said wear portion having at least one passage extending therethrough from said upper face to said lower face, the upper face being defined at least in part by an outer portion extending substantially about said at least one passage, and said lower face being defined at least in part by a portion adjacent said at least one passage, said portion adjacent said at least one passage being arranged to close at least one of the openings to the upper face of the one or more second recesses or openings in the mount. Preferably the mount has one or more openings extending therethrough to provide suitable locations for welding the mount to the panel to be protected. In such form, it is preferred that at least one opening extends laterally across the mount and one is immediately below the first recess or opening. Advantageously, positioning of the openings in such manner allows welds to be made near to each end so that the mount is less likely to peel from the underlying panel by any load applied to the wear pad secured to the mount. 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 Preferably the lock assembly has recesses or protuberances in the upper face of the housing for engagement by a removal tool such as a lever or a lifting hook. In yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a lock assembly including: a housing formed by an upper part and a lower part, said upper part having an upper wall or top and said lower part having a lower wall or base, at least one of said upper part and said lower part including a side wall or side wall portion adapted to engage with the other one of said upper part and said lower part to define a cavity, said upper wall having at least one first opening therethrough and said side wall or side wall portion having at least one second opening therethrough; a pin or shaft extending at least partially through said cavity and said first opening in the upper wall; a locking member connected to or integral with said pin or shaft in said cavity for movement from a retracted position in which the locking member is at least substantially within the cavity to an extended position in which a predetermined portion of the locking member extends through the second opening in the side wall or side wall portion beyond the housing upon pivoting or rotation of the pin or shaft. In such form of the invention, it is preferred that the pin or shaft be supported at or near the lower end in a complementary recess in the lower wall or base and at or near the upper end in a complementary recess or opening in the upper wall or top. In a preferred form, the lock assembly includes two locking members operatively connected to or integral with the pin or shaft. However, in some embodiments, multiple pins or shafts are provided and they may have one or more locking members. 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 In one such form one pin or shaft includes two locking members or portions which are diametrically opposite whereby they can engage in respective second recesses on opposite sides of the first recess in the mount. In such case, it will be appreciated that the side wall or side wall portion will have one or more additional second openings therethrough. In still yet another aspect the invention resides broadly in a wear part for a protection system, including: a wear portion having an upper face adapted to bear against ore or spoil to be moved and a lower face spaced from said upper face and adapted to rest on or adjacent a mount secured to a wear panel to be protected; engagement means extending from or adjacent said lower face and adapted to engage with complementary engagement means on a mount to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative to the mount from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; said wear portion having at least one passage extending therethrough from said upper face to said lower face and adapted to receive therein a lock assembly including a locking member arranged for movement from a released position to a locking position and vice versa, the upper face being defined at least in part by an outer portion extending substantially about said passage; and at least one recess extending from said at least one passage into said wear portion and adapted to be engaged by the locking member of the lock assembly to releasably secure the lock assembly in a transport position, whereby the wear part and the lock assembly may be transported to a desired destination as one assembly, and wherein the at least one passage is adapted to allow at least a portion of the lock assembly to move further 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 into said at least one passage beyond said lower face upon release of the locking member from the at least one recess. In still yet another aspect the invention resides broadly in a wear part and lock assembly for a protection system: the wear part having an upper face adapted to bear against ore or spoil to be moved and a lower face spaced from said upper face and adapted to rest on or adjacent a mount secured to a wear panel to be protected and engagement means extending from or adjacent said lower face and adapted to engage with complementary engagement means on a mount to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative to the mount from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; at least one passage extending through said wear part from said upper face to said lower face and adapted to receive therein a lock assembly, the lock assembly including a locking member arranged for movement from a released position to a locking position and vice versa; at least one recess extending laterally from said at least one passage and adapted to be engaged by the locking member of the lock assembly to releasably secure the lock assembly in a transport position, whereby the wear part and the lock assembly may be transported to a desired destination as one assembly; and wherein the at least one passage is adapted to allow at least a portion of the lock assembly to move further into said at least one passage beyond said lower face upon release of the locking member from said at least one recess. In still yet another aspect the invention resides broadly in a protection system including: a mount adapted to be fixed to a wear panel of equipment or machinery, said mount having a lower face adapted to rest on 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 or against a face of the wear panel to be protected and an upper face spaced from said lower face; a wear part adapted to be releasably mounted on or to said mount, said mount and said wear part having complementary engagement means adapted to allow relative sliding movement therebetween from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; a lock assembly adapted to releasably lock said wear part to said mount, said lock assembly including a housing and a locking member arranged for movement from an unlocked position at least substantially in said housing to a locking position at least partially beyond said housing and vice versa; said mount and said wear part each have a first recess or opening therein arranged to at least partially align when said wear part and said mount are in the engaged position; wherein said mount and / or said wear part has at least one second recess or opening therein opening into said first recess or opening; and wherein said wear part has at least one third recess opening into said first recess above said at least one second recess and adapted to be engaged by said locking member to releasably secure the lock assembly in a transport position, whereby the wear part and the lock assembly may be transported to a desired destination as one assembly. In some such forms of the invention it will be appreciated that the wear part may also be fitted to the mount by engaging the complementary engagement means and it may also be locked in a transport position by engaging the locking member in the at least one second recess. 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig.1 is a pictorial representation of an excavator bucket with wing shrouds embodying the invention fitted to the side walls of the bucket and lip shrouds embodying the invention fitted to the lip of the bucket; Fig.2 is an enlarged portion of the representation of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a pictorial representation of one of the wing shrouds shown in the representation of Fig. 1; Fig.4 is a pictorial representation of on of the lip shrouds shown in the representation of Fig. 1; Fig.5 is a pictorial representation of a weld-on mount according to the present invention which is used to mount the wing shrouds and lip shrouds on the bucket illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a pictorial representation of the mounting portion of the wing shroud shown in Figs 1 to 4 and the lip shroud although different in overall shape has corresponding features relating to the present invention; Fig.7 is a pictorial representation of the lock assembly shown in Figs 1 to 4 locking the wing shroud to the side wall and the lip shroud to the lip; Fig.8A is a pictorial representation of the mount shown in Fig.5 and the wing shroud shown Fig. 3 and in part in Fig.6 and the lock assembly shown in Fig.7 in line for assembly; Fig.8B is a pictorial representation of the wing shroud and lock assembly shown in Fig.8A assembled with the lock assembly in the transport position without the mount; Fig.8C is a pictorial representation of the wing shroud, lock assembly and mount shown in Fig.8A assembled with the lock assembly in the locking position; 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 Fig.9 is a sectional elevation along line 9-9 of the wing shroud and lock assembly shown in line for assembly in Fig. 8A assembled with the lock assembly in the transport position; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a sectional end elevation of the assembly of Fig. 9 along Line 12 - 12; Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of the assembly of Fig. 9 along Line 13 - 13; Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the Lock assembly of Fig. 7; Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 with the locking members or portions in the locking position; Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 with the locking members or portions in the locking position; Fig. 17 is a sectional plan view of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 as shown in Fig. 14 along Line 17 - 17; Fig. 18A is a sectional plan view of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 as shown in Fig. 14 along Line 18A - 18A with the locking member in the extended (engaged) position; Fig. 18B is a sectional plan view of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 as shown in Fig. 14 along Line 18B - 18B with the locking member in the retracted (disengaged)position; Fig. 19 is a sectional side elevation of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 as shown in Fig. 15 along Line 19 - 19; Fig. 20 is a sectional end elevation of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 as shown in Fig. 19 along Line 20 - 20; Fig. 21 is a pictorial representation of the lock assembly of Fig. 7 with the components in line for assembly; Fig.22 is a pictorial representation of a different lock assembly according to the invention which could be used with wing shrouds and lip shrouds of the type shown in the previous drawings, the locking member being shown in the unlocked position ready for fitting to a shroud; 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 Fig.23 is another pictorial representation of the lock assembly shown in Fig. 22 with the locking member and actuating bolt shown in dark shading and the main body (or housing) shown in lighter shading, the locking member being in the unlocked position ready for fitting to a shroud; Fig. 24 is a top plan view of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 with the locking member in the unlocked position; Fig. 25 is a sectional side elevation of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 along line 25-25 in Fig. 24; Fig. 26 is a pictorial representation of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 with the components in line for assembly. Fig. 27 is a pictorial representation of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 with the locking member in the locked position; Fig. 28 is a pictorial representation of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 with the locking member and actuating bolt in dark shading and the main body or housing in light shading with the locking member in the locked position; Fig. 29 is a top plan view of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 with the locking member in the locked position; Fig. 30 is a side elevation of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 along line 30-30 in Fig. 29 with the locking member in the locked position: Fig. 31 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 along line 31-31 in Fig. 24; Fig. 32 is a pictorial representation of the main body of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 from the underside with a Belleville washer glued to the main body as seen from below to one side; Fig.33 is another pictorial representation of the main body of the lock assembly of Fig. 22 from the underside with a Belleville washer glued to the main body as seen from below to one end; Fig.34 is a pictorial representation of a lip shroud with a lock assembly of the type shown in Fig. 22 in its locking position; 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 Fig.35 is a top plan view of the lip shroud of Fig.34 with the lock assembly of Fig. 22 in the locked position; Fig.36 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 along line C-C through the centre of the lock assembly; Fig.37 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 along line E-E offset from the centre of the lock assembly; Fig.38 is a cross-sectional end elevation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 along line D-D through the centre of the lock assembly; Fig.39 is a pictorial representation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 with the lock assembly of Fig. 22 in line for assembly (or fitting); Fig.40 is a pictorial representation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 with the lock assembly of Fig. 22 in line for assembly (or fitting); Fig.41 is a pictorial representation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 with the lock assembly of Fig. 22 in its fitted locking position; Fig.42 is a pictorial representation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 with the lock assembly of Fig. 22 in its released position with the main body separated from the locking member; and Fig.43 is a pictorial representation of the lip shroud of Fig. 34 with the lock assembly of Fig. 22 in its released position with the main body removed from the lip shroud. The excavator bucket 10 illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 has a bottom panel or floor 11 which extends rearward from a front cutting lip 12 and is contiguous with an upwardly curved rear wall 13 and two spaced apart opposing side walls 14 and 16 which extend upwards from the bottom panel 11 to join the rear wall and terminate adjacent the ends of lip 12 respectively. The front edges of the side walls are strengthened by the addition of a side bar 19 which adds to the thickness of the side walls 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 25 adjacent their respective front edges and the heavier section of the side walls are then often referred to as “wings”. A set of spaced apart nose mounts 21 extend forward from the lip 12 and respective intermediate adapters 22 are mounted thereon. A corresponding number of teeth 23 are mounted to the forward ends of the adapters respectively in generally known manner. The lip 12 is protected between the nose mounts and adapters by respective lip shrouds 24 as will be described in more detail later. The front edges of each wing portion 19 of the side walls 14 and 16 are protected by a plurality of adjacent wing shrouds and in this case each side wall has a lower wing shroud 26 adjacent the end tooth, a middle wing shroud 27 immediately above the lower wing shroud and an upper wing shroud 28 immediately above the middle wing shroud. In this case the middle and upper wing shrouds are the same, but the lower wing shrouds are slightly different in outer shape so that they can abut the respective end nose mounts. Each lip shroud and each wing shroud is mounted to or on a mount 30 as can be seen in Fig. 5 and is retained or secured thereon by a lock assembly or lock component 70 as will be described later. The size and shape of the mount may differ depending on the mother part to which the mount is to be welded, for example, a lip or a wing or some other wear panel. The mount 30 has a base portion 31 and a locking portion 32 above the base portion and contiguous therewith. The base portion has a lower or bottom face 33 which is adapted to rest against the wear panel to be protected or an adjacent panel, and the locking portion has an upper face 34 which is spaced above 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 the lower face 33. The base portion includes outwardly extending elongate tongues 36 and 37 which are adapted to slidably engage in complementary elongate recesses 56 and 57 in the shroud 40 as can be seen in Fig. 6 to secure the shroud to the mount. The base portion has a weld passage 38 extending therethrough where weld may be applied to weld the mount to the mother part as well as fillets 39 where suitable for weld to be applied without interfering with the shroud or the lock assembly. As can be more easily seen in Fig. 12, a recess 41 generally rectangular in horizontal cross section is provided in the mount extending downwards from the upper face 34 to terminate in a generally parallel shoulder face 43 formed above and adjacent the lower face 33 and the recess 41 opens at its lower end to the lower face 33 at 46. Suitably, the shoulder face 43 provides a seat for the lock assembly which will be described later, to engage or sit on. Advantageously, a pair of opposed recesses 45 are provided in the locking portion of the mount, opening to the recess 41 and are adapted to releasably receive therein the respective locking members or portions 81 of the lock assembly as will be described in more detail later. The mounting portion 50 of the lip shroud or wing shroud, as the case may be, has a leading side or edge 53 and a trailing side or edge 54. The trailing side 54 can be seen in the mounting portion 50 shown removed in Fig. 6, that portion being the portion relevant to the present invention, the mounting portion being adapted to engage with the mount 30 described earlier. The size and shape of the portion of the mount which is not shown will depend on the mother part to which the shroud is to be mounted, for example a lip or a wing or some other wear panel. 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 The mounting portion 50 of the shroud illustrated is of generally square form and has an upper or outer face 58 adapted to bear against ore or spoil as the excavator bucket moves and a lower face 59 spaced from the upper face which is adapted to rest on or adjacent the mount 30 when the mount is secured to a wear panel to be protected. It will be appreciated that lower face 59 of the shroud mounting portion abuts upper face 34 of the mounting portion of the mount 30 and the tongues 36 and 37 of the mount slidably engage in the grooves or recesses 56 and 57 respectively as the shroud is pushed onto the mount. A recess or passage 61 extends through the mounting portion 50 of the shroud and is adapted to slidably receive therein (from above, in the orientation illustrated) the lock assembly 70 illustrated in Fig. 7 which will be described in more detail later. Advantageously, the shroud illustrated includes opposed recesses 62 which are vertically above and in line with the respective recesses 45 in the mount for a purpose which will be explained in more detail later. Suitably, the lower face (or inner face) 59 of the shroud mounting portion is generally planar to match upper face (or outer face) 34 of the mount. The lock assembly 70 includes a housing 72 of generally rectangular prism shape formed by a lower part or base 73 and an upper part 74. The upper part has an upper portion or top 75 and a skirt 76 depending therefrom to form a cavity 77, with the skirt being arranged to engage the base to close the cavity at the lower end. The base 73 has a cylindrical hole 75 provided therein and a vertical shaft 78 is rotatably mounted therein. The shaft extends upwardly to extend through an aligned hole 79 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 in the upper part of the housing. It will be seen that the upper part of the housing is substantially solid so as to withstand shear forces between the mount and the shroud. That is to say, the solid part of the plane of engagement between the shroud and the mount aligns within the solid part of the housing so that the solid part bears the shear forces which tend to disengage the shroud from the mount. However, as can be seen in Figs. 8A and 8B, the opposed second recesses 62 are engaged by the opposite locking members or locking portions 81 and 82 for transport purposes which assists in ensuring that the number of lock assemblies 70 supplied to a work site matches the number of shrouds or other wear parts supplied to site. Suitably, the upper part of the housing is secured to the lower part by two spaced apart roll pins 80 which extend horizontally through the skirt 76 on one side, through a mounting block portion 93 of the base and through the skirt 76 on the other side to secure the upper part of the housing to the base part. As can be seen more clearly in Figs. 7 to 21, two opposed cam lobes 81 and 82 are integrally formed with the shaft 78 and extend sideways therefrom in diametrically opposite directions. Advantageously, the cam lobes are arranged to move from a retracted (or disengaged) position as shown in Fig 18A to an extended (or engaged) position as shown in Fig 18B and in section in Fig. 20. It will be appreciated that in the engaged position, the cam lobes will extend into the respective recesses 45 in the mount 30 as can be seen in Fig.13. Suitably, the upper end of the shaft 78 is provided with a recess 94 therein shaped to receive a square key spanner for pivoting the shaft about its vertical axis to move the cam lobes from the disengaged position to the engaged position and vice versa. In 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 29 other embodiments of the invention, the recess is hexagonal and adapted to receive an Allen key. Further, in the embodiment shown, the shaft terminates flush with the outer face of the top wall of the housing but in other embodiments it extends beyond the top wall and in such cases it may have a hex head. As mentioned previously, when the locking member moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position in some embodiments of the invention it will leave a void in the housing and in embodiments which include two diametrically opposed locking members or portions 81 and 82 in the shape of cam lobes, each locking member or portion may leave a void in the housing. Such voids may be subject to the ingress of fines. As can be seen best in Figs. 18 to 21, the lock assembly shown also includes void fillers 83 and 84 which in this case are made of a synthetic elasticised rubber-like compound which is adapted to expand from a collapsed or compressed disposition when in the disengaged position to an expanded disposition when in the engaged position so as to fill or at least substantially fill the voids 88 and 89 created in the base of the housing when locking members or portions are in the extended position. It will also be appreciated that when the locking member moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position it is at least desirable to prevent it returning to the disengaged position during operation of the excavator. As can be seen in Figs. 18 to 21, the lock assembly shown includes a shaft locking device 91 which is engaged by a sprocket like flange or washer 92 on the shaft to prevent the shaft returning to the disengaged position unless a predetermined force or torque is applied. The flange or washer may be 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 integrally formed with the shaft if desired. The locking device 91 is formed of a flexible polyurethane compound or the like which is selected to engage the flange or washer 92 to prevent pivoting movement of the shaft until application of a predetermined torque and allow rotation or pivoting of the shaft above such predetermined torque. In use, in a first step, the mount 30 is welded onto the upper face of the lip or the outer face of the wing or another face to be protected via the weld passage 38 and weld fillets 39. Then the shroud 24, 27, 28 is fitted to the mount by sliding the shroud onto the mount so that the tongues 36 and 37 engage in the elongate recesses 56 and 57 respectively from the trailing side or edge 54 and the passage 61 in the shroud to align with the passage or recess 41 in the mount. Once the shroud is in the engaged position on the mount 30, the lock assembly 71 is ready to be fitted by pushing it into passage 61 and then partially through the passage to engage in recess 41 in the mount such that the cam lobes 81 and 82 align with recesses 44 and 45 in the mount. At that point, the cam shaft or pin 76 is pivoted about its axis which causes cam lobes 81 and 82 to move into engagement with respective recesses 44 and 45. It will be appreciated that engagement of the cam lobes in the recesses together with engagement of the cam lobes with the bottom face of the shroud secures the lock assembly partly in the mount and partly in the shroud whereby the lock assembly housing 72 prevents the shroud sliding off the mount. A preferred embodiment of the alternative lock assembly (described earlier as the second aspect of the invention) will 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 now be described, and corresponding parts, components, or features will be referenced by corresponding numbers where possible or desirable except prefaced by the numeral “1”. The alternative lock assembly 170 includes a housing or main body 172 of generally rectangular prism shape formed by a lower part or base 173 and an upper part 174. The upper part has an upper portion or top 175 and a skirt portion 176 depending therefrom to form a cavity 177. Whereas the skirt portion of the earlier version engaged a base which supported one end of a drive shaft the present embodiment does not have a base, but the main body is sufficient in itself to provide the support required. In that respect, the main body is a solid body with a passage 179 extending therethrough and a screw threaded shaft in the form of an M24 Socket head cap screw bolt 201 mounted in that passage. It will be seen that the upper part of the housing is substantially solid for two main reasons, the first being to withstand shear forces in use between the mount and the shroud and the second being to support the M24 cap screw bolt 201. That is to say, the solid part of the plane of engagement between the shroud and the mount aligns within the solid part of the housing so that the solid part bears the shear forces which tend to disengage the shroud from the mount as with the lock assembly according to the earlier version. As can be seen more clearly in Figs 23 and 25, the upper portion 179a of the passage 179 through the main body has a larger diameter than the lower portion. In that respect, the head 201a of the cap screw bolt is a running fit in the upper portion while the lower portion provides a running fit for the thread portion 201b of the M16 bolt. Thus, the arrangement keeps the 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 bolt properly aligned in the passage and provides a shoulder 179b which supports the cap head 201a of the cap head bolt and provides a surface on which the cap head can rotate. Additionally, a Belleville lock washer 205 is fitted to the shank of the bolt 201b to help secure the locking member 180 in the locked position. Additionally, the bolt head is secured in the passage at its upper end by a thrust washer 201c and a circlip 201d which is mounted in a groove provided near the entry to the passage 179. The cavity in the lower part of the main body 172 more or less forms a “housing” for the locking member 180. The locking member 180 has a central threaded passage 181 therethrough and the M16 bolt is screwed into that passage to secure the locking member to the main body 172 while allowing it to pivot on the bolt thread while moving axially there along in a spiral movement. Importantly, as can be seen more clearly in Figs 32 and 33, the main body is formed with a spiral ramp 173a within the housing portion of the main body, the spiral ramp comprising two ramp portions 173a and 173b in this particular embodiment of the invention. The two ramp portions are more or less diametrically opposite each other and inclined in the same rotational direction. The ramps are positioned to be engaged by the inner face of the locking member, that face being the one closest to the bolt head 201a. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the ramps have a pitch of 89mm which is selected to turn the locking member through ninety degrees with an axial movement of 22.25mm (that is, 89mm divided by 4 for a 90 degree turn) from the unlocked 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 33 position to the locked position. The pitch of the socket cap bolt is independent of the pitch of the ramps except that it changes the rate of axial movement of the locking member and consequently, the torque required to rotate the cap head bolt. At the bottom of each of the two ramps is a lead in path to the respective ramp which transitions from a vertical face to an angle of 45 degrees to the vertical axis of the bolt and then transitions to the final locking face for the locking member at 90 degrees to the vertical axis of the cap head bolt. Advantageously, the corners of the locking member are bevelled or chamfered at 45 degrees to assist in leading the locking member into the respective ramps. In use, the shroud (be it a wing shroud, a lip shroud or other protection device) is fitted to the mount on the wear panel in the usual manner by sliding the wear part onto the mount. The lock assembly is then pushed into the first passage in the wear part so as to engage in the first passage in the mount to prevent the wear part from sliding off the mount. The locking member of the lock assembly is then actuated by screwing the socket head bolt into the locking member in a clockwise manner if the bolt is a righthand threaded bolt, preferably by a rattle gun (that is, a tool known as an impact driver). That action simultaneously will cause the locking member to turn in a spiralling action and slide up the respective ramps in the main body (or housing) of the lock assembly. At the same time, the force of the locking member will pull the main body down into solid engagement with the mount. In order to remove the lock assembly from a wear part. the socket head cap bolt is unscrewed from the locking member in an anticlockwise manner, preferably by a rattle gun. That action 2026205175   30 Jun 2026 will generally cause the main body to lift away from the locking member whereupon it can be lifted from the wear part to give access to the locking member which remains in the wear part. At that point, the locking member can be prised from the wear part and the wear part can be pushed off the mount. While the foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in many other forms and all such forms are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims or as described herein.

Claims

1. A lock assembly including:a housing formed by an upper part and a lower part, said upper part having an upper wall or top and said lower part havinga lower wall or base, at least one of said upper part and said lower part including a side wall or side wall portion adaptedto engage with the other one of said upper part and said lower part to define a cavity, said upper wall having at least one first opening therethrough and said side wall or side wall portion having at least one second opening therethrough;a pin or shaft extending at least partially through said cavity and said first opening in the upper wall; anda locking member connected to or integral with said pin orshaft in said cavity for movement from a retracted position in which the locking member is at least substantially within the cavity to an extended position in which a predetermined portion of the locking member extends through the second opening in theside wall or side wall portion beyond the housing upon pivoting or rotation of the pin or shaft.

2. A lock assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pin or shaft is supported at or near the lower end in a complementary recess in the lower wall or base and at or near the upper end in a complementary recess or opening in the upper wall or top.

3. A lock assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 including two locking members or portions operatively connected to or integral with said pin or shaft.

4. A lock assembly according to claim 3 wherein both locking members or portions are diametrically opposite and are arranged2026205175   01 Jul 2026to engage in respective second recesses on opposite sides of the first recess in the mount.

5. A method of fitting a wear part to a mount including: providing a wear part adapted to be releasably mounted on or to a mount fitted to a mother part, the mount having a firstface resting against a face of the wear panel being protectedand a second face spaced from the first face for engagement by a wear part, and engagement means for engaging with complementary engagement means of the wear part to allow sliding movement of the wear part relative thereto from a disengagedposition to an engaged position and vice versa, the mount alsohaving a first recess or opening therein;said wear part having a first recess or opening therein arranged to at least partially align with the first recess in the mount when said wear part and the mount are in the engaged position;the method further including sliding said wear part onto the mount such that the complementary engagement means of the wear part engage the engagement means of the mount;providing a lock assembly adapted to releasably lock said wear part to the mount, said lock assembly including a locking member arranged for movement from an unlocked position to a locked position and vice versa;pushing the lock assembly to the first opening or recessin said wear part and extending into the first recess or openingin the mount so as to at least substantially prevent sliding movement of said wear part relative to the mount towards the disengaged position; andactuating said lock assembly to lock said wear part to the mount by engagement of said one or more locking members in one or more second recesses in the mount and / or the wear part or partly in one or the other of the mount and the wear part.2026205175   01 Jul 20266. A protection system including:a mount adapted to be fixed to a wear panel of equipment or machinery, said mount having a lower face adapted to rest against a face of the wear panel to be protected and an upper face spaced from said lower face for engagement by a wear part;a wear part adapted to be releasably mounted on or to said mount, said wear part having a lower face adapted to rest on or adjacent the upper face of said mount; anda lock assembly adapted to releasably lock said wear part to said mount, said lock assembly including a locking member arranged for spiral movement along an axis from an unlocked position to a locked position;wherein said mount and said wear part have complementary engagement means adapted to allow relative sliding movement therebetween from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa; andwherein said mount and said wear part each have a first recess or opening therein arranged to at least partially align when said wear part and said mount are in the engaged position, and wherein said mount and / or said wear part has at least one second recess or opening therein opening into said first recess or opening; andwherein said lock assembly is adapted to be fitted to said first recess or opening in said wear part so as to extend into said first recess or opening in said mount to at least substantially prevent sliding movement of said wear part relative to said mount towards the disengaged position; andwherein said locking member is arranged to move from the unlocked position to the locked position to engage in one or more of the at least one second recess or opening in said mount and / or said wear part.2026205175   01 Jul 20267. A protection system according to claim 6 wherein said lock assembly includes a main body with a cavity or recess thereinadapted to at least partially house the locking member thereinand at least one spiral ramp in said cavity or recess, said at least one spiral ramp being adapted for engagement by said locking member to cause said locking member to move through a predetermined angle about an axis from the unlocked position to the locked position.

8. A protection system according to claim 7 wherein said at least one spiral ramp is arranged to turn the locking member through about 90 degrees.

9. A protection system according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the at least one spiral ramp is comprised of two spaced apartspiral ramps.

10. A protection system according to any one of claims 6 to 8wherein each ramp spirals through about 90 degrees.

11. A protection system according to claim 6 or claim 7 whereinthe two ramps are diametrically opposite each other.

12. A protection system according to claim 11 wherein said tworamps provide support for the locking member at opposite sides.

13. A protection system according to any one of claims 6 to 12wherein the lock assembly includes actuation means for actuating the locking member to move from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

14. A protection system according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the actuation means includes a screw threaded shaft2026205175   01 Jul 2026selected to cause spiralling movement of the locking member relative to the main body along the at least one spiral ramp while simultaneously moving along the screw threaded shaft as the screw threaded shaft screws into the locking member and causes movement of the locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position.

15. A protection system according to claim 14 wherein the screw-threaded shaft is arranged so that it can be unscrewed from the locking member when the locking member is in the locked position.

16. A protection system according to claim 15 wherein the screw threaded shaft is secured to the main body of the lock assembly in a manner which allows the main body together with the screw threaded shaft to be separated from the locking member to allow the main body to be removed without the locking member.

17. A protection system according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the screw threaded shaft is secured to the main body of the lock assembly in a manner which allows rotation of the screw threaded shaft relative to the main body but prevents relative axial movement.

18. A protection system according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the screw threaded shaft is secured to the main body of the lock assembly in a manner which allows rotation of the screw threaded shaft relative to the main body but prevents relative axial movement.

19. A protection system according to any one of claims 16 to18 wherein rotation of the screw threaded shaft relative to the main body causes the main body to separate from the locking2026205175   01 Jul 2026member and move axially relative thereto with the screw threaded shaft.

20. A protection system according to any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein axial movement of the screw threaded shaft is substantially prevented.

21. A protection system according to claim 20 wherein axial movement of the screw threaded shaft is prevented by the outer end of the screw threaded shaft engaging a circlip or the like which is arranged to form a stopper at the outer end of the screw threaded shaft.

22. A protection system according to any one of claims 14 to 21 wherein the screw threaded shaft is the shank of a bolt which extends through a passage in the main body of the lock assembly and is freely rotatable relative thereto.

23. A protection system according to claim 22 wherein the bolt is a socket head bolt.

24. A protection system according to claim 23 wherein axial movement of the bolt towards the locking member is prevented by a shoulder or the like in the passage in the main body, towards the inner end thereof, and at the outer end by a removable circlip or the like.

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