Wear assembly for earth working equipment

Abstract

Wear caps protect the wear surface of a coupler for earth working equipment. These wear caps are subject to erosion and wear by contact with abrasive materials experienced in, for example, excavating operations. The wear caps can be attached to upper and lower legs of the coupler and prevent the upper and lower legs from wearing. Each wear cap is secured to a retaining feature on a separate mounting structure. The separate mounting structures are aligned and staggered such that mounting a wear cap to a rearward separate mounting structure is performed first. The separate mounting structures on the upper legs can be positioned on top of one another.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the international application filed on February 7, 2020, with international application number PCT / US2020 / 017372, national application number 202080011636.X, entitled "Abrasion-resistant components for earthmoving equipment", which has entered the Chinese national phase.

[0002] Related applications

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 803,317, filed on February 8, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] This disclosure relates to wear-resistant components for earthmoving equipment. Background Technology

[0005] During mining and construction operations, replaceable teeth are typically attached to earthmoving equipment to penetrate the ground and prevent premature wear of equipment such as excavator buckets. The teeth consist of wear-resistant components, such as adapters and tips, held together by locking mechanisms. During use, these wear-resistant components gradually wear down due to abrasive conditions and heavy loading. Once worn out, the wear-resistant components are removed from the equipment and replaced. Using such wear-resistant components provides a cost-effective method for excavation and other earthmoving operations because it reduces the need for repairing or replacing more expensive foundation equipment or other parts of the equipment, such as the lip.

[0006] Wear caps are sometimes mounted on couplings to cover highly worn surfaces, protecting them and thereby extending their service life. Wear caps are typically provided with grooves and mounted on a tongue formed on the wear-resistant surface of the part to be protected. However, wear caps also often have various disadvantages, such as imposing limitations on the design of the underlying part, difficulty in installation or removal, reduced penetration, and / or increased manufacturing and / or inventory costs. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This disclosure relates to excavation teeth, and more particularly to wear-resistant components including teeth.

[0008] In one example, a wear cap protects the wear-resistant surface of the joint from erosion caused by contact with abrasives, such as during digging operations. The wear cap can be attached to both the inner and outer surfaces of the joint to protect the joint behind the nose. Even if multiple wear caps cover the same inner or outer surface, each wear cap is secured to the wear-resistant surface by an independent mounting structure.

[0009] In another example, the wear-resistant component includes a connector comprising at least one leg, and a first wear-resistant cap and a second wear-resistant cap mounted on the leg at separate first and second mounting platforms.

[0010] In another example, the connector has one or two identical abrasion caps on each leg of the connector, wherein the abrasion caps are installed independently and substantially cover both legs.

[0011] In another example, the connector has two wear-resistant caps on one leg and a single wear-resistant cap on the other leg, wherein the wear-resistant caps are identical, all fixed to a separate mounting structure, and collectively substantially cover both legs of the connector.

[0012] In another example, the connector for the wear-resistant component has a top leg that includes a front attachment feature and a rear attachment feature, the rear attachment feature being spaced apart from and different from the front attachment feature, wherein each attachment feature mounts the wear-resistant cap to the connector.

[0013] In another example, the connector includes a top leg and a bottom leg for crossing the lip, wherein one or more abrasion caps cover at least half of one or both legs. In another example, one or more abrasion caps cover at least 70% of one or both legs. In yet another example, multiple abrasion caps cover at least 70% of the top leg. In yet another example, a single abrasion cap covers at least 70% of the bottom leg.

[0014] In another example, a wear-resistant component for earthmoving equipment includes: a connector having a forward-projecting nose and an inner surface behind the nose, wherein the inner surface has at least two independent retaining structures; a wear-resistant member having a chamber for receiving the nose; a lock for securing the wear-resistant member to the connector; and a wear-resistant cap mounted on each of the independent retaining structures.

[0015] In another example, a connector for mounting on a base of earthmoving equipment includes a forward-projecting nose for mounting a wear-resistant component, an inner leg extending onto the base, and an inner surface behind the nose, wherein the inner surface extends onto the inner leg and has at least two independent retaining structures for mounting a wear-resistant cap.

[0016] In another example, the connector includes at least one rear tapered dovetail groove for mounting the abrasion cap, to facilitate easier mounting and / or removal of the abrasion cap.

[0017] In another example, the connector for the wear-resistant component includes a top leg with reduced thickness to accommodate the use of a wear-resistant cap, resulting in a longer service life, but with reduced impact on the overall thickness of the teeth, ground penetration capability, and / or bucket loading or unloading. In one example, the maximum thickness of the top leg is less than 35% of the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the lip. In another example, the maximum thickness of the top leg is less than 30% of the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the lip. In yet another example, the maximum thickness of the top leg is approximately 26% of the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the lip (e.g., in the range of +25.5% to +26.5%).

[0018] In another example, the connector has: a rear section behind the front portion of the lip, the rear section including top and bottom legs for crossing the lip of the bucket; and a front section in front of the lip, the front section including a nose for mounting a tip in front of the lip, wherein the increase in thickness of the rear section is smaller than the increase in thickness of the front section to accommodate the use of a wear-resistant cap, thereby achieving a longer service life, but with reduced impact on the total thickness of the teeth, ground penetration capability, and / or bucket loading or unloading. In one example, the maximum thickness of the rear section is less than 10% greater than the maximum thickness of the front section. In another example, the maximum thickness of the rear section is less than 9% greater than the maximum thickness of the front section. In yet another example, the maximum thickness of the rear section is only about 8.5% greater than the maximum thickness of the front section.

[0019] In another example, the connector includes an adjacent lifting hole through the top leg to receive a hook or other means for lifting the connector. In one such example, the top leg receives a wear-resistant cap above the hole.

[0020] In another example, a connector for mounting on the base of an earthmoving equipment includes a forward-projecting nose for mounting a wear-resistant component, an inner leg extending onto the base, an inner surface facing away from the base, and at least one hole in the inner surface, the hole extending generally toward the base and configured to receive a lifting hook for lifting the connector. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 The side view of the wear-resistant component according to this disclosure shows that the wear-resistant component is in the form of teeth with wear-resistant caps, wherein the teeth are fixed to the lip.

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The side view of the wear-resistant component with the wear-resistant cap removed.

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1Side view of the connector.

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Exploded perspective view of the wear-resistant components.

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A top view of the connector.

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the connector.

[0027] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 An internal perspective view of the wear-resistant cap.

[0028] Figure 8 It is along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view taken by line 8-8 in the figure.

[0029] Figure 9 Is with Figure 8 Cross-sectional view of the alternative connector leg and wear cap at the same location.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a side view of an alternative wear-resistant component according to this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Digging teeth are typically attached to the digging edge of earthmoving equipment (e.g., buckets) to improve digging and prevent premature wear of the equipment. As an example, a tooth may comprise a connector attached to the bucket and a tip attached to the connector. Alternatively, the tooth may comprise an intermediate connector mate between the connector and the tip. The connector may be a component attached to the lip (by welding or otherwise), or it may be an integral part of a cast lip including a forward-projecting nose. While the tip typically wears out faster, the connector is also affected by loading and wear conditions, making both components wear-resistant parts that need to be replaced after a period of use; for example, these wear-resistant parts gradually wear away due to wear conditions and heavy loading during use. Once worn out, the wear-resistant parts are removed from the equipment and replaced. Using such wear-resistant parts provides a cost-effective method for digging and other earthmoving operations because it generates less waste material when replacing parts and reduces the need to repair or replace more expensive foundation equipment such as the lip.

[0032] Couplers can come in many different forms and are attached in different ways. Figure 1In the example, connector 14 is welded to the lip plate 8 of the bucket. However, connectors can be secured in other ways, such as by locks, bolts, etc., or may be an integral part of the cast lip. Teeth can also be secured to other digging edges, such as bucket sidewalls, blades, or digging cutterheads. Connectors can typically support multiple consecutive tips (or intermediate connectors) before they wear off and need replacement. Wear caps are sometimes secured to the exposed surface of the connector as sacrificial parts to extend the connector's service life. This is particularly advantageous when the connector is welded to the lip, as the removal and replacement process requires significant manpower and time, often necessitating the shutdown of the bucket (or other equipment). Although specific examples are discussed below, the inventive concepts contained herein are not limited to these examples.

[0033] refer to Figure 1-8 In the example shown, the lip 8 of the bucket has an inner or upper surface 27, an outer or lower surface 29, a ramp or chamfer 31, and a front surface 33. Figure 1 The wear-resistant component 10 includes a connector 14 fixed to a lip 8 and a tip 12 fixed to the connector 14. The connector 14 includes rearwardly extending legs 14A and 14B that cross the lip 8 and are welded to the lip, and a chamber 12A received in the tip 12. Figure 1-2 The connector 14 further includes an inner surface 14F and an outer surface 14G extending rearward from the nose 14E and onto the legs 14A, 14B. Locks 13 are received in holes 15, 17 in the tip and connector, respectively, to releasably secure the tip 12 to the connector 14. A chamber 35 defined by the inner surfaces 14C, 14D of the legs 14A, 14B receives a lip 8. The inner leg 14A covers a portion of the ramp 31 and the inner surface 27 of the lip 8. The outer leg 14B covers a portion of the outer surface 29 of the lip 8. A release portion 37 is provided at the front end of the chamber 35 to avoid abutting against the front surface 33. Other configurations are also possible. As an example, the lip may be formed without a ramp, and the connector may be positioned close to the front end of the lip, etc.

[0034] The connector 14 behind the tip 12 is substantially protected against abrasion by the abrasion cap 16. The abrasion caps 16, 16', and 16" are preferably identical, but may differ. Using identical abrasion caps 16, 16', and 16" reduces manufacturing and inventory costs and simplifies the use of these identical abrasion caps in earthmoving operations (e.g., in mining) by eliminating the possibility of confusion between abrasion caps with similar appearances. Furthermore, the abrasion caps 16, 16', and 16" as well as the inner surface 14F and outer surface 14G (and the legs 14A and 14B) are cooperatively sized such that the identical abrasion caps 16, 16', and 16" substantially cover the inner surface 14F and outer surface 14G, as well as the top leg 14A and bottom leg 14B; in the example shown, the inner and outer surfaces extend forward from the legs to the nose.

[0035] As shown in the figure, a beneficial arrangement includes: two abrasion caps 16', 16" to substantially cover the inner surface 14F (and the top leg 14A); and one abrasion cap 16 to substantially cover the outer surface 14G (and the bottom leg 14B), thereby maximizing the design of the legs 14A, 14B and minimizing the required number of abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" where all three abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" are identical. Figure 1 Of course, other arrangements with different numbers of abrasion caps on each leg are possible. For example only, three abrasion caps may be used to substantially cover the top leg 14A, and / or two abrasion caps may be used to substantially cover the bottom leg 14B. Furthermore, some or all of the abrasion caps may have different shapes, sizes, and / or mounting configurations.

[0036] Each wear cap 16, 16', 16" is preferably secured to discrete mounting platforms 18A, 20A, 22A to allow for greater flexibility in outrigger design and / or to facilitate easier installation and / or removal of the wear caps 16, 16', 16" . For example, in the illustrated example, using separate platforms 18A, 20A, 22A allows for the use of a connector 14 with a thinner profile (i.e., primarily using a thinner top outrigger) for better ground penetration and reduced obstruction during loading and dumping of the bucket. In this example, separate mounting platforms also allow for a simpler and faster installation and removal process for the wear caps 16, 16', 16" compared to supplying continuous wear caps along a continuous (e.g., linear) track or groove formed in the connector. In this example, the top outrigger or inner outrigger 14A includes a front mounting platform 18A and a rear mounting platform 20A, and the bottom outrigger or outer outrigger 14B includes a mounting platform 22A.

[0037] refer to Figure 7The wear-resistant caps 16, 16', and 16" are identical, each having a forward end 50 and a rear end 52. The wear-resistant cap 16 includes an inner surface 19 with an attachment feature 16A and an outer surface 16B that contacts soil or other abrasive materials during operation. The inner surface 19 has forward-split edges 55 and 56 on both sides. The outer surface 16B may be dome-shaped or include sloping surfaces 57 and 58 and a top surface 59 and 60. The top surface 60 may slope downward toward the forward end 50 of the wear-resistant cap 16. Other configurations are also possible.

[0038] Each mounting platform 18A, 20A, 22A is centrally positioned and includes a front surface 38, a rear surface 40, and retaining features 18, 20, 22 to complement and engage attachment feature 16A, thereby securing wear caps 16, 16', 16" to the connector 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear mounting platform 20A on the inner surface 14C is staggered and oriented differently from mounting platform 18A. More specifically, mounting platform 20A is positioned slightly above mounting platform 18A and / or at a slightly different angle, such that the two mounting platforms are misaligned and therefore independent of each other. Each wear cap is mounted to the connector by engaging its specific mounting platform without first traversing different mounting platforms. As an example, wear cap 16' is mounted on mounting platform 20A without first traversing mounting platform 18A.

[0039] Each of the retaining elements 18, 20, and 22 includes a dovetail groove 25 with forward openings having tapered side surfaces 34 and 36, a bottom surface 25A, and a stop 42. The tapered side surfaces 34 and 26 converge rearward. The stop 42 serves as a barrier or end for the attachment feature 16A of the wear-resistant caps 16, 16', 16", and may further include a stepped surface 42A. The stepped surface 42A is adjacent to a sloped or curved surface 44 that connects the dovetail groove 25 to the rear surface 40 of the retaining features 18, 20, 22. Adjacent to the rear surface 40 is a raised surface 46. The raised surface 46 is adjacent to arched or curved surfaces 48, 48A. The length of the arched surfaces 48, 48A is substantially from the beginning of the dovetail groove 25 to the end of the mounting platform 18A, 20A, 22A. The arched surfaces 48, 48A are adjacent to outer surfaces 45, 47. The arched surfaces 48, 48A may slope inward at the entrance of the dovetail groove 25 to facilitate the introduction of the attachment feature 16A of the wear-resistant caps 16, 16', 16". While this example is disclosed, the mounting platform may have different types of retaining elements.

[0040] Attachment feature 16A can be a male or female element, used to receive another male or female element in the retaining feature. By way of example only, attachment features and retaining features 16A, 18, 20, and 22 can each have the following characteristics: Figure 1-8The conical dovetail configuration is shown. In another example, the male and female features can be reversed from the illustration, where the male attachment feature is on the leg and the female portion is on the wear-resistant caps 16, 16', 16". Other attachment arrangements are possible, including, for example, bolts, pins, etc.

[0041] In alternative solutions, such as Figure 9 As shown, a wear-resistant cap 116 with a T-shaped tongue and groove configuration is illustrated. A retaining arrangement 118 includes a tongue groove 160 shaped like an inverted letter T. The retaining arrangement 118 further includes two mirror-image inverted L-shaped protrusions 161. An attachment arrangement 116A includes a T-shaped protrusion 163, sized and shaped to fit into the tongue groove 160. Other attachment arrangements are possible, including, for example, bolts, pins, etc.

[0042] exist Figure 1-8 In the example shown, attachment feature 16A is a tapered dovetail-shaped protrusion or wedge 23 received in a tapered dovetail groove 25 that tapers rearward and opens forward. The dovetail protrusion 23 tapers rearward to an end surface 54. The end surface 54 can engage the stop 42 during installation. The dovetail groove 25 securely holds the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" from wear while providing an easier and / or faster installation and / or removal process. For example, abrasion caps with parallel tracks, typically used in conventional abrasion caps, may engage and become stuck due to frictional interference during installation and / or removal. Furthermore, fine earth dust can accumulate in the gap between the connector and the abrasion cap, exacerbating the risk of cap engagement shifting during installation and removal, particularly during removal. By using the tapered groove 25, disengagement between the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" and the connector 14 occurs with the initial movement of the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" and the fine dust tends to fall off when the wedge 23 is released from the retaining features 18, 20, 22. These facilitate installation and / or removal of the abrasion caps from the connector and prevent the caps 16, 16', 16" from becoming "glued" to the abrasion assembly 10 (i.e., by earth dust). To install the wear-resistant caps 16, 16', 16" , first position the wear-resistant caps 16, 16', 16" on the legs 14A, 14B in front of their placement position and move them rearward so that the dovetail protrusion 23 is fully received in the dovetail groove 25. The dovetail protrusion 23 received in the forward-opening dovetail groove 25 tapers rearward. The dovetail protrusion 23 includes a side surface 21 and a top surface 23', which taper rearward to match the complementary surfaces 25A, 34, 36 of the retaining features 18, 20, 22 on the connector 14.

[0043] In the example shown, the rear abrasion cap 16' is first installed into the mounting structure 20, followed by the front abrasion cap 16" being installed into the mounting structure 18. The front abrasion cap 16" then blocks the forward movement and release of the rear abrasion cap 16', and the tip 12 also blocks the forward movement and release of the front abrasion cap 16'. Similarly, the abrasion cap 16 on the lower support leg 14B is installed into the mounting structure 22 and similarly held in place by the mounting tip 12. The configuration shown is an example.

[0044] One or more abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" can alternatively be secured by locks or other mechanical means. Attachment feature 16A is preferably formed in place with the component (e.g., by casting), but said attachment feature can be welded or otherwise secured to the component.

[0045] Figure 1-8 In the example, attachment feature 16A is spaced apart from the outer sides 63, 64 and edges 55, 56 of the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" and is centered on the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16". Conventional abrasion caps are secured by tracks and grooves extending along the outer edges of the cap and connector legs. However, with this arrangement, erosion of the abrasion cap may eventually expose the tracks and grooves securing it, leading to potential wear of the abrasion cap and / or premature wear and replacement of the connector. This may necessitate early replacement of the abrasion cap, and / or premature damage to the connector may also necessitate early replacement of the abrasion cap. In the example shown, with the attachment feature 16A spaced apart from the edges 55, 56 and sides 63, 64 of the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16', the attachment feature is distanced from the most exposed surface 16B to avoid erosion, thereby extending the service life of the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" and / or the connector 14. The abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" preferably extend beyond the entire width W of the legs 14A, 14B, but may extend less than the width W of the legs 14A, 14B. Figure 5-6 Alternatively, the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" may extend beyond the width W of the legs 14A, 14B to overlap with the weld that secures the connector 14 to the lip 8.

[0046] like Figure 3 As seen, the lengths L1 and L2 of each leg 14A and 14B are defined as the distance between the reference plane or vertical plane 39 aligned with the front surface 33 and the rear ends 41 and 43 of the legs 14A and 14B. The coupling 14 behind the tip 12 is essentially protected against abrasion by the wear caps 16, 16', and 16".

[0047] As mentioned above, the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" preferably substantially cover the two legs 14A, 14B of the connector 14. In this application, this means that the abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" extend beyond 50% of the lengths L3, L4 of the inner surface 14F and the outer surface 14G and / or the lengths L1, L2 of each leg 14A, 14B. The abrasion caps 16, 16', 16" preferably extend beyond 70% of the lengths L3, L4 of the inner surface 14F and the outer surface 14G and / or the lengths L1, L2 of each leg 14A, 14B. The inner surface 14F is shown as having two abrasion caps 16', 16". Alternatively, the inner surface 14F may receive more or fewer abrasion caps. The outer surface 14G is shown as having one abrasion cap 16. Alternatively, the outer surface 14G may have a configuration similar to that of the inner surface receiving multiple abrasion caps.

[0048] Preferred attachment feature 16A and / or the use of discrete mounting stages 18A, 20A, 22A may result in a thinner joint 14, which may lead to lower cost, lighter weight, better penetration, and / or less stress concentration. Figure 3 In one example shown, a thinner profile can be achieved primarily from the thinner inner leg 14A. The thickness T1 of the inner leg 14A is defined by the vertical distance between the lip 8 and the lowest point of the curved surface 44 of the retaining feature 18 on the leg 14A, regardless of any additional thickness that may be caused by the lifting ring. The vertical distance extends perpendicularly to the inner surface 27 and the outer surface 29 of the lip 8. When the inner surface 27 and the outer surface 29 are not parallel (e.g., where there is a ramp or a cast lip), the vertical distance is perpendicular to the axis of the lip. The thickness T2 of the outer leg 14B is defined by the vertical distance between the lip 8 and the lowest point of the curved surface 44 of the retaining feature 22 on the leg 14B.

[0049] In one example, the thickness T1 is measured from the bottom of the inner leg 14A to the lowest point of the curved surface 44. The maximum thickness T1 of the inner leg 14A is less than 35% of the maximum thickness T3 of the connector 14 in front of the lip 8. In another example, the maximum thickness T1 of the inner leg 14A is less than 30% of the maximum thickness T3 of the connector 14 in front of the lip 8. In yet another example, the maximum thickness T1 of the inner leg 14A is approximately 26% of the maximum thickness T3 of the connector 14 in front of the lip 8 (e.g., in the range of +25.5% to +26.5%).

[0050] A thinner profile can be part of the overall design, resulting in a reduction in the overall thickness of the outriggers 14A and 14B compared to conventional connectors. Connector 14 has: a rear section 49 behind the front portion 33 of the lip 8 (i.e., behind the reference plane 39 aligned with a designated position of the front surface 33), which includes the top outrigger 14A and the bottom outrigger 14B to cross the lip 8 of the bucket; and a front section 51 in front of the lip 8 (i.e., in front of the reference plane 39), which includes a nose 14E for mounting the tip 12 at the front of the lip 8.

[0051] In one example with a thinner profile, the increase in thickness of the rear section 49 is smaller than that of the front section 51 to accommodate the use of abrasion caps 16', 16" for extended service life, but with a reduced impact on the overall tooth thickness, ground penetration capability, and / or bucket loading or unloading. In one example, the maximum thickness T4 of the rear section 49 is less than 10% greater than the maximum thickness T3 of the front section 51. In another example, the maximum thickness T4 of the rear section 49 is less than 9% greater than the maximum thickness T3 of the front section 51. In yet another example, the maximum thickness T4 of the rear section 49 is only about 8.5% greater than the maximum thickness T3 of the front section 51.

[0052] The connector can be heavy. Therefore, conventional connectors may be equipped with lifting rings that extend from the top leg to receive hooks or U-shaped metal clips to support the components during installation. Casting lifting rings can be cumbersome, and welding them in place can increase cost, reliability, and / or the toughness of the steel. Furthermore, these rings typically wear off at the end of their service life. In the example shown, connector 14 includes two adjacent openings 24 and 26 extending through the top leg 14A and generally toward the base, but a single undercut hole can be used. These holes 24, 26 are sized to receive hooks or other lifting tools to support the connector during installation and removal via lifts and cables or other methods. The use of these holes 24, 26 may be easier to manufacture than conventional raised lifting rings and is likely to remain accessible when removed from the lip 8. The use of such lifting holes 24, 26 can also facilitate wider coverage of the connector legs 14A, 14B and the wear caps 16, 16', 16" and extend their service life. Figure 5As can be seen, the lifting holes 24 and 26 are located within the mounting structures 18A and 20A, and are intended to be positioned below the wear-resistant caps 16, 16', and 16" (although this is not necessary). Positioning them below the wear-resistant caps 16' and 16" protects the top support leg 14A and the holes 24 and 26 from corrosion and provides a safe method for removing the connector 14. The holes 24 and 26 do not interfere with the installation of the wear-resistant caps 16, 16', and 16" onto the connector 14. Using such lifting holes 24 and 26 can reduce costs, improve reliability, enhance safety, and / or extend the service life of the connector 14.

[0053] refer to Figure 10 The wear-resistant component 210 includes a tip 212, an intermediate connector 214 mounted to the tip 212, and a base connector 208 mounted to the intermediate connector 214. The wear-resistant component 210 is substantially similar to... Figure 1-8 The wear-resistant component differs in that the base connector 201. The base connector 208 may further include a mounting structure 218 and a wear-resistant cap 216 fixed to the mounting structure, as discussed above with respect to connector 14.

[0054] In another alternative, the intermediate connector 214 may include a set of two mounting structures on the upper leg and one mounting structure on the lower leg, as previously described. This configuration may also include a base connector with wear-resistant caps and mounting structures as previously described. It is also anticipated that the integral portion of the cast lip will include a set of mounting structures for two identical, aligned, and staggered wear-resistant caps.

[0055] The abrasion caps and abrasion-resistant components presented herein provide enhanced protection against erosion of critical components, thereby extending their service life and reducing downtime for component replacement. It should be understood that while selected examples of representative abrasion caps are disclosed herein, numerous variations of these examples can be conceived by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The abrasion-resistant components of this disclosure are suitable for use with many different configurations of abrasion caps.

[0056] This disclosure covers a variety of different inventions with independent utility. The various features of the invention described above are preferably included in each component. However, features may be used individually in the wear-resistant component to obtain some of the benefits of the invention. Although each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific examples of these inventions as disclosed and shown herein should not be considered limiting, as many variations are possible. Each example defines the examples disclosed in the foregoing disclosure, but no single example necessarily covers all features or combinations that may ultimately be claimed. In the case of a description of an element referred to as “a” or “first” or its equivalent, such description includes one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, unless otherwise specifically stated, order indicators used to identify elements, such as first, second, or third, are used to distinguish these elements, not to indicate a required or valid number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements.

Claims

1. A wear-resistant component for earthmoving equipment, comprising: A connector comprising a forward-projecting nose and a first leg extending behind the nose, the first leg being capable of covering and securing to the digging edge of the bucket, the first leg having a first surface facing the digging edge and an opposing second surface, wherein the second surface has at least two independent retaining structures. A wear-resistant component having a chamber for receiving the nose; A lock for securing the wear-resistant member to the coupling; as well as Multiple wear-resistant caps, each of which is mounted on a different independent retaining structure among the at least two independent retaining structures. The maximum thickness of the connector extending along the digging edge having the wear-resistant cap is no more than 10% thicker than the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the digging edge.

2. The wear-resistant assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a second leg spaced apart from the first leg to cross the excavation edge.

3. The wear-resistant assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second leg has a third surface facing the excavation edge and an opposing fourth surface, the fourth surface having an independent retaining structure on which the wear-resistant cap is mounted.

4. The wear-resistant component according to claim 3, wherein the wear-resistant caps are identical to each other.

5. The wear-resistant component of claim 4, wherein the wear-resistant cap covers at least 50% of the second surface and at least 50% of the fourth surface.

6. The wear-resistant component of claim 4, wherein the wear-resistant cap covers at least 70% of the second surface and at least 70% of the fourth surface.

7. The wear-resistant component according to claim 1, wherein the wear-resistant caps are identical to each other.

8. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the maximum thickness of the connector extending along the excavation edge is no more than 9% thicker than the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the excavation edge.

9. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the maximum thickness of the connector covering the excavation edge is no more than 8.5% thicker than the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the excavation edge.

10. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the maximum thickness of the first leg is less than 35% of the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the excavation edge.

11. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the maximum thickness of the first leg is less than 30% of the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the excavation edge.

12. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the maximum thickness of the first leg is about 26% of the maximum thickness of the connector in front of the excavation edge.

13. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connector includes at least one lifting hole on the second surface to receive a hook for lifting the connector.

14. The wear-resistant component of claim 13, wherein at least one of the wear-resistant caps covers the at least one lifting hole.

15. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wear-resistant component is a tip.

16. The wear-resistant component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wear-resistant component is an intermediate joint.

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