Wear Assembly

Abstract

A wear assembly for securing a wear member to a drilling rig including a base having a nose and a wear member having a socket, the nose and socket each being provided with one or more complementary stabilizing surfaces on forward and aft portions thereof.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 160,408, filed March 12, 2021, entitled "Wear Assembly," which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] SUMMARY The present disclosure relates to a wear assembly for securing a wear member to earthmoving equipment. [Background technology]

[0003] Wear parts are commonly attached along the forward edge of earthmoving equipment such as buckets, cutterheads, drum rolls, etc. to protect the equipment from wear and enhance the excavation operation. Wear parts may include teeth, shrouds, adapters, wing shrouds, picks, etc. Such wear parts typically include a base, a wear member, and a lock to removably retain the wear member to the base.

[0004] With respect to the tooth, the base typically includes a nose that is secured to the forward edge of the equipment (e.g., the lip of a bucket). The nose may be formed as an integral part of the forward edge or as part of one or more adapters that are secured to the forward edge by welding or mechanical attachment. A point or adapter fits over the nose. The point narrows to a forward digging edge for penetrating and breaking through the ground. The assembled nose and point cooperatively define an opening into which a lock is received to releasably hold the point against the nose.

[0005] Such wear parts are usually subjected to harsh conditions and heavy loads, therefore, they will wear out after a certain period of time and need to be replaced. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure relates to improved wear assemblies for securing wear members to earth moving equipment to enhance wear life, material utilization to reduce used weight, flexibility in design for locking mechanisms, stability, strength and / or ease of replacement.

[0007] In one embodiment, the wear member includes a mounting cavity opening at a rear end of the wear member for receiving a support base, the mounting cavity having a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion including a first forward bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity, two second forward bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first forward bearing surface, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surfaces at the forward end of the mounting cavity, the two second forward bearing surfaces converging toward or away from the first forward bearing surface and toward a central portion of the top or bottom side, the forward bearing surfaces and the forward bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on the support base. The rear portion includes a first rear bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first front bearing surface, and two second rear bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first rear bearing surface, the second rear bearing surfaces converging toward or away from the first rear bearing surface and toward a central portion of the top or bottom side, the rear bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the support base.

[0008] In one embodiment, the wear member includes a mounting cavity opening at a rear end of the wear member for receiving a support base, the mounting cavity having a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion including a first forward bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first forward bearing surface, two second forward bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surfaces at the forward end of the mounting cavity, the two second forward bearing surfaces converging towards the first forward bearing surface and towards a central portion of the top or bottom side, the forward bearing surfaces and the forward bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on the support base. The rear portion includes a first rear bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first front bearing surface and two second rear bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first rear bearing surface, the second rear bearing surfaces converging toward the first rear bearing surface and toward a central portion of the top or bottom side, the rear bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the support base.

[0009] In another embodiment, a wear member for earth moving equipment includes a mounting cavity opening at a rear end for axially receiving a support base. The mounting cavity includes forward and rearward portions, the forward portion including forward bearing surfaces, forward corners between adjacent ones of the forward bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the forward portion, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surfaces at the forward end of the mounting cavity, the forward bearing surfaces and the forward bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on the support base. The second portion includes aft bearing surfaces and rearward corners between adjacent aft bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the aft portion, each of the forward bearing surfaces being axially aligned with one of the aft corners, and the aft bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the support base.

[0010] In another embodiment, a wear member for earth moving equipment includes a mounting cavity opening at a rear end of the wear member for receiving a support base, the mounting cavity including a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion including a top forward bearing surface and two bottom forward bearing surfaces converging away from the top forward bearing surface, and the rearward portion including a bottom aft bearing surface and two top aft bearing surfaces converging away from the bottom aft bearing surface, the forward and aft bearing surfaces abut complementary surfaces on the support base.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the wear assembly is a wear member for earth moving equipment having a support base having a mounting portion and a mounting cavity opening at a rear end of the wear member for receiving the support base, the mounting cavity having a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion including a first forward bearing surface at a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity, two second forward bearing surfaces at a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first forward bearing surface, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surface at the forward end of the mounting cavity, the two second forward bearing surfaces extending toward or away from the first forward bearing surface, or a central portion of the support base, the front bearing surface and front bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on the support base, the rear portion including a first rear bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first front bearing surface and two second rear bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first rear bearing surface, the second rear bearing surfaces converging toward the central portion of the top or bottom side toward the first rear bearing surface or away from the first rear bearing surface, the rear bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the support base, and a lock to secure the wear member to the support base.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, a wear assembly includes a wear member for earth moving equipment including a support base having a mounting portion and a mounting cavity opening at a rear end of the wear member for receiving the support base, the mounting cavity including a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion including a top forward bearing surface and two bottom forward bearing surfaces converging away from the top forward bearing surface and the rearward portion including a bottom aft bearing surface and two top aft bearing surfaces converging away from the bottom aft bearing surface, the forward and aft bearing surfaces abut complementary surfaces on the support base, and a lock to secure the wear member to the support base.

[0013] In one embodiment, a wear assembly includes a wear member for earth moving equipment including a support base having a mounting portion and a mounting cavity opening at a rear end for axially receiving the support base, the mounting cavity including forward and rearward portions, the forward portion including forward bearing surfaces and forward corners between adjacent ones of the forward bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the forward portion and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surfaces at the forward end of the mounting cavity, the forward bearing surfaces and the forward bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on the support base, and the second portion including aft bearing surfaces and rearward corners between adjacent aft bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the aft portion, each of the forward bearing surfaces being axially aligned with one of the aft corners and the aft bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the support base, and a lock to secure the wear member to the support base.

[0014] In another embodiment, a wear member for earth moving equipment includes a nose for attachment to a forward end of the wear member to receive a second wear member, the nose having a forward portion and an aft portion, the forward portion including a first forward bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the nose, two second forward bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the nose opposite the first forward bearing surface, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surfaces at the forward end of the nose, the two second forward bearing surfaces converging away from the first forward bearing surface and towards a central portion of the top or bottom side, the forward bearing surfaces and the forward bearing walls abutting complementary surfaces on a support base. The aft portion includes a first aft bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the nose opposite the first forward bearing surface and two second aft bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the nose opposite the first aft bearing surface, the second aft bearing surfaces converging towards the first aft bearing surface and towards a central portion of the top or bottom side, the aft bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the support base.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, a wear member for earth moving equipment includes a nose at a forward end of the wear member for receiving a second wear member, the nose including a forward portion and an aft portion, the forward portion including a top forward bearing surface and two bottom forward bearing surfaces converging away from the top forward bearing surface, and the aft portion including a bottom aft bearing surface and two upper aft bearing surfaces converging away from the bottom aft bearing surface, the forward and aft bearing surfaces abut complementary surfaces on a support base.

[0016] In a further embodiment, a wear member for earth moving equipment includes a nose for axially receiving a second wear member, the nose including forward and aft portions, the forward portion including forward bearing surfaces, forward corners between adjacent ones of the forward bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the forward portion, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surfaces at a forward end of the nose, the forward bearing surfaces and the forward bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on a mounting portion of the second wear member, and the second portion including aft bearing surfaces and aft corners between adjacent aft bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the aft portion, each of the forward bearing surfaces being axially aligned with one of the aft corners, and the aft bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the mounting portion of the second wear member.

[0017] In one embodiment, the lip of the bucket includes a mounting portion for mounting a wear member thereon, the mounting portion including a forward portion and an aft portion, the forward portion including a first forward bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the mounting portion, two second forward bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting portion opposite the first forward bearing surface, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surface at a forward end of the mounting portion, the two second forward bearing surfaces converging away from the first forward bearing surface toward a central portion of the top or bottom side, the forward bearing surface and the forward bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on the wear member, the aft portion including a first aft bearing surface on the top or bottom side of the mounting portion opposite the first forward bearing surface, and two second aft bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting portion opposite the first aft bearing surface, the second aft bearing surfaces converging away from the first aft bearing surface toward a central portion of the top or bottom side, the aft bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the wear member.

[0018] In another embodiment, the lip of the bucket includes a mounting portion for mounting a wear member thereon, the mounting portion including a forward portion and an aft portion, the forward portion including a top forward bearing surface and two bottom forward bearing surfaces converging away from the top forward bearing surface, and the aft portion including a bottom aft bearing surface and two top aft bearing surfaces converging away from the bottom aft bearing surface, the forward and aft bearing surfaces abut complementary surfaces on the support base.

[0019] In yet another embodiment, the lip of the bucket includes a mounting portion for mounting a wear member thereon, the mounting portion including a forward portion and an aft portion, the forward portion including forward bearing surfaces, forward corners between adjacent ones of the forward bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the forward portion, and a forward bearing wall transverse to the forward bearing surfaces at a forward end of the nose, the forward bearing surfaces and the forward bearing wall abutting complementary surfaces on the mounting portion of a second wear member, and the second portion including aft bearing surfaces and aft corners between adjacent aft bearing surfaces extending around a periphery of the aft portion, each of the forward bearing surfaces being axially aligned with one of the aft corners, and the aft bearing surfaces abutting complementary surfaces on the mounting portion of the second wear member.

[0020] In one embodiment, the wear assembly includes a base defining a nose including a plurality of bearing surfaces extending axially substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the nose, the bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of forward bearing surfaces formed along a distal end of the base and a plurality of rearward bearing surfaces formed on a proximal end of the nose opposite the distal end, a wear member defining a mounting cavity mounted on the base, the mounting cavity formed with bearing surfaces complementary to the bearing surfaces of the nose, the complementary bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of forward bearing surfaces formed along the distal end of the mounting cavity and a plurality of rearward bearing surfaces formed on a proximal end of the mounting cavity opposite the distal end, the plurality of rearward bearing surfaces of the base and wear member offset from the plurality of forward bearing surfaces of the base and wear member such that the forward bearing surfaces of the base and wear member are axially aligned with corners of the rearward portion of the base and mounting cavity, and a lock secures the wear member to the support base.

[0021] In another embodiment, a wear assembly includes a base defining a nose including a plurality of bearing surfaces extending axially substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the nose, the bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of forward bearing surfaces formed along a distal end of the base and a plurality of rearward bearing surfaces formed on a proximal end of the nose opposite the distal end, the forward and rearward bearing surfaces of the base generally defining a pentagonal shape, the rearward bearing surfaces of the base disposed rotated 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis relative to the forward bearing surfaces of the base. A wear member defines a mounting cavity mounted on the base, the mounting cavity formed with a complementary bearing surface to the bearing surfaces of the nose, the complementary bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of complementary forward bearing surfaces formed along a distal end of the mounting cavity and a plurality of complementary rearward bearing surfaces formed on a proximal end of the mounting cavity opposite the distal end, and a lock secures the wear member to the support base.

[0022] In another embodiment, the wear member includes a mounting cavity in which the forward and aft portions each have two first bearing surfaces converging in one direction and two second bearing surfaces converging in an opposite direction, the first bearing surfaces of the forward portion converging at a different angle than the second bearing surfaces of the aft portion.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the wear member includes a mounting cavity opening at a rearward end for receiving a support base. The mounting cavity is defined by a forward portion and a rearward portion, each having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall, and having a longitudinal axis. A plurality of forward bearing surfaces are generally formed along a distal end of the mounting cavity, and a plurality of rearward bearing surfaces are formed on a proximal end of the mounting cavity opposite the distal end. The rearward bearing surfaces are offset from the forward bearing surfaces such that the forward bearing surfaces are axially aligned with a corner of the rearward portion of the socket, and the rearward bearing surfaces are axially aligned with a corner of the forward portion of the socket.

[0024] In another embodiment, the wear member includes a mounting cavity having a top wall and a front portion having two converging bearing surfaces opposite the top wall, and a rear portion having a bottom wall and two converging bearing surfaces opposite the bottom wall, and abuts complementary surfaces on the base.

[0025] In one embodiment, the wear assembly includes a base and a wear member defining the base and a mounting cavity, respectively, formed with complementary bearing surfaces extending axially substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the nose and mounting cavity. A plurality of forward bearing surfaces are generally formed along distal ends of the base and mounting cavity, and a plurality of rearward bearing surfaces are formed on the mounting cavity opposite the proximal and distal ends of the base. The plurality of rearward bearing surfaces are offset from the plurality of forward bearing surfaces such that the forward bearing surfaces are axially aligned with corners of the rearward portions of the base and mounting cavity, and the rearward bearing surfaces are axially aligned with corners of the forward portions of the base and mounting cavity.

[0026] In another embodiment, the wear assembly includes a base and a wear member defining a base and a mounting cavity formed with complementary bearing surfaces extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the wear assembly. The plurality of forward bearing surfaces are generally formed along distal ends of the base and mounting cavity, and the plurality of rearward bearing surfaces are formed on the mounting cavity opposite the proximal and distal ends of the base. The plurality of forward bearing surfaces generally define a pentagonal shape. The plurality of rearward bearing surfaces generally define a pentagonal shape, and the plurality of rearward bearing surfaces are disposed rotated 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis relative to the forward bearing surfaces.

[0027] In another embodiment, the wear assembly includes complementary sockets at the nose and base, and the wear members are each formed with a generally pentagonal configuration at the front and an inverted pentagonal configuration at the rear, This structure provides high strength and a longer useful life. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wear assembly and lip according to the present disclosure, including a portion of the lip. [Figure 2A] 2A is an exploded view of the wear assembly and lip of FIG. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is an exploded view of a second wear assembly according to the present disclosure having a portion of a lip. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first wear member of the wear assembly of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a partial rear perspective view of a second wear member of the wear assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the second wear member of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the second wear member of FIG. 10 taken along line 11-11. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a nose of a third wear assembly according to the present disclosure, including a portion of a lip. [Figure 13] 13 is a perspective view of a first wear member of the third wear assembly of FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a top view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a side view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a front view of the nose of the first wear member of FIG. [Figure 18] 18 is a partial rear perspective view of the second wear member of the third wear assembly of FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a rear view of the second wear member of FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view of the second wear member of FIG. 19 taken along line 20-20. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In the example of Figures 1 and 2A, the wear assembly 10 includes a tooth 11 having a wear member 45 removably secured to the nose 19 of an adapter 14, which is in turn mounted on a support structure or base 12 of the earthwork equipment. For ease of discussion, the mounting of the tooth 11 to the digging edge 12 of the bucket is disclosed herein, but other types of wear members and / or other types of earthwork equipment may be used. For example, while the wear member is point 45 in the illustrated example, the wear member could be an intermediate adapter, a shroud, a wing shroud, etc. Similarly, while the illustrated support structure is the lip of the bucket, the support structure could be a forward edge of a bucket sidewall, a dredge cutterhead, a rolling drum, a blade, etc. In this application, relative terms such as up, down, inboard, outboard, forward, aft, vertical, or horizontal are used for convenience of description with reference to Figure 1, although other orientations are possible.

[0030] In one example, the digging edge 12 is defined by the lip of a bucket (e.g., a dipper of a cable shovel) and includes a leading surface 16, an inner surface 18, and an outer surface 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the digging edge 12 is provided with through holes or keyways 24 that extend through the inner surface 18 and the outer surface 20 (FIG. 2A). Although a Whistler style lip and adapter is shown, the wear member 45 as disclosed herein can be used on a wide variety of earth moving machines, can be secured to other types of digging edges (with or without holes), can be secured to other types of adapters, noses, etc., and / or can be secured to a support structure in a variety of ways. The leading surface 16 is shown as a curved surface, but other variations are possible. Although only a small portion of the digging edge 12 is shown in the drawings, the digging edge 12 can include a series of through holes 24 for attaching other teeth to the bucket. Various structures and / or other wear parts (not shown) can also be provided on other parts of the digging edge.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2A, the base is an adapter 14 secured to the digging edge 12 by a lock 60 having a threaded wedge 62 and a spool 64, as well as other features such as a stabilizer 90 as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,171,771 (incorporated herein by reference), although other locking configurations are possible. For example, the adapter may be secured to the digging edge by welding, bolts, other locks, etc. The illustrated tooth 11 includes a wear member 45 in the form of a point, a wear cap 13, and an adapter 14, although other configurations are possible.

[0032] In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the base is a nose that projects forward as part of the cast strip, instead of a separately secured adapter (e.g., FIG. 2A). In this example, the wear assembly 10' is a tooth 11' that includes a wear member 14' in the form of a point, or intermediate adapter that fits into the nose 19' of the cast drilling edge 12', and a wear cap 13'. If the wear member is an intermediate adapter, a point or tip (not shown) can be mounted on the nose at the forward end of the wear member. A lock 17' is used to removably secure the wear member to the base, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,222,243, which is incorporated herein by reference. A lock 17' can be used to secure the tip (not shown) to the intermediate adapter 14' and to secure the intermediate adapter 14' to the nose 19'. In this example, the same type of lock is used in both cases, although different locks can be used. For example, locks are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 176,065, which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, lock 17 may be used to secure point 45 to nose 19'. As used herein, a wear assembly component (e.g., an intermediate adapter) may be referred to as either a wear member and / or a base, depending on whether the component supports a wear member and / or is itself supported by a base, in the context of the discussion.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, the adapter 14 supports the ground penetration points 45 and secures them to the digging edge 12. The adapter 14 includes a forward-projecting nose 19 for mounting the points 45, and a mounting end 70 having bifurcated legs 48a, 48b that straddle the digging edge 12. The upper leg 48a is positioned to engage the inner surface 18 of the digging edge 12, and the lower leg 48b is positioned to engage the outer surface 20 of the digging edge 12. The upper and lower legs 48a, 48b include holes 58a and 58b, respectively, through which a lock 60 may be inserted. The holes 58a, 58b are positioned such that when the adapter 14 is properly positioned on the bucket digging edge 12, the holes 58a, 58b align with the through holes 24 so that the lock 60 can mate therewith (FIG. 2A). The legs 48a, 48b are connected via a curved portion 68.

[0034] 4-8, nose 19 has a body 25 having a forward portion 26, an aft portion 28, and a transition portion 27 (FIG. 6). Body 25 extends rearwardly from forward portion 26 to aft portion 28. Transition portion 27 is disposed between forward portion 26 and aft portion 28 of nose 19. Aft portion 28 is adjacent a mixing region that transitions into adapter 14.

[0035] The forward portion 26 presents a streamlined profile that improves penetration into the ground during excavation operations. In the illustrated example, the forward portion 26 includes forward bearing surfaces 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and a forward bearing wall 36 transverse to the forward bearing surfaces 30-34, although other variations are possible. More specifically, the forward bearing surfaces include a top bearing surface 30, side bearing surfaces 31, 34, and bottom bearing surfaces 32, 33. The forward bearing surfaces 30-34 and the forward wall 36 abut complementary surfaces at the front of the mounting cavity or socket 70 of the wear member 45. The forward wall 36 resists the rear load L3 (FIG. 1). The bearing surfaces 30-34 may abut complementary surfaces in points over their entire width and length, or portions thereof. In the illustrated example, the forward bearing surfaces 30-34 are generally planar, but may be formed with curves, such as broad convex or concave shapes curving about the axial and / or transverse axes, or any combination thereof with flat surfaces. The forward bearing surfaces 30-34 extend rearwardly into the transition section 27. The forward bearing surfaces 30-34 extend rearwardly from the forward surface 36 and extend axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 35 to help stabilize the support of the wear member 45. The term "substantially parallel" is intended to include parallel surfaces as well as those that deviate at a small angle (e.g., about 0-7 degrees) from the longitudinal angle for manufacturing purposes and / or ease of removal. It is preferred that the forward bearing surfaces deviate axially rearwardly from the longitudinal axis 35 at an angle of 5 degrees or less, and most preferably 3 degrees or less. The longitudinal axis 35 is the longitudinal axis of the nose 14 and the mounting cavity 70 within the wear member 45. The longitudinal axis 35 may be generally defined as the line along which the center of the forward wall 36 moves when mounted within the mounting cavity 70. The bearing surfaces 30-34, which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, are also referred to herein as stabilizing surfaces. The stabilizing surfaces are meant to stabilize the wear member 45 mounted to the nose 19 against vertical, lateral, and combined loads.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 36 and front portion 26 have a generally pentagonal shape, although other surfaces may be provided at one or more corners. In some embodiments, the front wall may have other polygonal shapes. In some embodiments, the front wall 36 may be optionally inclined to the longitudinal axis, preferably such that the front wall 36 and top surface 30 are at an acute angle X, although other orientations perpendicular to the axis or other orientations are possible. For example, the front surface is preferably planar, but may be convex, concave, curved, or comprise an angle segment. In the orientation of FIG. 8, the top surface 30 is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. The bottom bearing surfaces 32, 33 each converge downward toward one another laterally, creating the corners of a pentagon. In other embodiments, the top bearing surfaces 30, 31, 34 may be the base of a pentagon, where the pentagon converges upward. In still other embodiments, the "top" of the pentagon may be at some off-center angle or laterally. The use of such converging bottom bearing surfaces 32, 33 can increase material utilization, reduce end of life waste weight of the pointer, and increase wear life. The side bearing surfaces 31, 34 preferably converge laterally upward. Adjacent bearing surfaces 30-34 may be connected by generally rounded corners 37. The corners 37 of the forward portion 26 create adjacent bearing surfaces 30 and 34, an angle α between bearing surfaces 30 and 31, an angle β between bearing surfaces 31 and 32 and bearing surfaces 33 and 34, and an angle δ between bottom bearing surfaces 32 and 33. In one embodiment, angles α, β, and δ are each equal to 108 degrees, although other combinations are possible. In another embodiment, angle α is about 108-112 degrees, angle β is about 95-99 degrees, and angle δ is about 128-132 degrees. The angles α, β, δ may generally range from 90 to 135 degrees, but may be outside the given ranges in other examples. The angles of the nose and the overall front configuration (i.e., bearing surfaces 31-34) may vary considerably. For example, one side of the bearing surface may have different angles α, β than the other side of the bearing surface such that a non-uniform shape (e.g., a pentagon with non-uniform sides) is produced.In one such embodiment, surfaces 30-34 may not be uniform in length to better accommodate a lock on one side.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment (FIGS. 4-8), the rear portion 28 includes rear bearing surfaces 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. The rear bearing surfaces 51-55 extend rearward from the transition portion 27 and include top rear bearing surfaces 51, 55, side rear bearing surfaces 52, 54, and bottom rear bearing surface 53. The rear bearing surfaces 51-55 are stepped (i.e., more widely spaced) relative to the forward bearing surfaces 30-34 for enhanced strength, removability, and operation. Like the forward bearing surfaces 30-34, the rear bearing surfaces 51-55 extend axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 35 to help stabilize and support the wear member 45. For example, they deflect rearward at a small angle relative to the longitudinal axis 35. The bearing surfaces 51-55 that extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis are also referred to herein as stabilizing surfaces. The rear bearing surfaces 51-55 abut corresponding surfaces in the mounting cavity 70 of the wear member 45 and, together with the forward bearing surfaces 30-34, serve as stabilizing surfaces for the wear member. The forward and rear bearing surfaces 30-34, 36, 51-55 abut complementary surfaces in the mounting cavity 70 of the wear member 45 to resist various combinations of vertical, lateral, rotational, and axial loads (e.g., L1, L2, L3, R1) applied to the wear member 45 during drilling operations (FIG. 1).

[0038] Like the forward portion 26, the rearward portion 28 is preferably generally pentagonal in shape, but may include other surfaces in lieu of corners. The rearward portion 28 has an inverse orientation relative to the forward portion 26. For example, if the forward portion 26 has a bearing surface that converges downward, the rearward portion 28 has a bearing surface that converges upward (and vice versa). With reference to FIG. 8, the top rearward bearing surfaces 51, 55 converge upward toward one another, although other configurations are possible. In one such embodiment, the top rearward bearing surfaces 51, 53 may be oriented about the longitudinal axis to converge downward and lie at the bottom. In the illustrated orientation, the bottom rearward bearing surface 53 is substantially parallel to a horizontal plane. The flat nature of the bottom bearing surface 53 may allow for a constant thickness of the bottom leg 48b of the adapter 14 to reduce the wear rate of the bottom legs. The side rearward bearing surfaces 52, 54 converge upward, although other configurations are possible. Adjacent bearing surfaces 51-55 may be connected by generally rounded corners 57. Corners 57 create an angle α′ between bottom rear bearing surface 53 and each side rear bearing surface 52 and 54, an angle β′ between bearing surfaces 51 and 54 and 55 and 52, and an angle δ′ between top rear bearing surfaces 51 and 55.

[0039] The rear bearing surfaces 51-55 are in the illustrated embodiment oriented 180 degrees relative to the orientation of the forward bearing surfaces 30-34. In general, each of the corners 37 of the forward portion 26 is axially aligned with one of the bearing surfaces 51-55 of the rear portion 28, and each of the corners 57 of the rear portion is axially aligned with one of the bearing surfaces 30-34 of the forward portion 26. The angles between adjacent rear bearing surfaces 51-55 may all be 108 degrees, or there may be variations as discussed above with respect to the forward bearing surfaces. The angles between the rear bearing surfaces may match the corresponding forward bearing surfaces (i.e., 180 degree reorientation). As an example, the angle α may be the same as the angle α′, the angle β may be the same as the angle β′, and the angle δ may be the same as the angle δ′. In other examples, the angle α′ may be different from the angle α′, the angle β may be different from the angle β, and / or the angle δ may be different from the angle δ′.

[0040] In the illustrated example, angle α>angle α′, angle β<angle β′, and angle δ=angle δ′, although other combinations of angles α′, β′, and δ′ are possible. In one embodiment, angle α′ is about 88-92 degrees, angle β′ is about 117-121 degrees, and angle δ′ is about 128-132 degrees. Angles α′, β′, and δ′ may generally range from about 85-135 degrees, but in other examples may be outside the given ranges. The angles may be selected based on considerations of the expected loads and operations of the machine. For example, angles δ′ and α may be toward the larger end of the range if heavy vertical loads (e.g., downward load L1) are generally expected, such that bearing surfaces 31, 34 are closer to vertical to resist downward loads along bearing surface 30, and bearing surfaces 32, 33 are closer to vertical to resist upward loads. Use of larger angles α and δ′ may also result in a slimmer vertical profile for better penetration. This same arrangement may then be used for the rear bearing surfaces. For example, angles α′ and δ may be toward the larger end to better resist vertical forces and maintain a slimmer profile. Nevertheless, other arrangements of angles are possible. The general rear configuration of the nose (i.e., bearing surfaces 51-55) may vary considerably (e.g., in shape and size) from embodiment to embodiment and may vary considerably relative to the forward end configuration.

[0041] In another embodiment, one side of the aft bearing surfaces 51-55 may have a different angle α′, β′ than the other side of the aft bearing surfaces 51-55 such that a non-uniform shape is created. In this case, the surfaces 51-55 may not be uniform in length. In one such embodiment, the bearing surfaces of one or both of the forward and aft portions may have a different length and / or a different corner angle on one side of the nose compared to the other side.

[0042] In some embodiments, the bottom rear bearing surface 53 may have a longer lateral extension than the top rear bearing surface 51, 55, taking into account the inclination of the side bearing surfaces 52, 54 (FIGS. 4-5 and 8). In other embodiments, the top rear bearing surface 51, 55 may have a lateral extension equal to or less than the length of the bottom rear bearing surface 53. Other variations are possible. The rear bearing surfaces may be flat or may be formed with a wide curve (convex or concave). Alternatively, the rear bearing surfaces 51-55 may be formed with a curve, such as a wide convex or concave curve about the longitudinal and / or lateral axis, as disclosed above for the anterior bearing surfaces 30-34.

[0043] The combination of the forward and aft bearing surfaces 30-34, 51-55 stably support the wear member 45 on the nose 19, i.e., on the complementary bearing surfaces in the mounting cavity 70, discussed below. In this manner, the forward and aft bearing surfaces 30-34, 51-55 can provide stabilization around the entire nose 19 against vertical, lateral and combined loads. The forward bottom bearing surfaces 32, 33 have a downwardly pointed pentagonal shape so that they are aligned with the end of life wear at the forward end of the nose 19. Similarly, the top aft bearing surfaces 51, 55 have an upwardly pointed pentagonal shape so that they are aligned with the end of life wear at the aft end of the nose 19. The aft bottom bearing surfaces are preferably horizontal (e.g., parallel to the lip centerline) as this aligns with the characteristics of the bottom leg 48b. The forward top bearing surfaces are horizontal and provide good resistance to downward loads.

[0044] The transition portion 27 preferably includes transition surfaces 40-44, 46-50 that extend axially aft at angles greater than substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to enhance nose strength and penetration. In the illustrated embodiment, the transition surfaces include top transition surfaces 40, 41, 42, side transition surfaces 43, 44, 46, 47, and bottom surfaces 48, 49, 50. The transition portion 27 transforms the bearing surfaces 30-34 of the forward portion 26 into corner surfaces 57 of the aft portion 28. Similarly, the transition portion 27 transforms the corner surfaces 37 of the forward portion 26 into bearing surfaces 51-55 of the aft portion 28. In the illustrated example, the bottom corner surface 37 (also associated with the apex point of the pentagonal shape) abuts the bottom transition surface 49 to transition to the bottom bearing surface 53, etc.

[0045] One or both of the respective side transition surfaces 43, 44, 46, 47 may include a lock cutout portion 59 and a lock hole 61. The hole may be a blind hole. If holes are provided on both sides, each of the holes may be a blind hole or may be at both ends of a through hole in the nose. The cutout portion 59 allows the lock 17 to be positioned closer to the center of the tooth 11, thereby reducing the thickness of the side wall at the point 45. In some embodiments, the side transition surfaces 43, 44, 46, 47 are substantially aligned with a vertical plane to create a generally vertical side wall. This arrangement allows certain lock variations to be more ergonomic for an operator to install and remove the wear member.

[0046] 9-11, the wear member 45 is illustrated in the form of a point to fit into the nose 19, however, the wear member may have other configurations and / or purposes, for example, the wear member may be an intermediate adapter 14' or other wear member. In the illustrated embodiment, the wear member 45 includes a forward working end 66 and a rearward mounting end 74. The working end 66 is shown as a straight bit protruding from the mounting end 74, but this need not be the case. The bit may be offset from the longitudinal axis 35. The mounting end 74 is formed with a socket 70 that receives the nose 19 for supporting the wear member 45 on the earthmoving equipment (not shown). The socket 70 is formed by forward and rearward portions 94, 96, each having an interior top wall, bottom wall, and side walls. The rearward portion 96 is adjacent a second mixing region that complements the mixing region of the nose 19. Preferably, the socket 70 has a shape complementary to the nose 19, however, some variations may be included.

[0047] In one embodiment, the socket 70 includes a plurality of forward bearing surfaces 130-134 at the forward portion 94 of the socket 70. In the illustrated example, the forward portion 94 of the socket 70 is generally pentagonal in shape and includes bottom bearing surfaces 132, 133, top bearing surface 130, and side bearing surfaces 131, 134 for mating with at least a portion of the forward portion 26 of the nose 19, although other shapes are possible. The forward wall 98 is also a bearing. For example, while the surfaces 130-134 are preferably planar, they can be convex, concave, curved, or comprise angular segments. Adjacent forward bearing surfaces can be connected by generally rounded corners 137. The length of each bearing surface 130-134 extending rearward can be equal to the length of the forward portion 26 of the nose 19, although other configurations are possible. For example, the length of each bearing surface 130-134 can be less than the length of the forward bearing surfaces 30-34. In this case, only a portion of the bearing surfaces 30-34 are engaged at one time. The forward wall 98 may be angled or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 35 to complement the forward wall 36. For example, the forward wall 98 may be at a lateral angle that aligns with the lateral angle of the forward surface 36.

[0048] 10, the socket 70 includes a plurality of bearing surfaces 151-155 at the rearward portion 96 or open end of the socket 70. In the illustrated example, the rearward portion 96 of the socket 70 is generally pentagonal in shape and includes a bottom bearing surface 153, a top bearing surface 151, 155, and side bearing surfaces 152, 154 to mate with at least a portion of the rearward portion 28 of the nose 19. For example, while the surfaces 151-155 are preferably planar, they may be convex, concave, curved, or comprise angle segments. The top rearward bearing surfaces 151, 155 each converge laterally upwardly to the pentagonal corner 157, shifted 180 degrees from the corner 137 where the bottom forward bearing surfaces 132, 133 converge at the forward portion 96 of the socket 70. The inclined bearing surfaces 132, 133 and 151, 155 are preferably symmetrically shifted 180 degrees from one another. Adjacent bearing surfaces 151-155 may be connected by generally rounded corners 157. The length and / or width of each bearing surface 151-155 may be equal to the length and / or width of the bearing surfaces 51-55 of the rearward portion 28 of the nose 19, although other configurations are possible. For example, the length and / or width of each bearing surface 151-155 may be less than the length of the rearward bearing surface 51-55. In this case, only a portion of the bearing surfaces 51-55 are engaged at a time. The rearward bearing surfaces 151-155 define a cavity opening 164 at the rearward end 74 of the point 45 for receiving the nose 19 of the adapter 14.

[0049] Preferably, the bearing surfaces 130-134, 151-155 of the point are designed to match those formed on the nose 19, i.e., if the bearing surfaces 30-34, 51-55 of the nose deviate at an angle of about 2 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 35, then the bearing surfaces 130-134, 151-155 of the socket 70 also deviate at an angle of about 1-2 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 35.

[0050] When a load having a downward vertical component (referred to herein as vertical load L1) is applied along the digging edge 66 of point 45, point 45 is urged to roll forward off the nose. For example, if a downward load L1 is applied to the top of the digging edge 66 (FIG. 1) of point 45, point 45 is urged to roll forward on nose 19 such that forward bearing surface 130 of socket 70 abuts bearing surface 30 at forward end 26 of nose 19. The bottom, rear portion 96 of point 45 is also pulled upward against the bottom rear portion of nose 19 such that rear bearing surface 153 of socket 70 abuts rear portion lower bearing surface 53 of nose 19. As a result, point 45 is stably supported on nose 19 which increases base strength and stability, reduces wear, and allows for the use of a smaller lock 17. In another embodiment, when an upward vertical load is applied to the bottom of the digging edge 66 of the point 45, the point is urged to rotate upward and out on the nose 19 such that the forward bearing surfaces 132, 133 of the socket 70 abut the bearing surfaces 32, 33 at the forward end of the nose. Also, the top aft portion 96 of the point is pulled downward against the bottom aft portion of the nose such that the aft bearing surfaces 151, 155 of the socket 70 abut the aft upper bearing surfaces 51, 55. Surfaces 30-34, 52, 54, 130-134, 152, and 154 function in the same way, for example, for side loads (L2). The angled orientation of the bearing surfaces 32, 33, 51, 55 of the nose allows the bearing surfaces 132, 133, 151, 155 of the socket 70 to withstand side and vertical loads.

[0051] The laterally sloping surfaces 32, 33, 51, 55, 132, 133, 151, 155 on the front and rear of the nose 19 and socket 70 can resist vertical and side loads and reduce shift between the point and nose as the load shifts so that the point is forced through the ground in a drilling operation resulting in a stable attachment and reduced wear.

[0052] The top, bottom and side walls 141-150 of the socket 70 extend from the forward portion 94 to the rearward portion 96. The top, bottom and side walls 141-150 of the socket 70 generally converge toward the forward portion 94 of the socket 70, and a wide range of variations in the surfaces of the transition section are possible, as they generally transition from the larger rearward portion to the smaller forward portion. In the illustrated example of FIG. 11, the top, bottom and side walls 141-150 are contoured, although other configurations are possible. The top, bottom and side walls 141-150 transform the forward bearing surfaces 130-134 of the forward portion 94 into corner surfaces 157 of the rearward portion 96. Similarly, the top, bottom and side walls 141-150 transform the rearward bearing surfaces 151-155 into corner surfaces 137.

[0053] The illustrated point 45 includes an opening 140 on each side that generally aligns with the locking hole 61 of the adapter 14 when the point 45 is assembled on the nose 19 (FIG. 2). The locking hole 61 and the opening 140 collectively define a locking opening 160 for receiving the lock 17 (FIG. 1). Each opening 140 is located in one of the side walls 144-147 of the point 45 for receiving the lock 17. The openings 140 may be generally circular to mate with the locking hole 61 of the illustrated nose 19, although other configurations are possible. For example, the side walls 144-147 may each include a protruding pocket for a portion of the lock to fit into, although other configurations are possible. Within the socket 70, each opening 140 is open on both its inner and outer sides and is otherwise defined by an interior surface 162. The interior surface 162 may have a retaining structure 166 thereon. Although the point 45 may be secured by only one lock 17, the illustrated point 45 includes two lock openings 140, one along each side wall 144-147, although other configurations are possible. Single or multiple locks may also be located on the other surface of the wear member and base. In situations of asymmetric wear (e.g., corner teeth), the single lock may be replaced on the other surface. When having two openings 140, the point 45 may alternatively utilize one of the lock openings 140 for attachments such as sensors, plugs, and / or end-of-life attachments as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 16 / 888,389 and 16 / 125,636, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Although the lock openings 140 are illustrated as being identical, other configurations are possible.

[0054] As mentioned above, the lock 17 is used to removably secure the wear member to the base. When the lock 17 is inserted into the hole 160, it resists the interior 62 of the hole 61 and engages at least the sidewall 162 of the opening 140 of the point 45 to prevent release of the point 45 from the nose 19. Generally, the lock 17 includes a body 165 for retaining the point 45 to the nose 19, and a collar for engaging a retaining structure 166 on the protrusion of the point 45 to secure the lock 17 within the hole 160 for both the shipping position and the locked position. The lock 17 may be of the type of lock including the pin and collar lock of U.S. Pat. No. 9,222,243, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The lock 17 may include a shipping position in the hole that allows the lock 17 to remain within the lock opening 140 while the nose 19 is attached, and a locking position with the lock 17 within the lock hole 61 of the adapter 14 to lock the point 45 to the adapter 14.

[0055] Many other locking designs can be used to secure the wear member to the nose. For example, the lock 17 can be a conventional sandwich pin structure that is hammered into the assembly. Such a lock can also pass vertically or horizontally through a central through hole in the nose and point in a well-known manner.

[0056] In the example of Figures 12-20, the wear assembly 210 includes a tooth 211 having a wear member or tip 245 that is removably secured to a nose 272 of a second wear member or intermediate adapter 214, which is in turn mounted on a support structure or base 212 of the earthmoving equipment.

[0057] The illustrated example includes a tooth with a mid-adapter, but tooth 211 can omit the mid-adapter. For example, the point can be attached directly to a one-piece nose shaped similar to nose 272 or to the nose of a base adapter. Additionally, a base shaped like nose 272 can support other wear members such as shrouds, wing shrouds, etc. Similarly, while the illustrated support structure is the lip of a bucket, the support structure can be the forward edge of a bucket sidewall, a dredge cutterhead, a rolling drum, a blade, etc. Lock 217 is used to removably secure the tooth to the mid-adapter for the base and tip, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,222,243, which is incorporated herein by reference. In this example, the same type of lock is used in both cases, although different locks can be used. For example, locks are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 176,065, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0058] In the illustrated example, the digging edge 212 is substantially similar to the digging edge 12' of FIG. 2B. The base 212 is illustrated as including a forwardly projecting nose 219 as part of the cast strip instead of a separately secured adapter (e.g., FIG. 2A). Nevertheless, the base adapter may be secured to the digging edge (as shown in FIG. 2A) instead of the integral nose shown. The mid-adapter 214 supports the ground piercing tip 245 on the digging edge 212. The mid-adapter 214 includes a forwardly projecting nose 272 for mounting the tip 245 and a mounting end 274 for receiving the digging edge nose 219. In this example, the nose 219 and cavity 270 have the same design as the nose 19 and cavity 70, but may have a different design, such as, for example, a nose and cavity similar to the design of U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,649, nose 272 and cavity 274.

[0059] 13-17, the nose 272 has a body 225 having a forward portion 226, an aft portion 228, and a transition portion 227 (FIG. 16). The body 225 extends rearwardly from the forward portion 226 to the aft portion 228. In this embodiment, the transition portion 227 extends vertically and horizontally, but can extend in one direction (e.g., vertically) apart from a possible taper for ease of manufacturing and / or release purposes. The transition portion 227 is disposed between the forward portion 226 and the aft portion 228 of the nose 272. The aft portion 228 is adjacent a blending region that transitions into the aft body of the mid-adapter 214 that defines the mounting cavity 270.

[0060] In the illustrated example, the forward portion 226 includes forward bearing surfaces 230, 231, 232, 233, 234 and a forward bearing wall 236 transverse to the forward bearing surfaces 230-234, although other variations are possible. More specifically, the forward bearing surfaces include top bearing surfaces 230, 232, side bearing surfaces 231, 234, and a bottom bearing surface 233. The forward bearing surfaces 230-234 and the forward wall 236 abut complementary surfaces at the front of a mounting cavity or socket 274 of the second wear member 245.

[0061] The forward wall 236 resists rearward load L3 (as shown in FIG. 1). The bearing surfaces 230-234 may abut complementary surfaces in points across their entire width and length, or a portion thereof. In the illustrated example, the forward bearing surfaces 230-234 are generally planar, but may be formed with curves, such as broad convex or concave shapes curving about axial and / or transverse axes, or any combination thereof with flat surfaces. The forward bearing surfaces 230-234 extend rearward into the transition section 227.

[0062] The forward bearing surfaces 230-234 extend rearward from the forward surface 236 and extend axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 235 to help stabilize the support of the second wear member 245. The term "substantially parallel" is intended to include parallel surfaces as well as those that deviate at a small angle (e.g., about 0-7 degrees) from the longitudinal angle for manufacturing purposes and / or ease of removal. It is preferred that the forward bearing surfaces deviate axially rearward from the longitudinal axis 235 at an angle of 5 degrees or less, and most preferably 3 degrees or less. The longitudinal axis 235 is the longitudinal axis of the nose 272 and the mounting cavity 274 in the second wear member 245. The longitudinal axis 235 may be generally defined as the straight line along which the center of the forward wall 236 travels when mounted in the mounting cavity 274. The bearing surfaces 230-234, which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, are also referred to herein as stabilizing surfaces, which are meant to stabilize the wear member 245 attached to the nose 272 against vertical, lateral, and combined loads.

[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 236 and front portion 226 have a generally five sided shape, although other surfaces may be provided at one or more corners. In some examples, the front wall may have other polygonal shapes. In the illustrated example, the front wall 236 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 235. In other examples, the front wall 236 may be optionally inclined to the longitudinal axis, preferably such that the front wall 236 and top surface 230 are at an acute angle, although other orientations are possible. In the illustrated example, the front surface is planar, but may be convex, concave, curved, or comprise an angled segment.

[0064] 17 orientation, the bottom surface 233 is substantially parallel to the horizontal. The top bearing surfaces 230, 232 each converge laterally downward toward one another, creating an inverted corner 237 of a pentagon. In other embodiments, the top bearing surfaces 230, 232 may be the bottom of the forward portion 226, and the nose 272 may be inverted so that the inverted or inward facing surfaces converge upward (rather than downward as shown). In the illustrated example, the side bearing surfaces 231, 234 converge laterally upward, although they may converge vertically or downward.

[0065] Adjacent bearing surfaces 230-234 may be connected by generally rounded corners 237, although other configurations are possible. In another embodiment, surfaces 230-234 may meet at an edge. Corner 237 of forward portion 226 creates an angle γ (e.g., 116 degrees) between adjacent bearing surfaces 231, 234 and bearing surface 233, an angle ε (e.g., 52 degrees) between bearing surfaces 231, 234 and bearing surfaces 230, 232, and an angle θ (e.g., 205 degrees) between top bearing surfaces 230 and 232. Angles γ, ε, and θ are typically in the range of 50-230 degrees (within ±2 degrees), although other examples outside the specified ranges are possible. The angles of the noses (i.e., bearing surfaces 230-234) and the overall forward configuration may vary considerably. For example, one side of the bearing surfaces 230-234 may have a different angle γ, ε, than the other side such that a non-uniform shape (e.g., non-uniform or non-mirror about a vertical axis pentagon) is created. In one such embodiment, the surfaces 230-234 may not be uniform in length to better accommodate a lock on one side.

[0066] The aft portion 228 includes aft bearing surfaces 251, 252, 253, 254, 255. The aft bearing surfaces 251-255 extend aft from the transition portion 227 and include a top aft bearing surface 251, side aft bearing surfaces 252, 254, and a bottom aft bearing surface 253, 255. The aft bearing surfaces 251-255 are stepped (i.e., spaced farther apart) relative to the forward bearing surfaces 230-234 for enhanced strength, removability, and operation. The aft portion 228 of the nose 272 may be aligned with a similar shape and orientation (e.g., a downwardly facing pentagon) as the forward portion 26 of the nose 19, although other configurations are possible.

[0067] As discussed above, noses 19 and 272 each have a forward and aft portion. In nose 19, the bottom surface on the forward portion and the top surface on the aft portion converge in a direction away from the longitudinal axis. In nose 272, the top surface on the forward portion converges in a direction toward the longitudinal axis, while the bottom surface on the aft portion converges away from the longitudinal axis 235. Other variations are possible. For example, the converging surface on the forward portion may be on the top or bottom of the nose (or mounting cavity) and / or may converge away from or toward the longitudinal axis. Similarly, regardless of the forward portion design, the converging surface on the aft portion may be on the top or bottom of the nose (or mounting cavity) and / or may converge away from or toward the longitudinal axis.

[0068] The bearing surfaces 251-255, together with the forward bearing surfaces 230-234, extend axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 235 and help stabilize and support the wear member 245. For example, they deflect rearward at a small angle relative to the longitudinal axis 235. The bearing surfaces 251-255, which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, are also referred to herein as stabilizing surfaces. The rear bearing surfaces 251-255 abut corresponding surfaces of the mounting cavity 274 of the wear member 245 and, together with the forward bearing surfaces 230-234, function as stabilizing surfaces for the wear member 245. The forward bearing surfaces 230-234, 236 abut complementary surfaces of the mounting cavity 274 of the wear member 245 that resist various combinations of vertical, lateral, rotational, and axial loads (e.g., L1, L2, L3, R1 as seen in FIG. 1) applied to the wear member 245 during drilling operations.

[0069] Like the forward portion 226, the rearward portion 228 is preferably generally pentagonal in shape. The rearward portion 228 has an opposite orientation (e.g., rotated 180 degrees) relative to the forward portion 226. In that respect, corner 237 aligns with the bearing surfaces 251-255 of the rearward portion 228, and vice versa, corner 257 aligns with the forward bearing surfaces 230-234. The rearward bearing surfaces 251-255 are in the illustrated embodiment oriented 180 degrees relative to the orientation of the forward bearing surfaces 230-234.

[0070] In the illustrated example, the front and rear portions 226, 228 each have a bearing surface that converges downward. The bearing surfaces may not be aligned at the same angle. With reference to FIG. 17, the bottom rear bearing surfaces 253, 253 converge downward toward each other, although other configurations are possible. In one such embodiment, the bottom rear bearing surfaces 253, 255 may be rotated about the longitudinal axis such that they converge upward and are on the top surface. In this embodiment, it is envisioned that the surfaces 230, 232 are rotated to be on the bottom surface. In the illustrated orientation, the top rear bearing surface 251 is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. The side rear bearing surfaces 252, 254 converge upward, although other configurations are possible. Adjacent bearing surfaces 251-255 may be connected by generally rounded corners 257. Corner 257 creates an angle α″ between top aft bearing surface 251 and side aft bearing surfaces 252 and 254, an angle β″ between side aft bearing surfaces 252, 254 and bottom aft bearing surfaces 253, 255, and an angle δ″ between bottom aft bearing surfaces 253 and 255. In one embodiment, α″, β″, δ″ are substantially similar to the α, β, δ of nose 19.

[0071] In another embodiment, one side of the rear bearing surfaces 251-255 may have a different angle α'', β'' than the other side of the rear bearing surfaces 251-255 such that a non-uniform shape or a non-mirrored shape about the vertical axis shape is generated. In this case, the surfaces 251-255 may not be uniform in length. In one such embodiment, the bearing surfaces of one or both of the forward and aft portions may have a different length and / or a different corner angle on one side of the nose compared to the other side. Alternatively, the rear bearing surfaces 251-255 may be formed with a curve (rather than flat), such as a broad convex or concave curve about the longitudinal and / or lateral axis, as disclosed above for the forward bearing surfaces 230-234.

[0072] The transition portion 227 preferably includes transition surfaces 240-244, 246-250 that extend axially aft at angles greater than substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to enhance nose strength and penetration. In the illustrated embodiment, the transition surfaces include top transition surfaces 240, 241, 242, side transition surfaces 243, 244, 246, 247, and bottom surfaces 248, 249, 250. The transition portion 227 transforms the bearing surfaces 230-234 of the forward portion 226 into a corner surface 257 of the aft portion 228. Similarly, the transition portion 227 transforms the corner surface 237 of the forward portion 226 into bearing surfaces 251-255 of the aft portion 228. In the illustrated example, the bottom corner surface 237 (also associated with the apex point of the pentagonal shape) abuts the bottom transition surface 248 to transition to the bottom bearing surface 253, etc.

[0073] One or both of the respective top transition surfaces 240, 241, 242 and bottom transition surface 250 may include a lock cutout portion 259 and a lock hole 261. The hole may be a blind hole. The cutout portion 259 allows the lock 217 to be located closer to the center of the tip 245. This location may make certain lock variations more ergonomic for an operator to install and remove the wear members and may protect the lock from wear.

[0074] 18-20, the wear member 245 in the form of a tip is shown to fit into the nose 272, although the wear member may have other configurations and / or purposes. In the illustrated embodiment, the wear member 245 includes a forward working end 266 and a rearward mounting end 274. The working end 266 is shown as a straight bit protruding from the mounting end 274, but this need not be the case. The bit may be offset from the longitudinal axis 35. The mounting end 274 is formed with a socket 274 that receives the nose 272 for supporting the wear member 245 on the earthmoving equipment. The socket 274 is formed by forward and rearward portions 294, 296, each having an interior top wall, bottom wall, and side walls. The rearward portion 296 is adjacent a second mixing region that complements the mixing region of the nose 272. Preferably, the socket 274 has a shape complementary to the nose 272, although some variations may be included.

[0075] In one embodiment, the socket 274 includes a plurality of forward bearing surfaces 330-334 at a forward portion 294 of the socket 274. In the illustrated example, the forward portion 294 of the socket 274 is generally pentagonal in shape and includes a bottom bearing surface 333, top bearing surfaces 330, 332, and side bearing surfaces 331, 334 to match at least a portion of the forward portion 226 of the nose 272, although other shapes are possible. The forward wall 298 is also a bearing. For example, while the surfaces 330-334 are preferably planar, they can be convex, concave, curved, or comprise angular segments. Adjacent forward bearing surfaces can be connected by a generally rounded corner 337. The length of each bearing surface 330-334 extending rearward can be equal to the forward portion 226 of the nose 272, although other configurations are possible. For example, the length of each bearing surface 330-334 may be less than the length of the forward bearing surfaces 230-234. In this case, only a portion of the bearing surfaces 330-334 are engaged at one time. The forward wall 298 may be angled or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 235 to complement the forward wall 236.

[0076] The socket 274 includes a plurality of bearing surfaces 351-355 at the rearward portion 296 or open end of the socket 274. In the illustrated example, the rearward portion 296 of the socket 274 is generally pentagonal in shape and includes bottom bearing surfaces 353, 355, top bearing surface 351, and side bearing surfaces 352, 354 to mate with at least a portion of the rearward portion 228 of the nose 272. For example, while the surfaces 351-355 are preferably planar, they may be convex, concave, curved, or comprise angle segments. The bottom rearward bearing surfaces 353, 355 each converge downwardly at a 180 degree shift laterally relative to a bottom corner 337 of the five-sided shape of the forward portion 298. The bottom rearward bearing surface 333 converges at corner 357 at the rearward portion 298 of the socket 274. The inclined bearing surfaces 330, 332 and 353, 355 are symmetrically shifted 180 degrees from one another, but they are inclined in the same direction (e.g., downward). Adjacent bearing surfaces 351-355 may be connected by generally rounded corners 357. The length and / or width of each bearing surface 351-355 may be equal to the bearing surfaces 251-255 of the rear portion 228 of the nose 272, although other configurations are possible. For example, the length and / or width of each bearing surface 351-355 may be less than the length of the rear bearing surfaces 251-255. In this case, only a portion of the bearing surfaces 351-355 are engaged at a time. The rear bearing surfaces 351-355 define a cavity opening 274 at the rear end 274 of the point 245 for receiving the nose 272 of the intermediate adapter 214.

[0077] Preferably, the bearing surfaces 330-334, 351-355 of the point 245 are designed to match those formed on the nose 272. That is, if the bearing surfaces 230-234, 251-255 of the nose deviate at an angle of about 2 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 235, then the bearing surfaces 330-334, 351-355 of the socket 274 also deviate at an angle of about 1-2 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 235.

[0078] The top, bottom, and side walls of the socket 274 extend from the forward portion 294 to the aft portion 296. The top, bottom, and side walls of the socket 274 generally converge toward the forward portion 294 of the socket 274, allowing for a wide range of variation in the surfaces of the transition section as they transition from the generally larger aft portion to the smaller forward portion. The top, bottom, and side walls transform the forward bearing surfaces 330-334 of the forward portion 294 into corner surface 357 of the aft portion 296. Similarly, the top, bottom, and side walls transform the aft bearing surfaces 351-355 into corner surface 337.

[0079] The illustrated tip 245 includes openings 340 on the top and bottom that generally align with the lock holes 261 of the adapter 214 when the tip 245 is assembled onto the nose 272. The lock holes 261 and openings 340 collectively define the lock opening 261 for receiving the lock 217 (FIG. 12). As mentioned above, the lock 217 is used to removably secure the wear member to the base. The lock 217 may be of the type of lock including the pin and collar lock of U.S. Patent No. 9,222,243, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

Claim 1 A wear member for a civil engineering working machine, comprising a mounting cavity opening at the rear end of the wear member for receiving a support base, the mounting cavity having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion includes a first front bearing surface extending substantially horizontally along the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity, two second front bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite to the first front bearing surface, and a front bearing wall at the front end of the mounting cavity between the first front bearing surface and the second front bearing surfaces, the two second front bearing surfaces converging towards or away from the first front bearing surface and towards the central portion on the top or bottom side, the front bearing surface and the front bearing wall abutting against complementary surfaces on the support base during civil engineering work, and the rear portion includes a first rear bearing surface extending substantially horizontally along the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite to the first front bearing surface, and two second rear bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite to the first rear bearing surface, the second rear bearing surfaces converging towards or away from the first rear bearing surface and towards the central portion on the top or bottom side, the rear bearing surface abutting against a complementary surface on the support base during civil engineering work, the mounting cavity includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction in which the base is received in the mounting cavity, and each of the front and rear bearing surfaces extends axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the wear member. Claim 2 The wear member according to claim 1, wherein the second front bearing surface of the front portion converges at an angle different from that of the second rear bearing surface of the rear portion. Claim 3 The wear member according to claim 1, wherein the two second front bearing surfaces converge towards the first front bearing surface, and the second rear bearing surfaces converge towards the first rear bearing surface. Claim 4 The two second front bearing surfaces converge toward the first front bearing surface, and the second rear bearing surface converges away from the first rear bearing surface. The wear member according to claim 1.

5. The two second front bearing surfaces converge away from the first front bearing surface, and the second rear bearing surface converges toward the first rear bearing surface. The wear member according to claim 1.

6. The two second front bearing surfaces converge away from the first front bearing surface, and the second rear bearing surface converges away from the first rear bearing surface. The wear member according to claim 1.

7. The second front bearing surface converges downward, and the second rear bearing surface converges upward. The wear member according to claim 1.

8. The second front bearing surface converges upward, and the second rear bearing surface converges downward. The wear member according to claim 1.

9. It includes a mounting cavity that opens at the rear end for axially receiving the support base. The mounting cavity includes a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion includes: (i) a front bearing surface that extends around the periphery of the front portion and includes a top bearing surface, a bottom bearing surface that converges away from the top bearing surface, and a side bearing surface that extends between the top bearing surface and the bottom bearing surface; and (ii) a front bearing wall at the front end of the mounting cavity between the top bearing surface, the bottom bearing surface, and the side bearing surface. The rear portion includes a rear bearing surface that extends around the periphery of the rear portion and includes a bottom bearing surface, a top bearing surface that converges away from the bottom bearing surface, and a side bearing surface that extends between the bottom bearing surface and the top bearing surface. The front bearing surface, the front bearing wall, and the rear bearing surface abut against complementary surfaces on the support base during civil engineering work. Wear member for civil engineering equipment.

10. The side bearing surface of the front portion of the wear member according to claim 9 extends away from the top bearing surface of the front portion. **Claim 11** The wear member according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in the front portion, (i) each of the side bearing surfaces forms a first angle with respect to the top bearing surface, (ii) the bottom bearing surfaces form a second angle with respect to each other, and (iii) each of the side bearing surfaces forms a third angle with respect to one of the bottom bearing surfaces, and each of the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle is an obtuse angle. **Claim 12** The wear member according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in the front portion, (i) each of the side bearing surfaces forms a first angle with respect to the top bearing surface, (ii) the bottom bearing surfaces form a second angle with respect to each other, and (iii) each of the side bearing surfaces forms a third angle with respect to one of the bottom bearing surfaces, and each of the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle is in the range of 90 to 135 degrees. **Claim 13** The wear member according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in the front portion, (i) each of the side bearing surfaces forms a first angle in the range of 108 to 112 degrees with respect to the top bearing surface, (ii) the bottom bearing surfaces form a second angle in the range of 128 to 132 degrees with respect to each other, and (iii) each of the side bearing surfaces forms a third angle in the range of 95 to 99 degrees with respect to one of the bottom bearing surfaces. **Claim 14** The wear member according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a lock opening communicating with the mounting cavity so as to receive a lock for fixing the wear member to the support base. **Claim 15** The wear member according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the mounting cavity includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction in which the base is received in the mounting cavity, and each of the front and rear bearing surfaces extends axially at an angle of 5 degrees or less with respect to the longitudinal axis. **Claim 16** The wear member according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the mounting cavity includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction in which the base is received in the mounting cavity, and each of the front and rear bearing surfaces extends axially at an angle of 5 degrees or less with respect to the longitudinal axis. **Claim 17** The wear member according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the front and rear portions each have a pentagonal cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mounting cavity.

18. The wear member according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the mounting cavity includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction in which the base is received in the mounting cavity, and each of the front and rear bearing surfaces extends axially at an angle of 5 degrees or less with respect to the longitudinal axis.

19. The wear member according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the front portion includes a front bearing wall that intersects the front bearing surface at the front end of the mounting cavity.

20. A wear assembly, a support base having a mounting portion, An abrasion member for construction equipment having a mounting cavity opening at a rear end of the abrasion member for receiving the support base, the mounting cavity having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having a first front bearing surface on a top or bottom side of the mounting cavity and two second front bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first front bearing surface, and a front bearing wall at a front end of the mounting cavity between the first front bearing surface and the second front bearing surfaces, the two second front bearing surfaces converging toward a central portion on the top or bottom side toward or away from the first front bearing surface, the front bearing surface and the front bearing wall abutting against complementary surfaces on the support base during construction work, the rear portion having a first rear bearing surface on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first front bearing surface and two second rear bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the mounting cavity opposite the first rear bearing surface, the second rear bearing surfaces converging toward a central portion on the top or bottom side toward or away from the first rear bearing surface, the rear bearing surfaces abutting against complementary surfaces on the support base during construction work, the mounting cavity including a longitudinal axis extending in a direction in which the base is received in the mounting cavity, each of the front and rear bearing surfaces extending axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, an abrasion member; a lock for fixing the abrasion member to the support base, including an abrasion assembly.

21. The attachment portion is a nose, the nose has a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion of the nose includes a first front bearing surface of the nose on the top or bottom side of the nose, two second front bearing surfaces of the nose on the top or bottom side of the nose opposite to the first front bearing surface of the nose, and a nose front bearing wall at the front end of the nose. Each of the two second front bearing surfaces of the nose converges toward the central portion of the nose on the top or bottom side of the nose toward or away from the first front bearing surface of the nose. The nose front bearing surface and the nose front bearing wall abut against the front bearing surface and the front bearing wall of the attachment cavity of the wear member during civil engineering work. And the rear portion of the nose includes a first rear bearing surface of the nose on the top or bottom side of the nose opposite to the first front bearing surface of the nose, and two second rear bearing surfaces of the nose on the top or bottom side of the nose opposite to the first rear bearing surface of the nose. Both of the two second rear bearing surfaces of the nose converge toward the central portion of the nose on the top or bottom side of the nose toward or away from the first rear bearing surface of the nose. The nose rear bearing surface abuts against the rear bearing surface on the attachment cavity of the wear member during civil engineering work. The wear assembly according to claim 20.

22. A wear assembly, a support base having an attachment portion, An abrasion member for earthmoving equipment, including a mounting cavity opening at the rear end of the abrasion member to receive a support base, the mounting cavity including a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion including a front bearing surface at the top and two front bearing surfaces at the bottom converging away from the front bearing surface at the top, the rear portion including a rear bearing surface at the bottom and two rear bearing surfaces at the top converging away from the rear bearing surface at the bottom, the front bearing surface and the rear bearing surface abutting against complementary surfaces on the support base during earthmoving operations, the mounting cavity including a longitudinal axis extending in a direction in which the base is received within the mounting cavity, and each of the front and rear bearing surfaces extending axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the abrasion member; A lock for fixing the abrasion member to the support base, including an abrasion assembly.

23. The abrasion assembly according to claim 22, wherein the support base includes a nose having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion of the nose including a front bearing surface at the top of the nose and two front bearing surfaces at the bottom of the nose converging away from the front bearing surface at the top, the rear portion including a rear bearing surface at the bottom of the nose and two rear bearing surfaces at the top of the nose converging away from the rear bearing surface at the bottom, and the front bearing surface and the rear bearing surface of the nose abutting against the front bearing surface and the rear bearing surface of the mounting cavity.

24. An abrasion assembly for earthmoving equipment, comprising: A support base having a mounting portion; An abrasion member including a mounting cavity opening at the rear end for receiving the support base axially, the mounting cavity including a front portion and a rear portion; (a) The front portion includes: (i) a front bearing surface extending around the front portion and including a top bearing surface, a bottom bearing surface converging away from the top bearing surface, and a side bearing surface extending between the top bearing surface and the bottom bearing surface; and (ii) a front bearing wall at the front end of the mounting cavity between the top bearing surface and the bottom bearing surface. (b) the rear portion includes a rear bearing surface that extends around the perimeter of the rear portion and includes a bottom bearing surface, a top bearing surface that converges in a direction away from the bottom bearing surface, and a side bearing surface that extends between the bottom bearing surface and the top bearing surface, (c) the front bearing surface, the front bearing wall, and the rear bearing surface contact complementary surfaces on the support base during earthwork, (d) a wear member, and (e) a lock for securing the wear member to the support base, a wear assembly. (Claim 25) (f) the support base includes a nose having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion includes a nose front bearing surface and a nose front bearing wall at the front end of the nose between the nose front bearing surface and an adjacent one of the nose front bearing surfaces that extends around the perimeter of the front portion of the nose, the nose front bearing surface and the nose front bearing wall contact complementary surfaces on the attachment cavity during earthwork, the second portion includes a nose rear bearing surface and a nose rear shoulder between the nose rear bearing surface and an adjacent nose rear bearing surface that extends around the perimeter of the rear portion of the nose, and the nose rear bearing surface contacts a complementary surface on the attachment cavity of the wear member during earthwork, the wear assembly according to claim 24. (Claim 26) (g) an attachment portion for attaching a wear member thereto, the attachment portion including a front portion and a rear portion, (h) the front portion includes a first front bearing surface on the top or bottom side of the attachment portion, two second front bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the attachment portion opposite the first front bearing surface, and a front bearing wall at the front end of the attachment portion between the first front bearing surface and the second front bearing surface, the two second front bearing surfaces converge away from the first front bearing surface and toward a central portion on the top or bottom side, the front bearing surface and the front bearing wall contact complementary surfaces on the wear member during earthwork, and The rear portion includes a first rear bearing surface on the top or bottom side of the attachment portion, opposite the first front bearing surface, and two second rear bearing surfaces on the top or bottom side of the attachment portion, opposite the first rear bearing surface, the second rear bearing surfaces converging away from the first rear bearing surface toward a central portion on the top or bottom side, the rear bearing surfaces abutting against complementary surfaces on the wear member during earthwork, The attachment cavity includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction in which the base is received within the attachment cavity, and each of the front and rear bearing surfaces is an axial lip of the bucket extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis axially. **Claim 27** A wear assembly, A base defining the nose and including a plurality of bearing surfaces extending substantially parallel axially to the longitudinal axis of the nose, the bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of front bearing surfaces formed along a distal end of the base and a plurality of rear bearing surfaces formed on the proximal end of the nose opposite the distal end, A wear member defining an attachment cavity mounted on the base, the attachment cavity being formed with complementary bearing surfaces to the bearing surfaces of the nose, the complementary bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of front bearing surfaces formed along a distal end of the attachment cavity and a plurality of rear bearing surfaces formed on the proximal end of the attachment cavity opposite the distal end, the plurality of rear bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member being offset from the plurality of front bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member such that the front bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member and the front bearing surfaces of the base and the attachment cavity and the rear portions are axially aligned, A lock for fixing the wear member to the base, the wear assembly including. **Claim 28** The wear assembly according to claim 27, wherein the rear bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member are axially aligned with the front portions of the base and the attachment cavity, respectively. **Claim 29** The wear assembly according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the plurality of front and rear bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member include at least three side surfaces.

30. The wear assembly according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the plurality of front and rear bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member have non-uniform lengths.

31. The wear assembly according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the plurality of front and rear bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member form a pentagon and a pentagon rotated 180 degrees around the longitudinal axis.

32. The wear assembly according to any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein the plurality of front and rear bearing surfaces of the base and the wear member are separated by transition surfaces on the base and the wear member, respectively.

33. The wear assembly according to any one of claims 27 to 32, wherein the plurality of front and rear bearing surfaces have complementary surfaces, and the complementary surfaces are at least defined by one of a concave surface, a convex surface, a straight surface, and / or a plurality of angular segments.

34. A wear assembly, comprising: A base defining a nose including a plurality of bearing surfaces extending axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nose, the bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of front bearing surfaces formed along a distal end of the base and a plurality of rear bearing surfaces formed on a proximal end of the nose opposite the distal end, the front and rear bearing surfaces of the base generally defining a pentagonal shape, and the rear bearing surfaces of the base being arranged to be rotated 180 degrees around the longitudinal axis with respect to the front bearing surfaces of the base; a base; A wear member defining a mounting cavity mounted on the base, the mounting cavity being formed with complementary bearing surfaces with respect to the bearing surfaces of the nose, the complementary bearing surfaces generally including a plurality of complementary front bearing surfaces formed along a distal end of the mounting cavity and a plurality of complementary rear bearing surfaces formed on a proximal end of the mounting cavity opposite the distal end; a wear member; A lock for fixing the wear member to the base.

35. The wear assembly according to claim 34, wherein the first bearing surface of the front portion converges at an angle different from that of the second bearing surface of the rear portion.

36. The wear assembly according to claim 34 or 35, wherein the front and rear portions are shaped like a pentagon. **Claim 37** The wear assembly according to claim 36, wherein the rear bearing surface is axially aligned with the edge of the front portion of the mounting cavity.

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