Position-biased fixed pin assembly for ground engagement wear member

Abstract

To provide an improved connector structure.SOLUTION: A fixing pin assembly for fixing a wear member to a support structure can have a body part and a shaft member which is partially arranged in the body part and extends from the body part, and the shaft member is rotatable between a first position where removal from the support structure of a ground and engagement member is mechanically prevented, and a second position where removal from the support structure of the ground and engagement member is enabled. The wear member for receiving the fixing pin assembly can have a bore extending laterally through a bore member with a proximal opening and a distal opening, and an inclination part for attachment and an inclination part for removal can be arranged in the proximal opening so as to be engaged with a core part of the shaft member of the fixing pin assembly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 16 / 843,623, filed Apr. 8, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 834,214, filed Apr. 15, 2019, the invention of which is entitled "Position Biased Fixed Pin Assembly for a Ground Engagement Wear Member".

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a cutting tooth assembly having a fixed pin assembly for securing components of the cutting tooth assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a cutting tooth assembly secured by a releasable fixed pin assembly having an improved fixation structure with rotational interference so as to prevent inadvertent release.

Background Art

[0003] These are often removably carried by a larger infrastructure, such as an excavation bucket, and wear and abrade against the disposed earth or other materials. For example, a cutting tooth assembly provided on an excavation device such as an excavation bucket typically includes a relatively large adapter portion that is suitably fixed to a structure of the device, such as a front bucket lip. The adapter portion typically includes a forwardly projecting nose having a reduced cross-section. The replaceable cutting edge typically includes an opening for releasably receiving the adapter nose. To hold the cutting edge on the adapter nose, generally aligned lateral openings are formed in both the cutting edge and the adapter nose, and a suitable connector structure is driven into and forcibly held within the aligned openings to releasably secure the replaceable cutting edge onto its associated adapter nose.

[0004] Material replacement devices, such as excavation buckets found on construction, mining, and other soil handling equipment, often feature replaceable wear parts, such as soil-engaging teeth. Conventional connector structures come in many different types. One type of connector structure typically requires, for example, a sledgehammer to be forcibly driven into the aligned cutting edge and adapter nose opening. The inserted connector structure then needs to be forcibly removed from the cutting edge opening and adapter nose opening so that the worn cutting edge can be removed and replaced. This conventional need to forcibly install and then forcibly remove the connector structure easily poses a safety hazard to the personnel performing the installation and removal.

[0005] Various alternatives to pound-in connector structures have been previously proposed to releasably hold replaceable cutting edges on an adapter nose. While these alternative connector structures preferably eliminate the need to forcefully attach or detach the connector structure from the adapter nose, they typically exhibit a variety of other types of problems, limitations, and drawbacks, including, but not limited to, structural and usage complexity or undesirable high costs.

[0006] Some types of connector structures are rotatable between a fixed position and an unlocked position. However, continuous vibration of the cutting edge, high impact, and repeated loading can cause the connector structure to rotate unintentionally from the fixed position to the unlocked position. This can cause excessive wear at the interface between the connector structure and the cutting edge, potentially affecting the service life of both the connector structure and the cutting edge.

[0007] Therefore, an improved connector structure is required. [Overview of the project]

[0008] In one exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to a position-biased fixing pin assembly for fixing a grounding engagement member having a side opening to a support structure alignable with the side opening.

[0009] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure comprises a body, a shaft member, a fixing mechanism, a biasing member, and a plunger. The body is positioned to selectively and non-rotatably protrude into an opening within the support structure and may have an opening formed therein. The shaft member may have a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a first engagement mechanism and being located within the body. The fixing mechanism may include a core extending radially from the proximal end of the shaft member outside the body. The shaft member may be rotatable relative to the body between a first position in which the fixing mechanism can be positioned to mechanically prevent the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the fixing mechanism is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and a second position in which the fixing mechanism can be positioned to allow the fixing pin assembly to be removed from the ground engagement member when the fixing mechanism is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure. The biasing member may be located within the body. The plunger may be positioned between a biasing member and the distal end of the shaft member and may have a second engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage with a first engagement mechanism of the shaft member. The biasing member can bias the plunger toward the shaft member. The second engagement mechanism may be configured to engage with the first engagement mechanism to provide resistance during rotation of the shaft member relative to the plunger in each of two opposing directions.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first and second engagement mechanisms may be configured to rotate relative to each other to rotate the shaft member from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions when the rotational force applied to the shaft member exceeds the magnitude of the resistance to rotation applied by the biasing member. The first engagement mechanism, the second engagement mechanism, and the biasing member may be configured such that the resistance to rotation applied by the biasing member occurs in a first portion of the rotational movement and in a second portion of the rotational movement. One of the first and second engagement mechanisms may have two adjacent notches separated by a resistance peak, and the other of the first and second engagement mechanisms may have teeth configured to selectively seat inside each of the two notches. The resistance peak may be located approximately midway between the two adjacent notches. The two adjacent notches may be centered at approximately 90-degree intervals. The first engagement mechanism and the other of the second engagement mechanism may have a third notch, and the resistance peak may be dimensioned and molded to fit into the third notch when the tooth is seated in one of two adjacent notches. The first engagement mechanism, the second engagement mechanism and the biasing member may be configured to provide the user with tactile feedback confirming that the rotation of the shaft member between two adjacent notches is a transition from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

[0011] In some embodiments, the fixed pin assembly may have a rotation-retaining element. The shaft member may have a partially circumferential groove formed therein. The rotation-retaining element may be configured to mechanically interfere with opposing ends of the groove to limit the range of rotation of the shaft member relative to the body. The groove may extend helically so as to convert the rotation of the shaft member into an axial displacement of the shaft member relative to the body through the engagement of the rotation-retaining element with the groove. The rotation-retaining element interfering with the ends can limit the rotation of the shaft member to a range of about 90 degrees relative to the body. The rotation-retaining element may be, for example, a dowel extending through a portion of the body.

[0012] In some embodiments, the fixing pin assembly may have a second rotation-stopping element extending from the plunger and configured to prevent rotation of the plunger while allowing axial displacement of the plunger. The second rotation-stopping element may include a second dowel fixed to the main body. The plunger may have an elongated recess into which the second dowel extends. Alternatively or additionally, the second rotation-stopping element may have a projection extending from and fixed in relation to the plunger. The projection may extend into a longitudinal channel formed in the inner wall surface of the main body.

[0013] In some embodiments, the shaft member and plunger may define a longitudinally extending reference axis. A first cross-section of the body perpendicular to the reference axis adjacent to the proximal end of the body may have a first cross-sectional area, and a second cross-section of the body perpendicular to the reference axis adjacent to the distal end of the body may have a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The body may have an engagement surface along only one side parallel to the reference axis. In this regard, the fixing pin assembly may be oriented within a bore extending into the support structure through a ground engagement member, and configured to engage with a load-bearing surface of the support structure, the load-bearing surface of which at least a portion of the engagement surface is defined by the inner wall of the bore. The load-bearing surface may be located on one side of the bore, from which the fixing pin assembly exerts force in response to a force that helps to dislodge the wear member from the support structure.

[0014] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the main body can be molded to be received in a bore that extends through the wear member into the support structure, so that when installed, the fixing pin assembly is fixed to the wear member but movable relative to the support structure. The main body may include a head, and a shaft member may extend through the head. The head may have a peripheral portion, part of which may have a non-circular shape configured to be received in a correspondingly shaped recess in the wall of the wear member, so as to prevent rotation of the main body by engagement between the head and the wall of the recess.

[0015] In some embodiments, a fixing pin assembly for securing a ground engagement member to a support structure may have a body, a head, and a tip. The body may have an outer surface having a proximal end and a distal end. The head is located at the proximal end and may have a peripheral portion, part of which has a non-circular shape configured to be received in a correspondingly shaped proximal recess within the wall of the ground engagement member. The tip may be located at the distal end and may have a non-circular peripheral profile having at least one flat side surface, configured to be received in a correspondingly shaped distal recess in a portion of the ground engagement member facing the first recess. The engagement of the head with the proximal recess and the engagement of the tip with the distal recess prevent the body from rotating relative to the ground engagement member.

[0016] The reference axis may extend longitudinally through the main body. The outer surface may have an engagement surface along one side parallel to the reference axis. At least a portion of the outer surface opposite the engagement surface is non-parallel to the reference axis. For example, the upper, lower, and rear sides of the main body may be non-parallel to the front side. The fixing pin assembly may be configured to be oriented within a bore extending into the support structure through the ground engagement member, such that at least a portion of the engagement surface can engage with a load-bearing surface of the support structure defined by the inner wall of the bore. The load-bearing surface may be located on one side of the bore to which the fixing pin assembly exerts force in response to a force that helps to disengage the ground engagement member from the support structure.

[0017] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a wear member for mounting on an adapter supported on a ground engagement device using a fixed pin assembly may have an outer surface, an inner surface, a bore, a mounting inclined portion, and a removal inclined portion. The inner surface may define a cavity within the wear member. The bore may penetrate the wear member from the outer surface of the first wall to the outer surface of the second wall opposite the first wall. The mounting inclined portion may be positioned adjacent to the bore and configured to engage with a first surface of the core of the fixed pin assembly when the core is rotated in a first direction from a loose configuration to a fixed configuration when the fixed pin assembly is positioned inside the bore. The removal inclined portion may also be positioned adjacent to the bore and configured to engage with a second surface of the core opposite the first surface of the core when the core is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction from a fixed configuration to a loose configuration. In some embodiments, the mounting inclined portion and the removal inclined portion are integrated into the first wall. The mounting inclined portion may be configured to convert the rotation of the core in a first direction into axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly through engagement between the mounting inclined portion and the first surface, thereby facilitating the seating of the fixing pin assembly within the wear member. Similarly, the removal inclined portion may be configured to convert the rotation of the core in a second direction into axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly through engagement between the removal inclined portion and the second surface, thereby facilitating the removal of the fixing pin assembly from the wear member.

[0018] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for fixing or removing a wear member to or from an adapter supported on a ground engagement device using a fixed pin assembly may comprise a first rotational step, in which the fixed pin assembly is positioned in a bore through which the wear member and the adapter pass, and the fixed pin assembly is rotated in a first direction relative to the body of the fixed pin assembly through a first range of motion (or "part of movement") in which the first surfaces of the teeth of a shaft member engage with the corresponding first surfaces of a notch of a plunger positioned within the body. The plunger can be substantially rotatably fixed relative to the body, and the rotation of the shaft member through the first range of motion causes a biasing member to axially displace the plunger from an initial position to a compressed position. The method may further comprise a second rotational step, in which the shaft member is rotated in a first direction relative to the body through a second range of motion in which the second surfaces of the teeth slide against the corresponding second surfaces of the notch. During the rotation of the shaft through the second range of motion, the biasing member can return the plunger to its initial position. The first and second rotational stages allow the fixing mechanism of the fixing pin assembly, such as the core portion extending from the shaft member, to be moved from the first configuration to the second configuration. When the fixing mechanism is in one of the first and second configurations, the fixing mechanism connects to the wear member or adapter to prevent the fixing pin assembly from being pulled out of the wear member; when the fixing mechanism is in the other of the first and second configurations, the fixing pin assembly is removable from the wear member.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first range of motion is in the range of 0 to 180 degrees, and the second range of motion is in the range of 0 to 180 degrees. For example, in some embodiments, one or both of the first and second ranges of motion may be in the range of 20 to 160 degrees, 40 to 140 degrees, 70 to 100 degrees, etc.

[0020] In further embodiments, the disclosure relates to a fixing pin assembly for securing a ground engagement member to a support structure. The fixing pin assembly may have a body portion positioned to selectively and non-rotatably protrude into an opening within the support structure. The body portion also has an opening formed therein. The shaft member has a first axis and comprises a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of which may have a first plurality of equidistant teeth. The first plurality of equidistant teeth can be radially spaced apart about 30 to 120 degrees around the first axis, and the distal end is located within the body portion. The core portion may extend radially from the proximal end of the shaft member outside the body portion. The shaft member may be rotatable relative to the main body between a first position in which the core can be positioned to mechanically prevent the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the core is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and a second position in which the core can be positioned to allow the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the core is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure. A biasing member may be located within the main body. A plunger may be located between the biasing member and the distal end of the shaft member, and the plunger has a second axis and comprises a second plurality of equidistant teeth. The second plurality of equidistant teeth are radially spaced apart about 30 to 120 degrees around the second axis and are molded to selectively engage with the first plurality of equidistant teeth of the shaft member to provide resistance to rotation in two opposing directions. In some embodiments, the first set of equidistant teeth and the second set of equidistant teeth are shaped to provide approximately equal resistance to rotation in two directions.

[0021] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure. The fixing pin assembly may have a body portion having an opening formed therein, and may have a shaft member having a first axis and comprising a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end may have a protruding tooth extending axially and offset from the first axis, and the distal end may be located within the body portion. A core portion may extend radially from the proximal end of the shaft member outside the body portion. The shaft member may be rotatable relative to the body portion between a first position in which the core portion can be positioned so as to mechanically prevent the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and a second position in which the core portion can be positioned so as to allow the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure. A biasing member may be located within the body portion. A plunger may be positioned between a biasing member and the distal end of a shaft member. The plunger may have a second axis and may have a second tooth extending proximal and offset from the second axis. The second tooth may engage with the first tooth to provide resistance to rotation in two opposing directions. In some embodiments, one of the shaft member and the plunger has notches adjacent to the respective first or second tooth, and each of the first and second teeth is dimensioned to form a radial arc in the range of about 30 to 120 degrees around the first and second axes, respectively.

[0022] It should be understood that both the general description above and the following drawings and detailed description are essentially illustrative and descriptive, and are intended to provide an understanding of the disclosure without limiting its technical scope. In this regard, further aspects, features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0023] The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the systems, apparatus, and methods disclosed herein, and serve to illustrate the principles of this disclosure, along with their descriptions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an assembled perspective view of a cutting tooth assembly embodying the principles of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1. [Figure 3A] Figure 3A is an exploded perspective view of a fixed pin assembly according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] Figure 3B is a view showing an example of the tip of the plunger of Figure 3A. [Figure 3C] Figure 3C is a view showing an alternative example of the tip of the plunger. [Figure 4A] Figure 4A is a top view of the fixed pin assembly of Figure 3A in an assembled configuration. [Figure 4B] Figure 4B is a front view of the fixed pin assembly of Figure 4A. [Figure 4C] Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view of the fixed pin assembly of Figure 4A. [Figure 4D] Figure 4D is a cross-sectional view of an alternative fixed pin assembly having an elongated profile. [Figure 5A] Figure 5A is a partial side view of the fixed pin assembly in the released position. [Figure 5B] Figure 5B is a partial side view of the fixed pin assembly in the fixed position. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a rotation stop element that interacts with a groove in a shaft member according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the assembly of Figure 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a top cross-sectional view of the assembly of Figure 1. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a partial left side view of the assembly of Figure 1 showing the interaction between the fixed pin assembly and the wear member. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a right cross-sectional view of the assembly of Figure 说明:上述翻译中,保留了所有的标签( 等),按照要求对中文内容进行了准确翻译,并保持了原文的换行格式。 [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a right perspective view of a wear member embodying the principles of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a partial left-side perspective view of the wear member in Figure 11, showing the proximal opening of the bore that penetrates the wear member. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the proximal opening in Figure 12, as seen from inside the cavity of the wear member. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the proximal opening in Figure 12. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a right-hand cross-sectional view showing the proximal opening of Figure 12, passing through the cavity of the wear member in Figure 12. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a flowchart of a method for fixing a wear member onto an adapter using the fixing pin assembly according to the present disclosure. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a flowchart showing how to remove a wear component, which is fixed by a fixing pin assembly, from the adapter. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] These diagrams will be better understood by referring to the detailed explanation below.

[0026] For the purpose of facilitating understanding of the principles of this disclosure, embodiments shown in the drawings are provided below, and specific languages ​​may be used to describe such embodiments. Nevertheless, it will be understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Any changes and further modifications to the apparatus, fixtures, methods, and any further applications of the principles of this disclosure are readily conceivable, as would ordinarily occur to a person skilled in the art to whom this disclosure relates. Furthermore, this disclosure describes in detail some elements or features with respect to one or more embodiments or drawings, and describes those same elements or features without high detail where they appear in subsequent drawings. Features, components, and / or steps described with respect to one or more embodiments or drawings may be readily conceivable to be combined with features, components, and / or steps described with respect to other embodiments or drawings of this disclosure. For simplicity, in some examples, the same or similar reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to identical or similar parts.

[0027] This disclosure relates to a drilling tooth assembly comprising a fixing pin assembly arranged to removably secure an adapter to a wear member such as a drilling tooth. The fixing pin assembly comprises a radially extending, rotatable fixing element (or “core”) that engages with the inner surface of the wear member and mechanically prevents the fixing pin assembly from being unintentionally removed. A biasing member causes rotation and mechanical interference of the core from a fixed position to an unlocked position. During the rotation of the core from the fixed position to the unlocked position and from the unlocked position to the fixed position relative to the body of the fixing pin assembly, resistance to rotation is provided in a first range of motion, but no resistance is provided in a second range of motion. This feature provides the user with tactile feedback to ensure that the fixing pin assembly has been properly transitioned from fixed to unlocked or from unlocked to fixed. Furthermore, the resistance to rotation may help reduce or minimize the opportunity for unintentional rotation.

[0028] The fixing pin assembly employs mechanical interference to prevent unintentional rotation of its components, thereby enabling it to withstand vibration, high shocks, and repeated loads while minimizing the chance of unintentional disengagement. Furthermore, some embodiments of the fixing pin assembly may be configured to emit an audible noise, such as a click, when the fixing pin assembly achieves a fixed state. This may make it easier for users, such as machine operators, to install new wear components and replace old ones than it would be with conventional connector pins.

[0029] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate exemplary embodiments of the assemblies according to the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiments, the drilling tooth assembly 100 comprises a wear member 104 (or "ground engagement member") representing the form of a replaceable cutting edge, mounted on an adapter 102 (or "support structure") equipped with a fixing pin assembly 106. It should be understood that the assemblies according to the present disclosure may have any type of ground engagement member and a corresponding support structure to which the ground engagement member is pinned. The drilling tooth assembly 100 may find particular utility in a movable installation device. For example, the drilling tooth assembly 100 may be used in construction, mining, drilling, and other industries. The adapter 102 has a rear base with a fork, which may be joined (welded) to, for example, the lip of a bucket or otherwise fixed. A nose portion projecting forward to receive the wear member 104 extends from the rear base. A transverse bore 160 extends through the vertical sides opposite both the wear member and the nose portion, and a fixing pin assembly 106 may be inserted into the transverse bore 160 to hold the wear member 104 on the adapter 102. It should be noted that the drilling tooth assembly 100 may have one or more intermediate adapters, and the fixing pin assembly 106 may be inserted to hold the intermediate adapter on the adapter 102 as a wear member, or may be used to hold the wear member 104 on the intermediate adapter. In alternative embodiments, it should be understood that the bore does not have to penetrate the adapter completely. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a first bore may extend to a first side of the adapter and a second bore may extend to a second side of the adapter. In the above embodiments, two fixing pin assemblies may be utilized.

[0030] The fixing pin assembly 106 is shaped and sized to be received within the bore 160 of the adapter 102 and the wear member 104. As described herein, the fixing pin assembly 106 can removably fix the wear member 104 in a predetermined position on the adapter 102. Furthermore, at least a portion of the fixing pin assembly 106 can be operated between an unlocked position and a fixed position. When the wear member 104 is properly positioned on the adapter 102, the fixing pin assembly 106 can be operated from the unlocked position to the fixed position. When in the fixed position, the fixing pin assembly 106 can prevent the wear member 104 from being removed from the adapter 102 by mechanically blocking the wear member 104 from separating from the adapter 102. If necessary, a user such as an operator can operate the fixing pin assembly 106 from the fixed position to the unlocked position. This allows the user to remove the fixing pin assembly 106 from the bore 160 and subsequently remove the wear member 104 from the adapter 102.

[0031] Referring to the exploded view in Figure 3A, the fixing pin assembly 106 comprises, in particular, a main body 110 and a shaft member 112. The main body 110 may be a body having an outer surface 146 corresponding to the shape of the bore 160. The shaft member 112 is partially located within and extending from a fixed cavity 125, which is an opening in the main body 110 through the head 124. In some examples, including the example in Figure 3A, the fixed cavity 125 is a substantially cylindrical bore that extends partway through the main body 110. The distal portion of the shaft member 112 has a cylindrical outer surface that is dimensioned and positioned to fit within the fixed cavity 125. In this embodiment, the shaft member 112 has a clearance fit so that it can rotate within the fixed cavity 125.

[0032] The shaft member 112 includes a core portion 126 that radially protrudes from the shaft member 112 to the outside of the main body portion 110. The core portion 126 is a mechanism that provides mechanical interference with the wear member 104 to prevent the fixing pin assembly 106 from being removed from the bore 160 in a fixed position. By rotating the shaft member 112 and the core portion 126 using the tool engagement mechanism 128, the fixing pin assembly 106 can be moved from a release position where the core portion 126 passes a portion of the wear member 104 during insertion and removal, to a fixed position where the core portion 126 engages with a portion of the wear member 104. In this embodiment, the tool engagement mechanism 128 includes a hexagonal tool recess configured to receive a hexagonal tool such as a hex wrench, and also includes a hexagonal outer surface configured to engage with a monkey wrench or socket. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other tool interfaces and tools can be used.

[0033] The tool engagement mechanism 128 is sized and positioned to receive a working tool (not shown) that can be handled by a user. The working tool is inserted into the tool engagement mechanism 128 and rotated so as to rotate the shaft member 112, which can move the fixing pin assembly 106 from a fixed position to an unlocked position and from an unlocked position to a fixed position.

[0034] The shaft member 112 interacts with the plunger 116 and the biasing member 118 during rotation to provide resistance to rotation, thereby preventing accidental disengagement and providing tactile feedback to the user. It should be understood that the shaft member 112 can rotate in both directions without displacing the shaft member 112 in the axial direction. In this regard, the shaft member 112 can rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise while receiving resistance to its rotation due to continuous contact between the shaft member 112 and the plunger 116.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member 118 is a coil spring, but it can be any suitable spring or biasing mechanism, and the biasing member 118 is mounted in contact with the distal wall of the fixed cavity 125 at one end and engages with the plunger 116 at the other end. In this regard, the plunger 116 is biased toward the shaft member 112 and can resist axial movement which helps to push the plunger 116 further into the fixed cavity 125.

[0036] It may be desirable to prevent the rotation of the plunger 116 to ensure that the plunger 116 provides resistance to the rotation of the shaft member 112. In this regard, the plunger 116 may have a rotation-stopping element. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation-stopping element comprises a plunger dowel 122 positioned in a dowel recess 123 intersecting the fixed cavity 125. The plunger dowel 122 passes through an elongated opening 134 of the plunger 116. The elongated shape of the elongated opening 134 allows the plunger 116 to slide axially within the fixed cavity 125 but not to rotate relative to the body 110. The plunger dowel 122 is removable from the dowel recess 123, for example, to facilitate disassembly of the fixed pin assembly 106 for cleaning or repair, but it should be considered that the plunger dowel 122 or another rotation-stopping element may be integrally formed with the body 110.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the rotation-stopping element may have a projection extending from the plunger. This projection may be located within a longitudinal channel formed in the inner wall surface of the fixed cavity 125. In this regard, the plunger 116 can slide freely axially within the fixed cavity 125 as the projection slides within the longitudinal channel. However, the rotation of the plunger 116 would be prevented by mechanical interference between the projection and the side wall of the longitudinal channel.

[0038] The shaft dowel 120 can be positioned in a dowel recess 121 that intersects with the fixed cavity 125 and engages with a groove 130 on the shaft member 112. Similar to the plunger dowel 122, the shaft dowel 120 can be removable or permanently fixed to the main body 110. The groove 130 is positioned to extend substantially laterally with respect to the shaft member 112 rather than longitudinally. In this regard, the shaft member 112 is rotatable, but its axial movement is substantially limited by the interference between the shaft dowel 120 and the groove 130, as will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 5A to 6. This limitation of axial movement caused by the shaft dowel 120 holds the shaft member 112 within the fixed cavity 125 and prevents the shaft member 112 from being displaced in response to the force applied to the shaft member 112 by the plunger 116 during rotation of the shaft member 112. The shaft pin 120 and groove 130 are merely illustrative means for restricting the axial movement of the shaft member 112, and it should be understood that other suitable means for restricting the axial movement of the shaft member 112 while allowing rotation are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0039] The interface between the shaft member 112 and the plunger 116 may have a crown-like feature that facilitates rotational resistance of the shaft member 112, as teeth extending from the non-rotatable plunger 116 that grip the corresponding teeth extending from the shaft member 112. As described herein, each adjacent pair of teeth on the shaft member 112 forms a notch configured to receive the corresponding teeth on the plunger 116, and vice versa. The furthest range of the teeth can be called the resistance peak, as this narrowest point of the teeth may correspond to the rotational position where the resistance is maximized by the maximum compression of the biasing member 118. When the teeth of one member (shaft member 112 or plunger 116) overcome the resistance peak of the other member, the resistance may drop to zero as the teeth begin to slide and engage into the seating position. Although illustrated as multiple jagged teeth, it should be understood that the teeth and notches may be formed from smooth, wavy curves. Such profiles can provide less rotational resistance than the illustrated embodiments and may offer a longer service life or other advantages. In some embodiments, the teeth are shaped to provide approximately equal resistance to rotation in two opposing directions.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, each of the shaft member 112 and the plunger 116 may have four equidistant teeth. In this regard, rotation of the shaft member 112 from the fixed position to the unlocked position involves a rotation of approximately 90 degrees corresponding to the repositioning of the teeth 138 of the shaft member 112 from the notch 136a of the plunger 116 to the adjacent notch 136b. To return the shaft member 112 to the fixed position, the rotation may be reversed. Naturally, there may be more or fewer teeth, such as one tooth on one engagement mechanism and two notches on another. Alternatively, each engagement mechanism may have five teeth, ten teeth, or more. The range of rotation between adjacent teeth or pairs of notches may increase or decrease in accordance with the decrease or increase in the number of teeth and notches.

[0041] In some embodiments, the teeth are selected to be spaced between approximately 30 and 120 degrees. For example, some embodiments utilize three teeth spaced approximately 120 degrees apart. Some embodiments utilize twelve teeth spaced approximately 30 degrees apart.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3B, each tooth is defined by a resistance peak 137 extending between two notches 136a, 136b, and each tooth is oriented at an angle α with respect to the rotational direction of the shaft member 112. Angle α can be any suitable angle that provides resistance to rotation while still allowing rotation of the shaft member 112. In the illustrated embodiment, angle α can be about 45 to 75 degrees. In one example, angle α can be, for example, about 59 degrees. The interaction between each tooth of the shaft member 112 and the corresponding tooth of the plunger 116 converts rotation into an axial force having a transverse component with respect to the rotational direction. Since the axial movement of the shaft member 112 is restricted by the shaft dowel 120, this force causes an axial displacement of the plunger 116 relative to the biasing member 118 during the first portion of the movement corresponding to the upward inclination of one inclined surface of each tooth. As the resistance peak of each tooth 138 of the shaft member 112 passes the resistance peak 137 of the corresponding tooth of the plunger 116, a second portion of movement begins, with no resistance to rotation. In fact, in some embodiments, the resistance peak of each tooth of the shaft member 112 slides across the downward inclination of the corresponding second surface of each tooth of the plunger 116, so that rotation is biased during the second portion of movement, and the plunger 116 is pushed back to its initial position by the biasing member 118, thereby fitting the shaft member 112 into a fully seated position relative to the plunger 116. In some embodiments, by forming each tooth on two adjacent surfaces of similar inclination and similar length, the reciprocating motion of the shaft member 112 between the fixed and unlocked positions relative to the plunger 116 can be facilitated with a similar degree of resistance as the resistance provided by the crown-shaped interface, and in rotation in both directions, provides the user with similar tactile feedback confirming the complete transition of the teeth from one notch to an adjacent notch. In the illustrated example where adjacent teeth are separated by 90 degrees, the transition from one notch 136a to the adjacent notch 136b of tooth 138 corresponds to a 90-degree rotation between a fixed position and an unfixed position.

[0043] Figure 3C shows the tip of the plunger in Figure 3B in an alternative embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, each tooth of the plunger 116 may have a substantially flat segment with a plane at the resistance peak 137 and a corresponding flat segment at the base of the notches 136a, 136b. The plane may extend between a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface that define the teeth of the plunger. The shaft member 112 may have teeth of a shape corresponding to the teeth of the plunger in Figure 3C. The angle β can be any suitable angle that provides resistance to rotation while still allowing rotation of the shaft member 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle β can be about 60 to 80 degrees, and in some examples, it can be about 72 to 73 degrees. An angle β larger than the angle α increases the resistance to rotation and may affect the rotational distance required to achieve full axial displacement. For example, in Figure 3B, full axial displacement (using the example of four teeth) can be achieved with a rotation of about 90 degrees. In the example in Figure 3C, a complete axial displacement (using the example of four teeth) can be achieved with a rotation of approximately 60 to 85 degrees. However, it should be understood that other factors, such as the spring constant of the biasing member 118, may also affect the rotational resistance provided.

[0044] It should be understood that the functionality described above in relation to the crown-shaped interface can be enhanced by providing a single tooth 138 extending from the shaft member 112 and two notches formed within the plunger 116, or vice versa. However, multiple teeth and multiple notches may be desirable to extend the service life of the fixed pin assembly 106 by distributing the forces between the plunger 116 and the shaft member 112 across the interface of multiple teeth. Furthermore, symmetrically distributing multiple teeth and notches around the interface can help maintain the linear alignment of the plunger 116 and the shaft member 112, thereby preventing coupling of components within the fixed cavity 125 and providing predictable and consistent resistance to rotation of the shaft member 112.

[0045] The O-ring 114 can be fitted into the circumferential groove 132 of the shaft member 112. When the fixing pin assembly 106 is assembled, the O-ring 114 can provide a seal between the shaft member 112 and the inner wall of the fixing cavity 125. This seal can be effective in preventing debris from entering the fixing cavity 125 and obstructing the movement of the plunger 116 and the biasing member 118.

[0046] Referring to Figures 4A and 4B, the assembled fixing pin assembly 106 is shown in a top view and a front view, respectively. The reference axis 140 extends longitudinally through the centers of the fixing cavity 125, the shaft member 112, and the plunger 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the front surface 150 of the main body 110 may be defined by a portion of the outer surface 146 extending parallel to the reference axis 140. This portion of the outer surface 146 may have a minute narrow line extending longitudinally across the front surface 150 such that each cross-section passing through the main body 110 is circular, as shown in Figure 4C. In this regard, part or all of the circular cross-section may be offset from the reference axis 140. Alternatively, the portion of the outer surface 146 parallel to the reference axis 140 may have a flat surface, such that one or more of the cross-sections are D-shaped.

[0047] In contrast, each of the rear side 151, bottom side 152, and top side 153 may be defined by a portion of the outer surface 146 that is not parallel to the reference axis 140. These rear side 151, bottom side 152, and top side 153 may have a taper that extends from the proximal end 142 to the distal end 144 of the main body 110. That is, the maximum outer diameter of the main body 110, ignoring the head 124, is at the proximal end 142, and the minimum outer diameter of the main body 110, ignoring the tip 168, is at the distal end 144. The tapered shape of the main body 110 can improve the ease with which the fixing pin assembly 106 can be removed from the bore 160. That is, due to the extreme compressive and torsional forces that the fixing pin assembly 106 may experience during use, the cylindrical main body may become wedge-shaped within the bore 160, making removal difficult. However, tapered pins, such as the fixed pin assembly 106, are more resistant to this problem. The taper between the maximum and minimum outer diameters may be linear or nonlinear. Furthermore, the taper on one or more of the rear side 151, bottom side 152, and top side 153 may be asymmetrical with respect to one or more of the other sides.

[0048] The asymmetric design of the main body 110 can offer at least two advantages. Firstly, if the bore 160 inside or through the adapter 102 is shaped similarly to the outer surface 146 of the main body 110, rotation of the fixing pin assembly 106 can be prevented. In other words, if the bore is non-circular, the width of the main body 110 from the front side 150 to the rear side 151 may exceed the height of the bore 160, and the main body 110 will not be able to rotate once seated on the bore 160. This configuration can be seen, for example, in the alternative cross-sectional view of Figure 4D.

[0049] Secondly, the load-bearing capacity of the drilling tooth assembly 100 can be improved, particularly if the portion of the outer surface 146 parallel to the reference axis 140 has a flat surface. That is, if the load applied to the wear member 104 and transferred to the fixing pin assembly 106 and adapter 102 is not sufficiently distributed, excessive wear or damage may occur to the fixing pin assembly 106 and / or adapter 102. For example, a main body that is tapered on all sides and installed in a cylindrical bore will receive a greater load near one end of the main body than at the other end. However, by providing a surface on the main body 110 which is parallel to the reference axis 140 rather than tapered, the load can be evenly distributed across the front side surface 150. Furthermore, or alternatively, it is conceivable that a portion parallel to the rear side surface 151 of the outer surface 146 can be provided to evenly distribute the load during drilling when the wear member 104 is pressed toward the rear of the adapter 102.

[0050] Referring to Figures 5A and 5B, the shaft member 112 is shown in a fixed-release configuration in Figure 5A and Figure 5B. As shown, the core portion 126 can be separated from the head 124 of the main body portion 110 by a distance L2 when the shaft member 112 is in the fixed-release position. When the shaft member 112 is rotated to the fixed position, the shaft member 112 can be displaced axially such that the core portion 126 is separated from the head 124 by a distance L1, which can be 0. This movement is facilitated by forming a groove 130 (see Figure 3A) which has a slightly helical direction. As a result, the shaft dowel 120 remains stationary and fixed in place relative to the main body portion 110, and the rotation of the shaft member 112 pushes the side of the helical groove 130 formed in the shaft member 112 out of the shaft dowel 120, thereby displacing the shaft member 112 axially. This feature can further contribute to providing tactile feedback to the user. Preferably, the width of the groove 130 matches the width of the shaft dowel 120 for a tight clearance fit. However, the width of the groove 130 may be wider than the shaft dowel 120.

[0051] Figure 6 is a cross-section viewed along line 6-6 in Figure 4A, further illustrating the interaction between the groove 130 and, for example, the rotation-stopping element of the shaft dowel 120. The groove 130 may be partially circumferential, and its length is limited and defined by the opposing ends of the groove 130. The limited length of the groove 130 then limits the range of rotation of the shaft member 112. In this regard, the shaft dowel 120, located within the dowel recess 121, can mechanically interfere with the rotation of the shaft member 112 by contacting multiple ends of the groove 130 as the shaft member 112 rotates, thereby preventing further rotation. In the illustrated embodiment, the groove 130 is configured to have an arc length that allows for approximately 90 degrees of rotation, corresponding to the 90-degree rotation facilitated by the four equidistant teeth on the shaft member 112 and the plunger 116. This 90-degree range of rotation is sufficient to move the core 126 from the unlocked position to the locked position and from the locked position to the unlocked position. However, the groove 130 can be configured to any length to facilitate any desired range of motion.

[0052] Referring to Figures 7 to 10, Figures 7 and 8 show a front cross-sectional view along line 7-7 and a top cross-sectional view along line 8-8 of the drilling gear assembly in Figure 1, respectively. Figure 9 shows a left side view of the bore 160 of the drilling gear assembly, and Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view along line 10-10 in Figure 8.

[0053] The bore 160 extends through the wear member 104 and the adapter 102, from the proximal opening 162 of the first wall of the wear member 104 to the distal opening 164 of the opposing second wall of the wear member 104. However, as described above, the bore 160 can alternatively extend only partially within the adapter 102 rather than completely through it, and a relatively short fixing pin assembly corresponding to a relatively short bore length can be provided.

[0054] As best shown in Figures 8 to 10, the main body 110, specifically the head 124, can be dimensioned and molded to mechanically connect with the proximal opening 162 at the proximal end of the main body, and the main body 110, specifically the tip 168, can be dimensioned and molded to mechanically connect with the distal opening 164. Thus, the main body 110 has a non-circular peripheral profile or shape that prevents rotation of the main body 110 relative to the wear member 104, at least in these positions. Furthermore, the tight fit between the main body 110 and the proximal opening 162 and distal opening 164 allows the fixing pin assembly 106 to move integrally with the wear member 104. Advantageously, this prevents the wear member 104 from applying force to the core 126 as the wear member 104 moves relative to the adapter 102 during use, which can result in undesirable release.

[0055] As best illustrated in Figure 10, the proximal opening 162 may have an asymmetrical profile, and at least a portion of it may be non-circular. In this regard, the asymmetrical shape can assist the user in inserting the retaining pin assembly 106 into the bore 160 in the correct orientation. That is, a symmetrical head may cause the user to attempt to insert the retaining pin assembly in the wrong direction, potentially resulting in an improper load distribution across the body by positioning the outer surface portion parallel to the reference axis 140 in the wrong area of ​​the bore 160. Furthermore, the non-circular portion of the profile of the head 124 allows the head 124 to seat tightly within at least a portion of the proximal opening 162 in a manner that prevents rotation of the retaining pin assembly 106 relative to the wear member 104.

[0056] As shown in Figure 8, a load-bearing surface 166 can be provided in the portion of the bore 160 through which the adapter 102 passes. This load-bearing surface can be parallel to the reference axis 140 as described above in relation to Figure 4A, and can be sized and molded to closely correspond to the front surface 150 of the outer surface 146 of the main body 110. The adapter 102 is preferably designed to handle the loads exerted by the wear member 104 and the fixing pin assembly 106 in all directions, but the load-bearing surface 166 can be adapted in particular to ensure an even distribution of the load across the main body 110.

[0057] The distal opening 164 is made smaller in diameter than a portion of the main body 110 to prevent the fixing pin assembly 106 from sliding out of the distal end of the bore 160 and to ensure that the fixing pin assembly 106 does not seat too deeply within the bore 160, thus becoming wedge-shaped and not easily removable. In an alternative embodiment, the distal opening 164 may be replaced by a distal recess on the inner wall of the wear member 104 rather than passing through the wall completely, but in the illustrated embodiment, the distal opening 164 is provided as an access point for a tool such as a drill to remove the fixing pin assembly 106 if it becomes stuck within the bore 160. The tip 168 may extend sufficiently into the distal opening 164 to allow a user easy access to the main body 110 if it becomes stuck.

[0058] In Figures 7 and 8, the core portion 126 is in a fixed position, and the fixing pin assembly is fixed within the bore 160 by mechanical interference between the wall of the wear member 104 above the proximal opening 162 and the core portion 126. The positioning of the core portion 126 with respect to the characteristic portion of the wall of the wear member 104 will be discussed in more detail below in relation to Figures 12 to 15.

[0059] As described above in relation to Figure 3, Figure 8 provides an additional view of the plunger dowel 122, the elongated opening 134 in which it is located, and the shaft dowel 120, as well as the position of the shaft dowel 120 relative to the shaft member 112 and groove 130.

[0060] Figures 11 to 15 provide various examples of the wear member 104, paying particular attention to the features related to the proximal opening 162 of the bore 160. Figure 11 is a right-side perspective view of the wear member. Figure 12 is a partial left-side perspective view of the proximal opening of the wear member. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the proximal opening of Figure 12, seen from inside the cavity of the wear member. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the proximal opening, and Figure 15 is a right-side cross-sectional view through the cavity of the wear member.

[0061] The wear member 104 comprises an outer surface 170 and an inner surface 172. The inner surface 172 defines a cavity 174 into which the adapter 102 can be inserted. The wear member 104 consists of a first wall 176 and a second wall 178 opposite to the first wall. The bore 160 extends from the proximal opening 162 to the distal opening 164 through both the first wall 176 and the second wall 178.

[0062] As best shown in Figure 12, in the illustrated embodiment, the proximal opening 162 has a profile on the outer surface 170 of the wear member 104, which is substantially D-shaped. This D-shaped flat wall engages with a similar flat surface of the head 124, which provides resistance to rotation. The proximal opening 162 further has a lobe extending into the first wall 176 in a portion of its periphery away from the flat wall. This lobe can further ensure that the head 124 is inserted in the correct orientation and does not rotate relative to the wear member 104.

[0063] Within the first wall 176, there are two inclined surfaces intended to assist in the mounting and removal of the fixing pin assembly 106. The mounting inclined portion 182 is configured to engage with the proximal side of the core portion 126 when it is rotated from the unlocked position to the fixed position. The mounting inclined portion 182 may be located in the proximal region of the first wall 176. As the core portion 126 is rotated toward the fixed position, the core portion 126 slides across the angled mounting inclined portion 182 within the bore 160. In this regard, the rotation of the shaft member 112 is converted into axial movement by the core portion 126 sliding across the mounting inclined portion 182, forcing the fixing pin assembly 106 into the seated position within the bore 160. The final portion of movement of the core portion 126 during rotation toward the fixed position may correspond to a portion of the mounting inclined portion 182 that is flat rather than inclined and oriented laterally with respect to the bore 160. The lateral end of the mounting inclined portion 182 can extend over approximately 5 to 30 degrees of rotation, corresponding to the fully seated state of the fixing pin assembly 106. That is, when the fixing pin assembly 106 is fully inserted into the bore 160, the core portion 126 only needs to reach the lateral end. In the illustrated embodiment, the core portion 126 does not engage with the mounting inclined portion 182 until it reaches approximately 45 degrees of rotation. In this regard, when the user rotates the core portion 126 90 degrees from the unlocked position to the fixed position, the core portion can rotate without engagement during the first 45 degrees of rotation. At that point, the proximal side of the core portion 126 can engage with the mounting inclined portion 182 and begin to slide across the mounting inclined portion 182. It should be understood that the mounting inclined portion 182 may extend over a small portion (e.g., 5 degrees) of the rotational range of the core portion 126, or it may extend over the entire rotational range of the core portion 126.

[0064] As the core 126 slides across the mounting inclined portion 182, the fixing pin assembly 106 is further biased into the bore 160 until the core 126 reaches a fully seated position, depending on the orientation of the mounting inclined portion 182. At that point, the core 126 may be rotated another 5 to 25 degrees across the lateral portion of the mounting inclined portion 182 until the core 126 is vertical. At this point, the core 126 contacts the inner wall of the wear member 104, preventing the core 126 from over-rotating beyond the preferred positioning. Positioning the core 126 in contact with the lateral end of the mounting inclined portion 182, which is perpendicular to the direction of removal of the fixing pin assembly 106 from the bore 160, can help retain the fixing pin assembly 106 within the bore 160.

[0065] A removal inclined portion 184 is positioned adjacent to the mounting inclined portion 182. The removal inclined portion 184 can function similarly to the mounting inclined portion 182, but as it is rotated from the fixed position to the unlocked position, it can engage with the distal side of the core portion 126. That is, the shaft member 112 can be rotated from the fixed position to the unlocked position with the fixing pin assembly 106 fully seated. Initially, the core portion 126 can move over a range of rotations without contacting the removal inclined portion 184. At some point during a rotation of, for example, about 10 to 70 degrees from the fixed position to the unlocked position (90 degrees), the core portion 126 engages with the removal inclined portion 184, which connects to the distal side of the core portion 126, allowing the fixing pin assembly 106 to be removed from the bore 160. This may be particularly advantageous for removal if the fixing pin assembly 106 is trapped inside the bore 160 by debris or stress.

[0066] In some embodiments, the slopes of the mounting slope 182 and the removal slope 184 may be different, or may be different at specific positions along the rotation range of the core 126. The term "slope" as used with respect to the mounting slope 182 and the removal slope 184 refers to the magnitude of the axial displacement of the core 126 caused by the core 126 moving over a specified distance of each slope. That is, a larger slope refers to the orientation of the slope surface that causes a greater axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly 106 than a smaller slope. For example, the lateral end of the mounting slope may have a substantially zero slope. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting slope 182 may have a smaller slope than the removal slope 184. In some embodiments, the difference in slope may correspond to a difference in the length of the slopes. For example, a longer mounting slope 182 may have a smaller slope to distribute the axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly 106 over a larger distance. In contrast, the removal inclined portion 184 may preferably have a greater inclination to help remove the fixing pin assembly 106 if it becomes wedge-shaped due to fragments or deformation.

[0067] As shown in the figure, the gap 186 may be located between a portion of the mounting inclined section 182 and a portion of the removal inclined section 184. The gap 186 is dimensioned so that the core 126 can pass through the gap 186 during rotation. It should be understood that the removal inclined section 184 does not extend over the entire range of rotation of the core 126, but rather, in some embodiments, overlaps with the mounting inclined section 182 over a small portion of each of their ranges of rotation. This feature may advantageously allow the core 126 to be rotated to a position where it is clear that removal is not hindered by the portion of the first wall 176 comprising the mounting inclined section 182 before the core 126 engages with the removal inclined section 184 and begins to push outward through the proximal opening 162. The overlap of the mounting inclined section and the removal inclined section (if such overlap exists) may allow the gap 186 to be located in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the proximal opening 162.

[0068] Figure 16 illustrates a method 200 for securing a wear member to an adapter using the fixing pin assembly of the present disclosure. While the wear member and adapter are described accordingly, the method may also be applicable for securing an intermediate adapter to an adapter, or for securing a wear member to an intermediate component. The method may include a step 202 of positioning the wear member across the adapter so that a bore is aligned through both the wear member and the adapter. In some embodiments, the bore may pass through only a portion of the adapter, while in other embodiments, the bore may pass through both the wear member and the adapter completely.

[0069] The method may include a step 204 of inserting a fixing pin assembly in the unlocked position into the bore of the wear member through the proximal opening of the bore. By positioning the fixing pin assembly in the unlocked position, the core can pass through the wall of the proximal opening and the fixing pin assembly can be inserted. The method may further include a step 206 of engaging the shaft member with the core member via a tool engagement mechanism using a tool typically operated by the user, and applying a rotational force in a direction that biases the shaft member toward the fixed position. The method may also include a step 208 of rotating the shaft member when the core member contacts a mounting inclined portion located inside or adjacent to the bore. As the rotation of the core member continues, the rotation can be converted into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly, allowing the fixing pin assembly to seat in the desired position within the bore.

[0070] The method further comprises a first rotation step 210 in which the shaft member of the fixing pin assembly is rotated in a first direction relative to the body of the fixing pin assembly through a first range of motion through which resistance is provided, and in some embodiments, this resistance is increased by a first engagement mechanism of the shaft member interacting with a second engagement mechanism of the plunger. For example, the first surface of the teeth of the shaft member can engage with a corresponding first surface of a notch of the plunger located in the body, and the plunger is substantially rotatably fixed relative to the body, and the rotation of the shaft member through the first range of motion displaces the plunger axially toward the biasing member from an initial position to a compressed position, thereby providing resistance to rotation.

[0071] The method may further comprise a second rotation step 212 in which the shaft member is rotated in a first direction through a second range of motion relative to the main body. During the second range of motion, the first and second engagement mechanisms can be temporarily disengaged or engaged to substantially reduce the resistance provided. For example, the second surface of the teeth can slide against the corresponding second surface of the notch during rotation of the shaft through the second range of motion, and the biasing member can return the plunger to its initial position. During the second rotation, the user can continue to apply rotational force in the first direction, or the first and second engagement mechanisms can simply allow the core to be fitted into a fixed position in which the axial displacement of the core in a direction related to pulling the fixed pin assembly out of the bore interferes with a portion of the wall of the wear member.

[0072] In exemplary embodiments, the rotation between the unlocked position and the locked position may be approximately 90 degrees. The first range of motion may be in the range of 10 to 80 degrees, and the second range of motion may be in the range of 10 to 80 degrees. In preferred embodiments, the first and second ranges of motion each comprise approximately 45 degrees.

[0073] Referring to Figure 17, a method 300 for removing a wear member from an adapter in which the wear member is secured by a retaining pin is illustrated. This method may include, for example, a step 302 of engaging the shaft member with a tool and applying a rotational force greater than the resistance caused by the interference of the biasing member and plunger with the rotation of the shaft member. The rotational force may be applied in a direction that helps move the core from a fixed position to a released position. The method may also include a step 304 of rotating the shaft member as it contacts and slides against a removal inclined portion. This interaction between the core and the removal inclined portion allows the rotation of the shaft member to be converted into an axial displacement of the retaining pin assembly in the direction of removal from the bore.

[0074] The method further comprises step 306 of continuously applying a rotational force through a first portion of the movement of the core. During the first portion of movement, the first engagement mechanism and the second engagement mechanism can interact to continuously provide resistance to rotation. In some embodiments, this resistance can be increased during the first portion of movement. The method may also comprise step 308 of enabling the shaft member to be fitted into an unlocked position during a second portion of movement which is not provided with resistance to rotation, and in fact, such rotation may be biased when the plunger is pushed back to its initial position by the biasing member.

[0075] When the core is in the unlocked position, step 310 of this method may include a step of removing the fixing pin assembly from the bore through the proximal opening. This method may further include a step 312 of removing the wear member from the adapter.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second moving portions may each have a rotational range of about 45 degrees.

[0077] The ranges of motion described herein are intended to be illustrative only for the purpose of illustrating exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that various ranges of motion can be increased or decreased for desired implementations. For example, the range of rotation of the core between the fixed position and the unlocked position is substantially greater than or substantially less than 90 degrees. The proximal opening of the bore can be geometrically reconfigured to have mounting and / or detaching inclined portions that need to extend over longer or shorter distances to achieve a desired level of axial displacement of the locking pin assembly during rotation.

[0078] The fixing pin assemblies described herein may offer advantages and benefits not found in conventional devices. For example, they may be more resistant to accidental disengagement, bore clogging, and load-induced damage than some conventional pin assemblies. While described with reference to wear members and adapters, it should be understood that fixing pin assemblies can find use in other applications. For example, but not limited to, fixing pin assemblies may be used to attach adapters to buckets or other structures in the ground engagement tool industry.

[0079] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments contained herein are not limited to the specific exemplary embodiments described above. In this regard, while exemplary embodiments are shown and described, a wide range of modifications, changes, combinations, and substitutions are possible in the foregoing disclosure. It will be understood that such variations may be made without departing from the technical scope of the foregoing disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be interpreted broadly and in accordance with the foregoing disclosure. Furthermore, this disclosure includes the following inventions. The first aspect is, In a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure, The aforementioned fixing pin assembly is A main body portion that is non-rotatably positioned to selectively protrude into the opening of the support structure, the main body portion having an opening formed inside it, A shaft member comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end has a first engagement mechanism, and the distal end is disposed within the main body portion, A core portion extending radially from the proximal end of the shaft member to the outside of the main body, wherein the shaft member is rotatable with respect to the main body between a first position in which the core portion can be positioned to mechanically prevent the removal of the fixing pin assembly from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and a second position in which the core portion can be positioned to allow the removal of the fixing pin assembly from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, A biasing member disposed within the main body, A fixing pin assembly comprising a plunger disposed between the biasing member and the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the plunger comprises a second engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage with the first engagement mechanism of the shaft member, the biasing member biases the plunger toward the shaft member, and the second engagement mechanism is configured to engage with the first engagement mechanism to provide resistance during rotation of the shaft member toward the plunger in each of two opposing directions. The second aspect is, The first engagement mechanism and the second engagement mechanism are configured to rotate relative to each other such that when the rotational force applied to the shaft member exceeds the magnitude of the resistance to rotation applied by the biasing member, they cause the shaft member to rotate from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions, in a first embodiment of a fixed pin assembly. The third aspect is, The first engagement mechanism, the second engagement mechanism, and the biasing member are configured to be a fixed pin assembly in a second embodiment, wherein the resistance to rotation applied by the biasing member occurs in the first part of the rotational movement but not in the second part of the rotational movement. The fourth aspect is, A third embodiment of the fixing pin assembly, wherein one of the first and second engagement mechanisms comprises two adjacent notches separated by a resistance peak, and the other of the first and second engagement mechanisms comprises teeth configured to selectively seat in each of the two notches. The fifth aspect is, The resistance peak is a fixed pin assembly in a fourth embodiment, comprising a plane extending between a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, wherein the first and second inclined surfaces define opposing sides of one of the engagement mechanisms, the first and second engagement mechanisms. The sixth aspect is, The first and second inclined surfaces are a fixing pin assembly in a fifth embodiment, in which the angles of the shaft member are set to a range of approximately 60 to 80 degrees with respect to the rotational direction of the shaft member. The seventh aspect is, The resistance peak is a fixed pin assembly in a fourth embodiment, located approximately midway between the two adjacent notches. The eighth aspect is, The aforementioned two adjacent notches are centered at approximately 90-degree intervals, forming a fixing pin assembly in a seventh embodiment. The ninth aspect is, The other of the first and second engagement mechanisms is a fixing pin assembly in an eighth embodiment, wherein the other of the first and second engagement mechanisms comprises a third notch, and the resistance peak is sized and molded to fit into the third notch when the tooth is seated in one of the two adjacent notches. The tenth aspect is, The first engagement mechanism, the second engagement mechanism, and the biasing member are configured to provide the user with tactile feedback confirming the transition from the first position to the second position as the shaft member rotates between the two adjacent notches, in an eighth embodiment of the fixed pin assembly. The eleventh aspect is, The first engagement mechanism, the second engagement mechanism, and the biasing member are configured to provide the user with tactile feedback confirming that the rotation of the shaft member between the two adjacent notches is a transition from the second position to the first position, in a tenth embodiment of a fixed pin assembly. The twelfth aspect is, The fixing pin assembly in the first embodiment further comprises a rotation-stopping element, the shaft member has a partially circumferential groove formed therein, and the rotation-stopping element is configured to mechanically interfere with a plurality of opposing ends of the groove to limit the range of rotation of the shaft member relative to the main body. The 13th aspect is, The groove is a fixing pin assembly in a twelfth embodiment, wherein the engagement between the rotation-stopping element and the groove extends helically such that the rotation of the shaft member is converted into an axial displacement of the shaft member relative to the main body. The 14th aspect is, The rotation-stopping element that interferes with the end portion is a fixing pin assembly in a thirteenth embodiment that restricts the rotation of the shaft member within a range of approximately 90 degrees relative to the main body. The 15th aspect is, The rotation-stopping element is a fixed pin assembly in a 14th embodiment, comprising a dowel extending through a part of the main body. The 16th aspect is, The fixing pin assembly in the first embodiment further comprises a second rotation-stopping element that extends from the plunger and is configured to prevent the rotation of the plunger while allowing axial displacement of the plunger. The 17th aspect is, The fixing pin assembly in the 16th embodiment comprises a second dowel fixed to the main body, and the plunger has an elongated recess in which the second dowel extends. The 18th aspect is, The second rotation-stopping element is a fixing pin assembly in a 16th embodiment, comprising a projection extending from and fixed in relation to the plunger, the projection extending into a longitudinal channel formed on the inner wall surface of the main body. The 19th aspect is, The shaft member and the plunger define a reference axis extending in the longitudinal direction, a first cross-section of the main body perpendicular to the reference axis adjacent to the proximal end of the main body has a first cross-sectional area, a second cross-section of the main body perpendicular to the reference axis adjacent to the distal end of the main body has a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and the main body has an engagement surface along only one side parallel to the reference axis, in a first embodiment of a fixed pin assembly. The 20th aspect is, The fixing pin assembly in a 19th embodiment is configured to be oriented within a bore extending into the support structure through the ground engagement member such that at least a portion of the engagement surface engages with a load-bearing surface of the support structure defined by the inner wall of the bore. The 21st aspect is, The load-bearing surface is a fixing pin assembly in a 20th embodiment, which is located on one side of the bore, and the fixing pin assembly exerts force in response to a force that helps to disengage the ground engagement member from the support structure. The 22nd aspect is, In a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure, The aforementioned fixing pin assembly is A main body portion that is non-rotatably positioned to selectively protrude into the opening of the support structure, the main body portion having an opening formed inside it, A shaft member having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the tip has a first engagement mechanism, the tip is located within the main body, and the shaft member defines a reference axis extending in the longitudinal direction. A fixing mechanism extending radially from the fixing pin assembly, wherein the shaft member is rotatable relative to the main body between a first position in which the fixing mechanism can be positioned to mechanically prevent the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the fixing mechanism is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and a second position in which the fixing mechanism can be positioned to allow the fixing pin assembly to be removed from the ground engagement member when the fixing mechanism is positioned to allow the fixing pin assembly to be removed from the ground engagement member when the fixing mechanism is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and the fixing mechanism is rotatable relative to the main body. A biasing member disposed within the main body, A plunger disposed between the biasing member and the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the plunger comprises a second engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage with the first engagement mechanism of the shaft member, the biasing member biasing the plunger toward the shaft member, and the second engagement mechanism configured to engage with the first engagement mechanism to provide resistance during rotation of the shaft member toward the plunger in each of two opposing directions, The main body is molded to be received in a bore that extends into the support structure through the ground engagement member, and when installed, the fixing pin assembly is a fixing pin assembly that is fixed to the ground engagement member while being movable relative to the support structure. The 23rd aspect is, In a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure, The aforementioned fixing pin assembly is A main body having an outer surface with a proximal end and a distal end, A head positioned at the proximal end, wherein the head has a peripheral portion, and a portion of the peripheral portion has a non-circular shape configured to be received in a correspondingly shaped proximal recess within the wall of the ground engagement member, A fixing pin assembly comprising a tip positioned at the distal end, the tip having a non-circular peripheral profile configured to be received in a distal recess of a corresponding shape within a portion of the ground engagement member opposite to the proximal recess, the head engaging with the proximal recess and the tip engaging with the distal recess thereby preventing rotation of the main body relative to the ground engagement member. The 24th aspect is, The non-circular peripheral profile of the tip is a fixing pin assembly in a 23rd embodiment having at least one flat side surface. The 25th aspect is, A wear member for mounting on an adapter supported by a ground engagement device using a fixed pin assembly, The aforementioned wear member is Outer appearance and, The inner surface that defines the void, A bore passing through the wear member from the outer surface of the first wall to the outer surface of the second wall opposite to the first wall, A mounting inclined portion positioned adjacent to the bore, configured to engage with a first surface of the core portion of the fixing pin assembly when the core portion of the fixing pin assembly is rotated in a first direction from a release configuration to a fixed configuration, and when the fixing pin assembly is positioned inside the bore; The wear member comprises a removable inclined portion positioned adjacent to the bore, which is configured to engage with a second surface of the core portion opposite to the first surface of the core portion when the core portion of the fixing pin assembly is rotated from the fixing configuration to the release configuration in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The 26th aspect is, The mounting inclined portion and the removal inclined portion are wear members in a 25th embodiment, which are integrated with the first wall. The 27th aspect is, The mounting inclined portion is configured such that the mounting inclined portion engages with the first surface to convert the rotation of the core portion in the first direction into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly, thereby facilitating the seating of the fixing pin assembly on the wear member, in a 26th embodiment of the wear member. The 28th aspect is, The aforementioned inclined portion for removal is a wear member in a 27th embodiment, configured such that by engaging the inclined portion for removal with the second surface, it converts the rotation of the core portion in the second direction into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly, thereby facilitating the removal of the fixing pin assembly from the wear member. The 29th aspect is, In a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure, The aforementioned fixing pin assembly is A main body portion is arranged to selectively protrude into the opening of the support structure, A shaft member comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end has a first engagement mechanism, the distal end is disposed within the main body, and the shaft member is rotatable relative to the main body between a fixed position for fixing the ground engagement member to a support structure and a release position that allows the ground engagement member to be removed from the support structure. A biasing member disposed within the main body, A fixing pin assembly comprising a plunger disposed between the biasing member and the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the plunger comprises a second engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage with the first engagement mechanism of the shaft member, the biasing member biases the plunger toward the shaft member, and the second engagement mechanism is configured to engage with the first engagement mechanism to provide resistance during rotation of the shaft member relative to the plunger in each of two opposing directions. The 30th aspect is, The first engagement mechanism, the second engagement mechanism, and the biasing member are configured such that the resistance to rotation exerted by the biasing member occurs in a first portion of the rotational movement and in a second portion of the rotational movement, and one of the first and second engagement mechanisms comprises two adjacent notches separated by a resistance peak, and the other of the first and second engagement mechanisms comprises teeth configured to selectively seat inside each of the two notches, in a 29th embodiment of a fixed pin assembly. The 31st aspect is, A method for fixing or removing a wear member from an adapter supported on a ground engagement device using a fixing pin assembly, wherein the method is: A first rotational step in which the fixing pin assembly is positioned in a bore through which the wear member and the adapter pass, and the shaft member of the fixing pin assembly is rotated in a first direction relative to the main body of the fixing pin assembly through a first range of motion in which the first surfaces of the teeth of the shaft member engage with the corresponding first surfaces of the notches of a plunger positioned in the main body, wherein the plunger is substantially rotatably fixed relative to the main body, and the rotation of the shaft member through the first range of motion causes the biasing member to axially displace the plunger from an initial position to a compressed position, A second rotation step in which the shaft member is rotated in the first direction relative to the main body through a second range of motion in which the second surface of the tooth slides against the corresponding second surface of the notch, wherein during the rotation of the shaft member through the second range of motion, the biasing member returns the plunger to the initial position. The first rotation step and the second rotation step move the fixing mechanism extending from the fixing pin assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration. If the fixing mechanism is in either the first configuration or the second configuration, the fixing mechanism is connected to the wear member or the adapter to prevent the fixing pin assembly from being pulled out of the wear member. The method comprises a second rotation step, wherein the fixing mechanism is located in the other of the first and second configurations, and the fixing pin assembly is removable from the wear member. The 32nd aspect is, The method in the 31st embodiment is characterized in that the first range of motion is in the range of 0 to 180 degrees, and the second range of motion is in the range of 0 to 180 degrees. The 33rd aspect is, In a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure, The aforementioned fixing pin assembly is A main body portion that is non-rotatably positioned to selectively protrude into the opening of the support structure, the main body portion having an opening formed inside it, A shaft member having a first axis and comprising a distal end and a proximal portion, wherein the distal end has a first plurality of equidistant teeth, the first plurality of equidistant teeth are radially spaced apart around the first axis in a range of approximately 30 to 120 degrees, and the distal end is disposed within the main body portion of the shaft member. A core portion extending radially outward from the proximal end of the shaft member, wherein the shaft member is rotatable with respect to the main body between a first position in which the core portion can be positioned to mechanically prevent the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and a second position in which the core portion can be positioned to allow the fixing pin assembly to be removed from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, A biasing member disposed within the main body, A fixing pin assembly comprising: a plunger disposed between the biasing member and the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the plunger has a second axis and comprises a second plurality of equidistant teeth, the second plurality of equidistant teeth being radially spaced apart about 30 to 120 degrees around the second axis, and being molded to selectively engage with the first plurality of equidistant teeth of the shaft member to provide resistance to rotation in two opposing directions. The 34th aspect is, The first plurality of equidistant teeth and the second plurality of equidistant teeth are molded to provide substantially equal resistance to rotation in two directions, in a 33rd embodiment of a fixed pin assembly. The 35th aspect is, The fixing pin assembly in the 33rd embodiment is configured such that the first plurality of equidistant teeth and the second plurality of equidistant teeth rotate relative to each other when the rotational force applied to the shaft member exceeds the magnitude of the resistance to rotation applied by the biasing member, causing the shaft member to rotate from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions. The 36th aspect is, The first plurality of equidistant teeth, the second plurality of equidistant teeth, and the biasing member are configured such that the resistance to rotation applied by the biasing member occurs in the first portion of the rotational movement and in the second portion of the rotational movement, in a 35th embodiment of a fixed pin assembly. The 37th aspect is, In a fixing pin assembly for fixing a ground engagement member to a support structure, The aforementioned fixing pin assembly is A main body portion that is non-rotatably positioned to selectively protrude into the opening of the support structure, the main body portion having an opening formed inside it, A shaft member having a first axis and comprising a distal end and a proximal portion, wherein the distal end has a first tooth extending in the axial direction and offset from the first axis, and the distal end is disposed within the main body portion; A core portion extending radially outward from the proximal end of the shaft member to the main body portion, wherein the shaft member is rotatable relative to the main body portion between a first position in which the core portion can be positioned to mechanically prevent the fixing pin assembly from being removed from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, and a second position in which the core portion can be positioned to allow the fixing pin assembly to be removed from the ground engagement member when the core portion is positioned to fix the ground engagement member to the support structure, A biasing member disposed within the main body, A fixing pin assembly comprising: a plunger disposed between the biasing member and the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the plunger has a second axis and comprises a second tooth that extends proximal and is offset from the second axis, the second tooth engaging with the first tooth to provide resistance to rotation in two opposing directions. The 38th aspect is, A fixing pin assembly in the 37th embodiment, wherein one of the shaft member and the plunger is provided with a notch adjacent to the respective first tooth or second tooth, and each of the first tooth and the second tooth is dimensioned to form a radial arc within a range of approximately 30 to 120 degrees with respect to the first axis and the second axis, respectively.

Claims

1. A wear member for mounting on the nose of an adapter supported on a ground engagement device using a fixed pin assembly, The aforementioned wear member is Outer appearance and, The inner surface that defines the void, A bore passing through the wear member from the outer surface of the first wall to the outer surface of the second wall opposite to the first wall, A mounting inclined portion is positioned adjacent to the bore, and is configured to engage with a first surface of the core of the fixing pin assembly when the core of the fixing pin assembly is rotated in a first direction from a release configuration to a fixed configuration, and the fixing pin assembly is positioned inside the bore, wherein the mounting inclined portion comprises a helical portion and a flat portion oriented across the bore, A wear member comprising a removable inclined portion positioned adjacent to the bore, wherein the removable inclined portion is configured to engage with a second surface of the core portion opposite to the first surface of the core portion when the core portion of the fixing pin assembly is rotated from the fixing configuration to the release configuration in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the mounting inclined portion and the removable inclined portion are integrated with the first wall.

2. The mounting inclined portion is configured such that the mounting inclined portion engages with the first surface to convert the rotation of the core portion in the first direction into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly, thereby facilitating the seating of the fixing pin assembly on the wear member, as described in claim 1.

3. The wear member according to claim 1, wherein the removable inclined portion is configured such that the removable inclined portion engages with the second surface to convert the rotation of the core portion in the second direction into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly, thereby facilitating the removal of the fixing pin assembly from the wear member.

4. The wear member according to claim 1, wherein the end portion of the mounting inclined portion is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bore.

5. The wear member according to claim 4, wherein the flat portion oriented across the bore is the end portion of the mounting inclined portion, extending circumferentially in a range of 5 to 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bore.

6. The abrasion member according to claim 1, wherein the mounting inclined portion extends circumferentially in a range of about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bore.

7. The wear member according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the removal inclined portion has a greater inclination than the mounting inclined portion.

8. The wear member according to claim 1, wherein the length of the removal inclined portion is smaller than the length of the mounting inclined portion.

9. The wear member according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between a part of the mounting inclined portion and a part of the removal inclined portion, the gap has thickness in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore, and the gap of the bore is greater than the thickness of the core portion.

10. The wear member according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the removal inclined portion overlaps with a portion of the mounting inclined portion in the circumferential direction around the axis of the bore, and the majority of the removal inclined portion does not overlap with the mounting inclined portion in the circumferential direction around the axis of the bore.

11. A wear member for mounting on a support structure supported by a ground engagement device using a fixed pin assembly, The aforementioned wear member is Outer appearance and, The inner surface that defines the void, A bore passing through the wear member from the outer surface of the first wall to the outer surface of the second wall opposite to the first wall, A mounting inclined portion is positioned adjacent to the bore, and is configured to engage with a first surface of the core of the fixing pin assembly when the core of the fixing pin assembly is rotated in a first direction from a release configuration to a fixed configuration, and when the fixing pin assembly is positioned inside the bore, the mounting inclined portion is configured to convert the rotation of the core in the first direction into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly by engaging with the first surface, thereby facilitating the seating of the fixing pin assembly on the wear member, the mounting inclined portion extends circumferentially in a range of about 5 to about 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bore, and the mounting inclined portion includes a flat portion oriented across the longitudinal axis of the bore, and is configured to engage with the core in the fixed configuration, A wear member comprising a removable inclined portion integrated with the first wall adjacent to the bore, wherein the removable inclined portion is configured to engage with a second surface of the core portion opposite to the first surface of the core portion when the core portion of the fixing pin assembly is rotated from the fixing configuration to the release configuration in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the removable inclined portion is configured to convert the rotation of the core portion in the second direction into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly by engaging with the second surface, thereby facilitating the removal of the fixing pin assembly from the wear member.

12. In a drilling tooth assembly, The drilling tooth assembly is Fixing pin assembly, Support structure and, A wear member configured to be attached to the support structure using the aforementioned fixing pin assembly, wherein the wear member is Outer appearance and, An inner surface defining a cavity configured to receive the nose of the aforementioned support structure, A bore passing through the wear member from the outer surface of the first wall to the outer surface of the second wall opposite to the first wall, A mounting inclined portion is positioned adjacent to the bore, and is configured to engage with a first surface of the core of the fixing pin assembly when the core of the fixing pin assembly is rotated in a first direction from a release configuration to a fixed configuration, and the fixing pin assembly is positioned inside the bore, wherein the mounting inclined portion comprises a helical portion and a flat portion oriented across the longitudinal axis of the bore, A drilling tooth assembly comprising a wear member, the wear member comprising a removable inclined portion, the removable inclined portion being positioned adjacent to the bore, wherein the removable inclined portion is configured to engage with a second surface of the core portion opposite to the first surface of the core portion when the core portion of the fixing pin assembly is rotated from the fixing configuration to the release configuration in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the mounting inclined portion and the removable inclined portion are integrated with the first wall.

13. The mounting inclined portion is configured such that, by engaging with the first surface, the rotation of the core portion in the first direction is converted into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly, thereby facilitating the seating of the fixing pin assembly on the wear member. The drilling tooth assembly according to claim 12, wherein the removal inclined portion is configured such that the removal inclined portion engages with the second surface to convert the rotation of the core portion in the second direction into an axial displacement of the fixing pin assembly, thereby facilitating the removal of the fixing pin assembly from the wear member.

14. The drilling tooth assembly according to claim 12, wherein the end portion of the mounting inclined portion is oriented across the rotation axis of the shaft member of the fixing pin assembly in the bore.

15. The drilling tooth assembly according to claim 14, wherein a portion of the first wall is configured to engage with the core and prevent the core from rotating beyond the radial position of the core corresponding to the fully seated state of the fixing pin assembly within the bore.

16. The drilling tooth assembly according to claim 15, wherein the portion of the first wall is substantially vertical.

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