Wear member and wear assembly

Abstract

A first wear member, such as a wear cap, intermediate adapter, adapter, or wing shroud, for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment, the first wear member having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface. The first wear member includes at least one retention feature, such as an engagement tab or recess located at the front portion. In one example, an engagement tab has a top bearing surface and a bottom bearing surface, the top bearing surface corresponds to a bearing surface on a second wear member and the bottom bearing surface corresponds to a bearing surface on the base for bearing against during loading bearing use of the earth working equipment.

Description

WEAR MEMBER AND WEAR ASSEMBLYRELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority benefits to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 572,050, filed March 29, 2024, and entitled “Wear Member and Wear Assembly,” and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Field of the Invention

[0002] The field of the present disclosure relates to wear members for earth working equipment, and in particular, to the use of wear caps to protect surfaces subject to wear.Background of the Invention

[0003] Mining, dredging, construction, and the like equipment in normal use is subjected to conditions which cause significant wearing of the components. T o protect from such conditions, wear parts are secured over the surfaces experiencing wear and are replaced in lieu of replacing the underlying part or equipment.

[0004] Wear parts are commonly attached along the front edge of earth working equipment, such as buckets, dredge cutterheads, drumrolls, etc. to protect the equipment from wear and lengthen the usable life of the equipment. The wear parts may include teeth, shrouds, adapters, wing shrouds, picks, wear caps, and the like.Summary of the Disclosure

[0005] The present invention pertains to wear members for earth working equipment that are mechanically secured to the equipment.

[0006] In one example, a wear assembly for earth working equipment including a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a retaining feature defining a lock bearing surface. The wear assembly further including a wear cap having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, and an enclosed boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and extending from the interior surface generally towards the exterior surface and arranged to receive the boss when the wear cap overlies a portion of the supportive base. The wear cap also including a lock cavity located at a rear portion of the wear cap and extending from the exterior surface and in communication with the boss receiving cavity. The wear assembly including a lock member received within the lock cavity and to engage the lock bearing surface to hold the wear cap to the supportive base.

[0007] In another example, a wear assembly for earth working equipment, the wear assembly includes a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a lock cavity defining a first lock bearing surface. The wear assembly further including a wear cap having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, the rear portion arranged to engage the boss when the wear cap overlies a portion of the supportive base, and a second lock bearing surface located at a rear portion of the wear cap. Finally, the wear assembly includes a lock member received within the lock cavity to engage the first and second lock bearing surfaces to hold the wear cap to the supportive base.

[0008] The retaining feature may be in the form of a lock receiving hole. The lock receiving cavity and the lock receiving hole may be forwardly inclined with the lock cavity extending through a front interior face of the boss receiving cavity. Alternatively, the lock receiving cavity and the lock receiving hole may be rearwardly inclined with the lock cavity extending through a rear interior face of the boss receiving cavity. Further alternatively, the lock cavity extends axially through at least a rear interior face of the boss receiving cavity with the lock receiving hole extending at least partially through a rear face of the boss. Further alternatively, the lock cavity extends laterally through at least a side interior face of the boss receiving cavity with the lock receiving hole extending at least partially through a side face of the boss.

[0009] Alternatively, the retaining feature may be in the form of a projection having an exterior surface which defines a lock bearing surface.

[0010] The boss receiving cavity may include interior surfaces which bear on corresponding exterior surfaces of the boss. Alternatively, or in addition, the interior surface of the wear cap may include vertical load bearing surfaces located at the front portion and / or rear portion which bear on corresponding surfaces of the base.

[0011] The wear cap may further include a flange which extends forwardly from the front portion. The flange may either be centrally located or include a first and a second flange located on opposite sides of the front portion.

[0012] The wear assembly may further include a wear member located forward of the wear cap, the wear member having a rear portion with a rearward facing mounting cavity arranged to receive a nose of the base. The wear member may include a recess in the rear portion in which the flange may be inserted through the rear portion and pivoted downwardly to be installed on the supportive base.

[0013] In another example, a wear cap for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment including a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposedinterior surface. The wear cap further including an enclosed boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and extending from the interior surface generally towards the exterior surface and a lock cavity in the rear portion extending from the exterior surface and communicating with the boss receiving cavity. The lock cavity arranged to receive a locking member for holding the wear cap to a base.

[0014] The lock receiving cavity may be forwardly inclined with the lock cavity extending through a front interior face of the boss receiving cavity. Alternatively, the lock receiving cavity may be rearwardly inclined with the lock cavity extending through a rear interior face of the boss receiving cavity. Further alternatively, the lock cavity extends axially through at least a rear interior face of the boss receiving cavity. Further alternatively, the lock cavity extends laterally through at least a side interior face of the boss receiving cavity.

[0015] In yet another example, a first wear member for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment, the first wear member including a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface. The first wear member also including at least one engagement tab located at the front portion, the at least one engagement tab having a top bearing surface and a bottom bearing surface, the top bearing surface corresponds to a bearing surface on a second wear member and the bottom bearing surface corresponds to a bearing surface on the base for bearing against during loading bearing use of the earth working equipment.

[0016] In another example, a wear cap for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment including a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface. The wear cap further including a central section extending between the front and rear portion and two wings extending laterally and downwardly from opposed sides of the central section and an enclosed boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion of the central section and extending from the interior surface generally towards the exterior surface. The wear cap also including a lock cavity located at a rear portion of the wear cap and extending from the exterior surface and in communication with the boss receiving cavity.

[0017] In a further example, a wear cap for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment including a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface. The wear cap further including an enclosed boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion of the central section and opening to the rear portion and the exterior surface and an engagement tab located at the front portion.

[0018] In yet a further example, a wear cap for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment including a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposedinterior surface. A boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and opening to the rear portion and the exterior surface and an engagement tab located at the front portion.

[0019] In another example, a wear cap for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment including a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface. The wear cap further including an enclosed boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion of the central section and extending from the interior surface generally towards the exterior surface and a flange located at the front portion.

[0020] In another example, a wear assembly for earth working equipment including a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base. The wear assembly further including a wear cap having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, the wear cap having an enclosed boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and extending from the interior surface generally towards the exterior surface and arranged to receive the boss when the wear cap overlies a portion of the supportive base, and a engagement tab extending from the front portion. The wear assembly also includes a locking member arranged to interface between the wear cap and the boss to hold the wear cap to the supportive base. The wear assembly further includes a wear member located forward of the wear cap, the wear member having a rear portion with a rearward facing mounting cavity arranged to receive a nose of the base wherein the engagement tab is inserted through the rear portion of the wear member and pivot downwardly to be installed onto the supportive base.

[0021] In yet another example, a wear assembly for earth working equipment, the wear assembly including a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a forward wall, the forward wall having a forward projecting member with a lower surface. The wear assembly also including a wear cap having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, an boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and opening to the exterior surface and a rear wall, the boss receiving cavity arranged to receive the forward projecting member of the boss when the wear cap overlies a portion of the supportive base, and an engagement tab extending outward from the front portion of the wear cap. The wear assembly finally including an adapter located forward of the wear cap and having a recess for receiving the engagement tab of the wear cap, such that the wear cap is captured between supportive base and the adapter when the supportive base, the wear cap, and the adapter are all installed on the earth working equipment.

[0022] In a further example, a wear assembly for earth working equipment, the wear assembly including a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base. The boss including a first retention feature on a forward face of the boss. A first wear member having afront portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, a second retention feature located in a rear portion on a rear wall, the second retention feature arranged to receive the first retention feature of the boss when the first wear member overlies a portion of the supportive base, and a third retention feature on the front portion of the first wear member. A second wear member located forward of the first wear member and having a fourth retention member for securing with the third retention feature of the first wear member, such that the first wear member is captured between supportive base and the second wear member when the supportive base, the first wear member, and the second wear member are all installed on the earth working equipment.

[0023] In another example, a base for earth working equipment including a mounting portion for mounting a wear cap thereon, the mounting portion including having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including an inclined lock bearing surface.

[0024] In a further example, a base for earth working equipment including a mounting portion for mounting a wear cap thereon, the mounting portion including a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a forward surface with a forward projecting member, wherein the forward projecting member includes a bottom bearing surface and two bearing surfaces that correspond with bearing surfaces on a wear cap.

[0025] In another example, a base for earth working equipment including a mounting portion for mounting a wear cap thereon, the mounting portion having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a lock receiving hole extending laterally or axially at least partially through the boss and defining a lock bearing surface.

[0026] In another example, a base for earth working equipment including a mounting portion for mounting a wear cap thereon, the mounting portion having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a retaining feature projecting laterally or axially outwardly from the boss and defining a lock bearing surface.

[0027] In another example, a lip for attachment to a bucket including a plurality of noses for engagement with a respective plurality of wear members, each nose having two bearing surfaces on opposite sides of one another to engage with front projections of a wear member.

[0028] In a further example, a lip for attachment to a bucket, the lip including a plurality of noses for engagement with a respective plurality of wear members, situated rearward of each nose are at least two bearing surfaces on opposite sides of one another that correspond to lower surfaces of two engagement tabs of a wear member, such that when the wear member isinstalled the lower surfaces of the two engagement tabs and the at least two bearing surfaces of the lip bear against one another during work of the bucket.

[0029] In yet another example, a wear member includes a forward end and a rear end having a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the wear member to receive a supportive base, the mounting cavity having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion including two rear bearing surfaces on a top surface of the mounting cavity, the two rear bearing surfaces converging toward or away from a central portion of the top surface, wherein the two rear bearing surfaces bear against complementary surfaces on the supportive base, the two rear bearing surfaces including a recess opening to the mounting cavity and to the rear end for engagement with two projections of a second wear member.

[0030] In a further example, a first wear member includes a forward end and a rear end having a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the first wear member to receive a supportive base, the mounting cavity having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion including two rear bearing surfaces on a top surface of the mounting cavity, the two rear bearing surfaces converging toward or away from one another, wherein the two rear bearing surfaces bear against complementary surfaces on the supportive base, the two rear bearing surfaces including a recess opening to the mounting cavity and to the rear end for bearing with two engagement tabs of a second wear member during horizontal and / or vertical loading.

[0031] In yet a further example, a first wear member including a forward end and a rear end having a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the first wear member to receive a supportive base, the mounting cavity having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion including a rear bearing surface on a top surface of the mounting cavity, wherein the rear bearing surface bear against a complementary surface on the supportive base, the rear bearing surface including a recess opening to the rear end for bearing with an engagement tab of a second wear member during horizontal and / or vertical loads.

[0032] In another example, a wear member for mounting on a base, the wear member defining a longitudinal axis along a centerline thereof, an outer wear surface, an opposed inner surface, and an enclosed boss receiving cavity in a rear portion of the wear member extending from the inner surface generally towards the outer wear surface. The wear member further having a lock cavity extending into the boss receiving cavity in a substantially transverse direction to the longitudinal axis. Herein, “substantially transverse” does not imply an exact ninety degree orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, but includes all directions extending across the longitudinal axis at any respective angle which are not substantially parallel.

[0033] In another example, a wear member for mounting on a base, the wear member defining a longitudinal axis along a centerline thereof, an outer wear surface, an opposed inner surface, and an enclosed boss receiving cavity in a rear portion of the wear member extending from the inner surface generally towards the outer wear surface. The wear member further having a lock cavity extending substantially longitudinally into the boss receiving cavity in.

[0034] In an example, a wear member having an enclosed boss receiving cavity in a rear portion of the wear member. The wear member includes an inclined lock cavity. The wear member having an outer wear surface and an opposed inner surface. The boss receiving cavity extending from the opposed inner surface generally toward the outer wear surface. The inclined lock cavity extends from the outer wear surface towards the boss receiving cavity. The boss receiving cavity having interior surfaces. The interior surfaces of the boss receiving cavity include axial, lateral and / or vertical load bearing surfaces.

[0035] In one example, a wear member for mounting on a base, the wear member having an outer wear surface, an opposed inner surface, a front wall extending between the outer wear surface and opposed inner surface at a front end of the wear member, the front wall including two side forwardly protruding wings. The wear member further including an inclined lock cavity for receiving a lock to secure the wear member to the base. The lock receiving cavity is forwardly inclined. Alternatively, the lock cavity is rearwardly inclined.

[0036] In another example, a base includes a nose having an outer surface with a plurality of front bearing surfaces formed generally along a distal end of the nose and a plurality of rear bearing surface formed in the proximal end of the nose opposite from the distal end. The nose includes a clearance recess on a top surface of the nose to receive at least a portion of a wear member which overlies a portion of the base rearward from the base. The clearance recess is located proximate to the distal end of the nose.

[0037] In a further example, a wear cap includes a front pivot flange, a rear boss receiving cavity for receiving a boss, and a lock cavity. The wear cap includes an outer wear surface and an opposed inner surface. The front pivot flange and the rear boss receiving cavity are axially aligned and project below the opposed inner surface of the wear cap.

[0038] In yet another example, a lip of an earth moving equipment includes an integral nose. The nose defining a longitudinal axis along a centerline extending in the direction of advancement of the earth moving equipment. The lip includes a boss having a retaining feature which extends in a substantially transverse direction to the longitudinal axis. The retaining feature may be in the form of a lock receiving hole which includes inner surfaces which define a lock bearing surface. Alternatively, the retaining feature may be in the form of projectionprojecting outwardly from the boss and having exterior surfaces defining a lock bearing surface. Herein, “substantially transverse” does not imply an exact ninety degree orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, but includes all directions extending across the longitudinal axis at any respective angle which are not substantially parallel.

[0039] These and other aspect will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a lip with a plurality of wear assemblies in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of a wear assembly in accordance with one example of the present disclosure mounted on a nose.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the wear assembly of FIG. 2.

[0043] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the wear assembly of FIG. 2.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view from the front of the wear assembly of FIG. 2, namely the wear cap.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a lower perspective view of the wear cap of FIG. 5.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of part of the wear assembly of FIG. 2, namely the adapter.

[0047] FIG. 8 is an exploded upper perspective view of a second wear assembly in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 9 is a cross section view of part of the second wear assembly of FIG. 8.

[0049] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of part of the second wear assembly of FIG. 8, namely the boss.

[0050] FIG. 1 1 is a lower perspective view of part of the second wear assembly of FIG. 8, namely the wear cap.

[0051] FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of part of the second wear assembly of FIG. 8, namely the adapter.

[0052] FIG. 13 is an exploded upper perspective view of a third wear assembly in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 14 is a lower perspective view of part of the third wear assembly of FIG. 13, namely the wear cap.

[0054] FIG. 15 is a cross section view of part of the third wear assembly of FIG. 13.

[0055] FIG. 16 is an exploded upper perspective view of a fourth wear assembly in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 17 is a lower perspective view of part of the fourth wear assembly of FIG. 16, namely the wear cap.

[0057] FIG. 18 is an upper perspective view of a lip with a plurality of wear assemblies in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 19 is an exploded view of a fifth wear assembly of FIG. 18.

[0059] FIG. 20 is a lower perspective view of a wear cap of the fifth wear assembly of FIG. 18.

[0060] FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of part of the wear cap of the fifth wear assembly of FIG. 18.

[0061] FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of part of the wear cap of the fifth wear assembly of FIG. 18.

[0062] FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view of part ofthe fifth wear assembly of FIG. 18 taken along line 23-23.

[0063] FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view of part ofthe fifth wear assembly of FIG. 18 taken along line 24-24.

[0064] FIG. 25 is an upper perspective view of a lip and boss of FIG. 18 with portions of the lip removed.

[0065] FIG. 26 is a lower perspective view of the boss of FIG. 18.

[0066] FIG. 27 is a rear perspective view a first wear part of the fifth wear assembly of FIG. 18, namely an intermediate adapter.

[0067] FIG. 28 is a lower perspective view of the wing shroud of the fifth wear assembly of FIG.

[0068] FIG. 29 is an upper perspective view of the wing shroud of the fifth wear assembly ofFIG. 18.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLES

[0069] Wear caps have generally been provided with opposing rails which are received into grooves on opposite sides of a base to be protected. Other arrangements such as a dovetail configuration between the wear cap and the base to prevent the wear cap from being pulled away from the base have also been used. In these arrangements, the wear cap may be captured in place by the adapter when the adapter is mounted on the nose. The adapter retentively prevents the wear cap from being removed from the base. The wear cap can thus only be removed by first removing the adapter from the nose.

[0070] In FIGS.1-2, an example of a wear assembly 10 or tooth mounted on a base is shown. The wear assembly 10 may be mounted on the base, in the form of a lip 12 of an earth working equipment having an integral nose 14 and a boss 16, secured to the lip 12 rearward of the integral nose 14. Lip and base 12 are used interchangeably throughout the disclosure, but it is to be appreciated that the base could also be a separately secured adapter. The wear assembly 10 includes a first wear member 18, in the form of an intermediate adapter (hereafter “adapter”), having a rear cavity 19 (FIGS. 7 and 12) extending from a rear wall 20 and defining interior surfaces 22, for mounting the adapter 18 to the integral nose 14. The adapter 18 further having a nose (not shown), extending from a forward portion to which a second wear member 24, in the form of a point or tip, is secured. In some examples, the adapter 18 may be a point that combines the intermediate adapter with a tip for a one piece construction. The wear assembly 10 further includes a third wear member 26, in the form of a wear cap, which in use overlays a portion of the lip 12 in the illustrated examples rearward of the integral nose 14 but other configurations are possible. The adapter 18 is secured to the integral nose 14 by a lock 30, but other configurations are possible. The point 24 is in turn secured to the adapter 18 by a lock 30’. Other configurations are however possible, for example, the intermediate adapter 18 can be secured to the integral nose by welding, bolts, fasteners, another type of lock, locks, or the like (not shown).

[0071] Referring to Figures 2-6 which shows a first example illustration of the wear cap 26. The wear cap 26 includes a rear portion 28, a front portion 29, an outer wear surface 32, an opposed inner surface 34 (FIGS. 5 and 6), which faces a portion of the lip 12 rearward of nose 14, and a front wall 36 extending between the outer wear surface 32 and the opposed inner surface at the front portion 29. The wear cap 26 may include a central section 38 with two wings 40, 40’ extending laterally and downwardly from opposed sides of the central section 38 to correspond to the shape of the lip 12 and / or adapter 18. The two wings 40, 40’ may extend further forwardthan the central section 38. It is to be appreciated that the shape of the wear cap 26 could differ based on the outer shape of the lip 12 which it overlays. The inner surface 34 of wear cap 26 may include laterally spaced bearing surfaces 41 ,41 ’ (FIGS. 5 and 6) which corresponds to bearing surface 13, 13’ on the lip 12 (Fig 4). The laterally spaced bearing surfaces 41 ,41 ’ are shown to be positioned on the respective two wings 40, 40’ although other locations can be used. Bearing surfaces 41 , 41 ’ and 13, 13’ may include a raised portion relative to the surrounding area of the inner surface 34 and the lip 12 respectively. Bearing surfaces 41 , 41 ’ bear against corresponding bearing surface 13, 13’ on the lip 12 in resisting vertical loads that are applied to the wear cap 26. The bearing of bearing surfaces 41 , 41 ’ against bearing surfaces 13,13’ provides a stable platform for the wear cap 26 under downward vertical loads. The area of the inner surface 34 and the lip 12 surrounding the bearing surfaces 41 , 41 ’ and 13, 13’ may be non-bearing.

[0072] The wear cap 26 includes a retention feature 42 which extends from the front portion 29 of the wear cap 26. In the illustrated example, the illustrated example the retention feature 42 extends from the front wall 36, but other configurations are possible. For example, the retention feature 42 may instead extend from the adapter to fit into a second retention feature in the wear cap in a reversed configuration. In the illustrated example, the retention feature 42 is an engagement tab. The engagement tab 42 defines an upper surface 43 and lower surface 44 extending from the front wall 36 towards a nose 45 of the engagement tab 42. In the illustrated example, the upper surface 43, the lower surface 44, and the two lateral side surfaces 46, 46’ are bearing when loads are applied. It is to be appreciated that the upper and lower surfaces 43,44 may either be bearing or non-bearing based on the shape of the engagement tab 42 and the lip 12. In the illustrated example, the engagement tab 42 extends from the front wall 36 such that lower surface 44 projects below the inner lower surface 34. The location of the engagement tab 42 relative to the inner surface 34 could differ based on the shape of the lip 12 and adapter 18. The upper surface 43 and a lower surface 44 of the engagement tab 42 may be planar or curved between the front wall 36 and the nose 45 of the engagement tab 42. A curved lower and upper surface 43, 44 may aid in rotational removal. The engagement tab 42 may also be biased downward or outwardly from the inner lower surface 34 at an angle or curved.

[0073] The wear cap 26 further includes an enclosed boss receiving cavity 48 located in the rear portion 28 and extending from the interior surface 34 generally towards the exterior surface (FIGS. 5-6). The boss receiving cavity 48 is illustrated as having a rectangular shape, but other shapes are possible to correspond to the shape of boss 16. In the illustrated example, boss receiving cavity 48 includes interior surface which includes a rear surface 49 and an angled front wall 50. The boss receiving cavity 48 may further include two shoulder formations 51 , 51 ’ on opposed sides of the angled front wall 50. The boss receiving cavity further having two sidesurfaces 52, 52’ extending between the shoulder formations 51 , 51 ’ and the rear surface 49. The boss receiving cavity 48 may further include a top surface 53 extending between the two interior side surfaces 52, 52’ from the rear interior surface 49 to the two shoulder formations 51 , 51 ’. The angled front wall 50 may be a non-bearing surface. The two shoulder formations 51 , 51 ’ may each include a substantially planar non-bearing surface 54, 54’ and rear walls 55, 55’ extending substantially transverse to the top surface 53 towards the planar non-bearing surfaces 54, 54’ (FIG. 5). The rear surface 49, two side surfaces 52, 52’, rear walls 55, 55’ of the shoulder formations 51 , 51 ’, and top surface 53 may be bearing surfaces. In another configuration the boss receiving cavity 48 may have a simplified rectangular shape which defines interior surfaces which may bear on corresponding surfaces of the boss 16.

[0074] The wear cap 26 includes a lock cavity 56 at a forwardly inclined angle at the rear portion 28 of the wear cap 26. The lock cavity 56 may extend from the outer wear surface 32 into the boss receiving cavity 48 through the angled front wall 50. The lock cavity 56 in the wear cap 26 is defined by an inner wall 58 that preferably surrounds the lock 30” (FIG. 3). In the illustrated example the inner wall 58 is cylindrical but other configurations are possible. The inner wall 58 includes retaining structure 60 that extends laterally along part of the wall 58 to define a first and second lock bearing surface 62, 62’. In a preferred embodiment, retaining structure 60 is formed as a radial projection extending into the lock cavity 56 from wall 58 wherein the bearing surfaces 62, 62’ are formed as upper and lower shoulders. The lock bearing surfaces 62, 62’ are each contacted by lock 30” to hold the lock 30” in the lock cavity 56 and resist inward and outward forces applied to the lock 30” during shipping, storage, installation and use of the wear cap 26 so as to better resist lock ejection or loss. The lock 30” can used to releasably secure the rear portion 28 of the wear cap 26 to the boss 16 (FIG. 3). The details of preferred lock 30” are provided below. However, other types of locks, retainers, or fasteners could be used to secure the wear cap 26 to the boss 16. The shape of the lock cavity 56 in the wear cap and the retaining feature in the boss in instances of using alternative locks would, of course, be different than illustrated herein to accommodate the different locks.

[0075] The base 12 includes a boss 16 illustrated as located on an inner side of the base 12, but other configurations, such as on an outer side of the base 12 are also envisioned. As illustrated in Figure4, the boss 16 includes a lower support 64, which is preferably welded to the base 12, but may also be cast into the base 12. In some examples, the lower support 64 may include a front wall 66, an opposed rear wall 68, and two lateral walls 69, 69’ extending between the front wall 66 and opposed rear wall 68. The boss 16 includes a raised member 70 that is inwardly projecting into the bucket (not shown) and upstanding from the opposed rear wall 68 of the lower support 64. The raised member 70 extends between the two lateral walls 69, 69’ from the opposed rear wall 68 partially towards the front wall 66. A rear surface 72 of the raisedmember 70 may be curved or inclined to correspond with the rear interior surface 49 of the boss receiving cavity 48 to aid in rotational removal and installation of the wear cap 26. The boss 16 further includes a rib 74 having an inclined front face 76 extending from the front wall 66 towards the raised member 70. The rib 74 may be centrally located between the two lateral walls 69, 69’. The rib 74 may include a retaining feature 78. In the illustrated examples, the retaining feature is illustrated as a lock receiving hole 78, but in other configurations it could be a projection such as a post / knob and the pin of the lock includes a mating recess for bearing engagement with an exterior surface of the projection. The lock receiving hole 78 may extend into the inclined front face 76 of the rib 74 and the lower support 64. The lock receiving hole 78 may be defined by a partial wall 80 defining a forward inclined lock bearing surface 82, but other configurations are possible. For example, the lock receiving hole may be defined by an entire cylindrical wall. The boss 16 is preferably cast in a harder alloy than the base 12 to aid in reducing the rate of wear in and maintenance of the base 12, but various alloys with the same or lesser hardness could be used. Although the boss has a one-piece construction in this embodiment, it may be defined by multiple parts coupled together or separately secured to the base 12. For example, the tab might be attached to the rest of the boss with bolts, or with some small amounts of weld that is easily removed and replaced. In other examples, the lower support, raised member, and rib may be formed as separate pieces or all as part of the base which may be formed by casting or fabrication. The separate piece structure has the advantage over a one piece construction, such that the wear cap 26 may be removed or installed by removing the separate piece or pieces of the boss. In another configuration the boss may have generally rectangular shape which defines a front wall into which the lock receiving hole 78 at least partially extends defining a rear inclined lock bearing surface 82.

[0076] The raised member 70 may have exterior bearing surfaces which include the rear surface 72, two front surfaces 84, 84’ on opposed sides of the rib 74, two lateral side surfaces 86, 86’ extending between the two front surfaces 84, 84’ and the rear surface 72, and a top surface88 extending between the two lateral side surfaces 86, 86’ from the rear surface 72 to the two front surfaces 84, 84’. The outer bearing surfaces may bear against corresponding surfaces in the boss receiving cavity 48 when the wear cap 26 is installed. The rear interior surface 49 and rear walls 55, 55’ of the recess 48 bears against the rear surface 72 and front surface 84, 84’ of the raised member 70 in resisting axial (forward and rearwards) loads that are applied to the wear cap 26. The top surface 53 of the recess 48 bears against the top surface 88 of the raised member 70 in resisting downward vertical loads that are applied to the wear cap 26. The interior side surfaces 52, 52’ of the recess 48 bear against the lateral side walls 86, 86’ of the raised member 70 in resisting side loads that are applied to the wear cap 26. The bearing of interior surface of the boss receiving cavity 48 against the exterior surfacesof the raised member 70 provides a stable mounting of the wear cap 26 under axial, vertical, and / or side loads.

[0077] In the illustrated example, lock 30” includes a mounting component or collar 90 and a retaining component or pin 92 (FIG. 3). Collar 90 fits into the lock cavity 56 of the wear cap 26 and includes a bore or opening 94 with threads for receiving pin 92 with matching threads 96. Collar 90 has a cylindrical body with lugs 98, 98’ that project outward to contact and bear against bearing surfaces or shoulders 62, 62’ of retaining structure 60 to hold lock 30” in place in wear member 26. To install, the collar 90 is inserted into lock cavity 56 then rotated so that lugs 98, 98’ straddle retaining structure 60. The engagement of lugs 98, 98’ against both sides of retaining structure 60 hold collar 90 in lock cavity 56 even under load during digging. With collar 90 installed into lock cavity 56, pin 92 is installed into collar 90 and rotated until pin end 100 is fully received into hole 78. In use, pin end 100 bears against the inclined lock bearing surface 82 to restrict the removal of wear cap 26. In another configuration lock cavity 56 of the wear cap 26 may be internally threaded for receiving pin 92 with matching threads 96.

[0078] The pin 92 may be installed into collar 90 from outside wear member 26 so that pin end 100 is the leading end and engages the interior of the lock receiving hole 78 in the boss 16 at lock bearing surface 82 and pin threads 96 engage collar threads 94. Pin end 100 is preferably unthreaded for receipt into lock receiving hole 78 in boss 16. The wear member 26 may include an integrated lock 30” that may be installed within the wear member 26 before the wear member is installed onto lip 12. In this example, the lock 30” would have a shipped or release position and a locked position when the lock 30” is received into the boss 16, therein locking the wear cap 26 to the lip 12. In the alternative example, where the retaining feature is a projection such as a post / knob the pin of the lock includes a mating recess for bearing engagement with the projection.

[0079] The adapter 18 includes interior surfaces 22 and the base includes integral nose 14 having corresponding bearing surfaces which may bear against each other to restrict movement (FIG. 7). The bearing of stabilizing surfaces on the interior surfaces 22 against stabilizing surfaces on the nose 14 provides a stable mounting of the intermediate adapter 18 under vertical and side loads. The bearing surfaces may be similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. No. 17 / 686,370, Wear Assembly, which is incorporated by reference herein. The stabilizing surfaces of the integral nose 14 may include a rear bearing surface (not shown). The rear bearing surfaces (not shown) may include top rear bearing surfaces, bottom rear bearing surfaces and / or side rear bearing surfaces. The rear bearing surfaces may correspond with rear bearing surfaces (not shown) on the interior surfaces 22 of the adapter 18. The stabilizing surfaces of the integral nose 14 may further include a front bearing surface (not shown). Thefront bearing surface (not shown) may include top front bearing surfaces, bottom front bearing surfaces, and / or side front bearing surfaces.

[0080] The adapter 18 may include a second retention feature 106 that corresponds with the first retention feature of the wear cap 26 to aid in securing the wear cap 26 to the adapter 18. In the illustrated example, the second retention feature is an engagement tab opening 106 located in a rear wall 20 of the adapter 18 (FIGS. 3 and 7). The engagement tab opening 106 interacts with the engagement tab 42 of the wear cap 26 (FIG. 3). The engagement tab opening 106 may be a recess or a cutout formation in an upper portion of the rear wall 20 extending from the interior surface 22 of the cavity 19. The interior surface 22 for which the engagement tab opening 106 is located, in the illustrated example, is a non-bearing surface to the nose 14 of the base. The advantage being that the non-bearing surface does not encroach or limit the rear bearing surfaces between the adapter 18 and the base. This advantage would allow for a deeper recess depending on design needs and more robust for manufacturing purposes. Engagement tab opening 106 may define an interior upper surface 108 and side surfaces 110, 110’ extending from interior surface 22 to the interior upper surface 108 (FIG. 7). The interior upper surface 108 of tab opening 106 and / or side surfaces 1 10, 110’ may be bearing or nonbearing. Engagement tab opening 106 may further define a front wall 1 12. The front wall 1 12 may extend from the interior surface 22 towards the upper surface 108 between side bearing surfaces 1 10, 1 10’. The bearing surfaces, 1 10, 110’ of the engagement tab opening 106 may correspond to bearing surfaces 46, 46’ of the engagement tab 42 to restrict lateral forces exerted on the wear cap 26. Upper surface 43 of engagement tab 42 may also bear against upper surface 108 of the engagement tab opening 106 to restrict upward vertical forces exerted on the wear cap 26. The interior upper surface 108 may be upwardly curved or inclined between the front wall 112 and the rear wall 20 to help stabilize the wear cap 26.

[0081] The engagement tab 42 and the engagement tab opening 106 may define corresponding engagement formations which allows the engagement tab 42 of the wear cap 26 to be secured under the engagement tab opening 106 in the rear wall 20 of the adapter 18 or vice versa. The lip 12 can also include a recess (not shown) which is shaped and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the engagement tab 42 of the wear cap 26. For example, the lip 12 can include a central recess (not shown) for receiving at least a portion of the engagement tab 42. It is to be appreciated that in some cases the engagement tab opening 106 in the adapter can be removed if a recess in the lip 12 is shaped to receive the engagement tab 42 with an inner surface 22 of the adapter bearing against the engagement tab 42.

[0082] The configuration of the wear cap 26, adapter 18, and boss 16 allows the wear cap 26 to be installed or removed without the need to remove the adapter 18 first. With the adapter 18secured to the nose 14, the engagement tab 42 is inserted into the corresponding engagement tab opening 106 with the rear portion 28 of the wear cap 26 still spaced away from the lip 12. With the engagement tab 42 in the engagement tab opening 106 the rear portion 28 of the wear cap 26 is rotated towards the lip 12 in a pivotal movement about the engagement tab 42 until the boss 16 is received in the boss receiving cavity 48. The forwardly inclined lock cavity 56 in the wear cap and lock receiving hole 78 in the boss 16 may be axially aligned with one another. The wear cap 26 is subsequently secured to the boss 16 via the lock 30” when pin end 100 is received in lock receiving hole 78 and bears against lock bearing surface 82.

[0083] With the wear cap installed, the bearing interior surfaces in the boss receiving cavity 48 against exterior surfaces on the raised member 70 of the boss 16 provides a stable mounting of the wear cap 26 under vertical, axial and side loads. The interior surfaces of the boss receiving cavity 48 includes the rear surface 49 and rear walls 55,55’ which bears against the rear surface 72 and the two front surfaces 84, 84’ of the raised member 70 to restrict axial loads applied to the wear cap 26. The interior surfaces of the boss receiving cavity 48 may further include the top surface 53 which bears against the top surface 88 of the boss 16 to restrict vertical loads applied to the wear cap 26. In another configuration, the top surfaces 53 and 88 may be clearance surfaces with the interior surface 34 of the wear cap 26 bearing on the lip 12 to restrict vertical loads applied to the wear cap 26. The stabilizing surfaces of the boss receiving cavity 48 may also include the two side surfaces 52, 52’ which bears against the two lateral side surfaces 86, 86’ of the raised member 70 to restrict side loads applied to the wear cap 26. In the illustrated example, bearing surface 41 , 41 ’ also bears against bearing surfaces 13,13’ to restrict vertical loads applied to the wear cap 26.

[0084] The bearing surfaces on the engagement tab 42 against stabilizing surfaces on the engagement tab opening 106 provide a stable mounting of the wear cap 26 under vertical and side loads. The stabilizing surfaces on the engagement tab 42 include the top surface 43 which corresponds to the interior upper bearing surface 108 to restrict vertical loads applied to the wear cap 26. The stabilizing surfaces on the engagement tab 42 further include the sides bearing surfaces 46, 46’ which corresponds to the side bearing surfaces 1 10, 110’ of the engagement tab opening 106 to restrict side loads applied to the wear cap 26.

[0085] Similarly, to the installation process, when removing the wear cap 26 the pin end 100 is retracted from the lock receiving hole 78 allowing the rear portion 28 of the wear cap 26 to be displaced away from the lip 12 in a pivotal movement about the engagement tab 42. The removal may require some vertical and some rotational movement. Afterwards, the wear cap 26 can be displaced rearwardly to retract the engagement tab 42 from the engagement tabopening 106 allowing the wear cap 26 to be removed and replaced without removal of the adapter 18.

[0086] Figs 8 to 12 shows a second example of part of a wear assembly 10A. The wear assembly 10A is substantially similar to the wear assembly 10, and includes a first wear member 18A, in the form of an adapter, a second wear member (not shown) and a third wear member, in the form of a wear cap 26A, which is securable to a boss 16A secured to a lip 12A so that the wear cap 26A overlies a portion of the lip 12A.

[0087] The wear cap 26A is similar to wear cap 26 and includes a rear portion 28A, a front portion 29A, an outer wear surface 32A, an opposed inner surface 34A, which faces a portion of the lip 12A rearward of nose (not shown), and a front wall 36A extending between the outer wear surface 32A and the opposed inner surface at the front end 29A.

[0088] The wear cap 26A includes two retention features 42A, 42A’ which are laterally spaced from one another and extend from the front portion 29A of the wear cap 26A. In the illustrated example, the two retention features are engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ extending from the front wall 36A of the two wings 40A, 40A’. In other examples, the retention features 42A, 42A’ are two recesses for engagement tabs on the adapter 18A. As with wear cap 26, the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ each define an upper surface 43A, a lower surface 44A, a nose 45A, and two lateral side surfaces 46A, 46A’. but other configurations are possible. It is to be appreciated that the upper surface 43A, lower surface 44A, and lateral side surfaces 46A, 46A’ of the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ may either be bearing or non-bearing based on the shape of the engagement tabs and the lip 12A. In the illustrated example, the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ extend from the front wall 36A such that lower surface 44A of each tab projects below the opposed inner surface 34A. The location of the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ relative to the inner surface 34A could differ based on the shape of the lip 12A and adapter 18A. The upper surface 43A and a lower surface 44A of each of the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ may be planar or curved between the front wall 36A and the nose 45A of the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’. A curved lower and upper surface 43A, 44A may aid in rotational removal. The engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ may also be biased downward or outwardly from the inner lower surface 34A at an angle or curved.

[0089] The wear cap 26A further includes an enclosed boss receiving cavity 48A located in the rear portion 28A and extending from the interior surface 34A generally towards the exterior surface (FIGS. 9 and 1 1). The boss receiving cavity 48A is illustrated as having a rectangular shape, but other shapes are possible to correspond to the shape of boss 16A (FIGS.9 and 11). The boss receiving cavity 48A may include interior surfaces which include a front surface 49Aand an angled rear wall 50A. The boss receiving cavity 48A may further include two shoulder formations 51A, 51A’ on opposed sides of the angled rear wall 50A and two interior side surfaces 52A, 52A’ extending between the shoulder formations 51 A, 51 A’ and the front interior surface 49A. The boss receiving cavity 48A may further include a top surface 53A extending between the two interior side surfaces 52A, 52A’ from the front interior surface 49A to the two shoulder formations 51A, 51A’. The angled rear wall 50A may be a non-bearing surface. The two shoulder formations 51 A, 51 A’ may each include a substantially planar non-bearing surface 54A, 54A’ and front walls 55A, 55A’ extending substantially transverse to the inner roof 53A towards the planar non-bearing surfaces 54A, 54A’. The front interior surface 49A, two interior side surfaces 52A, 52A’, front walls 55A, 55A’ of the shoulder formations, and top surface 53A may be bearing surfaces.

[0090] The wear cap 26A includes a lock cavity 56A at a rearwardly inclined angle at the rear portion 28 of the wear cap 26A. The lock cavity 56A may extend from the outer wear surface 32 into the boss receiving cavity 48A through the angled rear wall 50A. The lock cavity 56A in the wear cap 26A is defined by an inner wall 58A that preferably surrounds the lock 30A” (FIG. 9). In the illustrated example, the inner wall 58A is cylindrical but other configurations are possible. The wall 58A includes retaining structure 60A similar to the retaining structure of wall 58A discussed above (FIG. 9).

[0091] The lip 12A includes a boss 16A illustrated as located on an inner side of the lip 12A (Fig. 10), but other configurations, such as on an outer side of the lip 12A are also envisioned. The boss 16A is substantially similar to boss 16, with the noted exceptions. The boss 16A includes a lower support 64A (FIG. 10) which is preferably welded to the base 12A, but may also be cast into the base 12A. In some examples, the lower support 64A may include a front wall 66A (FIG. 9), an opposed rear wall 68A, and two lateral walls 69A, 69A’ extending between the front wall 66A and opposed rear wall 68A. The boss 16A includes a raised member 70A that is inwardly projecting into the bucket (not shown) and upstanding from the front wall 66A of the lower support 64A. The raised member 70A extends between the two lateral walls 69A, 69A’ from the front wall 66A partially towards the opposed rear wall 68A. A front surface 72A (FIG. 9) of the raised member 70A may be curved or inclined to correspond with the front interior surface 49A of the boss receiving cavity 48A to aid in rotational removal and installation of the wear cap 26A. The boss 16A further includes a rib 74A having an inclined rear face 76A extending from the rear wall 68A towards the raised member 70A. The rib 74A may be centrally located between the two lateral walls 69A, 69A’. The rib 74A may include a retaining feature 78A. In the illustrated examples, the retaining feature is illustrated as a lock receiving hole 78A, but in other configurations it could be a projection such as a post / knob and the pin of the lock includes a mating recess for bearing engagement. The lock receiving hole 78A may extendinto the inclined rear face 76A of the rib 74A and the lower support 64A. The lock receiving hole 78A may be defined by a partial wall 80A defining a rearward inclined lock bearing surface 82A (FIG. 10), but other configurations are possible. For example, the lock receiving hole 82A may be defined by an entire cylindrical wall.

[0092] The raised member 70A may have exterior surfaces which include the front surface 72A, two rear surfaces 84A, 84A’ on opposed sides of the rib 74A, two lateral side surfaces 86A, 86A’ extending between the two rear surfaces 84A, 84A’ and the front surface 72A, and a top surface 88A’. The exterior surfaces may bear against corresponding surfaces in the boss receiving cavity 48A when the wear cap 26A is installed. The front interior surface 49A and front walls 55A, 55A’ of the cavity 48A bears against the front surface 72A and rear surface 84A, 84A’ of the raised member 70A in resisting axial (forward and rearwards) loads that are applied to the wear cap 26A. The top surface 53A of the cavity 48A may bear against the top surface 88A of the raised member 70A in resisting vertical loads that are applied to the wear cap 26A, but other configurations are possible. For example, the interior surface 34A of the wear cap 26A may bear against the lip 12A in resisting vertical loads that are applied to the wear cap 26A. The interior side surfaces 52A, 52A’ of the cavity 48A bear against the lateral side walls 86A, 86A’ of the raised member in resisting side loads that are applied to the wear cap 26A. The bearing of interior surface of the boss receiving cavity against the exterior surfaces of the raised member provides a stable mounting of the wear cap 26A under axial, vertical, and / or side loads.

[0093] Lock 30A” is similar to lock 30” as discussed above with collar 90 installed into lock cavity 56A and the pin end 100 engages the interior of the lock receiving hole 78A at lock bearing surface 82A. In the alternative example, where the retaining feature is a projection such as a post / knob the pin of the lock includes a mating recess for bearing engagement with the projection.

[0094] The adapter 18A is similar to adapter 18, but includes a second retention feature. In the illustrated example, the second retention feature are engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ located in a rear wall 20A of the adapter 18A. The engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ may be laterally spaced from one another, but other configurations are possible. The engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ interact with the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ of the wear cap 26A. The engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ may each be a recess or a cutout formation in an upper side portion of the rear wall 20A extending from the interior surface 22A of the cavity 19A. Engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ may each define an interior upper surface 108 and side surfaces 1 10A, 110A’ extending from interior surface 22A to the interior bearing surface 108A (FIG. 12). Engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ may further each define a front wall 112A. The front wall 112A may extend from the interior surface 22A towards the upper bearing surface108 between side surfaces 1 10A, 110A’. The surfaces 108A, 1 10A, 1 10A’ of the engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ may bear against surfaces 43A, 46A, 46A’ of the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ to restrict lateral and vertical forces exerted on the wear cap 26A. The interior upper surface 108A of each engagement tab opening 106A, 106A’ may be upwardly curved or inclined between the front wall 1 12A and the rear wall 20A to help stabilize the wear cap 26A.

[0095] As illustrated in Figure 12, the cavity 19A of the adapter 18A has a front portion and a rear portion. The rear portion may include two rear bearing surfaces on a top surface of the mounting cavity. The two bearing surfaces converges toward from a central portion of the top surface, but other angles are possible. The two rear bearing surfaces bear against complementary surfaces on the supportive base. Engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ be located on the rear wall 20A and extend forward toward the front portion reducing the size of the two rear bearing surfaces. The engagement tab openings 106, 106’ are sized and shaped for the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ to be inserted within. The engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ are illustrated as communicating with the cavity 19A, but in other configurations are possible, such as a recess that only communicates with the rear of the adapter and not the cavity 19A. In some examples, the engagement tabs 42A, 42A’ may bear against surfaces 108A and / or 1 10A. The placement of the engagement tab openings 106A, 106A’ may seem counter intuitive as the bearing surfaces is reduced in size, however this placement provides a more stable surface for the wear cap 26A to interface with than a single projection over a clearance surface. The wider overall engagement also provides more stability. The separation of the projections into the recesses locates the bearing surfaces in a lower wear area allowing the interface of wear member to wear cap to be additionally protected.

[0096] The configuration of the wear cap 26A, adapter 18A, and boss 16A allows the wear cap 26A to be installed or removed without the need to remove the adapter 18A first. The installation and removal of the wear cap 26A is similar to the installation and removal of wear cap 26 as discussed above.

[0097] FIGS. 13 to 15 shows another example of part of wear assembly 200. The wear assembly 200 is substantially similar to the wear assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 to 12 and includes a first wear member 202, in the form of an adapter, a second wear member (not shown) and a third wear member 204, in the form of wear cap, which is securable to a boss 206 secured to a lip 212 so that the wear cap 204 overlies a portion of the lip 212. The adapter 202 may be similar to adapter 18 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0098] The wear cap 204 includes a rear portion 228, a front portion 229, an outer / exterior wear surface 232, an opposed inner surface 234, which faces a portion of the lip 212 rearward ofnose 214, and a front wall 236 extending between the outer wear surface 232 and the opposed inner surface 234 at the front portion 229.

[0099] The wear cap 204 may define a longitudinal axis 205 along a centerline extending in the direction of advancement of the earth working equipment. The wear cap 204 includes an enclosed boss receiving cavity 208 (FIGS. 14 and 15). The enclosed boss receiving cavity 208 is located in the rear portion 228 of the wear cap 204 and extends from the interior surface 234 generally towards the exterior surface 232. The boss receiving cavity 208 is illustrated as having a rectangular shape, but other shapes are possible to correspond to the shape of boss 206. The boss receiving cavity 208 defines interior surfaces which includes a front wall 212, a rear wall 214, side walls 216, 216’ extending between the front wall 212 and rear wall 214, and a top surface 215. The interior surfaces 212, 214, 216, 216’, 215, may define axial, lateral and / or vertical load bearing surfaces which bear on corresponding exterior surfaces of the boss 206, but other configurations are possible. For example, the top surface 215 of the boss receiving cavity 208 may be non-bearing with interior surface 234 of the wear cap 204 bearing on corresponding surfaces of the lip 212 to restrict downward vertical forces exerted on the wear cap 204.

[0100] The wear cap 204 includes a lock cavity 210 which extends from the exterior surface 232 and is in communication with the boss receiving cavity 208. In the illustrated example, the lock cavity 210 extends from an exterior side surface 222 into the boss receiving cavity 208 in a substantially transverse direction to the longitudinal axis 205 and out of the boss receiving cavity through interior side wall 216’ and out again through the opposed exterior side surface 222’. The lock cavity 210 may extend from either or both sides of the wear cap 206. In another configuration, the lock cavity 210 may extend from an exterior rear surface into the boss receiving cavity 208 substantially parallel through the rear wall 214. Herein, “substantially parallel” does not imply an exact parallel orientation but includes all directions which are parallel and those that diverge from the longitudinal axis at a small degree (e.g., of about 0-10 degrees). The lock cavity 210 is similar to the lock cavity 56 discussed in paragraph

[0041] with reference to FIG. 3. In another configuration, the lock cavity 210 may be internally threaded for receiving a lock member 230 with matching threads wherein the lock member 230 is movable between a hold position wherein the lock 230 interfaces with a lock bearing surface 236 to hold the wear cap 204 to the lip 212 and a release position where the lock 230 enables the wear cap 204 to be removed or installed from or onto the lip 212. In yet another configuration, the boss 206 may include a lock protrusion (not shown) with a locking member (not shown) received within the lock cavity 210 arranged to be movable between a hold position wherein the locking member (not shown) interfaces with the lock protrusion (not shown) to hold the wear cap 204 to the lip212 and a release position where the locking member (not shown) enables the wear cap 204 to be removed or installed from or onto the lip 212.

[0101] In the illustrated example, the wear cap 204 includes two recesses 218, 218’ in the outer wear surface 232 on opposed sides 222, 222’ of the boss receiving cavity 208. The recesses 218, 218’ defining upper surfaces 220, 220’, and side walls 222, 222’ extending transversely from the upper surfaces 220, 220’ towards the outer wear surface 232. In this example, the wear cap 204 may further include a groove 224 in the upper surface 220. The groove may be axially aligned with lock cavity 210 to facilitate insertion of lock 230. Lock 230 may be similar to lock 30” as discussed above. In another configuration, the lock cavity 210 extends from the exterior surface 232 at a rear portion 228 into the boss receiving cavity 208 eliminating the need for the two recesses 218, 218’.

[0102] In the illustrated example, wear cap 204 also include laterally spaced front bearing surfaces 241 , 241 ’ which corresponds to front bearing surfaces 213, 213’ on the lip 12 (FIG. 14).

[0103] In the illustrated example, the wear cap 204 includes an engagement tab 242 which extends from the front portion 229, more specifically the front wall 36 of the wear cap 204. The engagement tab 242 defines an upper surface 243 and lower surface 244 extending from the front wall 236 towards a nose 245 of the engagement tab 242. It is to be appreciated that the upper surface 243 and lower surface 244 may either be bearing or non-bearing based on the shape of the engagement tab 242 and the lip 212. In the example shown the engagement tab 242 extends from the front wall 36 such that lower surface 244 projects below the inner surface 234. The location of the engagement tab 242 relative to the inner surface 234 could differ based on the shape of the lip 212 and adapter 202.

[0104] The boss 206 is substantially rectangular shaped and preferably welded to the lip such that the boss 206 projects from the lip 212 (FIG. 13), but other configurations are possible. For example, the boss may be cylindrical or roundish The boss 206 includes exterior surfaces which includes front wall 226, rear wall 228 (FIG. 15) and sides walls 231 , 231 ’ extending between the front wall 226 and rear wall 228, and top surface 217. The rear wall 228 of the boss 206 may be curved or inclined to correspond with the interior rear wall 214 to aid in rotational removal and installation of wear cap 204. The boss 206 may further include a retaining feature 232. In the illustrated examples, the retaining feature 232 is illustrated as a lock receiving hole , but in other configurations it could be a projection such as a post / knob and the pin of the lock includes a mating recess for bearing engagement. The lock receiving hole 232 extends laterally through the boss 206. In the example shown, the lock receiving hole 232 is a thru-holeextending from the side wall 231 , 231 ’ through to the opposed side wall (not shown). The lock receiving hole 232 could also be a blind hole which extends partially into the boss 206 through either side wall 231 , 231 The lock receiving hole 232 is defined by an inner wall 234, which in the illustrated example is cylindrical but other configurations are possible, defining an upper lock bearing surface 236 (FIG. 15). In another configuration, where the lock cavity 210 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 205, the lock receiving hole 232 extends at least partially through the boss 206 from the rear wall 228 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Herein, “substantially parallel” does not imply an exact parallel orientation but includes all directions which diverge from the longitudinal axis at a small degree (e.g., of about 0-10 degrees). In the alternative example, the projection may extend laterally outwardly from the boss or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The retaining feature may define an exterior lock bearing surface with the pin of the lock having a mating recess for bearing engagement with the exterior surface lock bearing of the projection.

[0105] With the adapter 202 secured to the nose 214, the engagement tab 242 is inserted into the corresponding engagement tab opening 106 with the rear portion 228 of the wear cap 204 still spaced away from the lip 212. With the engagement tab 242 in the engagement tab opening 206 the rear portion 228 of the wear cap 204 is rotated towards the lip 212 in a pivotal movement about the engagement tab 242 until the boss 206 is received in the boss receiving cavity 208. The wear cap 204 is subsequently secured to the boss 206 via the lock 230 when pin end 202 is received in lock receiving hole 232 and bears against lock bearing surface 236 to hold the wear cap 206 to the lip 212. With the wear cap installed, the bearing of interior surfaces in the boss receiving cavity 208 against exterior surfaces of the boss 206 provides a stable mounting of the wear cap 204 under vertical, axial, and / or side loads.

[0106] FIGS. 16 and 17 shows another example of part of a wear assembly 200A. The wear assembly 200A is similar to the wear assembly 200 as shown in FIGS. 12 to 13 and includes a first wear member 202A, in the form of an adapter, a second wear member (not shown) and a third wear member 204A, in the form of wear cap, which is securable to a boss 206A secured to a lip 212A so that the wear cap 204A overlies a portion of the lip 212A. The adapter 202A may be similar to adapter 18A as shown in FIG. 12.

[0107] Wear cap 204A, includes two engagement tabs 242A, 242A’ similar to wear cap 26A.

[0108] Wear cap 204A may also further include rear bearing surfaces 237A, 237A which are spaced on opposed sides of the boss receiving cavity 208A at the rear portion 228Aof the inner surface 234A. The rear bearing surface 237A, 237 A’ corresponds to rear bearing surfaces 238A, 238A’ on the lip 212A.

[0109] In this example, the top surface 215A of the boss receiving cavity 208A and the top surface 217A of the boss 206A may be clearance surfaces. The stabilizing surfaces of the of the wear cap 204A may include the rear wear cap bearing surface 236A which bears against the rear lip bearing surfaces 238A to restrict vertical loads applied to the wear cap 204A.

[0110] In FIGS.18-19, an example of a fifth wear assembly 310 or tooth mounted on a supportive base is shown. The fifth wear assembly 310 is substantially similar to the wear assemblies 10, 10A, 200, and 200A and includes a first wear member 318, in the form of an adapter, a second wear member 324 and a third wear member, in the form of a wear cap 326, which is securable to a boss 316 secured to a lip 312 so that the wear cap 326 overlies a portion of the lip 312. The wear assembly 310’ may include a first wear member 318, a second wear member 324, and a fourth wear member, e.g. a wing shroud 360. The first wear member 318 is in the form of an intermediate adapter (hereafter “adapter”), having a rear cavity 319 extending from a rear wall 320 and defining interior surfaces 322, for mounting the adapter 318 to the integral nose 314 (FIG. 27). The adapter 318 further having a nose 321 , extending from a forward portion to which the second wear member 324, in the form of a point or tip is secured. In the illustrated example, the wear cap 326, when installed, overlays a portion of the lip 312 rearward of the integral nose 314 and secured by the first wear member 318, but other configurations are possible. The adapter 318 is secured to the integral nose 314 by a lock 330, but other configurations are possible. In one such example, the first wear member is an adapter that is mechanically attached. In another example, the adapter could be welded to a lip. The point 324 is in turn secured to the adapter 318 by a lock 330’. Other configurations are however possible, for example, the intermediate adapter 318 can be secured to the integral nose by welding, bolts, fasteners, another type of lock, or the like (not shown).

[0111] Referring to Figures 20-24, the wear cap 326 is substantially similar to the wear cap 26 of Figures 1-7, wear cap 26A of Figures 8-12, and wear cap 26B of Figures 16-17 with the following notated differences. The wear cap 326 includes a rear portion 328, a front portion 329, an outer wear surface 332, an opposed inner surface 334, which faces a portion of the lip 312 rearward of nose 314, and a front wall 336 extending between the outer wear surface 332 and the opposed inner surface at the front portion 329. The wear cap 326 may include a central section 338 with two wings 340, 340’ extending outwardly from opposed sides of the central section 338 to correspond to the shape of the lip 312 and / or adapter 318, but other configurations are possible. The central section 338 is illustrated to extend further in a forward longitudinal direction L than the front wall 336 defining a central front wall 339, but otherconfigurations are possible. The front wall 336 is bifurcated into two sections adjacent the central section 338 and are illustrated to be bearing surfaces with corresponding surfaces 323, 323’ on the adapter 318 (Fig. 27), but other configurations are possible. The central section338 is illustrated as having a shelf surface 337 about mid-way down the central section 338.

[0112] The wear cap 326 includes a retention feature 342. In the illustrated example, the retention feature is two engagement tabs 342, 342’ which are laterally spaced from one another and extend outwardly from each front wall 336 and laterally from the central front wall339 of the wear cap 326, but other configurations are possible. For example, the retention feature 342 may be a cavity for a projection on the adapter to secure therein. In the illustrated example, the engagement tabs 342, 342’ also extend outwardly in a forward longitudinal direction L from the central front wall 339, but other configurations are possible. The engagement tabs 342, 342’ each define an upper surface 343, 343’, a lower surface 344, 344’, a front surface 345, 345’, and two lateral side surfaces 346, 346’. but other configurations are possible. In the illustrated example, the upper surfaces 343, 343’ the lower surfaces 344, 344’ and the two lateral side surfaces 346, 346’ are bearing when loads are applied. It is to be appreciated that the upper surfaces 343, 343’ lower surfaces 344, 344’ and lateral side surfaces 346, 346’ of the engagement tabs 342, 342’ may either be bearing or non-bearing based on the shape of the engagement tabs and the lip 312. In the illustrated example, the engagement tabs 342, 342’ extend outwardly from the inner surface 334, such that lower surfaces 344, 344’ of each tab projects below the inner surface 334, but other configurations are possible. The area of the inner surface 334 and the lip 312 surrounding the bearing surfaces 344, 344’ may be nonbearing. The location of the engagement tabs 342, 342’ relative to the inner surface 334 could differ based on the shape of the lip 312 and adapter 318. The upper surfaces 343, 343’ the lower surfaces 344, 344’, and the side surfaces 346, 346’ of each of the engagement tabs 342, 342’ are planar, but other configurations are possible.

[0113] Referring to Figures 20 and 23-24, the bifurcated front wall surfaces 336, the upper surfaces 343, 343’, and the two side surfaces 346, 346’ bear against corresponding surfaces 308, 308’, 310, 310’ on the adapter 318 as will be further discussed below. The lower surfaces 344, 344’ bear against bearing surfaces 313, 313’ on the lip 312 as will be further discussed below. The bearing of bearing surfaces 336, 343, 343’, 346, 346’, 344, 344’ of the wear cap 326 against bearing surfaces 323, 323’, 308, 308’, 310, 310’, 313, 313’ aid in providing a stable platform for the wear cap 326 under vertical and / or horizontal loads. The bearing surfaces 336, 343, 343’, 346, 346’, 344, 344’ of the wear cap 326 capture the front portion 329 of the wear cap 326 against the adapter 318 when the adapter 318 is installed in place.

[0114] The wear cap 326 further includes a retaining feature 348. In the illustrated example, the retaining feature is a rearward facing boss receiving cavity 348 located in the rear portion 328 and extending from a rear wall 341 inwardly in a forward longitudinal direction L (FIGS. 20- 22), e.g., longitudinal being measured from front of bucket to the rear of the bucket and / or the install direction of the wear cap 326, but other configurations are possible. For example, the boss receiving cavity may instead by a projection to be received in an opposed cavity on the boss. The boss receiving cavity 348 is illustrated as having a rectangular shape, but other shapes are possible to correspond to the shape of the boss 316. The boss receiving cavity 348 may include interior surfaces which include a bottom surface 349, side surfaces 347, and a rear surface 350. The rear wall 341

[0115] may further include two bearing surfaces 351 , 35T adjacent the boss receiving cavity 348 on either side spaced from each other, but other arrangements are possible (e.g. not adjacent the cavity 348). The two bearing surfaces 351 , 351 ’ bear against corresponding surfaces 385, 385’ on the boss 316 (Fig. 23). The two bearing surfaces 351 , 351 ’ are illustrated as planar, but other configurations are possible. The two bearing surfaces 351 , 351 ’ are raised (e.g., project outwardly) and are surrounded by a non-bearing area, but other configurations are possible. In one example, the the two bearing surfaces may be one large surface or the bearing surfaces may be inclined or curved. The side surfaces 347, the bottom surface 349, and the two bearing surfaces 351 , 351 ’ on the rear wall 341 are all bearing surfaces that interact with the corresponding bearing surfaces on the boss 316 as discussed further below.

[0116] A lower rear bearing surface 352 of the wear cap 326 bears against a rear bearing surface 317 of the lip 312 to aid in resisting vertical loads applied to the wear cap 126. The lower rear bearing surface 352 is illustrated as being adjacent the rear wall 341 , but other configurations are possible. The lower rear bearing surface 352 extends in a forward longitudinal direction L towards the front end 329 of the wear cap 326 and in some examples narrows in this same direction, but other configurations are possible. The lower rear bearing surface 352 may be raised and surrounded by non-bearing bevel surfaces or the like. The lower rear bearing surface 352 corresponds to bearing surface 317 on the lip 312 (Figs. 19, 23, and 24) in resisting vertical loads that are applied to the wear cap 326.

[0117] Referring to Figs. 23-24, the bearing of bearing surfaces 347, 349, 351 , 351’, 352 of the wear cap 326 against bearing surfaces 376, 376’, 379, 385, 385’ of the boss 316 and bearing surface 317 of lip 312 aid in providing a stable platform for the wear cap 326 under vertical and / or horizontal loads. The bearing surfaces 347, 349, 351 , 351 ’, 352 of the wear cap 326 capture the rear portion 328 of the wear cap 326 against the boss 316 when the wear cap 326 is installed in place. The wear cap 326 is uniquely captured with only the front portionbearing surfaces and the rear portion bearing surfaces without any retaining features other than these surfaces. The wear cap 326 may slide in a longitudinal direction L while in use. To install and remove the wear cap 326, the adapter 318 or boss 316 may be removed, but in some cases, the wear cap 326 may be rotationally removed as discussed above. In other examples, the boss tab 370 may be installed or removed separately with fasteners, bolts or welding, thereby providing an alternative for removing and installing the wear cap 326.

[0118] Referring to Figures 25-26, the lip 312 includes a boss 316 illustrated as located on an inner side of the lip 312, but other configurations, such as on an outer side of the lip are also envisioned. The boss 316 is preferably cast in a harder alloy than the lip 312 to aid in reducing the rate of wear in and maintenance of the lip 312, but various alloys with the same or lesser hardness could be used. Although the boss 316 has a one-piece construction in this embodiment, it may be defined by multiple parts coupled together or separately secured to the lip 312. For example, certain portions of the boss 316 may be made from different materials. The boss 316 includes a body 364, which is preferably welded to the lip 312, but may also be cast, fastened, secured, or bolted into the lip 312. In some examples, the body 364 may include a front wall 366 (FIG. 26), an opposed rear wall 368, and two lateral walls 369, 369’ extending between the front wall 366 and opposed rear wall 368. The rear wall 368 is illustrated as circular shaped, but other shapes are envisioned. The illustrated body 364 of the boss 316 includes a forward projecting member 370 that is projecting outwardly in a longitudinal direction towards the nose 314 of the lip 312 and extending from the front wall 366 of the body 364. The member 370 bifurcates the front wall 366. The bifurcated front wall 366 includes two forward facing bearing surfaces 385, 385’ that bear against corresponding bearing surfaces 351 , 35T on the wear cap 326 when the wear cap 326 is driven forward.

[0119] The forward projecting member 370 includes a front face 374, two side surfaces 376, 376’, and a bottom surface 379. The bearing surfaces 385, 385’ of the front wall 366 and the two side surfaces and bottom surface 379 all bear against corresponding surfaces 351 , 351 ’, 347, 349 on the wear cap 326 in resisting axial (rearward axial, upward, and lateral loads) loads that are applied to the wear cap 326 in use (Fig. 23). In other examples, the top surface could be bear surface dependant upon the retaining feature structure 370, which in other examples may be a hole or recess. The bottom surface 379 and side surfaces 376, 376’ are planar as illustrated, but may have some curve, angle, non-linear shape to them to aid in the bearing against the boss 316.

[0120] The lip 312 includes two bearing surfaces 313, 313’ laterally spaced apart and rearward of the nose 314, but other configurations are possible (e.g. bearing surface may be shared with adapter 318. The two bearing surfaces 313, 313’ bear against lower bearingsurfaces 344, 344’ on the wear cap 326, when the wear cap is installed on the lip and / or under load. The lip 312 also includes a rear bearing surface 317 located adjacent the boss 316 and in some examples as wide as the boss 316. The rear bearing surface 317 extends in a forward direction towards the nose 314 of the lip 312 and in some examples narrows in this same direction, but other configurations are possible. The rear bearing surface 317 bears against corresponding bearing surface 352 (Figs. 23-24).

[0121] Referring to Figure 27, the adapter 318 is similar to adapter 18,18A, 218, and includes two engagement tab openings 306, 306’ located in a rear wall 320 of the adapter 318. The rear wall 320 includes a retention feature 343. The retention feature is illustrated as being two upper bearing surfaces 323, 323’ that bear against the front wall 336 of the wear cap 326, but other configurations are possible. For example, the retention feature may be a single engagement bearing surface or at least one engagement tab for bearing against a corresponding recess on the wear cap. The two bearing surfaces 323, 323’ converge towards one another from a center of the adapter, but other angles are possible. The engagement tab openings 306, 306’ are sized and shaped for the engagement tabs 342, 342’ to be inserted within. The engagement tab openings 306, 306’ are illustrated as not communicating with the cavity 319, but instead from a rear surface 311 of the adapter 318. This arrangement moves the bearing surfaces of the adapter and wear cap engagement behind the bearing surfaces of the nose 314 of the lip 312 and the bearing surfaces of intermediate adapter 318 (as discussed above and in U.S. Pat. App. No. 17 / 686,370), such that they do not interfere with one another. The engagement tab openings 306, 306’ may be laterally spaced from one another and converge towards one another in a horizontal direction, much like the engagement tabs 342, 342’ are angled. The engagement tab openings 306, 306’ bear against the engagement tabs 342, 342’ of the wear cap 326 during loading. The engagement tab openings 306, 306’ may each be a recess or a cutout formation in an upper side portion of the rear wall 320 extending from the interior surface 322 of the cavity 319. Engagement tab openings 306, 306’ may each define an interior upper surface 308, 308’ and side surfaces 310, 310’ that bear against corresponding bearing surfaces 343, 343’, 346, 346’ on the wear cap 326 (See Fig. 23). The surfaces 308, 308’, 310, 310’ of the engagement tab openings 306, 306’ may bear against surfaces 343, 343’, 346, 346’ of the engagement tabs 342, 342’ to restrict lateral and vertical forces exerted on the wear cap 26A. The interior upper surface 308, 308’ of each engagement tab opening 306, 306’ may be upwardly curved or inclined to converge toward one another to help stabilize the wear cap 326.

[0122] Referring to Figures 28-29, the wing shroud 360 includes a rear portion 375, a front portion 376, an outer wear surface 378, an opposed inner surface 379 (FIG. 28), which faces a portion of the lip 312 rearward of nose 314 (Fig. 25), and a front wall 380 extendingbetween the outer wear surface 378 and the opposed inner surface 379 at the front portion 376. The front portion 376 of the wing shroud 360 may include a central section 381 with two wings 382, 382’ extending laterally and downwardly from opposed sides of the central section 381 to correspond to the shape of the lip 312 and / or adapter 318. The inner surface 379 of wing shroud 360 may include laterally spaced bearing surfaces 386, 386’ (FIG. 28) which corresponds to bearing surface 383,383’ on the lip 312. In the illustrated example, a bearing surface 388 is located on the inner side of the wing shroud 360 which corresponds to a bearing surface 389 on the lip 312 (Fig. 25). In other examples, such as a left wing shroud, the bearing surface 389 may be located on the opposite side, but still on inner side of the wing shroud or the side that is located within a bucket (not shown). The bearing of bearing surfaces 386, 386’, 388 against bearing surfaces 383, 383’, 389 on the lip 312 provides for a stable platform for the wing shroud 360 under horizontal and vertical loads. The area of the inner surface 379 and the lip 312 surrounding the bearing surfaces 386, 386’, 388 may be non-bearing. The central section 381 is illustrated to extend further than the front wall 380 defining a central front wall 384, but other configurations are possible. The bifurcated front wall 380 adjacent the central front wall 384 may be bearing or non-bearing as the wing shroud 360 does not move in use like some exemplary wear caps discussed above.

[0123] The wing shroud 360 includes a retention feature. In the illustrated example, the retention feature is two engagement tabs 390, 390’ which are laterally spaced from one another and extend from the front wall 380 and laterally from the central front wall 384 of the wing shroud 360. The engagement tabs 390, 390’ may also extend outwardly in a forward direction from the central front wall 384, as other configurations are possible than the example shown. For example, the retention feature 342 may be a cavity for a projection on the adapter to secure therein. The engagement tabs 390, 390’ each define an upper surface 393, 393’, a lower surface 394, 394’, a front surface 395, 395’, and two lateral side surfaces 396, 396’, but other configurations are possible. In the illustrated example, the upper surfaces 393, 393’ and the lower surfaces 394, 394’ correspond with bearing surfaces 313, 313’on the lip 312 and bearing surfaces 308, 308’ on the adapter 318 when loads are applied, but other configurations are possible. It is to be appreciated that the upper surfaces 393, 393’ lower surfaces 394, 394’ and lateral side surfaces 396, 396’ of the engagement tabs 390, 390’ may either be bearing or nonbearing based on the shape of the engagement tabs and the lip 312. In the illustrated example, the engagement tabs 390, 390’ extend from the inner surface 379, such that lower surfaces 394, 394’ of each tab projects below the inner surface 379, but other configurations are possible. The lower surfaces 394, 394’ are shown connecting with one another by a central surface 397, but other configurations are possible. The location of the engagement tabs 390, 390’ relative to the inner surface 379 could differ based on the shape of the lip 312 and adapter 318. In theillustrated example, the lower surfaces 394, 394’ bear against corresponding bearing surfaces 313, 313’ on the lip 312, much like the wear caps 326 do. The upper bearing surfaces 393, 393’ and the lower bearing surfaces 394, 394’ of each of the engagement tabs 390, 390’ are planar, but other configurations are possible. The upper bearing surfaces 393, 393’ bear against corresponding surfaces 308, 308’ on the adapter 318 as similarly discussed above with the wear cap 326 (see Fig. 23). The bearing of bearing surfaces 393, 393’, 394, 394’ against bearing surfaces on the adapter 318 and lip 312 provides a stable platform for the wing shroud 360 under horizontal and / or vertical loads. Like wear cap 326, to install or remove the wing shroud 326, the adapter 318 needs to be removed first, but other configurations are possible.

[0124] In the examples shown, the wear assembly includes a single boss, but other configurations are possible. For example, the wear assembly may include a pair of bosses which are laterally spaced from one another. In such an example the wear cap may include a pair of boss receiving cavities each having a lock cavity.

[0125] The systems, devices, and method disclosed herein are examples of applications of the principles of this disclosure in practice, and a wide variety of other examples are possible. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the details of the wear assembly described herein and / or depicted in the drawings. Various other examples as well as many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the disclosure as defined in the claims. Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrative examples thereof. Numerous other examples, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure. The features in one example can be used with features of another example. The examples given and the combination of features disclosed are not intended to be limiting in the sense that they must be used together.

Claims

Claims1. A first wear member for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment, the first wear member comprising: a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface; and at least one engagement tab located at the front portion, the at least one engagement tab having a top bearing surface and a bottom bearing surface, the top bearing surface corresponds to a bearing surface on a second wear member and the bottom bearing surface corresponds to a bearing surface on the base for bearing against during loading bearing use of the earth working equipment.

2. The first wear member of claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement tab includes at least one side bearing surface that corresponds to a bearing surface on the second wear member.

3. The first wear member of any one of claims 1 -2, wherein the front portion includes a front wall bearing surface adjacent the at least one engagement tab that corresponds to a bearing surface on the second wear member.

4. The first wear member of any one of claims 1 -3, wherein the at least one engagement tab is a first engagement tab and the first wear member includes a laterally opposed second engagement tab.

5. The first wear member of claim 4, wherein the first and second engagement tabs are inclined and converge toward each other.

6. The first wear member of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the at least one engagement tab is located below the interior surface of the first wear member.

7. The first wear member of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the rear portion includes a boss receiving cavity that opens to a rear wall and to the exterior surface.

8. The first wear member of claim 7, wherein the boss receiving cavity includes a bottom bearing surface and two side bearing surfaces that correspond to a bearing surfaces on the base.

9. The first wear member of claim 7, wherein the boss receiving cavity includes a bottom bearing surface that correspond to a bearing surface on the base.

10. The first wear member of claim 7, wherein the rear wall includes two laterally opposed bearing surfaces that correspond to bearing surfaces on the base.11 . The first wear member of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the rear portion of the interior surface includes a lower rear bearing surface that corresponds with a bearing surface on the base.

12. A wear cap for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment, the wear cap comprising: a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface; aboss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and opening to the rear portion and the exterior surface; and an engagement tab located at the front portion.

13. The wear cap of claim 12, wherein the boss receiving cavity is located in a central section of the rear portion.

14. A wear assembly for earth working equipment, the wear assembly comprising: a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a first retention feature on a forward face of the boss; a first wear member having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, a second retention feature located in a rear portion on a rear wall, the second retention feature arranged to receive the first retention feature of the boss when the first wear member overlies a portion of the supportive base, and a third retention feature on the front portion of the first wear member; and a second wear member located forward of the first wear member and having a fourth retention member for securing with the third retention feature of the first wear member, such that the first wear member is captured between supportive base and the second wear member when the supportive base, the first wear member, and the second wear member are all installed on the earth working equipment.

15. The wear assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second retention features are one of a tab or cavity.

16. The wear assembly of any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the second retention feature is a boss receiving cavity.

17. The wear assembly of claim 16, wherein the boss receiving cavity opens to the exterior surface and the rear wall.

18. The wear assembly of claim 16, wherein the boss receiving cavity opens to the rear wall.

19. The wear assembly of claim 14, wherein the first retention feature is a forward projecting member and the second retention feature is a recess corresponding to the forward projecting member of the boss.

20. The wear assembly of claim 14, wherein the third retention feature is an engagement tab and the fourth retention feature is a recess corresponding to the engagement tab of the first wear member.21 . A wear assembly for earth working equipment, the wear assembly comprising: a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a lock cavity defining a first lock bearing surface; a wear cap having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, the rear portion arranged to engage the boss when the wear cap overlies a portion of the supportive base, and a second lock bearing surface located at a rear portion of the wear cap; and a lock member received within the lock cavity to engage the first and second lock bearing surfaces to hold the wear cap downwardly to the supportive base.

22. The wear assembly of claim 21 , wherein the boss is cast as a part of the supportive base.

23. A wear cap for overlaying at least a portion of a base of earth working equipment, the wear cap comprising: a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an opposed interior surface; aboss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and extending from the interior surface generally towards the exterior surface; a lock cavity in the rear portion extending from the exterior surface and communicating with the boss receiving cavity, the lock cavity arranged to receive a locking member for holding the wear cap to a base.

24. A wear assembly for earth working equipment, the wear assembly comprising: a supportive base having a boss projecting outwardly from the base; a wear cap having a front portion, a rear portion, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, the wear cap having an enclosed boss receiving cavity located in a rear portion and extending from the interior surface generally towards the exterior surface and arranged to receive the boss when the wear cap overlies a portion of the supportive base, and engagement tab extending from the front portion;a locking member arranged to interface between the wear cap and the boss to hold the wear cap to the supportive base; and a wear member located forward of the wear cap, the wear member having a rear portion with a rearward facing mounting cavity arranged to receive a nose of the base; wherein the engagement tab is inserted through the rear portion of the wear member and pivots downwardly to be installed onto the supportive base.

25. A base comprising: a mounting portion for mounting a wear cap thereon, the mounting portion including a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a forward surface with a forward projecting member, wherein the forward projecting member includes a bottom bearing surface and two side bearing surfaces that correspond with bearing surfaces on a wear cap.

26. A base comprising a mounting portion for mounting a wear cap thereon, the mounting portion having a boss projecting outwardly from the base, the boss including a lock receiving hole extending laterally or axially at least partially through the boss and defining a lock bearing surface.

27. The base of claim 26, wherein the boss is cast as a part of the base.

28. The base of any one of claims 26 or 27, wherein the base is an adapter.

29. The base of any one of claims 26-28, wherein the lock bearing surface of the lock receiving hole receives a pin to secure a wear cap to the base.

30. A lip for attachment to a bucket, the lip comprising: a plurality of noses for engagement with a respective plurality of wear members, situated rearward of each nose are at least two bearing surfaces on opposite sides of one another that correspond to lower surfaces of two engagement tabs of a wear member, such that when the wear member is installed the lower surfaces of the two engagement tabs and the at least two bearing surfaces of the lip bear against one another during load bearing work of the bucket.31 . The lip of claim 30, further comprising a rear bearing surface that is located rearward of the at least two bearing surfaces and adjacent a boss, the boss being located on the lip and projecting inwardly in a direction inside the bucket.

32. A first wear member comprising: a forward end; and a rear end having a mounting cavity opening in a rear end of the first wear member to receive a supportive base, the mounting cavity having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion including a rear bearing surface on the rear end, wherein the rear bearing surface bears against a complementary surface on the supportive base, the rear bearing surface including a recess opening to the rear end for bearing with an engagement tab of a second wear member during horizontal and / or vertical loads.

33. The first wear member of claim 32, wherein the first wear member is an intermediate adapter and the second wear member is a wear cap.

34. The first wear member of any one of claims 32 or 33, wherein the first wear member is an intermediate adapter and the second wear member is a wing shroud.

35. The first wear member of any one of claims 32-34, wherein the rear bearing surface is a first rear bearing surface, and the rear portion including a second rear bearing surface, the two rear bearing surfaces converging toward or away from one another.

36. The first wear member of any one of claims 32-35, wherein the recess opens to the mounting cavity and the rear end.

37. The first wear member of any one of claims 32-36, wherein the recess includes side surfaces that bear against complementary surfaces of the engagement tab during horizontal and / or vertical loads.

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