United States Patent [19]
`Peterson
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,505,058
`Mar. 19, 1985
`
`[54] EXCAVATING TOOTH, HOLDER AND
`RETAINER
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Gerald A. Peterson, 37 Sullivan Dr.,
`Moraga, Calif. 94556
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 578,201
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Feb. 8, 1984
`
`[63]
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 445,971, Jan. 6, 1983,
`abandoned.
`
`Int. CI.J ................................................ E02F 9/28
`[51]
`[52] U.S. CI ..................................... 37/142 A; 24/580;
`24/612; 403/13; 403/155; 403/324; 403/326;
`411!353; 411/517; 411!530
`[58] Field of Search ............. 37/142 A, 142 R, 141 R,
`37/141 T; 403/13, 155,317,324, 326; 411/516,
`517, 522, 530, 352, 353; 24/211 L, 612, 211 R,
`580; 299/92; 172/713
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,144,909 8/1964 Hart eta!. .................... 37/142 A X
`3,826,024 7/1974 Petersen ........................... 37/142 A
`4,050,172 9/1977 Petersen ........................... 37/142 A
`4,367,602 1/1983 Petersen ........................... 37/142 A
`
`Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr
`Assistant Examiner-Moshe I. Cohen
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Julian Caplan
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`An excavating tooth has a blade of substantially con(cid:173)
`stant thickness with a transverse shoulder at its inner
`end and a longitudinal gusset. The tooth terminates in a
`reduced diameter spindle and a button with a shoulder
`on its forward face. The adapter has a recess to receive
`the tooth, the forward end of the adapter receiving the
`thrust of the tooth because the transverse shoulder bears
`thereagainst. A top to bottom opening in the adapter
`intersects the recess at the spindle. A pair of grooves are
`formed on the outside edges of the opening with projec(cid:173)
`tions extending inward from the outer walls of the
`grooves. A retainer is formed of round cross-section
`wire and slides in the grooves between locked and un(cid:173)
`locked positions, the diameter of the wire being less
`than the width of the grooves. The retainer is symmetri(cid:173)
`cal about its longitudinal center line, having a slightly
`upward bowed top connector and legs depending from
`either end of the connector. Each leg has, in order, a
`reverse bend joining the leg to the connector, an upper
`straight section, an outward-downward slanted section,
`a lower straight section and a lower terminal.
`
`3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
`
`Page 1 of 5
`
`CATERPILLAR EXHIBIT 1004
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 19, 1985
`
`4,505,058
`
`16
`
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`
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`12
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`Page 2 of 5
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,505,058
`
`EXCAVATING TOOTH, HOLDER AND RETAINER
`
`2
`structed as rugged as in conventional systems where the
`retainer transmits all or a substantial part of the thrust
`from the tooth to the adapter.
`The shoulder of the tooth also shields the adapter
`This application is a continuation-in-Part of applica(cid:173)
`from wear and makes replacement of adapters unneces(cid:173)
`tions Ser. No. 06/455,971, filed Jan. 6, 1983, now aban- 5
`sary. In pocketed teeth, when the tooth wears down,
`doned.
`the nose of the adapter which fits into the pocket of the
`This invention relates to a new and improved exca-
`vating tooth, holder and retainer. Reference is made to
`tooth may be exposed and worn away, requiring re-
`placement. Replacement of adapters is an expensive
`prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,751,834; 3,826,024 and 4,050,172,
`on which this application is an improvement. This appli- 10 operation, not only from the standpoint of time and
`cation is also an improvement upon co-pending applica-
`materials, but also from the standpoint of down time of
`tion Ser. No. 06/310,472, filed Oct. 13, 1981, now U.S.
`the equipment.
`Pat. No. 4,367,602.
`Still another advantage of the shoulder on the rear of
`Many of the advantages and distinctions over prior
`the tooth of the present invention is that, when the
`art of the present invention are set forth in the above 15 tooth's blade is worn, the tooth simply quits digging.
`identified patents and are not repeated herein.
`This makes it unnecessary for the operator to check the
`condition of the teeth frequently, since it is apparent
`At the present time, commercially available excavat-
`ing teeth, holders and retainers for heavy equipment
`that when the tooth stops cutting that the tooth must be
`(e.g., large bulldozers, dipper buckets, drag line equip-
`replaced. This reduces the number of times that the
`ment, dumpsters, and the like), as distinguished from 20 operator is required to climb down from the cab of the
`smaller equipment (such as earth augers, trenching me-
`equipment to check the teeth.
`The adapter of the present invention also has ad van-
`chines and the like) are complicated, expensive and
`difficult to install. However, the use of the present in-
`tages over conventional systems. As has been stated,
`vention is not intended to be confined solely to large
`there is no protruding nose on the adapter such as those
`25 required in pocket-type teeth and this reduces the
`equipment.
`The systems most widely used at present in heavy
`weight and fabricating costs of the adapter. Addition-
`equipment are known as "pocketed" teeth, wherein the
`ally, since the shoulder on the tooth protects the
`adapter and since the tooth construction prevents use of
`adapter permanently fixed to the equipment has a for-
`wardly tapering point which fits into a socket or pocket
`the equipment when worn, the tendency to wear out
`in the excavating tooth and is held therein usually by a 30 adapters is not present in the instant construction.
`composite pin driven transversely through holes in the
`The retainer of the present invention differs in anum-
`walls of the pocket and the point of the adapter. The
`ber of respects from that shown in previous patents of
`composite retainer usually has some sort of resilient
`the inventor. One distinction is that the retainer is a
`material, such as artificial rubber incorporated therein.
`single piece of round cross-section stainless steel, as
`The present invention has numerous advantages over 35 distinguished from the rectangular cross-section retain-
`such prior commercially available teeth.
`ers of the above mentioned patents.
`In the first place, the tooth of the present invention is
`A suitable stainless steel wire is 0.187" diameter No.
`a flat forged tooth. Two teeth may be forged point to
`302 stainless steel. Such material is readily available and
`point and separated during the fmal trim forging opera-
`easily fabricated.
`tion, thereby reducing forging time by one-half, as com- 40
`The retainer is capable of withstanding wide temper-
`pared with forging teeth one at a time. Only three forg-
`ature ranges, so that the equipment may be used in
`ing operations are required as contrasted with forged
`sub-freezing temperature conditions or, on the other
`pocket-type teeth which require more forging steps.
`hand, may be used on a bulldozer for slag in a steel mill.
`Fabrication of the retainer is greatly reduced over all
`This is an important cost advantage. Cast teeth, also
`commonly used, cost more per unit of weight than 45 prior retainers with which the inventor is familiar.
`Tooling costs for fabrication of the retainer are modest
`forgings. Additionally, forged teeth have superior
`strength to cast teeth.
`and the material required is minimal as compared with
`An additional feature of the teeth of the present in-
`conventional retainers for heavy duty equipment.
`vention is that the cutting portion of the tooth has the
`Additionally, the retainer is reusable. Under normal
`same thickness from near the point of the tooth to the 50 operating conditions, whenever it is necessary to re-
`place a tooth, the retainer is pried up from its locked
`shoulder at the rear. As previously mentioned, conven-
`tiona! teeth are generally V-shaped and become blunt as
`position in the adapter using a screwdriver. However,
`the adapter is not fully removed, but is retained in the
`they wear down.
`adapter. It is merely necessary to tap the retainer down
`The present invention also has a gusset or rib along
`the top of the blade of the tooth which gives added 55 in place after a new tooth has been installed, using a
`strength and also functions as a ripper in certain exca-
`hammer. Hence, the time required to replace the tooth
`vating operations. Use of the gusset in the present in-
`is greatly reduced over prior systems. Some prior sys-
`vention does not increase the required size of the billet
`terns requi,re the use of a drift pin and a sledge; the
`from which the tooth is forged, since the material form-
`contrast over the present system is readily apparent.
`ing the gusset would otherwise be trimmed off of the 60
`Since the retainer is not normally removed from the
`tooth as flash during the trimming forging ope~ation.
`adapter, the danger of it becoming lost while a tooth is
`Another important feature of the present teeth is the
`being replaced is obviated. Since, in accordance with
`transverse shoulder at the rear of the cutting edge,
`the present invention, the retainer is symmetrical, the
`which performs several functions. It transmits the thrust
`necessity of inserting it in the adapter in a particular
`of the tooth directly to the front edge of adapter and 65 orientation is eliminated in accordance with the present
`invention.
`hence no strain is placed on the retainer, which holds
`the tooth in the adapter during normal excavating oper-
`Further, the construction of the retainer is such that it
`may be installed in the adapter simply by compressing
`ations. Hence, the retainer does not have to be con-
`
`Page 3 of 5
`
`

`
`30
`
`3
`the legs of the hairpin shaped retainer together, so that
`the points of the hairpin fit into the pocket in the
`adapter. This operation is most conveniently performed
`by using a convential pliers.
`As is apparent from the following description, an 5
`important feature of this invention is that the retainer
`takes no thrust during the transmission of the thrust
`from the tooth to the adapter. The function of the re(cid:173)
`tainer is to keep the tooth from falling out of the holder,
`either from the effects of gravity or in the event that the 10
`earth being excavated (e.g., clay) tends to hold the
`tooth back when the digging equipment is being with-
`·
`drawn.
`Other objects of the present invention will become
`apparent upon reading the following specification and 15
`referring to the accompanying drawings in which simi(cid:173)
`lar characters of reference represent corresponding
`parts in each of the several views.
`In the drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a top plan of the tooth, a portion of the 20
`adapter and the retainer, partially broken away to re(cid:173)
`veal internal construction;
`FIG. 2 is a longitudinal partially sectional view taken
`substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substan- 25
`tially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substan(cid:173)
`tially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing the retainer
`in locked position in solid lines and in retracted position
`in dot-and-dash lines;
`FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the retainer of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of
`a modification.
`Some of the structure of the tooth, holder and re- 35
`tainer of the present invention resemble those of the
`aforementioned prior patents and are not herein illus(cid:173)
`trated or described in precise detail. Tooth 11 is held in
`an adapter 12 attached by conventional means to the
`leading edge of a piece of construction equipment (not 40
`shown) by any well-known means. Tooth 11, as has
`been mentioned, is preferably forged and its blade 24
`preferably has substantially the same thickness from tip
`to rear, as distinguished from the blades of pocketed
`teeth which taper outwardly-rearwardly. The distal 45
`portion 16 of tooth 11 has a transverse shoulder 17
`which bears against the front edge 28 of adapter 11 and
`transmits normal thrust of the tooth directly to the
`adapter 12. A longitudinal centrally disposed gusset 18
`strengthens the tooth and, where required, may perform 50
`a ripping function.
`The proximal portion of the tooth 11 has a shank 19
`which is preferably non-circular as best shown in FIG.
`3 and may have means such as the groove 16 which
`receives longitudinal rib 17 of adapter 12 to prevent the 55
`operator from inserting the tooth 11 in the adapter 12 in
`the wrong orientation.
`A reduced width portion 21, or spindle, is formed
`behind the shank 19 and behind the spindle 21 is a but(cid:173)
`ton 22 of larger width than the spindle 21 which has a 60
`front shoulder 23.
`Adapter 12 is formed with a recess 31 complementary
`to shank 19 and preferably rearwardly-inwardly taper(cid:173)
`ing. In registry with the spindle 21 is a transverse open(cid:173)
`ing 32 extending in the preferred embodiment shown in 65
`the drawings from top to bottom but, as will be under(cid:173)
`stood, which may extend transversely through the
`adapter 12 in other directions.
`
`4,505,058
`
`4
`Opening 32 primarily is intended to receive the re(cid:173)
`tainer 51, so that it may slide from the operative or
`locked position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4 to the
`unlocked position shown in dot-and-dash lines. For
`such purpose there are opposed grooves 35 on either
`side of opening 32 opposite spindle 21 having side walls
`33 which are generally vertical, having inward projec(cid:173)
`tions 34 spaced downwardly from the top of the adapter
`12 above the level of the spindle 21 of tooth 11. The
`function of projections 34 hereinafter appears. Side
`walls 34 above and below projections 34 are co-planar.
`At the bottom of the opening 32, the walls 33 flare
`outwardly at about 45" as indicated by reference numer(cid:173)
`als 36. Front walls 37 and rear walls 38 of the opening
`32 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the
`thickness of the retainer 51 when thrust is applied to the
`tooth. Further, retainer 51 is slightly forward of shoul(cid:173)
`der 23 of button 22.
`As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the middle of
`adapter 12 behind the button 22 is a rear extension 41 of
`the opening 32 and there is a slanted top surface 42. The
`rearward extension 41 serves several functions. It per(cid:173)
`mits escape of earth within the recess 31. It permits a
`prying instrument, such as a screwdriver blade, to be
`inserted behind the button 22 to force the tooth 11 out
`of the adapter 12 when required. The slanted surface 42
`enables a screwdriver blade to be inserted under the
`retainer 51 and used as a prying lever to raise the re(cid:173)
`tainer 51 from operative to retracted positions.
`Retainer 51 is preferably fabricated from a single
`piece of round cross-section stainless steel such as #302.
`As best shown in FIG. 5, it has a top connector 52,
`which is generally horizontal, but slightly bowed up(cid:173)
`wardly. At either end of the top 52 are legs 53 which, in
`the preferred form of the invention, are preferably sym(cid:173)
`metric. Thus, proceeding from either end of top 52 is a
`reverse bend 56 which has a maximum width about
`equal to the width of opening 32. Below the reverse
`bend 56 is upper straight stretch 57 which is spaced
`from the opposing stretch 57 a distance greater than
`that of spindle 21, but less than the width of button 22,
`so that shoulder 23 is stopped by the straight stretches
`57 to prevent removal of the tooth. The width across
`straight stretches 57 is less than the distance between
`the inner edges of projections 34. Below stretches 57 are
`outward-slanted stretches 58 which terminate in lower
`stretches 59 (shown straight) which are spaced apart
`about the width of opening 32 between side walls 33 of
`grooves 35. Below stretch 59 is lower outward-slanted
`stretch 61 which locks behind corner 63 formed by
`flared lower end 36 of the opening 32 intersecting side
`wall 33 in the operative position shown in FIG. 4.
`Below stretch 61 is an inward bend 62 which is rounded
`inward to facilitate insertion of the retainer 51 in the
`opening 32.
`In use, either before the shank 19 of tooth 11 has been
`inserted into recess 31, or thereafter, initial installation
`of the retainer 51 is made. All that is required is to
`compress the initially diverging legs 53 toward each
`other sufficiently so that the lower slanted stretches 61
`clear the projections 34. This is most easily accom(cid:173)
`plished by compressing the legs 53 with a pliers. Either
`of said legs 53 may be inserted in either of said grooves
`35. When tooth 11 is to be locked into place, the opera(cid:173)
`tor taps the top connector 52 with a hammer, or by
`other means, depressing the retainer until it seats in the
`position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. The outward
`slated stretches 61 lock against the outward flares 36,
`
`Page 4 of 5
`
`

`
`4,505,058
`
`5
`preventing unintentional dislodgment of the retainer 51.
`In this position, the upper straight sections 57 being
`located in front of the shoulder 53 of button 22 prevent
`the tooth 11 from being withdrawn from the adapter.
`As has previously been stated, the forces against the 5
`tooth 11 are transmitted directly from the shoulder 17
`to the front edge 28 of retainer 12 and no part of this
`force is absorbed by the retainer 51. On the other hand,
`where there is a force tending to pull the tooth 11 away
`from the adapter 12, the straight stretches 57 of the 10
`retainer 51 prevent such movement. Since the latter
`forces are relatively small, the retainer 51 does not have
`to be of great strength.
`When it is necessary to remove the tooth 11, the
`operator inserts the blade of the screwdriver under the 15
`top connector 52 and, by rocking downward, using the
`surface 42 as a fulcrum, the retainer 51 is pried upward
`sufficiently so that the button 52 clears the retainer. It is
`important to note that the projections 34 limit down(cid:173)
`ward movement of the retainer 51 beyond the position 20
`shown in FIG. 4 and also limit upward movement so
`that the retainer is not unintentionally removed.
`FIG. 6 shows a modification wherein any tendency
`of the inward bend of the retainer 51 to stick in the
`recess 31 instead of sliding in the opening 32 is pre- 25
`vented. Thus two vertical grooves 66 are cut in the
`distal end of shank 19a. Hence, the legs 53a of retainer
`51a cannot enter opening 32a. In other respects, the
`elements of the modification of FIG. 6 resemble those
`of the preceding embodiment and the same reference 30
`numerals followed by the subscript a are used to desig(cid:173)
`nate corresponding parts.
`What is claimed is:
`1. In combination, a flat forged excavating tooth
`having a distal portion formed with a cutting point, said 35
`distal portion formed with a transverse first shoulder
`and a non-circular proximal portion, said proximal por(cid:173)
`tion having a terminal button formed with a second
`shoulder and a reduced diameter spindle forward of said
`second shoulder, an adapter having a recess shaped to 40
`receive said proximal portion and said button and hav(cid:173)
`ing a front edge bearing against said first shoulder to
`transfer the thrust on said tooth directly to said adapter,
`said adapter being formed with an opening having a pair
`of opposed straight walled grooves extending from a 45
`first face to the opposite second face of said adapter and
`each laterally offset from and communicating with said
`recess directly opposite said spindle and a projection in
`each said groove above said spindle· extending inward
`toward said recess, the outside walls of said grooves 50
`being co-planar above and below said projections, and a
`reversible, round cross-secion, single piece resilient
`retainer, which is substantially co-planar and symmetric
`about its longitudinal center line, having an upwardly
`bowed top connector and a leg at either end depending 55
`from said connector and initially slanted outward, each
`
`6
`said leg having a reverse bend joining said leg to said
`connector, an upper straight section opposite said spin(cid:173)
`dle, an outward-downward slanted section, a lower
`section laterally-outwardly offset relative to said upper
`straight section and a lower terminal section, the width
`across said reverse bends and said lower sections being
`greater than the thickness of said button and the width
`across the upper straight sections being less than the
`distance between the inner edges of said projections, the
`distance between said upper straight sections being
`greater than said spindle and less than said button, said
`retainer being slidable in said grooves between a locked
`position with said upper straight sections straddling said
`spindle and an unlocked position with said lower sec(cid:173)
`tions opposite said spindle, said projections limiting
`movement of said retainer inward beyond locked posi(cid:173)
`tion and outward beyond unlocked position by contact(cid:173)
`ing said reverse bends and said outward-downward
`slanted sections, respectively, the opening in said
`grooves in said second face being formed with outward
`flares, each said retainer lower terminal section being
`curved outward to lock against one of said flares in the
`locked position of said retainer, each said lower terinal
`section being curved inward below the location where
`it is curved outward to facilitate initial insertion of said
`retainer legs into said grooves and past said projections,
`said retainer being positionable so that either of said legs
`may be inserted in either of said grooves.
`2. The combination of claim 1 in which the width of
`said groove from front to rear is greater than the cross(cid:173)
`section of said retainer so that said retainer is movable in
`said grooves from front to rear.
`3. A reversible retainer for use in an excavating tooth
`and adapter assembly comprising a single piece of resil(cid:173)
`ient round cross-section wire which is substantially
`co-planar and symmetric about its longitudinal center
`line having an upwardly bowed top connector and a leg
`depending from either end of said connector, said legs
`being initially slightly outwardly diverging, each said
`leg having a reverse bend joining said leg to said con(cid:173)
`nector, an upper straight section below said reverse
`bend, an outwardly-downward slanted section below
`said upper straight section, a lower straight section
`below said outwardly-downward slanted section out(cid:173)
`wardly offset relative to said upper straight section and
`a lower terminal section, the width of said retainer
`across said reverse bends and said lower sections being
`greater than the width across said upper straight sec(cid:173)
`tions, said lower terminal sections being curved out(cid:173)
`ward, the width of said retainer across said lower termi(cid:173)
`nal sections being greater than the width across said
`lower straight sections, said lower terminal sections
`being curved inward below the location where they are
`curved outward.
`
`* * * * *
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Page 5 of 5