Caterpillar Inc.

Martin V Kiesewetter

William J Renski

Gene R Klett

Billy R Bedford

Tip retainer mechanisms are designed primarily to secure a tip to an adapter nose for use in a variety of applications. In applications where a spring retainer is located in a recess of the adapter nose and trapped in the recess by the assembly of the tip thereon, it is necessary for the spring retainer to be properly positioned in the recess to enable easy insertion of the pin through the respective holes in the tip, adapter nose, and spring retainer. In the subject arrangement, the holder substantially encircles the outer diameter of a spring retainer. When assembled, the holder and spring retainer are placed in a recess of the adapter nose and a bore of the spring retainer is substantially axially aligned with a transverse bore of the adapter nose. Furthermore, the holder is made of an elastomeric material and has a thickness greater than a depth of the recess. Consequently, upon assembly of the tip on the adapter nose, the pin may be easily inserted through the respective holes of the tip, the transverse bore of the adapter nose, and the properly aligned bore of the spring retainer. Due to the compressive forces of the elastomeric holder, the tip is snugly held against the adapter nose to substantially eliminate the vibrations between the tip and the adapter nose.

Ground engaging tool

A corner tooth assembly is provided on the corner of an implement for protection thereof from wear during use. It is necessary to provide a tight fit between the corner tooth and the corner portion of the implement so that unnecessary movement of the corner tooth on the corner portion is avoided while at the same time not subjecting the corner tooth to undue stresses during initial installation of the corner tooth on the implement. The present corner tooth assembly includes a corner portion integrally connected to the implement with first and second load transferring pads defined on a leading edge thereof and first and second holes defined therein and a corner tooth adapted for releasable connection to the corner portion. A trailing end portion of the corner tooth has a load transferring portion including first and second load transferring surfaces adapted when installed to mate with the first and second load transferring pads of the corner portion and a single upright side portion with first and second holes therein operative when assembled to mate with respective first and second holes of the corner portion on an implement. By having the first and second load transferring surfaces mate with the first and second load transferring pads of the corner portion and the corner tooth being secured to the corner portion by a biasing means, a tight connection is made between the corner tooth and the corner portion.

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Morton, IL, United States of America

Martin V Kiesewetter