Latching assembly for ground engaging tools

Abstract

A locking assembly for locking a ground engaging tool such as a point onto an adapter is disclosed. The locking assembly has a lock which can pivot between a locking position and a release position. The lock is biased into the locking position. The action of pushing the point onto the adapter moves the lock into its release position until the point is fully engaged on the adapter, when the lock returns to its locked position, now in engagement with a lock receiving recess in the adapter.

1 . A locking assembly  16  for locking a ground engaging tool  14  over a base  12 , the locking assembly  16  including a lock  18  arranged to pivot between a locking position and a release position, the lock  18  being biased into the locking position, the lock  18  having a first face  30  arranged to act against an activating surface  122 ,  124  of the base  12 , wherein the action of the first face  30  of the lock  18  against the activating surface  122 ,  124  of the base  12  causes pivoting of the lock  18  into the release position. 
     
     
         2 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lock  18  has a second face  32  which is arranged to act against a resilient biasing means  26 . 
     
     
         3 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the biasing means  26  is formed of elastically deformable material such as spring steel. 
     
     
         4 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second face  32  is angled relative to the first face  30  at an angle between 40° and 70°. 
     
     
         5 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second face  32  is angled at about 50° relative to the first face  30 . 
     
     
         6 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the lock  18  has a third face  34  which is arranged, in use, to engage with a holding face of the base  12 . 
     
     
         7 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the third face  34  is arcuate. 
     
     
         8 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the lock  18  has a pivot axis  35 , with the first face  30  extending radially away from the pivot axis  35 , the second face  32  extending radially away from the pivot axis  35 , and the third face  34  curving at least part of the distance between the first face  30  and the second face  32 , the third face  34  having a center of curvature at the pivot axis  35 . 
     
     
         9 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the lock  18  has a pry-tool receiving aperture or slot  42 . 
     
     
         10 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the pry-tool receiving slot  42  is located within the third face  34  of the lock  18 . 
     
     
         11 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the lock  18  has a pivot axle  38  extending along the pivot axis  35 . 
     
     
         12 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the lock  18  has two generally planar side faces  36 , and the pivot axle  38  extends beyond each of the lock side faces  36 . 
     
     
         13 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the locking assembly  16  includes a lock supporting member  19  having a bearing surface  70  on which the pivot axle  38  of the lock  18  may locate. 
     
     
         14 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the locking assembly  16  includes a lock supporting member  19  having means for restraining the biasing means  26 . 
     
     
         15 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the lock supporting member  19  is formed from a first body portion  20  arranged to be connected to a second body portion  22 . 
     
     
         16 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the biasing means  26  is arranged to be clamped between the first and second body portions  20 ,  22 . 
     
     
         17 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first body portion  20  has a front face  48  and a rear face  50 , the front face  48  and the rear face  50  being angled with respect to each other so as to form a tapered shape. 
     
     
         18 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the rear face  50  of the first body portion  20  includes a channel  54  in which an outer portion  72  of the biasing means  26  can be positioned. 
     
     
         19 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second body portion  22  has a lower face  56  arranged, in use, to align with an internal surface  86  of the ground engaging tool  14 . 
     
     
         20 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the second body portion  22  has a rear face  62  which forms an acute angle relative to the lower face  56 . 
     
     
         21 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second body portion  22  includes two spaced arms  66  extending from a lower end of a front face  60 . 
     
     
         22 . A locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the biasing means  26  has an outer locating portion  72 , the outer locating portion  72  being bent at about 90° relative to a second locating portion  74 ; and an active portion  76 , the active portion  76  forming an obtuse angle of about 150° relative to the second locating portion  72 . 
     
     
         23 . A ground engaging tool  14  having an internal socket  82  arranged to locate over a base  12 , and an external wear face  84 , the ground engaging tool  14  having a lock receiving aperture  80  in which is located a locking assembly  16  as claimed in  claim 1   
     
     
         24 . A ground engaging tool  14  having an internal socket  82  arranged to locate over a base  12 , and an external wear face  84 , the ground engaging tool  14  having a lock receiving aperture  80  extending between the external wear face  84  and the internal socket  82 , the lock receiving aperture  80  having a forward portion  90  and a rear portion  92 , the rear portion  92  having a lateral width greater than that of the forward portion  90 . 
     
     
         25 . A ground engaging tool  14  as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the rear portion  92  of the lock receiving aperture  80  has a rear wall  94  including a first tapered face  96  which tapers inwardly from the external wear surface  84 , and a second tapered face  98  which tapers inwardly from the internal socket  82 . 
     
     
         26 . A ground engaging tool  14  as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the first and second tapered faces  96 ,  98  are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to each other of about 150°. 
     
     
         27 . A ground engaging tool  14  as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the rear portion  92  of the lock receiving aperture  80  has a front wall  100  on either side of the forward portion  90 , each front wall  100  including a first portion  102  extending from the external wear face  84  towards the internal socket  82 , a second portion  104  extending from the internal socket  82  towards the external wear face  84 , and a third portion  106  connecting the first and second portions  102 ,  104 , whereby the second portion  104  is forwardly spaced relative to the first portion  102 , with the second portion  104  and third portion together  106  defining a lock axle receiving cavity  107  opening into the internal socket  82 . 
     
     
         28 . A ground engaging tool  14  as claimed in  claim 24  when used to house a locking assembly  16  for locking the ground engaging tool  14  over a base  12 , the locking assembly  16  including a lock  18  arranged to pivot between a locking position and a release position, the lock  18  being biased into the locking position, the lock  18  having a first face  30  arranged to act against an activating surface  122 ,  124  of the base  12 , wherein the action of the first face  30  of the lock  18  against the activating surface  122 ,  124  of the base  12  causes pivoting of the lock  18  into the release position. 
     
     
         29 . A ground engaging tool releasing means  160  having an inner end  164  and an outer end  168 , the ground engaging tool releasing means  160  having a cylindrical inner portion  162  extending from the inner end  164 , the inner portion  162  being arranged to be received within a pin-receiving aperture  190  in a base  12  on which a ground engaging tool  14  is attached; the ground engaging tool releasing means  160  having a tool-receiving formation  172  at the outer end  168 ; wherein the ground engaging tool releasing means has a cam surface  174  remote from the inner end  164 , the cam surface  174  being arranged to engage with a surface  194  of the ground engaging tool  14  and to provide a releasing force to the ground engaging tool  14  when the ground engaging tool releasing means  160  is rotated.