Retention system with threaded block and pin mechanism

Abstract

A retention mechanism for connecting a ground engaging tip and an adapter may have a retainer block, a retainer pin, and a spring assembly. The retainer block may be insertable into a cutout in the adapter. The retainer block may have a cavity including an internal thread and at least one detent cutout. The retainer block may have a retainer block outer surface including a plurality of surfaces configured to engage with corresponding surfaces in the cutout of the adapter. The retainer pin may be insertable in the cavity of the retainer block. The retainer pin may have a threaded outer surface configured to engage with the internal thread in the cavity in the retainer block. The retainer pin may also have an opening extending diametrically through the retainer pin. The spring assembly may be disposed in the opening and configured to engage with the at least one detent cutout.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retention mechanism for connecting a ground engaging tip and an adapter, the retention mechanism comprising:
 a retainer block configured for insertion into a cutout in the adapter, wherein the retainer block comprises:
 a cavity including an internal thread and at least one detent cutout; and 
 a retainer block outer surface including a plurality of surfaces configured to engage with corresponding surfaces in the cutout of the adapter. 
   a retainer pin configured for insertion in the cavity of the retainer block, wherein the retainer pin comprises:
 a threaded outer surface configured to engage with the internal thread in the cavity; 
 an opening extending through the retainer pin along a diameter of the retainer pin; and 
   a spring assembly disposed in the opening and configured to engage with the at least one detent cutout.   
     
     
         2 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly further comprises:
 an annular sleeve;   a pair of plungers slidingly insertable at opposite ends of the sleeve; and   a spring member disposed between and connected to the pair of plungers.   
     
     
         3 . The retention mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the spring member includes a coil spring. 
     
     
         4 . The retention mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve has a generally cylindrical shape and includes a generally cylindrical opening extending through a length of the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The retention mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein a material of the sleeve includes one of rubber, plastic, elastomeric material, or metal. 
     
     
         6 . The retention mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein
 the at least one detent cutout includes a pair of detent cutouts disposed diametrically opposite to each other, and   each of the pair of plungers is configured to engage with a respective one of the pair of detent cutouts.   
     
     
         7 . The retention mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of plungers includes:
 a plunger base including a generally flat bottom surface configured to engage with the spring member; and   a plunger head extending from the plunger base.   
     
     
         8 . The retention mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the plunger head includes:
 a generally flat end face;   a first inclined face extending from the plunger base to the end face; and   a second inclined face extending from the plunger base to the end face.   
     
     
         9 . The retention mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein a first angle of inclination of the first inclined face relative to a longitudinal axis of the spring assembly is smaller than a second angle of inclination of the second inclined face relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The retention mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein
 each of the detent cutouts includes an inclined surface, and   the first inclined face of each of the pair of plungers is configured to slidingly engage with the inclined surface of a respective one of the detent cutouts.   
     
     
         11 . The retention mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein
 the internal thread in the cavity in the retainer block includes a male thread, and   the threaded outer surface of the retainer pin includes a female thread configured to engage with the male thread in the cavity.   
     
     
         12 . A tip sub-assembly comprising:
 a ground engaging tip configured to be attached to a work implement, the ground engaging tip including:
 a nose cavity defining a side wall; 
 a transverse hole disposed in the side wall; and 
   a retention mechanism, including:
 a retainer block including a cavity comprising at least one detent cutout; 
 a retainer pin configured for insertion in the cavity of the retainer block through the transverse hole; 
 an opening extending through the retainer pin; and 
 a spring-loaded dowel disposed in the opening and configured to engage with the at least one detent cutout. 
   
     
     
         13 . The tip sub-assembly of  claim 12 , wherein
 the cavity in the retainer block includes an internal thread, and   the retainer pin includes an external thread configured to engage with the internal thread.   
     
     
         14 . The tip sub-assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the retainer pin includes:
 a retainer pin head;   a retainer pin shank extending from the retainer pin head, the external thread being disposed on the retainer pin shank; and   a pocket extending into the retainer pin head, the pocket configured to receive a tool for rotating the retainer pin in the cavity of the retainer block.   
     
     
         15 . The tip sub-assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a depth of the pocket is smaller than a height of the retainer pin head. 
     
     
         16 . The tip sub-assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the spring-loaded dowel includes:
 a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end;   an annular recess extending from the first end to the second end;   a spring member disposed in the annular recess;   a first plunger slidingly received in the annular recess adjacent the first end, the first plunger being connected to one end of the spring member; and   a second plunger slidingly received in the annular recess adjacent the second end, the second plunger being connected to an opposite end of the spring member.   
     
     
         17 . The tip sub-assembly of  claim 16 , wherein
 the at least one detent cutout includes a pair of detent cutouts disposed diametrically opposite to each other, and   the first plunger and the second plunger are each configured to engage with a respective one of the pair of detent cutouts.   
     
     
         18 . A tip assembly, comprising:
 an adapter configured to be attached to a work implement, the adapter including:
 a nose; and 
 a cutout extending into the nose; 
   a ground engaging tip configured to be attached to the nose, the ground engaging tip including:
 a nose cavity configured to receive the nose, the nose cavity defining a side wall; and 
 a transverse hole disposed in the side wall; and 
   a retention mechanism, including:
 a retainer block including:
 at least a pair of outer faces disposed generally parallel to each other; 
 a plurality of angled outer surfaces disposed between the pair of outer faces; and 
 a cavity including an internal thread and a pair of detent cutouts disposed diametrically opposite to each other; 
 
 a retainer pin configured for insertion in the cavity of the retainer block, wherein the retainer pin comprises:
 a retainer pin head; 
 a retainer pin body extending axially from the retainer pin head, the retainer pin body including a threaded outer surface configured to engage with the internal thread in the cavity; and 
 an opening extending through the retainer pin; and 
 
 a spring-loaded dowel, including:
 an annular sleeve; 
 a pair of plungers slidingly insertable at opposite ends of the annular sleeve; and 
 a spring member disposed between and connected to the pair of plungers, wherein each of the pair of plungers is configured to engage with a respective one of the pair of detent cutouts. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The tip assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each of the pair of plungers includes:
 a plunger base configured to engage with the spring member; and   a plunger head extending from the plunger base, the plunger head including:
 a generally flat end face; 
 a first inclined surface extending from the plunger base to the end face; and 
 a second inclined surface extending from the plunger base to the end face, 
 wherein a first angle of inclination of the first inclined surface relative to a longitudinal axis of the spring-loaded dowel is smaller than a second angle of inclination of the second inclined surface relative to the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         20 . The tip assembly of  claim 19 , wherein
 each of the detent cutouts includes an inclined surface, and   the first inclined surface of each of the pair of plungers is configured to slidingly engage with the inclined surface of a respective one of the detent cutouts.