EXCAVATING TOOTH WEAR INDICATOR AND METHOD

The present invention relates to an excavating tooth for construction machinery and a method for replacing an excavating tooth of construction machinery. The excavating tooth is provided with a working end and a mountable end. The mountable end defines a means for receiving an adaptor mounted on a work tool. The working end defines a bore. A wear indicator is located within the bore and provided with a length that is less than an unworn length of the working end and a color that visibly contrasts with a color of the working end. As the excavating tooth is worn down during use, the wear indicator becomes visible to provide a visual indication of the need to replace the excavating tooth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1depicts a construction work machine10according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the construction work machine10may be a loader11. Also shown, the construction work machine10is provided with at least one work tool15, which in the present embodiment is shown as a bucket16for excavating and/or moving a material, such as, for example, gravel or earth.

As shown inFIGS. 1-2B, the work tool15is provided with at least one excavating tooth assembly and preferably a plurality of excavating tooth assemblies, as at20. AsFIG. 2best illustrates, the excavating tooth assemblies20are each provided with an adaptor21and an excavating tooth25. According to one aspect of the present embodiment, the adaptor21functions as an interface that releasably secures the excavating tooth25to the work tool15.

As shown inFIG. 2, the adaptor21may be secured to the forward lower lip17of the work tool15. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the adaptor21may be secured to the work tool15in any suitable manner, but is preferably secured in a releasable manner that allows the adaptor21to be replaced, when worn or damaged, if necessary.

Also, shown inFIG. 3, the excavating tooth25is provided with means for receiving the adaptor21. In the present embodiment, the excavating tooth25is provided with a mountable end26that defines an internal adaptor receiving recess27that receives the adaptor21. While it is within the scope of the present embodiment to secure the excavating tooth25to the adaptor21in any fashion, as shown, a removable retaining pin35may releasably secure the excavating tooth25to the adaptor21.

Advantageously, the excavating tooth25of the present embodiment includes a wear indicator50that becomes visible as the excavating tooth25is worn down due to abrasive wear. In the present embodiment, the excavating tooth25is provided with a working end28that extends away from the adaptor21and the mountable end26. As shown, inFIGS. 3-5, the working end28defines a bore29that receives the wear indicator50, whereby the wear indicator50is located internally within the working end28.

As shown, inFIG. 4, the wear indicator50is provided with a length51that is less than an unworn length28aof the working end28of the tooth25. As shown inFIG. 5, the length51of the wear indicator50is greater than or equal to a worn length28bof the working end, Advantageously, as shown by a comparison ofFIGS. 4 and 5, as the working end28is worn down due to abrasive wear, the unworn length28aof the working end26is reduced to a worn length28band the wear indictor50becomes visible. Advantageously, the wear indictor50is provided with a color that contrasts with the color of the working end28. Accordingly, once visible, the wear indicator50provides a clear visual indication to an operator, for example, that the excavating tooth25should be replaced. Advantageously, the visual indication occurs before damage to the adaptor21can occur due to wear to the working end26of the excavating tooth25.

Within the scope of the present invention, the wear indicator50or50′ may be fabricated from any material that contrasts with the color of the working end28. By way of example, and not limitation, the wear indicator50may be fabricated from a metal, plastic, an epoxy. By way of another example, and not limitation, the wear indicator50′ may be fabricated from a colored flowable adhesive that hardens upon exposure to air and adheres to the outer surface29of the excavating tooth25.

Turning now toFIG. 6, an alternative embodiment similar to the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1-5is shown, except that a wear indicator50′ is a flowable material. As shown inFIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the wear indicator50′ flows out from the bore29as the working end28is worn down due to abrasive wear and the wear indictor50′ becomes visible. Advantageously, the wear indicator50′ may flow out from the bore and coat the outer surface25aof the excavating tooth25to provide a greater degree of visual indication. As shown, the inner end28aof the bore29may be plugged as at29bin order to prevent the wear indicator50′ from flowing into the adaptor receiving recess27or into the mountable end26.

The detailed descriptions of the above embodiments are not exhaustive descriptions of all embodiments contemplated by the inventors to be within the scope of the invention. The present description depicts specific examples to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these examples that fall within the scope of the invention, By way of example, and not limitation, althoughFIGS. 1-5show a small gap between the wear indicator50and the adaptor, as shown inFIG. 7, the wear indicator50may abut the adaptor21.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that certain elements of the above-described embodiments and examples may variously be combined or eliminated to create further embodiments, and such further embodiments fall within the scope and teachings of the invention. It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described embodiments may be combined in whole or in part to create additional embodiments within the scope and teachings of the invention. Thus, although specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is determined from the appended claims and equivalents thereof.