Rigging Pin Assembly and Components and Method of Installation Thereof

Abstract

A pin assembly with a guide extending from one end of the pin eases installation of the pin into the openings of components to be pivotally secured together. The lead can provide an engagement point for pulling the pin assembly into the opening of a component. The lead passes into the openings of components to be joined together aligns the component openings with an increasing diameter of the lead as the lead passes into and through apertures in the components to urge them into alignment. The pin assembly reduces the need for an operator to align the components manually.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pin assembly for securing components for excavating equipment together for pivotal movement, the components each having an aperture, the pin assembly comprising:
 a pin including (i) a central portion including a cylindrical exterior having a first thickness defined as the diameter of the cylindrical exterior, and opposite ends, and (ii) an end portion at a first end of the central portion including a connecting portion and a flange coupled together, the connecting portion extending outward from said first end of the main portion and having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, and the flange being spaced outward of the central portion and having a third thickness that is less than the first thickness and greater than the second thickness, wherein the flange and the central portion define a groove about the connecting portion; and   a retainer to secure the pin within aligned apertures of the components, the retainers including first and second members, at least one fastener to join the first and second members in the form of a ring, the first and second members including an inner portion to seat in the groove and an outer portion defining a recess radially outward of the inner portion to receive and hold the flange.   
     
     
         2 . The pin assembly of  claim 1  where an end portion at the second end of the central portion includes an integral collar of greater diameter than the aperture that limits axial movement of the pin in the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . A rigging pin assembly for pivotally connecting components together for a digging machine, each of the components including apertures, the pin assembly comprising a pin including a central portion to be received into the apertures and a pair of opposite ends, and a lead including a proximal end secured to one of the ends of the pin and a distal end projecting axially outward of the pin, the distal end being narrower than the proximal end to ease installation of the pin into the apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The pin assembly of  claim 3  wherein the lead gradually narrows from the proximate end to the distal end to guide the apertures into alignment to receive the pin. 
     
     
         5 . The pin assembly of  claim 3  wherein the lead includes a coupling for securing a pull line to advance the lead and the pin through the apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The pin assembly of  claim 3  wherein (i) the central portion has an exterior surface with a first diameter defining a first thickness, (ii) at least one end of the pin includes a flange with a second thickness that is less than the first thickness and a groove between the flange and the central portion, and (iii) the lead engages the groove and the flange to secure to the pin. 
     
     
         7 . The pin assembly of  claim 6  wherein the lead includes two half-bodies that are secured over the flange, and a sleeve received over the half-bodies to prevent separation of the half-bodies. 
     
     
         8 . The pin assembly of  claim 3  including a retainer securable to the end of the pin in place of the lead to prevent reverse movement of the pin through the apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The pin assembly of  claim 8  wherein the retainer extends radially outward farther than the central portion of the pin to oppose one of the components and limit axial movement of the pin. 
     
     
         10 . The pin assembly of  claim 8  wherein a second retainer is secured to the opposite end of the pin to oppose one of the components and limit axial movement of the pin. 
     
     
         11 . An elongate ferrule to be mounted to a pin for joining components together for excavating equipment, the ferrule comprises:
 first and second separable sections that together define a ferrule body with a cavity that receives and retains a flange on the end of the pin;   a tapered sleeve that receives a tapered surface of the ferrule body and limits separation of the ferrule sections; and   a retainer to limit separation of the sleeve and the body.   
     
     
         12 . A collar for limiting axial movement of a pin installed in a component for excavating equipment, the collar comprises a first collar portion with mating surfaces, and a second collar portion with mating surfaces, where the first collar portion assembles to the second collar portion at the mating surfaces to define a stepped opening with a first inside diameter corresponding to a recess of the pin and an adjacent larger diameter corresponding to a flange of the pin where the collar includes holes that receive fasteners in the first and second collar portions to maintain contact between the mating surfaces of the first and second collar portions. 
     
     
         13 . The collar of  claim 12  where surfaces of the collar portions facing away from the component are curved to shed cables passing over the component. 
     
     
         14 . A method for pivotally joining first and second components of digging machines, the method comprising securing a tapered lead having a wide end and a narrow end to an end of a pin with the wide end proximate the pin, inserting the narrow end of the lead into an aperture of one of the components, and advancing the lead and the pin behind the lead into and through the apertures in both the first and second components so the pin is in an installed position in each of the apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  where advancing the pin to the installed position advances the lead beyond the apertures. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  where the increasing diameter of the lead aligns the component openings as the lead passes into the openings. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  comprising securing the wide end of the lead over a reduced end of the pin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  comprising securing the wide end of the lead into a groove formed at an end of the pin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  comprising removing the lead when the pin is in the installed position and securing a collar to the pin where the lead was secured to prevent reverse movement of the pin through the apertures. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising securing a second collar to the opposite end of the pin to hold the pin in the apertures. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  comprising receiving the collars in recesses about each of the apertures when secured to the pin. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  where urging the pin into the openings includes pulling on the lead. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  where the lead includes a cavity that receives the end of the pin. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  where the cavity includes a rail that is received in a groove at the end of the pin. 
     
     
         25 . A rigging assembly comprising:
 a plurality of components for excavating equipment, each of the components including apertures;   a pin including a central portion to be received into the apertures and a pair of opposite ends; and   a lead including a proximal end secured to one of the ends of the pin and a distal end projecting axially outward of the pin, the distal end being narrower than the proximal end to ease installation of the pin into the apertures.   
     
     
         26 . The rigging assembly of  claim 25  wherein the lead gradually narrows from the proximate end to the distal end to guide the apertures into alignment to receive the pin. 
     
     
         27 . The rigging assembly of  claim 25  wherein the lead includes a coupling for securing a pull line to advance the lead and the pin through the apertures. 
     
     
         28 . The rigging assembly of  claim 25  wherein (i) the central portion has an exterior surface with a first diameter defining a first thickness, (ii) at least one end of the pin includes a flange with a second thickness that is less than the first thickness and a groove between the flange and the central portion, and (iii) the lead engages the groove and the flange to secure to the pin. 
     
     
         29 . The rigging assembly of  claim 25  including a retainer securable to the end of the pin in place of the lead to prevent reverse movement of the pin through the apertures. 
     
     
         30 . The rigging assembly of  claim 25  including retainer secured to the opposite end of the pin to oppose one of the components and limit axial movement of the pin.