Wear member

Abstract

A wear member comprising: an upper leg having a ground engaging surface on an outer side thereof and a mounting surface on an inner side thereof, and a lower leg spaced apart from the upper leg and also having a ground engaging surface on an outer side thereof and a mounting surface on an inner side thereof, the mounting surfaces defining a mounting cavity therebetween and the legs meeting at a front portion, the upper leg defining (i) a lock aperture therein, (ii) a rear edge, and (iii) a lifting feature located adjacent to and between the lock aperture and the rear edge; the lifting feature defining (a) a front surface lower than the upper leg ground engaging surface and being inclined relative thereto, (b) a lower support surface opposite the front surface, and (c) a rear engaging surface extending between the front surface and the lower support surface and being recessed relative to the rear edge; wherein the front surface, lower support surface, and rear engaging surface provide a narrowed portion around which a lifting device may be located for relocating the wear member.

1 . A wear member comprising: an upper leg having a ground engaging surface on an outer side thereof and a mounting surface on an inner side thereof, and a lower leg spaced apart from the upper leg and also having a ground engaging surface on an outer side thereof and a mounting surface on an inner side thereof, the mounting surfaces defining a mounting cavity therebetween and the legs meeting at a front portion, the upper leg defining (i) a lock aperture therein, (ii) a rear edge, and (iii) a lifting feature located adjacent to and between the lock aperture and the rear edge; the lifting feature defining (a) a front surface lower than the upper leg ground engaging surface and being inclined relative thereto, (b) a lower support surface opposite the front surface, and (c) a rear engaging surface extending between the front surface and the lower support surface and being recessed relative to the rear edge; wherein the front surface, lower support surface, and rear engaging surface provide a narrowed portion around which a lifting device may be located for relocating the wear member. 
     
     
         2 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the narrowed portion is recessed relative to the upper leg ground engaging surface, the upper leg mounting surface, and the rear edge. 
     
     
         3 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the front surface defines a concave shape when viewed from above such that a central portion thereof is further from the lock aperture than side portions thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower support surface is inclined relative to the front surface, and diverges relative thereto, to provide a narrow edge near the lock aperture and an enlarged portion towards the rear edge. 
     
     
         5 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear engaging surface defines a concave shape such that a central portion thereof is further from the rear edge than side portions thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the front surface includes a wear indicator to indicate a wear level beyond which the lifting feature should not be used. 
     
     
         7 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the ground engaging surfaces on the outer sides of the upper and lower legs meet at a front edge on the front portion. 
     
     
         8 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the ground engaging surfaces comprise an abrasion resistant material. 
     
     
         9 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the wear member comprises a shroud. 
     
     
         10 . A wear member according to  claim 9 , wherein the rear engaging surface is spaced from a lip of a digging edge of an excavating machine when the shroud is mounted thereto. 
     
     
         11 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the lifting feature is generally centrally located rearwards of the lock aperture. 
     
     
         12 . A wear member according to  claim 1 , wherein the lifting feature defines a rounded leading edge at a junction of the lower support surface and the rear engaging surface to reduce the risk of a lifting device being damaged by the lifting feature. 
     
     
         13 . A wear assembly comprising: (i) a base; (ii) a wear member comprising an upper leg having a ground engaging surface on an outer side thereof and a mounting surface on an inner side thereof, the upper leg defining (a) a lock aperture therein, (b) a rear edge, and (c) a lifting feature located adjacent to and between the lock aperture and the rear edge; the lifting feature being recessed relative to the ground engaging surface, the mounting surface, and the rear edge; and (iii) a lock located within the lock aperture and operable to engage with both the base and a surface of the lock aperture to secure the wear member to the base. 
     
     
         14 . A wear assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the base defines a boss upstanding from an upper surface thereof, and the lock aperture is located rearwardly of the boss, so that the lock bears against a rear surface of the boss when located within the lock aperture. 
     
     
         15 . A wear assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the lifting feature defines (a) a front surface lower than the upper leg ground engaging surface and being inclined relative thereto, (b) a lower support surface opposite the front surface, and (c) a rear engaging surface extending between the front surface and the lower support surface and being recessed relative to the rear edge. 
     
     
         16 . A wear member comprising an outer ground engaging surface defining a lock aperture in which a lock may be located, and a lifting feature adjacent the lock aperture, the lifting feature comprising a narrowed portion recessed relative to: the outer ground engaging surface, an inner surface, and a rear edge of the wear member. 
     
     
         17 . A wear member according to  claim 16 , wherein the narrowed portion is located centrally and rearward of the lock aperture. 
     
     
         18 . A wear member according to  claim 16 , further comprising an upper leg defining (i) the ground engaging surface on an outer side thereof, (ii) the inner surface on an inner side thereof, and (iii) the rear edge. 
     
     
         19 . A wear member according to  claim 16 , wherein the lifting feature includes a wear indicator to indicate a wear level beyond which the lifting feature should not be used. 
     
     
         20 . A wear member according to  claim 19 , wherein the wear indicator comprises a geometrical shape recessed into a front surface of the lifting feature.