Wear Assembly Removal and Installation

Abstract

A process and tool for installing and removing various kinds of wear parts used with earth working equipment. The process and tool allows the operator to remove and install the wear parts at a safe distance so that the operator is physically remote from the potential risks of the removal and installation process. The tool may be manually operated via an operator or the tool may be a semi-automated or fully automated.

1 .- 132 . (canceled) 
     
     
         133 . A tool for removing a wear member secured to earth working equipment wherein the wear member has a mounting cavity to receive a base of the earth working equipment, the tool comprising:
 at least one auxiliary tool including a vibrator to apply a vibration to the wear member to ease disengagement of the wear member from the base;   a manipulator movably supporting the at least one auxiliary tool; and   a controller to direct movements of the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator so they cooperate to contact the vibrator with the wear member.   
     
     
         134 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  including a gripper to hold the wear member mounted on the earth working equipment, wherein the controller directs movements of the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator so they cooperate to hold and remove the wear member from the earth working equipment. 
     
     
         135 . A tool in accordance with  claim 134  wherein the gripper includes a pair of opposite arms that engage the side and rear surfaces of the wear member. 
     
     
         136 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  wherein the controller directs the movement of the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator to grip and hold a new wear member at a stowage location and install the new wear member on the earth working equipment. 
     
     
         137 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  including a mobile base to support and have the capability to move the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator to different locations including from a first location away from the earth working equipment with the wear member to a second location suitable for replacement of the wear member. 
     
     
         138 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  wherein the controller operates at least partially manually by a remote user. 
     
     
         139 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  wherein the controller includes a joystick operated by the remote user. 
     
     
         140 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  wherein the controller uses programmable logic to direct movements of the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator. 
     
     
         141 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  including a tool changer to secure different auxiliary tools to the manipulator. 
     
     
         142 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  wherein the at least one auxiliary tool moves a retainer securing the wear member to the earth working equipment to a position that permits release of the wear member from the earth working equipment, and the controller direct movements of the at least one auxiliary tool to release the retainer. 
     
     
         143 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  which includes a first sensor to receive information on the wear member from a second sensor in the wear member. 
     
     
         144 . A tool in accordance with  claim 133  which includes a first sensor to receive information on the wear member from a health monitoring system. 
     
     
         145 . A tool for removing a wear member secured to earth working equipment wherein the wear member has a mounting cavity to receive a base of the earth working equipment, the tool comprising:
 at least one auxiliary tool to apply vibration to the wear member to ease disengagement of the wear member from the base and to hold the wear member for removal;   a manipulator movably supporting the at least one auxiliary tool; and   a controller to direct movements of the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator so they cooperate to apply vibration to, hold, and remove the wear member from the earth working equipment.   
     
     
         146 . A tool in accordance with any  claim 145  wherein the controller directs the movement of the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator to grip and hold a new wear member at a stowage location and install the new wear member on the earth working equipment. 
     
     
         147 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  including a mobile base to support and have the capability to move the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator to different locations including from a first location away from the earth working equipment with the wear member to a second location suitable for replacement of the wear member. 
     
     
         148 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  wherein the controller operates at least partially manually by a remote user. 
     
     
         149 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  wherein the controller includes a joystick operated by the remote user. 
     
     
         150 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  wherein the controller uses programmable logic to direct movements of the at least one auxiliary tool and the manipulator. 
     
     
         151 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  including a tool changer to secure different auxiliary tools to the manipulator. 
     
     
         152 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  wherein the at least one auxiliary tool moves a retainer securing the wear member to the earth working equipment to a position that permits release of the wear member from the earth working equipment, and the controller direct movements of the at least one auxiliary tool to release the retainer. 
     
     
         153 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  which includes a first sensor to receive information on the wear member from a second sensor in the wear member. 
     
     
         154 . A tool in accordance with  claim 145  which includes a first sensor to receive information on the wear member from a health monitoring system.