IP Library Granted Patent US 11,401,686
Granted Patent B2
US 11,401,686 · App. 15/710,694 · Granted Aug 2, 2022

Pin assembly

Inventors: Christopher E. Grewell (Portland, OR); Lee A. Zimmerman (Portland, OR)
Assignee: ESCO Group LLC
E02F9/006E02F3/58F16C11/04F16C11/045F16C2226/62F16C2350/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,401,686
App. No.
15/710,694
Granted
Aug 2, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pin for pivotally connecting two components together is received in aligned openings of the two components. One end of the pin has a head of reduced dimension to be received in a correspondingly-shaped opening in one of the components. Axial movement of the pin in the openings is limited by a lock that engages the head of the pin.

Claims (16)

1. A rigging assembly for earth working equipment comprising:

a pin having a body of circular cross-section and uniform dimension extending from one end of the pin to a head having a non-circular cross-section and a reduced dimension relative to the body, the head extending outward from the body of the pin to an opposite end of the pin and including a retaining formation to receive a lock;

a first component includes two arms, one of the arms includes a first opening and the other arm includes a third opening coaxially aligned with the first opening and a transverse opening communicating with the third opening for receiving the lock, wherein the lock is movable in the transverse opening to engage the pin, the third opening having a first portion to receive the body of the pin and a second portion with a reduced thickness as compared to the thickness of the first opening and the first portion of the third opening that receives the reduced dimension of the head to resist rotation of the pin relative to the first component;

a second component to be received between the arms and includes a second opening, wherein the first, second and third openings receive the pin with the second component between the first and third openings; and

a lock movably received within the transverse opening of the first component between a released position and a locked position in which the lock engages the retaining formation of the head to prevent removal of the pin from the first and second components.

2. A rigging assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second and third openings each has a cylindrical shape, and the third opening has a cylindrical portion between the reduced portion and the second component.

3. A rigging assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the head includes oppositely-facing, flat bearing surfaces to define the reduced dimension and contact corresponding surfaces in the third opening.

4. A rigging assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the retaining formation is a hole being transverse to at least one of the oppositely facing bearing surfaces.

5. A rigging assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein bushings are received in each of the first and third openings to receive the pin.

6. A rigging assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the head includes oppositely-facing, flat bearing surfaces to define the reduced dimension thickness therebetween that is less than the thickness of the pin body.

7. A rigging assembly for earth working equipment comprising:

a pin including a body with a circular cross section extending from a proximal end of the pin to a head, the head having spaced planar sides defining a reduced thickness extending outward to a distal end of the pin, wherein at least one of the spaced planar sides includes a lock hole transverse to at least one of the spaced sides;

a first component comprising a body including a pair of arms each having one of a pair of coaxially aligned openings for receiving the pin, to couple the body of the pin to at least one other part, one of the openings including a first portion to receive the body of the pin and a second portion formed as a slot with spaced planar sides with a reduced thickness as compared to the thickness of the other opening and the first portion of the opening to matingly receive the spaced sides of the head to resist rotation of the pin relative to the first component, and a hole extending transverse to and communicating with the second portion of the opening, wherein when the pair of openings receive the pin the lock hole aligns with the hole in the first component; and

a hammerless lock movably secured in the hole in the first component to engage the lock hole on the head of the pin to retain the pin in the opening and which is adjustable from a locked position to a released position permitting installation and removal of the pin into and from the opening without removal of the lock.

8. A rigging assembly in accordance with claim 7 including a bushing in each said opening of the body.

9. A rigging assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein the spaced sides of the slot are parallel.

Assignments (1)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 17, 2018
From: ESCO CORPORATION; ESCO GROUP LLC
To: ESCO GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 046848/0493 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62397686 · Sep 21, 2016
Related Publication 20180080195A1 · Mar 22, 2018
Cited By (4)
US 12,297,083 US 12,304,778 US 12,421,085 US 12,630,398