Connector to facilitate lifting of wear parts
A lifting connector to facilitate the lifting of wear parts used on earthmoving equipment is mechanically secured to a hole in the wear part. The wear part has a latching formation to maintain the head of the connector in a preferred orientation so that it is in the proper service position for connecting the lifting connector to a lifting device. The wear part can be safely maneuvered onto and off of the earthmoving equipment while secured to the lifting device.
1. A wear part for use with earthmoving equipment, comprising,
a wearable surface,
a hole formed in the wear part,
a mounting configuration to mount the wear part on the earthmoving equipment, the mounting configuration being at least partly complementary in shape to that of a confronting mounting surface associated with the earthmoving equipment, and
a lifting connector mechanically attached to the wear part, the lifting connector having a head to facilitate connection with a lifting device and a base having a latching formation to releasably prevent the base from turning in the hole.
2. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lifting connector is shipped, stored, and installed as an integral unit with the wear part.
3. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the latching formation engages a corresponding latching formation in the wear part to hold the lifting connector in a proper service position.
4. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the latching formation of the base of the lifting connector has a latching tooth to engage the wear part to maintain the head in the proper service position.
5. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 including a collar inserted and held in the hole in the wear part, the collar having an opening for receiving the base.
6. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 including a collar insertable and releasably held in the hole in the wear part, the collar having an opening for receiving the base and a recess in the opening, and wherein the base includes a latching formation to engage the recess in the collar to releasably prevent movement of the base relative to the collar.
7. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lifting connector gives haptic and audible feedback once the connector is in a proper service position.
8. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the head is in the form of a ring.
9. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the base is a shank.
10. A wear part in accordance with claim 9 wherein the shank has threads to form a positive engagement with corresponding threads on the wear part.
11. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lifting connector is configured to support and facilitate lifting of the wear part free of other connections between the wear part and a lifting device.
12. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wear part is a point.
13. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wear part is an intermediate adapter.
14. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wear part is an adapter.
15. A wear part in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wear part is a shroud.