Tooth for compactor vehicle and associated method

1. A tooth for a compactor vehicle, the tooth comprising a base and a cap;

wherein the base comprises:

a body defining an underside, configured to engage a wheel of the compactor vehicle, and an opposing cap-facing side; and

a first retention feature;

wherein the cap comprises:

an outer surface defining a compaction surface; and

a second retention feature;

wherein the first and second retention features interlock with one another to secure the cap to the base and prevent the cap from separating from the base; and

wherein a cavity is defined in the underside of the base.

2. The tooth according to claim 1 , wherein the cavity is bound by a peripheral edge which extends around the underside of the base.

3. The tooth according to claim 1 , wherein the cavity is generally cuboidal.

4. The tooth according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:

a first portion, which defines at least the underside; and

a second portion, which extends from the first portion and generally tapers in a direction moving away from the underside.

5. The tooth according to claim 4 , wherein the cavity extends through at least a majority of the first portion of the base.

6. The tooth according to claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises one or more recesses, the one or more recesses extending between the cavity and the cap-facing side.

7. The tooth according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more recesses are generally trapezoidal.

8. The tooth according to claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises an attachment portion which projects from the cap-facing side.

9. The tooth according to claim 8 , wherein the attachment portion defines the first retention feature.

10. The tooth according to claim 9 , wherein the first retention feature comprises an aperture which extends through the attachment portion.

11. The tooth according to claim 10 , wherein a land of material is defined between the cap-facing side and a lowermost point of the aperture.

12. The tooth according to claim 10 , wherein the aperture is a generally arcuate aperture.

13. The tooth according to claim 1 , wherein one or more buttresses extend between the attachment portion and the cap-facing side.

14. The tooth according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a lip which extends around a peripheral edge of the cap-facing side.

15. A method of manufacturing a tooth for a compactor vehicle, wherein the tooth comprises a base and a cap;

wherein the base comprises:

a body defining an underside, configured to engage a wheel of the compactor vehicle, and an opposing cap-facing side; and

a first retention feature;

wherein the cap comprises:

an outer surface defining a compaction surface; and

a second retention feature;

wherein a cavity is defined in the underside of the base;

the method comprising:

casting the base using a first molten metal material;

casting the cap onto at least the cap-facing side of the base using a second molten metal material;

wherein the first and second retention features interlock with one another to secure the cap to the base whilst the second molten material is at least partly molten; and

wherein the second molten metal material is substantially prevented from entering the cavity.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the second molten metal material is substantially prevented from entering the cavity by a blocking element such as a pattern or core.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the base further comprises one or more recesses, the one or more recesses extending between the cavity and the cap-facing side; and

wherein the second molten metal material flows through the one or more recesses to secure the cap to the base.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the first retention feature comprises an aperture which extends through the attachment portion; and

wherein the second molten metal material flows through the aperture of the attachment portion to secure the cap to the base.

19. A base for a compactor vehicle tooth, the base comprising:

a body defining an underside, configured to engage a wheel of a compactor vehicle, and an opposing cap-facing side, the body comprising a cavity defined in the underside; and

an attachment portion which projects from the cap-facing side of the base and comprises a generally arcuate aperture;

wherein the generally arcuate aperture extends through the attachment portion and is configured to interlock with a retention feature of a cap; and

wherein the body further comprises one or more recesses which extend from the cap-facing side to the cavity and generally increase in cross-sectional area from the cap-facing side towards the cavity.