Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~3~7~
POWER BUCKET
Back~round of the Inventlon
I. Field of the Invention
_ . . .
, The present invention relates to power shovels for
~ loading and unloading cargo.
~ II. Descriptlon of the Prior Art
r~
O The previously known clam shell buckets of the type
used with power shovels typically comprise a pair of bucket
halves which are pivotally secured adjacent their upper end.
The upper end of the bucket is also known as the bucket
~ nhead" and this head is connected by a cable to a power
mechanism which raises and lowers the bucket. Additionally,
. a closure cable extends through the head and is secured to
w the bucket halves for moving the bucket halves between their
open and closed positions.
o ~ primary disadvantage of these previously known
z buckets is that the buckets are made of a cast construction.
The cast construction is not only expensive to manufacture
but also significantly increases the overall weight of the
bucket. This, in ~urn, reduces the overall cargo capacity
Q 0~ the bucket since the capacity of the power shovel is
determined not only by the weight of the cargo within the
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bucket, but also the weight of the bucket itself. For
example, if the power winch for raising the bucket is
I capable of lifting 15 tons and the bucket itself weighs 5
tons, then only 10 tons of cargo can be lifted by the power
n shovel.
w One reason for the excessive weight of these
previously known scoops or buckets for power shovels is that
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the head is cast as a one-piece construction with at least
one of the bucket halves so that the extra metal between the
head and the bucket half significantly increases the overall
weight oE the b~cket. Additionally, a cast construction is
0 typically relatively thick which also increases the overall
~ weight of the bucket.
_
A still further disadvantage of these previously
known buckets for power shovels is that the vol~me carrying
~ capability of the shovel remains fixed even though the
~ density or weight per volume of the cargo varies.
s Consequently, for particularly dense cargo, overloading of
O the power winch mechanism can occur when the bucket becomes
fully loaded.
' A still urther disadvantage of these previously
~ known clam shell buckets for power shovels is that, due to
3 the weight of the head, the bucket is top heavy when placed
3 in an at rest position on the ground. This in turn can
N result in capsizing of the clam shell bucket.
Summary of the Present Invention
, The present invention provides a bucket for a power
O shovel which overcomes all the above mentioned disadvantages
æ of the previously known devices.
In brief, tbe bucket of the present invention
c comprises a first bucket half and a second bucket half
~ wherein each bucket half has a top, a closed bottom, spaced
apart front and back walls, a closed outside wall and an
O open inside. The bucket halves are preerably secured at
-their tops so that the bucket halves are movable between an
open and a closed position. In their open position, the
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open inside of the bucket halves engage the cargo while, in
their closed position, the open insides of the bucket halves
register with each other so that the cargo is contained
3 within the bucket.
5 ~ Unlike the previously known buckets for power
ID
shovels, however, the head for the bucket of the present
invention is not secured directly to one of the bucket
halves. Instead, the head of the present invention is
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~ disposed above the bucket halves and is secured to the
l~ ~ bucket halves by four cables. Two cables extend to the
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outside corners of one bucket half and, similarly, the other
two cables extend to the outside corners of the other bucket
half. The cables, which are much lighter than an integral
metal construction, effectively decrease the overall weight
~ of the bucket for a given cargo carrying capability~
A closure cable also extends through the head and
O is secured to both bucket halves. The closure cable, when
retracted, causes the bucket halves to moYe from their open
and to their closed position. Conversely, the normal weight
of the bucket halves urges the bucket from its closed and
towards it open position.
2 ~ Unlike the previously known buckets, the present
invention comprises a welded steel construction. Such a
:
construction is much less expensive not only in fabrication
~ costs but is also lighter in overall weight.
Additionally, the present invention includes a
~o number of removable panels in the walls of the bucket
halves. These panels are used to vary the volume of cargo
carr/ing c pabi1ity of the bucket hali. For example, the
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volume of cargo which can be carried by the bucket is
maximized when the panels close the openings in the bucket
halves. Conversely, with the panels removed, excess cargo
~ within the bucket merely flows outwardly through the
^ openings thereby reducing the volume of cargo which can be
o carried by the bucket.
I Brief DescriPtion of the Dra_ing
-
A better understanding of the present invention
z will be had upon reference to the following detailed
~ description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
~ drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like
0
parts throughout the several views, and in which:
~ FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the
a
~ preferred embodiment of the invention;
15 FIG. 2 is a side diagrammatic view illustrating the
operation of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the preferred embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the
~ closure mechanism and
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~ ~ FIG. 5 is perspective view of a panel for use with
tc
~ ~ the present invention.
Q
O Detailed Description of a Preferred
Embodiment_of the Present Invention
2~ With reference first to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred
embodiment of the bucket 11 for a power shovel is thereshown
and comprises two bucket -halves 10 and 12. The bucket
halves 10 and 12 are movable between an open position,
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illustrated in phantom line in FIG. 2, and a closed
position, illustrated in solid line in FIG. 2 in a fashion
which will be subsequently described in greater detail.
Each bucket half 10 or 12 is substantially
~ identical to the other and comprises a top 14, a closed
bottom wall 16, a closed outside end wall 18, a front wall
20 and a rear wall 22. The inside 24 of each bucket half 10
_ and 12, however, is open so that, when the bucket halves 10
and 12 are moved to their closed position, the bucket scoops
~ cargo into the interior of the bucket 10 and the insides 24
O. of the bucket halves 10 and 12 register with each other.
~ Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, the bucket
,.,
~ halves 10 and 12 are pivotally secured together at their top
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by an elongated cylindrical bearing 28 which extends through
3 registering journals on the bucket halves 10 and 12.
$
2 ~referably, the cylindrical bearing 2B is tubular in
w construction thereby minimizing the weight of th~ bearing
~ connection.
o
~ The bucket halves 10 and 12 are constructed of a
~ welded steel construction consisting of plates, supports,
etc., which are welded together to orm the bucket halves 10
z and 12. This construction not only minimizes the cost and
r.
z wei~ht of the bucket 11 in comparison with the previously
` ~
c known cast constructions, but also reduces the fabrication
;~ ~ 25 I time necessary to construct the bucket 11.
: ¢
~ ~ Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a head 34 is
Ir
disposed above the bucket halves 10 and 12 by a distance at
least as great as the overall height of the bucket halves 10
and 12. Two cables 36 and 38 are secured to the outside
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corners 4~ and 42 of one bucket half 12 while, similarly,
two further cables 44 and 46 are secured to the outside
corners 48 (only one shown) of the other bucket half 10.
These cables 36, 38, 44 and 46 are preferably constructed of
steel and serve to support the bucket halves 10 and 12 from
the head 34. The head 34, in turn, is connected by a cable
52 to the power winch ~not shown) of the power shovel.
Consequently, the bucket 10 is raised or lowered in unison
with the head 34.
0 I A closure cable 54 (FIG. 1) is slidably mounted to
the head 34, extends around a pulley 56 mounted to one
bucket half 10 around a second pulley 55 on the other bucket
half 12 and is then secured in any conventional fashion,
such as a pulley 57 to a s~pport 58 on the other bucket half
10. Consequently, as the cable 54 i9 raised with respect to
the head 34, the closure cable ~4 forces ~he bucket halves
:, 2
; z 10 and 12 from their open and to their closed position thus
scooping cargo into the interior of the bucket 10 in the
desired fashion.
20 ~ O~ Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a dual closure
cable 54i can be used în lieu of the single cable 54. The
, ~
J doal closure cable differs from the single closure cable 54
illustrated in the drawing by substituting a pulley 57 for
the support 58 and then re~urning the closure cable 54
~ around the pulleys 55 and 56 through the head 34 and back to
the winch utilized to close the power shovel.
4 With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 5, a plurality of
openings 60 are provided in each bucke~ half 10 and 12.
These openings are adapted to removably receive panels 62.
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The panels 62, together with the openings, serve to ad~st
the volume carrying capability of the bucket 11. For
example, with the panels 62 removed, cargo which is scooped
into the interior of the bucket 11 above the level of the
opening 60 simply flows out through the opening 60 so that
the cargo fills the bucket 11 only to the lower edge of the
o opening 60. Conversely, with ~he panels 62 placed in the
opening 60, cargo can fill the entire interior of the bucket
~ hereby effectively increasing the volwme of the bucket
z 11. This is particularly useful for cargo which has a
m relatively low density.
w From the foregoing, it can be seen that the bucket
of the present invention achieves several advantages over
~ the previously known buckets for power shovels. One
~ advantage is that, since the head 34 is connected to the
bucket halves 10 and 12 by the relatively lightwei~ht cables
0 36, 38, 44 and 46, the overall weight of the bucket 10 is
N
considerably less than a comparable size bucket of equal
volume capability. Consequently, with the same power
~ shovel, greater loads can be carried by the bucket 11 of the
present invention.
A still further advantage of the present invention
is that, since the cables-extending between the head and the
bucket halves are connected to the outside corners of the
~ bucket halves, the weight of the bucket halves 10 and 12
o
urge the bucket 11 to the open position. This eliminates
O the need for any counterweights of the bucket thereby
;~ further reducing ~he overall weight of the bucket.
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A still further advantage of the present invention
is its provision for welded steel construction as opposed to
the cast construction for the previously known buckets. The
welded steel construction of the present invention is not
~ only lighter in weight and less expensive in construction
~D
~ than the previously known cast buckets, but may also be
o constructed more rapidly than the previously known cast
buckets.
Lastly, the present inven~ion is advantageous in
I
0 5 that it enjoys a relatively low center of gravity since the
m head 3~ and cables 36~ 38, 44 and 46 are relatively
N
~ lightweight in construction with respect to the bucket
: ~ halves 10 and 12. Thus, when the bucket is in an open
c position and resting on the ground, it will not capsize.
15Having described my invention, however, many
o
~: modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled
~N in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the
spirit o~ the invention as defined by the scope of the
: , appended claims.
20 : ~ I claim:
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