Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND O:F THE INVENTIOhI
The present Invention relates t:o imprc:wements to the grapple bucket of a
tractor, such as
a Bobcat.TM. or Caterpillar.TM., or the like, which allows the bucket to be
used for all
types of earth moving, cutting, demolition, and similar activities. :In the
instant Invention,
sturdy metal dozen plates are secured by welding to the grapple forks of the
Bucket. In an
alternate embodiment side plates are halted to the bucket to increase the
Bucket capacity.
The present Invention provides improveme~~tts in ~~rapple bucket design which
make the
bucket and tractor more versatile, able to perform functians that normally
require at least
several different options such as a doer blade, grapple bucket, and scoop
bucket.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present Invention, which will be described
subsequently in
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved bucket ~,;rapple or grapple
bucket for a
tractor which increases the versatility of a tractor. A grapple bucket is task
limited due to
its design. The forks have very small surface which limits use of that option
(grapple
bucket) to the loading of objects that can be grasped.
More specifically the Demo-Dozen attachments to the standard grapple bucket
change the
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bucket to a versatile option that can perform a great variety of tasks that
were not possible
with the grapple bucket alone. In the preferred embodiment of this Invention
the tractor is
equipped with a bucket which has two (~,) hydraulically operated twin fork
grapples. The
grapples work independently. Without the attachments of the present Invention,
the
bucket cannot act as a dozen or demolitioxn tool.
The Demo-Dozen attachments are comprised of a rectangular, resilient, steel
plate and
angle iron which is backed by a separate rectangular steel plate which extends
the full
length of the angle iron. Separate Demo-T>ozer attachments are secured to each
pair of
grapple forks. In the prefcarred embadi:merat, the Demo-Dozen attachments are
secured to
the grapple fork by welding, however, other equivalent means for securing the
Demo-
Dozen attachments are considwed appropriate. As designed, the angle iron
portion of
each Dema-Dozen attacluT~ent unit extends beyond the grapple forks by about 6
inches to
create hooking implements. This feature allows the operator to hook and pull
objects.
In operation the Demo-Dozen pertiarms like the f ngertips of a hand closing
allowing the
operator to pick up very small objects indivi~-lually or in large groups. With
the Demo-
Dozen attachments, the tractor operator can grab a section of fence and lift
it out of the
ground in one motion, fence posts, concrete anchors, aid all. With the Demo-
Dozen
attachments, the tractor and modified bucket grapple can efficiently break up
and remove
concrete and asphalt. The modified bucket grapple work well as a bulldozer and
scrapex
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to level the ground, to push dirt for backfilling holes, trenches or to push
dirt into piles.
The extended angle iron of the: attachments can hook and uproot trees or
shrubs and hook
and pull down structures.
There has thus been outlined rather broadly the important features of the
present
Invention in order that the more detailed description thereof that follows may
be better
understood and in order that the present contributions may be better
appreciated. There
are, of course, additional features of the Invention that will be described
hereafter plus
other embodiments all of which will form the subject matter of the claims
appended
hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which
this disclosure
is based may readily be utilized as a basis for carrying out the several
purposes of the
present Invention. It is important, that the claims be regarded as including;
such
equivalent construction so far as they do not depart fiom the spirit and scope
of the
present Invention.
As such it is an object to provide attachments to a dapple bucket or bucket
grapple which
improve the versatility of the bucket to allow bulldozinu, scraping,
dEnnolition, and
scooping and lifting loose objects.
It is another object of the present Invention to increase the versatility of a
grapple bucket
or bucket grapple such that the single unit can do the work of multiple
buckets or blade
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attachments.
It is another object of the present Invention to increase the versatility of a
grapple bucket
or bucket grapple such that the single unit can do the work of multiple bucket
or blade
attachments.
It is a still further object of the present Invention to reduce the cast of
use of a tractor by
reducing the number of blade or bucket attachments it must use and reducing
the
downtime and labor costs to change such attachments.
IO
These together with other objects of the Invention along with features of
novelty which
characterize the Invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims
annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. I~'ar a better understanding of the
Invention, its operative
advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be
had to the
IS accompanying drawings, and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated
preferred
embodiments of the Invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWTNGS
20 FIG. I presents in perspective 'views a tractor with a grapple bucket as it
exists in the
prior art.
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FIG. 2 presents in perspective view a tractor with a grapple bucket to which
the :Demo-
Dozen attachments are secured.
FIGS. 3A and 3B presents a perspective view of the Demo-Dozen attaclunents for
left and
right grapples with overlying angle iron attached.
FIG. 4 presents a perspective view of the tractor with Derno-Dozen attachments
installed
in use bulldozing earth.
FIG. 5 presents a perspective view of the tractor with Demo-Dozen attachments
installed
uprooting a tree.
FIG. 6 presents a perspective ~~iew of the tractor with Demo-Dozen attachments
installed
l5 tearing out a steel fence.
FIG. 7 presents a perspective view of the tractor with Demo-Dozen attachments
installed
grabbling and lifting a large boulder.
FIG. 8 presents a perspective view of the tractor with both the Demo-Dozen
attachments
and the side plates of the second embodiment installed as it lit~s and
transports a load of
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loose material.
FIG. 9 presents the pair of side plate attachments which when bolted in place
increase the
volume of the grapple bucket.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMI3lJDIl~!IEl'~1'T
The present Invention presents modifications to a grapple bucket or bucket
grapple that is
an optional attaclunent for a bucket or scoop loader tractor. The
modifications greatly
increase the versatility of the bucket and tractor, and increase the range of
jobs the tractor
can perform. In essence, the Derno-Dozer attachment takes a very limited task
grapple
bucket and turns the grapple bucket into a mufti-task bucket. The modified
bucket
eliminates the need to buy separate task specific buckets for each job, and it
reduces the
need and cost to transport more than one bucket to a job site.
In the preferred embodiment 10, the grapple bucket of a standard grapple
bucket, as
shown in the prior art, drawing of FIG. 1 is modified by the installation of
the Demo-
Dozer attachment of the present Invention. The standard grapple bucket 12 is
pivotally
attached to the spaced lift arms 14 of a tractor. The bucket is rotated by a
hydraulic tilt
cylinder that is pivotally connected to the rear wall c~f the bucket 12. Two
grapples, 16
and 18, each of which is comprised of a pair of spaced forks 20 are pivotally
attached for
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independent rotary movement at the tap of the rear wall of the bucket 12. The
grapples 16
and 18 are independently activated by hydraulic cylinders. Two ~2) Derna-Dozer
attachments, as shown in FIG. 3, are utilized. separate Demo-Dozer attachments
are
secured to the forks 20 of each grapple l ti and 18, by welding. The Demo-
Dozer
attachments 22 and 24 are comprised of upper plates 26 and 28 and lawE~r
plates 30 and
32 which are welded to the spaced forks c:rf the grapples 16 and 18. The upper
plates 26
and 28 are 3/8 inch thick steel rectangles that are welded across the forks 20
of the
grapples 16 and 18. The outer edges c>f the plates 26 and 28 extend beyond the
forks 20.
At the midpoint of the bucket 12, a gap remains between the edges of the
plates 26 and
28.
The upper edge of each of the lower plates 30 and 32 abut the lower edges of
the upper
plates 26 and 28. The lower plates 30 and 32 are elongated rectangles of 1/2
inch steel
plate. The lower plates 30 and 32 extend from alignment with the central edge
of the
upper plates to the inner side walls of the bucket 12, Uverlying and welded to
the lower
plates 30 and 32 are sections of ll4 inch angle irc>ra :.i4 and 36 which are
cut to the same
rectangular dimensions as the plates 30 azjd 32.
The standard grapple bucket 12 shown in FIG. 1 does not competently scoop and
carry
loose materials, such as soil, gravel, or the like. The second embodiment of
present
Invention, as shown in FIG. 8 incorporates the. Demo-Dozer attachment as
previously
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!~
described and a set <>f side plates 40 bolted in place at each side of the
grapple bucket to
increase the capacity of the bucket.
In operation, the grapple bucket 12 with the Demo-Dozer attachment installed
acts almost
S like the fingers of a hand closing, allowing the operator to pick up very
small ob3ects,
individually or many at crne tine as a result of' the surface area presented
by the Demo-
Dozer across the entire lip of the bucket 12. 'the tractor as shown in FIG. 4
can operate as
a bulldozer utilizing the Demo-Dozer attachment. 'V~Jith the grapples fully
closed, the
tractor can move heavy masses of earth in :f=ront of it to clear debris and
:level the ground.
The grapple bucket with the Demo-Dc>zer attachment can also make fairly
precise cuts.
As an example, with the grapples closed and the bucket rotated forward, the
operator can
make a 2 inch cut without gouging.
The tractor with grapple bucket and Demo-Dozer attachment as shown in FIG. 5
can
reach over or around a tree with one grapple working independently, grab the
tree and
pull it out by the roots. And as shown in FICi. 6, the tractor with Demo-Dozer
equipped
grapple bucket can easily remove chain link fences with metal posts set in
concrete. The
operator can operate the grapples independently, reaching over and around the
posts, and
pulling them over. The outer E~ inches of the lower plate or bar on each side
of the
grapples extends to the edge of the bucket. 'T'i~ese extensions allow the
operator with the
grapples opened to hook around trees, posts or studs and pull the objects
over. The
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extensions allow the operator to rip arid tear objects wrAen doing demolition
work FIG. 7
illustrates the use of the Iaemo-Dozer equipped grapple bucket to grab, pick
up, and carry
a boulder. One of the grapples is opened and closed independently to clutch
the boulder
and move it to a desired location.
FIG. 8 illustrates the second embodiment with the Demo-Dozer attachments
installed on
the forks of the grapples and a pair of' side plates 40 bolted in place. The
operator has
scooped and held a bucket full of loose material such as gavel or loose earth
and is ready
to deli ver the load to a desired location.
While the Invention has been described with reference to the specific
err~bodirnents
described, those descriptions are only illustrative and are not to be
construed as limiting
the Invention. With respect to the above descriptions, then, it is to be
realized that the
optional relationships far the parts of the Ir~ventiorr include various in
size, materials,
shape, configurations, form, function, power, energy, and manner of~operations
assembly
and use and are deemed readily apparent and obvious to thane skilled in the
art and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in
the
specifications are intended to be encompassed by the present Invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the
Invention. Further, since numerous modifications arrcl changes will readily
occur to those
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spilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the Invention tc~ the exact
consl:ruction and
operation shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be considered to be within the scope of the Invention.
