COMBINATION EXCAVATING BUCKET HAVING A RETRACTABLE TOOTH BAR

GODET D'EXCAVATION COMBINE COMPORTANT UNE BARRE A DENTS RETRACTABLE

English Abstract

The present invention is directed to a combination excavating bucket adapted for connection to a power driven excavating vehicle, the bucket comprising a transverse smooth cutting bar along its front bottom edge and a retractable tooth bar pivotally mounted to the lateral sides of said excavating bucket. The retractable tooth bar allows the bucket to be alternately used as tooth-edged bucket and a smooth- edged bucket.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un godet dexcavation combiné conçu pour être raccordé à un véhicule dexcavation à moteur, le godet comprenant une barre de coupe lisse transversale le long de son bord inférieur avant et une barre à dents rétractable montée pivotante sur les côtés latéraux dudit godet dexcavation. La barre à dents rétractable permet au godet dêtre utilisé en variante comme godet à bord de dent et godet à bord lisse.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A combination excavating bucket adapted for connection to a power driven
excavating vehicle, said bucket comprising a transverse smooth cutting bar
along
its front bottom edge, a retractable tooth bar pivotally mounted to lateral
sides of
said excavating bucket, said tooth bar comprising a plurality of teeth
extending
outwardly from said tooth bar, and pivot means for alternately moving said
tooth
bar between (a) a down, working, position wherein said tooth bar fits over
said
smooth cutting bar thereby permitting said bucket to function as a tooth-edged
bucket; and (b) an up, resting, position wherein said tooth bar is proximate
to a
rear top wall edge of said bucket away from said smooth cutting bar with said
plurality of teeth extending in a direction opposite said smooth cutting bar,
and
said smooth cutting bar is exposed thereby permitting said bucket to function
as a
smooth-edged bucket.
2. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein said pivot
means
comprises first and second pivot arms pivotally mounted to said bucket, a
first link
arm operably connecting said first pivot arm to said tooth bar and a second
link
arm operably connecting said second pivot arm to said tooth bar.
3. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 2, wherein said first
pivot
arm, said first link arm, said second pivot bar and said second link arm are
mounted to be move along inner opposed lateral sides of said excavating bucket
as
said tooth bar is moved between said down, working, position and said up
position.
4. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 2, wherein said pivot
means
further comprises a first hydraulic actuator operably connected to said first
pivot
arm and a second hydraulic actuator operably connected to said second pivot
arm.
5. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 4, wherein said first
hydraulic actuator comprises a first hydraulic cylinder and a first hydraulic
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cylinder rod, and said second hydraulic actuator comprises a second hydraulic
cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder rod.
6. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 5, wherein said first
hydraulic cylinder rod is pivotally connected to said first pivot arm and said
second hydraulic cylinder rod is pivotally connected to said second pivot arm.
7. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein said
excavating
bucket further comprises means for securing said tooth bar over said smooth
cutting bar in said down, working position.
8. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein said smooth
cutting bar and said tooth bar are adapted to provide a locking engagement
with
each other when said tooth bar is in said down, working position.
9. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 8, wherein said smooth
cutting bar has an outward facing V-shaped edge and wherein an inner edge of
said tooth bar has an inwardly facing V-shaped pocket for mating and providing
locking engagement with said V-shaped edge of said smooth cutting bar.
10. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein said power
driven
excavating vehicle is a skid steer, a loader, a backhoe, an excavator or a
tractor.
11. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 10, wherein said power
driven excavating vehicle is a skid steer.
12. A combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein in said up,
resting, position said tooth bar rests against said rear top wall edge of said
bucket.
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Description

CA 02837019 2013-12-23
COMBINATION EXCAVATING BUCKET HAVING A RETRACTABLE TOOTH BAR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a combination excavating bucket
having a retractable tooth bar, thereby enabling the excavating bucket to
function as
both a smooth-edged excavation bucket and a tooth-edged excavating bucket.
Description of Related Art
European Patent Publication No. EP1967655 discloses an excavator
bucket having a crushing mechanism comprised of a stationary part and a
movable
part which is drivingly connected with one or more hydraulic cylinders. The
described excavator bucket further includes a gripping mechanism, and is
therefore
said to be a three-in-one excavator bucket and crusher that optionally may be
used
for excavation, crushing or sorting work.
U.S. Patent No. 5,564,885 discloses a multipurpose work attachment
for a front-end loader of the type having hydraulically actuated frame arms
for
supporting and manipulating a work attachment at the front of the vehicle. The
work attachments includes a scoop or bucket in combination with a laterally
extending row of ripper teeth mounted along a lower edge of the bucket and
adapted fro hydraulic actuation between an upper stored position and a
downwardly extending deployed position for ripping earth upon vehicle movement
in a reverse direction.
U.S. Patent No. 6,810,610 discloses an edging device consisting of two
major components: an edge member or plate and means for attaching the edge
member to the bucket of an earth moving machine. The edge member is configured
to be detachably attached to the bucket, where the edge member has a leading
edge
for contacting the earth. The edge member is described as being easily and
quickly
bolted to the bucket for use in smoothing the ground surface, but also
removable
without damaging the bucket. The described "bolt-on edge system" is a ground
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CA 02837019 2013-12-23
engaging tool that is said to replace the practice of welding an edge to the
bucket
teeth of on earth moving equipment such as backhoes, loaders and excavators.
However, the aforementioned excavating buckets do not provide a
combination bucket that allows the operator of an excavating vehicle to easily
alternate between using the bucket as a smooth-edged excavating bucket and a
tooth-edged excavating bucket.
Thus, there exists a need for a combination excavating bucket which
allows the operator of an excavating vehicle to easily and quickly alternate
between
using the bucket as a smooth-edged excavating bucket and a tooth-edged
excavating
bucket. The present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a combination excavating bucket adapted
for
connection to a power driven excavating vehicle, said bucket comprising a
transverse smooth cutting bar along its front bottom edge, a retractable tooth
bar
pivotally mounted to the lateral sides of said excavating bucket, said tooth
bar
comprising a plurality of teeth extending outwardly from said tooth bar, and
pivot
means for alternately moving said tooth bar between (a) a down, working,
position
wherein said tooth bar fits over said smooth cutting bar thereby permitting
said
bucket to function as a tooth-edged bucket; and (b) an up, resting, position
wherein
said tooth bar is away from said smooth cutting bar and said smooth cutting
bar is
exposed thereby permitting said bucket to function as a smooth-edged bucket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those
set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the
following
detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, with
the
retractable tooth bar in a partially-extended position.
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CA 02837019 2013-12-23
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, with
the
retractable tooth bar in an up position.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, with
the
retractable tooth bar in a down position.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the parts of an embodiment of the present
invention.
In the following description of the invention similar reference
characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows combination excavating bucket 10 having a base 100,
rear wall 110 and lateral sides 120. Smooth cutting bar 105 runs along the
leading
edge of base 100. Tooth bar 130, shown here in a partially-extended position,
includes a plurality of teeth 135, and is pivotally connected to lateral sides
120 by
tooth bar side-arms 138. Link arms 160 connect tooth bar 130 to pivot arms
150,
which in turn are connected to hydraulic actuators 170 via hydraulic cylinder
rods
172. Pivot arms 150 are attached to opposite ends of rear wall top edge 140.
Hydraulic actuators 170 are connected to the posterior surface of rear wall
110 at
opposite ends. In operation, excavating bucket 10 is connected to an
excavating
vehicle (not shown) thereby allowing the driver of the vehicle to control the
position of tooth bar 130 by alternately moving hydraulic cylinder rods 172
between a retracted position (see FIG. 2) and an extended position (see FIG.
3).
Moving hydraulic cylinder rods 172 to a retracted position causes
tooth bar 130 to move to a retracted position, exposing smooth cutting bar
105, and
thereby allowing excavating bucket 10 to function as a smooth-edged excavating
bucket. Alternatively, moving hydraulic cylinder rods 172 to an extended
position
causes tooth bar 130 to be positioned over smooth cutting bar 105, thereby
allowing excavating bucket 10 to function as a tooth-edged excavating bucket.
Figure 2 shows combination excavating bucket 10 with tooth bar 130
in a retracted position. Hydraulic cylinder rods 172 are fully retracted
within
hydraulic cylinders 174 and therefore not visible. Smooth cutting bar 105 is
fully
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exposed, thereby allowing excavating bucket 10 to function as a smooth-edged
excavating bucket. In the fully retracted position tooth bar 130 may rest
against
rear wall top edge 140.
Figure 3 shows combination excavating bucket 10 with tooth bar 130
in a fully-extended position, such that tooth bar 130 fits over smooth cutting
bar
105. Thus, smooth cutting bar 105 is not visible. Hydraulic cylinder rods 172
are
fully extended and therefore visible. With tooth bar 130 fitting over smooth
edge
bar 105 and therefore forming the leading edge of base 110, excavating bucket
10
functions as a tooth-edged excavating bucket.
Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of combination excavating
bucket 10 having base 100, rear wall 110, later sides 120, rear wall top edge
140
pivot arm hinge lugs 152 and one of hydraulic actuator lugs 175. Also shown is
tooth bar 130 having tooth bar arms 138 and tooth bar hinge pins 139. Link
arms
160 are secured to tooth bar arms 138 and pivot arms 150 by link arm hinge
pins
164 and link arm hinge pins 162, respectively. Pivot arms hinge pins 154
secure
pivot arms 150 to pivot arm hinge lugs 152, which in turn are secured at
opposite
ends of rear wall top edge 140. Hydraulic actuator hinge pins 176 secure
hydraulic
actuators 170 to pivot arms 150. Hydraulic actuators 170 are secured to the
posterior surface of rear wall 110 at opposite ends via hydraulic actuator
lugs 175
using hydraulic actuator hinge pins 178.
In certain embodiments the combination excavating bucket of the
present invention includes means for securing the tooth bar over the smooth
cutting
such that the tooth bar is not displaced during use thereof in a digging
operation.
For example, in one embodiment the smooth cutting bar and the tooth bar are
adapted to provide a locking engagement with each other when the tooth bar is
in
said down, working position. In one such embodiment, the smooth cutting bar
has
an outward facing V-shaped edge and the inner edge of the tooth bar has an
inwardly facing V-shaped pocket for mating and providing locking engagement
with
the V-shaped edge of said smooth cutting bar.
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The combination excavating bucket of the present invention is adapted for
connection to a power driven excavating vehicle such as a skid steer, a
loader, a
backhoe, an excavator or a tractor. In one embodiment the combination
excavating
bucket of the present invention is adapted for connection to a skid steer.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and
described herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that the
invention is
not limited thereto. Modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art,
particularly in light of the foregoing teachings, without deviating from the
spirit and
scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by
the
appended claims.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-09

Representative Drawing