Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
"COMBINATION EXCAVATING BUCKET HAVING A
RETRACTABLE TOOTH ARM"
FIELD
The present disclosure is in the field of 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.
BACKGROUND
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. Pat. 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 from
hydraulic actuation between an upper stored position and a downwardly
extending
deployed position for ripping earth upon vehicle movement in a reverse
direction.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-10-27
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U.S. Pat. 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 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.
SUMMARY
A combination excavating bucket adapted for connection to a power
driven excavating vehicle, comprises a bucket comprising a transverse smooth
cutting bar along its front bottom edge. A retractable tooth bar is pivotally
mounted
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to inner opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket, wherein the tooth bar
comprises a plurality of teeth extending outwardly from the tooth bar. A pivot
means
alternately moves the tooth bar between i) a fully-extended position, wherein
the
tooth bar fits over the smooth cutting bar thereby permitting the bucket to
function
as a tooth-edged bucket; and ii) a fully-retracted position, wherein the tooth
bar is
retracted away from the smooth cutting bar. The smooth cutting bar is exposed
thereby permitting the bucket to function as a smooth-edged bucket. The pivot
means comprises first and second pivot arms pivotally mounted to the bucket, a
first
link arm operably connecting the first pivot arm to the tooth bar and a second
link
arm operably connecting the second pivot arm to the tooth bar along the inner
opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket. The first link arm and second
link
arm are operably guided with a first and a second guide ring plate along the
inner
opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment disclosed herein,
with the retractable tooth bar in a down position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view according to Fig. 1, with the retractable
tooth bar in a partially-extended position;
Figure 3 is a perspective view according to Fig. 1, with the retractable
tooth bar in an up position;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the parts of an embodiment according
to Fig. 1;
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Figure 5A is an exploded view of a tooth bar side-arms and a link arm
according to Fig. 1;
Figure 5B is a view of a tooth bar side-arm 138 and a link arm 160 of
an embodiment according to Fig. 1; and
Figure 6A is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment; and
Figure 6B is a back view according to Fig. 6A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The following is a detailed description of certain specific embodiments
of the combination excavating buckets disclosed herein. In this description
reference is made to the drawings.
In one aspect, disclosed herein is a combination excavating bucket
adapted for connection to a power driven excavating vehicle, comprising: a)
bucket
comprising a transverse smooth cutting bar along its front bottom edge, b) a
retractable tooth bar pivotally mounted to inner opposed lateral sides of the
excavating bucket, wherein the tooth bar comprises a plurality of teeth
extending
outwardly from the tooth bar, and a pivot means for alternately moving the
tooth bar
between i) a fully-extended position, wherein the tooth bar fits over the
smooth
cutting bar thereby permitting the bucket to function as a tooth-edged bucket;
and ii)
a fully-retracted position, wherein the tooth bar is retracted away from the
smooth
cutting bar and the smooth cutting bar is exposed thereby permitting the
bucket to
function as a smooth-edged bucket, wherein the pivot means comprises first and
second pivot arms pivotally mounted to the bucket, a first link arm operably
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connecting the first pivot arm to the tooth bar and a second link arm operably
connecting the second pivot arm to the tooth bar along the inner opposed
lateral
sides of the excavating bucket, and wherein the first link arm and second link
arm
are operably guided with a first and a second guide ring plate along the inner
opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket.
Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows combination excavating bucket
100 having a base 102, rear wall 110 and lateral sides 120. Smooth cutting bar
105
runs along the leading edge of base 102. Thus, smooth cutting bar 105 is not
visible. Tooth bar 130, shown here in a fully-extended position, includes a
plurality
of teeth 135, and is pivotally connected to the inner portion of 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. Hydraulic cylinder rods 172 are fully retracted within hydraulic
cylinders 174
and therefore not visible. 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 some embodiments, the pivot means further
comprises a first hydraulic actuator operably connected to the first pivot arm
and a
second hydraulic actuator operably connected to the second pivot arm. In some
embodiments, the first hydraulic actuator comprises a first hydraulic cylinder
and a
first hydraulic cylinder rod, and the second hydraulic actuator comprises a
second
hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder rod. In some embodiments,
the
first hydraulic cylinder rod is pivotally connected to the first pivot arm and
the
second hydraulic cylinder rod is pivotally connected to the second pivot arm.
In
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operation, excavating bucket 200 is connected to an excavating vehicle,
thereby
allowing the driver of the vehicle to control the position of tooth bar 130 by
alternately moving hydraulic cylinder rods 172 between a fully-retracted
position
(See FIG. 3) and an partially-extended position (See FIG. 2).
FIG. 2 shows combination excavating bucket 200 having a base 102,
rear wall 110 and lateral sides 120. Smooth cutting bar 105 runs along the
leading
edge of base 102. Tooth bar 130, shown here in a partially-extended position,
includes a plurality of teeth 135, and is pivotally connected to the inner
portion of
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.
FIG. 3 shows combination excavating bucket 300 with tooth bar 130 in
a fully-retracted position. Hydraulic cylinder rods 172 are fully-extended and
are
therefore visible. Smooth cutting bar 105 is fully exposed, thereby allowing
excavating bucket 300 to function as a smooth-edged excavating bucket. In the
fully-retracted position tooth bar 130 may rest against rear wall top edge
140. In
some embodiments, the combination excavating bucket adapted for connection to
a
power driven excavating vehicle further comprises that an angle of rotation
from the
fully-extended position to the fully-retracted position is about 163 degrees.
Moving hydraulic cylinder rods 172 to a retracted position causes
tooth bar 130 to be positioned over smooth cutting bar 105, thereby allowing
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excavating bucket 100 to function as a tooth-edged excavating bucket. Moving
hydraulic cylinder rods 172 to a fully-extended position causes tooth bar 130
to
move to a fully-retracted position, exposing smooth cutting bar 105, and
thereby
allowing excavating bucket 300 to function as a smooth-edged excavating
bucket.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the components of the
combination excavating bucket 400 having base 102, rear wall 110, later sides
120,
rear wall top edge 140 pivot arm hinge lugs 152 and one of the two hydraulic
actuator lugs 175. Also shown is tooth bar 130 having tooth bar arms 138 and
tooth
bar hinge pins 164. Link arms 160 are secured to tooth bar arms 138 and pivot
arms 150 by link arm hinge pins 139 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 two hydraulic actuator lugs 175 using hydraulic actuator hinge pins 178.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show an exploded and side view of embodiments of
the combination excavating bucket 500 and 600, respectively. The combination
excavating bucket 500 having tooth bar arms 138 and Link arms 160. Link arms
160
are connected to tooth bar arms 138 via hinge pins 139, mounting plate 501,
and
bolts 504 and washers 503. Tooth bar arms 138 are pivotally affixed to the
later
sides 120 via hinge pins 164 and mounted on a grooved underside portion of
tooth
bar arms 138 via of which in turn are connected to hydraulic actuators 170 via
pivot
plate 502 with bolts 504 and waters 503. In operation, the tooth bar arms 138
of
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excavating bucket 100 in the fully-extended position as shown with FIG. 5B is
guided by guide ring plates 104.
As depicted with FIGS. 1 and 5B, the combination excavating bucket
100 and 600 shows a notch of tooth bar arms 138 atop the flat portion of guide
ring
plates 104, which affords a secured position when the excavating bucket 100 is
in
the fully-extended position. During operation, the excavating bucket 100 in
the fully-
extended position moves to the fully-retracted position as shown with
excavating
bucket 300 with tooth bar arms 138 at a bottom portion of the guide ring
plates 104
as depicted with FIG. 3.
In some embodiments, the excavating bucket further comprises
means for securing the tooth bar over the smooth cutting bar in the fully-
extended
position. In some embodiments, the smooth cutting bar and the tooth bar are
adapted to provide a locking engagement with each other when the tooth bar is
in
the fully-extended position. In certain embodiments taught herein the
combination
excavating bucket 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, fully-extended 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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Figs. 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of the the combination
excavating bucket
The combination excavating bucket according to embodiments taught
herein 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 is adapted for connection to a skid steer.
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless
otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, percentages or
proportions,
and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be
understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about."
Accordingly,
unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the
following
specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending
upon
the desired properties sought to be obtained. It is noted that, as used in
this
specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and
"the,"
include plural references unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one
referent.
As used herein, the term "include" and its grammatical variants are intended
to be
non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion
of other like
items that can be substituted or added to the listed items. As used herein,
the term
"comprising" means including elements or steps that are identified following
that
term, but any such elements or steps are not exhaustive, and an embodiment can
include other elements or steps.
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As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all
purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges
disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and
combinations
of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as
sufficiently
describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal
halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each
range
discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third
and
upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all
language
such as "up to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," and the like,
include the
number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into
subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in
the
art, a range includes each individual member.
While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it
should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in
accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the
technology in its
broader aspects as defined in the following claims.
The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular
embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations
can
be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to
those
skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and devices within the
scope of
the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to
those
skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and
variations
are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present
disclosure
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is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full
scope
of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that
this
disclosure is not limited to particular methods or devices, which can of
course vary.
It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the
purpose of
describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.
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