Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACK-DRAG BUCKET ACCESSORY
FIELD
[0001] The teaching disclosed herein relates to systems and methods
for
clearing material from a ground surface, and more particularly, to a bucket
mountable
to a loader and configured to operate in a back-dragging mode as well as a
forward
collection mode.
INTRODUCTION
[0002] U.S. Patent No. 6,240,660 (Dugas) teaches an attachment for
use with
snow handling equipment such as a snowplow blade or a wheel loader bucket or
similar implement. The attachment includes a plate pivotally mounted at each
end of
the implement and movable between a forwardly projecting horizontal deployed
position and a retracted position wherein the plate extends upwardly and does
not
interfere with normal operation of the implement. In the deployed position the
plate is
freely pivotal upwards and has a rounded front lower corner so that it can
readily ride
over curb stones and similar obstacles without damaging the mechanism.
According
to Dugas, the attachments have the effect of greatly increasing the snow
handling
capacity of the implement without significantly detracting from its normal
utilization.
[0003] PCT Patent Pub. No. W02021/087612 (Vigneault) describes a
scraper
blade device that is adjustable in width and can be used for cleaning a
roadway
surface. It includes a main transversal support and an elongated moldboard.
The
moldboard includes two partially overlapping elongated moldboard units. The
scraper
blade device also includes a plurality of blade segments that can be tilted
with
reference to one another to follow profile variations of the roadway surface.
According
to Vigneault, this allows the efficiency of the cleaning to be preserved even
when the
scraper blade device becomes very large when fully extended.
SUMMARY
[0004] The following summary is intended to introduce the reader to
various
aspects of the applicant's teaching, but not to define any invention.
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[0005] In one aspect, a bucket for a loader includes a main body
defining an
interior collection space for collecting material from a ground surface when
operating
the bucket in a forward collection mode. The interior collection space is
bounded at
least in part by a bottom wall having a front edge, a back wall extending
upward from
a rear edge of the bottom wall, and a pair of laterally spaced-apart side
walls. The
bottom wall and back wall each extend laterally between the side walls. The
bucket
further includes a pair of swing plates that are pivotably coupled to the main
body for
defining an exterior collection space for collecting material from the ground
surface
when operating the bucket in a back-dragging mode. Each swing plate is
pivotably
mounted to respective outboard sides of the main body at respective pivot
joints
located proximate the front edge of the bottom wall of the main body. Each
swing plate
has a swing plate lower edge that extends rearward from a lower edge front end
proximate and below the respective pivot joint, to a lower edge back end. Each
swing
plate has a swing plate top edge extending rearward from a top edge front end
proximate and above the respective pivot joint to a top edge back end. Each
swing
plate has a swing plate back edge extending between the lower edge back end
and
the top edge back end. Each swing plate is pivotable relative to the main body
between
a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the swing
plate lower
edge of the swing plate is generally flush with, or raised above, an outer
surface of the
bottom wall to facilitate aligning the bottom wall with the ground surface
when
operating the bucket in the forward collection mode. When in the second
position, the
swing plate protrudes (e.g. downwardly) past the outer surface of the bottom
wall for
aligning the swing plate lower edge with the ground surface when the bottom
wall is
inclined relative the ground surface and the front edge is moved backward
along the
ground surface when operating the bucket in a back-dragging mode, with
inwardly
directed faces of the swing plates cooperating with the outer surface of the
bottom
wall to partially enclose the exterior collection space opposite the interior
collection
space.
[0006] In some examples, when in the second position, the swing plate
top
edge of each swing plate remains above the outer surface of the bottom wall of
the
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main body when the swing plate is in, and moves between, the first and second
positions. In some examples, when the swing plate is in the second position, a
plate
upper marginal portion of the swing plate extending along the swing plate
upper edge
overlaps a sidewall lower marginal portion of the sidewall extending along the
sidewall
lower edge.
[0007] In some examples, the back wall may have a back wall upper
edge
spaced above the rear edge of the bottom wall and extending between the first
and
second sidewalls. In some examples, each sidewall has a sidewall upper edge
extending between the front edge of the bucket and the back wall upper edge.
In some
examples, when in the first position, the swing plate top edge of each swing
plate may
remain below the respective side wall upper edge when the swing plate is in,
and
moves between, the first and second positions.
[0008] In some examples, when in the first position, the swing plate
lower edge
may be generally aligned with or spaced above the outer surface of the bottom
wall.
[0009] In some examples, when viewed in side elevation, each side wall may
have a side wall periphery and each swing plate may have a swing plate
periphery
that is generally contained within the side wall periphery when the swing
plate is in the
first position to inhibit interference of the swing plate with operation of
the bucket in
the forward collection mode. In some examples, each swing plate is releasably
lockable in the first position.
[0010] In some examples, the bucket further comprises a rear guide
assembly
associated with each swing plate to facilitate holding the respective swing
plate in an
aligned position parallel to the side wall, each rear guide assembly may be
fixed to the
side wall near the side wall lower edge, and may have guide surfaces to
slidably
engage opposed contact surfaces of the swing plate near the swing plate back
edge
when the swing plate is in and moves between the first and second positions.
[0011] In some examples, each pivot joint may comprise a ball joint
to permit
temporary deflection of the swing plate out of the aligned position to a
deflected
position for preventing damage to the swing plate upon impact with an
obstacle,
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wherein a lower portion of the swing plate may be displaced laterally
outwardly away
from the main body when in the deflected position.
[0012] In some examples, the swing plate may be biased to the aligned
position.
[0013] In some examples, the rear guide assembly may include an elastomeric
torsion spring for biasing the swing plate to the aligned position.
[0014] In some examples, the bucket may further comprise a respective
lock
mounted to each side wall for releasably retaining the swing plate proximate
the
respective side wall and in the first position.
[0015] In some examples, each lock may comprise a pin translatable between
advanced and retracted positions along a lock axis oriented generally parallel
to the
side wall, the pin may engage a notch in the swing plate back edge when the
swing
plate is in the first position and the pin is in the advanced position.
[0016] In another aspect, a method of operating a loader with a
bucket to
remove material from a ground surface near a structure includes: a step (a) of
tilting
the bucket relative to the ground surface so that a bottom wall of the bucket
is inclined
relative to the ground surface and a front edge of the bottom wall is
proximate the
ground surface near the structure and the rear edge of the bottom wall is
raised above
the ground surface, the bucket having a first swing plate and a second swing
plate
pivotably coupled to opposite first and second sides of the bucket proximate
the front
edge, wherein tilting the bucket pivots each swing plate relative to the
bucket from a
first position, in which a swing plate lower edge of each swing plate is
generally aligned
with a lower surface of the bottom wall, to a second position, in which the
swing plate
lower edge of each swing plate is aligned with the ground surface and extends
rearwardly behind the lower surface of the bottom wall of the bucket.
[0017] The method further includes a step (b) of back-dragging the
tilted bucket
away from the structure, thereby gathering material from the ground surface in
an
exterior collection space defined by inwardly directed faces of the swing
plates and
the lower surface of the bottom wall of the bucket.
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[0018] The method further includes a step c) of releasing the
gathered material
from the exterior collection space in a gathered material zone, and a step d)
of
collecting the gathered material in an interior collection space of the bucket
by un-
tilting the bucket to align the bottom wall of the bucket with the ground
surface and
driving the loader in a forward direction toward the gathered material zone,
wherein
the swing plates pivot toward the first position relative to the bucket upon
un-tilting the
bucket relative to the ground surface.
[0019] In some examples, a gravitational force may act on the swing
plates to
urge the swing plates to pivot relative to the bucket to the second position
when the
bucket is tilted.
[0020] In some examples, step c) may comprise raising the bucket away
from
the ground surface.
[0021] In some examples, steps a) to d) may be repeated until a
desired
amount of the material has been removed from the ground surface.
[0022] In some examples, after the last performance of step c), the swing
plates
may be releasably locked in the first position to inhibit interference of the
swing plates
with subsequent operation of the bucket in a forward collection mode.
[0023] In some examples, steps a) to c) may be repeated multiple
times prior
to performing step d).
[0024] In some examples, step d) may be repeated multiple times after step
c).
DRAWINGS
[0025] For a better understanding of the described examples and to
show more
clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by
way of
example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a bucket in
accordance
with aspects of the teaching disclosed herein;
[0027] Figure 1A is an enlarged exploded view of a portion of the
bucket of
Figure 1;
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[0028] Figure 2 is a side view of the bucket of Figure 1, with a
swing plate shown
in the first position (in solid line) and in the second position (in phantom);
[0029] Figure 3 is a side view of the bucket of Figure 1, positioned
in a forward
collection mode with a swing plate proximate a first position;
[0030] Figure 4 is a side view of the bucket of Figure 1, positioned in a
back-
dragging collection mode with a swing plate proximate a second position;
[0031] Figure 5 is an upper rear perspective view of the bucket of
Figure 4;
[0032] Figure 6 is a side view of another example of a bucket mounted
to a
loader;
[0033] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the bucket of Figure 6;
[0034] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bucket of
Figure 7,
showing a swing plate of the bucket proximate a first position;
[0035] Figure 9 is a side view of the bucket of Figure 7, showing a
swing plate
of the bucket proximate a first position;
[0036] Figure 10 is a side view of the bucket of Figure 7 showing a swing
plate
proximate a second position;
[0037] Figure 11 is a front perspective view of a portion of the
bucket of Figure
10;
[0038] Figure 12A is a front view of a portion of the bucket Figure
11, showing
a swing plate proximate a second position and in a laterally aligned position;
[0039] Figure 12B is a front view of the portion of the bucket of
Figure 12A
showing the swing plate in a laterally outwardly deflected position;
[0040] Figure 12C is front view of the portion of the bucket of
Figure 12A
showing the swing plate in a laterally inwardly deflected position; and
[0041] Figure 13 is a flow chart fora method of operating a loader with a
bucket.
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[0042] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various
examples of
articles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the present
specification and
are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EXAMPLES
[0043] Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide
an
example of each claimed invention. No example described below limits any
claimed
invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or apparatuses that
differ
from those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to
apparatuses or
processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described
below
or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below.
It is
possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an example of any
claimed invention. Any invention disclosed in an apparatus or process
described
below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of
another
protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the
applicants,
inventors, or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the
public any
such invention by its disclosure in this document.
[0044] Referring to Figure 1, an example of a bucket 100 in
accordance with
one or more aspects of the teaching disclosed herein is illustrated. The
bucket 100 is
configured to be mounted to a loader. Examples of suitable loaders include,
but are
not limited to, front-end loaders, wheel loaders, track loaders, skid steers,
and tractors.
[0045] With reference also to Figure 3, in the example illustrated,
the bucket
100 has a main body 104 defining an interior collection space 106 (Fig. 1) for
collecting
material 108 (e.g., gravel, dirt, or snow) from a ground surface 110 (Fig. 3)
when
operating the bucket 100 in a forward collection mode. In the example
illustrated,
operating the bucket 100 in the forward collection mode includes driving the
bucket
100 in the forward direction (arrow 112) to urge material that is ahead of the
bucket
into the interior collection space 106.
[0046] In the example illustrated, the interior collection space 106
is bounded
at least in part by a bottom wall 116 extending between a front edge 120 and a
rear
edge 122, a back wall 124 which extends upwardly from the rear edge 122 of the
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bottom wall 116, and a pair of laterally space-apart side walls 126a, 126b.
The bottom
wall and back wall each extend laterally between the sidewalls (e.g. laterally
from the
right sidewall 126a to the left sidewall 126b). In the example illustrated,
the side walls
extend upwardly from respective lateral side edges 123a, 123b of the bottom
wall 116
and extend between the bottom wall and the back wall. The sidewalls 126a,
126b,
have respective sidewall upper edges 128a, 128b, and the back wall has a back
wall
upper edge 130. The back wall upper edge 130 extends between the sidewalls,
and
in the example illustrated, is generally parallel to the front edge 120. In
the example
illustrated, the sidewall upper edges 128a, 128b each extend between the back
wall
upper edge 130 and the front edge 120.
[0047] In the example illustrated, the front edge 120 of the bottom
wall 116
comprises a replaceable wear strip 132 that is removably secured to the bottom
wall
of the bucket 100. The bottom wall 116 has an outer (lower) surface 118, and
the outer
surface 118 may similarly comprise wear pads 134 (see Fig. 2) protruding away
from
the interior collection space 106.
[0048] In the example illustrated, the bucket 100 further includes a
pair of swing
plates 140a, 140b, each of which is pivotably coupled to a respective side of
the main
body 104 of the bucket 100 by a respective pivot joint 142a, 142b. The swing
plates
140a, 140b operate to at least partially enclose an exterior collection space
144 for
gathering material from the ground surface when operating the bucket 100 in a
back-
dragging mode, as described in greater detail subsequently herein.
[0049] In the example illustrated, the swing plate 140a (also called
right swing
plate 140a) is mounted adjacent the right sidewall 126a of the bucket main
body, and
the swing plate 140b (also called left swing plate 140b) is mounted adjacent
the left
sidewall 126b of the bucket main body 104. The right and left swing plates
140a, 140b
are, in the example illustrated, mirror images of each other, and in the
following
description of the swing plates, the features described for one swing plate
are common
to the other swing plate.
[0050] In the example illustrated, each swing plate 140a, 140b has a
swing
plate lower edge 146 that extends rearward from a lower edge front end 148 to
a lower
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edge back end 150. The lower edge front end 148 is, in the example
illustrated, near
and below the respective pivot joint 142. Each swing plate 140 has a swing
plate top
edge 152 that extends rearward from a top edge front end 154 to a top edge
back end
156. The top edge front end 154 is, in the example illustrated, near and above
the
respective pivot joint 142. Each swing plate 140 further has a swing plate
back edge
158 that extends between the lower edge back end 150 and the top edge back end
156 of the swing plate.
[0051] In the example illustrated, each swing plate 140a, 140b is
roughly
rectangular in shape, with each swing plate top edge 152 oriented generally
parallel
to the respective swing plate lower edge 146. The swing plate back edge 158
includes
a back edge upper portion 160 that is generally perpendicular to the top edge
152,
and an inclined lower portion 162 that slopes forwardly towards the pivot
joint 142 with
increasing distance from the swing plate top edge 152. The swing plate further
includes, in the example illustrated, a swing plate front edge 164 that
extends between
the lower edge front end 148 and the top edge front end 154. In the example
illustrated, the swing plate front edge 164 is inclined relative to the lower
and top edges
146, 152, sloping rearward with increasing distance from the swing plate lower
edge
146.
[0052] In the example illustrated, each swing plate includes a runner
166
.. extending along the swing plate lower edge 146. The runner 166 has a runner
width
(in the lateral direction) that is greater than the adjacent plate thickness
170 of the
swing plate adjacent the runner, and in the example illustrated, is between
about two
and about three times the adjacent plate thickness. In the example
illustrated, the
runner 166 also extends along the inclined lower portion 162 of the swing
plate back
edge 158.
[0053] Referring again to Figures 1 and 1A, each pivot joint 142
comprises a
pivot pin 172 that is rotatably received in a bushing 174, and pivotable about
a pivot
axis 175. The pivot axis 175 is, in the example illustrated, aligned with the
lateral
direction (generally parallel to the bucket front edge 120). In the example
illustrated,
the pivot pin 172 is generally cylindrical and is fixed to the respective
swing plate
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proximate the lower edge front end 148, and projects laterally inwardly toward
the
bucket main body 104. The bushing 174 is, in the example illustrated, fixed to
the
bucket main body 104 proximate the front edge 120. In the illustrated example,
the
bushing 174 is fixed to a respective sidewall 126a, 126b of the bucket. More
particularly, each sidewall 126a, 126b includes a leading projection 176, and
the
bushing 174 is fixed to the leading projection 176.
[0054] Each pivot joint 142 is, in the example illustrated, assembled
by
positioning an inner surface 178 of the swing plate in facing relation to an
outer surface
180 of the bucket sidewall 126, and inserting the pivot pin 172 into the
bushing 174.
A retainer is provided to prevent unwanted withdrawal of the pin from the
bushing. In
the example illustrated, the retainer comprises a cotter pin 182 and a washer
184.
[0055] With reference again to Figure 2, each swing plate 140a, 140b
is
pivotable relative to the main body 104 between a first position (shown in
solid line in
Fig. 2) and a second position (shown in phantom line in Fig. 2). When in the
first
position, the swing plate lower edge 146 is generally raised clear of the
lower surface
118 of the bucket bottom wall 116, such that the swing plate lower edge 146
does not
protrude past (below) the lower surface of the bucket. In the example
illustrated, the
lower edge 146 is optionally raised slightly above the bucket lower surface
118 when
in the first position. This is facilitated in the example illustrated by
providing a first
position in which the swing plate is rotated slightly upward (clockwise in Fig
2) about
the pivot axis 175 by about 2 degrees with respect to the horizontal.
Providing the
ability for each swing plate to move to a position in which the swing plate
generally
does not protrude downward past the outer surface 118 of the bottom wall 116
of the
bucket 100 facilitates positioning the bottom wall 116 proximate to, and in
parallel
alignment with, the ground surface 110 when operating the bucket 100 in the
forward
collection mode.
[0056] When in the second position, the swing plate lower edge 146
protrudes
past the lower surface 118 of the bucket bottom wall 116. In the example
illustrated,
this is facilitated by providing a second position in which the swing plate is
rotated
downward (counter-clockwise in Fig. 2) about the pivot axis 175 by between
about 35
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degrees and about 70 degrees with respect to a reference position (from the
horizontal
in Fig. 2). Providing the ability for each swing plate to move to a position
in which the
swing plate protrudes downward past the outer surface 118 of the bottom wall
116 of
the bucket 100 facilitates, for example, having the swing plates 140 function
as side
containment barriers when operating the bucket 100 in the back-dragging mode.
[0057] In the example illustrated, each swing plate 140 optionally
includes a
respective first position stop 190 coupled thereto for fixing the angular
position of the
swing plate relative to the main body 104 of the bucket 100 when the swing
plate is in
the first position. The first position stop 190 comprises a first contact
surface 192 in
generally fixed position relative to the swing plate for bearing against a
first abutment
surface 194 in generally fixed position relative to the main body 104 of the
bucket 100
when the swing plate is in the first position. When the swing plate is in the
second
position, the first contact surface 192 is spaced apart from the first
abutment surface
194.
[0058] Each swing plate 140 further comprises, in the example illustrated,
an
optional second position stop 200 coupled thereto for fixing the angular
position of the
swing plate relative to the bucket main body 104 when the swing plate is in
the second
position. The second position stop 200 comprises a second contact surface 202
in
generally fixed position relative to the swing plate for bearing against a
second
abutment surface 204 fixed to the bucket main body 104 when the swing plate is
in
the second position. In the example illustrated, the second contact surface
202
comprises an underside surface of a lug 206 that is fixed to the swing plate
and
extends laterally inwardly from the swing plate front edge 164. The second
abutment
surface 204 comprises, in the example illustrated, a portion of the sidewall
upper edge
128 that is laterally aligned with (laterally overlaps) the second contact
surface 202
(see also Fig, 1A). When the swing plate is in the second position, the second
contact
surface 202 (fixed to the swing plate) bears against the second abutment
surface 204
(fixed to the bucket main body), and further pivoting of the swing plate
relative to the
main body 104 in a direction away from the first position is inhibited. When
the swing
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plate is in the first position, the second contact surface 202 is spaced apart
from the
second abutment surface 204.
[0059] In the example illustrated, the first contact surface engages
the first
abutment surface upon pivoting the swing plate upward (clockwise in Fig. 2)
relative
to the main body 104 by about 2 degrees from the horizontal or reference
position (in
which the swing plate lower edge is parallel to the bottom wall 116).
Furthermore, in
the example illustrated, the second contact surface engages the second
abutment
surface upon pivoting the swing plate downward (counter-clockwise in Fig. 2)
relative
to the main body 104 by about 50 degrees from the horizontal or reference
position.
The total angular travel of swing plate when pivoting from one to the other of
the first
and second positions is, in the example illustrated, about 52 degrees.
[0060] In the example illustrated, each swing plate 140 is biased
toward the
second position by the force of gravity acting on the swing plate. For
example, in cases
where the bucket 100 is oriented to have its lower surface 118 generally
parallel to,
and spaced well above, the ground surface, the swing plate can pivot downward
(counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2) to the second position under the force
of
gravity acting on the swing plate 140. Lowering the bucket toward the ground
surface
can bring the swing plate lower edge 146 into contact with the ground surface,
causing
the swing plate to pivot upward (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2) toward the
first position.
In the example illustrated, the swing plate lower edge 146 is configured to be
aligned
with the ground surface 110 during material collection or gathering, and as
described
in greater detail subsequently herein, tilting and un-tilting the bucket 100
(with the
bucket front edge 120 positioned or repositioned proximate the ground surface)
can
similarly change the position of the swing plates relative to the bucket main
body 104
between the first and second positions.
[0061] In the example illustrated, the center of mass 210 of the
swing plate 140
remains rearward of the pivot axis 175 when the swing plate is moved into and
between the first and second positions. This can facilitate desired movement
of the
swing plates 140 between first and second positions upon adjusting the
position of the
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bucket 100, for example, when changing between forward collection and back-
dragging operations.
[0062] Referring to Figure 3, when operating the bucket 100 in the
forward
collection mode the front edge 120 of the bottom wall 116 is positioned
proximate the
ground surface 110 from which material 108 is to be collected. The term
"proximate
the ground surface" includes positioning the front edge 120 in engagement
with, or
slightly above, the ground surface 110. Engagement of the front edge 120 with
the
ground surface can facilitate clearing substantially all the material 108 from
the ground
surface, leaving the ground surface generally bare. Positioning the front edge
112
slightly about the ground surface may leave an acceptably thin layer of
material on the
ground surface, but can reduce the risk of damaging the ground surface (e.g.
by
forcefully scraping the front edge along the ground surface) and/or can reduce
the risk
of damaging the bucket (e.g. by running into asperities projecting slightly
upward from
the surface being cleared). The bottom wall 116 is, in the example
illustrated, aligned
generally parallel with the ground surface so that an outer surface 118 of the
bottom
wall 116, like the front edge 120, is proximate (i.e. engages or is positioned
slightly
above) the ground surface.
[0063] Still referring to Figure 3, when operating the bucket 100 in
the forward
collection mode, each swing plate is urged towards the respective first
position. In the
.. example illustrated, when the front edge 120 of the bucket 100 is
positioned proximate
the ground surface to be cleared, contact between at least a portion of the
swing plate
lower edge 146 and the ground surface urges the swing plate toward the first
position
relative to the bucket main body. Because the swing plates 140 are free to
pivot to a
first position in which the swing plates do not protrude past the lower
surface 118 of
the bucket bottom wall 116, the swing plates 140 do not interfere with
lowering the
bucket to the desired elevation relative to the ground surface.
[0064] With reference to Figure 4, when operating the bucket in the
back-
dragging mode, the bucket 100 is tilted to move the bucket bottom wall 116 to
an
inclined orientation relative to the ground surface 110, with the front edge
120
proximate the ground surface 110. The tilt angle at which the bottom wall 116
is
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inclined relative to the ground surface when the bucket is tilted is generally
equal to
or less than the angle by which the swing plate pivots downward relative to
the bucket
main body when moving from the reference position (from the horizontal in Fig.
2) to
the second position. In the example illustrated, the tilt angle is about 45
degrees.
[0065] Tilting the bucket 100 results in movement of the swing plates
relative
to the bucket main body, and in particular, pivoting of the swing plates away
from the
first position and toward the second position. Movement of the swing plate
relative to
the bucket main body 104 toward or into the second position can facilitate
aligning the
swing plate lower edge 146 with the ground surface when the bottom wall 116 is
inclined relative the ground surface (by the tilt angle) and the front edge
120 is moved
backward along the ground surface when operating the bucket in the back-
dragging
mode. In this way, the swing plates 140a, 140b function to partially enclose
an exterior
collection space 144 for more efficiently collecting material from the ground
surface
when operating the bucket 100 in a back-dragging mode. In the example
illustrated,
the inwardly directed sur1aces145a, 145b of the swing plates 140a, 140b
cooperate
with the outer (lower) surface 118 of the bottom wall 110 of the bucket main
body 104
to partially enclose the exterior collection space 144 positioned rearward of
bucket
bottom wall (see Fig. 5).
[0066] Back-dragging can be particularly useful when clearing
material from a
ground surface near a structure 208 (represented schematically in Fig. 4 as a
sectional
garage door). Attempting to collect the material near the structure 208 using
a forward
collection mode, either by advancing the bucket towards the structure (and
piling the
material against the structure) or by advancing the bucket parallel and as
close as
possible to the structure, can risk damaging the structure 208. Back-dragging,
on the
other hand, avoids these risks since the bucket can readily be positioned as
shown in
Fig. 4, with the front edge positioned (vertically) proximate the ground
surface, and
(horizontally) near the structure 208, with the bottom wall 116 inclined away
from the
ground surface. Once in this tilted position, the bucket 100 is moveable in
the
backward direction (arrow 138) to pull the material 108 away from the
structure 208.
The swing plates, having moved to or near the second position relative to the
bucket
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main body 104, can improve the efficiency of the back-dragging operation by
increasing the amount of material that can be gathered in the back-dragging
mode. In
the example illustrated, the swing plates 140a, 140b act as side barriers that
reduce
the amount of material that would otherwise spill past the sides of the
bucket, thereby
allowing for a greater amount of material to be collected by the bucket 100
(relative to
a bucket without swing plates) in the exterior collection space 144 when the
bucket
100 is operated in the back-dragging mode.
[0067] Referring now to Figure 6, another example of a bucket 1100 in
accordance with aspects of the teaching disclosed herein is shown mounted to a
track
loader 1102. The bucket 1100 has similarities to the bucket 100, and like
features are
identified with like reference numerals, incremented by 1000.
[0068] With reference also to Figure 7, In the example illustrated,
the bucket
1100 has a main body 1104 defining an interior collection space 1106 for
collecting
material 108 from a ground surface 110 when operating the bucket 1100 in a
forward
collection mode. The interior collection space 1106 is, in the example
illustrated,
bounded at least in part by a bottom wall 1116 having a front edge 1120, a
back wall
1124 which extends upwardly from the rear edge 1122 of the bottom wall, and a
pair
of laterally spaced-apart side walls 1126a, 1126b, the bottom wall and back
wall each
extending laterally between the side walls 1126a, 1126b. The sidewalls 1126a,
1126b,
have respective sidewall upper edges 1128a, 1128b, and the back wall has a
back
wall upper edge 1130.
[0069] The bucket 1100 is further provided with a pair of swing
plates 1140a,
1140b, each of which is pivotably coupled to a respective side of the main
body 1104
of the bucket 1100 by a respective pivot joint 142a, 142b. Each respective
pivot joint
is located proximate the front edge 1120 of the bottom wall 1116 of the main
body
1104. The swing plates 1140a, 1140b operate to at least partially enclose an
exterior
collection space 1144 for gathering material from the ground surface when
operating
the bucket in a back-dragging mode.
[0070] In the example illustrated, the swing plate 1140a (also called
right swing
plate 1140a) is mounted adjacent the right sidewall 1126a of the bucket main
body,
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and the swing plate 1140b (also called left swing plate 1140b) is mounted
adjacent
the left sidewall 1126b of the bucket main body. The right and left swing
plates 1140a,
1140b are, in the example illustrated, mirror images of each other, and in the
following
description the features are described for one swing plate (generically
referred to as
swing plate 1140), and apply in mirror image relation to both swing plates.
[0071] Referring now also to Figure 8, in the example illustrated,
each swing
plate 1140 has a swing plate lower edge 1146 extending rearward from a lower
edge
front end 1148 proximate and below the respective pivot joint 1142 to a lower
edge
back end 1150. Each swing plate 1140 has a swing plate top edge 1152 extending
rearward from a top edge front end 1154 proximate and above the respective
pivot
joint to a top edge back end 1156. Each swing plate 1140 further has a swing
plate
back edge 1158 extending between the lower edge back end 1150 and the top edge
back end 1156.
[0072] In the example illustrated, each swing plate 1140 is generally
wedge-
shaped or sector-shaped, with the swing plate lower edge 1146 and top edge
1152
converging in a forward direction (toward the pivot joint 1142) and diverging
from each
other away in a rearward direction (away from the pivot joint 1142).
Furthermore, in
the example illustrated, at least a substantial portion of the back edge 1154
is shaped
as an arc about the pivot axis 1175.
[0073] In the example illustrated, each swing plate 1140 includes a runner
1166
extending along the swing plate lower edge 1146. The runner 1166 has a runner
width
1168 (see Fig. 12A) that is greater than the adjacent plate thickness 1170 of
the swing
plate adjacent the runner, and in the example illustrated, the runner width
1168 is
between about two and about three times the adjacent plate thickness 1170.
[0074] In the example illustrated, each pivot joint 1142 comprises a ball
and
socket arrangement that provides pivotability of the swing plate 1140 about a
pivot
axis 1175 (Fig. 8, 12A) generally aligned with the lateral direction (i.e.
parallel to the
bucket front edge 1120), and that also provides movability of the swing plate
about
the joint 1142 in additional directions, for example to accommodate laterally
outward
and inward deflection of the swing plate 1140 when in or near the second
position
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(Figures 12B and 12C). More particularly, each pivot joint 1142 comprises a
pivot ball
1172 fixed to the sidewall of the bucket main body. The pivot ball 1172 has an
outer
spherical surface that is in sliding engagement with an inner spherical
surface of a
pivot bushing 1174. The inter-engagement of the mating spherical surfaces of
the
pivot ball 1172 and bushing 1174 inhibits separation of the pivot ball 1172
from the
bushing 1174. The pivot bushing 1174 is, in the example illustrated, secured
to the
swing plate 1140, at a position proximate and above the lower edge front end
1148 of
the swing plate.
[0075] With reference to Figures 8-11, each swing plate 1140 is
pivotable about
the pivot axis 1175 relative to the main body 1104 between a first position
(shown in
Figs. 8 and 9) and second position (shown in Figs. 10 and 11). When in the
first
position, the swing plate lower edge 1146 is generally raised clear of the
lower surface
1118 of the bucket bottom wall 1116, such that the swing plate lower edge 1146
does
not protrude past (below) the outer surface 1118 of the bucket. In the example
illustrated, swing plate lower edge is generally parallel to, and at the same
elevation
as, the lower surface 118 of the main body bottom wall 116. Providing the
ability for
each swing plate 1140 to move to a position in which the swing plate generally
does
not protrude downward past the outer surface 1118 of the bottom wall 1116 of
the
bucket 1100 facilitates positioning the bottom wall 1116 proximate to, and in
parallel
alignment with, the ground surface 110 when operating the bucket 1100 in the
forward
collection mode.
[0076] When in the second position, the swing plate lower edge 1146
protrudes
past the outer surface 1118 of the bucket bottom wall 1116. In the example
illustrated,
this is facilitated by providing a second position in which the swing plate is
rotated
downward (counter-clockwise in Fig. 10) about the pivot axis 1175 by between
about
degrees and about 70 degrees with respect to a reference position (from the
horizontal in Fig. 10). Providing the ability for each swing plate 1140 to
move to a
position in which the swing plate protrudes downward past the outer surface
1118 of
the bottom wall 1116 of the bucket 100 facilitates having the swing plates
1140
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function as side containment barriers when operating the bucket 1100 in the
back-
dragging mode.
[0077] In the example illustrated, when the swing plate 1140 is in
the first
position (Figs. 8 and 9), the swing plate upper edge 1152 is generally at
about the
same elevation as, or slightly below, the upper edge 1128 of the sidewall 1126
of the
bucket. In other words, the swing plate upper edge 1152 remains generally
below (the
sidewall upper edge 128 of the respective sidewall when the swing plate is in
and
moves between the first and second positions. This can help reduce the risk of
the
swing plates 1140 interfering with operation of the bucket 1100 in the forward
collection mode.
[0078] Additionally or alternatively, when viewed in side elevation
(e.g. Fig. 9),
each side wall 1126 has a side wall periphery, and each swing plate 1140 has a
swing
plate periphery that, in the example illustrated, does not protrude outward of
(is
generally contained within) the side wall periphery when the swing plates 1140
are in
the first position. This can help to inhibit interference of the swing plates
1140 with
operation of the bucket 1100 in the forward collection mode.
[0079] In the example illustrated, when in or near the second
position (e.g. Fig.
10), the top edge 1152 of the swing plate 1140 remains above the outer surface
1118
of the bottom wall 1116 of the bucket main body 1104. Additionally or
alternatively,
the top edge 1152 of the swing plate 1140 remains above the bottom edge 1129
of
the bucket sidewall 1126 when the swing plate is in or near the second
position. This
can help to avoid providing an open gap above the swing plate top edge 1152
through
which material being collected could otherwise escape during back-dragging
operation.
[0080] In the example illustrated, each swing plate 1140 optionally
includes a
first position stop 1190 (Fig. 9) coupled thereto for fixing the angular
position of the
swing plate relative to the bucket main body 1104 when the swing plate is in
the first
position. Each swing plate 1140 further includes, in the example illustrated,
an optional
second position stop 1200 (Fig, 10) for fixing the angular position of the
swing plate
relative to the bucket main body 1104 when the swing plate is in the second
position.
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[0081] In the example illustrated, the first position stop 1190
comprises a first
contact surface 1192 (depicted more clearly in Fig. 10) that is generally in
fixed
position relative to the swing plate, and a first abutment surface 1194 that
is generally
in fixed position relative to the bucket main body 1104. When the swing plate
is in the
first position, the first contact surface 1192 bears against the first
abutment surface
1194, and further pivoting of the swing plate about the pivot axis 1175 and
away from
the second position is inhibited. When the swing plate is in the second
position, the
first contact surface 1192 is spaced apart from the first abutment surface
1194.
[0082] In the example illustrated, the first and/or second positions
stops 1190,
1200 comprise an arcuate slot 1196 provided in swing plate and a stop pin 1198
coupled to the bucket main body 1104 and slidably received within the arcuate
slot
1196. In the example illustrated, the arcuate slot is provided near the swing
plate back
edge 1158, and is coaxial with the pivot axis 1175. The arcuate slot 1196
extends
between opposed closed ends, including a first (lower) closed end (e.g. at
1192) near
the swing plate lower edge 1146, and a second (upper) closed end (e.g. at
1202) near
the swing plate top edge 1152.
[0083] The stop pin 1198 is, in the example illustrated, fixed to a
bracket that is
mounted to a rear guide mechanism 1240 (described in greater details
subsequently
herein), and the rear guide mechanism 1240 is mounted to the bucket sidewall
1126.
The bracket includes a pair of flanges 1242, 1246 that are spaced apart from
each
other to receive a rear peripheral portion of the swing plate 1140 (fore and
aft of the
arcuate slot 1196) therebetween. The stop pin 1198, in the example
illustrated,
extends between and is fixed to the flanges 1242, 1246. The flanges hold the
stop pin
a generally lateral orientation (parallel to the bucket front edge 1120), and
in a
generally fixed position laterally outboard of the bucket sidewall 1126, near
the bucket
bottom wall 116 and spaced rearward of the pivot axis 1175 by an amount
generally
equal to the radius of the arcuate slot 1196. The rear guide mechanism allows
the
bracket/flanges (and stop pin secured thereto) to twist slightly about a
deflection axis
oriented generally parallel to the lower edge 1129 of the bucket sidewall
1126, and so
some movement (a twisting motion) of the stop pin 1198 relative to the bucket
sidewall
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1126 is possible. But this movement does not materially change the position of
the
stop pin 1198 relative to the bucket sidewall, so that notwithstanding such
twisting, the
stop pin 1198 is generally in fixed position relative to the bucket main body
1104.
[0084] Referring to Figures 9 & 10, in the example illustrated, the
stop pin 1198
passes through the slot 1196 generally perpendicular to the swing plate, and
slides
along the slot length (between closed ends) as the swing plate pivots about
the pivot
axis 1175. In the example illustrated, the first closed end of the arcuate
slot 1196
defines the first contact surface 1192, and a lower surface of the stop pin
1198 facing
towards the first closed end defines the first abutment surface 1194. The
second
closed end of the arcuate slot 1196 defines the second contact surface 1202,
and an
upper surface of the stop pin facing towards the second closed end defines the
second
abutment surface 1204.
[0085] Referring again to Figures 9 and 10, upwards rotation
(clockwise in Fig.
9) of the swing plate 1140 about the pivot axis 1175 brings the swing plate
into the
first position, with the first contact surface 1192 bearing against the first
abutment
surface 1194. In the example illustrated, the first position corresponds to
the reference
position in which the swing plate lower edge is parallel to the outer surface
1118 of
the bucket bottom wall 116 (i.e. parallel to the horizontal in Fig. 9).
Pivoting the swing
plate downward (counter-clockwise in Fig. 9) about the pivot axis 1175 brings
the
swing plate into the second position, with the second contact surface 1202
bearing
against the second abutment surface 1204 (see Fig. 10). The total angular
travel of
swing plate 1140 when pivoting from one to the other of the first and second
positions
is, in the example illustrated, about 45 degrees.
[0086] Referring again to Figure 8, the bucket 1100 includes, in the
example
illustrated, an optional lock 1220 mounted to each side of the bucket 1100 for
releasably retaining a respective swing plate 1140 in or near the first
position. Each
lock 1220 comprises a lock housing mounted to the respective sidewall and a
latch
movably supported by the housing. The lock housing is generally fixed in
position
relative to the bucket main body 1104, and the latch is movable relative to
the housing
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for engaging and disengaging the swing plate 1140 when the swing plate 1140 is
in
or near the first position.
[0087] In the example illustrated, the lock housing comprises a lock
support
plate 1222 disposed laterally outboard of the sidewall 1126, near the sidewall
lower
edge 1129 and spaced slightly rearward of the swing plate back edge 1158. The
latch
comprises, in the example illustrated, a pin 1224 coupled to the support plate
1222
and translatable relative to the support plate along a lock axis 1226. The pin
1224 is
translatable from a retracted position, in which the pin is retracted away
from the swing
plate back edge 1158, to an advanced position, in which the pin 1224 protrudes
forward past the travel envelope of the swing plate back edge 1158 and is
seated in
a lock notch 1228 provided in the swing plate back edge 1158.
[0088] In the example illustrated, the lock axis 1226 is oriented
generally
parallel to the side wall 1126 (i.e. the lock axis 1226 lies in a plane
parallel to, and
spaced laterally outboard of, the bucket sidewall 1126). This orientation can
help to
minimize the amount by which the lock 1220 protrudes laterally outwardly from
the
bucket main body 1104. In the example illustrated, the lock 1220 further
includes a
lock actuator in the form of knob 1230 to be grasped by a user for manually
moving
the lock between locked and unlocked positions.
[0089] Referring again to Figure 8, the bucket 1100 includes a pair
of optional
rear guide assemblies 1240 for guiding the movement and/or orientation of the
swing
plates 1140. In the example illustrated, one rear guide assembly 1240 is
mounted to
each bucket sidewall 1126a, 1126b for interacting with a respective swing
plate 1140a,
1140b.
[0090] In the example illustrated, each rear guide assembly 1240 is
configured
.. to facilitate holding the swing plate 1140 in an aligned position, in which
the swing
plate 1140 is oriented in a generally vertical plane, generally parallel to
the bucket
sidewall, and orthogonal to the pivot axis 1175. Holding the swing plates 1140
in the
aligned position can facilitate smooth movement of the swing plate as it moves
partially or fully between the first and second positions.
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[0091] In the example illustrated, the rear guide assembly 1240 is
mounted to
the bucket sidewall 1126, near the sidewall lower edge 1129 ??, and rearward
of the
swing plate edge 1158. The rear guide assembly 1240 includes, in the example
illustrated, a pair of forward protruding guide flanges spaced apart from each
other to
receive a rear peripheral portion of the swing plate adjacent the swing plate
back edge
1158 between the guide flanges. The guide flanges include an outer guide
flange 1242
having an outer guide flange engagement surface 1244 for sliding engagement
with
the swing plate outer surface 1147. The guide flanges further include an inner
guide
flange 1246 having an inner guide flange engagement surface 1248 facing
towards
the outer guide flange engagement surface 1244 and configured for sliding
engagement with the swing plate inner surface 1145.
[0092] In the example illustrated, the flanges 1242, 1246 are secured
along
rearward edges thereof to a base plate 1250. The base plate is mounted to a
guide
shaft that extends along a guide axis 1254. The guide axis 1254 is near-
parallel
relative to the sidewall lower edge 1129. In the example illustrated, the
guide axis
1254 intersects the pivot axis 1175, and is inclined upward (clockwise in Fig.
9) by a
guide angle 1256 in the range of about 2 degrees to about 8 degrees. In the
example
illustrated, the guide shaft 1252 is twistable about the guide axis 1254, to
accommodate outward deflection (Fig. 12B) and inward deflection (Fig. 12C) of
the
swing plate, relative to the neutral (vertically aligned position¨Fig. 12A)
intermediate
the outward and inward deflected positions. Accommodating inward and/or
outward
deflection of the swing plates 1140 can help reduce risk of damaging the swing
plates
in use, upon, for example, encountering an obstacle on the ground surface when
operating the bucket 100 in the back-dragging mode.
[0093] The rear guide mechanism further includes, in the example
illustrated,
an optional torsion spring to bias the swing plates to the neutral, aligned
position. In
the example illustrated, the torsion spring comprises an elastomeric torsion
spring
1258 disposed within a spring casing 1260, and coupled to the guide shaft
1252. In
the example illustrated, the spring casing 1260 is secured directly or
indirectly to the
bucket sidewall 1126.
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[0094] Referring now to FIG. 13, an example of a method 300 of
operating a
loader (e.g. loader 1102) with a bucket 100, 1100 having swing plates 140,
1140 to
remove material 108 from a ground surface 110 is depicted.
[0095] The method 300 includes a tilting step 302, in which the
bucket 100,
1100 is tilted relative to the ground surface 110 so that the bottom wall 116,
1116 of
the bucket 100, 1100 is inclined relative to the ground surface 110, with the
front edge
120, 1120 of the bucket positioned proximate the ground surface, and a rear
edge
122, 1122 of the bottom wall 116, 116 spaced further away from the ground
surface.
In the example illustrated, the tilting step 302 moves the swing plates 140a,
140b,
1140a, 1140b relative to the bucket toward the second position, such that the
swing
plates protrude past (and behind, in the example illustrated) the outer
surface 118,
1118 of the bottom wall 116, 1116 of the bucket.
[0096] The method 300 further includes, in the example illustrated, a
back-
dragging step 304 in which the tilted bucket, with the front edge 120, 1120
proximate
the ground surface, is moved in the backwards direction 138, away from, for
example,
a structure 208. During the back-dragging step, material on the ground surface
is
gathered in an exterior collection space 144, 1144 that is at least partially
enclosed in
an axial (travel) direction by the outer surface 118, 1118 of the bucket
bottom wall
116, 1116, and in the lateral direction by the opposed inboard faces 145a,
145b,
1145a, 1145b of the swing plates 140a, 140b, 1140a, 1140b.
[0097] The example method 300 further includes a releasing step 306,
in which
material that has been gathered in the exterior collection space 144, 1144
during back-
dragging is released from the exterior collection space, and in particular, is
released
in a material collection zone. In the example illustrated, the material
collection zone is
spaced away from the structure 208 a sufficient distance to provide access to
the
material in the material collection zone by the loader in a forward collection
mode. In
the example illustrated, releasing the material in step 306 includes raising
the bucket
away from the ground surface 110.
[0098] The method 300 further includes, in the example illustrated, a
collecting
step 308 in which the material in the material collection zone is collected in
the interior
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collection space 106 of the bucket 100. The collecting step 308 includes, in
the
example illustrated, un-tilting the bucket so that the bottom wall 116, 1116
is generally
parallel with, and proximate to, the ground surface, and advancing the bucket
towards
the material to urge the material into the interior collection space 106,
1106. Un-tilting
.. the bucket, including bringing the bucket bottom wall 116, 1116 into
alignment with,
and proximate to, the ground surface, causes movement of the swing plates 140,
1140
relative to the bucket toward the first position.
[0099] Depending on the desired volume of material to be removed from
the
ground surface near the structure, at least one of steps 302, 304, 306, and
308 may
be repeated multiple times. Further, at least one of steps 302, 304, 306, and
308 may
be repeated multiple times before performing another one of steps 302, 304,
306, and
308. For example, steps 302, 304, and 306 may be repeated multiple times
(i.e., any
number of back-dragging operations may be performed) before performing a
collecting step 308 (i.e., operating the bucket 100, 1100 in the forward
collection mode
to collect the material in the interior collection space 106, 1106). In some
examples,
the collecting step 308 may be repeated multiple times after completing step
306. In
the example method, the swing plates automatically move back and forth between
the
first and second positions when switching between the back-dragging step and
the
collecting step
[00100] Optionally, after the last performance of the releasing step 306,
the
swing plates may be releasably secured in the first position by a respective
lock 1220,
to inhibit interference of the swing plates 140, 1140 with subsequent
operation of the
bucket in a forward collection mode (e.g. during one or more subsequent
collecting
steps 308). In some examples, the lock 1220 may comprise a lock pin 1224 that
is
biased from a retracted position toward an advanced position to automatically
secure
the swing plates 140, 1140 in the first position when pivoted from the second
position
to the first position.
[00101] What has been described above is intended to be illustrative
of
examples of the teaching disclosed herein, without limiting the scope of
patent claims
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granted herefrom. The scope of such claims should be given the broadest
interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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