Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
WO 2022/094693
PCT/CA2021/051480
TI LT BUCKET ASSEMBLY FOR AN EXCAVATOR
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to buckets for
excavators, and more
specifically, to hydraulic tilt bucket assemblies for excavators.
Background
[0002] Excavators may be equipped with several different types
of implements to
perform different tasks at a work site. For instance, excavators may be
equipped with a
tilting implement, sometimes referred to as a tilt bucket or a tilt bucket
assembly, to
perform tasks where it is advantageous for a bottom edge of the bucket of the
excavator
to be angled, such as but not limited to ditch cleaning and sloping or grading
surfaces.
[0003] Current tilt bucket assemblies for excavators are
designed to improve the
ease with which material may enter the bucket or be dumped from the bucket,
but
generally do not take into consideration the need to protect the hydraulic
cylinders, lines,
or tubing that connect to the bucket assembly from the excavator and provide
for the
bucket of the assembly to tilt relative to an arm of the excavator.
[0004] Hydraulic cylinders, lines and/or tubing are typically
exposed to the
environment in which the implement is being used, including but not limited to
deep holes
and other ground recesses, and therefore prone to damage. Damage to hydraulic
cylinders, lines and/or tubing is a concern for operators and owners of
excavators as they
can be difficult and expensive to fix and damage thereto can lead to
significant down time
for the excavator.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for improved tilt bucket
assemblies that
overcome one or more of these problems.
Summary
[0006] In accordance with a broad aspect, a tilt bucket assembly
for an excavator
is described herein. The tilt bucket assembly includes a bucket having first
and second
coupling flanges spaced apart from each other. The first and second coupling
flanges
extend upwardly from a top wall of the bucket and extend laterally between
first and
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second side plates of the bucket to define a compartment therebetween. The
first coupling
flange defines a front wall of the compartment and the second coupling flange
defines a
rear wall of the compartment. The first coupling flange has a first coupling
flange aperture
and the second coupling flange has a second coupling flange aperture aligned
with the
first coupling flange aperture. The tilt bucket assembly also includes a
linkage assembly
coupled to the bucket. The linkage assembly is configured to be releasably
coupled to an
arm of the excavator and to tilt the bucket relative to the arm of the
excavator, The linkage
assembly includes a top mount configured to be fixedly releasably coupled to
the arm of
the excavator; a shaft fixedly coupled to the top mount, the shaft being
received in and
extending between the first coupling flange aperture of the bucket and the
second
coupling flange aperture of the bucket such that the bucket is pivotally
coupled to the
shaft; a drive lug configured to be fixedly coupled to and depend from the
shaft at a first
position between the first and second coupling flanges of the bucket; and a
linear actuator
having a first end coupled to the top wall of the bucket and a second end
fixedly coupled
to the drive lug, the linear actuator being movable between a retracted
position and an
extended position to pivot the bucket about an axis of the shaft.
[0007] In at least one embodiment, the linear actuator is
contained within the
compartment.
[0008] In at least one embodiment, the tilt bucket assembly also
includes one or
more protective covers configured to couple to the first and second coupling
flanges and
cover the shaft, the drive lug and the linear actuator.
[0009] In at least one embodiment, the second end of the linear
actuator is coupled
to the drive lug at a position between the first coupling flange and the
second coupling
flange.
[0010] In at least one embodiment, the drive lug includes a
mounting portion
configured to fixedly couple the drive lug to the shaft and a distal portion
configured to
fixedly couple the drive lug to the linear actuator.
[0011] In at least one embodiment, the distal portion of the
drive lug includes two
depending portions to rigidly couple the drive lug to the linear actuator.
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[0012] In at least one embodiment, the mounting portion of the
drive lug has an
aperture configured to receive and surround the shaft.
[0013] In at least one embodiment, the mounting portion of the
drive lug comprises
a u-shaped portion to be received by a squared-portion of the shaft.
[0014] In at least one embodiment, the tilt bucket assembly
further includes one or
more side covers coupled to the first coupling flange and the second coupling
flange, the
one or more side covers being configured to cover at least a portion of the
linear actuator.
[0015] In at least one embodiment, the linear actuator is a
hydraulic cylinder.
[0016] In at least one embodiment, the linkage assembly
includes: first and second
drive lugs configured to be fixedly coupled to and depend from the shaft at
respective first
and second positions between the first and second coupling flanges of the
bucket; and
first and second linear actuators each having a first end coupled to the top
wall of the
bucket and a second end fixedly coupled to one of the first and second drive
lugs, the first
linear actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended
position to
pivot the bucket in a first direction about the axis of the shaft and the
second linear
actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position
to pivot
the bucket in a second direction about the axis of the shaft.
[0017] In at least one embodiment, the first and second linear
actuators are
contained within the compartment.
[0018] In at least one embodiment, the tilt bucket assembly
further includes one or
more protective covers configured to couple to the first and second coupling
flanges and
cover the shaft, the first and second drive lugs and the first and second
linear actuators.
[0019] In at least one embodiment, the second end of the first
linear actuator is
coupled to the first drive lug at a first position between the first coupling
flange and the
second coupling flange, and the second end of the second linear actuator is
coupled to
the second drive lug at a second position between the first coupling flange
and the second
coupling flange
[0020] In at least one embodiment, the first position and the
second position are
spaced apart from each other along the axis of the shaft.
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[0021] In at least one embodiment, each of the first drive lug
and the second drive
lug include a mounting portion configured to fixedly couple the drive lug to
the shaft and
a distal portion configured to fixedly couple the drive lug to the second end
of one of the
linear actuators.
[0022] In at least one embodiment, the distal portion of each of
the first drive lug
and the second drive lug includes two depending portions to rigidly couple the
drive lug
to one of the linear actuators.
[0023] In at least one embodiment, the mounting portion of the
first drive lug and
the second drive lug has an aperture configured to receive and surround the
shaft.
[0024] In at least one embodiment, the mounting portion of the
first drive lug and
the second drive lug comprises a u-shaped portion to be received by a squared-
portion
of the shaft.
[0025] In at least one embodiment, the tilt bucket assembly
further includes one or
more side covers coupled to the first coupling flange and the second coupling
flange, the
one or more side covers being configured to cover at least a portion of the
first and second
linear actuators.
[0026] In at least one embodiment, the first and second linear
actuators are each
hydraulic cylinders.
[0027] In at least one embodiment, the bucket includes a third
coupling flange
extending upwardly from the top plate and extending laterally between the
first and
second side plates, the third coupling flange being positioned between the
first coupling
flange and the second coupling flange.
[0028] In at least one embodiment, the third coupling flange is
positioned halfway
between the first coupling flange and the second coupling flange.
[0029] In at least one embodiment, the shaft includes a set of
grooves extending
longitudinally along the axis of the shaft, and the top mount has at least one
aperture with
a profile shaped to receive the grooves to fixedly couple the shaft to the top
mount.
[0030] These and other features and advantages of the present
application will
become apparent from the following detailed description taken together with
the
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accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed
description
and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
application, are
given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications
within the spirit
and scope of the application will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from this
detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawinas
[0031] For a better understanding of the various embodiments
described herein,
and to show more clearly how these various embodiments may be carried into
effect,
reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which
show
at least one example embodiment, and which are now described. The drawings are
not
intended to limit the scope of the teachings described herein.
[0032] FIG. 1A is a front view of a tilt bucket assembly for an
excavator, the tilt
bucket assembly having protective covers, according to at least one
embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 1B is a side view of the tilt bucket assembly having
protective covers
of FIG. 1A.
[0034] FIG. 1C is a rear view of the tilt bucket assembly having
protective covers
of FIG. 1A.
[0035] FIG. 2A is a rear perspective view from above of the tilt
bucket assembly
having protective covers of FIG. 1A at a first tilted position.
[0036] FIG. 2B is a front view of the tilt bucket assembly
having protective covers
of FIG. 1A at the first tilted position.
[0037] FIG. 2C is a side view of the tilt bucket assembly having
protective covers
of FIG. 1A at the first tilted position.
[0038] FIG. 2D is a rear view of the tilt bucket assembly having
protective covers
of FIG. 1A at the first tilted position.
[0039] FIG. 2E is a front view of the tilt bucket assembly
having protective covers
of FIG. 1A at a second tilted position.
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[0040] FIG. 2F is a side view of the tilt bucket assembly having
protective covers
of FIG. 1A at the second tilted position.
[0041] FIG. 2G is a rear view of the tilt bucket assembly having
protective covers
of FIG. 1A at the second tilted position.
[0042] FIG. 3A is a rear perspective view of a bucket of a tilt
bucket assembly, the
bucket being configured to have one linear actuator, according to at least one
embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of a bucket of a tilt
bucket assembly, the
bucket being configured to have two linear actuators, according to at least
one
embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 4A is a front view of a tilt bucket assembly for an
excavator, the tilt
bucket assembly having at least one of its protective covers removed to expose
components of the linkage assembly thereunder, the linkage assembly having one
linear
actuator, according to at least one embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 4B is a side view of the tilt bucket assembly for an
excavator of FIG.
4A.
[0046] FIG. 4C is a rear view of the tilt bucket assembly for an
excavator of FIG.
4A.
[0047] FIG. 5A is a front view of a tilt bucket assembly for an
excavator, the tilt
bucket assembly having at least one of its protective covers removed to expose
components of the linkage assembly thereunder, the linkage assembly having two
linear
actuators, according to at least one embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 5B is a side view of the tilt bucket assembly for an
excavator of FIG.
5A.
[0049] FIG. 5C is a rear view of the tilt bucket assembly for an
excavator of FIG.
5A.
[0050] FIG. 6A is a rear view of the tilt bucket assembly of
FIG. 4A with various
components of the linkage assembly removed to shown the linear actuator.
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[0051] FIG. 6B is an exploded rear perspective view from above
of the tilt bucket
assembly of FIG. 4A showing the shaft of the linkage assembly, according to at
least one
embodiment.
[0052] FIG. 7A is a rear view of the tilt bucket assembly of
FIG. 5A with various
components of the linkage assembly removed to shown the linear actuators.
[0053] FIG. 7B is an exploded rear perspective view from above
of the tilt bucket
assembly of FIG. 5A showing the shaft of the linkage assembly, according to at
least one
embodiment.
[0054] FIG. 8 is an exploded rear perspective view from above of
the tilt bucket
assembly of FIG. 5A including the top mount of the linkage assembly, according
to at
least one embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 9A is front perspective view from below of a top
mount of the linkage
assembly, according to at least one embodiment.
[0056] FIG. 9B is a rear perspective view from above of the top
mount of FIG. 9A.
[0057] FIG. 10A is front perspective view from below of a top
mount of the linkage
assembly, according to at least one other embodiment.
[0058] FIG. 10B is a rear perspective view from above of the top
mount of FIG.
10A.
[0059] FIG. 11A is a top down view of a shaft and drive lugs of
a tilt bucket
assembly for an excavator, according to at least one embodiment.
[0060] FIG. 11B is a side view of the shaft and drive lugs of
FIG. 11A.
[0061] FIG. 11C is an exploded perspective view of the shaft and
drive lugs of FIG.
11A.
[0062] FIG. 11D is an end view of the shaft and drive lugs of
FIG. 11A.
[0063] FIG. 12A is a top down view of a shaft and drive lugs of
a tilt bucket
assembly for an excavator, according to at least one other embodiment.
[0064] FIG. 12B is a side view of the shaft and drive lugs of
FIG. 12A.
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[0065] FIG. 12C is an exploded perspective view of the shaft and
drive lugs of FIG.
12A.
[0066] FIG. 12D is an end view of the shaft and drive lugs of
FIG. 12A.
[0067] FIG. 12E is a perspective view of the shaft and drive
lugs of FIG. 12A.
[0068] Further aspects and features of the example embodiments
described herein
will appear from the following description taken together with the
accompanying drawings.
Detailed Description
[0069] Various apparatuses and methods are described below to
provide an
example of at least one embodiment of the claimed subject matter. No
embodiment
described below limits any claimed subject matter and any claimed subject
matter may
cover apparatuses and methods that differ from those described below. The
claimed
subject matter are not limited to apparatuses and methods having all of the
features of
any one apparatus or method described below or to features common to multiple
or all of
the apparatuses or methods described below. It is possible that an apparatus
or method
described below is not an embodiment of any claimed subject matter. Any
subject matter
that is disclosed in an apparatus or method described herein that is not
claimed in this
document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for
example, a
continuing patent application, and the applicant(s), inventor(s) and/or
owner(s) do not
intend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the public any such invention by
its disclosure
in this document.
[0070] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that for simplicity
and clarity of
illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated
among
the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition,
numerous
specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of
the example
embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill
in the art that the example embodiments described herein may be practiced
without these
specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and
components
have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the example embodiments
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described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting
the scope of the
example embodiments described herein.
[0071] It should be noted that terms of degree such as
"substantially", "about" and
"approximately" as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the
modified
term such that the result is not significantly changed. These terms of degree
should be
construed as including a deviation of the modified term, such as 1%, 2%, 5%,
or 10%, for
example, if this deviation does not negate the meaning of the term it
modifies.
[0072] Furthermore, the recitation of any numerical ranges by
endpoints herein
includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within that range (e.g. 1 to 5
includes 1,
1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.90, 4, and 5). It is also to be understood that all numbers
and fractions
thereof are presumed to be modified by the term "about" which means a
variation up to a
certain amount of the number to which reference is being made, such as 1%, 2%,
5%, or
10%, for example, if the end result is not significantly changed.
[0073] It should also be noted that, as used herein, the wording
"and/or" is intended
to represent an inclusive - or. That is, "X and/or Y" is intended to mean X, Y
or X and Y,
for example. As a further example, "X, Y, and/or Z" is intended to mean X or Y
or Z or any
combination thereof. Also, the expression of A, B and C means various
combinations
including A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.
[0074] The following description is not intended to limit or
define any claimed or as
yet unclaimed subject matter. Subject matter that may be claimed may reside in
any
combination or sub-combination of the elements or process steps disclosed in
any part
of this document including its claims and figures. Accordingly, it will be
appreciated by a
person skilled in the art that an apparatus, system or method disclosed in
accordance
with the teachings herein may embody any one or more of the features contained
herein
and that the features may be used in any particular combination or sub-
combination that
is physically feasible and realizable for its intended purpose.
[0075] Recently, there has been a growing interest in developing
new tilt bucket
assemblies that provide for protecting the components of the assembly that are
responsible for moving the bucket relative to an arm of an excavator (e.g.
including but
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not limited to linear actuators such as hydraulic cylinders and/or hydraulic
tubing and/or
hydraulic hoses).
[0076] Herein, tilt bucket assemblies for excavators are
disclosed.
[0077] Referring now to FIGs. 1A-1C, illustrated therein is a
tilt bucket assembly
100 having protective covers for an excavator, according to at least one
embodiment. Tilt
bucket assembly 100 includes a bucket 102 and a linkage assembly 104 coupled
to the
bucket 102. Tilt bucket assembly 100 is configured to be fixedly releasably
couple to an
excavator (not shown) via linkage assembly 104.
[0078] Tilt bucket assembly 100 includes protective covers
positioned to protect at
least some of the components of the linkage assembly 104. In the embodiment
shown in
FIGs. 1A-1C, tilt bucket assembly 100 includes two side covers 111 positioned
on either
side of a center cover 113. The covers co-operate with the bucket 102 to
define a
compartment 116 that houses at least a portion of the linkage assembly 104 (as
described
below). It should be understood that the protective covers may have a
different
configuration than is shown in the drawings provided that they co-operate with
the bucket
102 to house at least a portion of the linkage assembly 104.
[0079] FIGs. 1A-1C all show the tilt bucket assembly 100 at a
resting position
where bottom edge 105 of the bucket 102 is level. Herein, the bottom edge 105
of bucket
102 is said to be level when bottom edge 105 is about perpendicular to an axis
of an arm
of an excavator that is coupled to the linkage assembly 104 (e.g. when the
axis of the arm
of the excavator is straight up and down if shown in FIGs. 1A-1C). Tilt bucket
assembly
100 is configured to tilt (e.g. pivot) the bucket 102 relative to the arm of
the excavator.
Specifically, linkage assembly 104 is configured to pivot bucket 102 in one or
more
directions such that bottom edge 105 of the bucket 102 pivots in a clockwise
and/or a
counterclockwise direction (when viewed from the front of the assembly) about
an axis
AA of a shaft 132 of linkage assembly 104 (axis AA is shown in FIG. 2B). Axis
AA is
vertically spaced from bottom edge 105 and perpendicular to the axis of the
arm of the
excavator.
[0080] FIG. 2A shows tilt bucket assembly 100 having protective
covers 111 and
113 at a first tilted position where bucket 102 has been pivoted about 45
degrees from
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the resting position in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the front)
around axis AA
of the shaft 132. FIGs. 2B, 2C and 2D also show tilt bucket assembly 100 at
the first tilted
position. Bucket 102 is pivotable to a second tilted position, as shown in
FIGs. 2E, 2F and
2G, where bucket 102 has been rotated about 45 degrees from the resting
position in a
clockwise direction about axis AA of the shaft 132. Accordingly, bucket 102 of
tilt bucket
assembly 100 has a full range of motion about the axis AA of shaft 132 of
about 90
degrees, about 45 degrees in each direction (i.e. clockwise and
counterclockwise) from
the resting position.
[0081] FIG. 3A shows a rear perspective view of a bucket 102
according to at least
one embodiment. In this embodiment, bucket 102 is configured to accommodate a
linkage
assembly including a one linear actuator. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B,
bucket
102 is configured to accommodate a linkage assembly including two linear
actuators. It
should be understood that bucket 102 may also be configured to accommodate a
linkage
assembly having more than two linear actuators.
[0082] Bucket 102 includes a top wall 106, a curved body wall
108 coupled to the
top wall 106, a first side plate 110 coupled to the top wall 106 and the
curved body wall
108 and a second side plate 112 opposed to the first side plate 110 and also
coupled to
the top wall 106 and the curved body wall 108. Top wall 106, curved body wall
108, first
side plate 110 and second side plate 112 co-operate to define a recess 114
(see FIG. 1A)
of bucket 102 for retaining material. Further, as noted above, bucket 102
includes a
bottom edge 105 extending from the first side plate 110 to the second side
plate 112
along a lowermost portion of the curved body wall 108.
[0083] Bucket 102 also includes a first coupling flange 118 and
a second coupling
flange 120 spaced therefrom for coupling the bucket 102 to the top mount 104.
Each of
the first and second coupling flanges 118, 120 extends upwardly from the top
wall 106.
First coupling flange 118 and second coupling flange 120 also extend laterally
between
first side plate 110 and second side plate 112 (e.g. from first side plate 110
to second
side plate 112). First coupling flange 118 and second coupling flange 120
provide for
pivotally mounting bucket 102 to the linkage assembly 104.
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[0084] First coupling flange 118 includes a central lobe 119 and two side
portions
121a, 121b extending laterally therefrom. Central lobe 119 has a first flange
aperture 122
therein to receive at least a portion of shaft 132 for pivotally coupling the
bucket 102 to
the shaft 132. Central lobe 119 extends upwardly to vertically space the
aperture 122
from the top plate 106 and, therefore, provide room vertically between the
shaft 132 and
any components that couple linear actuators 150, 152 to the shaft 132.
[0085] Similarly, second coupling flange 120 includes a central lobe 123
and two
side portions 125a, 125b extending laterally therefrom. Central lobe 123 has a
second
flange aperture 124 therein to receive at least a portion of shaft 132 for
pivotally coupling
the bucket 102 to the shaft 132. First flange aperture 122 and second flange
aperture 124
are each sized and shaped to receive shaft 132 and thereby pivotally mount the
bucket
102 to the shaft 132. Second coupling flange 120 may also optionally include
an opening
127 for receiving at last a portion of the hydraulic components 115 (such as
hydraulic
tubing 117) and/or providing access to compartment 116. Second flange aperture
124
and first flange aperture 122 are aligned to receive shaft 132 therein.
Linkage assembly
may include a rear access cover 128 configured to cover at least a portion of
opening 127
and co-operate with the protective coverings to seal off compartment 116.
[0086] Bucket 102 may optionally include a third coupling flange 126
coupled to
top wall 106 of bucket 102. Third coupling flange 126 may be positioned
between the first
coupling flange 118 and the second coupling flange 120 and extend upwardly
from top
wall 106 of bucket 102. Third coupling flange 126 may include central lobe 129
having an
aperture 127 sized and shaped to receive shaft 132 for pivotally coupling
bucket 102 to
the linkage assembly 104. Third flange aperture 127 may also be aligned with
first flange
aperture 122 and second flange aperture 124 to receive shaft 132. In at least
one
embodiment, third coupling flange 126 may be positioned about halfway between
first
coupling flange 118 and second coupling flange 120 and may be appropriate in
embodiments where shaft 132 of linkage assembly 104 has more than one piece
(e.g.
has two pieces telescopically received with one another). Third coupling
flange 126 may
extend to the first 110 and second 112 side plates of bucket 102 or, as shown
in FIG. 5,
may not be coupled to the first 110 and second 112 side plates of bucket 102.
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[0087] FIGs. 4A-4C show one embodiment of a tilt bucket assembly
100 with its
protective covers 111 and 113 removed to expose at least some of the
components of
the linkage assembly 104. In this embodiment, linkage assembly 104 includes a
single
linear actuator 150.
[0088] In this embodiment of linkage assembly 104, linkage
assembly 104 includes
one linear actuator (e.g. hydraulic cylinder) 150. Linear actuator 150 has a
first end 150a
coupled to top wall 106 of bucket 102 and a second end 150b fixedly coupled to
a first
drive lug 160. First end 150a of first linear actuator 150 may be coupled to
top wall 106
via a bucket lug 155a extending upwardly from top wall 106 and a cylinder pin
153a.
[0089] FIGs. 5A-5C show another embodiment of a tilt bucket
assembly 100 with
its protective covers 111 and 113 removed to expose at least some of the
components of
the linkage assembly 104. In this embodiment, linkage assembly 104 includes
first and
second linear actuators 150, 152.
[0090] In this embodiment of linkage assembly 104, linkage
assembly 104 includes
first linear actuator (e.g. hydraulic cylinder) 150 and second linear actuator
(e.g. hydraulic
cylinder) 152, as shown in FIG. 4, for example. First linear actuator 150 has
a first end
150a coupled to top wall 106 of bucket 102 and a second end 150b fixedly
coupled to a
first drive lug 160. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2C, first end 150a of
first linear
actuator 150 is coupled to top wall 106 via a bucket lug 155a extending
upwardly from
top wall 106 and a cylinder pin 153a. Similarly, second linear actuator 152
has a first end
152a coupled to a bucket lug 155b (see FIG. 2C) extending upwardly from top
wall 106
of bucket 102 and a cylinder pin 153b. Second linear actuator 152 has a second
end
152b fixedly coupled to a second drive lug 162. Bucket lugs 155a, 155b and
cylinder pins
153 provide for each of the first and second linear actuator 150, 152,
respectively, to be
fixedly coupled to bucket 102.
[0091] First and second linear actuators 150, 152, respectively,
can be any linear
actuator appropriate for tilting bucket 102 about axis AA. For instance, first
and second
linear actuators 150 and 152, respectively, may each be single acting
hydraulic cylinders
configured to pivot the bucket 102 about the axis AA in a single direction
upon extension,
or may be double-acting hydraulic cylinders configured to rotate the bucket
102 about the
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axis AA in two directions upon extension and retraction. In at least one
embodiment, first
linear actuator 150 is movable between a retracted position and an extended
position to
rotate the bucket 102 in a first direction about axis AA of shaft 132.
Similarly, second
linear actuator 152 is movable between a retracted position and an extended
position to
rotate bucket 102 in a second direction about axis AA of the shaft 132.
[0092] Hydraulic components 115 of the tilt bucket assembly 100
(such as but not
limited to one or more hydraulic lines 117 and linear actuator(s) 150, 152)
provide for
linkage assembly 104 to pivot bucket 102 about axis AA (see FIG. 4B).
Hydraulic
components 115 of tilt bucket assembly 100 are configured to be releasably
fluidly
coupled to corresponding hydraulic components of an excavator such that tilt
bucket
assembly 100 may be interchanged with other implements during use. Hydraulic
components 115 of tilt bucket assembly 100 are also configured to be
releasably fluidly
coupled to corresponding hydraulic components of the excavator such that
hydraulic
components 115 of tilt bucket assembly 100 may receive hydraulic fluid from
the
excavator and an operator of the excavator may control the pivoting of bucket
102 while
operating the excavator. It should be understood that the hydraulic components
115 of
the tilt bucket assembly 100 may be configured such that bucket 102 may be
operable at
any position between the first tilted position and the second tilted position
as described
above. It should be understood that hydraulic components 115 of tilt bucket
assembly
100 may be fluidly coupled to the hydraulic components of the excavator by any
mechanism known to one of skill in the art. FIGs. 6A-7B, at least, show at
least a portion
of the hydraulic components 115 including but not limited to hydraulic lines
117 being
positioned at a rear side of the tilt bucket assembly 100. Hydraulic lines 117
may be
received into compartment 116 housing at least a portion of the hydraulic
components
115 (described in greater detail below).
[0093] FIG. 6A shows a rear perspective view of the assembly 100
of FIG. 4A-4C
with the protective covers 111 and 113 removed to show components of the
linkage
assembly 104. When protective covers 111 and 113 are positioned on the tilt
bucket
assembly 100, they combine with the first coupling flange 118 and the second
coupling
flange 120 to form compartment 116. In this embodiment, compartment 116 is
shaped to
entirely house the linear actuator 150 as well as other components of linkage
assembly
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104, where the coupling flanges 118, 120 of bucket 102 act as the outside
walls of the
compartment 116. Specifically, in the embodiments shown herein, for example,
compartment 116 is the volume of space underneath the two side protective
covers 111
and the center protective cover 113 when one of the side protective covers 111
is
attached to an upper edge 136 of side portion 121a of first coupling flange
118 and an
upper edge 135 of side portion 125a of second coupling flange 120, when center
protective cover 113 is attached to an upper edge 137 of central lobe 119 of
first coupling
flange 118 and upper edge 139 of central lobe 123 of second coupling flange
120 and
the other of the protective covers 111 is attached to o an upper edge 141 of
side portion
121b of first coupling flange 118 and an upper edge 143 of side portion 125b
of second
coupling flange 120 (see FIG. 3A and 3B).
[0094] FIG. 6B shows an additional rear perspective view of the
assembly 100
having a single linear actuator 150 with various components of the assembly
removed to
view components of the linkage assembly 104. Specifically, FIG. 6B shows a
partially
exploded rear perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 4A showing the shaft
132.
[0095] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show rear perspective views of the
assembly 100
having two linear actuators 150 with various components of the assembly
removed to
view components of the linkage assembly 104. Specifically, FIG. 7A shows a
rear
perspective view of the assembly 100 with one side cover 111 and center
protective cover
113 removed and FIG. 7B shows a partially exploded rear perspective view of
the
assembly of FIG. 5A with each of the side covers 111 removed and shaft 132
exploded
outwardly to show the various components thereof (described in greater detail
below).
[0096] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the assembly 100
including a top mount
130. Top mount 130 is configured to be releasably fixedly coupled to the arm
of the
excavator. For instance, as shown in FIGs. 9A to 10B, top mount 130 may
include one or
more upwardly extending members 131 having one or more apertures 133 for
retaining
one or more mounting members (not shown) to be grasped by a portion of the arm
of the
excavator to releasably couple the arm of the excavator to the top mount 130.
It should
be understood that top mount 130 may include other mechanisms know in the art
for
releasably coupling the assembly 100 to an arm of an excavator.
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[0097] Linkage assembly 104 also includes shaft 132 fixedly
coupled to top mount
130. As noted above, shaft 132 pivotally supports the bucket 102 by being
received in
first flange aperture 122 of first coupling flange 118 and second flange
aperture 124 of
second coupling flange 120. Shaft 132 is also fixedly coupled to the top mount
130 via
depending members 142 and 144, respectively, of the top mount 130 (see FIGs.
6A and
6B). First depending member 142 has a first aperture 138 and second depending
member
144 has a second aperture 140. First aperture 138 and second aperture 140 are
aligned
to receive the shaft 132 extending therebetween. Shaft 132 extends through
first aperture
138 of first depending member 142 and second aperture 140 of second depending
members 144 to fixedly couple the shaft 132 to the top mount 130.
[0098] In at least one embodiment, first aperture 138 of first
depending member
142 is sized and shaped to correspond or marry to an outer surface of the
shaft 132 so
as to fixedly couple the shaft 132 to top mount 130. In the embodiment shown
in FIGs.
9A and 9B, the aperture 138 has a circular shape with six notches extending
outwardly
from a circular core. In the embodiment shown in FIGs. 10A and 1013, the
aperture 138
has a circular shape with 12 notches extending outwardly from a circular core.
[0099] Two different embodiments of shaft 132 are shown in FIGs.
11A-11D and
12A-12E, respectively. In the first embodiment of shaft 132 shown in FIGs. 11A-
11D, shaft
132 has a smooth outer surface apart from four slots shaped to receive a
portion of the
drive lugs of the linkage assembly.
[0100] In the second embodiment of shaft 132 shown in FIGs. 12A-
12E, shaft 132
includes a set of grooves 141 (see FIG. 7B) extending inwardly from an outer
surface of
the shaft 132 and longitudinally along axis AA of shaft 132. When this
embodiment of
shaft 132 is included in the tilt bucket assembly 100, first aperture 138 has
a profile that
corresponds to the set of grooves 141 to retain the shaft 132 in first
depending member
142 of top mount 130 and inhibit rotation of the shaft 132 relative to the top
mount 130.
When the first embodiment of shaft 132 (shown in FIG. 11A-11D) is included in
tilt bucket
assembly 100, first aperture 138 may be sized and shaped to correspond to a
profile of a
nut 145 that has an inner surface defining an aperture 146, the inner surface
being shaped
to correspond to a portion of an outer surface of the shaft 132.
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[0101] As shown in FIGs. 9A and 9B, first aperture 138 of first
depending member
142 and second aperture 140 of second depending members 144 are spaced apart
by a
distance BB, so as to create space therebetween along shaft 132 for first and
second
linear actuators 150,152, respectively, to couple to shaft 132. In at least
one embodiment,
distance BB is greater than a distance CC between the first coupling flange
118 and the
second coupling flange 120 (see FIG. 3A and 3B), such that the top mount 130
may be
coupled to shaft 132 so that first depending member 142 and second depending
member
144 are positioned outside of first coupling flange 118 and second coupling
flange 120,
respectively. Accordingly, first depending members 142 and second depending
member
144 may be spaced apart from each other by a distance that is greater than a
distance
between first coupling flange 118 and second coupling flange 120. The spacing
apart of
the first and second depending members 142, 144 from each other and the
spacing apart
of the first and second coupling flanges 118, 120 from each other provides
room for the
first and second linear actuators 150, 152 to be coupled to the shaft 132 via
the drive lugs
160, 162, respectively, between the first and second coupling flanges 118, 120
and for a
protective cover(s) to be placed over the shaft 132 and the first and second
linear
actuators 150, 152. For instance, the protective cover(s) may include centre
cover 113
configured to be positioned between top mount 130 and shaft 132 (e.g. over
shaft 132)
and cover at least a portion of the shaft 132 and/or side covers 111
configured to be
positioned between top mount 130 and top wall 106 of bucket 102 to protect t
linear
actuators 150, 152.
[0102] As shown in FIGs. 11A-12E, first drive lug 160 and second
drive lug 162
each include a mounting portion 164 and a distal end 166. Mounting portion 164
is
configured to fixedly couple the respective drive lug 160, 162 to shaft 132
and distal end
166 is configured to fixedly couple the respective drive lug 160, 162 to a
respective
second end 150a, 152a of one of the linear actuators 150, 152. In the
embodiment shown
in FIGs. 12A-12E, mounting portion 164 has a circular shape and an aperture
165 therein
to receive and surround shaft 132.
[0103] In the embodiment shown in FIGs. 11A-11D, mounting
portion comprises a
mounting yoke 164 having a u-shaped portion 168 that fits into and around a
squared-off
portion 169 of shaft 132 to fixedly couple each drive lug 160, 162 to shaft
132. It should
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be understood that other embodiments of mounting yoke 164 and shaft 132 are
possible
for fixedly coupling the drive lugs 160, 162 to shaft 132.
[0104] Each of first drive lug 160 and second drive lug 162
extends downwardly
from shaft 132 to fixedly couple one of the linear actuators 150,152 to the
shaft 132. First
drive lug 160 and second drive lug 162 extend downwardly from shaft 132 such
that each
of linear actuators 150, 152 couple to shaft 132 at a position below shaft
132.
[0106] First drive lug 160 may be coupled to shaft 132 at a
first position along shaft
132 and second drive lug 162 may be coupled to shaft 132 at a second position.
In some
embodiments, the first position and the second position are the same position.
In other
embodiments, the first position and the second position are spaced apart from
each other
along axis AA of shaft 132. In at least one embodiment, the first position and
the second
position are spaced apart from each other along axis AA of shaft 132 by a
spacer 178. In
at least one embodiment, spacer 178 may inhibit movement of the drive lugs
160, 162
towards each other along shaft 132.
[0106] Returning to FIG. 8, as shown therein, linkage assembly
104 may also
include one or more sleeves 134 to surround a portion of shaft 132 within each
of first
coupling flange aperture 122 and the second coupling flange aperture 124 (and
optionally
third coupling flange aperture 127) to provide for the bucket 102 to pivot
about axis AA of
shaft 132. Each sleeve 134 may include a key 171 sized and shaped to fit
within one of
the set of grooves 141 of shaft 132 to inhibit sleeve 134 from rotating
relative to shaft 132
when positioned around shaft 132 inside of one of the apertures 122, 124.
[0107] In at least one embodiment, linkage assembly 104 may
include bushings
181 positioned inside of flange apertures 122, 124 to reduce friction between
sleeves 134
and flange apertures 122,124 as bucket 102 pivots about axis AA of the shaft
132.
[0108] Linkage assembly 104 may also include a shaft retainer
133 to cover a
portion of first coupling flange 118 and retain shaft 132 in first coupling
flange aperture
122 of first coupling flange 118.
[0109] One or more shims 179 may be positioned along shaft 132
between the first
drive lug 160 and first coupling flange 118 and/or between the second drive
lug 162 and
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the second coupling flange 120 to reduce friction between the first drive lug
160 and first
coupling flange 118 and/or between the second drive lug 162 and the second
coupling
flange 120.
[0110] In at least one embodiment, linkage assembly 104 may also
include a shaft
jacking hole cover 182 that can be positioned on an end of the shaft 132 and
cover at
least a portion of second coupling flange aperture 124 to provide access to
shaft 132.
[0111] Unlike the prior art tilt buckets, where the linear
actuators are coupled
directed to the outside of the top mount and are exposed to the environment,
the subject
tilt bucket is configured so that the linear actuators (and, optionally, other
components of
the linkage assembly) are located in a covered compartment and protected from
damage,
such as but not limited to damage caused by contact with rocks and dirt as the
tilt bucket
is in use.
[0112] While the applicant's teachings described herein are in
conjunction with
various embodiments for illustrative purposes, it is not intended that the
applicant's
teachings be limited to such embodiments as the embodiments described herein
are
intended to be examples. On the contrary, the applicant's teachings described
and
illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents, without
departing from the embodiments described herein, the general scope of which is
defined
in the appended claims.
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