WO1993001365A1

WO1993001365A1 - Bucket for earth moving equipment

Info

Publication number: WO1993001365A1
Application number: PCT/AU1992/000327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael John Jonson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-03
Filing date: 1992-07-03
Publication date: 1993-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1994-01-03

Abstract

A bucket (1) for a front end loader comprising a base portion (3) extending between a pair of spaced apart sides (2, 2) to form a mouth for containing material wherein a screw auger (4) is located within the mouth near to the base portion (3). The auger (4) is journalled at one end within the bucket (1) and at the other externally of the bucket (1). The bucket (1) further includes means (9) for rotating the auger (4) and may include attachment means for attaching the bucket (1) to earth moving equipment. The bucket (1) may include a bracket (10) extending laterally outwardly beyond the bucket (1) and supporting one end of the auger (4). The bracket (10) may have an extended or inverted delivery chute (13) mounted thereon.

Description

BUCKET FOR EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an improved bucket for earth moving equipment. In particular, the improved bucket contains means for enabling discharge of material from the bucket through an opening in a side of the bucket. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Front-end loaders are widely used examples of earth moving equipment. They are used in construction, road building, mining and many other industries. Such a loader generally contains a bucket -located in front of the body of the loader connected to the body by hydraulically operated arms which enable the bucket to be raised, lowered and rotated as required. In use, a front end loader enables material to be picked up in the bucket, transported to a desired location, and dumped out of the bucket.

Generally, material is discharged from the bucket by rotating the bucket around its horizontal axis. As the bucket is only rotatable around this one axis, the loader must be manoeuvred so that it is directly behind the material to be loaded into (or the place at which such material is to be discharged from) the bucket. This causes problems in confined areas or, for instance, in situations where the loader would have to obstruct a roadway in order to deposit material at the desired location (e.g. a ditch alongside such roadway.

Furthermore, material is generally only dischargeable from the bucket by rotating the bucket and thereby tipping out the contents in one heap in front of the loader. If the material is then required to be spread out, for example, to fill a long, narrow ditch, manpower will have to be employed to shovel and otherwise spread the material as required. Furthermore, such a heap tends to obstruct any further forward movement of the loader. There are known means of transporting granulated matter (eg powders, soils etc) from one point to another. Means often employed for this purpose include conveyor belts, air flues, augers, Archimedean screws and the like.

_Conveyor belts are commonly used in mining and other industries for transporting relatively large volumes of such materials from, for instance, a storage facility to a processing facility.

_Air flues are generally only suitable for comparatively fine powders.

The term "auger" is used hereinafter to include both augers and _Archimedean screws suitable for the movement of loose granular materials. Augers typically find uses in bulk storage bins and in the container section of transport vehicles. In such application the bin or container is so designed to have said auger extending lengthways along the container and placed beneath the granulated matter within the bin or container such that, in use, the granulated matter which is forced onto the auger (by gravity), is moved along and out of the bin or container.

Various proposals have been made to utilise such means for moving material in an earth moving equipment. In UK Patent Specification 1,575,291 (La Cour) a conveyor screw is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis within the bucket. The screw has a discharge end adjacent an aperture in the side of the bucket and sealing means associated with the discharge end. The discharge aperture in this arrangement is flush with the wall of the bucket. Accordingly, material must be discharged past arms supporting the outer end of the conveyor screw. This arrangement is prone to clogging as it severely restricts the aperture size and makes removal of the auger rather difficult. Moreover, the discharge aperture proposed by La Cour is not suitable for accurate discharge of the contents of the bucket into a narrow trench or other restricted site.

In the proposal outlined in UK Patent Specification 1,419,253 (Snowden) the auger does extend beyond the side wall of the bucket. A delivery tube is envisaged by Snowden but no details are provided and unless such a delivery tube can be moved or detached there is a substantial danger of damage occurring during loading which involves pushing the bucket into a heap of bulk material.

Moreover in the Snowden proposal the lower portion of the delivery end of the auger is supported by the internal surface of the delivery tube and the upper portion is restrained beneath two radially spaced guides. However, the delivery end is not journalled in any bearing. While this arrangement does not involve restriction of the aperture it may result in rapid wear of the auger blade where it rubs against the delivery tube and may place great strain on the mountings in which the auger shaft is journalled.

US Patent Specification 4,864,748 (Boyer) discloses an arrangement in which the bucket is fitted on one side with a dispensing pipe through which the auger extends so that the fill material moves from the bucket through the dispensing pipe by action of the auger. The auger shaft is described as being rotatably mounted in the end closure at the terminal end of the dispensing pipe. However, this arrangement is somewhat cumbersome and susceptible to damage when the bucket is pushed into a heap of loose screenings, gravel, etc. for loading. Moreover the arrangement is not adapted for the quick removal of the delivery tube. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide in one embodiment an improved bucket for a front-end loader which will enable discharge of material out of the side of the bucket thereby reducing the extent to which the front-end loader will need to be manoeuvred to enable discharge. This object is directed to avoiding the problems inherent in present front-end loaders which only allow for discharge by dumping the material directly in front of the loader. This therefore required manoeuvring the loader to discharge the material at the desired location out of the open end of the bucket.

With this in mind the present invention provides, in one embodiment, a bucket for a front end loader comprising a base portion extending between a pair of spaced apart sides to form a mouth for containing material wherein an auger is located within said mouth near to said base portion said auger being journalled at one end within said bucket and at the other end externally of said bucket, said bucket further including means for rotating said auger.

The present invention also provides in one alternative embodiment a bucket adapted for attachment to earth moving equipment comprising a base portion extending between a pair of spaced apart sides to form a mouth for containing material, a screw auger located within said mouth near to said base portion, actuation means for rotating said auger and attachment means for attaching said bucket to said equipment wherein a bracket is secured to the side of the bucket said bracket extending laterally outwardly beyond said bucket and wherein one end of said auger extends through a discharge opening in the side of said bucket and is suspended laterally outwardly of said bucket via said bracket. In yet another embodiment the present invention provides earth moving equipment comprising a front-end loader having mounted thereon a bucket comprising a base portion extending between a pair of spaced apart sides to form a mouth for containing material, a screw auger located within said mouth near to said base portion and a bracket secured to the side of said bucket said bracket extending laterally outwardly beyond said bucket and wherein one end said auger extends through a discharge opening in the side of said bucket and is journalled for rotation laterally outwardly of said bucket.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for moving material extends substantially across the full width of the bucket and is located so that material which may be located at all positions in the bucket can come under the influence of the means for moving that material. However, there may be instances where it is desirable to only move portions of the material within the bucket and in such instances the means for moving material extends only the desired distance across the width of the bucket.

Preferably the means for moving material within the bucket is operably located in the lower portion of the bucket to enable the largest amount of the material capable of movement through the opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for moving the material extends between the two sides of the bucket. The means for moving the material comprises a screw auger. It is envisaged that more than one auger may be fitted to a bucket. When a pair of augers is fitted one may have a left handed thread and the other a right handed thread. Such a pair of augers may be rotated to retain and mix material in the bucket prior to discharge.

Preferably, an auger according to the invention, comprises a central axle with a continuous spiral/helical thread extending laterally from the axle and running along at least a portion of the axle. One end of the axle is located (and preferably journalled) in or adjacent to the opening. Most preferably the axle extends through the opening and the end thereof is journalled externally of the bucket. In such an arrangement the auger may be journalled for rotation in a bearing carried by the bracket. The other end of the axle may be journalled in an opposite side of the bucket or alternatively within the bucket. This other end may of course also be journalled externally of the bucket.

In one particularly preferred arrangement a bracket is secured to the side of the bucket in the vicinity of the aperture. The bracket extends laterally beyond the bucket. The bracket preferably supports the discharge end of the auger. The auger may thus be suspended in cantilever fashion externally of the bucket. In such an arrangement the auger may be journalled for rotation in a bearing carried by the bracket.

The bracket may be conveniently secured to the bucket by being bolted to a backing plate of complementary configuration whereby the side of the bucket is sandwiched between the bracket and the backing plate. This arrangement may facilitate the easy and rapid removal of the bracket and hence removal of the auger.

A cowl may be provided on the inside of the bucket to shroud the auger in the region of the discharge aperture. The cowl preferably projects inwardly from the side wall a distance at least equal to that of the pitch of the auger. The bracket is preferably substantially horseshoe shaped. Conveniently the bracket has a pair of arms which lie either side of the auger and abut the outer face of the side wall of the bucket. The opening between the arms facilitates removal of the bracket from the auger for maintenance purposes.

The bracket may have an outer housing to shield that part of the auger which projects laterally beyond the bucket. The housing preferably includes a discharge opening for discharge of material conveyed from the bucket by the auger.

The bracket may also include mounting means to facilitate mounting of a discharge chute. The mounting means may comprise a cavity, preferably of rectangular cross-section, for receiving a mounting arm of complementary shape projecting from the chute. Other arrangements for mounting a delivery chute on a bucket are also envisaged within the scope of the present invention.

The delivery chute may be adapted for receiving material discharged from the bucket and delivering the material to the intended delivery site.

The chute may comprise a length of tubing having a loading portion for receiving material discharged from the bucket.

The tubing may be hingedly connected to a mounting arm. The mounting arm may be of complementary configuration to the cavity. Preferably the mounting arm may be telescopingly engaged within the cavity whereby to mount the chute on the bucket.

The bucket may be adapted to mount mowers, slashers, post-hole diggers or other attachments either with or without removal of the auger. Preferably the bracket includes at least a pair of cavities one adapted for mounting a delivery chute and the other for mounting one or more attachments.

The delivery chute may be adapted to deliver material beneath the bucket or outwardly of the line of the bucket. The former form of chute may be referred to as an inverted chute and the latter as an extended chute. In either form chutes of varying sizes, lengths and configurations are envisaged within the scope of the invention.

In use the chute preferably projects below the level of the bucket. This arrangement facilitates accurate filling of trenches and the like with material being discharged from the chute.

The hinged connection allows the tube to be swung above the lower edge of the bucket and to a position which minimises damage during loading of the mouth of the bucket.

The bucket may further include actuation means to operate the means for removing material within the bucket. This actuation means may be electric or hydraulic and is typically controlled from controls located on the front-end loader or other vehicle on which the bucket is mounted. Preferably the actuation means comprises an hydraulic motor.

Where it is desirable to reduce or eliminate any projections from the bucket to maximise the application of the bucket the actuation means may be located within the bucket. However, where this is not desirable the actuation means may be located externally of the bucket.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention a discharge means is located adjacent to the opening in the side of the bucket. This discharge means may control the discharge and the rate of discharge of the material from the bucket.

In operation, rotation of the auger causes the thread to force material towards and through the opening from where it falls into the discharge chute and is conveyed by gravity down the inclined tube and out of the open end thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be further illustrated with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved bucket according to one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the improved bucket of Figure 1 mounted on a front-end loader;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bucket showing a delivery chute in a storage; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bucket showing an alternative form of delivery chute in a delivery position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The improved bucket shown in Figure 1 consists of a bucket 1 having sides 2 and a base portion 3 extending between the two sides 2, wherein the sides 2 and base portion 3 define a mouth for containing material. Within the mouth and located near to the base portion is an auger 4, containing an axle 5 and a thread 6 and journalled to the bucket with a bearing 7 within the bucket and a bearing 8 external to the bucket. One end of the auger 4 protrudes through an opening in side 2 of the bucket 1. Actuation means in the form of an hydraulic motor 9 is engaged with the axle 5. The motor 9 is controlled via hose lines (not shown) which are connected to control means typically situated on a front-end loader.

The portion of the improved bucket depicted in Figure 3, shows a cross-section of side 2 of the bucket 1 and an end 11 of the auger 4 extending beyond the opening in the side 2. Also shown is a sleeve or cowl 12 affixed to side 2 which cowl 12 extends through the opening and surrounds a part of the end 11 of auger 4. Affixed outwardly of side 2 adjacent the sleeve 12 is a bearing 8 for supporting the end 11 of auger 4. Bearing 8 is mounted in bracket 10. As is clearly seen in Figure 3 bracket 10 extends laterally beyond the bucket 1. Bracket 10 thus supports the delivery end of auger 4 laterally of bucket 1 in cantilever fashion. Bracket 10 may carry a bearing (not shown) in which the outer end of auger 4 is journalled for rotation. Bracket 10 includes mounting means for delivery chute 13. The mounting means comprises a substantially rectangular cavity 14. Cavity 14 is of a complementary shape adapted to receive mounting arm to which projects from chute 13. Mounting arm 15 is hingedly connected via strut 16 to tube 17 of delivery chute 13. By such hinged connection at hinge 18 delivery chute 13 can be swung between the delivery position shown in Figure 3 and the storage position shown in Figure 5. In the delivery position tube 17 extends laterally outwardly of bucket 1 and deposits material outwardly of the line of the bucket. This arrangement may be referred to as an extended chute.

In the alternative embodiment of Figure 6 an inverted chute 13' is shown in the delivery position from which material may be deposited beneath the bucket.

Inverted chute 13' comprises a mounting arm 15' hingedly connected via strut 16' to tube 17'. By such hinged connection at hinge 18' inverted delivery chute 18' may be swung as indicated by the dotted arrow between the delivery position shown in Figure 6 and a storage position shown in dotted outline.

In the storage position either extended chute 13 or inverted chute 13' are swung to a position in which the chute is not likely to suffer significant damage as the mouth of bucket 1 is loaded by being pushed into a heap of bulk material.

Chute 13 (13') preferably comprises a substantially enclosed tube 17 (17') having an opening or mouth 19 (19') for receiving material discharged from the discharge opening in side 2. The material enters tube 17 (17') and is deposited via the open end of the tube. Figure 2 shows the mounting of a bucket 1 with an extended chute 13 to a front-end loader 20. The front-end loader 20 is of conventional form and accordingly only the front section thereof has been included for illustrative purposes. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, bucket 1 is, in this embodiment, a bucket mounted in known fashion to the lifting arms 21 of loader 20. Bucket 1 is hereby capable of use in conventional fashion but may additionally disperse material from the side of the bucket via delivery chute 13 in the manner described herein. One advantage provided by the present invention is that it may be advantageously applied to existing buckets of various types. Buckets according to the invention may be adapted for and mounted on a bulldozer, tractor or other piece of earth moving equipment in addition to a front-end loader. The means for mounting buckets on the front or rear of various types of earth moving equipment including bulldozers, front-end loaders, tractors and the like are already known and need not be described in detail.

In operation, the motor 9 causes axle 5 to rotate in the desired direction. Material which is or has been placed in the bucket 1 is forced by gravity down onto auger 4 located near the base portion 3. The thread 6, upon such rotation, causes the material to move along the direction of axle 5 towards the opening in side 2 of the bucket 1. The material may then pass through the opening 2 and out of the bucket 1. Auger 4 may be reversed if obstruction is encountered.

In contrast to the prior art, the improved bucket enables material within the bucket to be discharged out one side of the bucket and directed via an inverted chute or an extended chute to a delivery point beneath or outwardly of the bucket. This has the obvious advantage of reducing the amount of manoeuvring required of the front-end loader and enables greater control of the material being discharged. The improved bucket of this invention has particular application in areas of restricted or limited access/manoeuvrability.

Existing buckets of front-end loaders and other earth moving equipment can be easily adapted to such an improved bucket by the incorporation of the features described in this specification.

Claims

1. A bucket for a front end loader comprising a base portion extending between a pair of spaced apart sides to form a mouth for containing material wherein a screw auger is located within said mouth near to said base portion said auger being journalled at one end within said bucket and at the other end externally of said bucket, said bucket further including means for rotating said auger.

2. A bucket according to Claim 1 wherein a bracket is secured to the side of said bucket said bracket extending laterally outwardly beyond said bucket and wherein one end said auger extends through a discharge opening in the side of said bucket and is suspended laterally outwardly of said bucket via said bracket.

3. A bucket according to Claim 2 wherein said bracket includes mounting means for mounting a delivery chute, or other attachment on said bucket.

4. A bucket according to Claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said auger comprises an hydraulic motor.

5. A bucket according to Claim 4 which further includes a delivery chute mounted on said bracket via a mounting arm engaging mounting means on said bucket.

6. A bucket according to Claim 5 wherein said mounting arm projects into a cavity in said bracket.

7. A bucket according to Claim 5 wherein said delivery chute is hingedly mounted on said bracket and thereby adapted to be swung between a delivery position and a storage position.

8. A bucket according to Claim 7 wherein said chute comprises an extended chute which projects laterally outwardly of said bucket in said delivery position.

9. A bucket according to claim 7 wherein said chute comprises an inverted chute which projects beneath said bucket in said delivery position.

10. A bucket adapted for attachment to earth moving equipment comprising a base portion extending between a pair of spaced apart sides to form a mouth for containing material, a screw auger located within said mouth near to said base portion actuation means for rotating said auger and attachment means for attaching said bucket to said equipment wherein a bracket is secured to the side of the bucket said bracket extending laterally outwardly beyond said bucket and wherein one end of said auger extends through a discharge opening in the side of said bucket and is suspended laterally outwardly of said bucket via said bracket.

11. A bucket according to Claim 10 wherein said actuation means comprises an hydraulic motor.

12. A bucket according to Claim 11 which further includes a delivery chute mounted on said bracket via a mounting arm engaging mounting means on said bucket.

13. A bucket according to Claim 12 wherein said mounting arm projects into a cavity in said bracket.

14. A bucket according to claim 12 wherein said delivery chute is hingedly mounted on said bracket and thereby adapted to be swung between a delivery position and a storage position.

15. A bucket according to Claim 14 wherein said chute comprises an extended chute which projects laterally outwardly of said bucket in said delivery position.

16. A bucket according to Claim 14 wherein said chute comprises an inverted chute which projects beneath said bucket in said delivery position.

17. Earth moving equipment comprising a front-end loader having mounted thereon, a bucket comprising a base portion extending between a pair of spaced apart sides to form a mouth for containing material, a screw auger located within said mouth near to said base portion, an hydraulic motor and a bracket secured to the side of said bucket said bracket extending laterally outwardly beyond said bucket and wherein one end of said auger extends through a discharge opening in the side of said bucket and is journalled for rotation laterally outwardly of said bucket.

18. Equipment according to Claim 17 which further includes a delivery chute mounted on said bracket via a mounting arm engaging mounting means on said bucket.

19. Equipment according to Claim 18 wherein said delivery chute is hingedly mounted on said bracket and thereby adapted to be swung between a delivery position and a storage position.

20. Equipment according to claim 19 wherein said hydraulic motor is located within said bucket and coupled for direct drive of said auger.