AU2011202931B2 - Earthmover Bucket - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract An earthmover bucket is disclosed having a lip with five portions: two outer portions perpendicular to the side walls, a central portion parallel to but not aligned with the outer portions, and two transitional portions angled with 5 respect to the outer portions. The earthmover bucket has a bowl which has an enlarged portion extending, in use, beneath the bucket shoulders.

Description

AUSTRALIA 2011202931 24 Nov 2016

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Invention title: “EARTHMOVER BUCKET”

Applicant:

GOLDRING CORPORATION PTY LTD

Associated provisional applications: 2010902698 filed 21 June 2010

The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 2011202931 24 Nov 2016 “EARTHMOVER BUCKET”

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bucket for excavators and other mechanical 5 earthmoving and digging machines.

Background to the Invention

Earthmover and excavator buckets are subject to substantial wear in use. This wear is principally due to abrasion, both at the bucket lip where the bucket 10 penetrates the material being dug, and on the bucket sidewalls and joints as the bucket passes through the material.

Various styles of bucket have been suggested in an attempt to reduce the wear, or to compensate for it. Often, this has meant constructing a bucket in such a way that the most commonly worn areas, such as the lip and the side 15 wall joins, can be readily replaced. It is also known to form these parts from abrasion resistant materials, or from thicker materials than are used in the remainder of the bucket.

Another solution is proposed in the applicant’s patent application number 2004237824, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This 20 application suggests the bevelling or curving of the join between the bucket floor and side walls. Although this provides a significant benefit to the wear rates of the join, it does not alter the wear rates of the bucket lip.

The present invention seeks to provide a bucket with improved wear characteristics. 25

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bucket for an earthmoving machine, the bucket having two substantially parallel side walls and a floor, the bucket having a lateral direction perpendicular to the 30 side walls, and a vertical direction perpendicular to the floor, the bucket having a front lip extending across the bucket, wherein the front lip comprises two substantially aligned outer portions which are oriented in the lateral direction, 3 2011202931 24 Nov 2016 a central portion which is displaced in the vertical direction relative to the outer portions, and two transitional portions, each transitional portion extending between a respective outer portion and the central portion. The arrangement is such that the front lip is generally concave when viewed from within the 5 bucket.

The central portion may be elongate, and substantially perpendicular to the side walls. It is preferred that the central portion represent about 50-70% of the length of the front lip.

The transitional portions may be straight portions, angled with respect to the 10 outer portions. The transitional portions may be angled at about 10-30° relative to the outer portions. In an alternative embodiment, the transitional portions may be curved.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present machine there is provided a bucket for an earth moving machine, the bucket having a bowl portion 15 located between two side walls, the bowl portion being connected to respective side walls along shoulders, the shoulders defining a first curve in a plane parallel to the side wall, the bowl including a central portion and two side portions, the central portion being defined by a portion of a cylinder based on a second curve in a plane parallel to the side walls, the second 20 curve being outside the first curve over at least 90° curvature of the first curve, the side portions connecting the central portion and the shoulders.

The word ‘cylinder’ is used here in its broad mathematical sense, to denote a surface created by extending a planar curve in a direction perpendicular to its plane. 25 Preferably, a part of the central portion adjacent a front lip of the bucket will be flat, representing a straight portion of the second curve. This flat portion defines a floor of the bucket.

The bucket shoulder may be similarly flat adjacent the front lip, with the side portions being angled from the shoulders to the bucket floor. The angle of the 30 side portions may correspond to the angle of transitional portions of the front lip.

The second curve may be parallel to and correspond with the first curve over a part of the bucket adjacent bucket pins. The first and second curves may therefore have an equal radius of curvature over part of the first curve, with 4 2011202931 24 Nov 2016 the radius of curvature of the second curve being greater than that of the first curve over at least a portion of the first curve.

It will be appreciated that the proposed arrangement is such that, if a plane is drawn perpendicular to the bucket sidewalls, an intersection of the bowl 5 portion with that plane will show straight line segments: a central segment and two upwardly sloping transitional segments, if the intersection is in a part of the bucket where the second curve is outside the first; or a single line segment, if the intersection is in a part of the bucket where the second curve corresponds to the first. 10 In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a bucket for an earth moving machine, the bucket having a bowl portion located between two side walls, the bowl portion being connected to respective shoulders, wherein the shape of the bowl portion is that of a flat bottomed V through at least 90° curvature of the bowl portion. 15

Brief Description of the Drawings

It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the bucket of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following 20 discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a bucket in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a side view of the bucket of Figure 1. 25

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Shown in the figures is a bucket 10 for incorporation in an earth moving machine. The bucket 10 includes a bowl 12 supported by two side walls 14, and a pin assembly 16. 30 The bowl 12 terminates in a front lip 20. The front lip 20 has five sections: a central portion 22; two outer portions 24 (one at either end of the front lip 20) and two transitional portions 26. 5 2011202931 24 Nov 2016

The central portion 22 and the outer portions 24 are parallel to a line connecting the side walls 14; that is, the central portion 22 and the outer portions 24 are substantially horizontal when the bucket 10 is in its usual operating position. The line connecting the side walls 14 and perpendicular to 5 the side walls 14 can be considered to represent a lateral direction.

Each outer portion 24 extends from a front edge of a respective side wall 14 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the side walls 14 (that is, in the lateral direction) and away from the bowl 12.

The central portion 22 of the front lip 20 is also the front edge of a central 10 portion 30 of the bowl 12. The central portion 30 of the bowl 12 has a flat surface 32 adjacent the front lip 20. This defines a floor of the bucket 10. A vertical direction of the bucket can be defined perpendicular to the flat surface 32. It will be appreciated that this direction is vertical when the central portion 22 and outer portions 24 are horizontal. 15 The two outer portions 24 of the front lip 20 are aligned, but the central portion 22 of the front lip 20 is not aligned with the outer portions 24. When the floor of the bucket 10 is horizontal, the central portion 22 is located lower than the outer portions 24. Each transitional portion 26 extends between an inner end of an outer portion 24 near the side wall 14, and an outer end of the central 20 portion 22. The transitional portions 26 are thus angled relative to the horizontal.

In the embodiment of the drawings, the central portion 22 comprises about 60% of the length of the front lip 20, although it is anticipated that a proportion between about 50% and about 70% will prove particularly beneficial. The 25 angle of the transitional portions 26 relative to the central portion 22 is about 20°, although it is anticipated that an angle between 10° and 30° will prove beneficial.

The transitional portions 26 of the front lip 20 are also front edges of side portions 34 of the bowl 12. The side portions 34 extend at an angle between 30 the outer edge or shoulder 40 of the side walls 14 and the central portion 30.

In a typical bucket, as known in the prior art, the bowl 12 of the bucket 10 follows the curve of the shoulder 40. Defined in mathematical terms, the shoulder 40 defines a curve in a plane defined by the side wall 14. The bowl 12 represents a cylinder (using the word in its broadest mathematical sense) 6 2011202931 24 Nov 2016 based on this curve. In other words, a typical bucket 10 is a partial or open prism, with ends defined by the side walls.

The bucket 10 of the present invention shares this property with traditional buckets near the pin assembly 16. At around 60° curvature from the pin 5 assembly 16, however, the bowl 12 divides into the central portion 30 and side portions 34 described above. Following this division, the central portion 30 can be defined mathematically as representing a cylinder based on a curve, the curve in this instance being outside that of the shoulder 40. It will be appreciated that this is achieved by having a radius of curvature, at least at 10 the point where the division occurs, greater than that of the shoulders 40.

Through the remainder of the curvature of the bowl 12, being about 120°, the curve defining the central portion 30 is outside that of the shoulders 40. At the floor 32 of the bucket 10, therefore, the central portion 30 is lower than the shoulders 40. 15 The side portions 34 connect the central portion 30 to the shoulders 40, giving the bowl 12 of the present invention its characteristic ‘flat bottomed V’ appearance.

In use, ground engaging tools such as adaptors and teeth will be fitted along the front lip 20 of the bucket 10. The angle of each of these tools will follow 20 the angle of the various sections of the front lip 20. The presence of the outer portions 24 allows for outermost teeth 42 to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the side walls 14. This assists in efficient use of the bucket 10.

It will be appreciated that, although the shape of the bucket 10 has been 25 described mathematically, in use the bucket is unlikely to be geometrically precise.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. Claims

   1. A bucket for an earthmoving machine, the bucket having two substantially parallel side walls and a floor, the bucket having a lateral direction perpendicular to the side walls, and a vertical direction perpendicular to the floor, the bucket having a front lip extending across the bucket, wherein the front lip comprises two substantially aligned outer portions which are oriented in the lateral direction, a central portion which is displaced in the vertical direction relative to the outer portions, and two transitional portions, each transitional portion extending between a respective outer portion and the central portion.
2. 2. A bucket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central portion is elongate, and substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls.
3. 3. A bucket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the central portion represents about 50-70% of the length of the front lip.
4. 4. A bucket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transitional portions are straight portions, angled with respect to the outer portions.
5. 5. A bucket as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transitional portions are angled at about 10-30° relative to the outer portions.
6. 6. A bucket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transitional portions are curved.
7. 7. A bucket as claimed in any preceding claim, the bucket having a bowl portion located between the side walls, the bowl portion being connected to respective side walls along shoulders, the shoulders defining a first curve in a plane parallel to the side wall, the bowl including a central portion and two side portions, the central portion being defined by a portion of a cylinder based on a second curve in a plane parallel to the side walls, the second curve being outside the first curve over at least 90° curvature of the first curve, the side portions connecting the central portion and the shoulders.
8. 8. A bucket as claimed in claim 7, wherein a part of the central portion adjacent a front lip of the bucket is flat, defining the floor of the bucket.
9. 9. A bucket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bucket shoulders are flat adjacent the front lip, with the side portions being angled from the shoulders to the bucket floor.
10. 10. A bucket as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the second curve is parallel to and corresponds with the first curve over a part of the bucket adjacent bucket pins.
11. 11. A bucket for an earth moving machine as claimed in any preceding claim, the bucket having a bowl portion located between two side walls, the bowl portion being connected to respective shoulders, wherein the shape of the bowl portion is that of a flat bottomed V through at least 90° curvature of the bowl portion.