AU2019280036A1

AU2019280036A1 - Narrow Trencher Bucket

Info

Publication number: AU2019280036A1
Application number: AU2019280036A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bryan PEACH
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-23
Filing date: 2019-12-12
Publication date: 2020-01-23
Also published as: WO2015196251A1; AU2015281792A1

Abstract

Abstract A trencher bucket for forming a narrow trench, the narrow trench including a bottom and pair of opposed sides. Wherein, in use, a bucket body is passed through material to form the trench as material passes into the bucket body through a front opening, and a side opening and corresponding side of the trench substantially forms a containment of the material with the other side and bottom of the bucket body, and on lifting of the bucket body from the trench, material is no longer contained and can exit the bucket body through the side opening. WO 2015/196251 PCT/AU2015/050346 - 24 4 .. - '28 .- - 42 - ' 22

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of earth excavation. In particular, the invention relates to a bucket useful in the digging of trenches.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Excavators and backhoes having a bucket are known to dig holes and trenches. Trencher buckets are known, used with machinery to dig a trench such as for industrial, construction or drainage purposes. As material is removed from the trench the bucket fills and must be emptied. Where the bucket is large and the material loose there is little difficulty as the excavator or backhoe driver can move the bucket to a suitable location and tip out the material.

[0003] However, there are numerous situations where it is desirable to dig only a narrow trench of a width of less than 300 millimetres, say, perhaps for drainage, or installation of water pipes or cables. In such circumstances there are three options at present: use a standard digger, a chain trencher or to dig the trench by hand. Use of a standard digger and bucket will result in a trench being dug far wider than necessary. Once the drainage or other pipes have been installed a considerable amount of backfill material must be moved to fill in the trench.

[0004] A chain trencher is known, having an operating part having an appearance similar to a chainsaw but configured t cuts into the ground removing the material in a strip. Chain trenchers are large pieces of machinery, which are expensive to buy and so are typically hired specifically for the purpose of digging a narrow trench. Most operators do not therefore have access to a chain trencher would generally resort to digging by hand instead or use a standard digger, if one is available.

[0005] At a golf course, or sports ground, drainage regularly needs to be attended to and as such narrow trenches dug to inspect or install pipes. A skid-steer digger is a piece of equipment often owned by sports ground keepers for use for tasks around the ground and is likely to be the machinery of choice to dig a trench. In other industries communications conduits may need to be laid in urban environments where damage to surrounding surfaces, such as in a park, or school field, is to be minimised. It is highly desirable to minimise the

-1This data, for application number 2015281792, is current as of 2019-12-11 21:00 AEST

WO 2015/196251

PCT/AU2015/050346

2019280036 12 Dec 2019 disturbance of the surface when installing pipes or cables by minimising the size of the trench to be dug. In any of these and other circumstances hire or purchase of a chain trencher is prohibitively expensive and not a realistic choice. Accordingly, the narrow trench is dug by hand or by a conventional digger thererby creating extra work, disturbance to the surface and general inconvenience.

[0006] There has long been a desire to solve the problem of the need for a narrow trencher bucket that can be used with existing machinery. There is however a significant problem in that scaling down conventional buckets to a narrow size is not an option. The reason for this is that in the narrow confines of the bucket as material is dug out of the trench it rapidly compacts. On lifting of the bucket from the trench the compacted material in the bucket will not tip out, all or most of the material remains in the bucket and must be levered out by hand.

[0007] The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each provisional claim of this application.

[0008] It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a narrow trencher bucket that at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0009] The inventor has, through carefully experimentation, developed a new narrow trencher bucket which can be used to form narrow trenches loosening the soil as it does so that the soil can simply be tipped out ready to backfill the trench after installation of the pipe, for example. The narrow trencher bucket facilitates digging a narrow trench, making the task quicker and easier than by a prior art method, and in a way such that existing digging machinery can be used. Less ground surface needs to be disturbed to dig, for example a very specific narrow trench to install a pipe or cable. It is proposed that the invention will prove very useful in a range of different industries and applications.

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 [0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides a trencher bucket for forming a narrow trench in material, the narrow trench including a bottom and pair of opposed sides, the trencher bucket including: a bucket body, having a base and a pair of opposed sides and a front opening between the sides, and the bucket body is configured to present the front opening including a cutting edge to the material, the bucket body also including a side opening in one side, wherein, the bucket body can be passed through material to form the trench as material passes into the bucket body through the front opening, and the side opening and corresponding side of the trench substantially forms a containment of the material with the other side and bottom of the bucket body, and on lifting of the bucket body from the trench, material is no longer contained and can exit the bucket body through the side opening.

[0011] Preferably, the trencher bucket is an attachment for use with machinery. Preferably, an attachment part is included for attaching to machinery. The attachment part may be configured to correspond to standard attachments of machinery. Preferably, the attachment part is welded to the bucket body. Preferably, the bucket body is substantially narrower than the attachment part. Preferably, the attachment part is configured for ready attachment or removal from machinery to allow quick interchange with other attachments.

[0012] Preferably, the machinery is a digger, skid-steer machine or similar. Any suitable machinery may be used to cause the trencher bucket to be moved. It is envisaged that the machinery may be machinery that is used for other purposes that can be adapted through use of the invention to digging narrow trenches. Preferably, the machinery causes the trencher bucket to travel and passed over and through material of a surface. Preferably, the travel is in a straight line. Preferably, the travel of the pass can be readily controlled by the machinery. The attachment may be through bolts, hooks or other fixing to firmly attach to the machinery, in use. Most preferably, the machinery causes the trencher bucket to be moved in the horizontal plane to form the trench. Most preferably, the machinery moves the trencher bucket in either the horizontal or vertical plane only. Preferably, the machinery can move the trencher bucket in the vertical plane whereby material can exit the bucket body through the side opening. Preferably, as the side opening is lifted above the edge of the trench the material is no longer contained within the trencher bucket and exits through the side opening onto the side of the trench. The material may then be used to readily backfill the trench if required. Preferably, the trencher bucket can be moved towards the machinery to form the narrow trench but may also be used moving horizontally away from the machinery. Preferably, the trencher bucket can be used with the machinery to dig a trench right up close a wall or other construction or obstacle.

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 [0013] Preferably, the trencher bucket is made substantially of steel. The trencher bucket may be similarly made of any suitable material, including other metals, or composite materials.

[0014] Preferably, the narrow trench is narrower than the width of standard digger buckets. The narrow trench may be of a width of less than 500 millimetres. Preferably, the narrow trench has a width of less than 300 millimetres. Preferably, the narrow trench has a width of less than 250 millimetres. Preferably, the narrow trench has a width of less than 100 millimetres. Preferably, the width of the narrow trencher bucket is less than 200 millimetres in width. Most preferably the width of the narrow trencher bucket at the cutting face is substantially 100 millimetres or less. Most preferably the width of the narrow trench dug is substantially 65 millimetres. Most preferably the width of the narrow trencher bucket at the cutting face is substantially 65 millimetres. Most preferably, the narrow trench is of a width suitable to receive a standard pipe, conduit or cable. A 70 millimetre trench may be desired for installing standard water or electricity services. The trencher bucket may be adapted to form a trench of any suitable narrow width. It is to be noted that the form of the trencher bucket will work well for wider trenches and use as a general trencher is not excluded from the disclosed invention. However, due to the many and significant advantages of use to form narrow trenches the description and claims are in the most part directed to the particularly beneficial use of digging narrow trenches.

[0015] The narrow trench may be any suitable shape or form. Preferably, the narrow trench is substantially rectangular in cross-section with the short ends forming the base and top. Preferably, the sides of the trench are substantially vertical to a base. The sides of the trench may be at an angle to the vertical such as to angle upwards slightly. Preferably, the trench is shaped by the front of the bucket body travelling substantially horizontally through the ground and the shape of the trencher is echoed by the trench. The trench may be a shape that does not have a defined base and pair of opposed sides, for example, including curved sides, in another form of the invention.

[0016] Preferably, the trench has a base and a pair of opposed walls extending upwardly from the base. Preferably, the trench is formed in sections and as the bucket body fills with material, the material is contained by the bucket body and wall of the trench corresponding to the side opening and as the trencher is lifted, material empties through the side opening once the side opening is above the top edge of the side of the trench. The process may be repeated to dig a trench of the desired length. Preferably, the trencher is moved substantially

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 horizontally backwards or forwards to form the trench as required. Preferably, the bucket body is moved substantially vertically until the bottom of bucket body is level with the top of the trench to empty material. Preferably, the trench substantially maintains its shape on removal of the trencher. Preferably, the walls of the trench are formed by the trencher such that the trench substantially maintains its shape when the trencher is lifted out and removed. Preferably, as the trencher is lifted vertically the configuration of the trencher bucket assists to prevent disturbance to the walls of the trench.

[0017] The narrow trench may be any suitable length. The narrow trench may be used for installation of drainage. The narrow trench may be used for installation of pipes. The narrow trench may be used for the installation of communication cables and or conduits. The narrow trench may be used for any suitable purpose. The narrow trench may be dug in a golf course or sports surface. The narrow trench may be formed in the ground. In particular the narrow trench may be used in drainage maintenance of golf courses and sports grounds.

[0018] The material may be any suitable material. Preferably, the material is the ground of a surface in which it is desired to dig a narrow trench. The material may be chosen from the group: grass; sand; soil; debris; spoil or other surface material. The material may be the ground of a grassed surface. The material may be layers of ground of a golf course including soil and sand. The material may be the ground of sports ground or oval. The narrow trench may be dug in concrete or other hard materials where it is desirable to minimise disturbance when installing pipes, cables or the like.

[0019] Preferably the bucket body may be made of steel. The bucket body may be made of any suitably strong material. The bucket body may be made of other metals or composite materials. The bucket body may be any suitable shape. Preferably, the bucket body is narrower than it is long. Preferably, the bucket body is rectangular in cross-section. Preferably, the bucket body is substantially cuboid. Preferably, the bucket body includes a pair of opposed sides, substantially rectangular in shape. Preferably, the pair of sides extend upwardly from a base. The side opening may be formed by one of the opposed sides being open.

[0020] The bucket body may include a part not configured to receive material therein. The part of the bucket body not configured to receive material therein may be shaped similarly to the part adapted to receive material. The bucket body may include a first part and a second part where the first part is configured to receive material therein and the second part is configured to assist in forming the depth of the trench. The first part may be suitable to

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 scoop material as the trench is formed as the trencher travels through the material. Preferably, the front of the first part presents at an angle to the vertical. Preferably, the first part of the bucket body is formed below the second part of the bucket body. The angle to the vertical may be any suitable angle. The angle to the vertical of the first part may be substantially 15 degrees.

[0021] The second part may be configured to be rectangular in cross-section. Preferably, the second part has a substantially flat front surface. Preferably, the second part presents at an angle to the vertical. The angle to the vertical may be any suitable angle. The angle to the vertical of the second part may be substantially 15 degrees. Most preferably, the shape of the front of the bucket body meets at a point. Preferably, the point forms the junction between the first part and second part. Preferably, the first part and the second part extend away from the point each having an angle of substantially 15 degrees to the vertical. Preferably, the front of the bucket body is shaped to assist the forming of the trench. Preferably, the front of the bucket body assists the trench to maintain its form on lifting of the trencher out of the trench.

[0022] Preferably, the bucket body includes a base and at least one side. In this form of the invention the side opening is the missing side of the bucket body. The bucket body may have a front, back and a pair of opposed sides between the front and the back. Any of the front, back or sides may be open or include an opening. Preferably, a pair of sides are included for forming the shape of the sides of the trench. Preferably, a pair of opposed sides are included with a base between them. Preferably, the side of the trench formed by the side of the bucket body including the side opening assists to contain in the bucket body in use.

[0023] In one preferred form of the invention the base lies between the pair of sides at an angle to the horizontal. In this form of the invention the base is at an angle to the horizontal of substantially 20 degrees. Other suitable angles may be used. Use of a non-horizontal base may be used to assist in removal of the trencher from the trench. Most preferably, the angle of the base acts to bias a side of the bucket body against the side of the trench. Preferably, the side opening is on one side of the bucket body and the angle of the base biases the other side of the bucket body against the side of the trench. In this way pressure may be relieved from the side with the side opening. Preferably, the shape of the base of the trencher assists to maintain the shape of the trench during lifting of the trencher from the trench. Preferably, one side of the bucket body extends below the base. Both sides of the bucket body may extend below the base. Preferably, the sides of the bucket body cut the sides of the trench. In this case the front opening may include the parts of the sides of the

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 bucket body than extend below the base. Preferably, the front edges of the sides of the bucket body include a cutting edge to cut the trench.

[0024] An edge may be included on one side, of the two sides of the bucket body, to form a track in the earth to assist to maintain the other side of the bucket body against the opposite side of the trench. The edge may be formed along the back edge of a side. The edge may be 20 millimetres in depth and run along the lower edge of the open side of the bucket body. The edge may take any suitable form. The edge may be of a height of 20 to 30 millimetres. The height of the edge must not extend above the bottom lip of the open side of the bucket. Preferably, the edge assists the side opening to form a side of the trench.

[0025] Preferably, the bucket body is less than 500 millimetres in width. Preferably, the bucket body is less than 300 millimetres in width. Preferably, the bucket body is less than 100 millimetres in width. Preferably, the width of the bucket body is suitable to dig a trench of a 70 millimetre width. Most preferably the bucket body is substantially 65 millimetres in width. Most preferably, the bucket body is adapted to dig trenches of a suitable size to receive a standard pipe, conduit or cable.

[0026] Preferably, the bucket body includes a front opening for presenting to material, in use and the presentation may be to contact and cut into the material to form a trench. The front opening may take any suitable shape or form. Preferably, the front opening is generally rectangular in shape. Preferably, the front opening is of a shape similar to the front of the bucket body. The front opening may form a generally rectangular trench, but have a base at a slight angle to the horizontal. The front opening may include cutting edges extending beyond a base such as where the sides of the bucket body extend below the base.

[0027] Preferably, the front part of the bucket body is angled to the vertical. Preferably, the front part of the bucket body includes a part angled to the vertical at substantially 15 degrees and it is this part that includes the front opening. Preferably, the majority of the lower part of the bucket body is open at the front to enable material to enter therein. Preferably, the front opening defines the shape of the trench in cross-section. In another form of the invention the entire front of the bucket body may be open to enable material to pass therein. The front opening may include a grate.

[0028] The front opening may including cutting edges around some or all of its perimeter. The cutting edges may also extend beyond the front opening. Preferably, the entire perimeter of the front opening acts as a cutting edge. There may be a pair of opposed sides

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 each with a cutting edge, instead. A base may join the pair of opposed sides and the base may also include a cutting edge. The cutting edge may be the edge of a wall of the bucket body. In this form of the invention the cutting edge is not sharp in anyway but naturally forms the trench as any edge of a hard material would. The cutting edge may be shaped or taper to facilitate cutting through the material. Preferably, the cutting edge is at substantially 15 degrees to the vertical as it presents to the material. The cutting edge may be sharpened. The cutting edge may be a hardened edge, other treatment or attachment to the edge to improve cutting and longevity of the cutting edge. There may be a plurality of cutting edges. The cutting edge may be adapted to smoothly cut through material such as soil and sand. The cutting edge is not configured to be sharp, as such, but rather cut on the action of travel caused by the machinery. However, it is envisaged that sharpened edges could be useful to cut through some materials.

[0029] Preferably, the cutting edge and a pair of opposed sides of the bucket body together cut and form the trench walls. Preferably, the shape of the trench echoes the shape of the front opening and or bucket body in profile. Preferably, the shape of the bucket body defines the shape of the trench to be formed. The sides of the bucket body may assist to form the wall of the trench as it moves forward through the material.

[0030] Preferably, the bottom edge of the front opening is angled to the horizontal. Preferably, the base of the bucket body is angled to the horizontal to assist in removal of the narrow trencher bucket from the trench. The angling of the bottom edge of the front opening may assist with removal of the narrow trencher bucket from the trench. Preferably, the angle of the bottom edge of the front opening acts to keep a side of the bucket body against the side of the trench. Preferably, the side bias against the side of the trench is the side without the side opening. Most preferably, the side of the bucket body with the side opening is bias away from the side of the trench by the angle of the bottom edge of the front opening.

[0031] Preferably, the side opening is formed in only one side of the bucket body. The side opening may form most of one side of the bucket body. The side opening may be more than one side opening. There may be openings in more than one side. Preferably, the side opening is of a form of a “window” in the side of the bucket body. The side opening may form an entire side of the trencher bucket and the configuration of the trencher bucket assists to form the side of the trench as the trencher bucket moves horizontally through the material. Material may enter or leave the trencher bucket through the side opening. The side opening may be of any suitable shape. The side opening may echo the shape of the side in which it is formed. The side opening is preferably of sufficient size to enable the contents of the

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 bucket body to be emptied out easily in one movement. Preferably, the side opening enables the entire contents of the bucket body to be emptied out in one move as the trencher bucket is lifted above the level of the trench wall. Preferably, the side in which the side opening is formed has an upper part and a lower part [0032] Preferably, one wall of the trench is formed as the bucket body is moved through the material and forms a containment with the other side and base of the bucket body to contain material until the side opening is lifted above the top edge of the trench whereby material can be emptied.

[0033] Preferably, one or more baffles are included. Preferably, the bucket body includes one or more baffle. Preferably, the baffles assist to break up material as the front opening is presented to the material. The baffles may act to brace the sides. The base of the bucket body may act as a baffle to assist to break up the material. Preferably, the baffles act to cut and break up material as the bucket body passes through the material. Preferably, a pair of baffles are included, spaced equidistant from one another and correspondingly the base, to divide the front opening into three openings. Preferably, there are a plurality of baffles spaced from the base of the bucket body to divide the front opening so that as the front opening is presented to the material the material is broken up and enters into the bucket body in a substantially non-compacted state. Preferably, the baffles only extend a short distance into the bucket body. Preferably, the baffle is a flat piece formed or fixed in the front opening. The baffles may take any suitable form or be omitted in another form of the invention.

[0034] The invention also provides a method of digging a narrow trench with a trencher bucket, the trencher bucket including a bucket body configured to present a front opening and cutting edge to material, the bucket body also including a side opening in a side of the bucket body, the method including the following steps:

a) lowering the bucket body whereby the front opening and cutting edge are presented to the material;

b) causing the bucket body to travel forward or backwards so that material enters the bucket body through the front opening and is

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 contained therein between the side of the trench corresponding to the side opening and the bucket body;

c) lifting the bucket body up above the edge of the trench so material can empty from the bucket body, through the side opening;

d) repeating steps a) to c) until the trench is dug.

[0035] The method may include the further step of repeating steps a) to c) with the bucket body at a lower level below the ground to dig a deeper trench in the material.

[0036] The method may include the initial step of attaching the trencher bucket to machinery to cause the trencher bucket to travel over a surface and form the trench. The attachment may be of any suitable form.

[0037] The trencher bucket of the method may be the trencher bucket of the invention in any of its forms and variants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0038] The invention will now be described in connection with a non-limiting preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a trencher bucket according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the trencher bucket of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the trencher bucket of Figures 1 and 2, in use to dig a trench and being emptied;

Figure 4 is a schematic front view of the views of the trencher bucket of Figure 3; and

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Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the trencher bucket of Figures 1 to 4, in use on a surface, making a second pass for a deeper trench than in Figures 3 and 4.

[0039] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, where trencher bucket attachment 1, has bucket 10 and attachment 12, for attaching to a suitable piece of machinery. The machinery may be a skid-steer machine or the like and is not shown throughout for clarity of illustration. Bucket 10 of trencher bucket attachment 1 is attached by attachment 12 to the suitable piece of machinery. It is in this way that trench 14 can be formed in ground 16, as the machinery travels with trencher bucket attachment 1 attached, usually behind, cutting horizontally into the ground, as described in detail below. In other forms of the invention the trencher bucket attachment 1 could have a suitable handle attached for use by hand instead, particularly in smaller forms of the invention.

[0040] Attachment 12 for attaching bucket 10 to the machinery is by application of bolts (not shown) through holes 18 and engagement of hook 20 in a conventional manner. The particular form of attachment 12 can be varied to suit the particular application to be made of the invention. Attachment 12 is shown made of strong steel but other metals or strong materials could also be used instead.

[0041] Bucket 10 has base 22, and sides 24 and 26 extending down below base 22 and up to join attachment 12 between front opening 28 and back 30. All of bucket 10, base 22, sides 24 and 26, and back 30 are made of a strong steel material as is resistant to corrosion over time. Other metals may also be suitable or other strong, sturdy materials. Base 22 is angled to the horizontal slightly as this prevents bucket 10 becoming stuck and assists so that on lifting vertically up trench 14 remain intact. The angle to the horizontal of base 22 is approximately 20 degrees. The angle of 15 degrees is suitable but can be varied somewhat.

[0042] Bucket 10 is adapted to have front opening 28 facing forward during use so that cutting edges 32 and 34 are presented to the surface. Edge 36 forms the edge of the remainder of sides 24 and 26 as can be seen in particular in Figures 1 and 2. As illustrated edges 32 and 34 are the thin edges of metal formed of sides 24 and 26. These edges could be sharpened or otherwise shaped to facilitate cutting through the surface material, to break it up for removal.

[0043] Side opening 40 in side 24 is an important feature of the invention as it is through side opening 40 that material can be quickly removed from bucket 10 without the need for

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 separate tools. The wall of trench 14 corresponding to side opening 40 forms the side of a containment for the material in use, until side opening 40 is lifted free of the wall of trench 14 whereby the material spills out of side opening 40 onto the side of trench 14. Further, inclusion of side opening 40 prevents material from becoming compacted within bucket 10, again so the material can easily be removed when forming trench 14. Side opening 40 could equally be formed in side 26 instead. The particular shape of side opening 40 can be varied, however side opening 40 as shown is in the form of being an open side to the lower part of bucket 10, as is particularly useful. In use, side 26 is pressed against the wall being formed of trench 14 and the opposing wall is formed against side 24 and side opening 40. Side 26 of bucket 10 is pressed against the side of trench 14 by the angle of the edge of base 22 as it cuts into the material, biasing side 26 tightly against the side being formed of trench 14. The biasing of side 26 relieves the pressure on side 24 and side opening assisting in formation of trench 14 and containment of the material within bucket body 10. As trencher bucket attachment 1 travels and cutting edge 32 forms the wall of trench 14, there is sufficient structure, due to the biasing and pressure of the respective sides 26 and 24 so that the material does not collapse and equally does not compact into any part of bucket 10. In conventional buckets, material quickly becomes compacted in the corners and edges. For wide trenchers the problem is less serious as the material can be removed quickly in the most part by tipping out. To make a narrow trench the problem of compacted material is serious as the material is likely to compact each use and would need to be dug out using a narrow tool, in order that the trenching can continue.

[0044] Similarly, projection 46 at the back of bucket 10 forms a track in the material as narrow trencher bucket attachment 1 is moved through the ground. Projection 46 assists to create the wall of trench 14, corresponding to side opening 40 and to continue to bias bucket 10 against full side wall 26, taking the pressure off side wall 24 with side opening 40. Projection 46 as illustrated is 20 millimetres in width; other suitable widths could be used.

[0045] There is an angling of around 15 degrees to the vertical away from a point (not labelled) between cutting edges 32 and 34 and edges 36 and 38 respectively, forming a plough shape. The shape of the front of bucket 10 helps the trench be cut and to smoothly be removed from the trench. Similarly, the angle of base 22 assists to lift bucket 10 up and out of trench 14 without damaging the walls.

[0046] Baffles 42 and 44 sit at front opening 28 of bucket 10 and have cutting edges (not labelled) to assist to break up the material of ground 16 as trench 14 is formed. Further, baffles 42 and 44 assist to prevent material from compacting within bucket 10, keeping the

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 material loosened to facilitate subsequent removal. Use of baffles 42 and 44 is optional but useful to help bucket 10 move smoothly through the material and to break up the material for ready removal through the side opening 40. Baffles 42 and 44 also strengthen bucket body 10 by bracing across front opening 28.

[0047] In use, as can be seen in particular in Figures 3 to 5 passes are made through the surface to form trench 14 in ground 16. Arrows are included to indicate the direction of movement to facilitate understanding of the Figures. A first pass may be made with the machinery set to have base 22 at a first height. The first height may be so that the junction between cutting edges 32 and 34 and non-cutting edges 36 and 38 is level with the top of the surface. Bucket 10 is caused to move forward horizontally and in a straight-line by the machinery with the front edge of base 22 and projection 46 together creating a track and biasing side wall 26 of bucket 10 against the forming wall of trench 14, relieving the pressure on side 24 and side opening 40. As bucket 10 moves forward baffles 42 and 44 and cutting edges 32 and 34 cut into and loosen the soil as trench 14 is formed. The loosened soil or other material of the ground 16 is captured and contained in bucket 10 with the side wall of the trench, and when full bucket 10 can be lifted vertically up by attachment 12 attached to the machinery. The angles of non-cutting edges 36 and 38 assist here, angling away from the walls formed of trench 14 so that these walls are undamaged and remain well formed. As bucket 10 is lifted up above the edge of trench 14 spoil material tips out of side opening 40 as the trench wall is no longer acting to maintain the material in bucket 10. Material could alternatively be removed through front opening 28, if desired. As the material has been broken up and loosened by cutting edges 32 and 34 and baffles 42 and 44, as well as the edge of base 22, the material is loose and easily spills out of side opening 40 without the need for tools to be used to clean out bucket 10. The spoil exits bucket 10 only as side opening 40 is lifted clear of the edge of the trench, so a neat pile of spoil material is created, right at the edge of trench, exactly where it is needed for backfilling. The process is repeat for as long as trench 14 needs to be dug.

[0048] A second pass can then be performed in the same manner but with the machinery maintaining base 22 of bucket 10 at a lower level so the second layer of the trench can be dug. As illustrated the maximum depth of bucket 10 is used so that attachment 12 is just above the surface. The depth of trench 14 can be varied to suit the particular application. It may be that the first pass takes the top soil and the second pass cuts into clay or other more resistant material requiring the travel caused by the machinery of the bucket to be far slower. Again the particular speed of the pass can be varied to suit the material to be trenched, the depth and other factors such as if there are rocks or other debris or obstacles present.

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2019280036 12 Dec 2019 [0049] Once trench 14 has been made of sufficient length the drainage pipes, communication conduit or other items can be installed before trench 14 is backfilled with the collected spoil. The spoil material has been loosened and broken up during removal and forming trench 14 so that back filling is an easy process easily performed by hand with a spade. Further as only a narrow trench is dug, there is very little spoil, again lessening the work and time required to complete the job. If the spoil material had compacted during removal, as occurs using conventional wide buckets, the material would be more difficult to back fill and additional material may be required to compensate for the compaction.

[0050] It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiment disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its various aspects.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A trencher bucket for forming a narrow trench in a material, the narrow trench including a bottom and pair of opposed sides, the trencher bucket including:

a bucket body, having a base and a pair of opposed sides and a front opening between the sides, the bucket body configured to present the front opening including a cutting edge to a material, the bucket body also including a side opening in one side, wherein, in use, the bucket body is passed through material to form the trench as material passes into the bucket body through the front opening, and the side opening and corresponding side of the trench substantially forms a containment of the material with the other side and bottom of the bucket body, and on lifting of the bucket body from the trench, material is no longer contained and can exit the bucket body through the side opening.
2. The trencher bucket of claim 1 comprising an attachment part configured to attach the bucket to a digging machine.
3. The trencher bucket of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bucket body is rectangular in cross-section.
4. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the bucket body includes a pair of opposed sides, substantially rectangular in shape, the pair of sides extend upwardly from a base, wherein one of the opposed sides has, or is, the side opening.
5. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the bucket body includes a first part and a second part wherein the first part is configured to receive material therein and the second part is configured to assist in forming the depth of the trench.
6. The trencher bucket of claim 5 wherein the first part presents at an angle to the vertical, optionally at an angle of about 15 degrees.
7. The trencher bucket of claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the first part of the bucket body is formed below the second part of the bucket body.

-15This data, for application number 2015281792, is current as of 2019-12-11 21:00 AEST

WO 2015/196251

PCT/AU2015/050346

2019280036 12 Dec 2019
8. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the second part of the bucket body has a substantially flat front surface.
9. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the second part presents at an angle to the vertical, optionally at an angle of about 15 degrees.
10. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the shape of the front of the bucket body meets at a point.
11. The trencher bucket of claim 10 wherein the point forms the junction between the first part and second part, with the first part and the second part extending away from the point at an angle to the vertical, optionally the angle is about 15 degrees to the vertical.
12. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the base lies between the pair of sides at an angle to the horizontal, optionally the angle is about 20 degrees to the horizontal.
13. The trencher bucket of claim 12 wherein, in use, the angle of the base acts to bias a side of the bucket body against the side of the trench.
14. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 13 including an edge on one side, of the two sides of the bucket body, to form a track in the earth to assist to maintain the other side of the bucket body against the opposite side of the trench.
15. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the front part of the bucket body is angled to the vertical, optionally the angle is about 15 degrees to the vertical.
16. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the front opening includes one or more cutting edges around some or all of its perimeter.
17. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein a bottom edge of the front opening is angled to the horizontal.
18. The trencher bucket of claim 17 wherein the angle of the bottom edge of the front opening acts to bias a side of the bucket body against the side of the trench.

-16WO 2015/196251

PCT/AU2015/050346

2019280036 12 Dec 2019
19. The trencher bucket of claim 18, wherein the side biased against the side of the trench is the side without the side opening.
20. The trencher bucket of claim 18 or 19 wherein the side of the bucket body with the side opening is biased away from the side of the trench by the angle of the bottom edge of the front opening.
21. The trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the bucket body includes one or more baffles configured to assist in cutting into or breaking up material as the front opening is presented to the material.
22. A method of digging a narrow trench with a trencher bucket, the trencher bucket including a bucket body configured to present a front opening and cutting edge to material, the bucket body also including a side opening in a side of the bucket body, the method including the following steps:

a) lowering the bucket body whereby the front opening and cutting edge are presented to the material;

b) causing the bucket body to travel forward or backwards so that material enters the bucket body through the front opening and is contained therein between the side of the trench corresponding to the side opening and the bucket body;

c) lifting the bucket body up above the edge of the trench so material can empty from the bucket body, through the side opening; and

d) repeating steps a) to c) until the trench is dug.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the trencher bucket is the trencher bucket of any one of claims 1 to 21.