AU2020101485A4

AU2020101485A4 - Excavator bucket and attachment modular mount bracket

Info

Publication number: AU2020101485A4
Application number: AU2020101485A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Phillip Shepley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-24
Filing date: 2020-07-24
Publication date: 2020-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-24

Abstract

EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND ATTACHMENT MODULAR MOUNT BRACKET ABSTRACT: This Modular mounting design consists of an individual prefabricated mount bracket, bucket or attachment and fasteners (fig.2), both with standardised mounting geometry between them uniquely designed to be quickly attached together with fasteners rather than welding (fig.3). It also allows a modular assembly design, for additional components to be added to the bucket or attachments between, above or below the mount bracket and bucket or attachment. Phillip Richard Shepley 16/07/2020 EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND ATTACHMENT MODULAR MOUNT BRACKET DRAWINGS: EAR OPENING PIN1 DIAMETER P ENTRE Figure 1 - conventional excavator bucket with different geometryfor all makes and models. Mout Bra ket Figure 2 - exploded view of the modular mount bracket Figure 3- assembled view of the modular mount bracket

Description

EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND ATTACHMENT MODULAR MOUNT BRACKET DRAWINGS: EAR OPENING

PIN1 DIAMETER

P ENTRE

Figure 1 - conventional excavator bucket with different geometryfor all makes and models.

Mout Bra ket

Figure 2 - exploded view of the modular mount bracket

Figure 3- assembled view of the modular mount bracket

Editorial Note 2020101485 There is only three pages of the description

AUSTRALIA Patents act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND ATTACHMENT MODULAR MOUNT BRACKET

Phillip Richard Shepley 16/07/2020

The invention is described in the following statement

EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND ATTACHMENT MODULAR MOUNT BRACKET DESCRIPTION:

Each make and model of excavator (hydraulic earthmoving machine) has unique mounting requirements specifically the pin diameter (diameter of the pins used to connect the bucket or attachment to the machine), pin centre distance (distance from the centre of the front pin to the centre of the rear pin) and ear opening width (distance between the inside faces of the mounting bosses) is always different (fig.1), removing the possibility of a "universal" design which can fit most makes and models. This makes it challenging for aftermarket suppliers to produce, stock and sell excavator attachments, due to custom fabrication being required for each various excavator make and model. For example, there are 30 excavators make and models in the 2-4t class, and there are 20 various attachments and bucket. If a retailer wishes to offer fast delivery without custom fabrication which includes welding, waiting for it to cool, finishing and painting, they must pre manufacture 20 different attachments for each excavator, because there are 30 different unique excavators this results in 600 items required to be in stock. This invention has been designed to allow improved attachment or bucket lead time to the end user, reduced custom fabrication costs and reduction in total stock costs without reducing the product range offering. Using this modular mounting design, the retailer must carry only 30 different brackets and 20 different attachments, resulting in only 50 items required to be in stock to service the capabilities as without the modular mounting design because the mounting design is very quick to install and can be done within minutes compared to welding, which can take a minimum of 2 hours in total, too long for a customer to wait. This Modular mounting design consists of an individual prefabricated mount bracket, bucket or attachment and fasteners (fig.2), both with standardised mounting geometry between them uniquely designed to be quickly attached together with fasteners rather than welding (fig.3). It also allows a modular assembly design, for additional components to be added to the bucket or attachments between, above or below the mount bracket and bucket or attachment.

Each size group of excavators based on the machines weight have a standardized geometry design specific to the forces which need to be withstood by the attachment. For example, all 2-4t excavators use the same standardized mounting geometry, which is smaller than the standardized mounting geometry used for 15-20t excavators due to reduced forces the excavator applies to the attachment, and reduced attachment size.(fig.4)

Size 1-2t 2-4t 5-10t 12-19t 20-29t 30-39t 40-49t 50-69t 70-89t Group 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 Table 1 Each excavator Group size has 1 standard base plate with common fastener geometry.

Each make and model excavator will have a mount bracket designed to fit the machines unique requirements with standardized fastener locations on the base plate relevant to the size group the excavator is in. Then each bucket or attachment size, type or design has the same standardized fastener locations in it is mounting location allowing any mount bracket to be attached to any bucket or attachment in its size group.

The mount bracket is fabricated from steel and is pre painted ready for final assembly once the combination is decided. This geometry is specially optimised to position the fasteners in a way which allows simple mount plate design for most makes and model excavators. The bucket or attachment can be any attachment or bucket already on the market, or future to the market, if the fastener location geometry is maintained. Bolt bars can also be welded onto existing other buckets or attachments to convert them for use with the modular mount brackets, this is useful for more complex attachments which could be imported from overseas, to remove the required of complex modification to suit specific excavators.

The Modular design also allows for additional modules(fig.5) to be quickly assembled, this could include rated lifting points, hydraulic grab modules, hydraulic rotating modules, hydraulic tilting modules and more. This again further minimises the stock required to be held by a retailer and allows the end user to upgrade his bucket or attachment after purchasing rather than needing to purchase a new, additional attachment later. The Modules will have the same standard geometry for the fasteners as the mount bracket and bucket or attachment, so the same existing mount brackets and bucket or attachments can be used without modification.

It can be common for hydraulic excavator attachments to use a bolted headplate design; however, the geometry is optimised to suit the attachment and not to suit a standardized mount bracket. Buckets are not common to have bolted mount brackets and this is one major improvement or change over conventional buckets this design allows.

Most attachments allow an easy way of fabricating a mounting plate to bolt a mount bracket too. However, buckets are challenging to create a mounting bracket surface strong enough to withstand the forces of digging. This unique bucket design uses 2 bolt bars incorporated into the cross member. (fig 6) The bolt bars welds into the bucket on two faces, the top, and the 90-degree bend right next to it, rather than just the top of the bucket. This allows significant strength improvements when compared to a flat top mount plate which does not tie into the additional faces. This design is particularly important for the modular mount bracket system and reduces weight and cost while increasing strength and rigidity. This bolt bar design has tapped holes for the bolts to be installed into and allows a fully enclosed front crossmember because access is not required to install a nut on the bottom of the bolt when installing the mount bracket which further increases its strength and simplicity.

Phillip Richard Shepley 16/07/2020

Claims

Editorial Note 2020101485 There is only one page of the claim EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND ATTACHMENT MODULAR MOUNT BRACKET CLAIMS:

1) An excavator bucket or attachment comprising of a bucket or attachment without any mounting plates or ears, but with a standardized bolt pattern on the top of the bucket or attachment and a separate mount bracket only attached to the bucket or attachment with fasteners which retains the same said standardized fastening geometry to allow interchangeability of mount brackets and buckets or attachments. (fig 2)

2) The mount plate design consists of a flat mounting surface with fasteners at the front and rear of the mount plate to distribute the stresses correctly. Each size group of excavators will share a standard fastener geometry (fig 4)

3) The excavator bucket or attachment as in claim 1 can be assembled with additional modules to be installed above, between or below the excavator bucket or attachment, and mount bracket. The module will use the same standardized geometry for its fastener location to allow interchangeability. (fig 5)

4) The excavator bucket uses a bolt bar design which has tapped holes and is welded into the front of the enclosed crossmember and rear of the bucket during fabrication. This allows the cross member to be sealed without access needed to attach nuts to the bottom of bolts.

Phillip Richard Shepley 16/07/2020

EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND ATTACHMENT MODULAR MOUNT BRACKET 24 Jul 2020

DRAWINGS: 2020101485

Figure 1 – conventional excavator bucket with different geometry for all makes and models.

Figure 2 – exploded view of the modular mount bracket

Figure 3- assembled view of the modular mount bracket

Figure 4 Example of standard size mount bracket base plates for each size group.

Figure 5 Example of module being assembled with standard mount bracket and bucket or attachment.

Figure 6 transparent view showing the unique design with bolt bars under the top mount surface of the bucket.

Phillip Richard Shepley 16/07/2020