AU635649B2 - Ripper blade - Google Patents

Description

P/O0/011 Regulation 3.2 63 M49

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICAT[ON FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

@0 0 6a a.

TO BE COMPLEIED BY APPLICANT o a Name of Applicant MILLER BROS. INDUSTRIES (BALLARAT) PTY. LTD.

Actual Inventor(s): Vie Meracis o5 Address for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 278 High Street, Kew, 3101, Victoria, Australia Invention Title: "RIPPER BLADE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, inclujing the best method of performing it known to me:- The present invention relates to a ripper blade for a dam-shell excavating bucket.

Excavating buckets are mounted on a pair of extendable arms on a prime mover. Buckets can vary in size depending on the size of the prime mover.

A common prime mover is called skid steer loader and the most popular of such loaders are sold under the Registered Trade Mark "BOBCAT" which is small four wheeled vehicle. Such vehicles are very manoeuvrable and are used extensively on construction sites.

The excavating buckets used on most prime movers are usually of two types namely, a bucket which comprises two parts pivoted together at the top to form a bottom opening bucket and a bucket which is formed as a single unit. The *Gee 0" first type of bucket is commonly called a "4-in-one" or "dam-shell" bucket. The present invention is designed to co-operate with the two part buckets.

Ripper blades are also well known and comprise tynes which penetrate the earth and are drawn through the earth. A set of tynes, usually four in number, are mounted transversely across the width of the prime mover and are attached to a frame which pivots on the rear of the prime mover. The problems So S" associated with such ripper blades are that the frame and ripper blades are expensive. In addition directional stability of the prime mover is difficult to control in view of the number of tynes, especially in rocky terrain, Counterbalance weights are usually required to ensure an adequate depth penetration into the ground. The additional weight requirements also place an increased stress on the prime mover. The frame and tynes normally form a permanent arrangement limiting the usefulness of the prime mover for other purposes.

-1- It is an object of the present invention to provide a ripper blade which is easily installed and removed from a prime mover.

A further object of the invention is to prove a ripper blade which is installed on the front of the prime mover rather than the rear thereof.

With these objects in view the present invention provides a ripper blade for a clam-shell excavating bucket, said blade including a support member, a hook member at one end of said support member, said hook member adapted to cooperate with the front cutting edge of said excavating bucket, a ground engaging blade on said support member and a locking means on said support member remote form said hook member, said locking means adapted to be held between the abutting faces of the halves forming said dam-shell excavating bucket.

S Preferably said ground engaging blade, support member and hook member are formed as one-piece, in an S-shape.

i The invention will now be described with reference to a preferred nonlimitative embodiment, with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:- So Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ripper blade made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the ripper blade of Fig. 1 showing it being picked by an excavating bucket; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the excavating bucket shown in Fig.

2 in an open position with the ripper blade of Fig. 1 attached thereto; Fig. 4 is a similar view to that of Fig. 3 showing the excavating bucket in its dosed position; and Fig. 5 is a front view of the ripper blade and excavating bucket shown -2in Fig. 4.

In the drawings there is shown a ripper blade 10 formed from metal or a metal alloy. Blade 10 in the preferred embodiment has a main part 12 which is cut from steel plate. Main part 12 could be formed from pieces welded together if required. Main part 12 consists of three sections, namely a ground engaging part 14, a main support member 16 and a hook member 18 which form an S-shape member. Ground engaging part 14 includes a tapered blade 20 terminating in a pointed wedge 22. The shape of ground engaging part 14 can be of any suitable configuration and is not restricted to the shape illustrated. Tapered blade 20 is

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4. attached to support member 16 by a curved bight 24. Hook member 18 is designed to have a gap 26 which is basically the same thickness as the floor 28 of the front clam-shell 30 of clam-shell excavating bucket 34.

Bucket 34 has a rear dam-shell 32 which is pivotally coupled to front cl dam-shell 30 via pins 36. Rear dam-shell 32 provides a further floor part 38 and rear wall 40 for excavating bucket 34. Bucket 34 is pivotally supported on arms 42 of a prime mover 44. The opening of dam-shells 30, 32 is controlled by an hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangement 46 linking the clam-shells.

Ripper blade 10 is designed to have a stand 48 which allows the blade to sit upright on the ground. Stand 48 includes a back plate 50 welded to the rear edge 52 of support member 16. As can be seen in Fig. 2 back plate 50 provides stable base for supporting ripper blade 10. For additional strength transverse ribs 54, 56 are provided. These ribs also act as pressure equalizers when dirt is forced against them. To complete stand 48 a transverse locking plate 58 is welded to back plate 50. For additional protection a bead 60 is welded to the free end of locking -3plate 58.

In use, ripper blade 10 is placed on the ground as shown in Fig. 2.

Excavator bucket 34 is in the open position with the front clam-shell 30 and rear dam-shell 32 being pivoted apart. Front clam-shell is driven forward so that it engages the rear edge 52 of support member 16. By tilting bucket 34 upwardly hook member 18 will engage floor 28 to attach ripper blade 10 to bucket 34 as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 dearly shows that support member 16 will be parallel to floor 28 but on the outside thereof. Locking plate 58 will be positioned at the inner end of front clam-shell 30 and protrude above floor 28. The front and rear S. clam-shells 30, 32 are then dosed with bead 60 being located inside bucket 34.

This will result in ripper blade 10 being pinned at either end and provide a secure fitment to bucket 34. Bucket 34 can then be lowered and prime mover 44 driven forward to plough up the ground. To remove the ripper blade, the fitting procedure is merely reversed. From the above it is dear that the invention has numerous advantages over the previously used ripper blades. Firstly, the ripper 000* blade is not a permanent connection. The portability of the blade makes it a very cheap accessory for enhancing the use of a prime mover. Secondly, the ripper e blade is fitted to the front of the prime mover instead of the rear. The operator is not required to look back which increases safely and avoids accidents from driving blind. Thirdly, the ripper blade is fitted and removed without requiring the operator to get out of the prime mover. Fourthly, it can be used for rocky areas, breaking up concrete or excavation work. Once the soil has been ripped the excavating bucket can remove the loosened soil. Fifthly, depth control can be precisely controlled. Sixthly, the ripper blade is mounted securely and the support -4member 16 has the additional support of floor 28.

If required, a plurality of ripper blades can be fitted.

It is believed that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the ripper blade described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

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Claims (7)

1. A ripper blade for a dlam-shell excavating bucket, said blade including a support member, a hook member at one end of said support member, said hook member adapted to co-operate with the front cutting edge of said excavating bucket, a ground engaging blade on said support member and a locking means on said support member remote form said hook member, said locking means adapted to be held between the abutting faces of the halves forming said dlam-shell excavating bucket.

2. The ripper blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ground engaging blade, support member and hook member are formed as one-piece, in an S-shape. b

3. The ripper blade as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a stand adjacent said locking means to allow said ripper blade to rest on the ground with said support member and said ground engaging blade being angled upwardly from the ground.

4. The ripper blade as claimed in claim 3, wherein said stand includes a back plate transversely mounted on said support member.

The ripper blade as claimed in claim 4, wherein said locking means includes a plate mounted perpendicular to said back plate.

6. The ripper blade as claimed in claim 5, wherein a bead is provided adjacent the free end of said plate.

7. A ripper blade substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawigs. D A TED this 8th day of July, 1991. MILLER BROS. INDUSTRIES (BALLARAT) PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE 9 ABSTRACT The invention provides a ripper blade (10) for a clam-shell excavating bucket (34). The ripper blade (10) has a support member a ground engaging part (14) and a hcok member (18) which co-operates with the front cutting edge (28) of bucket A locking means (58) on support member (16) will engage between front and rear dam-shells (30, 32). 4~ S S. 4 4* 4. 4 4 96 9 4a 64 bOOS S beg a 94 9 94 S 0O54O h S 45 9 9 4 *4 5 4 9 *9 -7-