EP2226429B1

EP2226429B1 - Bucket for earth moving machines

Info

Publication number: EP2226429B1
Application number: EP10154752A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Boschi
Original assignee: M3 Metalmeccanica Moderne A Responsabilita'Limitata Soc
Current assignee: M3 Metalmeccanica Moderne A Responsabilita'Limitata Soc
Priority date: 2009-03-02
Filing date: 2010-02-25
Publication date: 2011-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-25
Also published as: EP2226429A2; IT1393163B1; ATE510071T1; ITPR20090010A1; EP2226429A3

Abstract

A bucket (1) for earth moving machines (2) comprising: a containment body (3) presenting at least one bottom wall (4), a first and a second lateral wall (6a, 6b) mutually opposite and defining a compartment (5) for housing a material to be mixed; mixing means (7), positioned in said housing compartment (5) to mix said material; a first opening (12) for unloading said material, obtained in the first lateral wall (6a) of containment body (3) to make the mixed material flow out of said compartment (5), a second unloading opening (13) obtained on the bottom wall (4) to make the mixed material flow out of said compartment (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a bucket for earth moving machines.
In particular, the present invention relates to a bucket for motor vehicles, such as vehicles for digging or loading material, suitable for transporting and mixing earth, sand, gravel or mortar.
As is well known, there exist mixing buckets consisting of a box-like body for collecting and containing the material, generally supported by a mechanical arm of the machine. The arm is moved from the driving cab of the machine so as to be able to orient and move the bucket during the manoeuvres of digging and collecting the material.
Inside the box-like body there is provided a mixing member consisting of a motorised auger rotating about an axis that is generally horizontal relative to the ground. In this manner, during rotation of the auger, the respective helical blade mixes the material contained within the body itself, thus obtaining the desired mixing.
The auger is driven by a respective motor mounted on a lateral wall of the box-like body and has a continuous helical blade extending along the entire longitudinal development of the box-like body. The movement of the blade results in the formation of a flow of material to be mixed which extends along the longitudinal development of the blade and is directed towards a lateral wall of the box-like body, provided with an opening for unloading the material.
The unloading hole, once freed by a respective shutter member, allows the material to flow out from a lateral area of the bucket.
However, said mixing bucket presents some major operative limits, given the positioning of the hole for unloading the material. In fact, use of such a bucket is precluded for particular applications in which the outflow of the material from a central area of the bucket is required.
Moreover, in order to position the hole of the bucket in an area for unloading the material, it is necessary to laterally position the entire machine in order to align the lateral part of the bucket (in which the hole is obtained) relative to said area.
There are also known buckets provided with a central hole formed on a lower wall of the box-like body. In this case the auger consists of two mutually coaxial helical blades disposed at the sides of the same motorised shaft. The two blades are separated from each other so as to give rise to opposing flows of material, both directed toward the centre of the box-like body. In this manner, the material coming from both flows is conveyed toward the central hole, which, once freed by a respective shutter element, allows the material to exit from a central, lower area of the bucket.
An example is given in document: US Patent 4,055,255 .
However, this type of bucket, too, presents a major limitation.
In fact, the two opposing flows of material tend to cause the material to accumulate at the centre, thus creating a disuniform distribution of the material.
Moreover, in this case excessive stresses are generated by the opposition of the two flows converging toward the centre of the bucket.
It is also known document FR 2893517 disclosing a bucket having two holes obtained in two opposite lateral walls of the box-like body for unloading the material.
In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose a bucket for earth moving machines which overcomes the limitations of the above-mentioned prior art.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bucket for earth moving machines that is versatile and capable of being used for any type of application.
A further object of the present invention is to propose a bucket for earth moving machines that is structurally simple and capable of mixing the material in a homogeneous manner.
The defined technical task and the specified objects hereof are substantially achieved by a bucket for earth moving machines according to claim 1.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following approximate, and hence non-restrictive, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a bucket for earth moving machines as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of an earth moving machine equipped with a bucket according to the present invention;
figures 2a and 2b respectively illustrate perspective views from two opposite sides of the bucket according to the present invention;
figure 3 is a rear elevation view of the bucket of figures 2a and 2b;
figure 4 is a front elevation view of the bucket of figures 2a and 2b;
figure 5 is a bottom elevation view of the bucket of figures 2a and 2b;
figure 6 is a side elevation view of the bucket of figures 2a and 2b; and
figure 7 shows a construction detail of the bucket illustrated in figure 6, in a respective operative condition.

With reference to the appended figures, 1 indicates a bucket per earth moving machines 2, of the type illustrated by way of example in figure 1.
In particular, the machine 2 is equipped with an articulated arm 2a, at the end of which is mounted the bucket 1 of the present invention.
With particular reference to figures 2a and 2b, the bucket 1 presents a containment body 3 defining a compartment 5 for housing a material to be mixed, such as earth, gravel or mortar.
The body 3 presents at least one bottom wall 4 having a substantially "C"-shaped cross section. The bottom wall 4 defines a lower segment 4a and an upper segment 4b, both provided with mutually opposite end edges 5a, 5b defining an opening 6 for accessing said compartment 5. The body 3 moreover presents a first and a second lateral wall 6a, 6b, mutually opposite and positioned at the sides of the bottom wall 4 so as to define the substantially box-like structure of the bucket 1.
Inside the containment compartment 5 there are provided mixing means 7, suitable for mixing the material inside the compartment 5 itself.
The mixing means 7 advantageously consist of a rotating shaft 8 presenting a helical blade 9 mounted on the outer surface of the shaft 8 and extending along the entire longitudinal development of the shaft 8 itself. Preferably, the shaft 8 presents a first end 8a pivotally associated to the first wall 6a, and a second end 8b able to rotate in the second lateral wall 6b and operatively engaged to a motor 10.
As is better illustrated in figures 2a and 4, the motor 10, not further described or illustrated, being of a known type, is positioned on the second lateral wall 6b externally to the containment compartment 5. Advantageously, the rotation of the shaft 8 imposed by the motor 10 causes the blade 9 to move around the longitudinal axis of the shaft 8. In this manner, the material in the compartment 5 is mixed and conveyed in a first flow A developing along the shaft 8 and directed from the second lateral wall 6b to the first wall 6a. The helical blade 9 further presents a plurality of mixing blades 11, associated to a peripheral edge of the helical blade 9 and appropriately distanced. The mixing blades 11 consist of a series of segments projecting from the helical blade 9 and oriented so as to define, during rotation of the shaft 8, a second flow B of material.
As is better illustrated in figure 4, the second flow B develops around the first flow in a peripheral area of the compartment 5. In other words, the second flow B flows along an internal surface of the bottom wall 4 and in an opposite direction to the first flow A of material.
Advantageously, this creates a recirculation of material which, during the mixing thereof, is first conveyed into a central area along the first flow A toward the first lateral wall 6a and subsequently along a peripheral area along the flow B toward the second lateral wall 6b.
The bucket 1 further presents a first and a second opening 12, 13 (figures 5, 6 and 7) for unloading the material, obtained in the containment body 3 and such as to make the mixed material flow out of the compartment 5.
Said openings 12, 13 are both provided with respective actuator members 14, 15, better described further below, and suitable for selectively occluding or freeing the first and/or second opening 12, 13.
In particular, the first opening 12 is obtained in the first lateral wall 6a, whereas the second opening 13 is obtained on the bottom wall 4 in said lower segment 4a. It should be noted in particular that the second opening 13 is obtained in a median area of the lower segment 4a interposed between the first and the second wall 6a, 6b (figures 3 and 5).
Advantageously, each opening 12 and 13 is housed in a respective position corresponding to a particular condition of unloading of the mixed material. In other words, according to operating needs, the operator can open the first and/or second opening 12, 13.
Moreover, the second opening 13 can be provided with a tubular discharge conduit 16 extending outside the compartment 5 and suitable for facilitating and directing the material flowing out of the compartment 5. As described above, the first opening 12 is provided with a first shutter member 14 able to switch between a first position in which it occludes the opening 12 itself (figure 6) to prevent the material from flowing out and a second position in which it allows the first flow A of mixed material to pass outwards (figure 7). The first shutter member 14 can be actuated by means of a manual or pneumatic actuator. According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the first actuator member 14 consists of a plate 14a able to slide at the first opening 12. Said plate 14a can be constrained to the first lateral wall 6a by means of a bolt 14b insertable in respective bushings as is better illustrated in the detailed view of figure 7.
With particular reference to figures 3 and 5, the second shutter member 15 presents a sliding plate 15a pneumatically actuated by a respective pneumatic cylinder 15b. In this manner, the actuator member 15 is able to be switched between a first position in which it occludes the opening 13 to prevent the material from flowing out and a second position in which it allows the second flow B of mixed material to pass outwards. Advantageously, the bucket 1 is versatile, given the possibility of using the two openings 12, 13 for unloading the material. The openings 12, 13 can be opened individually or simultaneously to adapt the function of unloading the material to the various application requirements.
It should be noted, moreover, that each opening 12, 13 is intended to unload a respective flow A, B of material. In fact, the first flow A is directed toward the first lateral wall 6a provided with said first opening 12, whereas the second flow B is directed towards the second lateral wall 6b so as to be intercepted by the second opening 13 obtained on the bottom wall 4.
Advantageously, the bucket 1 is able to mix the material homogeneously by causing the formation of two opposing flows.

Claims

Bucket (1) for earth moving machines (2) comprising:
a containment body (3) presenting at least one bottom wall (4), a first and a second lateral wall (6a, 6b) mutually opposite and defining a compartment (5) for housing a material to be mixed;

mixing means (7), positioned in said housing compartment (5) to mix said material;

a first opening (12) for unloading said material, obtained in the containment body (3) to make the mixed material flow out of said compartment (5);

a second unloading opening (13) also obtained in said containment body (3) to make the mixed material flow out of said compartment (5),

characterised in that said first opening (12) is obtained in the first lateral wall (6a) and said second opening (13) is obtained on the bottom wall (4).
Bucket (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each opening (12, 13) is housed in a respective position corresponding to a particular condition of unloading of the mixed material.
Bucket as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that said mixing means (7) comprise: a rotating shaft (8) presenting a helical blade (9) mounted on the outer surface of the shaft (8) and extending along the entire longitudinal development of the shaft (8); and a motor (10) positioned externally to said containment compartment (5) and operatively associated to said shaft (8) to rotate the blade (9) around the longitudinal axis of the shaft (8); said blade (9), during the rotation defining at least a first flow (A) of material directed towards said first unloading opening (12).
Bucket (1) as claimed in the claim 3, characterised in that said shaft (8) has a first end (8a) pivotally associated to the first wall (6a) and a second end (8b) operatively engaged to said motor (10) and able to rotate in said second wall (6b); said first flow (A) developing along the shaft (8) from said second wall (6b) to said first wall (6a).
Bucket (1) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterised in that it further comprises a plurality of mixing blades (11), associated to a peripheral edge of the helical blade (9) and appropriately distanced to define at least a second flow (B) of material developing around the first flow (A) and directed from said first wall (6a) towards the second wall (6b).
Bucket (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said second flow (B) is able to slide along an inner surface of the bottom wall (4) to slide at the second unloading opening (13).
Bucket (1) as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that the second opening (13) is obtained in a median area of said bottom wall (4) interposed between the first and the second lateral wall (6a, 6b).
Bucket (1) as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that said bottom wall (4) is substantially "C" shaped and presents mutually opposite end edges (5a, 5b) defining an opening (6) for accessing said compartment (5), said second opening (13) being obtained in a lower segment (4a) of the bottom wall (4).
Bucket as claimed in any of the claims 3 to 8, characterised in that said first opening (12) presents a first shutter member (14) able to switch between a first position in which it occludes the opening (12) to prevent the material from flowing out and a second position in which it allows the first flow (A) of mixed material to pass outwards; said shutter member (14) being a manual or pneumatic shutter.
Bucket as claimed in any of the claims 5 to 9, characterised in that said second opening (13) presents a second shutter member (15) able to switch between a first position in which it occludes the opening (13) to prevent the material from flowing out and a second position in which it allows the second flow (B) of mixed material to pass outwards; said second shutter member (15) being able to be actuated by a pneumatic cylinder.