GB2251592A

GB2251592A - Attachment means

Info

Publication number: GB2251592A
Application number: GB9026188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William John Roberts
Original assignee: Roberts & Griffiths
Current assignee: Roberts & Griffiths
Priority date: 1990-12-01
Filing date: 1990-12-01
Publication date: 1992-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-01
Also published as: GB2251592B; GB9026188D0

Abstract

An attachment means (10) for an excavator bucket comprises a body which is couplable to an operating arm of an excavator, the body having one or more fixed hooks (20) and one or more pivotable hooks (23) and means for moving the pivotable hook or hooks relative to the fixed hooks for release or securement thereto of the bucket. The means is pref. a threaded bolt (38) moved manually or by a motor (50). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Attachment Means This invention concerns attachment means, particularly but not exclusively, for attachment of excavator buckets to operating arms therefor.

Excavator buckets generally have a pair of bars on their rear face to which an operating arm of an excavator is attached. These buckets are extremely heavy and from time to time need replacing either due to damage or due to the need for a different size or type of bucket to be used. Removal and replacement of such buckets can be difficult and time consuming.

Furthermore, it is quite common for buckets of one make not to be interchangeable with buckets of another make, which may be inconvenient due to delays in supply of new buckets and selection of buckets on the basis of price.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment means for an excavator bucket which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages According to the invention there is provided an attachment means for an excavator bucket comprising a body which is couplable to an operating arm of an excavator, the body having one or more fixed hooks and one or more pivotable hooks and means for moving the pivotable hook or hoqks relative to the fixed hooks for release or securement thereto of the bucket The body preferably comprises a front plate to which the fixed hooks are attached and through which the pivotable hooks extend and side plates via which the attachment is coupled to the excavator operating arm.

The pivotable hooks are preferably mounted for rotation about a shaft which may be held between the side plates.

The means for pivotting the pivotable hooks may comprise a threaded spindle through a correspondingly threaded block coupled to the pivotable hooks directly or indirectly. The latter includes coupling of the block to a tubular mounting for the hooks that is rotatable about a fixed shaft. Then, rotation of the spindle will draw the block- upwards or downwards according to the direction of rotation. Rotation of the spindle may be manual or motor-driven. Preferably one end of the spindle is rotatably retained in a housing therefor, preferably pivotably mounted to the front plate of the body of the attachment means.

In the case of the pivotable hooks being mounted on a tube about a fixed shaft, additional means may be provided for preventing relative.rotation of the tube about the shaft for security when a bucket is fitted.

Such additional means could be a screw or the like secured through the tube wall to press on the shaft.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivotable hooks are pivotted towards the fixed hooks for fitting a bucket and are pivotted away from the fixed hooks to retain the bucket.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an excavator bucket attachment; Figure 2 is a part section through the attachment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the attachment of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a top view of. the attachment of Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, an excavator bucket attachment 10 comprises a front plate 12 and side plates 14 welded to the front plate, one at each end thereof and at right angles thereto. The side plates 14 have upper and lower holes 16, 18 respectively through which in use mounting pins will be located to mount the atachment to a working arm of an excavator.

The front plate 12 has a pair of spaced, lower fixed hooks 20 welded thereto and a pair of spaced upper apertures 22 through each of which extends a pivotable hook 23. The hooks 20 and 23 are intended for mounting of a bucket thereon by means of bars on the bucket, the fixed hooks locating on one pair and the pivotable hooks being pivotted to locate on another bar spaced from and parallel to the first bar.

The pivotable hooks 23 are mounted on a tubular member 24 that is rotable about a shaft 26 secured at each end to the side plates 14 suitable bearing are provided between the tube 24 and shaft 26. Between the hooks 23 on the tube 24 are welded pivot plates 28 between which is rotatably mounted an internally screw threaded block 30. Below the pivotable hooks 23 and welded to the rear of the front plate 12 is a pair of clevis plates 32. The clevis plates 32 have between them on a pin 34 a block 36 that is rotatable said pin.

The block 36 retains one end of a threaded spindle 38, the other end thereof being threaded through the block 30. The spindle 38 has a hexagonal free head 40 for application of a rotating tool such as a spanner or wrench. The arrangement is such that rotation of the spindle 38 in one direction will move the threaded block downwards to lower the hooks 23 by rotation of the tube 24 and in the other direction move the hooks 23 upwards.

In an alternative embodiment, shown by broken lines in Figure 2, a motor 50 may be provided coupled to the spindle 38 for easier operation of the attachment.

With either embodiment attachment or removal of a bucket is relativelv simnle. For attachment of a bucket. the fixed hooks 20 are Dlaced over a bar of the bucket and the pivotable hooks 23 moved upwards to enaaae another bar of the bucket. For additional securitv a arub screw 42 is provided which can secure the tube 24 and shaft 26 aaainst relative rotation. To remove a bucket is a reversal of the attachment operation.

Claims

1. An attachment means for a excavator bucket comprising a body which is couplable to an operating arm of an excavator the body having one or more fixed hooks and one or more pivotable hooks and means for moving the pivotable hook or hooks relative to the fixed hooks for release or securement thereto of the bucket.