US3750816A

US3750816A - Loader bucket with positive endward ejector

Info

Publication number: US3750816A
Application number: US00188682A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Becker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-04
Filing date: 1971-10-04
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07

Abstract

A loader bucket mountable on a tractor or similar movable vehicle, the loader bucket comprising an elongate scoop without end-walls and an ejector-assembly having a finite degree of longitudinally movable relationship with the scoop. The ejectorassembly includes an upright ejector-plate within the scoop and adapted to positively eject a load of grain, snow, or the like, from one of the open endward terminii of the scoop, the ejectorassembly being longitudinally motivatable through an annular chain connected to sprockets at the respective scoop terminii, at least one of the sprockets being actuatable hydraulically.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Becker 1 Aug. 7, 1973 LOADER BUCKET WITH POSITIVE ENDWARD EJECTOR [76] Inventor: Gene J. Becker, Walthill, Nebr.

[22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 188,682

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 865,463, Oct. 10, 1969,

abandoned.

[521 11.8. CI. 214/767, 74/2428, 214/146 E [51] Int. Cl. E021 3/00, E02f 3/40 [58] Field of Search 214/767, 14 GE, 82,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,407,952 10/1968 Gardner 214/767 2,823,814 2/1958 Schonrock 214/82 3,174,636 3/1965 Dempster et al. 214/75 X 2,963,918 12/1960 Blakstacl 74/2428 2,724,518 11/1955 Charlton et al 214/145 2,480,527 8/1949 Wachter 214/82 3,055,126 9/1962 Emhof 37/42 R 3,316,665 5/1967 Rinaldo 37/42 R Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Attorney-George R. Nimmer [57] ABSTRACT A loader bucket mountable on a tractor or similar movable vehicle, the loader bucket comprising an elongate scoop without end-walls and an ejector-assembly having a finite degree of longitudinally movable relationship with the scoop. The ejector-assembly includes an upright ejector-plate within the scoop and adapted to positively eject a load of grain, snow, or the like, from one of the open endward terminii of the scoop, the ejector-assembly being longitudinally motivatable through an annular chain connected to sprockets at the respective scoop terminii, at least one of the sprockets being actuatable hydraulically.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAENIED 3.750.816

sum 1 or 3 GE/VE J. BECKER FNVENTCR ATTORNEY PATENIEU 7 amazon Quk INVENTOR.

PAISNIED 3.750.816

' sum 3 or 3 GENE J. BECKER INVENTOR.

BY Izzy 71 ATTORNEY LOADER BUCKET WITH POSITIVE ENDWARD EJECTOR This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 865,463, filed Oct. 10, 1969 now abandoned.

Loader buckets are commonly employed in conjunction with a tractor or similar movable vehicle, the loader bucket being adapted to pickup successive loads of grain, snow, or the like, at a pickup site. Then, through subsequent remote manipulation of the bucket by an operator stationed within the movable vehicle, each successive load is deposited from the loader bucket onto an unloading site. It is common for loader buckets to comprise a longitudinally extending scoop portion, and in "side dumping" situations where the unloading site is positioned along the scoop longitudinal axis with respect to the load pickup site, it is exceedingly tedious for the operator to maneuver the bucket to the unloading site because most prior art devises can be unloaded from the bucket front side only.

In the widespread effort to solve the side dumping problem, certain prior art workers have resorted to complicated twisting mechanisms for the entire bucket whereby bucket inversion is necessary for dumping. Other workers have worked along the generic principle of providing a loader bucket without end-walls for the scoop portion whereby the load can be endwardly ejected through an open endward terminus of the bucket. Such endward ejection means have included cumbersome conveyor-chain mechanisms positioned within the elongate receptacle portion of the bucket. Other prior art endward ejection means have included telescoping hydraulic cylinders lying parallel to the bucket longitudinal axis, but such telescoping cylinders are adapted to forceably eject a load from but one of the buckets two endward terminii. Other prior art endward ejection means are readily foulable (to the point of inoperability) by the material being loaded. Few, if any, of the prior art endward ejection means make provision to ensure that each load will be fully and reliably ejected from the loader bucket. Maintenance and repair problems are prevelant and vexatious with prior art endward ejection means.

It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to provide an improved side dumping loader bucket of the class without end-walls on the elongate scoop portion, and wherein there is endward ejection means positively exertible on on the load toward either selected open end of the loader bucket.

It is another object to provide a loader bucket which discharges its contents to one or to either end without requiring more vertical clearance than is required for the bucket carry position.

It is a further object to provide a loader bucket with an ejector-assembly that is longitudinally positively forceably motivatable for a finite certain longitudinal distance toward a selected open endward terminus, whereby each load can be substantially completely ejected from the loader bucket.

It is another object to provide an endward ejection means that is sturdy, yet easily actuatable toward an endward open terminus, and wherein the mechanism is reliable, economical to build and maintain, and is not apt to become fouled or rendered ineffectual by the material being loaded.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will become more apparent as this description proceeds, the loader bucket with positive endward ejector comprises: an elongate scoop, e.g., S, comprised of a finite length elongate bottom-wall and a longitudinally coextensive back-wall connected thereto whereby the scoop has two open endward terminii defined solely by the finite lengths of the interconnected back-wall and bottom-wall, the back-wall and bottomwall providing on the scoop forward side a loadable receptacle extending longitudinally between the scoop open endward terminii; an ejector-assembly, e.g., E, including an upright ejector-plate positioned within the scoop receptacle portion substantially perpendicular to the back-wall and bottom-wall thereof, said ejectorassembly being longitudinally slid-ably associated with the scoop external side whereby the ejector-plate is longitudinally translatable between the scoop endward open terminii; and novel motivation-means to cause the ejector-assembly to travel a finite distance longitudinally toward a selected open endward terminus of the scoop, the motivation-means preferably including a fluid-driven rotary motor operatively associated to a sprocket driving an annular chain specially connected to the ejector-assembly.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts inthe several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevationalfview at the forward loadable side of a representative embodiment of the loader bucket with positive endward ejector. Herein, a selected position for the longitudinally translatable ejector-assembly E is shown in solid line at one open end of the loader bucket, phantom lines being employed to show the same translatable ejectorassembly at the other open end of the loader bucket.

FIG. 2 is a rearward elevational. view of the loader bucket of FIG. 1, the preferred type of motivation means beingindicated schematically.

FIG. 3 is an endward elevational view of the loader bucket, specifically at the rightward end of FIG. 2 adjacent to the. selected actual position for ejectorassembly E."

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective exploded view of FIG. 4, showing also the rollably translatably slidable relationship between the ejector-assembly "E" and the elongate scoop portion S by means of elongate track means T".

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

The elongate scoop portion with two open endward terminii is generally referred to as S with the respective openendward terminii being specifically referred to as first openendward terminus l6 and as second open endward terminus 17. Open ended scoop 8" is provided of a finite length elongate bottom-wall 11 and a longitudinally coextensive upright back-wall l2 structurally connected to bottom-wall 111 at curved area 13, said bottom-wall 11 and back-wall 12 being normally provided of metallic structural material. Scoop 8" is devoid of stationary upright end-walls at terminii 16-17, and thus, the scoop endward. terminii 16-17 are completely open and are defined solely by the finite elongate lengths of coextensive interconnected backwall 12 and bottom-wall ll. Back-wall [2 has a longitudinally extending upper horizontal edge 14 providing the scoop longitudinal upper-end. Bottom-wall II has an elongate forward extremity I8which provides a nominal leading-end for the scoop; herein, and as is well known in the prior art, the actual leading-end for the scoop might optionally comprise a plurality of parallel tines 19 attached, as by removable bolts, to the underside of bottom-wall 11.

Elongate scoop S has on the forward side an elongate loadable receptacle portion defined by backwall 12 in intersecting attached relationship to bottomwall 11; receptacle portion 15 extends longitudinally between the open endward terminii 16-17 and also extends between the scoop upper-end 14 and the scoop leading-end, e.g., 18, 19. Moreover, scoop S has an external side separated from receptacle portion 15 by elements 11-13, the scoop external side including the back-wall elongate backside 22. When the receptacle portion 15 of elongate scoops is loaded with normally encountered scoopable material, such as grain, heavy snow, etc., the weight of such material loaded within receptacle portion 15 is apt to bend bottom-wall 11 from back-wall 12 at the inter-walls connection 13, especially in the absence herein of stationary end-walls at terminii 16-17. In lieu of the use of exceedingly heavy gauge metal for members 11-13, which are very difficult to fabricate into elongate scoop form, lighter gauge metals can be conveniently employed for members 11-13, provided that curved metallic reinforcingstraps, e.g., 23-27, are attached as by welding to the scoop external side. As is clearly indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the brace-like curvilinear reinforcingstraps 23-27 extends substantially from the scoop upper-end 14 to the leading-end 18. The

reinforcingstraps

26 and 27, which are disposed along the respective open

endward terminii

16 and 17, are especially important in stabilizing the spatial relationship between back-wall 12 and bottom-wall 11.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, brackets B" on the scoop backside 22 provide means for pivotably connecting lift arms 28 and tilt linkage, a part of which is shown at 29. The lift and tilt mechanism, connected to the tractor or similar movable vehicle, is of conventional and well known construction, the purpose of the lift arms being to raise the scoop from the ground and the tilt linkage to vary the attitude of the scoop. As is well known, the tilt linkage is designed in such a manner that the scoop when loaded'is racked rearwardly to a position for retaining the load and then raised to a carry position. As it is raised to the carry position, the lift and tilt mechanisms act in cooperation to each other, and ultimately the said cooperating mechanisms can forwardly dump the load. However, it is for the ejector-assembly E" to sidewardly eject a load through scoop

open endward terminii

16 and 17.

Longitudinally translatable ejector-assembly E" includes an upright sturdy metallic ejector-plate 30 that is positioned within the scoop loadable receptacle portion 15 substantially at right angles with respect to bottom-wall 11 and to back-wall 12. The scoop receptacle portion 15 along elements 11-13 is of substantially constant upright cross-sectional size and shape between terminii 16-17. As shown best in F168. 1 and 3, in its upright plane ejector-plate 30 on the lower edge is geometrically similar to the contours of scoop elements 11-13, i.e., the lower contour of receptacle 15. The ejector-plate upper end 32 extends linearly downwardly and forwardly from scoop upper-edge l4 terminating herein as a forward apex 33 at 18. Thus, the center-of-gravity for ejector-plate 30 is at the rearward portions thereof, herein rearwardly of 46. Accordingly, as ejector-plate 30 is longitudinally translated to one of the

terminii

16 or 17, a scooped load within receptacle portion 15 can be substantially completely ejected from scoop S through an

endward terminus

16 or 17. In this vane, there is necessarily a longitudinally slidable attached relationship between ejector-assembly E" and scoop S," the said slidable connection being as a suitable elongate track means, preferably disposed remote of the scoop receptacle portion 15 so as not to become fouled by the scoopable material carried therein. The track means is desireably disposed in substantial parallelism along the scoop elongate upper-end 14, and an especially suitable track means comprises an elongate rail T of uniform cross-sectional size and rectangular shape between the rail endward terminii 36 and 37, said rail T" being spaced a small finite distance above and parallel to scoop upper-end 14. With such rail T," a rearwardly extending portion of ejector-assembly E as a collar portion C (and comprising elements 41-45) surrounds and is longitudinally slidable along rail T.

It is important that, throughout the longitudinal travel of ejector-plate 30 toward a

scoop terminus

16 or 17, said ejector-plate 30 remain perpendicular to and dimensionally close to the scoop bottom-wall l1 and back-wall 12, and that frictional forces between the longitudinally moving ejector-assembly E and scoop S" be minimized. In this regard, the preferred ejector-assembly E comprises a rigid metallic superstructure 40 for ejector-plate 30, said superstructure 40 being sturdiest between the ejector-plate center-ofgravity and the track means. Specifically, as indicated in the drawing, and particularly in FIG. 4, there is a pair of channel-irons extending rearwardly from 46 and including upper channel-iron 41 and lower channel-iron 42, said channel-irons 41-42 being rigidly held together in substantial parallelism as by welding metallic connector-strips 43-45 thereto. As indicated in FIG. 1, channel-irons 42-43 are wider in the longitudinal direction of scoop S" that is ejector-plate 30. The ejector-plate upper edge 32 is rigidly attached, as by welding along lower channel-iron 42, and thus, superstructure elements 41-45 (which also comprise collar portion C) support the gravimetric preponderance of ejector-plate 30. The forward portion 47 of ejectorassembly superstructure 40 is a generally triangular framework attached to elements 41-42 and 30 and extending from the channel-irons forward terminii 46 along forward portions of 32 whereby superstructure forward portion 47 has a forward apex also at 33.

The rearwardly extending collar portion C of the ejector-assembly superstructure 40 surrounds the elongate track means rail T" and is slidably associated along said track means. Preferably, and as shown in the FIG. 4 exploded view, collar C is internally provided with a plurality of rollers 48 (herein sixteen in number) to provide a low-friction rollably slidable engagement of ejector-assembly E along the track means. As is shown in FIG. 4, four rollers are mounted on each of four longitudinally extending angle-iron brackets 49, two brackets 49 being attached as by welding to the internal side of channel-iron 41, and the two remaining brackets 49 being similarly attached to the internal side of channel-iron 42. Thus, the ejector-assembly superstructure 40 is stably rollably supported along elongate rail T", four rollers 48 being rollably engaged along each of the four elongate planar surfaces of rail T."

There are motivation-means herein comprising a pair of rotatable sprockets 56 and 57 revolvably attached to the back-wall backside 22 immediately adjacent to the respective scoop terminii I6 and 17. Sprockets 56 and 57 are of substantially common elevation on the backwall backside 22, each sprocket being revolvable in both angular directions about the sprocket axis. There is an elongate endless oval multi-link chain 61 surrounding and actuatably connected to both sprockets 56 and 57 whereby chain 61 has two substantially parallel

horizontal segments

62 and 63 spanning the longitudinal distance between sprockets 56 and 57. Ejectorassembly E" is attached to annular chain 61, herein to upper elongate segment 62, through connector lug 50, and thus, as a sprocket 56 or 57 is made to revolve in one of the two angular directions, the chain-andsprocket motivation-means causes longitudinal translation of ejector-assembly The respective sprockets 56 and 57 are provided with

cover plates

58 and 59 attached to back-wall 12 at scoop terminii. l6 and 17 to prevent fouling of the sprockets by the loadable material.

The back-wall backside 22 between

chain segments

62 and 63 is provided with means to maintain tension upon chain 61, said tension means herein comprising a block 65 attached along backside 22 between

chain segments

62 and 63 and intermediate of sprockets 56 and 57. Block 65 is vertically adjustable as through threaded connector bolts 66 positionable along upright grooved portions 67 along backside 22. Herein, where the ejector-assembly E" is attached to upper chain segment 62, the block 65 is adjusted downwardly to provide tension against lower chain segment 63.

There are limiting-means attached to the scoop to limit the extent of longitudinal travel for ejectorassembly E, said limiting-means being, effective at the respective scoop terminii l6-l7 so that ejectorplate 30 at the respective limits of travel for E" is disposed immediately adjacent to a

scoop terminus

16 or 17 whereby load ejection is substantially fully accomplished. Preferably, such limiting-means comprises the two mounting

brackets

38 and 39 as flanges for rail T" and disposed at the respective rail ends 36 and 37 and. which serve to elevate rail T" a small finite distance in parallelism above scoop upper-end l4. Herein, mounting bracket 38 is attached to scoop first end 16 at 58 and to rail first end 36, and mounting bracket 39 is attached to scoop second end 17 at 59 andto rail second end 37. As indicated in FIG. 4, at least one of the mounting brackets, e.g. 39, is removably attached to rail T" and to scoop S", as by means of screws 35, to permit temporary endwise removal of ejectorassembly E" for maintenance and repair. Accordingly, as ejector-assembly "E" approaches a

scoop terminus

16 or 17, the collar "C" will strike a mounting

bracket

38 or 39, to limit the longitudinal extent of travel for ejector-plate 30 at a said scoop terminus.

Connector lug 50, which provides the connection between ejector-assembly "E" and i the chain-andsprockets motivation means, is integrally attached, as by welding, to the rearward terminus 45 of ejectorassembly whereby lug 50 extends downwardly from terminus 45 along back-wall backside 22. As seen in FIG. 5, lug 50 has a bifurcate lower end, the two lower legs on lug 50 being locatable at the sprocket cir cumference; lug 50 isdisposed in series between an adjacent pair of links of chain upper segment 62, the lug lower legs being pivotably attached to the adjacent links. Thus, the serial connection of lug 50 into chain segment 62, effectively reduces the interference between lug 50 and a sprocket 56 or 57. Accordingly, as the limiting-means ((I and 38 M39) comes into play, ejector-plate 30 is positioned at the

endward terminus

16 or 17.

As is well known in the art, loader buckets are customarily mounted at the front or :rear of some type of tractor or other movable vehicle, and the lift and tilt mechanism 28-29 are operated remotely by an operator stationed in the movable vehicle itself. Similarly, it is an important objective herein that the chain-andsprockets motivation-means be actuatable from a remote position such as from within the tractor or other movable vehicle onto which the loader bucket is mounted. In this regard, the movable vehicle is equipped (as shown schematically in FIG. 2) with a conventional oleaginous hydraulic system comprising a reservoir R of an oleaginous liquid, there being a pump P capable of delivering the oil to a distributing valve V. Oil from valve V ultimately rotates sprocket 56 through a conventional liquid-actuatable rotary motor M, and depending upon the selected rotation of motor M, ejector-assembly is capabIe of being forceably positively driven longitudinally toward either selected

scoop terminus

16 or 17, as indicated with the double-arrowed line X of FIG. 2.

Herein, sprocket 57 is an idler sprocket, while sprocket 56 is defined as a driven sprocket by virtue of the fact that it can be driven by liquid-actuatable rotor M in either angular direction about the sprocket central axis. The rotor component N is capable of being driven in either angular direction about the rotor cen tral axis, depending upon which of the two conduits F and G communicating from M to V is selectivcly employed, and thus, motor M is definable as dual-directional." Motor M further comprises a by-pass line between conduits F" and G including.

a pressure-relief valve V. REL" set to some predetermined value (such as l,300 pounds), and thus, motor M" has a maximum appliable torque to supplement the limiting-means, i.e., herein to prevent continued rotation of rotor N" subsequent to abutment of ejector'assembly E" at C" against a mounting

bracket

38 or 39.

Although the operation of the loader bucket with positive endward ejector has already been alluded to in conjunction with the structural details, operation can be summarized as follows. Assuming for purposes of illustration that ejector-assembly "E" is initially positionedat scoop terminus 16 as indicated in solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2.. First, the operator who is stationed within the tractor or other movable vehicle to which the loader bucket is attached, remotely controls the lift and control mechanisms 28-29 to scoop-up a load of grain, snow, or the like, into scoop receptacle portion 15..I7hen, with the loader bucket in the elevated carry position, theoperator moves the tractor or similar vehi cle forward or rearwardly until a dump site is located leftwardly. (FIG. 2) of scoop terminus l7. Then, hydraulic liquid pump P is actuated causing hydraulic liquid to enter valve V (with the divider plate at the solid line position of FIG. 2) whereupon the liquid traverses conduit G" into motor M" causing rotor N" and sprocket 56 to rotate counterclockwise (FIG. 2), whereupon chain upper segment 62, lug 50, and the entire ejector-assembly E" moves longitudinally toward scoop terminus 17. As ejector-assembly E rollably moves toward scoop terminus 17 along track T, upright ejector-plate 30 pushes the load through the scoop endward opening 17 and is progressively deposited onto the unload or dump site located leftwardly and below 17. When the ejector-plate 30 reaches scoop terminus l7, collar C at strap 43 abuts mounting bracket 39 and lug 50 is atop sprocket 57 similarly as in FIG. 5, whereupon hydraulic fluid by-passes rotor N through pressure-relief valve V.REL" into reservoir R" throughH." If the initial position for ejectorassembly E" had been at 17 with the unload or dump site near terminus 16, the divider plate of valve V" would be in the ditted line position of FIG. 2 to cause movement of chain upper segment 62 toward scoop end 16.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation I claim: 1. A loader bucket with positive endward ejector and comprising:

A. An elongate scoop comprising a finite length elongate bottom-wall and an elongate upright back-wall of coextensive longitudinal length with the bottomwall and in material sustaining interconnected relationship therewith whereby the scoop has two open endward terminii defined solely by the finite lengths of the attached bottom-wall and back-wall, said back-wall having an elongate horizontal upper edge providing the scoop longitudinal upper-end and said bottom-wall having an elongate forward extremity providing the scoop leading-end, said scoop having on the forward side an elongate loadable receptacle portion defined by the bottom-wall and back-wall and extending longitudinally between the scoops two open endward terminii and also extending between the scoop upper-end and the leading-end thereof, said scoop having an external side separated from said receptacle portion by the interconnected bottom-wall and back-wall whereby a portion of the scoop external side includes the elongate backside of the backwall;

B. An elongate rail of substantially uniform crosssectional size and shape and positioned remote of 50 the scoop receptacle portion, said elongate rail being so attached to the scoop respective endward terminii with mounting brackets that said rail provides a track means lying substantially parallel to and wholly spatially .separated from the scoop longitudinal upper-end;

C. An ejector-assembly including an upright ejectorplate that is positioned within the-scoop receptacle portion substantially at right angles to the bottomwall and the back-wall of the scoop, said upright ejector-assembly including a rearwardly extending collar portion slidably associated with the elongate rail track means and longitudinally slidably movable between the respective endward mounting brackets as limiting-means, whereby the said ejec- ,5

tor-plate is longitudinally movable for substantially the entire longitudinal distance between the scoop two endward open terminii to eject a load from an endward terminus of the scoop receptacle portion; and

D. Motivation-means to cause said slidably attached ejector-assembly including the ejector-plate to travel to the two open endward terminii of the scoop, said motivation-means comprising a pair of rotatable sprockets attached to the scoop and disposed at substantially co-elevation on the backwall backside adjacent to the respective scoop endward terminii, and further comprising an elongate endless multi-link chain actuatably connected to both sprockets whereby the annular chain has two substantially parallel horizontal elongate segments spanning the intersprockets distance including an upper segment and a lower segment, and said ejector-assembly being connected to the upper elongate segment of the chain with a lug attached to and depending from the said longitudinally slidable collar.

2. The loader bucket of claim 1 wherein the elongate rail is of regular rectangular cross-sectional size along the length thereof; wherein the ejector-assembly collar is of rectangular cross-sectional shape, said rectangular collar being internally provided with rollers whereby the ejector-assembly is rollably slidably associated along the rail; wherein the motivation-means sprockets are rotatable on both angular directions; wherein the ejector-assembly lug is interposed in series along the upper segment of an elongate oval chain between a pair of links thereof to reduce interference between the lug and sprockets; wherein the back-wall backside is provided with a vertically adjustable block positioned between the two chain segments to maintain tension upon the lower elongate chain segment; and wherein there is a liquid-actuatable rotary motor operatively connected to at least one of said sprockets, the rotor component of said motor being capable of being selectably forceably driven in both angular directions whereby the annular chain and attached ejector-assembly are capable of being positively forceably driven toward either selected open end of the scoop.

3. The loader bucket of claim 1 wherein the motivation-means sprockets are rotatable in both angular di rections; and wherein there is a liquid-actuatable rotary motor operatively connected to at least one of said sprockets, the rotor component of said motor being capable of being selectably forceably driven in both angular directions whereby the annular chain and attached ejector-assembly are capable of being positively forceably driven toward either selected open end of the scoop, the said liquid-actuatable motor having a maximum appliable torque to supplement the limitingmeans.

4. The loader bucket apparatus of claim I wherein the collar member surrounds said rail and is internally provided with rollers whereby the ejector-assembly is rollably slidably associated along the rail track means; and wherein at least one of said mounting brackets is removably attached to the rail track means to permit temporary disconnection of the ejector-assembly from the apparatus.

Claims

1. A loader bucket with positive endward ejector and comprising: A. An elongate scoop comprising a finite length elongate bottomwall and an elongate upright back-wall of coextensive longitudinal length with the bottom-wall and in material sustaining interconnected relationship therewith whereby the scoop has two open endward terminii defined solely by the finite lengths of the attached bottom-wall and back-wall, said back-wall having an elongate horizontal upper edge providing the scoop longitudinal upper-end and said bottom-wall having an elongate forward extremity providing the scoop leading-end, said scoop having on the forward side an elongate loadable receptacle portion defined by the bottom-wall and back-wall and extending longitudinally between the scoop''s two open endward terminii and also extending between the scoop upper-end and the leading-end thereof, said scoop having an external side separated from said receptacle portion by the interconnected bottom-wall and backwall whereby a portion of the scoop external side includes the elongate backside of the back-wall; B. An elongate rail of substantially uniform cross-sectional size and shape and positioned remote of the scoop receptacle portion, said elongate rail being so attached to the scoop respective endward terminii with mounting brackets that said rail provides a track means lying substantially parallel to and wholly spatially separated from the scoop longitudinal upperend; C. An ejector-assembly including an upright ejector-plate that is positioned within the scoop receptacle portion substantially at right angles to the bottom-wall and the back-wall of the scoop, said upright ejector-assembly including a rearwardly extending collar portion slidably associated with the elongate rail track means and longitudinally slidably movable between the respective endward mounting brackets as limiting-means, whereby the said ejector-plate is longitudinally movable for substantially the entire longitudinal distance between the scoop two endward open terminii to eject a load from an endward terminus of the scoop receptacle portion; and D. Motivation-means to cause said slidably attached ejectorassembly including the ejector-plate to travel to the two open endward terminii of the scoop, said motivation-means comprising a pair of rotatable sprockets attached to the scoop and disposed at substantially co-elevation on the back-wall backside adjacent to the respective scoop endward terminii, and further comprising an elongate endless multi-link chain actuatably connected to both sprockets whereby the annular chain has two substantially parallel horizontal elongate segments spanning the intersprockets distance including an upper segment and a lower segment, and said ejector-assembly being connected to the upper elongate segment of the chain with a lug attached to and depending from the said longitudinally slidable collar.

3. The loader bucket of claim 1 wherein the motivation-means sprockets are rotatable in both angular directions; and wherein there is a liquid-actuatable rotary motor operatively connected to at least one of said sprockets, the rotor component of said motor being capable of being selectably forceably driven in both angular directions whereby the annular chain and attached ejector-assembly are capable of being positively forceably driven toward either selected open end of the scoop, the said liquid-actuatable motor having a maximum appliable torque to supplement the limiting-means.

4. The loader bucket apparatus of claim 1 wherein the collar member surrounds said rail and is internally provided with rollers whereby the ejector-assembly is rollably slidably associated along the rail track means; and wherein at least one of said mounting brackets is removably attached to the rail track means to permit temporary disconnection of the ejector-assembly from the apparatus.