WO1990012750A1

WO1990012750A1 - Power bucket

Info

Publication number: WO1990012750A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/002180
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond E. Bergeron
Original assignee: Bergeron Raymond E
Priority date: 1989-04-20
Filing date: 1990-04-20
Publication date: 1990-11-01
Also published as: AU5541490A; CA1307810C

Abstract

A power shovel is disclosed for loading and unloading cargo. The bucket (11) includes a first bucket half (10) and a second bucket half (12) wherein each bucket half has a top (14), a closed bottom (16), a front wall (20) and a back wall (22) which are spaced apart from each other, a closed outside wall (18) and an open inside (24). The bucket halves are pivotally secured together at their tops so that the bucket halves are movable between an open and a closed position. A head (34) is disposed above the bucket and is attached to the bucket by four elongated cables. Two cables (36, 38) are attached to the outside corners (40, 42) of one half (12) while, similarly, the other two cables (44, 46) are secured to the outside corners (48) of the other bucket half (10). A closure cable (54) also extends through the bucket and is attached to the bucket halves for moving the bucket from its open to its closed position.

Description

POWER BUCKFT Background of the Invention

I . Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to power shovels for loading and unloading cargo.

II. Description of the Prior Art

The previously known clam shell buckets of the type used with power shovels typically comprise a pair of bucket halves which are pivotally secured adjacent their upper end. The upper end of the bucket is also known as the bucket "head" and this head is connected by a cable to a power mechanism which raises and lowers the bucket. Additionally, a closure cable extends through the head and is secured to the bucket halves for moving the bucket halves between their open and closed positions.

A primary disadvantage of these previously known buckets is that the buckets are made of a cast construction. The cast construction is not only expensive to manufacture but also significantly increases the overall weight of the bucket. This, in turn, reduces the overall cargo capacity of the bucket since the capacity of the power shovel is determined not only by the weight of the cargo within the bucket, but also the weight of the bucket itself. For example, if the power winch for raising the bucket is capable of lifting 15' tons and the bucket itself weighs 5 tons, then only 10 tons of cargo can be lifted by the power shovel. One reason for the excessive weight of these previously known scoops or buckets for power shovels is that the head is cast as a one-piece construction with at least one of the bucket halves so that the extra metal between the head and the bucket half significantly increases the overall weight of the bucket. Additionally, a cast construction is typically relatively thick which also increases the overall weight of the bucket. A still further disadvantage of these previously known buckets for power shovels is that the volume carrying capability of the shovel remains fixed even though the density or weight per volume of the cargo varies. Consequently, for particularly dense cargo, overloading of the power winch mechanism can occur when the bucket becomes fully loaded.

A still further disadvantage of these previously known clam shell buckets for power shovels is that, due to the weight of the head, the bucket is top heavy when placed in an at rest position on the ground. This in turn can result in capsizing of the clam shell bucket.

Summary of the Present Invention The present invention provides a bucket for a power shovel which overcomes all the above mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices.

In brief, the bucket of the present invention comprises a first bucket half and a second bucket half wherein each bucket half has a top, a closed bottom, spaced apart front and back walls, a closed outside wall and an qpen inside. The bucket halves are preferably secured at their tops so that the bucket halves are movable between an open and a closed position. In their open position, the open inside of the bucket halves engage the cargo while, in their closed position, the open insides of the bucket halves register with each other so that the cargo is contained within the bucket. Unlike the previously known buckets for power shovels, however, the head for the bucket of the present invention is not secured directly to one of the bucket halves. Instead, the head of the present invention is disposed above the bucket halves and is secured to the bucket halves by four cables. Two cables extend to the outside corners of one bucket half and, similarly, the other two cables extend to the outside corners of the other bucket half. The cables, which are much lighter than an integral metal construction, effectively decrease the overall weight of the bucket for a given cargo carrying capability.

A closure cable also extends through the head and is secured to both bucket halves. The closure cable, when retracted, causes the bucket halves to move from their open and to their closed position. Conversely, the normal weight of the bucket halves urges the bucket from its closed and towards it open position. Unlike the previously known buckets, the present invention ^• comprises a welded steel construction. Such a construction is much less expensive not only in fabrication costs but is also lighter in overall weight. Additionally, the present invention includes a number of removable panels in the walls of the bucket halves. These panels are used to vary the volume of cargo carrying capability of the bucket half. For example, the volume of cargo which can be carried by the bucket is maximized when the panels close the openingε in the bucket halves. Conversely, with the panels removed, excess cargo within the bucket merely flows outwardly through the openings thereby reducing the volume of cargo which can be carried by the bucket. Brief Description of the Drawing A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a side diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the closure mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a panel for use with the present invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Present Invention With reference first to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of the bucket 11 for a power shovel is thereshown and comprises two bucket halves 10 and 12. The bucket halves 10 and 12 are movable between an open position, illustrated in phantom line in FIG. 2, and a closed position, illustrated in solid line in FIG. 2 in a fashion which will be subsequently described in greater detail.

Each bucket half 10 or 12 is substantially identical to the other and comprises a top 14, a closed bottom wall 16, a closed outside end wall 18, a front wall 20 and a rear wall 22. The inside 24 of each, bucket half 10 and 12, however, is open so that, when the bucket halves 10 and 1^'2 are moved to their closed position, the bucket scoops cargo into the interior of the bucket 10 and the insides 24 of the bucket halves 10 and 12 register with each other.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, the bucket halves 10 and 12 are pivotally secured together at their top by an elongated cylindrical bearing 28 which extends through registering journals on the bucket halves 10 and 12. Preferably, the cylindrical bearing 28 is tubular in construction thereby minimizing the weight of the bearing connection.

The bucket halves 10 and 12 are constructed of a welded steel construction consisting of plates, supports, etc., which are welded together to form the bucket halves 10 and 12. This construction not only minimizes the cost and weight of the bucket 11 in comparison with the previously known cast constructions, but also reduces the fabrication time necessary to construct the bucket 11.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a head 34 is disposed above the bucket halves 10 and 12 by a distance at least as great as the overall height of the bucket halves 10 and 12. Two cables 36 and 38 are secured to the outside corners 40 and 42 of one bucket half 12 while, similarly, two further cables 44 and 46 are secured to the outside corners 48 (only one shown) of the other bucket half 10. These cables 36, 38, 44 and 46 are preferably constructed of steel and serve to support the bucket halves 10 and 1? from the head 34. The head 34, in turn, is connected by a cable 52 to the power winch (not shown) of the power shovel. Consequently, the bucket 10 is raised or lowered in unison with the head 34.

A closure cable 54 (FIG. 1) is εlidably mounted to the head 34, extends around a pulley 56 mounted to one bucket half 10 around a second pulley 55 on the other bucket half 12 and is then secured in any conventional fashion, such as a pulley 57 to a support 58 on the other bucket half 10. Consequently, as the cable 54 is raised with respect to the head 34, the closure cable 54 forces the bucket halves 10 and 12 from their open and to their closed position thus scooping cargo into the interior of the bucket 10 in the desired fashion. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a dual closure cable 54 * can be used in lieu of the single cable 54. The dual closure cable differs from the single closure cable 54 illustrated in the drawing by substituting a pulley 57 for the support 58 and then returning the closure cable 54 around the pulleys 55 and 56 through the head 34 and back to the winch utilized to close the power shovel.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 5, a plurality of openings 60 are provided in each bucket half 10 and 12. These openings are adapted to removably receive panels 62. The panels 62, together with the openings, serve to adjust the volume carrying capability of the bucket 11. For example, with the panels 62 removed, cargo which is scooped into the interior of the bucket 11 above the level of the opening 60 simply flows out through the opening 60 so that the cargo fills the bucket 11 only to the lower edge of the opening 60. Conversely, with the panels 62 placed in the opening 60, cargo can fill the entire interior of the bucket 11 thereby effectively increasing the volume of the bucket 11. This is particularly useful for cargo which has a relatively low density. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the bucket of the present invention achieves several advantages over the previously known buckets for power shovels. One advantage is that, since the head 34 is connected to the bucket halves 10 and 12 by the relatively lightweight cables 36, 38, 44 and 46, the overall weight of the bucket 10 is considerably less than a comparable size bucket of equal volume capability. Consequently, with the same power shovel, greater loads can be carried by the bucket 11 of the present invention.

A still further advantage of the present invention is that, since the cables extending between the head and the bucket halves are connected to the outside corners of the bucket halves, the weight of the bucket halves 10 and 12 urge the bucket 11 to the open position. This eliminates the need for any. counterweights of the bucket thereby further reducing the overall weight of the bucket. still further advantage of the present invention is its provision for welded steel construction as opposed to the cast construction for the previously known buckets. The welded steel construction of the present invention is not only lighter in weight and less expensive in construction than the previously known cast buckets, but may also be constructed^ more rapidly than the previously known cast buckets.

Lastly, the present invention is advantageous in that it enjoys a relatively low center of gravity since the head 34 and cables 36, 38, 44 and 46 are relatively lightweight in construction with respect to the bucket halves 10 and 12. Thus, when the bucket is in an open position and resting on the ground, it will not capsize. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

Claims

_Q_CLAIMS

] 1. A bucket for loading and unloading cargo comprising: a first bucket half and a second bucket half,

4 each bucket half having a top, a closed bottom, a front

5 wall and a back wall which are spaced apart from each other, a closed outside wall and an open inside end,

7 means for pivotally securing the tops of said g bucket halves together so that said bucket halves are

9 movable between an open position and a closed position, 0 wherein in said closed position said open ends register 1 with each other to contain cargo within an interior of 2 the bucket and wherein in said open position said open 3 ends of said bucket, 4 a head, 5 a first pair of cables, said first pair of g cables being secured at one end to said head and being 7 secured at their other ends adjacent the outside wall ₈ of one bucket half, 9 a second pair of cables, said second pair of 0 cables being secured at one end to said head and being 1 secured at their other ends adjacent the outside wall 2 o the other bucket half, and 3 means for pivotally moving said bucket halves 4 from said open to said closed position.

1 2. The invention as defined in claim 1

2 wherein said head is adapted to vertically moved by a

3 powered mechanism and wherein said cables are

4 dimensioned so that said bucket halves underneath the

5 head. 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising means for varying the maximum volume of cargo carried by said bucket.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said varying means comprises a plurality of openings formed in the front and back walls of each bucket half and means for selectively closing said openings.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said closing means comprises panels and means for - detachably securing said panels across said openings.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each bucket half is of a welded steel construction.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotal securing means comprises a cylindrical tube extending through registering openings on said bucket halves.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotally moving means comprises a closure cable, said closure cable extend through said head, around a pulley on one bucket half and secured to the other bucket half.