WO2015006809A1

WO2015006809A1 - A bucket for an earth moving machine

Info

Publication number: WO2015006809A1
Application number: PCT/AU2014/000728
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard LADNY; Teguh BUDIMAN
Original assignee: G & G Mining Fabrication Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-16
Filing date: 2014-07-16
Publication date: 2015-01-22
Also published as: AU2013207573A1; AU2014292806A1

Abstract

A bucket for an earth moving machine comprises a generally concave structure (32) and first and second side walls (34 and 36) located adjacent respective opposite lateral ends of the concave structure (32). The concave structure (32) together with the side walls (34 and 36) define a containment space (38) for containing a volume of material such as, but not limited to, particulate material such as rocks, sand, aggregate, or any combination thereof. The concave structure (32) has an upper region (40) at least a portion of which is configured to slope rearward to each side of a vertical mid plane V with reference to a loading direction D of the bucket (30). As a result of the rearward sloping of the upper region (40) to each side of the vertical mid plane V, if the bucket (30) were loaded to the extent that material within the confinement space (38) were lodged on the upper region (40), the material is most likely to roll, slide or otherwise move toward the side walls (34 and 36) and fall out of the containment space (38). A rock guard (48) projects over the confinement space 38 from the upper region (40). The rock guard (48) has a free lateral edge (49) that slopes or tapers in a reward manner parallel to the upper lip (46) and upper edges (42).

Description

A BUCKET FOR AN EARTH MOVING MACHINE

Technical Field This specification discloses a bucket for an earth moving machine. The bucket may take the form of a loader bucket for use on a front end loader.

Background Art There are many different shapes and configurations of buckets for earth moving machines. The size, shape and configuration of a bucket are generally determined by the intended use. These bucket characteristics also have an effect on the performance of the bucket and indeed the earth moving machine to which it is attached. While buckets and earth moving machines are designed to carry a maximum load it is not uncommon for operators to overfill the bucket and thereby exceed the maximum load. The motivation for this is to finish a job more quickly. However exceeding the maximum load can have deleterious effects on the earth moving machine and associated running and maintenance costs. Examples of such effects include the development of cracks in booms of the earth moving machine that support the bucket; pin wear; increased fuel burn, and reduced turn and swing cycle time.

The above discussion of the background art is not intended to limit the application of the bucket as disclosed herein. Summary of the Disclosure

In a broad sense, the general idea behind the present bucket is to provide a bucket of a configuration that will reduce the likelihood of overloading or alternately reduce the amount by which the bucket may be overloaded. More specifically, a bucket for an earth moving machine is disclosed having an upper region that is shaped or otherwise configured to slope rearward with reference to a loading direction of the bucket. The loading direction is the direction of motion of the bucket when attached to an earthmoving machine and being driven forward into a pile of material for the purposes of filling the bucket with material from the pile. The slope of the upper region is intended to encourage or bias material loaded in the bucket that resides on the upper region to slide or otherwise move toward and fall from the sides of the bucket under the action of gravity and/or motion, including vibrations, of the earth moving machine. ln one aspect there is disclosed a bucket for an earth moving machine comprising: a generally concave structure and first and second side walls located adjacent respective ends of the concave structure, the generally concave structure and the side walls together forming a containment space for containing a volume of material;

the concave structure having an upper region configured to slope rearward to each side of a vertical mid plane of the bucket, the rearward slope being with reference to a loading direction of the bucket. In one embodiment an upper edge of the upper region tapers reward from a forward most point of the upper edge on the vertical mid plane.

In one embodiment the upper region slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane rearward towards to each a nearest one of the side walls.

In one embodiment the upper region slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane rearward with reference to a tangent plane of the concave structure towards an upper lip of the bucket. In one embodiment the upper region slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane: rearward laterally toward a nearest one of the side walls, and rearward with reference to a tangent plane of the concave structure towards an upper lip of the bucket. In one embodiment the concave structure comprises a floor shell having a concavely curved portion with upper and lower edges and wherein the upper region comprises at least one shell extension plate which is formed separately of the floor shell and having a first edge located adjacent to an upper edge of the floor shell. In one embodiment the upper lip of the bucket is constituted by an upper edge of the at least one shell extension plate opposite the first edge.

In one embodiment the upper region comprises first and second separate shell extension plates, each shell extension plate having an inner most side edge and an outer most side edge, wherein the inner most side edges of the shell extension plates are adjacent each other and form a continuous transition across the vertical mid plane; and the outer most side edges of each shell extension plate lie adjacent a respective nearest side wall.

In one embodiment the upper edge of the upper region of the bucket on each side of the vertical mid plane follows a single straight line.

In one embodiment the upper edge of the upper region on each side of the vertical mid plane comprises two contiguous straight lines having an obtuse included angle there between.

In one embodiment the bucket comprises a rock guard projecting over the containment space from the upper region and forward from the side walls toward the vertical mid plane. In one embodiment the rock guard has a front face that on each side of the vertical mid plane lies in a single plane.

In one embodiment the rock guard has a front face that in a plane parallel to the vertical mid plane has a lower portion lying in a first plane and a second upper portion lying in a second plane wherein the first and second planes converge in the forward direction.

In one embodiment the front face of the rock guard on each side of the vertical mid plane each has an inner part and an outer part, each of the parts being in alignment with respective ones of the two contiguous straight lines.

In one embodiment the bucket comprises rock a rib disposed on an outside of the containment space and attached to both the floor shell and the at least one shell extension plate.

In one embodiment each side wall is provided with a scalloped region adjacent the upper region whereby material held within the containment space and in contact with the upper region is capable of falling from the bucket via the scalloped region.

In a second aspect there is disclosed a bucket for an earth moving machine comprising: a generally concave structure and first and second side walls located adjacent respective sides of the concave structure, the generally concave structure and the side walls together forming a containment space for containing a volume of material, the concave structure having an upper lip extending laterally between the side walls; and a rock guard projecting over the containment space from the upper lip and having a front face that tapers forward in a loading of the bucket from each of the side walls toward the vertical mid plane.

In a third aspect there is disclosed a bucket for an earth moving machine comprising: a generally concave structure and first and second side walls located adjacent respective sides of the concave structure, the generally concave structure and the side walls together forming a containment space for containing a volume of material; and a material deflection portion extending from the concave structure to over lie a portion of the containment space and laterally between the side walls, the material deflection portion being configured to slope rearward to each side of a vertical mid plane of the bucket, the rearward slope being with reference to a loading direction of the bucket.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the bucket as set forth in the Summary, specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 a is a perspective view of a prior art bucket for an earth moving machine;

Figure 1 b is a side view of the bucket shown in Figure 1 a;

Figure 1 c is a rear view of the bucket shown in Figure 1 a;

Figure 2a is a front isometric view of a first embodiment of the disclosed bucket;

Figure 2b is a top view of the bucket shown in Figure 2a;

Figure 2c is a rear isometric view of the bucket shown in Figure 2a;

Figure 2d is a view of the bucket shown in Figure 2a but with a side wall removed;

Figure 2e is a side view of the bucket shown in Figure 2a but with a rocket guard removed;

Figure 2f is a front isometric view of the bucket shown in Figure 2a but with the rock guard removed;

Figure 3a is a rear isometric view of a shell extension plate incorporated in the bucket shown in Figure 2a; Figure 3b is a

Figure 3c is a

Figure 4a is a

2a;

Figure 4b is a front isometric view of the rock guard shown in Figure 4a;

Figure 4c is a rear isometric view of the rock guard shown in Figure 4a;

Figure 5a is a rear isometric view of a rib incorporated in the bucket shown in Figure 2a;

Figure 5b is a front isometric view of the rib shown in Figure 5a;

Figure 5c is a top view of the rib shown in Figure 5a;

Figure 5d is a side view of the rib shown in Figure 5a;

Figure 6a is a front isometric view of a second embodiment of the disclosed bucket; Figure 6b is a top view of the bucket shown in Figure 6a;

Figure 6c is a rear isometric view of the bucket shown in Figure 6a;

Figure 6d is a bottom front isometric view of the bucket shown in Figure 6a;

Figure 6e is a view of the bucket shown in Figure 6a but with a side wall removed; Figure 7a is an isometric view of a shell extension plate incorporated in the bucket shown in Figure 6a;

Figure 7b is a front view of the shell extension plate shown in Figure 7a;

Figure 7c is a view of section B-B of the plate shown in Figure 7b;

Figure 8a is a rear isometric view of a top assembly of the bucket shown in Figure 6a;

Figure 8b is a front isometric view of the top assembly shown in Figure 8a;

Figure 8c is a top view of the top assembly shown in Figure 8a;

Figure 9a is a rear isometric view of a rib incorporated in the bucket shown in Figure 6a;

Figure 9b is a top view of the rib shown in Figure 9a; and,

Figure 9c is a side view of the rib shown in Figure 9a.

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments

Figures 1 a - 1 c depict one example of a prior art loader bucket 10. The prior art bucket 10 comprises a concave structure 12 and first and second side walls 14 and 16 that are attached to respective ends of the concave structure 12. Together, the concave structure 12 and the side walls 14 and 16 define a containment space 18 for holding a volume of material such as aggregate, rocks, sand, or a combination thereof. The bucket 10 also incorporates a rock guard 20 that extends over the containment space 18. The rock guard 20 has a front face 22 that extends in a plane substantially parallel to a tangent plane T of an upper region 24 of a concave structure 12. This is most clearly illustrated with reference to Figure 1 b which shows a side view of the tangent plane T lying substantially parallel to the front face 22 of the rock guard 20 and the plane of the upper region 24 of a concave structure 12. Thus the plane of the rock guard 20 is a continuation of the plane of the upper region 24.

Figures 2a - 2g depict an embodiment of the bucket 30 in accordance with the preset disclosure for an earth moving machine. In this particular embodiment, the bucket 30 is in the form of a loader bucket. The bucket 30 has a generally concave structure 32 and first and second side walls 34 and 36 located adjacent respective opposite lateral ends of the concave structure 32. The concave structure 32 together with the side walls 34 and 36 define a containment space 38 for containing a volume of material such as, but not limited to, particulate material such as rocks, sand, aggregate, or any combination thereof. The concave structure 32 has an upper region 40 at least a portion of which is configured to slope rearward to each side of a vertical mid plane V with reference to a loading direction D of the bucket 30. The upper region 40 constitutes part of a material deflection portion 41 of the bucket.

As a result of the rearward sloping of the upper region 40 to each side of the vertical mid plane V, if the bucket 30 were loaded to the extent that material within the confinement space 38 were lodged on the upper region 40, the material is most likely to roll, slide or otherwise move toward the side walls 34 and 36 and fall out of the containment space 38. In this way, the configuring of the upper region 40 may act to prevent over filling of the bucket 30 as the overfill material will have a tendency to move toward and fall from the sides of the bucket 30 during a loading cycle. An upper edge 42 of the upper region 40 tapers from a forward most point 44 on the vertical mid plane V. This is shown most clearly in Figures 2a, 2d, 2e, 2f and 2g. This rearward taper is in two directions or two planes. Firstly the rearward taper is from the forward most point 44 on mid plane V rearward in a lateral direction toward a closest or nearest side walls 34, 36. This is represented by arrows S in Figures 2e and 2f. However additionally, the slope is rearward with respect to a tangent plane T of a concave structure 32 (shown in Figure 2e). This is represented by arrow R in Figure 2e. Thus material bearing on the upper region 40 is directed by virtue of the rearward sloping toward (a) the side walls 34 and 36 on each side of the vertical plane V, and (b) in an upward direction toward the upper lip 46 of the bucket 30. The upper lip 46 is coincident with the upper edge 42 of the upper region 40. The bucket 30 in this embodiment also comprises a rock guard 48 (see in particular Figures 2c, 2d and 4a - 4c). The rock guard 48 projects over the confinement space 38 from the upper region 40. The rock guard 48 has a free upper edge 49 that slopes or tapers in a reward manner parallel to the upper lip 46 and upper edges 42. Thus for the purpose of further clarifying the nature of the direction of the slope/taper of the upper region 40 arrows S are also depicted in Figure 2c and 4a in relation to the rock guard 48. The specific configuration and structure of the rock guard 48 will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The rock guard also constitutes part of the material deflection portion 41 of the bucket 30.

With particular reference to Figure 2d, the concave structure 32 comprises a substantially concave floor shell 50 having an upper edge 52 and a parallel lower edge 54. The upper region 40 of the concave structure 32 is constituted by at least one (although in this instance two) shell extension plates 56a and 56b (hereinafter referred to in general and in the singular as "shell extension plate 56" or in the plural as "shell extension plates 56").

With reference to Figures 2a and 2d the floor shell 50 is also made as two separate pieces 58a and 58b (referred to in general as "pieces 58") which are joined together side by side forming a seam or join line 60. The seam 60 lies in the vertical mid plane V. The shell extension plates 56 also abut and join each other along a seam 62 that may be considered as an extension of the seam 60 and also lies on the vertical mid plane V. The specific number of pieces used to construct the floor shell 50 and the upper portion 40 is not material to embodiments of the bucket 30. The number of pieces is merely a function of the physical size of the bucket 30 at hand. To provide some context, the present embodiment of the bucket 30 has a nominal confinement space 38 with volume of about 16m³. Embodiments to the bucket 30 which are designed with smaller confinement space volumes may be formed with a single piece floor shell 50 and a single piece shell extension plate 56. Conversely embodiments of the bucket 30 which are designed with larger confinement space volumes may be formed with a floor shell and shell extension plate both made from more than two pieces. Buckets could be made with volumes ranging from 1 m³ to 100m³. The volume of the bucket is dictated by the machine to which it is to be attached and the material to be dug.

With particular reference to Figures 2d and 3a - 3c each shell extension plate 56 is in the form of a metallic plate having an oblique fold line 64. Each plate 56 is in the general configuration of a quadrilateral having opposite longitudinal edges 66 and 68 and opposite transverse edges 70 and 72. The transverse edges 70 and 72 are parallel to each other. The longitudinal edge 66 is perpendicular to the transverse edges 70 and 72. The longitudinal edge 68 lies between the transverse edges 70 and 72 but is not parallel to the longitudinal edge 66. When the plate 56 is incorporated as part of the bucket 30, the edge 68 constitutes the edge 42 of the upper region 40; and the upper lip 46 of the bucket 30. Further, the edge 72 lies along or otherwise forms part of the seams 62. The opposite shorter transverse edge 70 lies adjacent a side wall. Thus, the transverse edge 72 forms an inner most edge of the shell extension plates 56 and in the assembled bucket 30 the edges 72 lie adjacent to each other and coincident with the vertical mid plane V.

The fold line 64 extends between the opposite transverse edges 70 and 72 but inboard of the corners of the plate 56. (It should be noted that the orientation of the plates 56 shown in Figures 3a and 3b is the flip side of that shown in Figure 2d.) Further, the displacement L1 of the end of the fold line 64 near the corner of edges 68 and 72 is less than the displacement L2 of the opposite end of the fold line 64 from the corner of edges 66 and 70. The fold line 64 in effect divides the shell plate 56 into a first planar portion 74 and a second contiguous planar portion 76. The planar portion 74 lies parallel to the tangent plane T and forms a continuation of the surface of the floor shell 50 from the upper edge 52. The planar portion 76 is inclined rearward of the tangent plane T and rearwards from the point 44 laterally toward an adjacent side wall. As can be seen from Figure 2d, the fold lines 64 of the shell extension plates 56a and 56b converge toward each other and the vertical mid plane V to meet at a point 77 near an inboard of the forward most point 44.

When constructing the bucket 30, the edge 66 constitutes a lower most edge of each shell extension plate 56 and is located adjacent and indeed abuts the upper edge 52 of the floor shell 50. Typically a weld is formed between the edges 66 and 52. Further, as previously stated, the inner most edges 72 of the shell extension plates 56 abut each other and are also joined by a weld.

The attachment of the upper region 40 constituted by the shell extension plates 56a and 56b to the floor shell 50 is augmented by a rib 80 shown in particular in Figures 2d, 2e and 5a - 5d. The rib 80 has a lower edge 82 that is attached to a back side of the floor shell 50, and an upper edge 84 that is attached to the upper region 40 and specifically to each of the shell plates 56a and 56b. The rib 80 is constituted by bent metal plate 86 and a plurality of gussets 88. The plate 86 prior to being bent into the configuration required to form the rib 80 has a pentagonal shape with one longitudinal edge forming the edge 82, two opposite parallel side edges 90, one at each end of the edge 82 and two tapered edges 94 that together constitute the upper edge 84. The edges 94 follow a taper identical to the rearward lateral taper of the upper portion 40 depicted by the arrows S. Further, the edges 94 meet at a forward most point 96 which is adjacent the forward most point 44 and lies in the vertical mid plane V. The plate 86 is bent to form a smoothly curved bend 98 that runs parallel to the edge 82 and between the edges 92. This bend forms an inner region 100 of the rib in which is disposed the gussets 88. Each gusset 88 is in the form of a thin metal plate that is shaped to abut the inside surface of the rib 80 in the region 100. These edges are subsequently welded to the inside surface of the rib 80. The gussets 88 are spaced along the rib 80 and lie on planes parallel to each other and transverse to the length wise direction of the rib 80.

With particular reference to Figures 2a, 2d and 4a - 4c it will be seen that the rock guard 48 has a grill like structure comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats 102 and transversely extending an interconnected flanges 104. The uppermost or free edge 49 of the rock guard 48 is constituted by a round bar 106. The slats 102 are evenly spaced from each other in a vertical direction, while the flanges 104 are evenly spaced from each other in a lateral direction. Further, the slats 102 are staggered so that in relation to any two adjacent slats 102, the higher of the slats is forward of the lower of the slats. The flanges 104 are also offset so that an inner flange is displaced in a forward direction relative to an adjacent outer flange. This facilitates the tapering or sloping of the rock guard 48 rearward toward the side walls 34 and 36 as shown by arrows S. Lower edges 108 of the flanges 104 are welded to the outer surface of the rib 80. Wear plates 1 10 are provided on a front face of the rock guard 48 extending part way from the vertical mid plane V toward respective opposite side walls 34, 36.

A further feature of the bucket 30 is the provision of a cut out or scallop 1 1 1 in an upper region of each of the side walls 34 and 36 near the upper region 40. The cut out or scallop 1 1 1 is provided to assist in enabling over filled material, which is directed by the configuration of the upper region 40 and/or the rock guard 48 toward the side walls 34 and 36, to fall from the bucket 30. The depth of the scallops 1 1 1 can vary depending on the material being dug. For example for materials with a relatively small average particle size the scallops 1 1 1 may not be as deep as for material with a relatively large mean particle size.

The material deflection portion 41 , which in the present embodiments may be viewed as the combination of the upper region 40 (and thus the shell extension plates 56a, 56b) and the rock guard 48, acts to deflect material to slide or otherwise move toward the side walls 34 and 36 to subsequently fall from the bucket 30 in the event that an operator attempted to overfill the bucket 10. In a broad terms the deflection portion 41 : extends from the concave floor shell 50 to over lie a portion of the containment space and laterally between the side walls 34, 36; and, is configured to slope rearward to each side of a vertical mid plane V of the bucket 30, the rearward slope being with reference to a loading direction D of the bucket.

The bucket 30 is also provided with a plurality of other features and attachments which are common to buckets for earth moving machines. These include for example ground engaging teeth 1 12 that project forward of a lip plate 1 14. The lip plate 1 14 extends from and is attached to the lower edge 54 of the floor shell 50. Rock deflectors 1 16 are also provided on the outside of the side walls 34 and 36 and wing shrouds 1 18 are provided along the forward most exposed edges of the side walls 34 and 36 below the scallop 1 1 1 .

The bucket 30 also has a mounting bracket arrangement 120 which is attached to the back of the concave structure 32 on an outside of the containment space 38. The mounting bracket arrangement 120 can take any form required to match the earth moving machine to which the bucket 30 is to be attached.

Figures 6a - 9c depict a further embodiment of a bucket 30'. The features of the bucket 30' which are identical to those of the bucket 30 are denoted by the same reference numbers. Features of the bucket 30' which are similar although modified from corresponding features of the bucket 30 are denoted with the same reference number but with the addition of the prime (') symbol.

The substantive differences between the buckets 30 and 30' reside in the configuration of the upper region 40' and the rock guard 48'. In general, in the bucket 30', the upper region 40' and the rock guard 48' taper or slope in the lateral direction from the vertical mid plane V towards opposite sides initially at a first angle and then at a second greater angle. Further, the rock guard 48' has a front face which is initially divided into an upper portion and a lower portion where these portions project forward and lie in intersecting first and second planes. These differences are described in greater detail below.

The upper portion 40' and constituent shell extension plates 56a' and 56b' slope in a rearward direction laterally from the vertical mid plane V toward a nearest side wall initially at a first angle and then at a second greater angle. This is achieved by providing the upper edge 42' of the region 40' (which is coincident with the upper edge 68' of each shell extension plate 56') in a configuration of two contiguous straight lines 68a' and 68b' which are provided with an obtuse included angle Θ there between as shown in Figures 6e and 7b. To further assist in explaining this reference is made to Figure 7b which depicts a shell extension plate 56a' viewed from the back (i.e. from the side of the rib 80). If the upper edge 68' had no rearward slope at all toward a side wall of the bucket 30' the upper edge 68' would extend along a reference line 124.

However the upper edge 68' has an inner length 68'a which is inclined at an angle i to the reference line 124, and a contiguous outer length 68'b that subsequently tapers at an increased angle a₂ to the reference line 124, i.e. a₂ > a-i . This results in the creation of the obtuse inner angle Θ between the edges 68'a and 68'b of the shell extension plate 56a'. The rock guard 48' follows the profile of the upper edge 42' of the upper region 40'; which in turn follows the upper edge 68' of each of the shell extension plates 56a' and 56b'. This is most evident from Figures 6d, 8a and 8b. These Figures show the free lateral edge 49' of the rock guard 48' as constituting two inner lengths 128a, one to each side of the vertical mid plane V; and two outer lengths 128b, each extending contiguously with and laterally from the length 128a toward a nearest side wall. The lengths 128a are parallel to the lengths 68'a. Similarly, the lengths 128b are parallel to the lengths 68b'. Thus the length 128a tapers or slopes at the angle i from a reference 124' that lies perpendicular to the vertical mid plane V and parallel to the reference line 124 of Figure 7b, while length 128b slopes or tapers at the angle a₂ from the reference line 124.

A further difference in the configuration of the rock guard 48' is that its front face now no longer lies parallel to the tangent plane T, but rather comprises upper and lower portions which converge in the forward direction. This is shown for example in Figure 8b which depicts an upper assembly of the bucket 30' showing a front face 130 of the rock guard 48' having a lower portion 132 and an upper portion 134. The lower portion 132 of the front face 130 lies in a first plane P1 while the upper portion 134 lies in a plane P2. The planes P1 and P2 converge toward each other in the loading direction D. This is also highlighted perhaps more starkly by reference to the wear plates 1 10'. Each wear plate 1 10^' is in the from of a plate that is bent along a straight bend line 136. The bend line 136 notionally divides the wear plate 1 10' into a lower portion 138 and an upper portion 140. The lower portion 138 lies on a plane parallel to the plane P1 while the upper portion 140 lies in a plane parallel to the plane P2. The fold line 136 between the upper and lower portions 138 and 140 projects in a forward direction from the upper lip 46' of the bucket. A further difference between the buckets 30 and 30' is the structure of the rib 80'. With particular reference to Figures 9a - 9c it can be seen that the rib 80' comprises three sections which are joined end to end. There is a central section 142 and respective lateral sections 144, one to either side of the central section 142. The central section 142 is of the same general configuration as the rib 80 shown in Figures 5a - 5d although it is not as long as it only comprises a portion of the lateral length of the bucket 30'. The central section 142 is formed from a pentagonal shaped plate 86' that: is bent to form a smoothly curved bend 98' that extends between opposite parallel side edges 90'; and has a lower edge 82' perpendicular to the edges 90'. The central portion 142 also has contiguous tapered edges 94' that slope away from a central point 96' rearward toward the side walls of the bucket 30'.

Each lateral section 144 is formed from a plate 146 that, prior to being bent to form a smoothly curved lateral bend 148, is of a quadrilateral shape having opposite edges 150 that are parallel to each other and a lower edge 152 that extends perpendicular to the side edges 150. An opposite edge 154 converges towards the edge 152 in a direction from the nearest side of the central portion 142 toward the nearest side wall of the bucket 30'. The edges 154 are not parallel to the upper edges 94'. Rather, they are angled relative thereto to form an oblique internal angle β. Further, the lower edge 152 of each lateral section 154 is angled with respect to the lower edge 82' to form an obtuse outer angle φ there between as shown in Figures 9a and 9b. In one

embodiment, β = φ. The effect of this is that the lateral sections 144 are swept back or inclined rearward of the central section 142. As with the rib 80, the rib 80' is provided with a plurality of spaced apart flanges 88' on the inside of the bend of the central section 142 and the lateral sections 144.

Whilst a number of specific embodiments of the loader bucket have been described, it should be appreciated that the loader bucket may be embodied in many other forms. For example the rock guard 48 and 48' is depicted as comprising a plurality of laterally extending slats and with one or more wear plates extending over a portion of the front face of the rock guard. If desired the entirety of the front face of the rock guard may comprise or include wear plates. In such an embodiment the wear plates may also form the structure of the rock guard and thereby do away with the need for the slats. The issue here is one of weight. Providing a wear plate that extends for the full front face of the rock guard is likely to have greater weight than a rock guard comprising a wear plate(s) that extends for only part of the front face and having a plurality of laterally extending slats. In yet a further embodiment, the rock guard can of course be used without any wear plate on the front face. Further, while in the specific described embodiments the upper region 40 of the bucket is comprised of two shell extension plates, it is possible for the operation to be formed from a single shell extension plate albeit that the manufacturing process in relation to the appropriate bending or shaping of the plate may be more difficult. Also embodiments of the bucket have been described in relation to a loader bucket. However the features of the bucket may be incorporated in other types of earth moving machines.

In the claims which follow, and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the bucket as disclosed herein.

Claims

Claims:

1. A bucket comprising:

a generally concave structure and first and second side walls located adjacent respective ends of the concave structure, the generally concave structure and the side walls together forming a containment space for containing a volume of material;

the concave structure having an upper region configured to slope rearward to each side of a vertical mid plane of the bucket, the rearward slope being with reference to a loading direction of the bucket.

2. The bucket according to claim 1 wherein an upper edge of the upper region slopes reward from a forward most point of the upper edge on the vertical mid plane.

3. The bucket according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper region slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane rearward towards to a respective nearest one of the side walls.

4. The bucket according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper region slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane rearward with reference to a tangent plane of the concave structure towards an upper lip of the bucket.

5. The bucket according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper region slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane: rearward laterally toward a nearest one of the side walls, and rearward with reference to a tangent plane of the concave structure.

6. The bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the concave structure comprises a floor shell having a concavely curved portion with upper and lower edges and wherein the upper region comprises at least one shell extension plate which is formed separately of the floor shell and having a first edge located adjacent to the upper edge of the floor shell.

7. The bucket according to claim 6 wherein the upper lip of the bucket is constituted by an upper edge of the at least one shell extension plate opposite the first edge.

8. The bucket according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the upper region comprises first and second separate shell extension plates, each shell extension plate having an inner most side edge and an outer most side edge, wherein the inner most side edges of the shell extension plates are adjacent each other and form a continuous transition across the vertical mid plane; and the outer most side edges of each shell extension plate lie adjacent a respective nearest side wall.

9. The bucket according to any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the upper edge of the upper region of the bucket on each side of the vertical mid plane follows a respective single straight line.

10. The bucket according to any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the upper edge of the upper region on each side of the vertical mid plane comprises two contiguous straight lines having an obtuse included angle there between.

1 1 . The bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising a rock guard projecting over the containment space from the upper region and forward from the side walls toward the vertical mid plane.

12. The bucket according to claim 1 1 wherein the rock guard has a front face that on each side of the vertical mid plane lies in a single plane.

13. The bucket according to claim 1 1 wherein the rock guard has a front face having a lower portion lying in a first plane and a second upper portion lying in a second plane wherein the first and second planes converge in the forward direction.

14. The bucket according to claim 13 when dependant on claim 10 wherein the front face of the rock guard on each side of the vertical mid plane each has an inner part and an outer part, each of the parts being in alignment with respective ones of the two contiguous straight lines.

15. The bucket according to any one of claims 6 to 14 comprising a rib disposed on an outside of the containment space and attached to both the floor shell and the at least one shell extension plate.

16. The bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein each side wall is provided with a scalloped region adjacent the upper region whereby material held within the containment space and in contact with the upper region is capable of falling from the bucket via the scalloped region.

17. A bucket for an earth moving machine comprising:

a generally concave structure and first and second side walls located adjacent respective ends of the concave structure, the generally concave structure and the side walls together forming a containment space for containing a volume of material, the concave structure having an upper lip extending laterally between the side walls; and a rock guard projecting over the containment space from the upper lip and having a front face that tapers forward in a loading direction of the bucket from each of the side walls toward a vertical mid plane of the bucket.

18. The bucket according to claim 17 wherein the rock guard has a front face that on each side of the vertical mid plane lies in a single plane.

19. The bucket according to claim 18 wherein the rock guard has a front face having a lower portion lying in a first plane and a second upper portion lying in a second plane wherein the first and second planes converge in the forward direction.

20. A bucket for an earth moving machine comprising:

a generally concave floor shell and first and second side walls located adjacent respective ends of the concave floor shell, the generally concave floor shell and the side walls together forming a containment space for containing a volume of material; and

a material deflection portion extending: from the concave floor shell to over lie a portion of the containment space; and, laterally between the side walls, the material deflection portion being configured to slope rearward to each side of a vertical mid plane of the bucket, the rearward slope being with reference to a loading direction of the bucket.

21 . The bucket according to claim 20 wherein the material deflection portion slopes reward from a forward most point of the material deflection portion on the vertical mid plane.

22. The bucket according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the material deflection portion slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane rearward towards to a respective nearest one of the side walls.

23. The bucket according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the material deflection portion slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane rearward with reference to a tangent plane of the concave floor shell.

24. The bucket according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the material deflection portion slopes from and to each side of the vertical mid plane: rearward laterally toward a nearest one of the side walls, and rearward with reference to a tangent plane of the concave floor shell.

25. The bucket according to any one of claims 20 to 24 wherein the concave floor shell comprises a concavely curved portion with upper and lower edges and wherein the material deflection portion comprises at least one shell extension plate which is formed separately of the concave floor shell and having a first edge located adjacent to an upper edge of the concave floor shell.

26. The bucket according to claim 25 wherein the material deflection portion comprises first and second separate shell extension plates, each shell extension plate having an inner most side edge and an outer most side edge, wherein the inner most side edges of the shell extension plates are adjacent each other and form a continuous transition across the vertical mid plane; and the outer most side edges of each shell extension plate lie adjacent a respective nearest side wall.

27. The bucket according to any one of claims 20 to 26 wherein an upper edge of the material deflection portion on each side of the vertical mid plane follows a respective single straight line.

28. The bucket according to any one of claims 20 to 26 wherein the upper edge of the material deflection portion on each side of the vertical mid plane comprises two contiguous straight lines having an obtuse included angle there between.

29. The bucket according to any one of claims 25 to 28 wherein the material deflection portion comprises a rock guard extending from the at least one shell extension plate and projects over the containment space and forward from the side walls toward the vertical mid plane.

30. The loader bucket according to claim 29 wherein the rock guard has a front face that on each side of the vertical mid plane lies in a single plane.

31 . The bucket according to claim 29 wherein the rock guard has a front face comprising a lower portion lying in a first plane and a second upper portion lying in a second plane wherein the first and second planes converge in the forward direction.