U.S. patent application number 11/160488 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for bucket glides.
Invention is credited to James Winslow Colclough.
Application Number | 20060288617 11/160488 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37565606 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060288617 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Colclough; James Winslow |
December 28, 2006 |
Bucket Glides
Abstract
A ski shaped glide of hardened steel, two or more of which can
be attached to the bottom of a bucket on a front-end loader when
the bucket is used for plowing snow with the lift hydraulics in
float position. The glide specifically referred to as a
bucket-glide, significantly and effectively prevent the bucket
cutting edge from digging into the road or ground surface when
plowing, especially when the ground surface is soft or uneven. To
accomplish this objective the bucket-glides are attached to the
underside the bucket bottom typically with one in the middle and
one near each outside edge with the glide's toes extending upward
just beyond the bucket's cutting edge. The acute angle bend of the
toes allow the bucket to be tilted downward to enable the bucket
cutting edge to effectively engage the snow and enable the bucket
to glide over and follow the terrain without having the cutting
edge dig in and remove unwanted material. The invention allows the
operator to adjust the bucket tilt angle to accommodate for most
ground conditions. When plowing snow on soft, unfrozen ground a
slight bucket tilt angle allows more of the bucket-glide's surface
area to make ground contact and therefore provides more bucket
support, preventing the cutting edge from digging in. As the
operator increases the bucket tilt angle it progressively reduces
the bucket-glide's surface area contact with the ground and support
of the bucket resulting in more of the bucket's weight being
transferred to the bucket's cutting edge. This reduced bucket
support is useful because it allows the cutting edge to
aggressively scrape hard surfaces like pavement or frozen ground
while still maintaining ground clearance. Bucket glides are
attached with a bolt or clamp.
Inventors: |
Colclough; James Winslow;
(Hillsdale, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James W. Colclough
146 Rt 21
Hillsdale
NY
12529
US
|
Family ID: |
37565606 |
Appl. No.: |
11/160488 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/264 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H 5/066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
037/264 |
International
Class: |
E01H 5/04 20060101
E01H005/04 |
Claims
1. A bucket-glide that has the shape of a small ski for attaching
to the bottom of a bucket on a front-end loader to be used for the
plowing of snow extending beyond the cutting edge of said bucket
and under said bucket to prevent said cutting edge from contacting
the ground surface or pavement while plowing thus preventing it
from disturbing or removing unwanted material, said bucket-glide
comprising a single flat rectangular section of hardened steel
forming a base, containing a curving upward bend at one end forming
a toe wherein the beginning of said bend defines the separation of
said base and said toe, wherein said base is drilled with holes and
countersunk on the bottom of said base to accommodate the securing
of said bucket-glide to said bucket with a single plow bolt, lock
washer and nut.
2. The bucket-glide of claim 1 wherein said bend is an acute
angle.
3. The bucket-glide of claim 1 wherein said steel is equal to or
greater than 3/8 inches thick.
4. The bucket-glide of claim 1 wherein said holes are drilled at
distances from the beginning of said bend along the centerline of
said base at intervals that will align with those drilled in the
bottom of said bucket according to the variations of industry
standards.
5. A bucket-glide for attaching to the bottom of a bucket on a
front-end loader that has the shape of a modified ski to be used
for the plowing of snow extending beyond the cutting edge of said
bucket and under said bucket to prevent said cutting edge from
contacting the ground surface or pavement while plowing thus
preventing it from disturbing or removing unwanted material, the
said bucket-glide comprising a singular flat rectangular section of
hardened steel forming a base wherein containing a curving upward
bend at one end forming a toe, wherein the beginning of said bend
defines the separation between said base and said toe, a hold down
plate comprised of a flat rectangular section of said steel, the
same width as said base and said toe, one end of which is welded to
the back of said toe at a particular vertical distance away from
the top of said base and extends rearward directly over and
parallel to said base, a gusset comprised of a flat rectangular
section of said steel is welded from the bottom of said hold down
plate downward to the beginning of and along the full width of said
toe along the said line of bend, the width of said gusset closely
defining the parallel distance separating said base from said hold
down plate, said hold down plate contains one hole that is drilled
at a particular location and threaded to accept a single bolt which
can then be turned firmly downward to contact the top of the bottom
of said bucket creating the static friction force necessary to hold
said bucket-glide to said bucket.
6. The bucket-glide of claim 5 wherein said steel is equal to or
greater than 3/8 inches thick.
7. The bucket-glide of claim 5 wherein said bend is an acute
angle.
8. The bucket glide of claim 5 wherein said hole is drilled on a
centerline along the length of said hold down plate.
9. The bucket-glide of claim 5 wherein said hole is drilled at a
distance away from said toe to allow said bolt to securely contact
the bottom of said bucket accommodating for various industry bucket
design standards.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the plowing of snow with a tractor
or any other machine equipped with a front-end loader and bucket.
More specifically the present invention relates to a ski shaped
device called a "bucket-glide" that when two or more are attached
to the bottom of the bucket the many problems encountered when
plowing snow become greatly reduced.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0002] The use of devices that maintain ground clearance and
provide support on snow removal equipment are well known. For
example snowplows use wear shoes, snow blowers use skids and others
even use rollers. More particularly, however, an example of a
simple support/ground clearance device that can be attached to a
bucket on a front-end loader for plowing snow appears to be absent
from the prior art. Commonly, the plowing of snow with a bucket
attached to a front-end loader on a tractor is tedious work and
requires operator expertise. Typically, using a bucket to plow snow
has not been efficient because the cutting edge of the bucket is
difficult for the operator to see in relation to the ground
surface. Because of this problem the bucket frequently digs in and
removes pavement, dirt, grass and other unwanted material along
with the snow. One common option available has been to remove the
bucket from the front-end loader and replace it with an expensive
snowplow type attachment. The present invention seeks to eliminate
these problems. The present invention makes the plowing of snow
with a bucket easy, efficient, and economical. At the same time the
present invention allows the operator to retain the utility of his
bucket for scooping and dumping the snow after plowing it.
[0003] The following United States patents have been issued that
relate to the present invention: [0004] 1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,175
issued to Atkinson, Jul. 7,1992, discloses a swivel design wear
shoe that is mounted to the bottom of a snowplow. It will tilt and
rotate on the swivel to maintain the wear surface of the shoe in
facing relation to the road surface. [0005] 2) U.S. Pat. No.
5,129,169 issued to Aubichon, Jul. 14, 1992, discloses an
attachment to increase the efficiency of snow removal of vehicles
equipped with a bucket. The attachment is secured by hooks and can
be remove by pivotal movements of the bucket. [0006] 3) U.S. Pat.
No. 6,508,018 issued to O'Brien, Jan. 21, 2003, discloses rollers
that can be attached to the bottom edge of a snow blower. The
rollers maintain ground clearance and keep the blower from
contacting the ground.
[0007] 4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,890 issued to Bateman, Jr. Jun. 10,
2003, discloses a combination snowplow and bucket for plowing,
scooping and removing snow. A wear plate can be affixed to the
underside. [0008] 5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,157 issued to Ferreira,
Mar. 18, 1997, discloses a wear pad for use on large machines made
of molded pieces of rubber or some other material that does not
wear easily. The wear pads bolt to the bottom of a bucket attached
to a front-end loader and are specifically designed to protect the
road surface from damage from the bucket. [0009] 6) U.S. Pat. No.
50,125,990 issued to De Clair et. al. May 7, 1991, discloses a
protective pad assembly, comprised of elongated rubber, for a
loader bucket that is attached to a backhoe. The pad assembly is
designed to protect the cutting edge of the bucket from
marring/scraping the surface while the backhoe is in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] If the ground surface is not smooth, flat and hard, similar
to new blacktop, efficient plowing of snow with a bucket on a
front-end loader is very difficult and requires operator expertise.
Without constant bucket angle and height adjustment even the best
operator will experience the bucket either digging in or floating
up over the snow like a toboggan leaving a packed layer of snow
behind. Bucket-glides minimize the problems of the bucket's cutting
edge catching on the ground or "floating" upwards over the snow,
therefore greatly reducing the need for the operator to constantly
adjust the height and angle of the bucket. Bucket-glides,
specifically designed to be used with the lift hydraulics in float
position, make the plowing of snow using a front-end loader
efficient and easy even for the operator with limited experience.
Most importantly they offer the owner, at a fraction of the cost of
an expensive snowplow attachment, the ability to plow yet retain
the utility of his bucket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a centerline profile of a bucket glide
with holes drilled to accommodate a plow bolt.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an angled top view of a bucket glide with
holes drilled.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates the centerline profile of a bucket glide
that is attached to the bottom of a bucket with one plow bolt.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a view of three bucket glides each
attached to the bottom of a bucket with a single plow bolt.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates an angled top view of a bucket glide that
contains a hold down plate with one threaded hole and supporting
gusset used as an optional attachment design.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates the centerline profile of a bucket glide
attached to the bottom of a bucket using the optional attachment
design. It shows how the gusset helps support the hold down plate
and also how it acts as a stop for cutting edge. FIG. 6 also
illustrates how this type of bucket glide can be attached to the
bottom of a bucket using a single bolt with lock nut.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a view of three bucket glides each attached to the
bottom of a bucket using the optional attachment design.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Bucket-glides are designed to greatly reduce and in some
cases eliminate the problems encountered when plowing snow with a
bucket 9 attached to a front-end loader with the lift hydraulics in
float position. In the past the operator has had to constantly
adjust the tilt angle of the bucket 9 to prevent the problem of the
cutting edge 7 from digging in and removing unwanted material
especially when the ground conditions under the snow were soft
and/or uneven. If the bucket 9 had even the slightest downward tilt
angle this problem was unavoidable because the exact location of
the cutting edge 7 was difficult for the operator to see. When the
operator would attempt to correct the "digging in" problem by
reducing the tilt angle, the bucket 9 would then tend to "toboggan"
upwards and over the snow, leaving behind and packing down what was
to be removed. Bucket-glides make plowing with a bucket easy and
efficient. They allow the operator to retain the utility of his
bucket 9, and furthermore provide a much more economical choice for
plowing snow with a front-end loader than an expensive snowplow
attachment.
[0019] Bucket-glides are basically a small "ski" made of hardened
steel similar to AR Plate 400 F, excluding bolts and nuts. They are
designed to be attached to the bottom 8 of the bucket 9 on a
front-end loader to be used for the plowing of snow with the lift
hydraulics on the loader in float position. When two or three
bucket-glides (see FIGS. 4 and 7) are attached to the bucket bottom
8 they allow the operator to tilt the bucket 9 downward slightly
and prevent the cutting edge 7 from removing unwanted material when
plowing. With the lift hydraulics in float position they allow the
cutting edge 7 to glide over and follow the contour of the ground
without digging in. This present invention allows the operator to
determine the exact amount of support that the bucket 9 needs from
the bucket-glide to keep the cutting edge 7 from digging in simply
by adjusting the bucket 9 tilt angle. Support from the bucket-glide
decreases as bucket 9 tilt angle increases. This occurs because the
bucket-glide base 1 is bolted directly to bucket bottom 8 as shown
by FIG. 3. The less the angle the more the base 1 will contact the
ground. The more the ground contact the more the support and vice
versa. For example, when plowing snow in soft ground conditions
more bucket 9 support is needed to prevent the cutting edge 7 from
ground contact, therefore the bucket 9 tilt needs to be slight.
When conditions under the snow are hard and less support is needed
the bucket 9 angle can be increased. This less support transfers
more of the bucket 9 weight to the cutting edge 7, allowing the
cutting edge 7 to aggressively remove ice and packed snow while
still maintaining ground clearance. Once the correct tilt angle is
determined and the lift hydraulics are put into float position the
operator is free to plow forward experiencing few of the
aforementioned problems.
[0020] Bucket-glides have two different attachment designs. FIGS.
1-4 illustrate the "bolt-on" design and FIGS. 5-7 illustrate the
"clamp-on" design. Both types of bucket glides can easily be made
by anyone skilled in the art of metal fabrication.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a centerline profile
of a bucket-glide with a "bolt-on" design comprising a flat section
of hardened steel containing a curving upward bend of an acute
angle near one end. The line of bend 3 defines the separation
between the flat section called the base 1 and the curving upward
bend section called the toe 2. FIG. 1 also illustrates countersunk
holes 4 that are drilled on the bucket-glide centerline to
accommodate the shape of a plow bolt 5 (see FIG. 3) and located to
allow the bucket-glide to fit various bucket 9 designs according to
industry standards.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, which is an angled top view of FIG.
1, there is shown the approximate location of the line of bend 3,
the toe 2, and the base 1. FIG. 2 also illustrates a top view of
the three holes drilled along the centerline of the
bucket-glide.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, which is an illustrated embodiment
from FIG. 1, there is shown a centerline profile of a bucket-glide
attached to the bottom 8 of a bucket 9 through one of its three
holes 4 with a plow-bolt 5 including a lock-washer and nut. FIG. 3
also illustrates the correct orientation of the front of the
cutting edge 7 being located along the line of bend 3. There is
also illustrated an example of a tilt angle of the bucket bottom 8
in relation to the ground 6 and how the attached bucket-glide
prevents the cutting edge 7 from digging into the ground 6.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4, which is an illustrated embodiment
of three bucket-glides attached to the a bucket bottom 8 with a
single plow bolt 5 (including lock washer and nut). Also shown is
the orientation of the bucket-glide's base 1 and toe 2 in relation
to the bucket's cutting edge 7.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown an angled top view
of a bucket-glide of optional attachment "clamp-on" design
comprising a flat section of hardened steel containing a curving
upward bend of an acute angle near one end. The line of bend 12
defines the separation between the flat section called the base 10
and upward bend section called the toe 11. Also illustrated by FIG.
5 is a hold down plate 13 that is welded to the backside of the toe
11, extending rearward over and parallel to the base 10. Also shown
is one threaded hole 18 drilled along the centerline of the hold
down plate 13, which is to accommodate a single bolt 15 (see FIG.
6) to secure the bucket-glide to the bottom 17 of a bucket 9 (see
FIG. 6). FIG. 5 also illustrates the location of a supporting
gusset that is welded between the hold down plate 13 and the toe 11
along the line of bend 12. The height of the gusset determines the
parallel distance between the base 10 and hold down plate 13 and is
sufficient enough according to industry standard to allow the
bucket bottom 17 (see FIG. 6) to slide between the base 10 and the
hold down plate 13.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 6, which is an illustrated embodiment
of FIG. 5, there is shown a centerline profile of a bucket-glide
clamped to the bottom 17 of a bucket 9 (see FIG. 7). FIG. 6 also
illustrates how single bolt 15 with locking nut 16 are used to
clamp the bucket-glide to the bottom 17 of the bucket. FIG. 6
additionally illustrates a profile of the gusset 14 welded at the
line of bend 12 between the toe 11 and the hold down plate 13 and
shows how the gusset 14 importantly acts as a stop for the front of
the cutting edge 7.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 7, which is an illustrated embodiment
of three bucket-glides of "clamp-on" design attached to the bottom
17 of a bucket 9 using a single bolt 15 and accompanying locking
nut 16. Also illustrated is how the bucket bottom 17 slides between
the base 10 and the hold down plate 13 and how the gusset 14 acts
as a stop for and limits the forward travel of the cutting edge
7.
* * * * *