U.S. patent application number 12/854228 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for debris removal apparatus.
Invention is credited to Matthew Sutton.
Application Number | 20120036742 12/854228 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45563718 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120036742 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sutton; Matthew |
February 16, 2012 |
DEBRIS REMOVAL APPARATUS
Abstract
An apparatus that can be removably attached to an excavator has
a bottom portion having a screen as part of the container, and the
container has a variable widthwise coverage area. Liquid may drain
from the screen, and debris may remain in the container to clean
swampy areas.
Inventors: |
Sutton; Matthew; (Clewiston,
FL) |
Family ID: |
45563718 |
Appl. No.: |
12/854228 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/403 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 7/06 20130101; E02F
3/962 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
37/403 |
International
Class: |
E02F 3/96 20060101
E02F003/96 |
Claims
1. A debris cleaning apparatus (10), comprising: a container (140)
having a left edge (150) and a right edge (160), and a front edge
(220); a means to attach (190) the container (140) to an excavator
bucket (100); a screen (80) disposed between said left edge (150)
and said right edge (160) along the horizontal direction; and
between the front edge (220) and a first member upper edge (70);
and a means to adjust the widthwise coverage area (260) of the
container.
2. The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein said means to adjust the
widthwise coverage area (260) includes a fifth member (60)
extending leftwardly from said left edge (150) and another fifth
member (60) extending rightwardly from said right edge (160).
3. The apparatus (10) of claim 2, wherein said fifth member (60) is
hingeldy disposed on said left edge (150), and said other fifth
member (60) is hingedly disposed on said right edge (160).
4. The apparatus (10) of claim 3, wherein said fifth member (60)
has a fifth member upper edge (300) that is about the same
horizontal height as said first member upper edge (70), and
retention member (310) is adjustably connected to both the first
member upper edge (70) and said fifth member upper edge (300),
whereby said fifth member (60) can be locked in position at varied
angles with respect to said first member (20).
5. The apparatus (10) of claim 1, further comprising: a top support
(130) that is secured above said first member upper edge (70); an
elongate transverse attachment (120) secured to and oriented
substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support (130);
a cable (110) secured at one end to said elongate transverse
attachment (120), capable of extending over an excavator bucket
(100) and extending to another elongate transverse attachment
(120), whereby said excavator bucket (100) is disposed between each
of said elongate transverse attachments (120) and said top support
(130) capable of being securely disposed to an excavator bucket
(100) when the cable (110) is taught.
6. The apparatus (10) of claim 1, further comprising: a top support
(130) that is secured above said first member upper edge (70) via a
plurality of screen supports (210) oriented substantially vertical;
an elongate transverse attachment (120) secured to and oriented
substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support (130)
leftwardly of the center of the apparatus (10); another elongate
transverse attachment (120) secured to and oriented substantially
perpendicular with respect to said top support (130) rightwardly of
the center of the apparatus (10); each elongate transverse
attachment (120) having a front end (230) and a rear end (240); a
first cable (110) secured at one end to said elongate transverse
attachment front end (230) and capable of extending over an
excavator bucket (100) and extending to another elongate transverse
attachment front end (230); a second cable (110) secured at one end
to said elongate transverse attachment rear end (240) and capable
of extending over an excavator bucket (100) and extending to
another elongate transverse attachment rear end (240); (120),
whereby said excavator bucket (100) is disposed between each of
said elongate transverse attachments (120) and said top support
(130) capable of being securely disposed to an excavator bucket
(100) when the cable (110) is taught.
7. The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein said top support (130) is
made of rigid non-conductive material, and said cables (110) are
also made of non-conductive material.
8. The apparatus (10) of claim 7, further comprising: a compression
weight sensor (370) disposed in a position to monitor a downward
force near the left fourth member (50), and another compression
weight sensor (370) positioned to monitor a downward force disposed
near the right fourth member (50).
9. The apparatus (10) of claim 8, wherein one of said weight
sensors (370) is disposed on said second member (30) leftwardly of
the center of the apparatus, and another weight sensor (370) is
disposed on said second member (30) rightwardly of the center of
the apparatus.
10. A debris cleaning apparatus (10), comprising: a container (140)
having a left edge (150) and a right edge (160), and a front edge
(220); a means to attach (190) the container (140) to an excavator
bucket (100); a screen (80) disposed between said left edge (150)
and said right edge (160) along the horizontal direction; and
between the front edge (220) and a first member upper edge (70);
and a compression weight sensor (370) disposed in a position to
monitor a downward force near the left fourth member (50), and
another compression weight sensor (370) positioned to monitor a
downward force disposed near the right fourth member (50).
11. The apparatus (10) of claim 10, wherein said means to adjust
the widthwise coverage area (260) includes a fifth member (60)
extending leftwardly from said left edge (150) and another fifth
member (60) extending rightwardly from said right edge (160).
12. The apparatus (10) of claim 11, wherein said fifth member (60)
is hingeldy disposed on said left edge (150), and said other fifth
member (60) is hingedly disposed on said right edge (160).
13. The apparatus (10) of claim 12, wherein said fifth member (60)
has a fifth member upper edge (300) that is about the same
horizontal height as said first member upper edge (70), and
retention member (310) is adjustably connected to both the first
member upper edge (70) and said fifth member upper edge (300),
whereby said fifth member (60) can be locked in position at varied
angles with respect to said first member (20).
14. The apparatus (10) of claim 10, further comprising: a top
support (130) that is secured above said first member upper edge
(70); an elongate transverse attachment (120) secured to and
oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said top
support (130); a cable (110) secured at one end to said elongate
transverse attachment (120), capable of extending over an excavator
bucket (100) and extending to another elongate transverse
attachment (120), whereby said excavator bucket (100) is disposed
between each of said elongate transverse attachments (120) and said
top 110 support (130) capable of being securely disposed to an
excavator bucket (100) when the cable (110) is taught.
15. The apparatus (10) of claim 10, further comprising: a top
support (130) that is secured above said first member upper edge
(70) via a plurality of bars (280) oriented substantially vertical;
an elongate transverse attachment (120) secured to and oriented
substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support (130)
leftwardly of the center of the apparatus (10); another elongate
transverse attachment (120) secured to and oriented substantially
perpendicular with respect to said top support (130) rightwardly of
the center of the apparatus (10); each elongate transverse
attachment (120) having a front end (230) and a rear end (240); a
first cable (110) secured at one end to said elongate transverse
attachment front end (230) and capable of extending over an
excavator bucket (100) and extending to another elongate transverse
attachment front end (230); a second cable (110) secured at one end
to said elongate transverse attachment rear end (240) and capable
of extending over an excavator bucket (100) and extending to
another elongate transverse attachment rear end (240); (120),
whereby said excavator bucket (100) is disposed between each of
said elongate transverse attachments (120) and said top support
(130) capable of being securely disposed to an excavator bucket
(100) when the cable (110) is taught.
16. The apparatus (10) of claim 15, wherein said top support (130)
is made of rigid non-conductive material, and said cables (110) are
also made of non-conductive material.
17. The apparatus (10) of claim 10, wherein one of said weight
sensors (370) is disposed on said second member (30) leftwardly of
the center of the apparatus, and another weight sensor (370) is
disposed on said second member (30) rightwardly of the center of
the apparatus.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus to remove solid
debris from an area containing a liquid. The apparatus can attach
to an excavator arm, or an excavator bucket. The width of the
apparatus is variable, depending on the desired use.
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,758 discloses a heavy-duty scraping and
rake attachment for excavator buckets for clearing brush-covered
earth. The attachment is easily mountable to the bucket, thus
avoiding the work and expense of removing the bucket from the arm.
The scraper portion provides for offset toothed scrapers, a
combination of toothed scraper and blade, and blade only use and is
used in conjunction with a heavy-duty rake and power-operated thumb
to grasp and remove the material rooted or scraped up from the
earth by the scraper. The scraper portion and rake are included in
a single unit, attachable and detachable from the excavator bucket.
Scraper and blade attachments either detachably connected to the
unit with bolts or permanently welded in place as desired.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,435 discloses a brush rake for
attachment to an excavator arm equipped with a bucket and a thumb
having inner and outer pairs of teeth. The brush rake has a
parallel array of rake teeth attached to a rake bar, and a mounting
plate having one end thereof attached to the rake bar. An opposite
end of the mounting plate is adapted to overlie the body of the
thumb and to be received between the outer pair of teeth of the
thumb. A parallel pair of apertured ears attached to the rake bar
is so disposed thereon that when the rake bar is placed adjacent
and transversely with respect to the teeth of the thumb, the ears
lie adjacent and on opposite sides of the inner teeth of the thumb.
Mounting holes are provided in the mounting plate and matching
holes are bored through the body of the thumb. The brush rake is
attached to the thumb by inserting pins through the ears and
through holes bored through the inner teeth of the thumb, and by
inserting mounting bolts through the mounting holes and matching
holes in the thumb.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,755 discloses a claw/rake tool
attachment for use with a powered digging or material moving
machine. The attachment is for clearing undergrowth and timber and
consists of spaced parallel tines mounted onto a support means that
is affixed to the work arm of a machine. The undergrowth and timer
are held by the tines while unwanted material such as soil and the
like passes through the space between the tines and is not carried
with the undergrowth and timber being cleared.
[0005] As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that among
other things, provides for use with an excavator: (1) the use of a
screen to allow liquid to drain out of the apparatus, and allows
the apparatus to pick up the debris, such as plant-life; (2) a
structure having container portion with a bottom with upstanding
edges to capture and retain the debris; (3) a structure that may
accommodate cleaning ditches of varying widths by; (4) can carry
and transport any debris that it picks up; (5) can determine if the
container if off balance; and (5) can have non-metallic features
that protect the user from electrical shock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a debris cleaning
apparatus (10), comprising: a container (140) having a left edge
(150) and a right edge (160), and a front edge (220); a means to
attach (190) the container (140) to an excavator bucket (100); a
screen (80) disposed between said left edge (150) and said right
edge (160) along the horizontal direction; and between the front
edge (220) and a first member upper edge (70); and a means to
adjust the widthwise coverage area (260) of the container.
[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a debris cleaning
apparatus (10), comprising: a container (140) having a left edge
(150) and a right edge (160), and a front edge (220); a means to
attach (190) the container (140) to an excavator bucket (100); a
screen (80) disposed between said left edge (150) and said right
edge (160) along the horizontal direction; and between the front
edge (220) and a first member upper edge (70); and a compression
weight sensor (370) disposed in a position to monitor a downward
force near the left fourth member (50), and another compression
weight sensor (370) positioned to monitor a downward force disposed
near the right fourth member (50).
[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the debris removal
apparatus;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the debris removal
apparatus in operation, with debris in the container of the
apparatus; and
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the function and
structure of the retention member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] 10 debris removal apparatus [0013] 20 first member [0014] 30
second member [0015] 40 third member [0016] 50 fourth member [0017]
60 fifth member [0018] 70 first member upper edge [0019] 80 screen
[0020] 90 angle bracket [0021] 100 excavator bucket [0022] 110
cable [0023] 120 transverse attachment [0024] 130 top support
[0025] 140 container [0026] 150 left edge [0027] 160 right edge
[0028] 170 liquid [0029] 180 aperture [0030] 190 means to attach
[0031] 200 excavator arm [0032] 210 screen support [0033] 220 front
edge [0034] 230 transverse attachment front end [0035] 240
transverse attachment rear end [0036] 250 cable attachment [0037]
260 hook [0038] 270 widthwise coverage area [0039] 280 bar [0040]
290 bottom of the container [0041] 300 fifth member upper edge
[0042] 310 retention member [0043] 320 hinge [0044] 330 locking pin
[0045] 340 retention aperture [0046] 350 X-brace [0047] 360 first
member upper edge aperture [0048] 370 compression weight sensor
[0049] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,
since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
[0050] Broadly, the present invention may be used for removing
debris in roadside swampy ditches. The present invention may be
removably mounted to an excavator bucket, or if the bucket is
removed, it may be removably connected to the excavator arm. The
present invention is of particular importance for use to remove
plant-life, such as weeds, lilly-pads, and other debris, while
allowing the water, small animals, and microbes to remain in the
environment.
[0051] The present invention differs from the prior art by, among
other things, (1) the use of a screen to allow liquid to remain,
and allows the apparatus to pick up the debris, such as plant-life;
(2) a structure having a bottom with upstanding edges to capture
and retain the debris; (3) a structure that may accommodate
cleaning ditches of varying widths; (4) can carry and transport any
debris that it picks up; (5) has weight sensors that allow the
operator to determine if the container is off balance; and (6) has
a non-metal component separating the apparatus from the excavator,
to prevent electrical damage to the excavator, or the operator.
[0052] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention of
the debris cleaning apparatus 10, which may have a container 140.
The container 140 may have a first member 20, and it may have a
second member 30 extending forwardly from said first member 20. The
first member 20 may extend leftwardly to a left edge 150, and the
first member 20 may extend rightwardly to a right edge 160.
[0053] A third member 40 may extend upwardly and forwardly from
said second member 30, terminating at a front edge 220 at about a
45 degree angle. A fourth member 50 may extend leftwardly and
upwardly from the second member 30 at about a 45 degree angle.
Another fourth member 50 may extend rightwardly and upwardly from
the second member 30 at about a 45 degree angle. A fifth member 60
may be pivotally mounted on the left edge 150. The fifth member 60
may pivot on an axis that is parallel to the left edge 150. Another
fifth member 60 may pivot on an axis that is parallel to the right
edge 160.
[0054] In one embodiment the second member 30 may define the bottom
of the container 290.
[0055] FIG. 1 also illustrates a top support 130 which may run
widthwise. A transverse attachment 120 (best seen in FIG. 2) may be
disposed or securely attached to the top support 130. The
transverse attachment 120 may be an L-shaped bracket, with the
upper side disposed substantially horizontal, and then extend
downwardly.
[0056] Screen supports 210 may extend lengthwise from the top
support 130 to the front edge 220. Screen supports 210 may be
disposed substantially parallel with one another, and dispose
between the left edge 150 and the right edge 160.
[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a further embodiment, a
compression weight sensor 370 may be disposed near the left fourth
member 50, and another compression weight sensor 370 may be
disposed near the right fourth member 50. The sensors 50 may be
operatively connected to a display that the operator can see, so
the operator can see if the weight reading on both of the sensors.
This way if one sensor is substantially higher than the other, the
operator may determine that the container 140 may be off balance
and therefore unsafe to rise at heights, or to carry for
substantial distances. If the operator determines that there is an
unsafe weight differential, then he or she may decide to dump the
debris in the container 140, and then attempt to re-load the
debris.
[0058] FIG. 1 also illustrates a X-brace 350 that may support the
screen 80. The screen 80 may be immediately forward from and
secured to the X-brace 350.
[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates the present invention in use, with solid
debris disposed within the container 140, and liquid 170 left
behind in the environment. The liquid 170 is not retained within
the container 140 because it may pass through container 140 because
the container 140 may have a screen portion 80 with apertures 180
to retain solids and allow liquid 170 to pass through.
[0060] The transverse attachment 120 may be disposed substantially
perpendicular to the top support 130. There may be two transverse
attachments 120, one 120 leftwardly of the center of the apparatus,
and another 120 rightwardly of the center, to allow a cable 110 to
attach from one transverse attachment 120, over an excavator
bucket, to another transverse attachment 120, to securely hold the
debris cleaning apparatus 10 to an excavator bucket 100.
[0061] The transverse attachment 120 may have a front end 230, and
a rear end 240. A cable attachment 250 may be disposed at or near a
front end 230 and a rear end 240 of each transverse attachment 240,
enabling a first cable 110 to extend from one transverse attachment
120 front end 230 to another transverse attachment front end 230;
and enabling a second cable to extend from one transverse
attachment 120 rear end 240 to the other transverse attachment rear
end 240.
[0062] In one embodiment, the cable 110 may be attached at a first
end to a ratchet-like cable attachment 250, and the cable may have
a hook 260 at the other end. The cable may extend from over an
excavator bucket 100 and the hook 260 can hook to one the
downwardly extending side of the transverse attachment 120. Then
the cable 110 may be tightened by the ratchet-like cable attachment
250, so that the cable 110 is in a state of tension, to tightly
keep the top support 130 in contact the a portion of the excavator
bucket 100.
[0063] In one embodiment the screen portion 80 may be a galvanized
wire mesh that may be about 2 inches by 2 inches if square. In
another embodiment the screen portion may be about 1 inch by 1 inch
if square. And if not square then the approximate area of 1 square
inch may suffice, up to about 9 square inches. For example the
screen 80 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an elongated hexagonal
shape.
[0064] The debris removal apparatus 10 may have a means to attach
190 to an excavator bucket 100 other than using the cable 110 and
the cable attachment. For example, another means to attach 190 may
be employed, such as a mounting bracket, such as that from U.S.
Pat. No. 6,990,758.
[0065] Although the width of the bucket may be fixed from the left
edge 150 to the right edge 160, it may be able to vary by having a
telescoping portions of a first member upper edge 70 and the front
edge 220 (not illustrated) that can telescope outwardly, either
leftwardly or rightwardly for increased widthwise coverage area
270. Alternatively, this can be performed with the fifth member 60
being able to be folded out for increased widthwise coverage area
270.
[0066] In one embodiment a bar 280 may extend from the rear part of
the top support 130 downwardly to the bottom of the container
140.
[0067] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment having a fifth member upper
edge 300 that is substantially level with the first member upper
edge 70. In this embodiment the fifth member upper edge 300 may
have an aperture (not illustrated) to receive a locking member,
such as a locking pin 330 that may be removably disposed through a
retention aperture 340 in the retention member 310. A first member
upper edge aperture 360 (not illustrated) may be disposed through
the first member upper edge 70. The first member upper edge
aperture 360 (not illustrated) may removably receive a locking pin
330, which may be removably disposed through the retention member
310.
[0068] Alternatively, the fifth member 60 may rotate about the
hinge 320 my motorized or mechanical means, to allow the driver of
the excavator to open or close the fifth members 60 from the
driver's cab location.
[0069] In one embodiment, the top support 130 and cable 110 is made
from non-metallic composite, so that electricity cannot be
conducted from the earth to the excavator, in case there is live
wire in the area that is being cleaned by the apparatus 10.
[0070] Thus when there is a locking pin 330 through a retention
aperture 340 and the first member upper edge aperture 360, and
there is another locking pin 330 through another retention aperture
340 and the fifth member upper edge aperture 360, then the fifth
member 60 will be held in position and prevented from swinging
about the hinge 320.
[0071] The screen 80 may have the following properties:
Sheet Thickness for Hexagonal Opening Expanded Metal: 0.5 to 3.0
mm; Opening: 1500 mm wide; Supplied in the form of sheet or roll;
Dimensions of hexagonal expanded metal are made according to
customer needs. Other opening patterns like round, diamond and
special shapes may be suitable. The diagonal opening may be
parallel to the width of the sheet.
[0072] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *