U.S. patent application number 13/707923 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-27 for attachment for a bucket.
This patent application is currently assigned to Caterpillar SARL. The applicant listed for this patent is Caterpillar SARL. Invention is credited to Celia R. Clause, Alessandro Magliulo.
Application Number | 20130164106 13/707923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48654732 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130164106 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Clause; Celia R. ; et
al. |
June 27, 2013 |
ATTACHMENT FOR A BUCKET
Abstract
An attachment for a bucket is disclosed. The bucket includes a
plurality of panels including a bottom panel and two side panels.
The bottom panel extends between the two side panels and has an
edge. The attachment includes a plate having two major opposing
surfaces. The attachment further includes an adapter extending from
at least one of the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the
adapter being configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket.
The attachment further includes an attachment mechanism cooperating
with at least one of the plate and the adapter to detachably attach
the attachment to at least one panel in the plurality of panels of
the bucket.
Inventors: |
Clause; Celia R.;
(Jefferson, IA) ; Magliulo; Alessandro;
(Morrisville, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Caterpillar SARL; |
Geneva |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
Caterpillar SARL
Geneva
CH
|
Family ID: |
48654732 |
Appl. No.: |
13/707923 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61578424 |
Dec 21, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/722 ;
37/455 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 3/30 20130101; E02F
9/2825 20130101; E02F 9/2883 20130101; E02F 3/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/722 ;
37/455 |
International
Class: |
E02F 9/28 20060101
E02F009/28; E02F 3/30 20060101 E02F003/30 |
Claims
1. An attachment for a bucket, the bucket comprising a plurality of
panels including a bottom panel and two side panels, the bottom
panel extending between the two side panels and having an edge, the
attachment comprising: a plate having two major opposing surfaces;
an adapter extending from at least one of the two major opposing
surfaces of the plate, the adapter being configured to engage the
bottom panel of the bucket; and an attachment mechanism cooperating
with at least one of the plate and the adapter to detachably attach
the attachment to at least one panel in the plurality of panels of
the bucket.
2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a
strap, the strap having a surface configured to engage the bottom
panel of the bucket proximal to the edge thereof.
3. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises two
straps that cooperate to define a gap configured to receive a
portion of the bottom panel of the bucket proximal to the edge
thereof.
4. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the adapter is a first
adapter in a plurality of adapters extending from at least one of
the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the plurality of
adapters further comprising a second adapter, the first and second
adapters configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket
proximal to the edge thereof.
5. The attachment of claim 4, wherein the plate further includes
first and second major edges and first and second minor edges and
the first and second adapters are oriented in proximal relation to
the first and second minor edges of the plate, respectively.
6. The attachment of claim 4, wherein the first and second adapters
each comprise a strap, the strap having a surface configured to
engage the bottom panel of the bucket proximal to an edge
thereof.
7. The attachment of claim 4, wherein the first and second adapters
each comprise two straps that cooperate to define a gap configured
to receive a portion of the bottom panel of the bucket proximal to
the edge thereof.
8. The attachment of claim 4, wherein the attachment mechanism
comprises a plurality of brackets, each bracket in the plurality of
brackets defining a port configured to receive a fastener for
detachably attaching the bracket to at least one panel in the
plurality of panels of the bucket.
9. The attachment of claim 8, wherein the plurality of brackets
includes first and second brackets extending from the first and
second adapters, respectively.
10. An attachment for a bucket, the bucket comprising a plurality
of panels including a bottom panel and two side panels, the bottom
panel extending between the two side panels and having an edge, the
attachment comprising: a plate having two major opposing surfaces;
an adapter extending from at least one of the two major opposing
surfaces of the plate, the adapter being configured to engage the
bottom panel of the bucket; and a bracket extending from at least
one of the plate and the adapter and defining a port configured to
receive a fastener for detachably attaching the bracket to at least
one panel in the plurality of panels of the bucket.
11. The attachment of claim 10, wherein the bracket extends from
the adapter.
12. The attachment of claim 10, wherein the adapter is a first
adapter in a plurality of adapters extending from at least one of
the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the plurality of
adapters further comprising a second adapter, the first and second
adapters configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket
proximal to the edge thereof.
13. The attachment of claim 12, wherein the plate further includes
first and second major edges and first and second minor edges and
the first and second adapters are oriented in proximal relation to
the first and second minor edges of the plate, respectively.
14. A bucket assembly, comprising: a bucket having a plurality of
panels, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel and two
side panels, the bottom panel extending between the two side panels
and having an edge; an attachment including a plate having two
major opposing surfaces; an adapter extending from at least one of
the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the adapter being
configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket; and an
attachment mechanism cooperating with at least one of the plate and
the adapter to detachably attach the attachment to at least one
panel in the plurality of panels of the bucket.
15. The bucket assembly of claim 14, wherein the adapter is a first
adapter in a plurality of adapters extending from at least one of
the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the plurality of
adapters further comprising a second adapter, the first and second
adapters configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket
proximal to the edge thereof.
16. The bucket assembly of claim 15, wherein the plate further
includes first and second major edges and first and second minor
edges and the first and second adapters are oriented in proximal
relation to the first and second minor edges of the plate,
respectively.
17. The bucket assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second
adapters each comprise two straps that cooperate to define a gap
configured to receive a portion of the bottom panel of the bucket
proximal to the edge thereof.
18. The bucket assembly of claim 14, further comprising a plurality
of tooth projections attached to the bottom panel of the bucket,
one of the major opposing surfaces of the plate engaging the
plurality of tooth projections when the attachment is attached to
the bucket.
19. The bucket assembly of claim 18, wherein the adapter resides
between two tooth projections in the plurality of tooth projections
when the attachment is attached to the bucket.
20. An earthmoving machine, comprising: a boom; a stick attached to
the boom; a bucket assembly configured for attachment to the stick,
the bucket assembly comprising: a bucket having a plurality of
panels, the plurality of panels including a bottom panel and two
side panels, the bottom panel extending between the two side
panels; and an attachment including a plate having two major
opposing surfaces; an adapter extending from at least one of the
two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the adapter being
configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket; and an
attachment mechanism cooperating with at least one of the plate and
the adapter to detachably attach the attachment to at least one
panel in the plurality of panels of the bucket.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is based upon and claims the benefit
of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/578,424 by
Celia R. Clause et al., filed Dec. 21, 2011, the contents of which
are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to an attachment for a bucket on an
earthmoving machine, specifically an attachment that may be used to
grade material on a worksite.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Buckets on earthmoving machines frequently include teeth for
cutting or digging into material on a worksite. However, such teeth
are less effective at grading such material. Accordingly, an
attachment for the bucket may be provided for grading purposes. The
attachment may be designed to be detachably attached to the bucket
such that the teeth on the bucket do not have to be removed before
the attachment is attached to the bucket.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,610 B2 to Hardman et al. discloses an
edging device for a bucket. The edging device includes receivers
and an edge member configured to be detachably attached to the
receivers. The receivers are configured for attachment to tooth
adapters on the bucket.
SUMMARY
[0005] An attachment for a bucket is disclosed. The bucket includes
a plurality of panels including a bottom panel and two side panels.
The bottom panel extends between the two side panels and has an
edge. The attachment includes a plate having two major opposing
surfaces. The attachment further includes an adapter extending from
at least one of the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the
adapter being configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket.
The attachment further includes an attachment mechanism cooperating
with at least one of the plate and the adapter to detachably attach
the attachment to at least one panel in the plurality of panels of
the bucket.
[0006] An attachment for a bucket is disclosed. The bucket includes
a plurality of panels including a bottom panel and two side panels.
The bottom panel extends between the two side panels and has an
edge. The attachment includes a plate having two major opposing
surfaces. The attachment further includes an adapter extending from
at least one of the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the
adapter being configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket.
The attachment further includes a bracket extending from at least
one of the plate and the adapter to detachably attach the
attachment to at least one panel in the plurality of panels of the
bucket.
[0007] A bucket assembly is disclosed. The bucket assembly includes
a bucket having a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels
including a bottom panel and two side panels, the bottom panel
extending between the two side panels and having an edge. The
bucket assembly further includes an attachment. The attachment
includes a plate having two major opposing surfaces. The attachment
further includes an adapter extending from at least one of the two
major opposing surfaces of the plate, the adapter being configured
to engage the bottom panel of the bucket. The attachment further
includes an attachment mechanism cooperating with at least one of
the plate and the adapter to detachably attach the attachment to at
least one panel in the plurality of panels of the bucket.
[0008] An earthmoving machine is disclosed. The earthmoving machine
includes a boom, a stick attached to the boom, and a bucket
assembly configured for attachment to the stick. The bucket
assembly includes a bucket having a plurality of panels, the
plurality of panels including a bottom panel and two side panels,
the bottom panel extending between the two side panels and having
an edge. The bucket assembly further includes an attachment. The
attachment includes a plate having two major opposing surfaces. The
attachment further includes an adapter extending from at least one
of the two major opposing surfaces of the plate, the adapter being
configured to engage the bottom panel of the bucket. The attachment
further includes an attachment mechanism cooperating with at least
one of the plate and the adapter to detachably attach the
attachment to at least one panel in the plurality of panels of the
bucket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an earthmoving machine
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bucket assembly;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an attachment according to
an embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of an attachment according to
another embodiment of the invention; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the attachment shown in
FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bucket assembly according
to an embodiment of the invention, specifically the bucket assembly
shown in FIG. 2 with the attachment shown in FIG. 3 attached
thereto; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bucket assembly according
to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] An earthmoving machine is shown broadly in FIG. 1 at
reference numeral 10. The machine 10 includes a cab 11, a boom 12,
a stick 13 attached to the boom 12, and a bucket assembly 14
attached to the stick 13. The bucket assembly 14 includes a bucket
15, a plurality of tooth projections 20 attached to the bucket 15,
and an attachment 21 attached to the bucket 14. As one of ordinary
skill in the art would appreciate, though a hydraulic excavator is
shown, the machine could be any earthmoving machine capable of
receiving attachment of a bucket assembly of the type described
herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0017] Turning now to FIG. 2, the bucket assembly 14 is shown
without the attachment 21. The bucket 15 of the bucket assembly 14
includes a plurality of panels 22, including a bottom panel 23 and
two side panels 24. The bottom panel 23 extends between the two
side panels 24 and includes a terminal region 25 having an edge 30.
Each of the tooth projections 20 may include a tooth adapter 31 and
a tooth tip 32 attached to the tooth adapter 31 by a retention
mechanism 33. Alternatively, each of the tooth projections may be a
unitary structure (not shown) attached to the edge 30. One of
ordinary skill would understand that the tooth projections 20 may
include one or more of a wide variety of contours, shapes, and
retention systems without departing from the scope of the
invention.
[0018] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the attachment 21 on its own.
The attachment 21 includes a plate 34 having first and second
opposing major surfaces 16, 17 (FIG. 4), first and second major
edges 18, 19, and first and second minor edges 26, 27. As shown in
FIG. 6, the major edges 18, 19 of the plate 34 have a width "W1"
approximately equal to a width "W2" of the edge 30 of the bottom
panel 23 of the bucket 15. The minor edges 26, 27 of the plate 34
have a length "L3" that, when the attachment 21 is attached to the
bucket 15, extends at least from the edge 30 of the bottom panel 23
of the bucket 15 to beyond the tooth tips 32 of the tooth
projections 20. The plate 34 may further include a tapered or
beveled region 37 at which a thickness "T" (FIG. 5) of the plate 34
is reduced to sharpen the second major edge 19 thereof. Sharpening
the second major edge 19 may enhance the precision and efficiency
of the attachment 21 as a grading tool.
[0019] The attachment 21 further includes first and second
attachment adapters 35, 40 extending from the second opposing major
surface 17 of the plate 34 in proximal relation to the first and
second minor edges 26, 27 of the plate 34, respectively. Each of
the attachment adapters 35, 40 includes first and second straps 28,
29 that cooperate to define a gap 36. The gap 36 is dimensioned to
receive portions of the terminal region 25 and the edge 30 of the
bottom panel 23 of the bucket 15. Each of the straps 28, 29 of each
of the adapters 35, 40 includes a surface 38 for engaging the
bottom panel 23 of the bucket 15 proximal to the edge 30 thereof.
The dimensions of the straps 28, 29 may be varied to accommodate
varying bucket sizes and worksite conditions. For instance, as
shown in the illustrated embodiments of the attachment 21, the
lengths "L1", "L2" of the first and second straps 28, 29 may be
approximately equal (as shown in FIG. 3) or the length "L1" of the
first strap 28 may be greater than the length "L2" of the second
strap 29 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The former configuration is
generally able to withstand greater loading stresses than the
latter configuration, but requires more metal and, as a result, has
a greater material cost. As further variations, the adapters 35, 40
could each include only one strap (i.e., either the first or second
strap 28, 29 rather than both), or if the adapters 35, 40 do each
include the first and second straps 28, 29, one of the straps 28,
29 could be formed by attaching a plate or similar structure to an
adapter having only one strap. These variations and others not
specifically described herein could be practiced without departing
from the scope of the invention.
[0020] The attachment 21 still further includes an attachment
mechanism such as first and second brackets 41, 42 for detachably
attaching the attachment 21 to the bucket 15. In the illustrated
embodiment, the first and second brackets 41, 42 are "L" brackets
that extend from the first and second adapters 35, 40,
respectively. More specifically, each of the brackets 41, 42
includes a first leg 45 and a second leg 50. The first leg 45 of
each of the brackets 41, 42 is attached to the first strap 28 of
one of the adapters 35, 40, while the second leg 50 of each of the
brackets 41, 42 is oriented for detachable attachment to whichever
of the side panels 24 of the bucket 15 is proximal to the adapter
35, 40 carrying the bracket 41, 42. The first and second brackets
41, 42 each define a port 43 for receiving a removable fastener
such as a nut and bolt 44. The ports 43 are oriented such that,
when the attachment 21 is being attached to the bucket 15, the
ports 43 align with corresponding ports 51 defined by the side
panels 24 of the bucket 15. As one of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate, many different types of removable fasteners could
be used and multiple removable fasteners could be used relative to
each of the side panels 24 of the bucket 15 without departing from
the scope of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0021] Before the attachment 21 is attached to the bucket 15, the
earthmoving machine 10 may use the tooth projections 20 of the
bucket assembly 14 to cut, loosen, or dig through compacted work
material. After the compacted work material is suitably loosened,
the attachment 21 may be attached to the bucket 15 without first
having to remove the tooth projections 20 from the bucket 15. FIG.
6 illustrates the bucket assembly 14 with the attachment 21
attached as described herein. The attachment 21 is attached to the
bucket 15 of the bucket assembly 14 by orienting each of the
attachment adapters 35, 40 between a pair of adjacent tooth
adapters 31 on the tooth projections 20 and urging the attachment
adapters 35, 40 onto the bottom panel 23 of the bucket 15 until
associated proximal portions of the terminal region 25 and the edge
30 of the bottom panel 23 are fully and securely received in the
gaps 36 defined by the attachment adapters 35, 40. The fasteners 44
may then be utilized to attach the attachment mechanisms--in the
illustrated embodiments, the second legs 50 of the brackets 41,
42--to the side panels 24 of the bucket 15. When the attachment 21
is attached to the bucket 15, the second major surface 17 of the
plate 34 engages the tooth projections 20 and the plate 34 extends
away from the bucket assembly 14 in substantially transverse
relation to the edge 30 of the bottom panel 23 of the bucket 15
further than the tooth tips 32 of the tooth projections 20, thereby
preventing the tooth projections 20 from disrupting the loosened
work material while the attachment 21 is in use.
[0022] After the attachment 21 is attached to the bucket 15, the
earthmoving machine 10 may urge the plate 34 of the attachment 21,
in particular the major surfaces 16, 17 and the second major edge
19 of the plate 34, through the loosened work material in order to
level or more evenly distribute such material in a desired manner.
When use of the attachment 21 is no longer desired, the attachment
21 may be detached from the bucket 15 by reversing the above
attachment steps, after which the tooth projections 20 may once
again be used as desired.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 7, the attachment 21 may alternatively be
provided with more than two attachment adapters, for instance to
support a larger size of the attachment 21 on a larger bucket. For
instance, in the bucket assembly 14A shown in FIG. 7, in addition
to the first and second attachment adapters 35, 40, the attachment
21 includes a third attachment adapter 52 for helping to stabilize
the attachment 21 on the bucket 15 and to support and distribute
loading stresses sustained by the attachment 21 during use. The
third attachment adapter 52 is configured similarly to the first
and second attachment adapters 35, 40.
[0024] Though the attachment 21 is herein described in connection
with grading, the attachment 21--specifically the second major edge
19 of the plate 34 of the attachment 21--may be used as a cutting
edge for cutting into work material and helping to urge cut work
material into the bucket 15 of the bucket assembly 14.
[0025] Many alterations and variations of the above-disclosed
embodiments of the invention could be practiced without departing
from the scope of the invention, which is delineated only by the
claims.
* * * * *