Bucket Attachment For A Backhoe

Abstract

An auxiliary bucket mounted on a backhoe immediately adjacent the movable bucket for cooperation therewith in gripping and moving materials, such as rocks, dirt, underbrush and the like. The auxiliary attachment mounts on the dipper stick immediately rearward of the movable bucket and is rigidly positioned, having a configuration quite closely approaching that of the movable bucket which is selectively engageable directly thereagainst so as to define a material holding chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to backhoes, and is more particularly concerned with an attachment therefor which is utilized in conjunction with the conventionally provided movable bucket for effecting a positive grasping and containing of materials to be moved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an attachment in the form of an auxiliary bucket which is mounted on the backhoe dipper stick immediately rearward of the movable bucket so as to cooperate therewith, upon a manipulation of the movable bucket, in grasping and holding rock, and the like.

Another significant object of the present invention is to provide an attachment which can be quickly and easily mounted on any conventional backhoe so as to convert the backhoe into a machine capable of effecting a positive grasping of material to be moved, whether this be rocks, fallen trees, or underbrush.

In addition, a significant object of the present invention resides in the provision of an auxiliary bucket which generally conforms to the shape of the movable bucket so as to cooperate closely therewith, and which is in addition of a highly rigid construction.

Basically, the above objects are achieved through the provision of a bucket which, through specific mounting means, is capable of being quickly mounted on the dipper stick of a backhoe immediately inward or reardward of the movable bucket for cooperation therewith.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the dipper stick and of a backhoe having the auxiliary bucket of the instant invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the auxiliary bucket and the mounting means therefor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the backhoe attachment of the instant invention. This attachment, being in the nature of an enlarged bucket, is to be mounted on a dip or dipper stick 12 rearward of a conventionally provided, pivotally mounted bucket 14 having an opening and normally actuated by a fluid cylinder and piston unit 16 through appropriate links 18. The dipper stick 12 is itself pivotally affixed to the end of a backhoe boom or mast 20 by mounting plates 22 through which an angular adjustment of dipper stick 12 is effected by a second fluid cylinder and piston unit 24, all of this backhoe construction being of a generally conventional nature common to most forms of backhoes.

The bucket attachment 10 of the instant invention has a flat top panel or wall 26, a pair of depending sidewalls 28 and an arcuate or curved rear wall 30 all integrally connected along the adjoining edges thereof so as to define a forwardly opening bucket unit. As will possibly be best appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear wall 30 curves inwardly toward the bottom thereof so as to position the forward edge 32 thereof in substantially a common vertical plane with the generally perpendicular forward abutment edges 34 of the two sidewalls 28.

The bucket 10 is to be mounted on the dipper stick 12 immediately rearward of the movable bucket 14. As such, a pair of vertically extending mounting ears 36 are provided centrally on the top panel or wall 26 toward the forward edge 38 thereof. These ears 36, having mounting holes 40 therein, are positioned adjacent each side of the dipper stick 12 and receive a mounting pin or shaft 42 therethrough. This pin or shaft 42 will, in most instances, be that shaft utilized to pivotally mount some of the bucket links 18, however, a separate shaft can be extended through the dipper stick 12 should such be necessary. The rear end of the bucket 10 is also rigidly affixed to the dipper stick 12, such being done through the utilization of a saddle 44 which includes a pair of depending bolts or threaded rods 46 interconnected by a rigid transverse member 48 which seats over the top of the dipper stick. The two bolts 46 depend from the cross plate or member 48 to the opposite sides of the dipper stick 12 and are received through a pair of holes 50 in the top panel 26 with the lower ends of the bolts 46, which are received within the bucket 40 below the top panel 26, having suitable locknuts 52 threaded thereon so as to rigidly bolt the bucket upwardly against the dipper stick 12 and thus complete the mounting of the bucket 10. It will of course be appreciated that the height of the ears 36 and their relation to the mounting pin 42 associated therewith is such so as to effect a firm seating of the top panel 26 against the bottom of the dipper stick 12, the mounted bucket 10 presenting a unit rigid with the dipper stick 12.

If so desired, for additional stability, a cross member 53 can be welded on the dipper stick 12 for the saddle 44 to engage behind. In addition, a pair of upstanding plates 54 can be welded or otherwise affixed to the top panel 26 in general alignment with the mounting ears 36 for engagement with the opposite sides of the dipper stick 12. These side plates 54 can, should a permanent mounting of the bucket 10 be desired, actually be welded to the dipper stick 12.

With reference to FIG. 1, and the phantom line showing of the movable bucket 14 therein, it will be appreciated that the auxiliary bucket 10 is so mounted and of such a configuration as to enable a substantial portion of the periphery of bucket 14 about the opening therein, and particularly the front edges 56 of the sides of bucket 14 to engage against the front edges 34 of the sides 28 of the bucket 10, the auxiliary bucket 10 also being of the same height and width as the movable bucket 14, thereby providing for a cooperation between the facing edges in a manner which effects, upon a pivoting of the movable bucket 14 from forwardly and upwardly pivoted unloading position (full line position in FIG. 1) to a substantially vertical loaded position (broken line position in FIG. 1) the forming of a complete enclosure. Such a complete enclosure, as will be appreciated, will be highly desirable when picking up piles of smaller rocks in that the rocks can be completely contained without any danger of discharge from the closed buckets. The fact that the forward edges 32 and 34 of the bucket 10 will actually align with the corresponding movable bucket edges as the movable bucket 14 approaches a vertical position, is also of significance in providing for a positive grasp of materials which will not necessarily be completely received within the two buckets 10 and 14. Finally, while not specifically illustrated, the back wall or panel 30 of the bucket 10 can be provided with dirt releasing openings therein should such be deemed desirable when, as an example, it becomes desirable to move rocks, the rocks being effectively retained between the buckets, while the soil or dirt falls therefrom.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique auxiliary bucket attachment for a backhoe has been defined. This attachment, in the nature of a bucket which substantially duplicates the size and configuration of the movable bucket, cooperates therewith in providing for a positive means against which the movable bucket can operate so as to either clamp material therebetween or enclose material therein in a positive manner so as to enable a movement of the material without danger of discharge.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a backhoe including a dipper stick and a pivotally mounted bucket on the outer end of said dipper stick movable by a fluid motor between a substantially vertical loaded position and a forwardly and upwardly pivoted unloading position, an auxiliary bucket, mounting means mounting said auxiliary bucket on said dipper stick immediately rearward of said movable bucket, said mounting means rigidly although releasably affixing said auxiliary bucket to said dipper stick, said buckets opening toward each other and being of generally the same height and width, a substantial portion of the periphery of said movable bucket about the opening therein being positionable in engagement with the corresponding portion of the periphery of the auxiliary bucket upon a movement of the movable bucket to its generally vertical position, said mounting means including a mounting pin, a pair of laterally spaced upwardly projecting ears rigid with said top panel adjacent a forward edge thereof, said ears including pin receiving openings therethrough for the reception of the mounting pin, two pairs of links, one pair pivotally connected to a piston rod of said fluid motor and to the mounting pin, while the other pair is pivotally connected to the piston rod and the movable bucket, and said mounting means further including a mounting saddle, said mounting saddle comprising a transverse rigid plate overlying said top panel adjacent and generally parallel to the rear edge thereof, and a pair of depending bolts rigid with said plate and depending therefrom through a pair of apertures defined through said top panel, and fastener nut means engaged with the lower ends of said bolts below said top panel, and upstanding parallel plates mounted on the top panel and arranged in general alignment with the ears and extending toward the apertures for engagement with the opposite sides of said dipper stick.