AU2004237824B2 - An excavator bucket - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO: LODGED: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED: ACCEPTED: PUBLISHED: RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: Paul Jay Tsaclis ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): Paul Jay Tsaclis ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA. INVENTION TITLE: AN EXCAVATOR BUCKET DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 2003906836 FILED ON 11 December 2003 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 "AN EXCAVATOR BUCKET" APR?2g Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to an excavator bucket. Background to the Invention Known buckets used in excavators traditionally comprise a curved base, including a bucket floor, and two substantially parallel side walls. The bucket floor of the curved base has a leading edge extending between the side walls, 10 which may have ground engaging tools such as teeth attached for penetrating the material being excavated. The curved base has a rear edge, which includes means for attaching the bucket to a working arm of the excavator. The side walls are substantially flat, and are joined to the curved base by means such as welding so as to form substantially a right angle in cross 15 section. The side walls of the bucket, particularly around the join with the curved base, are subjected, in use, to wearing forces caused by drag of the bucket through rock and similar abrasive materials. This is particularly prevalent as a load carrying bucket is being withdrawn from the material. As a consequence, the 20 bucket is subject to frequent repair or replacement. The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages of previous excavator buckets. Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an 25 excavator bucket comprising a curved base and two side walls, each side wall being substantially perpendicular to the base, each side wall being joined to the base along a join, and each side wall being associated with at least one intermediate portion located between the base and the side wall and forming at least part of the join; wherein the intermediate portion is bevelled at least in 30 part with respect to the base and side walls. Advantageously, this reduces the wear to which the join is subjected.

3 It is preferred that the intermediate portion extends through about two thirds of the length of the join. It is further preferred that the join includes at least one tapering portion between a substantially right-angled portion of the join and the intermediate 5 portion, the tapering portion providing a smooth transition between the intermediate portion and a substantially right angled join. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an excavator bucket comprising a curved base and two side walls, each side wall being substantially perpendicular to the base, and intermediate portions 10 being located between the base and each side wall; each side wall being connected to the base along a join, the join including at least one intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion is curved at least in part with respect to the base and side walls, and whereby the intermediate portion extends through about two thirds of the length of the join. 15 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an excavator bucket in accordance with a first embodiment the present invention; 20 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a join of the excavator bucket of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the join portion of Figure 2 showing lines of curvature; Figure 4 is a side view of the join portion of Figure 2; Figure 4a is a first cross sectional view of the join portion of Figure 2; 25 Figure 4b is a second cross sectional view of the join portion of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an excavator bucket in accordance with a second embodiment the present invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a join of the excavator bucket of Figure 5; 30 Figure 7 is a view of the join portion of Figure 6 showing lines of curvature; Figure 8 is a side view of the join portion of Figure 6; Figure 8a is a first cross sectional view of the join portion of Figure 6; and Figure 8b is a second cross sectional view of the join portion of Figure 6.

4 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to the Figures, there is shown in Figure 1 an excavator bucket 10 comprising a curved base 12 and two opposing side walls 14. The curved base 12 has a leading edge 16, to which are attached a plurality of ground 5 engaging teeth 18. The curved base 12 has a rear edge 20, to which is attached a mounting bracket 22 for attachment to an arm of an excavator (not shown). The side walls 14 are substantially parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the curved base 12. 10 Each side wall 14 is joined to the curved base 12 along a join 24. The join 24 has a first portion 26 extending from the rear edge 20 to an intermediate location 28. The first portion 26 of the join is substantially right angled in cross section. In the embodiment of the drawings the intermediate location 28 is approximately one third of the way from the rear edge 20 to the leading edge 15 16. The join 24 has an intermediate portion or second portion 30 extending from the intermediate location 28 to a front location 32 adjacent the leading edge 16. The second portion 30 can be better seen in Figures 2 to 4. The second portion 30 has a first tapering portion 34 adjacent the front 20 location 32 and a second tapering portion 36 adjacent the intermediate location 28. A main curved portion 38 extends between the first and second tapering portions 34, 36. The main curved portion 38 follows the curve of the curved base 12 in a longitudinal direction. The main curved portion 38 is also curved in cross 25 section, having a radius of curvature through each cross section. The radius of curvature is substantially constant throughout the main curved portion 38, and is relatively large when compared with that of the first and second tapering portions 34, 36. This can be seen in the lines of curvature shown in Figure 3, and in the cross sections of Figures 4a and 4b. 30 The first and second tapering portions 34, 36 provide for a smooth transition from a substantially right angled join to the curved join of the main curved portion 38.

b A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 5 to 8, with like numerals referring to like features. In the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8 the intermediate or second portion 30 has a first tapering portion 44 adjacent the front location 32, and a second tapering 5 portion 46 adjacent the intermediate location 28. A main bevelled portion 48 extends between the first and second tapering portions 44, 46. The main bevelled portion 48 follows the curve of the curved base 12 in the longitudinal direction. The main bevelled portion 48 has a substantially diagonal plate 50 extending between the side wall 14 and the base 12. The 10 width of the diagonal plate 50 is substantially consistent through the main bevelled portion 48, and is relatively large when compared to a similar diagonal plate within the first and second tapering portions 44, 46. The first and second tapering portions 44, 46 provide for a smooth transition form a substantially right angled join to the bevelled join of the main bevelled 15 portion 48. In use, the excavator bucket of the present invention does not engage with the material being dug primarily at a point contact, particularly on the return journey. The impact forced forces of the material on the join of the bucket are substantially reduced when compared to prior art buckets. In addition, the 20 drag force applied to the bucket by the material is substantially reduced. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. An excavator bucket comprising a curved based and two side walls, each side wall being substantially perpendicular to the base, each side wall being joined to the base along a join, and each side wall being associated with 5 at least one intermediate portion located between the base and the side wall and forming at least part of the join; wherein the intermediate portion is bevelled at least in part with respect to the base and side walls.

2. An excavator bucket as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion extends through about two thirds of the length of the join. 10

3. An excavator bucket as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the the join has at least one tapering portion between a substantially right-angled portion of the join and the intermediate portion, the tapering portion providing a smooth transition between the intermediate portion and a substantially right angled join. 15

4. An excavator bucket as hereinabove described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

5. An excavator bucket as hereinabove described with reference toFigures 5 to 8. GOLDRING CORPORATION PTY LTD 20 By its Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP P201 1AUOO