BUCKET FOR AN EARTH-WORKING OR MATERIALS-HANDLING MACHINE

Abstract

Described is a bucket for an earth-working or materials-handling machine, having a top portion comprising a web section, a first and a second bucket side wall and a bucket floor extending from a front cutting edge of the bucket up to the top portion. The front cutting edge, the first and second side walls and the top portion form an opening of the bucket, seen from a front view of the bucket. The bucket has a first inner reinforcement beam element provided on an inside of the bucket adjacent the opening, connecting the first side wall to the web section and extending in a width direction (w) of the bucket from the first side wall towards the second side wall, wherein the first inner reinforcement beam element and the web section, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction (w), form a first perimeter profile enclosing an area. The bucket further has a second inner reinforcement beam element provided on an inside of the bucket adjacent the opening, connecting the second side wall to the web section and extending in the width direction (w) of the bucket from the second side wall towards the first side wall, wherein the second inner reinforcement beam element and the web section, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction (w), form a second perimeter profile enclosing an area. The first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements extend in the width direction (w) such that they abut each other at a region between the first and the second side walls, and the first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements further being formed such that a height of the first and second perimeter profile, respectively, decreases towards the region.

Claims

1. A bucket for an earth-working or materials-handling machine, comprising, a top portion comprising a web section, a first and a second bucket side wall, a bucket floor extending from a front cutting edge of the bucket up to the top portion, the front cutting edge, the first and second side walls and the top portion forming an opening of the bucket, seen from a front view of the bucket, a first inner reinforcement beam element provided on an inside of the bucket adjacent the opening, connecting the first side wall to the web section and extending in a width direction (w) of the bucket from the first side wall towards the second side wall, wherein the first inner reinforcement beam and the web section, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction (w), form a first perimeter profile enclosing an area, a second inner reinforcement beam element provided on an inside of the bucket adjacent the opening, connecting the second side wall to the web section and extending in the width direction (w) of the bucket from the second side wall towards the first side wall, wherein the second inner reinforcement beam element and the web section, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction (w), form a second perimeter profile enclosing an area, the first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements extending in the width direction (w) such that they abut each other at a region between the first and the second side walls and the first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements further being formed such that a height of the first and second perimeter profile, respectively, decreases towards the region.

2. The bucket according to claim 1, wherein the bucket, on an outside thereof, comprises a connection member for connecting said bucket to the earth-working or materials-handling machine.

3. The bucket according to claim 2, wherein the connection member is attached to the web section.

4. The bucket according to claim 3, wherein the connection member is further attached to an outside of the bucket floor.

5. The bucket according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the web section extends outwardly from the opening in an opposite direction with respect to a filling direction for the bucket, forming an outwardly extending web section portion.

6. The bucket according to claim 5, wherein the outwardly extending web section portion further protrudes downwardly towards the front cutting edge.

7. The bucket according to claim 5, wherein the bucket, on an outside thereof, comprises a connection member for connecting said bucket to the earth-working or materials-handling machine, wherein the connection member is attached to the outwardly extending web section portion.

8. The bucket according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side walls comprises a side wall portion in the proximity of the top portion, which side wall portion extends in the width direction (w) towards the web section.

9. The bucket according to claim 8, wherein the side wall portion is attached to the web section.

10. The bucket according to claim 9, wherein the weld is offset from a bucket corner between the respective side wall and the top portion.

11. The bucket according to claim 1, further comprising at least one outer reinforcement beam element provided on an outside of the bucket, on the top portion thereof and adjacent the opening, connecting the first and the second side walls to the web section and extending in the width direction (w) of the bucket between the first and second side walls, wherein the at least one outer reinforcement beam element and the web section, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction (w), forms a third perimeter profile enclosing an area.

12. The bucket according to claim 11, wherein the at least one outer reinforcement beam element is formed such that a height of the third perimeter profile increases towards a region of the top portion in-between the first and second side walls.

13. The bucket according to claim 11, comprising more than one outer reinforcement beam element provided consecutively in the width direction (w).

14. The bucket according to claim 1, wherein the web section comprises an end portion being distal to the opening, the distal end portion comprising a protruding portion extending in the width direction (w) and protruding downwardly towards the inside of the bucket through a slit of the bucket floor.

15. The bucket according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the web section, the first inner reinforcement beam element, the second inner reinforcement beam element and the at least one outer reinforcement beam element is made of sheet metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure cited as examples.

[0034] In the drawings:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a bucket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIGS. 2a-2c show cross sectional views of a top portion according to embodiments of the present disclosure and FIG. 2d shows a schematic illustration of a top portion of a bucket according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows another view of the bucket as shown in FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the bucket as shown in FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a view from behind of the bucket as shown in FIG. 1; and

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a bucket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] The drawings show diagrammatic exemplifying embodiments of the present disclosure and are thus not necessarily drawn to scale. It shall be understood that the embodiments shown and described are exemplifying and that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It shall also be noted that some details in the drawings may be exaggerated in order to better describe and illustrate the particular embodiment. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout the description, unless expressed otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] A bucket according to embodiments described herein is suitable for use with any earthmoving or materials-handling machine, such as a compact excavator, a dragline excavator, amphibious excavator, power shovel, steam shovel, suction excavator, walking excavator, bucket wheel excavator, a bulldozer, a loader, mining equipment, a tractor, a skid steer loader etc. The earth-moving or materials-handling machine may be a ground engaging machine, or may have a bucket that is arranged to engage some other surface, such as a pit wall in open pit mining.

[0043] The earth-moving or materials-handling machine may for example be used for digging a trench, hole or foundations, in forestry work, construction, landscaping, mining, river dredging or snow removal.

[0044] FIGS. 1-5 show views of a bucket 1 for an earth-working or materials-handling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the bucket 1 viewed at angle from the front and FIGS. 2a-c show cross sectional views of a top portion 2, wherein the cross sections are defined by sectional planes A-A, B-B and C-C, respectively, being perpendicular to the width direction w of the bucket. Moreover, FIG. 2d shows a schematic illustration of a top portion of a bucket viewed from above, FIG. 3 shows another front view of the bucket, FIG. 4 shows a view from the side of the bucket and FIG. 5 shows the bucket viewed at angle from behind. FIG. 6 shows another embodiment where the connection member 14 is configured differently.

[0045] The bucket 1 as shown in FIGS. 1-5 comprises a top portion 2 comprising a web section 3, a first 5 and a second 6 bucket side wall and a bucket floor 7 extending from a front cutting edge 8 of the bucket up to the top portion 2. The web section 3 of this embodiment is in the form of a plate member made by sheet metal, which has been formed into a specific shape, for example formed in a bending operation. The front cutting edge 8, the first and second side walls, 5 and 6, and the top portion 2 form an opening 9 of the bucket 1, as seen from a front view of the bucket 1.

[0046] The bucket 1 further comprises a first inner reinforcement beam element 10 provided on an inside of the bucket adjacent the opening 9, connecting the first side wall 5 to the web section 3 and extending in a width direction w of the bucket from the first side wall 5 towards the second side wall 6, wherein the first inner reinforcement beam element 10 and the web section 3, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction w, form a first perimeter profile 11 enclosing an area. An example embodiment of the perimeter profile 11 is shown in FIG. 2a.

[0047] In addition, the bucket 1 further comprises a second inner reinforcement beam element 12 provided on an inside of the bucket adjacent the opening 9, connecting the second side wall 6 to the web section 3 and extending in the width direction w of the bucket 1 from the second side wall 6 towards the first side wall 5, wherein the second inner reinforcement beam element 12 and the web section 3, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction w, form a second perimeter profile 13 enclosing an area. An example embodiment of the perimeter profile 13 is shown in FIG. 2b.

[0048] The first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements, 10 and 12, extend in the width direction w such that they abut each other at a region 19 between the first and the second side walls, 5 and 6, and the first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements 10, 12 further being formed such that a height of the first and second perimeter profile 11, 13, respectively, decreases towards the region 19. Height direction is denoted as h in the figures and is herein a direction which is perpendicular to the width direction. The profile of the opening 9 at the top portion 2 is in this embodiment provided in that the first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements, 10 and 12, taper inwardly toward the region 19 where the elements abut each other. Hence, the sizes of the areas enclosed by the first and the second perimeter profiles, 11 and 13, may be reducing in the direction toward the region 19 where the elements abut each other. As a consequence of this configuration, the first and the second perimeter profiles, 11 and 13, extend in the width direction w such that they form first and second hollow profiles at the top portion 2 of the bucket 1.

[0049] Furthermore, on an outside thereof, the bucket 1 comprises a connection member 14 for connecting the bucket to the earth-working or materials-handling machine. The connection member 14 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 comprises two separate elements which are separated by an intermediate outer reinforcement beam element 17. The connection members 14 are further attached to the web section 3 by a weld. Still further, in this particular embodiment, the connection member 14 is also attached to an outside of the bucket floor 7 by a weld, which is shown in FIG. 5. The connection member 14 connects the web section 3, the bucket floor 7 and the beam elements, 10, 12, 15, 17 and 18. Thereby, the bucket's stiffness, especially at the top portion 2, has been found to be improved. The connections are preferably made by welds.

[0050] A portion 4 of the web section 3 extends outwardly from the opening 9 in an opposite direction with respect to a filling direction F for the bucket 1, forming an outwardly extending web section portion 4. This is shown in e.g. FIGS. 2c and 4, where FIG. 2c shows a cross sectional view of the top portion 2 taken along a sectional plane C-C as shown in FIG. 1. The outwardly extending web section portion 4 protrudes downwardly towards the front cutting edge 8, such that it forms a downwardly projecting nose portion. The connection member 14 is also attached to the outwardly extending web section portion 4 by a weld, thereby further increasing the bucket's stiffness, especially at its top portion 2. The configuration of the outwardly extending web section portion 4 has for example shown to be beneficial for handling forces exposed to the bucket in different directions. During use of the bucket, i.e. when the bucket is moving and/or pivoting around at least one axle, it will namely be exposed to forces in different directions. By configuring the outwardly extending web section portion 4 such that it protrudes downwardly and such that the connection member 14 is connected thereto, the bucket stiffness may increase. Thereby, a more light-weight bucket configuration may be provided without compromising the bucket's stiffness properties. Furthermore, it has been found that the downwardly projecting nose portion 4 is beneficial for increasing the strength particularly in the middle in-between the side walls 5 and 6. Thereby, the opening 9 at the middle of the top portion 2 can be made larger without compromising bucket strength.

[0051] The side wall 5 comprises a side wall portion 51 in the proximity of the top portion 2, which side wall portion 51 extends in the width direction w towards the web section 3. Further, the side wall portion 51 may be attached to the web section 3 by a weld 53, see especially FIG. 2d. The weld 53 is offset from a bucket corner 52 between the side wall 5 and the top portion 2. Hence, the configuration of the side wall portion 51 avoids providing a weld at the bucket corner 52. Optionally, the weld may be provided between the web section 3 and the side wall portion 51 such that it extends in a direction being substantially parallel to a depth direction d of the bucket 1. Moreover, the weld may be provided between respective outer end portions of the respective web section 3 and the side wall portion 51, which end portions may lie flush against each other. In a similar manner, the side wall 6 comprises a side wall portion 61 in the proximity of the top portion 2, which side wall portion 61 extends in the width direction w towards the web section 3. Further, the side wall portion 61 is also in this embodiment attached to the web section 3 by a weld 63, see FIG. 2d. The weld 63 is offset from a bucket corner 62 between the side wall 6 and the top portion 2. Hence, the configuration of the side wall portion 61 avoids providing a weld also at the other bucket corner 62. Optionally, the weld may also here in a similar manner be provided between the web section 3 and the side wall portion 61 such that it extends in a direction being substantially parallel to the depth direction d of the bucket 1.

[0052] Moreover, the weld may also be provided between respective outer end portions of the respective web section 3 and the side wall portion 61, which end portions may lie flush against each other.

[0053] The width direction, the depth direction and the height direction as used herein are provided perpendicular with respect to each other, and may be regarded as corresponding to a Cartesian coordinate system.

[0054] In the embodiments shown in e.g. FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the front cutting edge 8 is formed such that the opening 9 at the front cutting edge 8 forms a concave-shaped profile facing the top portion 2, when seen from the front view of the bucket 1. Hence, the bucket 1 may further be configured with a curved-like profile at the front cutting edge 8, thereby further reducing internal stresses, when the bucket is in use. The front cutting edge 8 may be provided with the curved-like profile by bending a metal element into the specific shape, for example by bending a sheet metal element.

[0055] FIG. 2d shows a schematic illustration viewed from above of an example embodiment of a top portion 2. The outer reinforcement beam elements are here omitted to better illustrate the configuration of the web section 3 and the side wall portions 51 and 61. The web section 3 extends in the width direction w and in a depth direction d of the bucket 1. The web section 3 is connected to the bucket floor 7, preferably by a weld 72 extending substantially in the width direction w. Welds 53 and 63, as previously described in the above, are provided between the web section 3 and the respective side wall portions 51 and 62, in a direction being substantially parallel to the depth direction d of the bucket 1. A connection member 14 is also shown, which here is provided as two separate elements. The two separate elements extend in the depth direction d from the bucket floor 7 to the web section 3 such that it also contacts and is connected to the outwardly extending web section portion 4. The separate elements of the connection member 14 are here attached to the bucket floor 7 and the web section 3, preferably by welds extending substantially in the depth direction d.

[0056] The bucket 1 as shown in FIGS. 1-5 comprises three outer reinforcement beam elements, 15, 17 and 18 provided on an outside of the bucket 1, on the top portion 2 thereof and adjacent the opening 9, connecting the first and the second side walls, 5 and 6, to the web section 3 and extending in the width direction w of the bucket between the first and second side walls, wherein the three outer reinforcement beam elements and the web section 3, as seen in a sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction w, forms a third perimeter profile 16 enclosing an area. The perimeter profile 16 is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The three outer reinforcement beam elements 15, 17 and 18 are here provided consecutively in the width direction w, whereby each respective connection element 14 is provided in-between the beam elements 15 and 17, and 17 and 18, respectively, as seen in the width direction w.

[0057] The inner reinforcement beam elements 10 and 12, the web section 3 and the three outer reinforcement beam elements 15, 17 and 18 together form a light-weight beam-like profile in the bucket's width direction, connecting the first side wall 5 to the second side wall 6. Furthermore, the three outer reinforcement beam elements 15, 17 and 18 are formed such that a height of the third perimeter profile 16 increases towards a region of the top portion 2 provided in-between the first and second side walls 5, 6. In this particular embodiment, the outer reinforcement beam elements 15 and 18 are formed such that a height of the third perimeter profile 16 increases towards a region of the top portion 2 provided in-between the first and second side walls 5, 6, whilst the beam element 17 has a constant height in its width direction. Thereby, an outwardly bent beam-like profile is formed which comprises two bending points on the outside of the top portion 2 and one on the inside thereof at the region 19, as seen in the width direction w, which bending points on the outside are located between the beam elements 15, 17 and 17, 18, respectively. As a consequence, the shape of the profile on the inside of the top portion 2 of the bucket 1 and the shape of the profile on the outside thereof together form an outwardly bent beam-like profile at the top portion 2, when seen from the front view of the bucket 1. Optionally, the bucket 1 may comprise more than two such bending points on the outside, or even it may comprise only one such bending point, and still achieve the bent-like beam element profile as mentioned in the above. Likewise, more than one bending point may also be provided on the inside of the top portion.

[0058] A similar configuration is shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, with the difference that the connection member 14 of the bucket 1 in FIG. 6 comprises four separate elements 14 instead of two. As a consequence, there will be five outer reinforcement beam elements instead of three, i.e. 15, 18, 20, 21 and 22, which are provided consecutively in the width direction w. The number of separate elements of the connection member 14 may vary depending on e.g. the size of the bucket. Still further, at least one of the separate elements of the connection member 14 may be connected to the outwardly extending web section portion 4. In FIG. 6 it can be seen that the two outer separate elements are connected to the web section portion 4, whilst the two in the middle are not connected thereto. Optionally, all the separate elements of the connection member 14 may be connected to the outwardly extending web section portion 4, preferably by a weld.

[0059] Turning now especially to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the web section 3 comprises an end portion 31 being distal to the opening 9, the distal end portion 31 comprising a protruding portion extending in the width direction w and protruding downwardly towards the inside of the bucket 1 through a slit 71 of the bucket floor 7. This configuration may provide a more robust connection to the bucket floor 7, as described in the above.

[0060] The web section 3, the first inner reinforcement beam element 10, the second inner reinforcement beam element 12 and the outer reinforcement beam elements, 15, 17 and 18 are made of sheet metal.

[0061] In the embodiments shown in the figures, the first and second inner reinforcement beam elements, 10 and 12, and the outer reinforcement beam elements, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22 have substantially U-shaped cross sectional profiles, as seen in sectional planes taken perpendicularly to the width direction w. It shall however be noted that also other cross sectional shapes enclosing an area may be used, such as V-shape, semi-circular shapes etc., as e.g. described in the above.

[0062] Moreover, the first and the second inner reinforcement beam elements 10 and 12 abut each other substantially at a central sectional plane taken perpendicularly to the width direction, which central sectional plane is located substantially halfways in-between the first and the second side walls 5 and 6 as seen in the bucket's 1 width direction w, with substantially equal distances to the first and the second side walls.

[0063] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.