POWERED CONVEYING SURFACE BUCKET

Abstract

A powered conveying surface bucket assembly for attachment to a vehicle, includes a bucket assembly; a conveyor system that extends at least a portion of a width of a bucket bottom wall of the bucket assembly; and a power system connected to the conveyor system to rotate the conveyor system with respect to the bucket bottom wall.

Claims

1. A powered conveying surface bucket assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising: a bucket assembly; a conveyor system that extends at least a portion of a width of a bucket bottom wall of the bucket assembly; and a power system connected to the conveyor system to rotate the conveyor system with respect to the bucket bottom wall.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a drive system located between a first lateral conveyor section and a second lateral conveyor section of the conveyor system.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the drive system is centrally located laterally on the bucket bottom wall.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the power system is operable to power the drive system.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the power system comprises a hydraulic motor.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising a housing centrally located laterally on a bucket bottom wall between the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the hydraulic motor is mounted within the housing.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 7, further comprising a drive system within the housing to selectively drive the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the drive system comprises a transmission system.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the drive system comprises a brake clutch.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprises a running gear system to support each of the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the running gear system comprises a sprocket assembly along a sprocket axis, a roller assembly along a respective roller axis, and an idler assembly along an idler axis.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the drive sprocket axis is located adjacent to a leading edge of the bucket bottom wall.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the idler axis is located adjacent to a rear edge of the bucket bottom wall.

15. The assembly as recited in claim 14, further comprising a replaceable bucket leading edge along the leading edge of the bucket bottom wall, the replaceable bucket leading edge angled with respect to the bucket bottom wall.

16. The assembly as recited in claim 15, further comprising a rear gate rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the rear gate located adjacent a bucket back wall and the bucket bottom wall.

17. The assembly as recited in claim 15, further comprising a front gate movable between a front gate open position and a front gate closed position, the front gate located adjacent a bucket cutting edge and the bucket bottom wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a powered conveying surface bucket assembly supported by an example vehicle.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the powered conveying surface bucket assembly according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the powered conveying surface bucket assembly.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the powered conveying surface bucket assembly according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a right-side view of the powered conveying surface bucket assembly.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a left side view of the powered conveying surface bucket assembly.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a powered conveying surface bucket assembly according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a powered conveying surface bucket assembly according to another disclosed non-limiting embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20. The powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 may be supported by a plurality of bucket control arms A which connect the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 with a vehicle V. The vehicle V may include construction equipment such as skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, mini track loaders, compact tractors, small articulated loaders, etc. Other vehicles V such as front-loaders (e.g. payloaders), tractors, cranes, articulated haulers, backhoes, bulldozers, dump trucks, excavators, etc. may also utilize the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 which may be appropriately sized therefor.

[0033] The powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 may be supported by the bucket control arms A which serve to interconnect the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 with the vehicle V. The powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 may be interconnected with the vehicle V such that the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 is supported to be lifted, lowered, and otherwise manipulated in a conventional manner. For example, the bucket control arms A may include parallel linkage and may be manipulated by hydraulic cylinders powered by the vehicle hydraulic system.

[0034] With reference to FIG. 2, the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20, may generally include a bucket assembly 30, a conveyor system 40, a running gear system 50, a drive system 60 and a power system 70. The conveyor system 40 may be supported by the running gear system 50 and powered through the drive system 60 by the power system 70. Selective operation of the conveyor system 40 facilitates the dispensing of particulate materials. The powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 can modify heretofore processes of dispensing particulate materials so as to decrease fatigue in the operator and thereby perform more work in an allotted time. That is, the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 is operable to dispense particulate materials without the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 having to be pitched or otherwise maneuvered by the operator. Material conveyance via the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 may reduce wear of vehicle and bucket components, for example, pins which facilitate attachment of the bucket to the vehicle.

[0035] The bucket assembly 30 may include a bottom wall 32, a back wall 34, sidewalls 36A, 36B (also shown in FIG. 3), and a cutting edge 37. The bucket assembly 30 may be manufactured of a steel alloy. In one embodiment, the bottom wall 32 and the back wall 34 are angled with respect to each other to form an acute angle (FIG. 4) such that the sidewalls 36A, 36B in this embodiment may be triangular. A replaceable leading-edge assembly 38 extends between the sidewalls 36A, 36B and is angled with respect to the bottom wall 32. Although a particular bucket geometry is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, various bucket geometries may alternatively be utilized.

[0036] In one embodiment, a rear gate 34A may be located below the back wall 34 in between the back wall 34 and the bottom wall 32 and adjacent each rear corner of the sidewalls 36A, 36B (also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). The gate 34A may be selectively opened manually, and/or via an actuator such as a hydraulic actuator to dump material and/or unplug the conveyor system 40. A front gate may be located below the replaceable leading-edge assembly 38 with similar operation and purpose as the rear gate.

[0037] The conveyor system 40 may be a slat chain system that may include one or more lateral conveyor sections 48A, 48B (two shown) supported with respect to the bottom wall 32 by the running gear system 50. In one embodiment, each lateral conveyor sections 48A, 48B includes a multiple of slats connected to a chain. The conveyor sections 48A, 48B may provide a rigid, flat surface with slats manufactured of, for example, plastic or metal, which function in hazardous, high weight, and high-temperature environments. In other embodiments, the conveyor system 40 may include an apron type slat conveyor that utilize interlinked slats with raised edges to create a sealed, moving trough to provide a conveying surface that can move both solids and aggregates, and even semi-liquids such as concrete and slurry. In other embodiments, the conveyor system 40 may include a belt chain system with or without various types of coverings, e.g., such as plastisol, soft rubber, cushion cell, rubber tube, cushion dome, C-flex, etc., such as that manufactured by Noffsinger Manufacturing, Inc., of Greeley, CO. The various coverings may be used for crops, fruits, and other materials so as to reduce bruising while providing superior service life. In the belt chain system, coverings may be removed so as to be non-continuous and provide, for example, control of material such as up to the height of the cleats.

[0038] The replaceable leading-edge assembly may include a top plate 38A, a bottom plate 38C, and a center plate 38B located between the top plate and the bottom plate. The center plate 38B may be manufactured of a plastic material, e.g., UHMW plastic, positionable to minimize material dropping below the lateral conveyor sections 48A, 48B.

[0039] The running gear system 50 may include a sprocket assembly 52 along a sprocket axis S (also shown in FIG. 3), a roller assembly 54 with a multiple of rollers each along a respective roller axis R (also shown in FIG. 3), and an idler assembly 56 along an idler axis I (also shown in FIG. 3). The sprocket assembly 52, the roller assembly 54 and the idler assembly 56 may include one or more axle shafts which may be fixed or mounted upon a suspension. In one embodiment, the sprocket axis S is located adjacent to, and parallel with, the replaceable leading-edge assembly 38. The replaceable leading-edge assembly 38 provides a ramped surface to the conveyor sections 48A, 48B to facilitate flow of particulate materials. The idler assembly 56 may be positionable via a tensioner assembly 36AG, 36BG, 86AG, 86BG to adjust tension of the lateral conveyor sections 48A, 48B.

[0040] Each lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B (two shown) may be supported upon respective running gear system 50 and may include the first lateral conveyor section 48A and the second lateral conveyor section 48B that each extend for at least a portion of a width of the bottom wall 32. Although two sections are illustrated in the disclosed embodiment, any number of sections may be provided along the width of the bucket assembly. For example, a larger bucket such as a payloader may include 6-8 lateral conveyor sections.

[0041] The first and second lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B may extend with respect to a back edge 32B and a front edge 32F of the bottom wall 32. The first and second lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B may each include a multiple of links 46L with cleats 46C (FIG. 5), a belt structure, and/or other flexible structure. In this embodiment, the sprocket assembly 52 for each lateral conveyor section may be located adjacent to the front edge 32F of the bottom wall 32, and the idler assembly 56 for each lateral conveyor section may be located adjacent to the back edge 32B of the bottom wall 32.

[0042] The drive system 60, in one embodiment, may be centrally located laterally within the bucket assembly 30 between the first and second lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B to essentially selectively split power from the power system 70 to the respective running gear system 50 for independent operation of the first lateral conveyor section 48A and the second lateral conveyor section 48B. That is, the first and second lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B may be independently controlled by the drive system 60. In one example, the drive system 60 may include a transmission, geartrain, clutch brake, differential, and/or slip clutch arrangement to independently operate the first lateral conveyor section 48A and the second lateral conveyor section 48B of the conveyor system 40.

[0043] The drive system 60 may be located within a housing 80 mounted to the bottom wall 32 intermediate the sidewalls 36A, 36B (best seen in FIG. 4). That is, the housing 80 may be manufactured of the same steel plate with which the bucket assembly 30 is manufactured and essentially provide an armored enclosure.

[0044] The sprocket assembly 52, the roller assembly 54, and the idler assembly 56 may include further geartrains, axles, etc., that may be at least partially supported by the housing 80. The housing 80 may include a forward face 82 angled at a similar angle to that of the replaceable leading-edge assembly 38. A pyramidal top surface 84 of the housing 80 facilitates direction of materials toward each lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B of the conveyor system 40. The forward face 82 and the pyramidal top surface 84 may be removably mounted to housing sidewalls 86A, 86B.

[0045] The power system 70 may be a hydraulic motor, electrical motor, and/or other such motive device either independent of, or in communication with, a system of the vehicle V. For example, the power system 70 may include a hydraulic motor powered by the vehicle hydraulic system. The power system 70 may drive the drive system 60 either directly or through a gear system to provide power thereto. That is, the drive system 60 may include a gearbox, a bevel gear slip clutch for each lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B, separate motors for each lateral conveyor section 48A, 48B, etc.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, a motor 72 of the power system 70 may be mounted externally to the sidewall 36B of the bucket assembly 30 and connected to the drive system 60 via a chain drive 74 and axle arrangement. The motor 72 and chain drive 74 may be protected within a sidewall housing 76 (FIG. 6) mounted externally to the sidewall 36B. The drive system 60 may provide an interface between the first lateral conveyor section 48A and the second lateral conveyor section 48B to provide for independent operation thereof (FIG. 7).

[0047] With reference to FIG. 8, in another embodiment, the power system 70 may be mounted within the housing 80 to power the drive system 60 thence selectively drive the running gear system 50 of the first lateral conveyor section 48A and the second lateral conveyor section 48B. That is, the drive system 60 selectively and independently drives the first lateral conveyor section 48A of the conveyor system 40 and the second lateral conveyor section 48B. In one embodiment, each two sections of the conveyor system 40 may be powered by a respective power system 70 and drive system 60 which may be located within a respective housing 80 between each two lateral conveyor sections.

[0048] The drive system 60 may be operated in both a forward direction and a reverse direction. That is, the drive system 60 may be selectively operated to move material toward the replaceable leading-edge assembly 38 or toward the back wall 34. The drive system 60 may, for example, be activated to draw material into the bucket assembly 30toward the back wall 34in response to vertical elevation of the cutting edge 37.

[0049] The powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 permits particulate materials in the bucket 30 to be metered without tilt applied to the bucket 30 through the arms A. Horizontal unloading capabilities of the powered conveying surface bucket assembly 20 as controlled from inside the vehicle V provide the ability to meter particulate materials with more control, less motion, and better visibility. In other embodiments, the conveyor system 40 may be in communication with the vehicle V control system such that movement of the vehicle V is related to movement of the conveyor system 40 to control distribution of the particulate materials in response to movement of the vehicle.

[0050] Although the different non-limiting embodiments have specific illustrated components, the embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.

[0051] The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be appreciated that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.