Pivot system with adjustable height to actuate a door latch for an excavator bucket

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to earth movement machine components and, more particularly, to a pivot system with adjustable height to actuate a door latch for an excavator bucket.

Claims

1. A pivot system with an adjustable height of an arm for actuating a latch of a door for an excavator bucket which compensates for wear on the latch, the pivot system comprising: an arm articulated by a box support comprising an axis where an end of said arm pivots with a hole; a box support which regulates a height of said arm by using interchangeable shims located at a base of the box support; a mounting rod used for the shims, which goes through the shims by holes in each shim, and wherein the rod also goes through from side to side of the structure of the excavator bucket door through a hole for this purpose, preventing the mounting rod from bending due to use and pressure of the shims and also preventing the shims from falling out by disabling operation of the latch mechanism, wherein: the pivot system has an upper trap comprising a metal plate welded to a structure of the door with a borehole where a trap is located directly on the shims perpendicular to the arm's length, through which the mounting rod goes through a borehole prior to going through the shims and through the structure of the door; the shims are located parallel to the arm's length passing below the base of the box support; in operation, the shims become trapped between two beams.

2. A pivot system with adjustable height according to claim 1 wherein the rod can be secured by a cotter pin lock.

3. A pivot system with adjustable height according to claim 1 wherein the rod can be secured by a bolted lock.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0008] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the location of the pivot box on a door and the latch lifting elements.

[0009] FIG. 2a shows an isometric view of the latch and the pivot box with the location of the shims and the rod according to the state of the art.

[0010] FIG. 2b shows the bucket when the door is parallel to the ground surface during transport of the cargo.

[0011] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the changes made in the position and the manner for securing the shims.

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the changes made in the position and the manner for securing the shims.

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a pivot box support.

[0014] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view with the main component parts of the latch actuation system and contained in the pivot box.

[0015] FIG. 7a shows the fastening of the shims' securing rod using a cotter pin lock.

[0016] FIG. 7b shows the fastening of the shims' securing rod using a bolted lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] During actuation for unlocking the door (2) of the backhoe bucket, an arm (3) is lifted and lowered from its end (13) by a cable controlled by a mechanism activated by the operator, the arm (3) is attached in an articulated manner by its other end through a mounting hole (12) to the axis (10) of a box support (9) located inside a pivot box (1). A set of shims (5) is located in the base (11) of the box support (9), said shims are secured to the structure (14) of the door (2) by a rod (7) passing through mounting holes (6) of the shims (5) and subsequently fastening slidably to the structure (14) of the door (2) through a hole (18) for such purpose.

[0018] The proposed solution is displayed in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein an upper trap (8) is implemented which is welded to two beams (19) forming a part of the structure of the door (14) providing an increased rigidity to the rod (7) and preventing its movement by preventing shims (5) from falling out. Furthermore, the location of the shims (5) is changed to the side of the pivot box (1), said shims (5) becoming parallel to the arm's length (L) and not perpendicular to said length (L) as described above for the state of the art, where it is transverse to the direction of gravity as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 2a and 2b, this causes the weight of the shims (5) not to affect or bend the rod (7). Furthermore, the shims (5) with this new distribution are supported by beams (19) on their sides, becoming trapped and not exerting any force on the rod (7). As shown in FIG. 7a, the rod can be optionally secured by a cotter pin lock (18) or, as shown in FIG. 7b, by a bolted lock (17).