Excavating – Combined or convertible – Combined with clamp – grapple – or shear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-07-17
Shackelford, H. (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Combined or convertible
Combined with clamp, grapple, or shear
C037S403000, C037S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260294
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to grab members for attachment to the buckets of backhoes, excavators and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Backhoes and excavators are widely used in the construction industry but are only able to be used to perform digging and earth moving functions with limited ability to securely transfer other objects, such as rocks, debris, drainage pipes and the like.
Purpose-built bucket structures have been proposed for increasing the versatility of buckets used in the construction industry by incorporating an additional jaw which is hydraulically manipulated to open and close the bucket structure. Examples of such proposals will be found in AU-A-61889/94, W095/02095 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,147. These proposals are complex and therefore expensive and they limit the use of the bucket in its normal manner.
Purpose-built grapples have also been proposed for lifting objects such as logs, pipes, rocks and the like, and an example of such a proposal is found in AU-A-62438/80. While such grapples are able to function in transferring the above types of objects, they can only be used for these purposes and cannot be used to perform normal backhoe and excavator functions.
Since backhoes and excavators are widely used, it would be an advantage to provide a means by which the buckets of such equipment may be converted to provide a grab or “grapple” function which does not inhibit the usual backhoe and excavator bucket functions.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION AND OBJECT
It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for converting the bucket of a backhoe or excavator so as to be able to provide a grab or “grapple” function.
The invention provides an attachment for a backhoe or excavator having a movable boom to which a bucket having sides defining an open mouth is pivoted, including mounting means attached to the boom and to the open mouth of the bucket, a grab member pivoted to the bucket mounting means, and linkage means pivotally attached to the boom mounting means and to the grab member to enable the grab member to be manipulated by movement of the bucket between an open position in which the bucket is able to function in a normal manner and a closed position in which an object is able to be clamped between the grab member and the mouth of the bucket or the mouth of the bucket is at least partly covered, said grab member having a substantially straight portion extending from the pivot and an angular portion extending from the straight portion, the length of the grab member and the angle between its portions being selected to facilitate said manipulation of the grab member between its open position and its closed position.
In a preferred form, the length of the grab member is about 75%±15%, and preferably ±about 7%-8%, of the length of the bucket from its tip to its pivot point with respect to the boom. The angle between the straight portion and the angular portion of the grab member being about 120°±about 20°, and preferably ±about 15°. The length of the straight portion is about 75%±about 15% of the length of the grab member, and preferably ±about 7%-8%, while the angular portion is about 60%±about 15°, and preferably ±about 7%-8% of the length of the straight portion. The point of pivotal attachment of the link to the grab member is about 45% of the length of the grab member±about 10%, and preferably ±about 4%-5% from the pivot.
The grab member may include two or more tine members connected by cross members to render the grab member substantially rigid. In a preferred form, three spaced tines connected by cross members define the grab member.
The invention also provides an attachment for a front loader having a moveable boom to which a bucket having sides defining an open mouth is pivoted, including mounting means attached to the boom and to one side of the bucket, a grab member pivoted to the bucket mounting means, and linkage means pivotally attached to the boom mounting means and to the grab member to enable the grab member to be manipulated by movement of the bucket between an open position in which the bucket is able to function in the normal manner and a closed position in which the mouth of the bucket is at least partly covered by the grab member, said grab member having a substantially straight portion extending from the pivot and an angular portion extending from the straight portion, the length of the straight and angular portions of the grab member and the angle between its portions being selected to facilitate said manipulation of the grab member between its open position and its closed position.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 332271 (1993-01-01), DuBose et al.
patent: 2870925 (1959-01-01), Bernad et al.
patent: 3275172 (1966-09-01), Smith
patent: 3802731 (1974-04-01), La Bounty
patent: 3972147 (1976-08-01), Bigham
patent: 4375345 (1983-03-01), Hanson
patent: 4403906 (1983-09-01), Holopainen
patent: 4407626 (1983-10-01), Bruckner
patent: 4770597 (1988-09-01), Powers
patent: 4858346 (1989-08-01), Schulte
patent: 5123185 (1992-06-01), Pollard
patent: 5544435 (1996-08-01), Somero
patent: 5553408 (1996-09-01), Townsend
patent: 5678332 (1997-10-01), Hawkins
patent: 5921302 (1999-07-01), Petersen
patent: 5927933 (1999-07-01), Tucker
patent: 5957650 (1999-09-01), Rollo
patent: 6120237 (2000-09-01), Cummings et al.
patent: 61889/94 (1994-10-01), None
patent: WO 95/02095 (1995-01-01), None
Australian Patent Abridgment AU-B-62438/80 , Roy E. Labounty, Grapple Assembly for Backhoe Boom, Mar. 26, 1981 (2 pages).
Abstract JP 8226138-A, Jonathon Mills, [Sanyo Kiki KK], Hydraulic Switching Appts for Industrial Machine . . . , Sep. 3, 1996 (1 page).
Abstract JP 08311915-A, Jonathon Mills, [Kawasaki Heavy Ind.], Frame of Clamping Construction Machine . . . , Nov. 26, 1996 (1 page).
Abstract SU 727-769, Jonathon Mills, [KOVROV Excavator Wk (MOSG=)], Single Bucket Excavator Digging Equipment . . . , Apr. 25, 1980 (1 page).
Abstract DE 4108315, Jonathon Mills, [Maier, J.], Earth Moving Bucket Machine . . . , Sep. 24, 1992, (1 page).
Markovich Kristine
Shackelford H.
Shlesinger & Arkwright & Garvey LLP
LandOfFree
Grab attachment for backhoe and excavator buckets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Grab attachment for backhoe and excavator buckets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Grab attachment for backhoe and excavator buckets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2498182