Claims
- 1. A method of lifting a dragline bucket with a hauling vehicle comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a dragline bucket transporter which comprises:
- i) a U-shaped frame having an open end, the open end sized to receive a dragline bucket;
- ii) a coupling located on the U-shaped frame opposite the open end;
- iii) a lifting assembly located at free ends of the U-shaped frame, a portion of the lifting assembly spanning a space between the free ends of the U-shaped frame; and
- iv) a tire mounted adjacent each free end of the U-shaped frame;
- b) providing a dragline bucket on a ground surface;
- c) providing a hauling vehicle and attaching a hitching assembly of the hauling vehicle via the coupling to the U-shaped frame;
- d) positioning the U-shaped frame around the dragline bucket so that a portion of the U-shaped frame is positioned beneath a portion of the dragline bucket;
- e) raising the hitching assembly to lift a front end portion of the dragline bucket off the ground surface; and
- f) raising a rear end portion of the dragline bucket off the ground surface with the lifting assembly so that the hauling vehicle can transport the dragline bucket from the ground surface to a desired location.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting assembly further comprises a cable and a pair of pivoting lifters, each lifter mounted adjacent a respective free end of the U-shaped frame, the cable sized in length to extend between and attach to the lifters and to extend beneath the rear end of the dragline bucket when the dragline bucket is positioned between the free ends, and after step (e), attaching the cable ends to respective lifters and pivoting the lifters to vertically raise the cable to lift said rear end portion.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling of the U-shaped frame is a shaft and the hitching assembly of the hauling vehicle is a gooseneck ending in a hook, and wherein step (c) further comprises engaging the hook with the shaft for the positioning of step (d).
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling of the U-shaped frame is an opening and the hitching assembly of the hauling vehicle is a gooseneck ending in a post, and wherein step (c) further comprises engaging the post with the opening for the positioning of step (d).
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped frame has a cross member with an upper surface angled with respect to horizontal when the portion of the U-shaped frame is positioned beneath the front end portion of the dragline bucket, and the hauling vehicle has a pivoting tow hitch, the tow hitch pivoted downwardly to engage the upper surface of the cross member to secure the shaft in the hook.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling is a gooseneck attachment assembly with a pivotal connection attached to the U-shaped frame and a free end opposite the attachment to the U-shaped frame, and step (c) comprises attaching the free end of the gooseneck attachment assembly to the hitching assembly of the hauling vehicle.
- 7. A method of lifting a dragline bucket comprising the steps of:
- a) raising a first end of the dragline bucket above a ground surface with a forward end of a u-shaped bucket transporter to create a clearance between the raised end of the dragline bucket and an opposite end of the dragline bucket resting on the ground surface;
- b) inserting a flexible member in the clearance to span an underside of the dragline bucket, the flexible member linked to the u-shaped bucket transporter; and
- c) raising the opposite end of the dragline bucket using the flexible member so that the u-shaped bucket transporter supports the dragline bucket off the ground surface.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the dragline bucket is lowered onto a ground surface by first lowering the opposite end using the flexible member, and then lowering the first end using the u-shaped bucket transporter.
- 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the u-shaped bucket transporter is hauled by a towing vehicle to move the dragline bucket from a first location to a second location.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dragline bucket is lowered onto a ground surface by first lowering the opposite end using the flexible member, and then lowering the first end using the u-shaped bucket transporter after the dragline bucket is moved to the second location.
Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/946,165, filed on Oct. 7, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,471.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
946165 |
Oct 1997 |
|