The present disclosure relates to buckets for use in the transportation and distribution of particulate materials such as sand, gravel, rocks, etc.
Various vehicles utilize a bucket which may be articulated to distribute particulate materials from within the bucket. Oftentimes, articulation of the bucket is a relatively coarse method to dispense the particulate materials. One such method includes short and quick movement of the bucket using a tilt and/or lift function in alternate directions causing the bucket to shake. Bucket shake may cause premature wear of vehicle and bucket components.
This background section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to assist the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
A powered conveying surface bucket assembly for attachment to a vehicle, according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure 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.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes a drive system located between a first lateral conveyor section and a second lateral conveyor section of the conveyor system.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the drive system is centrally located laterally on the bucket bottom wall.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the power system is operable to power the drive system.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the power system comprises a hydraulic motor.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that a housing centrally located laterally on a bucket bottom wall between the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the hydraulic motor is mounted within the housing.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes a drive system within the housing to selectively drive the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the drive system comprises a transmission system.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the drive system comprises a brake clutch.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes a running gear system to support each of the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that 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.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the drive sprocket axis is located adjacent to a leading edge of the bucket bottom wall.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes that the idler axis is located adjacent to a rear edge of the bucket bottom wall.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes 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.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes 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.
A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure includes 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.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated that however the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.
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:
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.
With reference to
The bucket assembly 30 may include a bottom wall 32, a back wall 34, sidewalls 36A, 36B (also shown in
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
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.
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.
The running gear system 50 may include a sprocket assembly 52 along a sprocket axis S (also shown in
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.
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 (
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.
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
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.
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.
With reference to
With reference to
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 30—toward the back wall 34—in response to vertical elevation of the cutting edge 37.
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.
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.
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.
The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/596,340 filed Nov. 6, 2023.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63596340 | Nov 2023 | US |