Patent Application
20170089030
The present disclosure is directed to a tilt bucket, and more particularly, to a tilt bucket profile and front structure.
A machine, such as an excavator, may be equipped with various types of buckets in order to perform operations at a work site. At times, such a machine may be equipped with a tilt bucket in order to enable those operations for which a tilt bucket may be intended. For example, such operations may include ditch cleaning, sloping a surface, grading, and various types of finishing work. The level of performance achieved by an operator using an excavator or other machine with a tilt bucket may depend, at least partially, on one or more parameters of the bucket, and the tilt mechanism associated with the bucket. Using one particular bucket may provide a level of performance that significantly differs from the level achieved while performing similar operations using a different bucket that has one or more different parameters. In addition, operator visibility of the bucket as it engages material may be affected significantly by the particular tilt mechanism necessarily associated with a tilt bucket.
An exemplary machine bucket is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,201,350 to Folkerts that issued on Jun. 19, 2012 (the '350 patent). Specifically, the '350 patent describes a bucket that includes various parameters designed to enhance the performance of the bucket. The '350 patent discloses various angle values and dimensional ratios intended to improve an operator's visibility and improve the ease with which material may enter the bucket or be dumped from the bucket, for example.
Although the bucket of the '350 patent performs well in general applications, there still is room for improvement. For example, the '350 patent does not address situations that may occur when using a tilt bucket that is designed to pivot, or tilt, from side to side for various operations that may require such a bucket. While the parameters of the bucket of the '350 patent may offer an advantage over other buckets designed for operation about one axis, they may not sufficiently enhance operator visibility where the tilting structure associated with a tilt bucket, designed for operation about more than one axis, must be mounted adjacent the bucket.
The tilt bucket profile and front structure of the present disclosure solve one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tilt bucket including a front structure having an outer surface, the front structure including a base plate with a bottom surface. The tilt bucket may include a bottom edge and a curved wrapper extending between the base plate and the bottom edge. A ratio of a maximum distance between the curved wrapper and a first line extending from the bottom edge to the tangent point on the outer surface of the front structure, taken substantially perpendicularly from the first line, relative to a length of the first line, may be about 0.64 to 0.70.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tilt bucket including a top section with a front structure. The tilt bucket also may include a bottom section including a bottom edge, and a middle section including a wrapper, the wrapper extending between the front structure and the bottom edge. The front structure may include a base plate attached to the wrapper. The front structure also may include a boxed section adjacent a first end portion of the base plate. The front structure also may include a first tilt plate attached to the boxed section; and a second tilt plate attached adjacent a second end portion of the base plate.
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tilt bucket including a front structure having a base plate and including a boxed section. The tilt bucket may include a bottom edge, a curved wrapper extending between the bottom edge and the front structure, and a pair of sides attached to the front structure, the bottom edge, and the curved wrapper. The boxed section may include a bent plate attached to the base plate. A ratio of a maximum distance between the curved wrapper and a first line extending from the bottom edge to a tangent point on the bent plate, taken substantially perpendicularly from the first line, relative to a length of the first line, may be about 0.64 to 0.70.
Referring to
Turning to
Tilt bucket 10 also may include a first side 62 and a second side 63. First side 62 is visible in
As illustrated in
It may be advantageous to form front structure 18, particularly boxed section 84, so as to conform to certain parameters. These parameters may vary somewhat, for example depending on the type and size of bucket on which front structure 18 may be employed. For example, the width W of boxed section 82 may be approximately 65 mm or greater, and the height H of boxed section 82 may be approximately 107 mm or greater. First tilt plate 20 may be offset from support plate 92 by a distance of 15 mm or greater. For example, first tilt plate 20 may be offset from support plate 92 by a distance between 15 mm and 25 mm.
In a first example of front structure 18, the width W of boxed section 82 may be approximately 51 mm, and the height H of boxed section 82 may be approximately 67 mm. The offset distance d1 from first tilt plate 20 to support plate 92 may be approximately 15 mm. The distance d2 from base plate 80 to first end 85 of bent plate 84 may be approximately 20 mm. The distance d3 from support plate 92 to second end 87 of bent plate 84 may be approximately 10 mm.
In a second example of front structure 18, the width W of boxed section 82 may be approximately 65 mm, and the height H of boxed section 82 may be approximately 107 mm. The offset distance d1 from first tilt plate 20 to support plate 92 may be approximately 17 mm. The distance d2 from base plate 80 to first end 85 of bent plate 84 may be approximately 20 mm. The distance d3 from support plate 92 to second end 87 of bent plate 84 may be approximately 10 mm.
In exemplary embodiments of front structure 18, the ratio of width W to height H may vary between about 0.5 and about 1.0. The distance d1 from first tilt plate 20 to support plate 92 advantageously may be greater than 15 mm. The distance d2 from base plate 80 to first end 85 of bent plate 84 may be approximately 20 mm. The distance d3 from support plate 92 to second end 87 of bent plate 84 may be approximately 10 mm. To reiterate, parameters may vary depending on the shape and size of the bucket with which front structure 18 is associated.
A number of bucket parameters are identified in
As shown in
Edge forward angle θ1 may be an angle formed between an edge forward line 61 and a line 65. Edge forward line 61 may extend from a center of front pin bore 36 to the edge of bottom section 16, such as the forward most point of bottom edge 60. Line 65 may extend substantially perpendicularly from lower portion 54 of curved wrapper 48 and through the center of front pin bore 36. It should be noted that the term “plane” may be substituted for the term “line” with respect to any of the lines used to define the parameters of tilt bucket 10.
A first throat line 67 may extend between a forward most point of bottom edge 60 and a tangent point on the outer surface of bent plate 84 of front structure 18. The position of first throat line 67 may be found by drawing a line that extends from the forward most point of bottom edge 60 to bent plate 84 of front structure 18, the line being substantially tangential to an outer surface of bent plate 84 and terminating at the tangent point on curved portion 90 of bent plate 84. Length L may be a length of first throat line 67. Depth D may be a length of the longest line extending substantially perpendicularly from first throat line 67 to curved wrapper 48, i.e., a maximum distance between the curved wrapper 48 and the first throat line 67.
A second throat line 69 may extend between the forward most point of bottom edge 60 and a portion of bent plate 84 where base plate 80 would intersect with the front of bent plate 84. This portion of bent plate 84 may be a point at which a line defining a lower surface of base plate 80 intersects an outer surface of bent plate 64. Length L′ may be a length of second throat line 69. Depth D′ may be a length of the longest line extending substantially perpendicularly from second throat line 69 to curved wrapper 48.
As shown in
As disclosed, curved wrapper 48 includes a first end 50, a substantially flat upper portion 52, a substantially flat lower portion 54, a second end 56, and a curved heel 58 extending between the upper and lower portions 52 and 54, with curved heel 58 including lower heel portion 71 with lower wrapper radius R1 and upper heel portion 73 with upper wrapper radius R2. It should be understood that the several regions of curved wrapper 48 may transition smoothly, one to the other. In other words, substantially flat upper portion 52 may begin to curve slightly as it transitions to upper heel portion 73, and upper heel portion 73 may have a radius somewhat greater than R2 adjacent that location. Similarly, substantially flat lower portion 54 may begin to curve slightly as it transitions to lower heel portion 71, and lower heel portion 71 may have a radius somewhat greater than R1 adjacent that location. In addition, lower heel portion 71 and upper heel portion 73 may transition gradually, one to the other, with the radius of lower heel portion gradually decreasing and the radius of upper heel portion gradually increasing adjacent the location of transition.
Referring to
Side bar angle θ2 also is shown in
In a first example, tilt bucket 10 may have an edge radius RE of approximately 1,092 mm, an edge forward angle θ1 of approximately 29.3°, a depth D of approximately 495.5 mm, a length L of approximately 704.4 mm, a ratio of D/L of approximately 0.70, a depth D′ of approximately 488.4 mm, a length L′ of approximately 643.1 mm, a ratio of D′/L′ of approximately 0.759, a lower wrapper radius R1 of approximately 360 mm, an upper wrapper radius R2 of approximately 80 mm, radius ratio of R2/R1 of approximately 0.22, a baseplate angle θT of approximately 25°, and a side bar angle θ2 of approximately 47.5°.
In a second example, bucket 10 may have an edge radius RE of approximately 1.145 mm, an edge forward angle θ1 of approximately 29.3°, a depth D of approximately 515.7 mm, a length L of approximately 756.9 mm, a ratio of D/L of approximately 0.68, a depth D of approximately 509.4 mm, a length L′ of approximately 695.9 mm, a ratio of D′/L′ of approximately 0.732, a lower wrapper radius R1 of approximately 350 mm, an upper wrapper radius R2 of approximately 80 mm, a radius ratio of R2/R1 of approximately 0.23, a hinge support plate angle θT of approximately 25°, and a side bar angle θ2 of approximately 47.5°.
In a third example, bucket 10 may have an edge radius RE of approximately 1,260 mm, an edge forward angle θ1 of approximately 29.5°, a depth D of approximately 558.5 mm, a length L of approximately 825.5 mm, a ratio of D/L of approximately 0.68, a depth D′ of approximately 546.8 mm, a length L′ of approximately 725.6 mm, a ratio of D′/L′ of approximately 0.753, a lower wrapper radius R1 of approximately 350 mm, an upper wrapper radius R2 of approximately 80 mm, a radius ratio of R2/R1 of approximately 0.23, a baseplate angle θT of approximately 25°, and a side bar angle θ2 of approximately 47.5.
The disclosed tilt bucket may enhance machine performance, particularly in those operations for which a tilt bucket is generally employed. The performance enhancement achieved by the disclosed tilt bucket may result from the front structure associated with the tilt mechanism and the upper portion of the bucket, as well as from several tilt bucket parameters.
Front structure 18 of tilt bucket 10 is designed to handle stresses running through the main load path of the tilt bucket to ensure a robust machine that can withstand the forces inherent in the use of a tilt bucket. Compact boxed section 82 is dimensioned to ensure adequate reinforcement while its overall open framework provides ample space at the upper portion of the bucket to house actuators, hoses, and other components employed with the tilt mechanism. The compact nature of front structure 18 is a space-saving arrangement that does not interfere with operator visibility of the from portion of the tilt bucket. It also allows for a minimized edge radius (tip radius) for the tilt bucket. This may significantly increase break out force.
Enhanced performance of tilt bucket 10 may result from its various parameter values. For example, the disclosed ratio of D/L may be between about 0.64 to 0.70. This ratio may provide a shallow profile of tilt bucket 10. This may improve the ease with which material may be loaded to capacity and dumped, enhance release of sticky materials, and increase operator visibility.
The disclosed radius ratio of R2/R1 may be about 0.10 to 0.50. This ratio may help to ensure that tilt bucket 10 has a shape with the above-described shallow profile that improves the ease of dumping and filling of tilt bucket 10, and helps to prevent material from sticking to inner surfaces of bucket 10.
The disclosed edge forward angle value θ1 may range from approximately 28° to 30°. This edge forward angle θ1 value may provide a machine operator with line of sight to a forward most point of a bottom section 16 of tilt bucket 10, such as a forward most point of bottom edge 60 of tilt bucket 10. As the machine operator moves material with tilt bucket 10, this line of sight may provide the machine operator with the ability to move and place tilt bucket 10 accurately. Thus, unnecessary bucket movements may be avoided. Accordingly, operations may be performed more quickly, and the amount of material moved per unit of fuel may be increased, producing cost savings.
Further, the disclosed edge forward angle θ1 may provide the machine operator with line of sight into at least a portion of a receptacle 74 of tilt bucket 10. This may provide the machine operator with the ability to visually determine, during filling, whether tilt bucket 10 is fully filled with material or has additional capacity for material. Thus, the machine operator may avoid wasting time trying to fill a full bucket with additional material or performing operations with only partially filled buckets. This also may improve visibility and aid an operator in providing a flat edge for grading and clean-up operations.
The disclosed baseplate angle θT may be about 25°. This baseplate angle θT may have an effect on its capacity. If the baseplate angle θT of the tilt bucket is smaller than the disclosed value, the bucket may be too deep, which can increase cycle times with added travel time for material entering into and exiting out of the tilt bucket. If baseplate angle θT of the tilt bucket is larger than the disclosed values, the hinge strength may be affected, thus reducing the life of the bucket. The disclosed baseplate angle θT may enhance bucket curl, yielding better material holding ability, and enhance the rack back angle, permitting ease of digging and clean-up.
The disclosed side bar angle θ2 may be about 47.5°. Providing a side bar angle θ2 at about 47.5° may help enhance visibility to the machine operator, while ensuring the ability of tilt bucket 10 to penetrate material. For example, if the side bar angle θ2 is too small, the tilt bucket may not be able to sufficiently penetrate the material. On the other hand, if the side bar angle θ2 is too large, it may impair the operator's visibility, which may hurt efficiency.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed tilt buckets without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As evidence by the various examples disclosed, some variability of the values for tilt bucket parameters, including front structure parameters, is contemplated. For example, values may vary depending on the desired overall size of tilt bucket 10, including front structure 18, and/or parameters associated with the linkage assembly used to couple tilt bucket 10 to a machine. Additionally, other embodiments of the disclosed tilt buckets will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.
