LOADER BUCKET WITH COUNTERWEIGHT
A loader bucket is adapted for use with a machine includes a first side section, a second side section and a rear section. The rear section has a substantially arcuate portion so that a bottom section extends from a lower end of the arcuate portion. Further, a top section extends from an upper end of the arcuate portion. One or more counterweights are disposed on the top section of the loader bucket.
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The present disclosure relates generally to a machine for material handling, and more particularly relates to a loader bucket of the machine.
BACKGROUNDA material handling machine, such as a backhoe loader, includes a frame provided with a ground engaging members and a power source. The machine includes a backhoe structure and a front loading structure. The front loading structure and the backhoe structure are mounted on a front end portion and a rear end portion of the frame, respectively. Conventionally, a counterweight is provided on the front end portion of the machine when the machine travels or operates with the backhoe structure. The counterweight may counterbalance the front loading structure with the backhoe structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,891 discloses a counterweights system for use with a material handling machine adapted for selectively counterbalancing a front loading structure or a backhoe structure of the material handling machine depending on whether or not the backhoe structure is attached to a rear end of the frame. The counterweights system permits counterweights to be installed on the front loading structure when the backhoe structure is in use. The counterweights system permits the counterweights to be installed on the rear end of the drive machine when the backhoe structure is removed to reversely counterbalance the material handling machine. However, there is still room for improvement in the art.
SUMMARYIn an aspect, the present disclosure describes a loader bucket including a first side section, a second side section, and a rear section. The rear section has a substantially arcuate portion so that a bottom section extends from a lower end of the arcuate portion. Further, a top section extends from an upper end of the arcuate portion. One or more counterweights are disposed on the top section of the loader bucket.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the counterweights including an insert having a first plate and a second plate. The first plate and the second plate define a cavity for receiving a high density material such as concrete mix, metal ores, metal alloy scrap, water, sand and/or gravels.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
A front loading structure 116 may be connected to the front section 104 of the frame 102. The front loading structure 116 may include, for example, but not limited to, a loader bucket 118. Further, a backhoe structure 120 may be connected to the rear section 106 of the frame 102. The backhoe structure 120 may include an implement, for example, but not limited to, a bucket 122. It will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that in various other embodiments, the front loading structure 116 and the backhoe structure 120 may include a blade, a fork, a grapple, a hammer, or any other type of implement. The front loading structure 116 and the backhoe structure 120 may be hydraulically or electrically controlled with the control means provided in the operator cab 108.
In an embodiment, the front loading structure 116 may include a linkage assembly 124 mounted on the front section 104 of the frame 102. The linkage assembly 124 may include a lift arm 126 pivotally mounted to the front section 104 at a first end 128. Further, the loader bucket 118 is pivotally mounted at a second end 130 of the lift arm 126. Further, the linkage assembly 124 may further include a tilt arm 127 and a tilt actuator 129, configured to be connected to the loader bucket 118. Further, the backhoe structure 120 may include a boom member 132 pivotally connected to the frame 102 at the rear section 106. The backhoe structure 120 may also include a stick member 134 pivotally connected to the boom member 132 and the bucket 122 is pivotally connected to the stick member 134.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, two stabilizer legs 136 (only one side shown) may be connected to the rear portion 106 of the frame 102. The stabilizer legs 136 may be provided behind the pair of rear wheels 114. The stabilizers legs 136 keep the machine 100 steady, minimizing the jostling effect during operation. They also secure the machine 100 in a stable position. Further, the stabilizer legs 136 may have two types of “shoes,” so that they may be planted securely on both dirt and pavement. A grouser shoe side digs into the dirt for a better grip, and a rubber-padded shoe may be used on the pavement.
As illustrated in
A person ordinarily skilled in the art may be understand that, the counterweights 156 may be provided anywhere on the loader bucket 118 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the insert 158 may be integrally built within the top section 152 of the loader bucket 118 during fabrication. In an alternative aspect, the counterweights 156 may be provided in the bucket 122 of the backhoe structure 120.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYThe industrial applicability of the counterweights material associated with the loader bucket 118 described herein will be readily appreciated from the foregoing discussion. Although, the machine 100 is embodied as the backhoe loader, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be applicable to similar machine, such as those fitted with a backhoe and a loader attachment. The counterweights are added to balance the front loading structure 116 and the backhoe structure 120. In general, the counterweights may be provided on the frame 102 of the machines either on the front section or the rear section based on the loading conditions.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, the machine 100 may be unstable and jumpy while traveling in no load condition. This may be due to insufficient weight balance between the front loading structure 116 and the backhoe structure 120. Therefore, to prevent a see-saw effect between the front loading structure 116 and the backhoe structure 120, counterweights 156 are added to the loader bucket 118 of the machine 100. Although, the counterweights 156 are added in the loader bucket 118, a person skilled in the art may understand that counterweights may be provided on the backhoe structure 120, i.e. on the bucket 122.
As shown in
Moreover, the amount of high density material 162 required for the counterweights 156 in the loader bucket 118 is less when compared to the material provided on the frame 102 of the machine 100. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the high density material 162 for the counterweights 156 required to add in the top section 152 is approximately 60% of weight of the counterweights added anywhere on the frame 102 of the machine 100. This may lessen the usage of material of the counterweights 156 providing stability to the machine 100 while travelling in no load conditions. In a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, concrete mix is used as the high density material 162 for the counterweights 156. Further, the cost of the concrete mix, which is about 30% less costly than that of cast iron.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims
1. A loader bucket of a machine comprising:
- a first side section and a second side section;
- a rear section;
- a top section, wherein the top section extends from an upper end of the rear section; and
- a counterweight disposed on the top section.
2. The loader bucket of claim 1, wherein the rear section have a substantially arcuate portion such that a bottom section extends from a lower end of the arcuate portion.
3. The loader bucket of claim 1, wherein the counterweight is attached to the top section by welding or mechanical fasteners.
4. The loader bucket of claim 1, wherein the counterweight includes an insert defining a cavity, wherein the cavity is substantially filled in with a high density material.
5. The loader bucket of claim 4, wherein the high density material is composed of material selected from at least one or more of a concrete mix, metal ores, metal alloy scrap, sand, water, and/or gravels.
6. The loader bucket of claim 4, wherein the insert includes a first plate and a second plate attached to the first plate by welding or mechanical fasteners.
7. The loader bucket of claim 4, wherein the insert have a triangular cross-section or rectangular cross-section, or polygonal cross-section.
8. The loader bucket of claim 4, wherein the insert is formed from a one piece plate.
9. A machine comprising;
- a frame comprising a front section and a rear section;
- a front loading structure is provided in the front section including; and
- a loader bucket comprising: a first side section and a second side section; a rear section; a top section, wherein the top section extend from an upper end of the rear section; and a counterweight is disposed in the top section, the counterweight includes an insert defining a cavity substantially filled in with a high density material
10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the rear section have a substantially arcuate portion such that a bottom section extends from a lower end of the arcuate portion.
11. The machine of claim 9, wherein the counterweight is attached to the top section by welding or mechanical fasteners.
12. The machine of claim 9, wherein the high density material is composed of material selected from at least one or more of a concrete mix, metal ores, metal alloy scrap, sand, water, and/or gravels.
13. The machine of claim 9, wherein the insert includes a first plate and a second plate attached to the first plate by welding or mechanical fasteners.
14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the first plate have a bent shape and the second plate is welded to an inner face of the first plate along a weld line.
15. The machine of claim 9, wherein the insert has a triangular cross-section or rectangular cross-section, or polygonal cross-section.
16. A counterweight for a loader bucket comprising:
- an insert including a first plate and a second plate, wherein second plate attached to the first plate by welding;
- a cavity defined by the first plate and the second; and
- a high density material is filled into the cavity.
17. The counterweight of claim 16, wherein the insert have a triangular cross-section or a rectangular cross-section, or a polygonal cross-section.
18. The counterweight of claim 16, wherein the first plate have a bent shape and the second plate is welded to an inner face of the first plate along a weld line.
19. The counterweight of claim 16, wherein the insert is configured to be attached to the loader bucket by welding or mechanical fasteners.
20. The counterweight of claim 16, wherein the high density material is composed of material selected from at least one or more of a concrete mix, metal ores, metal alloy scrap, sand, water, and/or gravels.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 16, 2012
Publication Date: May 22, 2014
Applicant: Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL)
Inventors: Srivatsan Srinivasa Rengan (Tirunelveli), Thiagarajan Mahadevan (Chennai), Raghavendra Reddy (Bangalore)
Application Number: 13/678,947
International Classification: E02F 3/40 (20060101);