Abstract: A control apparatus for a bucket loader allows a single linear actuator to provide multiple operative functions for the bucket loader. A selector link is pivotally mounted on the back plate of loader bucket to selectively connect the back plate to the base portion of the linear actuator so that the extendable portion powers a pivoting of the bucket shell to dump material from the bucket, or connect the back plate to the extendable portion of the linear actuator to power the vertical movement of the back plate. A chain interconnects the extendable portion of the linear actuator and the pivotable bucket shell to power the pivoting of the bucket shell when the selector link is connected to the base portion. The bucket shell can be mechanically locked into an open position to allow the back plate to be utilized as a push blade.

Abstract: Excavator bucket cleaning apparatus having an action plate hingedly interconnected to the interior of the bucket with a cable attached at one end to the excavator boom and, at the other end, to the free end of the action plate so that rotation of the bucket outwardly causes the cable to tighten and swing the action plate outwardly of the bucket about the hinge.

Abstract: Aggregate mixtures such as dirt, sand, rock, concrete, etc. are separated into piles according to size by continuous agitation of the mixture and by gravitational and centrifugal forces exerted thereon. A container for the material, such as the bucket of a backhoe, has the bottom thereof at least partially open. An adjustable, hydraulically-driven rotating disk attaches to and covers the open portion of the bottom of the container, the combination having a gap, or a selected spaced-apart relationship, between the stationary container and the rotating disk. The mixture is agitated by the rotating disk and by contact with the other particles in the container. Particles smaller than the selected gap distance are thrown out through the gap between the disk and the open portion of the container by centrifugal force. Material larger than the selected gap size remains in the container.

Abstract: A bucket of a type designed to attach to the stick of an excavator, using pre-existing pins. The bucket is powered by a hydraulic cylinder, the lines of which attach to excavator controls. Striker forks are mounted onto the stick of the excavator at a predetermined position. The clean-out system is a wiper plate incorporated into the bucket as the “roof”, which is designed to follow the inner contour of the sides of the bucket. As the bucket is filled, the wiper plate moves to the top of the bucket; when the bucket is emptied, the wiper plate contacts the striker forks, which force the material out of the bucket, preventing build-up of material on the inside of the bucket.

Abstract: A segregator bucket comprises an open-fronted shell including a pair of opposed sidewalls and a rear wall, the rear wall including a plurality of curved, transversely spaced primary ribs defining spaces therebetween, a cage member being mounted in the shell between the opposed sidewalls thereof and comprising a plurality of curved, transversely spaced secondary ribs defining spaces therebetween, the cage member being rotatable relative to the shell about an axis extending transversely of the shell between a loading position in which the secondary ribs are received within, substantially to close, the spaces between the primary ribs and a discharge position in which the secondary ribs are displaced from, to open, the spaces between the primary ribs.

Abstract: A clam bucket of a type designed to attach by way of a pin (20) through vertical lugs (92) to the stick of an excavator making the attachment process fairly simple. These vertical lugs (92) are part of the rotational housing (32) assembly which, in conjunction with a rotational mounting plate (22) at the top of a square tubing extension (48) enable the bucket (70) to make a full 360° turn. The bucket (70) halves are each powered by a hydraulic cylinder (56), the lines of which attach to excavator controls. The clean-out system is a pair of wiper plates (86) incorporated into the bucket (70) halves. These wiper plates (86) sweep the bucket (70) halves each time the bucket opens and closes preventing buildup of material. This self-cleaning hydraulic clam bucket can be manufactured in size to suit the consumer.

Abstract: An ejector mechanism (20) adapted for use on a dredging apparatus (10) to remove silt from under the surface of a body of water and associated method, the dredging apparatus being operative in a forward and reverse direction and including first (32) and second (34) excavating wheel assemblies each having a plurality of silt retaining chambers (40) associated respectively therewith, the ejector mechanism urging the silt material from the respective chambers as the wheel assemblies rotate during a dredging operation and including a crankshaft member (56) rotatably mounted to the wheel frame assembly (24, 62, 64) and having first (58) and second (60) eccentric arm portions associated therewith, the crankshaft member (56) being operatively coupled to the first (32) and second (34) wheel assemblies for rotation in proportion to the rotation of the wheel assemblies, the crankshaft member (56) being rotatable in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction based upon the direction of movement of the dredging appa

Abstract: A sweeping assembly for a machine having a handle generally comprising a first implement pivotally connectable to the handle; a strut assembly including a first arm member operatively connectable to the handle, a second arm member and a spring device operatively interconnecting the first and second members, and means for yieldably biasing the second arm member into a predetermined position relative to the first arm member; and a second implement mounted on the second arm member.

Abstract: A bucket for a material handling apparatus which includes a bottom wall, a top wall and a pair of parallel side walls which connect the top wall to the bottom wall. The walls of the bucket define a housing having a chamber, a front opening and a rear opening. A divider plate is mounted to the side walls for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between the front and rear openings. The bottom wall of the housing has an upper surface which is radial from the horizontal axis. The lower end of the divider plate remains close to the upper surface in all positions between a stop at the front opening and a stop at the rear opening.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a loader bucket which has a back bucket assembly, a front bucket assembly that pivotably mounts to the back bucket assembly forming an extension thereof in the closed position and an actuator for pivoting the front bucket assembly relative to the back bucket assembly. The front bucket assembly includes an ejector panel that is adapted to swing behind the front bucket assembly and through the back bucket assembly as the front bucket assembly is pivoted by the actuator relative to the back bucket assembly. As the ejector panel sweeps through the back bucket assembly it sweeps out of the back bucket assembly without dumping the back bucket assembly. The lower wall of the back bucket assembly is cylindrically contoured to closely clear the ejector panel as it sweeps through the back bucket assembly.

Abstract: An ejector mechanism operates to force silt material from individual chambers in a rotating wheel of a silt removal machine. The rotating wheel removes the silt material from under a shallow body of water by collecting it in individual chambers of the rotating wheel. Since the silt material is generally soft and sticky, the ejector mechanism urges the silt material from the respective chambers as the wheel rotates. The ejector mechanism includes a rotating crank that rotates as the excavator wheel rotates and is connected by a link to an ejector arm.

Abstract: An overload protector mechanism provides protection for an excavating wheel shield mechanism so that if a large foreign object becomes lodged between the excavating wheel and a portion of the shield arrangement the shield mechanism can move out of the way and the wheel may be stopped. The overload protector mechanism includes a release mechanism connected between the shield mechanism and a wheel frame. The release mechanism includes a linkage arrangement having first and second links pivotally connected to one another and releasably biased to a set first position. Once the release mechanism trips, the shield mechanism pivots away from the wheel in order to prevent damage to the shield mechanism or to the excavating wheel and allow the wheel to be stopped and the large object removed.

Abstract: A pair of links disposed at opposite sides and rearwardly of a scraper ejector panel pivotly support the panel from the upper limit of the bowl side walls and maintain it in substantially upright position as it moves forwardly in a downward arcuate path of its lower limit adjacent the scraper bowl bottom. In the retracted position the ejector panel forms a rearward wall for the scraper bowl.

Abstract: An ejector bucket includes a bucket frame, an ejector plate, and two actuating cylinders. The bucket frame has opposing side walls and a bottom wall extending between the side walls. The ejector plate is located within the bucket frame, and is movable between a load position where the ejector plate and the bucket frame together form a bucket for holding material and an eject position where the ejector plate has pushed substantially all of the material out of the bucket. The two hydraulic actuating cylinders are connected to the bucket frame and to the ejector plate. Each of the actuating cylinders is located adjacent to one of the side walls of the bucket frame. The actuating cylinder is operable in a push mode where an actuating rod is pushed out of the cylinder casing, and is operable in a pull mode where the actuating rod is drawn into the casing.

Abstract: This invention is an improved shovel attachment adapted for being mounted by the customary three-point hitch connection with a tractor enabling the shovel attachment to be carried on the tractor and raised or lowered by the preexisting hydraulic control mechanism of the tractor. The improved shovel attachment features a hydraulically actuated, ejector type blade that is forcibly transported across the floor of the carrying bowl of the shovel attachment for positive ejection of a load of earth fill materials from the same. The hydraulically actuated cylinder is pivotally connected with the rear surface of the ejector blade on one end and pivotally connected to an appropriate portion of the tractor at the other end thereof enabling the blade to be operated throughout the vertical limits of travel of the shovel attachment. The hydraulic cylinder is designed to be adapted to the preexisting hydraulic actuation mechanism associated with the tractor.

Abstract: Disclosed is an excavating, sieving and grading device for a working crawler arranged such that each pair of first and second right and left legs 14, 14a and 17, 17a are vertically disposed to a bucket main body 7, the first right and left legs are connected to each other by a first reinforcing member 15, the second right and left legs are connected to each other by a second reinforcing member 18, and first and second guide rollers 16, 19 for supporting and guiding a first guide rail 21 disposed on the bottom surface of a movable frame 12 are provided on the first and second reinforcing members. With this arrangement, the movable frame provided with the sieve net is stably supported and guided to the bucket main body to thereby increase the strength of the excavating, sieving and grading device.

Abstract: A mechanism for mounting an earthworking implement such as a backhoe apparatus to a mobile frame of an off-highway machine. The mounting mechanism includes a support attachment that is connected to the frame for movement about a generally vertical pivot axis. The earthworking implement is carried by, and thus, movable with the support attachment. First and second drivers move the support attachment and thereby the earthworking implement in opposite directions relative to each other. Each driver has one end articulately connected to the machine frame and a second end connected to the support attachment by a pin aligning a second generally vertical axis that extends generally parallel to the pivot axis of the support attachment. A self-aligning bearing is captively carried by and between the second end and a respective pin of each driver to compensate for vertical misalignment between the first and second vertical axes without substantially increasing the distance the pivot axis is disposed away from the frame.

Abstract: A bucket for power shovels is disclosed having a first bucket half and a second bucket half. Each bucket half includes a pair of spaced sidewalls and an endwall extending between the sidewalls which forms a scoop. The bucket halves are pivotly secured together so that the scoops face each other and are movable between an open position, in which the scoops face downwardly, and a closed position in which the scoops face each other and form a load carrying chamber. A swiper plate is attached to one sidewall on each side of the bucket. This swiper plate overlaps a portion of the other sidewall on its associated side of the bucket as the bucket halves pivot between a partially closed and a fully closed position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tree mover for relocating small trees. The tree mover is designed to dig a hole to receive a tree having a root ball, dig up a tree and deposit a tree in a hole. The tree mover comprises loader buckets having concave inner surfaces pivoted between an open position for digging and a closed position for lifting. Pusher blades are mounted so as to be closely spaced from said inner surfaces and to be movable between a raised position and a lowered position. These pusher blades enable the integrity of a root ball of a tree to be retained. They also may be used to clean dirt from the surface of the bucket.

Abstract: A bucket assembly comprising a bucket member connectible to a bucket stick (7) and having two side walls (6, 6'), a curved wall, and a bottom wall (4) forming an extension of the latter, as well as a screening member (2) articulated to the bucket member (1). The screening member (2), which advantageously is a grid structure, has, like the bucket member, two side walls (10, 10'), a curved wall (11) extending therebetween, and a bottom wall (12), these walls having the same contours as the corresponding walls of the bucket member. The screening member is arranged, in an inoperative position, to be maintained inside the bucket member with its walls in close proximity to the corresponding walls of the bucket member, and, in an operative position, to be maintained outwardly pivoted from the bucket member to allow a fine fraction of material to pass freely through the holes of the walls or the grid structure.

Abstract: An automatic evacuation drilling bucket comprises a follower formed with a working space for receiving a blade member which is capable of coming in contact with an osculating arm, the working space having upper, lower, transition and receiving compartments. If the blade member is located in the upper and lower compartments, the blade member is engaged with the follower when a drive shaft member is rotated in the normal and reverse directions. If the blade member is urged to move into the receiving compartment through the transition compartment, the blade member comes in contact with the osculating arm when the drive shaft member is rotated in the reverse direction.