Material handling bucket apparatus and method for handling application material with a loader

A material-handling apparatus comprising:

• a material handling bucket having:
• a bucket back half configured to engage a loader, the bucket back half including a dozer scraping lip;
• and
• a bucket front half coupled to the bucket back half so as to move linearly and pivotally relative to the bucket back half;
• a first linkage system configured to actuate the bucket front half to move in a linear direction relative to the bucket back half and to pivot the bucket front half relative to the bucket back half;
• and
• a second linkage system configured to actuate the bucket back half relative to the loader, wherein
• the bucket back half further includes a plurality of guide slots;
• and
• the bucket front half further includes a plurality of slide members receivable in the plurality of guide slots of the bucket back half, and the plurality of slide members are configured to slide within the plurality of guide slots to allow the bucket front half to move linearly and pivotally relative to the bucket back half.

A loader comprising:

• a material handling bucket having:
• a bucket back half including a dozer scraping lip;
• and
• a bucket front half coupled to the bucket back half so as to move linearly and pivotally relative to the bucket back half, wherein the bucket back half further includes a plurality of guide slots and the bucket front half further includes a plurality of slide members receivable in the plurality of guide slots of the bucket back half, and wherein the plurality of slide members are configured to slide within the plurality of guide slots to allow the bucket front half to move linearly and pivotally relative to the bucket back half;
• and
• a first linkage system including at least one first hydraulic cylinder configured to actuate the bucket front half to move in a linear direction relative to the bucket back half and to pivot the bucket front half relative to the bucket back half;
• a second linkage system including at least one second hydraulic cylinder configured to actuate the bucket back half relative to the loader;
• a hydraulic power system coupled to the at least one first hydraulic cylinder and the at least one second hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• a control system to operate the hydraulic power system.