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US 12,103,827 B2Granted
Perforating clamshell bucket system
AssigneeSRC Innovations, LLC
InventorSteven R. Cullen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp assembly comprising a pair of clamps may couple to an assembly body. The clamps may pivot to receive material beneath the assembly body. The clamps may include opposing surfaces that define a scoop space beneath the assembly body. Each of the clamps may include a cutting plate. The cutting plate may include a perforating edge configured to extend into the scoop space relative to a corresponding one of the opposing surfaces. The clamp may further include a retention plate. The retention plate may include an inner surface that faces the cutting plate. The cutting plate and the retention plate further define the scoop space between the clamps. The clamp assembly may couple to a lift assembly. The lift assembly may include a hydraulic actuator configured to raise and lower the clamp assembly.
Claims28
A clamshell bucket comprising:
- a pair of clamps pivotally coupled to an assembly body, the clamps configured to pivot away from each other to expand a scoop space defined between the clamps and pivot toward each other to contract the scoop space, each of the clamps respectively comprising:
- a scooping surface positioned between a tip of a respective clamp and a base of the respective clamp, wherein the respective clamp is coupled to the assembly body at the base of the respective clamp, wherein the tip and the base of the respective clamp are positioned between first and second sides of the respective clamp;
- a cutting plate coupled to the first side of the respective clamp, the cutting plate comprising a perforating edge disposed between the base of the respective clamp and the tip of the respective clamp, the perforating edge configured to extend into the scoop space relative to the scooping surface, wherein a first inner surface of the cutting plate is disposed between the scooping surface and the perforating edge;
- and
- a retention plate coupled to the second side of the respective clamp, the retention plate including a second inner surface that faces the first inner surface of the cutting plate, wherein the first inner surface of the cutting plate, the second inner surface of the retention plate, and the scooping surface further define the scoop space between the clamps,
- wherein each of the clamps further comprises a cylindrical bar coupled to the cutting plate and the retention plate at the tip of the respective clamp, wherein the cylindrical bar extends along the tip of the clamp, and wherein the clamshell bucket further comprises a perforating wheel coupled to the cylindrical bar adjacent to the cutting plate.
3 more elements
A clamshell bucket system comprising:
- a clamp assembly comprising a pair of clamps coupled to an assembly body that pivot to receive material beneath the assembly body, the pair of clamps each comprising a surface disposed between a first side and a second side of the clamp assembly, wherein the surfaces are facing each other, the clamps configured to pivot away from each other to expand a scoop space defined between the opposing surfaces and toward each other to contract the scoop space, wherein each of the clamps include:
- a cutting plate positioned at the first side of the clamp assembly, the cutting plate comprising a perforating edge configured to extend into the scoop space relative to a corresponding one of the opposing surfaces, wherein the perforating edge extends continuously between a base and a tip of the respective clamp, and
- a retention plate positioned at the second side of the clamp assembly, the retention plate including an inner surface that faces the cutting plate, the cutting plate and the retention plate further define the scoop space between the clamps;
- and
- a lift assembly coupled to the clamp assembly, the lift assembly comprising a hydraulic actuator configured to raise and lower the clamp assembly,
- wherein each of the clamps further comprises a cylindrical bar coupled to the cutting plate and the retention plate at the tip of the respective clamp, wherein the cylindrical bar extends along the tip of the clamp, and wherein the clamp assembly further comprises a perforating wheel coupled to the cylindrical bar adjacent to the cutting plate.
3 more elements
A clamshell bucket system comprising:
- a clamp assembly having a top, a bottom, a first side disposed between the top and bottom and a second side disposed between the top and bottom, the clamp assembly configured to receive material at the bottom of the clamp assembly, the clamp assembly further comprising:
- a pair of opposing clamps coupled to an assembly body that pivot to receive the material, the opposing clamps each comprising a surface disposed between a first side and a second side of the clamp assembly, wherein the surfaces are facing each other, the opposing clamps configured to pivot away from each other to expand a scoop space defined between the opposing surfaces and toward each other to contract the scoop space, wherein each of the opposing clamps include:
- a cutting plate positioned at the first side of the clamp assembly, the cutting plate comprising a perforating edge configured to extend into the scoop space relative to a corresponding one of the opposing surfaces, wherein the perforating edge extends continuously between a base and a tip of the respective opposing clamp, and
- a retention plate positioned at the second side of the clamp assembly, the retention plate including an inner surface that faces the cutting plate, wherein the cutting plate and the inner surface of the retention plate further define the scoop space between the opposing clamps,
- wherein each of the opposing clamps further comprises a cylindrical bar coupled to the cutting plate and the retention plate at the tip of the respective opposing clamp, wherein the cylindrical bar extends along the tip of the opposing clamp, and wherein the clamp assembly further comprises a perforating wheel coupled to the cylindrical bar adjacent to the cutting plate.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- positioning a pair of opposing clamps of a clamshell bucket over a load material, wherein each of the opposing clamps include a tip and a perforating wheel attached to the respective tip;
- opening the opposing clamps to expand a scoop space between the opposing clamps, the scoop space being positioned above a top surface of the load material;
- lowering the clamshell bucket toward the load material to receive the load material in the scoop space;
- positioning the tips of the opposing clamps along a ground surface that at least partially contacts a bottom surface of the load material;
- closing the opposing clamps on the load material;
- perforating, as the opposing clamps are being closed, a bottom surface of load material with the perforating wheels respectively attached to the tips of the opposing clamps;
- raising, after the opposing clamps are closed, the clamshell bucket and a portion of the load material retained between the clamps.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.