Perforating clamshell bucket system

A clamp assembly for processing load material, the clamp assembly comprising:

• an assembly body, and
• a pair of clamps pivotally coupled to the assembly body at a base of each clamp to receive a load material in a scoop space defined between the pair of clamps and beneath the assembly body, each clamp comprising
• a scooping surface disposed between the assembly body and a tip of the respective clamp,
• a retention plate coupled to a first end of the scooping surface, and
• a cutting plate coupled to a second end of the scooping surface such that the scooping surface, the retention plate, and the cutting plate cooperate to further define the scoop space, wherein the cutting plate of each clamp includes a perforating edge extending continuously between the base and the tip of the respective clamp,
• wherein the pair of clamps is configured to move between an open position in which the pair of clamps pivot away from each other relative to the assembly body to expand the scoop space to position a first portion of the load material in the scoop space and a closed position in which the pair of clamps pivot toward each other relative to the assembly body to contract the scoop space and cut into a packaging of the load material with the perforating edge of each clamp so that the first portion of the load material is separable from a second portion of the load material, and
• wherein the perforating edge of a first clamp is spaced apart from the perforating edge of a second clamp when the pair of clamps is in both the open position and the closed position.

A clamshell bucket system for retaining and transporting load material, the clamshell bucket system comprising:

• a clamp assembly having an assembly body and a pair of clamps pivotally coupled to the assembly body at a base of each clamp to receive a load material resting on a ground surface in a scoop space defined between the pair of clamps and beneath the assembly body,
• a lift assembly coupled to the clamp assembly, the lift assembly including a hydraulic actuator configured to raise and lower the clamp assembly away and towards the ground surface, and
• a controller configured to cause the hydraulic actuator to change the clamp assembly between a first elevation in which a tip of each clamp is spaced a first height from the ground surface and a second elevation in which the tip of each clamp is spaced a second height from the ground surface, the second height being less than the first height, wherein when the clamp assembly is in the second elevation, the pair of clamps is configured to move between an open position in which the pair of clamps pivot away from each other relative to the assembly body to expand the scoop space to position the load material in the scoop space and a closed position in which the pair of clamps pivot toward each other relative to the assembly body to contract the scoop space to enclose the load material in the scoop space without the tip of each clamp touching the ground surface so that the amount of material from the ground surface collected with the load material is minimized,
• wherein each clamp includes a scooping surface disposed between the assembly body and the tip of the respective clamp, a retention plate coupled to a first end of the scooping surface, and a cutting plate coupled to a second end of the scooping surface such that the scooping surface, the retention plate, and the cutting plate cooperate to further define the scoop space,
• wherein the cutting plate of each clamp includes a perforating edge extending continuously between the base and the tip of the respective clamp, and
• wherein the retention plate of each clamp is free of a perforating edge.