Wheel or track loader and self-loading aggregate dispenser
OwnerJames Hefnerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly designed for use on a bucket of a wheel or track loader is herein disclosed. The assembly generally includes a material discharge component and at least one actuator. The material discharge component includes a left-side arm, a right-side arm, a front wall section extending between the arms, a top plate extending between the arms and coupled to a top edge of the arms, and a bottom plate. The at least one actuator is coupled to one of the arms and is designed to be coupled to the bucket. In use, the at least one actuator moves the material discharge component between open and closed positions. Further, when the bucket is tilted forwardly, material is dispensable through the opening.
Claims14
An assembly adapted for use on a bucket of a loader, the assembly comprising:
- the bucket defining a cavity for containing material and an orifice communicating to the cavity, wherein a periphery of the orifice is defined along a bottom portion thereof by a bottom lip of the bucket;
- a material discharge component comprising:
- a left-side arm and a right-side arm, with each arm being adapted to pivotally couple relative to the bucket;
- a front wall section converging in a V-shape from a front end of the left-side arm and the right-side arm, with an opening being defined in the front wall section;
- a top plate coupled to a top edge of the left-side arm and a top edge of the right-side arm;
- and
- a bottom plate extending rearwardly from a bottom edge of the front wall section, wherein the bottom plate terminates at an aft edge;
- and
- a first actuator coupled to one of the left-side arm and the right side arm and adapted to be coupled to the bucket, the first actuator further being adapted to operate the material discharge component between an open position and a closed position wherein the aft edge aligns with the bottom lip of the bucket so as to prevent the material from passing between the bottom plate and the bottom lip,
- whereby the material is dispensable through the opening when the bucket is tilted forwardly.
A material discharging apparatus comprising:
- a loader comprising a bucket;
- and
- an assembly used on the bucket of the loader, the assembly comprising:
- a material discharge component comprising:
- a left-side arm and a right-side arm, with each arm being pivotally coupled with the bucket;
- a front wall section converging in a V-shape from a front end of the left-side arm and the right-side arm, with a forward-facing opening being defined in the front wall section;
- a top plate coupled to a top edge of the left-side arm, a top edge of the right-side arm, and the front wall section so that a forward edge of the top plate terminates at the forward-facing opening;
- and
- a bottom plate extending rearwardly from a bottom edge of the front wall section;
- and
- a first actuator coupled to one of the left-side arm and the right side arm and coupled to the bucket, the first actuator further being adapted to operate the material discharge component between an open position and a closed position,
- whereby material is dispensable through the forward-facing opening when the bucket is tilted forwardly.
A bucket of a front-end loader, the bucket comprising:
- a material discharging apparatus pivotably coupled to an upper aft portion of the bucket so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position placing a forward-facing central dispensing opening forward of the bucket wherein an aft edge of a bottom plate of the material discharging apparatus aligns with a lip of a bottom edge of the bucket, whereby an enclosed structure is formed in the closed position so that when the bucket is tilted forwardly a material contained by the bucket is dispensable through the forward-facing central dispensing opening and the material is prevented from passing between the bottom plate and the bottom edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.