# US 2019/0169815 A1 · Self Cleaning Bucket Assembly for a Digging Machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169815 A1 - Document ID: US20190169815A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/149,780 - Filed: 2018-10-02 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Inventors: Cory Halischuk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169815A1 ## CPC - E02F 3/3677: {allowing movement, e.g. rotation or translation, of the tool around or along another axis as the movement implied by the boom or arms, e.g. for tilting buckets} - E02F 3/40: Dippers; Buckets {; Grab devices, e.g. manufacturing processes for buckets, form, geometry or material of buckets (devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3604; teeth therefor E02F9/28)} - E02F 3/407: with ejecting {or other unloading} device - E02F 3/42: Drives for dippers, buckets, dipper-arms or bucket-arms - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A bucket assembly for mounting on a boom of a digging machine comprises a bucket with an outer wall and a rear wall pivotally mounted between side walls of the bucket so that the rear wall is movable relative to the outer wall for discharging material from the bucket. In one arrangement this relative movement is provided by a linkage assembly which displaces the rear wall forwardly as the remainder of the bucket continues to move rearwardly to a retracted position of the bucket. In another arrangement the relative movement is provided by at least one stopper fixed in relation to the boom arranged for engaging the pivotal rear wall in an angularly intermediate position of the bucket such that the rear wall moves forwardly relative to the outer wall as the bucket moves rearwardly to its retracted position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bucket assembly for mounting on a boom of a digging machine comprising: a mounting coupling for attachment to the boom for pivotal movement of the coupling about an axis transverse to the boom; a bucket attached to the mounting coupling for pivotal movement about the pivot axis in a digging action; the boom including a hydraulic operating cylinder mounted thereon for operating pivotal movement of the bucket with an operating linkage extending from the cylinder to the bucket for pivotal movement of the bucket about a bucket pivot axis between forward and retracted positions; the bucket having an outer wall of the bucket with a front digging edge to cut into material to be lifted and with the outer wall trailing behind the front edge; the bucket having side walls of the bucket for confining the material onto the outer wall; the bucket having a rear wall fixed to the outer wall and attached to the mounting coupling; a pivotal cleaning wall of the bucket being mounted on the bucket for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the bucket at or adjacent the rear wall so as to be movable from a retracted position at the rear wall to a forward position in which the pivotal cleaning wall moves forwardly relative to the outer wall to push material from the outer wall for discharge; the outer wall forming a part of a cylinder surrounding the transverse axis of the pivotal cleaning wall so that pivotal movement of the pivotal cleaning wall about the axis causes an outer edge of the pivotal cleaning wall to sweep across the outer wall from the position at the rear wall to a position adjacent a front of the part of the cylinder and causes respective side edges of the pivotal cleaning wall to sweep over the side walls; and a cleaning linkage connected to the boom and extending therefrom forwardly to a forward end which, when the bucket moves rearwardly, extends through an opening in the rear wall and contacts the pivotal cleaning wall for pushing pivotal movement of the cleaning wall between the retracted and forward positions thereof; the cleaning linkage being connected to the boom by a coupling which allows pivotal movement of the forward end of the linkage relative to the boom; the cleaning linkage being arranged such that the pivotal cleaning wall is pushed forwardly as the bucket moves rearwardly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the transverse axis of the pivotal cleaning wall is positioned at a location different from the bucket pivot axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the pivotal cleaning wall is biased by a spring toward the retracted position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the rear wall has one or more openings to allow release of any material from behind the pivotal cleaning wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning linkage includes an elongate stiff pushing member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning linkage engages a receptacle carried on the pivotal cleaning wall of the bucket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bucket assembly according to claim 6 wherein the receptacle comprises a cup which allows movement of an end pf the pushing member radially of the transverse axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The bucket assembly according to claim 6 wherein the receptacle is carried on a member projecting outwardly from the pivotal cleaning wall so that the receptacle is spaced rearwardly of the pivotal cleaning wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein a rear end of the cleaning linkage is carried for pivotal movement on a pivot carried on a support bracket attached to the boom. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein a rear end of the cleaning linkage is carried for pivotal movement on a pivot attached to the boom by a bracket which supports the pivot at a position spaced from the boom with the cylinder between the pivot and the boom. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bucket assembly according to claim 10 wherein the support bracket includes a forward clamping portion bolted to the boom and rear extension portion extending along the boom over the cylinder to attach to a mounting of the rear end of the cylinder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the rear end of the cleaning linkage is carried for pivotal movement on a pivot attached to the boom where the pivot is at a position located underneath the cylinder with the cleaning linkage extending along a side of the cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning linkage can be retracted to a non-active position by pivotal movement to engage a latch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning linkage is biased by a spring toward the transverse axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the stiff pushing member is straight so that a pushing action extends along the stiff pushing member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning linkage comprises a plate extending through a hole in the rear wall centrally between the side walls and located outwardly of the transverse axis between an outer edge of a bucket coupler and the outer wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning linkage comprises a pair of fingers each extending through a respective hole in the rear wall between a side edge of a bucket coupler and a respective side wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein an abutment on the cleaning linkage acts to engage the operating linkage into a required position on the cleaning wall as the bucket moves rearwardly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the pivotal cleaning wall is generally planar from the transverse axis to the outer edge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bucket is connected by a quick-release coupling attached to the boom and the operating linkage of the hydraulic cylinder which can be quick attached to and released from the rear wall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly according to claim 1 wherein there is provided at least one stop member mounted on a side wall to prevent movement of the pivotal cleaning wall outside a front of the outer wall.