Method and system for controlling flowable material

A bucket assembly to be mounted in a loader bucket having a body that defines a bucket volume therein, the bucket assembly comprising:

• a screen positioned in the body to define a heel portion of the bucket volume located between the screen and at least one internal surface of upper and lower walls of the body;
• a chute cover movable between a closed position thereof, in which the chute cover prevents flowable material from flowing through a chute that is formed in a closed end of the body, and an open position thereof, in which the chute is in fluid communication with the heel portion, and the flowable material moves from the heel portion through the chute;
• and
• an auger subassembly at least partially located in the heel portion, for moving flowable material positioned in the heel portion to the chute.

A method for controlling movement of flowable material from a loader bucket having a body including internal surfaces defining a bucket volume thereof to at least one preselected location, the method comprising:

• a. forming a chute in the body to allow the flowable material to exit from the bucket volume to said at least one preselected location;
• b. providing a bucket assembly to be mounted to the body, the bucket assembly comprising:
• a screen positioned in the body to define a heel portion of the bucket volume between the screen and the internal surfaces;
• an auger subassembly at least partially located in the heel portion, for moving the flowable material positioned in the heel portion toward the chute;
• a chute cover movable between a closed position thereof, in which the chute cover prevents the flowable material from flowing through the chute, and an open position, in which movement of the flowable material through the chute is unimpeded thereby;
• c. positioning the flowable material in the loader bucket;
• d. allowing the flowable material in the loader bucket to flow through the screen and into the heel portion under the influence of gravity;
• e. positioning the loader bucket to align the chute with said at least one preselected location;
• f. moving the chute cover to the open position thereof, to allow the flowable material to flow through the chute under the influence of gravity;
• g. with the auger subassembly, moving the flowable material toward the chute;
• and
• h. allowing the flowable material to exit the heel portion via the chute under the influence of gravity, to position the flowable material at said at least one preselected location.