Backhoe clamping device
OwnerJoel V. Rischinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A backhoe clamping device is provided which is designed to be easily added onto standard existing backhoe equipment. The device includes mounting brackets which are secured to the side bucket links of the existing backhoe and bucket arrangement. Clamp links are pivotally attached to these mounting brackets, thereby offsetting their pivot points from the existing links. Clamp arms are pivotally attached to the clamp links, as well as to the backhoe dipper arm. In this way, the existing backhoe leverage actuates the clamp arms, causing them to move in conjunction with the bucket to achieve a clamping effect.
Claims11
Apparatus for attachment to a backhoe for conversion thereof to a clamping device, said backhoe having a bucket, a dipper arm and a bucket link, connected by a first pivot point between said bucket and said bucket link, a second pivot point between said bucket link and said dipper arm, and a third pivot point between said bucket and said dipper arm, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one mounting bracket on said bucket link;
- a clamp link pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said at least one mounting bracket at a fourth pivot point closer to said second pivot point than to said first pivot point;
- and
- a clamp arm pivotally mounted to a second end of each said clamp link at a fifth pivot point, and pivotally mounted to said dipper arm at a sixth pivot point.
A method of converting a backhoe to a clamping device, said backhoe having a bucket, a dipper arm and a bucket link, connected by a first pivot point between said bucket and said bucket link, a second pivot point between said bucket link and said dipper arm, and a third pivot point between said bucket and said dipper arm, said method comprising:
- (a) mounting at least one bracket in fixed manner to said bucket link;
- (b) mounting one end of a clamp link to each said bracket in pivotal manner at a point of attachment closer to said second pivot point than to said first pivot point;
- (c) mounting a second end of each said clamp link to a clamp arm in pivotal manner;
- and
- (d) mounting each said clamp arm to said dipper arm in pivotal manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.