Quick disconnect bucket actuator

A fluid-powered laterally tiltable bucket assembly, usable with a vehicle having an arm and a rotation link associated therewith for rotation of the bucket assembly in a first plane defined by movement of the rotation link relative to the arm, each of the arm and rotation link having an attachment member located toward a free end thereof, the bucket assembly comprising:

• a bucket having a working edge extending laterally, generally transverse to the first plane, a first bucket attachment member and a second bucket attachment member located away from said first bucket attachment member, said first and second bucket attachment members being arranged in general parallel alignment with the first plane;
• a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends;
• an attachment bracket rigidly attached to said body and having an external first bracket attachment member located generally along said body axis for pivotal attachment to the vehicle arm by the arm attachment member and an external second bracket attachment member located generally along said body axis away from said first bracket attachment member for pivotal attachment to the rotation link by the rotation link attachment member, said first and second bracket attachment members being selectively detachable from the arm and rotation link attachment members, wherein with said first and second bracket attachment members attached to the arm and rotation link attachment members, movement of the rotation link causes said body to rotate about the vehicle arm with movement of said longitudinal axis of said body in generally parallel alignment with the first plane, and wherein the bucket assembly is selectively detachable from the vehicle arm and rotation link;
• an output shaft rotatably disposed within said body in general coaxial arrangement with said body and having a first shaft end portion extending at least to said first body end and a second shaft end portion extending toward said second body end, said first shaft end portion having a first shaft attachment member attached thereto which is releasably attachable to said first bucket attachment member;
• a member longitudinally extendable relative to said second shaft end portion, said extendable member having a second shaft attachment member attached thereto which is releasably attachable to said second bucket attachment member, said extendable member being selectively longitudinally movable between a locking position with said first and second shaft attachment members positioned to attach said bucket to said shaft for rotation with said shaft through a second plane extending laterally, generally transverse to the first plane and a release position with said first and second shaft attachment members positioned to allow disconnection of said bucket from said shaft;
• actuation means engaging said extendable member, for selectively moving said extendable member relative to said second shaft end portion between said locking and release positions;
• and
• a linear-to-rotary torque transmitting member mounted for longitudinal movement within said body in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said torque-transmitting member engaging said body and said shaft to translate longitudinal movement of said torque-transmitting member into rotational movement of said shaft relative to said body, whereby said bucket is rotatable in the first plane and laterally tiltable in the second plane.

A fluid-powered tool actuator, usable with a vehicle having an arm and a rotation link associated therewith for rotation of a tool in a first plane defined by movement of the rotation link relative to the arm, each of the arm and rotation link having an attachment member located toward a free end thereof, and usable with a tool having a first tool attachment member and a second tool attachment member located away from the first tool attachment member, the first and second tool attachment members being arranged in general parallel alignment with the first plane, the tool actuator comprising:

• a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends;
• an attachment bracket rigidly attached to said body and having an external first bracket attachment member located generally along said body axis for pivotal attachment to the vehicle arm by the arm attachment member and an external second bracket attachment member located generally along said body axis away from said first bracket attachment member for pivotal attachment to the rotation link by the rotation link attachment member, said first and second bracket attachment members being selectively detachable from the arm and rotation link attachment members, wherein with said first and second bracket attachment members attached to the arm and rotation link attachment members, movement of the rotation link causes said body to rotate about the vehicle arm with movement of said longitudinal axis of said body in generally parallel alignment with the first plane, and wherein the tool actuator is selectively detachable from the vehicle arm and rotation link;
• an output shaft rotatably disposed within said body in general coaxial arrangement with said body and having a first shaft end portion extending at least to said first body end and a second shaft end portion extending toward said second body end, said first shaft end portion having a first shaft attachment member attached thereto which is releasably attachable to said first bucket attachment member;
• a member longitudinally extendable relative to said second shaft end portion, said extendable member having a second shaft attachment member attached thereto which is releasably attachable to said second bucket attachment member, said extendable member being selectively longitudinally movable between a locking position with said first and second shaft attachment members positioned to attach the tool to said shaft for rotation with said shaft through a second plane extending laterally, generally transverse to the first plane and a release position with said first and second shaft attachment members positioned to allow disconnection of the tool from said shaft;
• an actuator engaging said extendable member for selectively moving said extendable member between said locking and release positions;
• and
• a linear-to-rotary torque transmitting member mounted for longitudinal movement within said body in response to selective application of pressurized fluid thereto, said torque-transmitting member engaging said body and said shaft to translate longitudinal movement of said torque-transmitting member into rotational movement of said shaft relative to said body, whereby the tool is rotatable in the first plane and laterally tiltable in the second plane.