US3041755A - Clamshell type bucket - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1962 R. FERwx-:RDA

cLAMsHELL TYPE BUCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5l, 1960 INVENTQR. Har FzfPwE/foq July 3, 1962 R. FERWERDA 3,041,755

v CLAMSHELL TYPE BUCKET Filed May 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. m/ @wwf/mg Hrm/Mfrs 3,hi1,755 Patented July 3, 1952 3,041,755 CLAMSHELL TYPE BUCKET Ray Ferwerda, 1059 NW. 163rd Drive, North Miami, Fla. Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,726 Claims.' (Cl. 317-187) This invention relates to material moving and handling equipment and, in particular, to an improved clamshell bucket for digging and loading earth, gravel, rubbish, and the like material.

Apparatus of the above type conventionally comprises a pair of tiltable bucket sections adapted to close upon each other in a jawlike, grabbing motion whereby the material being handled is scooped up into the closing bucket. The sections are often connected to suitable actuating means through complex linkage or other mechanism which is adapted to increase the distance between the sec tions when they are in a fully opened position and irnprove the penetrating and loading characteristics of the bucket.

The present invention has for an important object the provision of novel means for electing an improved closing motion to a pair of clamshell bucket sections involving very few moving parts. i'

Another object of this invention 4is to provide a clamshell bucket in which the action thereof combines a downward, tilting motion with a horizontally inward, viselike closing movement.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a bucket which has a wider loading capacity over buckets of conventional design.

Yet another object is to provide apparatus having the above characteristics which picks up miscellaneous rubbish and similar material more easily than conventional buckets.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which is The supporting beam 3 is provided at the ends thereof with a pair of vertically downwardly projecting hanger members 7, and the other supporting beam 3a is similarly provided with hanger members 7a. The hanger members 7-7a are respectively rigidly secured to the supporting beams 3 3@ and are in turn xedly connected to the parallel tracks Et-30a.

As well shown in FIG. l, the track 3u has a straight, horizontally disposed medial portion 3i corresponding in length to the supporting beam 3, and integrally formed C- shape portions 32 adjacent the ends thereof. The C-shape portions 32 are semi-circular whereby the distal ends thereof overlap and are connected to the hanger members 7. As Well shown in FG. 3, the track 30a is similarly provided with a straight, medial portion 31a and C-shape end portions 32a which are connected at their distal ends to the hanger members 7a of the supporting beam y3a. The tracks faQ-30a are identical in shape as shown in FIGS. l and 3 and are formed of channel-shape material with the open side of each channel being directed toward the opposite track. The ends of the track 3i) are closed by j means of stop plates 33, and the ends of the track 30a simple in construction, efcient in operation, and highly durable in use.

Other objects of this invention and the invention itself will be readily understood from the lfollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, in which said drawings:

FIG. l is a front elevation of the clamshell type bucket. of this invention;

FG. 2 `is a top plan View ofthe bucket as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken -generally along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 showing t-he bucket in a closed position; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the bucket in the position as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the clamshell bucket of this invention, indicated generally at 1, comprises a pair of bucket sections lil-10a which are opened and closed by means of reciprocatable piston type `motors Ztl-20a respectively. The movements of the bucket sections are guided by spaced, parallel tracks Sil-30a which are disposed on either side of the bucket sections lil-10a and rigidly secured together by a frame 2.

The frame 2 and the track .S0- 30a form a unitary construction manufactured from preferably channel-shape members which are welded, bolted, or otherwise suitably secured to each other at the places indicated.

The frame 2 comprises a pair of laterally spaced and parallel supporting beams 33a which are transversely connected by a pair of cross beams 4. The cross beams 4 are positioned symmetrically in the medial region of the supporting beams 3-3a and are slightly spaced from each other. A mounting plate 5 is bridged across the cross beams 4 and is rigidly secured to said cross beams in any suitable manner. A bail 6 is rigidly mounted upon the mounting plate 5 and is adapted for suspending or otherwise suitably mounting the clamshell bucket 1 to any suitable vehicle.

are similarly closed by means of stop plates 33a. From the foregoing it will be understood that the tracks 30e-30a are mirror images of each other and comprise opposed, open channels with the ends of said channels closed.

The bucket sections 11h-10a may be of any suitable shape and as herein illustrated comprise fan-shape parallel side walls llt-11a connected across the rounded part of their peripheries by means of concave bottoms -12 and 12a, respectively. Referring now to FIG. 3, the bucket sections 10-1a are disposed between the tracks 30-3l'a With one of the straight edge portions 11-11a of the side walls 11e-11a being horizontally aligned with the upper edges of the straight portions S51-31a when the bucket 1 is in a closed position. ln such position, the other straight edge portions 11 and 11a of said side walls are relatively contiguous whereby said bucket sections forrn a semi-circular receptacle. The lowermost edges of the bottoms 12-12a are preferably provided with material penetrating teeth EL3-13a to improve the digging and penetrating characteristics of said bucket section.

The bucket section i() is provided on either side with a pair of spaced rollers 14. The rollers 14 are mounted upon the outer sides of lthe side Walls 11 adjacent the upper straight edge 11. One of said rollers on each side is posi-tioned adjacent the bottom 12 whereas the other roller on the same side is positioned adjacent the straight edge 11". The bucket section 10a is similarly provided with rollers 14a which are positioned in the same manner. As shown in both FIGS. l and 3, the rollers 14-1-4a are positioned -Within the open channels of the tracks StG-3041, said rollers being held captive by said tracks but movable along said tracks in a path corresponding to the configuration thereof. The bucket sections 1 0- 10a are movable from the position as shown in IFIG. 3 wherein the rollers are positioned at the straight medial portion '3l-31a of the track to a fully opened position as shown in FIG. l wherein said rollers have been moved into the C-shaped portion. It IWil'il be clearly understood that as the rollers 14-14a move into and around the C-shape portion EaZ-32a, the sections 10-10a are caused to tilt away from each other in an opening movement. Conversely, when the bucket sections are moved inwardly toward each other and toward the portions 3131a, said sections are caused to tilt inwardly until the straight edge portions 11" and 11a'.' become Vertical and the bucket closes.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the relatively inwardly positioned rollers 1li- 14a adjacent the edges 11"-11a are respectively connected by means of shafts 15-15a.

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The shafts -ll5a extend across the bucket sections lll-10a between the side walls 11-1la respectively and provide connection means for one end of the motors a are pivoted upon the last-mentioned shafts l-ltL also provided with transversely disposed, interconnecting shafts 16-1611. The opposite ends of the motors 20- Zta are pivoted upon the last-mentioned shafts ll6-16a- The motors Zit-20a preferably comprise cylindrical housings 2l-21a having movably mounted therein pistons 22-22a and longitudinally extendable piston rods 23-23a- The outwardly projecting ends of the piston rods 2323a are pivotally mounted upon the shafts 15 15a, respectively, and the cylindrical housings ZJL--Zla are pivoted upon the shafts M-la by means of longitudinally projecting bearing members .Z4-24a. iFluid connections 2S-25a are connected into the cylindrical housings Zit-Zita adjacent the ends thereof from which the piston rods 231-2361 project. Similarly, the opposite ends of said cylindrical housings are provided with fluid connections 26-26a. Fluid from a pressure fluid source (not shown) through valve 27 is ydirected in parallel through the connections -25a to retract the piston rods 23-23a, and iluid from Valve 2S is similarly directed through the connections 26--26a behind the pistons 22-22a to cause said piston rods to be extended outwardly.

It will be noted that the fluid motors Ztl-20a are cross connected whereby the motor 20l which operates `the -bucket section l@ is mounted to the` shaft ll6 adjacent the end of the supporting beams 3--3a which is disposed generally over the bucket section 10a. In the same manner, the motor 20a is pivoted upon the shaft 16a which is disposed at the opposite end of the supporting beams 3-3a generally in the area of operation of the bucket section it). By thus cross connecting the motors, the axes of said motors are thereby flat-tened toward the horizontal which results in the greater component of thrust being disposed in the direction of the straight, medial portions of the tracks Sil-30a. By referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that when the bucket 1 is in its most open position, the axes of the motors, as indicated by the broken lines X and Y, are even ilatter or more horizontal than `when said bucket is in the closed position. Thus, at the moment when the bucket sections lillila initially penetrate the material to be handled, the motors Ztl-2tlg are in the optimum position to provide the greatest component of force to the closing sections. At this time the rollers M-lea are positioned in the C-shape portions 32-32a whereby the pull of the motors 2li-20a is at least advantageously related to the movement of the bucket sections lil-10a. Therefore, by the arrangement set forth above the greatest component of thrust of the motors is provided at the point -where it is most needed when the bucket sections are 4first beginning to tilt downwardly and inwardly and to make the initial penetration of the material.

The clamshell bucket 1 of this invention may be suspended from a cable by means of the bail 6 or it may be secured either pivotally or rigidly to any suitable boom or frame of an excavating or similar material handling machine. AIt will be understood that suitable control means (not shown) are provided in any conventional manner for optionally directing a fluid medium to the motors 2u-29a through either the connections at 2S-25a or those located at 26-2641. Fluid introduced through the connections 25-25a causes the piston rods 23h-23a to retract thereby eifecting a closing movemen-t of the bucket sections ltl-ltm Fluid introduced through the connections ZQi-Zta causes the piston rods to extendthereby moving the bucket sections outwardly and effecting an opening movement thereof. It will be noted that the inner rollers 14- lia adjacent the edges 11-11a always tend to travel in a straight, horizontal line due to the fact that when the bucket sections l-lta are in their most open poshame-5 sition, said inner rollers are just beginning to enter the C-shape portions 32. The remaining rollers 14-14a are stopped by abutting the stop plates S31-33a thereby limiting the outward movement of the inner rollers. When the motors Ztl-20a retract to close the bucket, the inner rollers move inwardly in a straight line whereas the outer rollers follow the arcuate configuration of the C-shape portions 32-32a. The sections 10--10a are, therefore, pivoted about a constantly changing, inwardly moving axis thereby causing said sections to enter the material at a less acute angle than they would if said sections were pivoted about an unchanging point. This ilattening of the angle of penetration of the sections greatly improves the penetrating characteristics of the bucket. The present construction also causes a substantial portion of the closing movement to be eiected with the sections lll-10a moving in substantially a straight line closing motion. The result is a prolonged scooping effect by each bucket section which tends to increase the amount of material which is loaded into the bucket with each closing movement.

lt is anticipated that the curved, C-shape portions SZ- 32a may be other than lsemi-circular in form to modify the initial tilting and penetrating motion of the bucket sections if so desired. lt is also anticipated that other mechanical means may be used to actuate the bucket sections.

The present embodiment of `this invention as herein illustrated and described comprises a novel construction which includes but few moving parts and which is positive and efficient in use. An improved closing motion is imparted to the bucket sections by means of the parallel tracks Sti- Sila which hold the rollers 14-14a in captive engagement therewith to insure proper operation of the bucket. The power means for operating the bucket, as represented by the motors 2tl-2a, are connected directly to the buckets themselves whereby a maximum force is applied to the closing sections. The sections are opened to the widest possible point with each section being tilted or rotated outwardly substantially degrees to provide for complete emptying of the bucket. Excess linkage and connecting means found in conventional buckets are eliminated, and a positive, unitary closing movement is assured by the parallel-connected, separate iluid motors.

It will be understood that many changes in the details of this invention as herein disclosed may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced, parallel tracks; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; means providing a rolling engagement between said sections and said tracks in such manner that said sections follow the contour of said tracks; said tracks having curved end portions whereby said sections are tilted way from each other. when moved adjacent said end portions; and power means for reciprocatively moving each said section from the longitudinal middle region of said tracks to the respectively curved end portions associated therewith to alternately open and close said bucket.

2. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced, parallel tracks; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; said sections having rollers captively engaged by said tracks for rolling engagement therewith; said tracks having upwardly curved end portions whereby said sections are tilted away from each other in response to the configuration of said tracks when moved adjacent said end portions; and power means for reciprocatively moving each said section from the longitudinal middle region of said tracks to the respective curved end portions associated therewith to alternately open and close said bucket.

3. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced, parallel tracks; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; said tracks being channel shaped having parallel llanges with the open side of each channel facing the opposite track; said tracks having upwardly curved end portions; each side of each said section having rollers mounted thereto; said rollers positioned within said track between said parallel flanges in rolling engagement with said track; and power means for reciprocatively moving each said section from the longitudinal middle of said tracks to the respective curved end portions associated therewith whereby said sections are tilted away from each other when moved adjacent said end portions and closed upon each other when returned to the middle of said track.

4. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced tracks which are parallel throughout their lengths; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; means providing a `rolling engagement between said sections and said tracks; said tracks having straight medial portions for moving said sections away from and toward each other in a straight line; said tracks having curved end portions whereby said sections are tilted away from each other when moved adjacent said end portions; and power means for reciprocatively moving each said section from the longitudinal middle region of said tracks to the respective curved end portions associated therewith.

5. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced tracks which are parallel throughout their lengths; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; said tracks lbeing channel shaped and having parallel side flanges with the open side of each channel facing the opposite track; said sections having rollers mounted to the sides thereof; said rollers positioned within said tracks between said parallel flanges in rolling engagement with said tracks; said tracks having straight medial portions; said tracks having curved end portions whereby said sections are tilted away from each other when moved adjacent said end portions; and power means for reciprocatively moving each said section from the longitudinal middle of said tracks to the respective curved end portions associated therewith whereby said sections are tilted away from each other when moved `adjacent said end portions and closed upon each other in a viselike closing motion when returned to the middle of said track.

6. A clamshell bucket comprising a supporting frame; a pair of parallel, spaced tracks mounted to said frame; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; means providing a rolling engagement between said sections and said tracks adjacent the upper edges of said sections; said tracks having curved end portions whereby said sections are tilted away from each other in response to the conguration of said tracks when moved adjacent said end portions; and power means connected to said frame and said sections for reciprocatively moving each said section from the longitudinal middle region of said tracks to the respective curved end portions associated therewith to alternately open and close said bucket.

7. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced, parallel tracks; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; means providing a rolling engagement between said sections and said tracks whereby said sections are movable from a closed position adjacent the middle of said tracks to a fully opened position adjacent the end of said tracks; said tracks having curved end portions whereby said sections are tilted away from each other in such manner that said sections follow the contour of said tracks when moved to the opened position; a frame unitarily mounting said tracks in iixed relation to each other; and a pair of reciprocating, piston type motors mounted on said frame and connected respectively to said pair of sections for reciprocatively moving `said sections from the middle to the ends of said tracks in cooperative opening and closing movements.

8. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced, parallel tracks; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections suspended between said tracks; said tracks being channel shaped and having parallel side flanges with the open side of each channel facing the opposite track; each track having upwardly and inwardly curved end portions; rollers mounted to the sides of said sections and positioned within said tracks between said parallel flanges in rolling engagement with said track whereby said sections are tilted in response to the configuration of said tracks; a frame unitarily mounting said tracks in fixed relation to each other; and `a pair of reciprocating, piston type motors mounted on said frame adjacent the ends of said tracks and connected respectively to opposite of said pair of sections for reciprocatively moving said sections from the middle to the ends of said track in cooperative opening and closing movements.

9. A clamshell bucket comprising a pair of spaced tracks which are parallel throughout their lengths; a pair of oppositely facing, complementary bucket sections positioned between said tracks; said tracks being channel shaped and having parallel side flanges with the open side of each channel facing the opposite track; said sections having rollers mounted to the sides thereof; there being a plurality of said rollers on each section spaced apart in the direction of section movement; said rollers positioned within said tracks between said parallel iianges in rolling engagement with said tracks; said'tracks having straight medial portions for moving said sections away from and toward each other in a straight line; Said tracks having curved end portions, said end portions being generally C-shape with their open sides facing inwardly, whereby said sections are tilted away from each other when moved adjacent said end portions; a frame unitarily mounting said tracks in fixed relation to each other; and a pair of reciprocating, Iiiuid operated, piston type motors mounted on said frame and directly connected respectively to said pair of sections for simultaneously applying pressure for moving said sections between the middle and the ends of said tracks in cooperative opening and closing movements.

10. A clamshell bucket comprising `a pair of depending bucket sections adapted for cooperative opening and closing movements; each section having pairs of spaced, laterally projecting rollers adjacent the upper edges of said sections; said rollers captively engaged by a pair of cooperating tracks disposed on either side of said bucket; said sections movable along said track toward and away from each other; said rollers so disposed as to cause said sections to tiltingly respond to the configuration of said tracks when moved; said tracks having straight medial portions and upwardly directed curved end portions whereby said sections tilt outwardly away from each other when said sections are moved `adjacent said curved end portions and whereby said sections close upon each other in a straight line, viselike movement when moved adjacent said medial portions; and power means for reciprocatively moving each said section from the longitudinal middle region of said tracks to the respectively curved end portions associated therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 606,720 Hulett July 5, 1898 736,796 Slocum Aug. 18, 1903 803,118 Lindstrom Oct. 3-1, 1905 1,434,065 Prefontaine Oct. 31, 1922 2,828,038 Dorkins Mar. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 439,694 Great Britain Dec. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,041,755 July 3, 1962 Ray vFerwerda It is hereb.;r certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Colurnn 3, line 4, strike out "20a are pivoted upon the last-mentioned shafts 16-16a." and insert instead 20-20a. The ends of the supporting beams 3-3a are v -Signed and sealed this 6th day of November 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD ERNEST W. SWIDER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

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