Implement system with nesting bucket and implement system operating method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465359-B2
Application number	US-201615172508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2016
Priority date	Jun 3, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

An implement system includes a linkage and a bucket coupled with the linkage and movable between a dump position and a racked position. The bucket has a compound back section that forms a profile having a basin shape to assist in distributing material within the back section when the bucket is curled, and nesting the bucket close to the linkage. Related methodology is disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bucket for an implement system in a machine comprising:
a bucket shell including an upper edge, a roof section extending rearward from the upper edge, a lower edge, a floor section extending rearward from the lower edge, and a compound back section connecting between the roof section and the floor section;
a first side wall coupled with the bucket shell and a second side wall coupled with the bucket shell, and each of the upper edge and the lower edge extending between the first side wall and the second side wall;
a paddle plate coupled with the bucket shell at a location vertically below the floor section;
mounting elements coupled to the compound back section of the bucket shell and structured to couple with a linkage, wherein the mounting elements include a first mounting element and a second mounting element defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, respectively;
the roof section and the floor section each having a linear profile, and being oriented diagonally to one another to form a bucket throat having a throat angle extending between the roof section and the floor section, the throat angle being about 40 degrees;
the compound back section having a segmental profile including a first curved segment transitioning with the linear profile of the roof section and defining a first radius of curvature, a second curved segment transitioning with the linear profile of the floor section and defining a second radius of curvature, and a linear middle segment transitioning from the first curved segment to the second curved segment;
the bucket being structured to pivot about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis relative to the linkage between a dump position and a racked position, and the segmental profile forming a basin shape, such that material is distributed within the compound back section and the bucket nests with the linkage at the racked position;
the floor section being oriented diagonally to the paddle plate at a floor angle greater than zero, the floor section further defining a bucket floor direction, and the linear middle segment being oriented perpendicular to the linear profile of the bucket floor and defining a perpendicular direction; and
the linear middle segment forming a floor of the basin shape, and the first curved segment and the second curved segment forming walls of the basin shape, and wherein the first pivot axis is between endpoints of the linear middle segment, in the perpendicular direction, and the second pivot axis is between endpoints of the second curved segment, in the perpendicular direction.

2. The bucket of claim 1 further comprising a guard coupled with the upper edge, cutting elements coupled with the lower edge, wherein the paddle plate is coupled with the bucket shell at a location rearward of the cutting elements.

3. The bucket of claim 2 wherein the bucket defines a setback angle of about 90 degrees or less.

4. The bucket of claim 3 wherein the floor angle is about 20 degrees or less.

5. The bucket of claim 4 wherein the floor angle is about 9 degrees, and the setback angle is about 60 degrees.

6. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the first curved segment defines a first radius of curvature and the second curved segment defines a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature.

7. The bucket of claim 6 wherein a ratio of the first radius to the second radius is from about 0.5:1.0 to about 1.5:1.0.

8. The bucket of claim 7 wherein the first and the second mounting elements include an upper mounting element and a lower mounting element, respectively, and further comprising a guard extending from the upper edge.

9. The bucket of claim 4 wherein the first radius of curvature is less than the second radius of curvature.

10. The bucket of claim 4 wherein a running length of the first curved segment is less than running lengths of each of the second curved segment and the middle segment.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Worth David

Classifications

• E02F9/00 Primary

  Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00 (laying-out or take-up devices for trailing electric cables B66C) · CPC title

• E02F3/40 Primary

  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)} · CPC title

• E02F3/402

  with means for facilitating the loading thereof, e.g. conveyors · CPC title

• E02F3/3411

  of the Z-type · CPC title

• E02F3/3417 Primary

  Buckets emptying by tilting (E02F3/342, E02F3/345 take precedence) · CPC title