BUCKET WITH LATERAL DISCHARGE

• US 20080000757A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis Maguire
• Original Assignee: Dennis Maguire
• Inventors: MAGUIRE, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/617
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/36 using endless chains or belts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/42 having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/2081 for bulk material, e.g. skirts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/19 having means for controlling material flow, e.g. to prevent overloading
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/42 using belt or chain conveyors

Abstract

A bucket used in association with a loader provides both top and lateral discharge. The bucket is defined by a frame with front and rear walls, as well as a pair of side walls, and an endless loop of conveyor belt that serves as a bottom to the bucket. Lateral discharge provided through a gap between the endless loop and each of the side walls. A slide at a bottom of each side wall at least partially fills the gap between the side wall and the endless loop. The endless loop is selectively driven in the direction of either of the side walls by a drive means contained within the frame

Claims

1. A bucket for use in association with a loader, the bucket providing both top and lateral discharge, the bucket comprising:

a frame having front and rear walls and a pair of opposing side walls;

an endless loop of conveyor belt, arranged such that a portion of the front and rear walls, the side walls and a portion of the endless loop define the bucket, with the lateral discharge provided by a gap between the endless loop and each of the opposing side walls; and

a means for selectively driving the endless loop towards either of the opposing side walls.

2. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the driving means comprises a motor rotating a drive wheel axle with a drive wheel fixedly secured thereon.

3. The bucket of claim 2, wherein said drive wheel comprises a plurality of drive sprockets engaging drive knobs attached to an underside of said endless loop.

4. The bucket of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of non-powered idler wheels in contact with an underside of the endless loop, positioned immediately outside two exterior rows of drive knobs.

5. The bucket of claim 2, wherein the drive wheel is located at one end of said endless loop.

6. The bucket of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of flexible slides, at least one attached to the bottom of each of the side walls, said slides at least partially filling the gap between the side wall to which it is attached and said endless loop.

7. The bucket of claim 1, wherein said endless loop extends beyond each of the side walls.

8. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the front wall and the rear wall of said bucket frame extend downwardly beyond the bottom of said endless loop.

9. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the driving means is controlled from a loader'"'"'s control panel.

10. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the side walls of said bucket frame are sloped inward.

11. The bucket of claim 9, wherein the front wall and the rear wall of said bucket frame are sloped inward.

12. The bucket of claim 1, further comprising:

an angled beam, positioned above the conveyor belt and spanning from one side wall to the other.

13. The bucket of claim 12, wherein:

the angled beam is a “

L”

-beam, mounted in an “

upside-down V”

configuration.

14. The bucket of claim 13, further comprising:

a plate, adjustably positioned on an arm of the angled beam, for adjusting a gap between the angled beam and the conveyor belt.

18. A method for discharging material to a predetermined location, comprising the steps of:

providing a loader with a bucket according to claim 1;

loading material into an open top area of the bucket with the endless loop of conveyor belt held in place by the selective driving means;

moving the loader to a position adjacent the predetermined location; and

actuating the selective drive means to discharge the material through the gap on the side wall of the bucket adjacent the predetermined location.

15. A bucket for use in association with a loader, the bucket providing both top and lateral discharge, the bucket comprising:

a frame having front and rear walls and a pair of opposing side walls;

an endless loop of conveyor belt, arranged in the frame such that a portion of the front and rear walls, the side walls and a portion of the endless loop define the bucket, with the lateral discharge provided by a gap between the endless loop and each of the opposing side walls, with a portion of the endless loop extending beyond each of the side walls;

a flexible slide positioned at a bottom of each side wall, at least partially filling the gap between the side wall and the endless loop;

a means for selectively driving the endless loop towards either of the opposing side walls, comprising;

a drive wheel mounted within the endless loop;

a drive wheel axle, mounted to the frame and upon which drive wheel is fixedly mounted; and

a motor, drivingly engaging the drive wheel axle in either direction of rotation;

drive sprockets on the drive wheel;

drive knobs on an underside of the endless loop that engage the drive sprockets;

a plurality of non-powered idler wheels mounted within the endless loop.

16. The bucket of claim 15, wherein the drive wheel is located at one end of said endless loop.

17. The bucket of claim 15, wherein the front wall and the rear wall of said bucket frame extend downwardly beyond the bottom of said endless loop.