Method and apparatus for separating fine and coarse materials from excavated materials

• US 4,805,703 A
• Filed: 10/17/1985
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prodec Inter AB
• Original Assignee: Prodec Inter AB
• Inventors: Carlsson, Leif E. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/788,639
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 171/132, 171/135, 171/129, 171/128, 171/1, 209/664, 209/288, 209/235, 209/420, 209/421, 209/241, 209/683, 37/118 R, 37/4, 37/118 A, 37/, 414/705, 366/606
• US Class Current: 171/132
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/401 Buckets or forks comprising, for example, shock absorbers, supports or load striking scrapers to prevent overload
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/06 Delivery chutes or screening plants or mixing plants mounted on dredgers or excavators for back-filling E02F5/226 takes precedence; separating equipment in general B03; delivery chutes in general B65G

Abstract

This inventions'"'"'s method separates from excavated materials (2) fine constituents (3), preferably topsoil, and coarse constituents (4), preferably stones, roots or root crops. The materials to be excavated (2) are excavated by an excavating and separating bucket (11), of grid structure, which is subjected to separating movements causing the fine constituents (3) to escape from the excavating and separating bucket (11) through apertures provided for that purpose. To produce shock-free separating movements the excavating and separating bucket (11) is rotated continuously through one or preferably a plurality of revolutions in the same direction of rotation (R).

A simple apparatus for carrying the method of the invention into effect is described. The excavating and separating bucket (11) is a unit (5) connected to an excavating and elevating assembly (8) on a vehicle (9). A rotation assembly (10) to rotate the excavating and separating bucket (11) continuously through one or preferably more revolutions in the same direction of rotation (R) to produce shock-free separating movements. The excavating and separating bucket (11) has one or more, preferably four, pockets which are adapted to elevate the excavated materials (2) contained in the excavating and separating bucket (11) at every revolution and let them down again into the lowermost portions of the excavating and separating bucket (11).

Claims

1. An apparatus for separating from excavated materials fine constituents and coarse constituents, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an excavating and separating bucket with a closed rear side, four sidewalls extending forward from said rear side each of the sidewalls having openings further comprising a grid structure for the fine constituents, at least one of said sidewalls having an excavating blade, and a permanently open front side;

(b) means for connecting said excavating and separating bucket to an excavating and separating assembly of a vehicle; and

(c) means mounted on said bucket for continuously rotating through a plurality of revolutions said excavating and separating bucket about an axis of rotation extending through said bucket from said rear side thereof towards said front side, whereby the rotation of said excavating and separating bucket causes the fine constituents to fall out of the bucket through the opening provided in said sidewalls.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the excavating and separating bucket is provided with flange means on one of said sides having openings for fines, whereby said flange means extends into said open front side.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating means is a hydraulic assembly, said rotating means is connectable to a hydraulic system of the vehicle for the operation thereof, and said hydraulic assembly is disposed within said excavating and separating bucket separated from the constituents in said bucket by means of a shield to which said hydraulic assembly is bolted.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotating means is a hydraulic assembly which is connectable to a hydraulic system of the vehicle for the rotation thereof, and which via a gear drives a gear rim fixedly connected to said excavating and separating bucket, said gear rim being disposed on the outer face of a rear end wall of said excavating and separating bucket.

5. An apparatus for separating from excavated material fine constituents and coarse constituents, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an excavating and separating bucket with a rear side, wherein said rear side of said excavating and separating bucket is closed, sidewalls extending forward from said rear side and having openings for the fine constituents, at least one of said sidewalls having an excavating blade, and a permanently open front side and wherein at least one of said sidewalls having openings for fine constituents is retracted in at least part of its length as seen in a forward direction toward said open front side to constitute an inner space in the excavating and separating bucket, said space tapering forward toward said front side;

(b) means for connecting said excavating and separating bucket to an excavating and separating assembly of a vehicle; and

(c) means mounted on said bucket for continuously rotating said excavating and separating bucket about an axis of rotation extending through said bucket from said rear side thereof towards said front side, whereby the rotation of said excavating and separating bucket causes the fine constituents to fall out of the bucket through the opening provided in said sidewalls.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said excavating and separating bucket has four sidewalls with openings for fine constituents.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sides of the excavating and separating bucket having apertures for fine constituents comprises a grid structure.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rotating means rotates said excavating and separating bucket through a plurality of revolutions.

9. A method of separating from excavated materials fine constituents and coarse constituents comprising the steps of:

(a) excavating material with an excavating and separating bucket having a rear side, sidewalls extending from said rear side having openings for the fine constituents and at least one of said sidewalls having an excavating blade, and a permanently open front side;

(b) elevating said bucket by means of an excavating assembly of a vehicle attached to said bucket by a connection means;

(c) rotating said bucket through a plurality of revolutions about an axis extending perpendicularly through said front side by means of a rotation assembly mounted on said bucket, causing the fine constituents to fall out of said bucket through the openings provided in said sidewalls; and

(d) tilting said bucket by means of the excavating assembly of the vehicle to discharge the coarse constituents through the open front side.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of tilting said bucket by means of the excavating assembly of the vehicle to discharge the coarse constituents through the open front side.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said bucket is rotated through a plurality of revolutions.

12. A method of separating fine constituents from coarse constituents in excavated materials, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) excavating materials to be separated into an excavating and separating bucket, said bucket having a grid structure, an excavating blade located at and open front end, and apertures permitting the fine constituents to escape, the excavating bucket being rotated and locked into a position inclined to the horizontal, moved into materials to be excavated, moved to an area for depositing fine constituents, and rotated;

(b) continuously rotating said bucket through at least one revolution in the same direction about an axis extending through the bucket from a rear side toward said front side, for the purpose of producing shock free separating movements;

(c) after separating the fine constituents, tipping the bucket and rotating the bucket while in said tipped position, for the purpose of collecting coarse constituents, which fall out said open front end, at a coarse constituent collection location.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said bucket is rotated when excavated materials occupy a lowest portion of said bucket, along an axis which is substantially horizontal.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said bucket is first rotated when excavated materials occupy a lowest portion of said bucket, along an axis which is slightly inclined from a horizontal toward the rear of said bucket, and is subsequently rotated along an axis which is substantially horizontal.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein excavated materials are elevated within said bucket and dropped down to a lowest portion of said bucket at least one time per revolution.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said bucket is rotated at a speed between about 20 r.p.m. and about 40 r.p.m. for the purpose of causing fine constituents to fall out of said apertures.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said bucket having an excavating blade located at said open front end, is rotated and locked into a substantially horizontal position, moved into materials to be excavated, moved to an area for depositing fine constituents, and rotated.

18. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein said bucket is rotated above a location where materials are excavated, for the purpose of causing coarse constituents which hang out of said open front end of said bucket to drop back down onto the location of the excavated material.

19. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein, after separating of fine constituents, said bucket is tipped and rotated while in said tipped position, for the purpose of collecting coarse constituents, which fall out said open front end, at a coarse constituent collection location.

20. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein said bucket is rotated above a location where materials are excavated, for the purpose of causing coarse constituents which hang out of said open front end of said bucket to drop back down onto the location of the excavated material.

21. A method of separating fine constituents from coarse constituents in excavated materials, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) excavating materials to be separated into an excavating and separating bucket, said bucket having a grid structure, an open front end, and apertures permitting the fine constituents to escape;

(b) continuously rotating said bucket at a speed between about 20 r.p.m. and about 40 r.p.m. through at least one revolution in the same direction about an axis extending through the bucket from a rear side toward said front side, for the purpose of producing shock free separating movements and causing fine constituents to fall out of said apertures, the rotation occurring when excavated materials occupy a lowest portion of said bucket, along an axis which is substantially horizontal, the rotation further causing the excavated materials to be elevated within said bucket and dropped down to a lowest portion of said bucket at least one time per revolution, wherein said bucket having an excavating blade, located at said open front end, is rotated and locked into a position inclined to the horizontal, moved into materials to be excavated, moved to an area for depositing fine constituents, and rotated.

22. A method of separating fine constituents from coarse constitutents in excavated material, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) excavating materials to be separated into an excavating and separating bucket, said bucket having a grid structure, an open front end, apertures permitting the fine constituents to escape, and an excavating blade located at said open front end, the excavating further comprising rotating and locking said bucket into a substantially horizontal position, and moving the bucket into materials to be excavated;

(b) rotating the bucket above a location where materials are excavated, for the purpose of causing coarse constituents which hang out of said open front end of said bucket to drop back down onto the location of the excavated material;

(c) moving the bucket to an area for depositing fine constituents, and rotating the bucket continuously through at least one revolution in the same direction about an axis extending perpendicularly through said front side, for the purpose of producing shock free separating movements; and

(d) after separating the fine constituents, tipping the bucket and rotating the bucket in said tipped position, for the purpose of collecting coarse constituents, which fall out said open front end, at a coarse constituent collection location.