Clam bucket for use in pipeline padding

• US 6,237,257 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Cronk Jr
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Cronk Jr
• Inventors: Cronk, Thomas J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US09/649,521
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 37/142.5, 37/340, 37/403, 37/406, 37/408, 37/409, 37/410, 37/444, 37/445, 37/466, 37/461, 37/903, 414/723, 414/724, 414/726, 172/254
• US Class Current: 37/142.5
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/40 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 Class Codes: E02F 5/226 with means for processing the soil, e.g. screening belts, separators; Padding machines
• 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

A clam bucket of the present invention has a first and a second bucket halves, each bucket half includes a first and a second side wall, a bucket back wall, and a bucket connecting plate. Optionally, at least a portion of each of the two side walls may be made of a side wall screen. The bucket back wall is rigidly connected between the first and the second side walls and extends from the bucket top edge to the bucket digging edge. At least a portion of the bucket back wall is composed of a back wall screen. The side wall screen, if used, and the back wall screen should be positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the screen. The bucket connecting plate is rigidly connected to the outside of the bucket back wall and positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall so that connection to a backhoe can be made. A bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder connection collar is also positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that one or more bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder, which is used to open and closet the two halves in a clam shell like manner, may be pivotably connected to each bucket connecting plate. It is preferred that the bucket connecting plate of at least one of the bucket halves further include a bucket positioning arm having a bucket positioning arm collar. The bucket positioning arm is rigidly connected to the bucket connecting plate so as to permit the connecting of the bucket connecting plate to a crown boom hydraulic cylinder.

Claims

1. A clam shell bucket including:

a first and second bucket halves, each bucket half including;

a first and a second side wall;

a bucket back wall, the bucket back wall having;

a bucket digging edge

a bucket top edge and

the bucket back wall being rigidly connected between the first and the second side walls and extending from the bucket top edge to the bucket digging edge and

wherein the bucket back wall includes;

a bucket back wall screen, the bucket back wall screen constituting at least a portion of the back wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the bucket back wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the bucket back wall screen;

a bucket connecting plate, the bucket connecting plate being rigidly connected to the bucket back wall and positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall;

the bucket connecting plate having;

a bucket pivot point collar, the bucket pivot point collar being positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that the bucket may be pivotably connected to a bucket pivot point; and

a bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder connection collar being positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that one or more bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder may be pivotably connected to the bucket connecting plate.

2. The clam bucket of claim 1, wherein the bucket connecting plate of the second bucket half further includes a bucket positioning arm having a bucket positioning arm collar, the bucket positioning arm being rigidly connected to the bucket connecting plate of the second bucket half so as to permit the connecting of the second bucket connecting plate to a crown boom hydraulic cylinder and to permit the angular positioning of the assembled clam bucket relative to a bucket pivot point.

3. The clam bucket of claim 1 further including:

a bucket top plate, the bucket top plate being rigidly connected to the top edge of the bucket back plate and to the first side wall and the second side wall.

4. The clam bucket of claim 1, wherein the bucket back wall has a outer surface, the clam bucket further including:

a bucket support plate, the bucket support plate being rigidly connected to the outer surface of the bucket back wall so as to support the bucket half in an upright position when the bucket half is detached and not in use.

5. The clam bucket of claim 1, wherein the back wall screens are made from wire mesh, cross-linked chain, bars or rods spaced in a predetermined manner, or combinations thereof.

6. A method of separating padding material from backfill material, the backfill material containing padding material and stones, the method comprising:

picking up the backfill material in the clam bucket of claim 1 to give a clam bucket containing the backfill material;

moving the clam bucket containing the backfill material so as to cause the padding material to pass through one or more screens in the clam bucket while prohibiting the stones from passing through the screens.

7. A clam shell bucket for separating padding material from stones in backfill material, the clam shell bucket including a first bucket half and a second bucket half, the first bucket half including:

a first and a second side wall;

a first bucket back wall, the first bucket back wall having;

a first bucket digging edge and

a first bucket top edge

the first bucket back wall being rigidly connected between the first and the second side walls and extending from the first bucket top edge to the first bucket digging edge; and

wherein the first bucket back wall includes;

a first bucket back wall screen, the first bucket back wall screen constituting at least a portion of the back wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the first bucket back wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the first bucket back wall screen;

a first bucket connecting plate, the first bucket connecting plate being rigidly connected to the back wall and positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall;

the first bucket connecting plate having;

a first bucket pivot point collar, the first bucket pivot point collar being positioned on the first bucket connecting plate so that the first bucket may be pivotably connected to the second bucket half; and

a first bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder connection collar being positioned on the first bucket connecting plate so that one ore more bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder may be pivotably connected to the first bucket connecting plate;

the second bucket half including;

a third and a fourth side wall

a second bucket back wall, the second bucket back wall having;

a second bucket digging edge and

a second bucket top edge

the second bucket back wall being rigidly connected between the third and the fourth side walls and extending from the second bucket top edge to the second bucket digging edge; and

wherein the second bucket back wall includes;

a second bucket back wall screen, the second bucket back wall screen constituting at least a portion of the second bucket back wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the second bucket back wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the second bucket back wall screen;

a second bucket connecting plate, the second bucket connecting plate being rigidly connected to the back wall and positioned between the third side wall and the fourth side wall;

the second bucket connecting plate having;

a second bucket pivot point collar, the second bucket pivot point collar being positioned on the second bucket connecting plate so that the second bucket may be pivotably connected to the first bucket half; and

a second bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder connection collar being positioned on the second bucket connecting plate so that one or more bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder may be pivotably connected to the second bucket connecting plate;

a bucket positioning arm having a bucket positioning arm collar, the bucket positioning arm being rigidly connected to the second bucket connecting plate so as to permit the connecting of the second bucket connecting plate to a crown boom hydraulic cylinder and to permit the angular positioning of the assembled clam bucket relative to a bucket pivot point.

8. The clam bucket of claim 7, wherein the first bucket back wall and the second bucket back wall have outer surfaces, the clam bucket further including:

a first bucket support plate, the first bucket support plate being rigidly connected to the outer surface of the first bucket back wall so as to support the first bucket half in an upright position when the first bucket half is detached from the backhoe

a second bucket support plate, the second bucket support plate being rigidly connected to the outer surface of the second bucket back wall so as to support the second bucket half in an upright position when the second bucket half is detached from the backhoe.

9. The clam bucket of claim 7 further including:

a first bucket top plate, the first bucket top plate being rigidly connected to the top edge of the first bucket back plate and to the first side wall and the second side wall; and

a second bucket top plate, the second bucket top plate being rigidly connected to the top edge of the second bucket back plate and to the third side wall and the fourth side wall.

10. A modified claim bucket including:

a bucket including;

a first and a second side wall;

a bucket back wall, the bucket back wall having;

a bucket digging edge

a bucket top edge and

the bucket back wall being rigidly connected between the first and the second side walls and extending from the bucket top edge to the bucket digging edge and

wherein the bucket back wall includes;

a bucket back wall screen, the bucket back wall screen constituting at least a portion of the back wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the bucket back wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the bucket back wall screen;

a bucket connecting plate, the bucket connecting plate being rigidly connected to the bucket back wall and positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall;

the bucket connecting plate having;

a bucket pivot point collar, the bucket pivot point collar being positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that the bucket may be pivotably connected to a bucket pivot point and

a retaining door pivot point, the retaining door pivot point being positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that the bucket may be pivotably connected to a retaining door pivot point collar;

and,

a retaining door having a retaining door pivot point collar, the retaining door pivot point collar being positioned on the retaining door so that the retaining door may be pivotably connected to the retaining door pivot point or to the bucket pivot point.

11. The clam bucket of claim 10, wherein the first and a second side wall include a first side wall screen and a second side wall screen,

the first side wall screen constituting at least a portion of the first side wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the first side wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the first side wall screen, and

the second side wall screen constituting at least a portion of the second side wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the second sidewall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the second side wall screen.

12. The clam bucket of claim 11, wherein the first side wall screen and the second side wall screen are made from wire mesh, cross-linked chain, bars or rods spaced in a predetermined manner, or combinations thereof.

13. The clam bucket of claim 10, wherein

the bucket connecting plate further includes a retaining door actuating hydraulic cylinder connection collar being positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that one or more retaining door actuating hydraulic cylinder may be pivotably connected to the bucket connecting plate, and

the retaining door further includes a retaining door actuating hydraulic cylinder connection collar being positioned on the retaining door so that one or more retaining door actuating hydraulic cylinder may be pivotably connected to the retaining door.

14. The clam bucket of claim 10, wherein the retaining door further includes a retaining door positioning arm having a retaining door positioning arm collar, the retaining door positioning arm being rigidly connected to the retaining door so as to permit the connecting of the retaining door to a crown boom hydraulic cylinder and to permit the opening and closing of the retaining door.

15. The clam bucket of claim 10, wherein the bucket connecting plate further includes a bucket positioning arm having a bucket positioning arm collar, the bucket positioning arm being rigidly connected to the bucket connecting plate so as to permit the connecting of the connecting plate to a crown boom hydraulic cylinder and to permit the angular positioning of the assembled clam bucket relative to a bucket pivot point.

16. The clam bucket of claim 10 further including:

a bucket top plate, the bucket top plate being rigidly connected to the top edge of the bucket back plate and to the first side wall and the second side wall.

17. The clam bucket of claim 10, wherein the bucket back wall has a outer surface, the clam bucket further including:

a bucket support plate, the bucket support plate being rigidly connected to the outer surface of the bucket back wall so as to support the bucket half in an upright position when the bucket half is detached and not in use.

18. The clam bucket of claim 10, wherein the back wall is made from wire mesh, cross-linked chain, bars or rods spaced in a predetermined manner, or combinations thereof.

19. The clam bucket of claim 10, wherein the retaining door is made from solid plate material;

wire mesh, cross-linked chain, bars or rods spaced in a predetermined manner, or combinations thereof.

20. A method of separating padding material from backfill material, the backfill material containing padding material and stones, the method comprising:

picking up the backfill material in the clam bucket of claim 10 to give a clam bucket containing the backfill material;

moving the clam bucket containing the backfill material so as to cause the padding material to pass through one or more screens in the clam bucket while prohibiting the stones from passing through the screens.