Wheel Loader Bucket With Sloped Side Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bucket designs for wheel loaders lack productivity and cost-effectiveness, with limited manufacturing efficiency and smooth material handling.

Innovation Solution

A bucket configuration featuring a center section and sloped lateral side sections that increase filling volume, facilitate smooth material flow, and maintain standard dimensions for tipping, while simplifying manufacturing and attachment to wheel loaders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the bucket filling volume is increased, then productivity is improved, but the standard dimensions for tipping may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling volumeVSAvoidstandard dimensions for tipping
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sloped lateral side sections that extend in both the width direction and rearward direction, creating bucket pockets that utilize three-dimensional space. This dimensional expansion allows increased filling volume without proportionally increasing the longitudinal dimensions required for tipping, as the additional capacity is achieved through lateral and rearward extension rather than forward extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the bucket shape is made smoother for easier material handling, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial handlingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor section is divided into distinct segments: a center section and lateral side sections with sloped profiles. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the center section provides structural stability while the sloped lateral sections create smooth material flow paths. The segmented design simplifies manufacturing compared to a monolithic complex curved shape, as each segment can be formed using standard fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the bucket is designed for faster filling, then productivity is improved, but the depth of crouching into heap may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling speedVSAvoiddepth of crouching
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sloped lateral side sections create bucket pockets that extend rearward from the center section, utilizing the rearward dimension to increase filling capacity. This allows the bucket to achieve greater filling volume without increasing the longitudinal depth of crouching into the material heap, as the additional capacity is achieved through lateral and rearward expansion rather than deeper forward crouching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4488452A1A bucket
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 SSAB TECHNOLOGY AB
  • EP4488452A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4488452A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4488452A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a bucket (1) for a wheel loader, the bucket (1) having a longitudinal extension in a longitudinal direction (L), a width extension in a width direction (W) and a height extension in a height direction (H), the bucket (1) comprising: - a top portion (2), - a first and a second side wall (3, 4) separated in the width direction (W), - a floor section (5) extending from a front lower edge (6) of the bucket (1) up to the top portion (2), wherein the front lower edge (6), the first and second side walls (3, 4) and the top portion (2) form a bucket opening (7) facing in the longitudinal direction (L), corresponding to a forward direction (F) of the bucket (1), the floor section (5) comprises a center section (52), a first lateral side section (54) and a second lateral side section (56), wherein the center section (52) is provided between the first and second lateral side sections (54, 56), as seen in the width direction (W), each one of the first and second lateral side sections (54, 56) having a sloped profile (S) extending in the width direction (W) and in a rearward direction (R) of the bucket (1) from the center section (52) towards a respective one of the first and second side walls (3, 4) such that bucket pockets (542, 562) are formed inside the bucket (1) on respective sides of the center section (52), as seen in the width direction (W).