Excavator Thumb Plate for Small-Load Material Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current excavators face challenges in retaining materials in the bucket, particularly with small amounts, and struggle with efficiently removing brush and roots, often requiring manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
An accessory for excavators featuring a moveable thumb with a plate that covers the bucket opening, allowing the plate to move with the thumb, constructed of materials like steel, iron, or plastic, and configured with a socket for attachment, which can include features such as a cutting edge to facilitate material retention and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard bucket is used for excavating, then the excavator can perform basic digging operations, but small amounts of material are difficult to retain in the bucket
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the bucket system into two functional parts: the main bucket for digging and a separate plate attachment for material retention. The plate can be independently positioned to cover the bucket opening, allowing the bucket to serve its primary digging function while the plate provides additional material containment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is designed to be moveable rather than fixed, allowing it to be dynamically positioned to cover or uncover the bucket opening as needed. This dynamic configuration enables the operator to adapt the material retention capability based on the specific task requirements, such as covering the opening when transporting materials or uncovering when digging.
2Reliability
If manual shoveling is used to transfer remaining material into the bucket, then all material can be collected, but operator labor and time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The plate attachment enables the bucket system to perform the material collection function automatically without requiring manual intervention. By positioning the plate to cover the bucket opening, the system self-containedly retains materials directly in the bucket during excavation and transport operations, eliminating the need for separate manual shoveling steps.
3Reliability
If the plate covers the bucket opening to retain materials, then material retention is improved, but the ability to load new material into the bucket is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable plate design allows dynamic reconfiguration of the bucket system. The operator can position the plate to cover the opening for material retention during transport, then move the plate away to uncover the opening for loading new material, seamlessly transitioning between these two operational states as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory for an excavator is presented wherein the excavator has a bucket with an opening and a moveable thumb on the opposite of the bucket opening. The accessory comprises a plate sized to cover at least a portion of the opening of the bucket and a socket for receiving the thumb to attach the plate to the thumb thereby allowing said plate to move with the thumb. Operation of the thumb causes the plate to cover or uncover the portion of the opening of the bucket.