Pivoting Loader Bucket Side Plates for Back-Dragging Near Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loader buckets struggle to efficiently collect material from ground surfaces, particularly near structures, without damaging the structure or the bucket, and often require complex adjustments for different collection modes.
Innovation Solution
A bucket with pivotable swing plates that can transition between a first position for forward collection and a second position for back-dragging, allowing efficient material gathering while minimizing interference with the ground surface and structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bucket operates in forward collection mode with the bottom wall aligned with the ground surface, then material collection efficiency is improved, but the bucket cannot effectively collect material near structures without damaging them
Solution Approach 1:
The swing plates are designed to be pivotable between different positions rather than fixed, allowing the bucket to adapt its configuration dynamically. When pivoting to the first position, the swing plates clear the ground for forward collection mode. When pivoting to the second position, the swing plates extend downward to enable back-dragging mode near structures, thus resolving the contradiction between collection efficiency and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bucket is designed with dual functionality through the swing plates that can serve different purposes based on their position. The same swing plates provide ground clearance in forward collection mode and material containment in back-dragging mode, making the bucket universal for both collection scenarios without requiring separate implements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If swing plates are added to enable back-dragging mode, then adaptability to different collection scenarios is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bucket is segmented into the main body and separate swing plates that can move independently. This segmentation allows the swing plates to be added as discrete components with pivot joints, rather than redesigning the entire bucket structure, thus minimizing the increase in overall device complexity while achieving the desired adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration of the bucket is changed by varying the angular position parameter of the swing plates rather than changing the physical structure. By adjusting the pivot angle between 0-90 degrees, the bucket transitions between modes, achieving adaptability through parameter variation rather than structural complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the swing plate lower edge is raised above the bottom wall in forward collection mode, then the bottom wall alignment with ground surface is improved, but material collection area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The swing plates dynamically adjust their position based on the operating mode. During forward collection, they pivot to the first position where their lower edges are raised, ensuring precise bottom wall alignment. During back-dragging, they pivot to the second position where they extend downward to maximize collection volume, thus resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and collection volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A bucket for a loader includes a main body and a pair of swing plates pivotably coupled to the main body for defining an exterior collection space for gathering material from the ground surface when operating the bucket in a back-dragging mode. Each swing plate is pivotable relative to the main body between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the swing plate lower edge is raised above an outer surface of the bottom wall. When in the second position, the swing plate protrudes past the outer surface of the bottom wall, with inwardly directed faces of the swing plates cooperating with an outer surface of a bottom wall of the main body to partially enclose an exterior collection space when back-dragging.