Apparatus for hauling, scraping, scooping and grading of earth and like materials

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR MOVING EARTH AND SIMILAR MATERIALS, IN COMBINATION, A FRONT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE; A REAR SUPPORTING STRUCTURE; FRONT AND SPACED FIRST AND SECOND REAR GROUND-CONTACTING TRACTION MEANS FOR THE RESPECTIVE SUPPORTING STRUCTURES; A MATERIAL RECEIVING BUCKET PROVIDED INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND REAR TRACTION MEANS, SAID BUCKET COMPRISING A FRONT PORTION AND A REAR PORTION AND SAID REAR PORTION CONSTITUTING A SCOOP WHICH EXTENDS REARWARDLY AND BEYOND SAID REAR TRACTION MEANS; FIRST PIVOT MEANS MOUNTING SAID FRONT PORTION OF SAID BUCKET ON SAID FRONT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE; SECOND PIVOT MEANS MOUNTING SAID FRONT PORTION OF BUCKET ON SAID REAR SUPPORTING STRUCTURE; FIRST POWER MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FRONT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND SAID HOPPER FOR PIVOTING SAID HOPPER ABOUT SAID FIRST PIVOTING MEANS TO ELEVATE SAID SCOOP FROM A LOWER TO A HIGHER POSITION IN WHICH LATTER POSITION THE HOPPER IS UPWARDLY INCLINED FROM SAID FIRST PIVOTING MEANS; AND SECOND POWER MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID HOPPER AND SAID SLIDABLE PUSHER PLATE FOR MOVING SAID PLATE REARWARDLY AND FORWARDLY WITHIN SAID HOPPER.