Backhoe having an articulated gooseneck boom

Claim 2

A backhoe including a supporting vehicle and an articulated gooseneck boom comprising: a boom having a foot section pivotally connected to one end to said vehicle and extending upwardly therefrom, a point section pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said foot section and defining with said foot section a downwardly facing obtuse angle, a dipstick section pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the other end of said point section, a digging tool on one end of said dipstick, boom actuating means connected between said support vehicle and the point of pivotal interconnection of said foot section with said point section, gooseneck-actuating means connected intermediate the ends of each of said foot section and said point section, and dipstick-actuating means operatively connected between said point section and the other end of said dipstick.

Claim 3

A backhoe as in claim 1, wherein said boom-actuating means comprises hydraulically operated cylinder means.

Claim 4

A backhoe as in claim 2, wherein said gooseneck-actuating means and said dipstick-actuating means comprise hydraulically operated cylinder means.

Claim 5

A backhoe as in claim 3, wherein hydraulically operated actuating means is connected between said point section and said digging tool for actuating said digging tool.

Claim 6

A backhoe as in claim 1, wherein each of said actuating means comprises hydraulically operated cylinder means.

Claim 7

A backhoe as in claim 5 wherein attachment means are provided on said two sections and said dipstick for pivotal interconnection thereof and for connection of said hydraulic cylinder means thereto.

Claim 8

A backhoe including a supporting vehicle and an articulated gooseneck boom comprising: a boom movably attached at one end to said vehicle and extending upwardly therefrom; said boom having an articulated gooseneck formed intermediate its ends; and a dipstick attached intermediate its ends to the othEr end of said boom, said dipstick including a digging tool movably attached to one end thereof; said articulated gooseneck boom being in two sections interconnected through articulated joint means, hydraulically operated cylinder means connected between said two sections, said dipstick, and said bucket, respectively, for actuation thereof, attachment means on said two sections and said dipstick for pivotal interconnection thereof and for connection of said hydraulic cylinder means thereto, said articulated gooseneck boom comprising a foot section and a point section; said foot section pivotally attached at one end thereof to said supporting vehicle and said point section pivotally attached at one end thereof to the other end of said foot section; said dipstick pivotally attached intermediate its ends to the other end of said point section, said foot section comprising an elongate member and said attachment means comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side flanges at each end thereof, and a widened portion intermediate the ends thereof on the underside of said foot section defining a pair of spaced downwardly extending actuator receiving channels bounded on their sides by attaching flanges; said longitudinally extending flanges at said one end of said foot section being pinned by a pivot shaft to the support vehicle; said longitudinally extending flanges at said other end of said foot section being received in and pinned to the attachment means on said point section by a pivot shaft; and said hydraulically operated cylinder means being connected between said point section and said actuator-receiving channels on said foot section, said articulated gooseneck resulting in said backhoe having a substantially larger digging profile than is possible with either a straight boom or a fixed gooseneck boom and having a particularly greater undercutting ability.

Claim 9

A backhoe including a supporting vehicle and an articulated gooseneck boom comprising: a boom movably attached at one end to said vehicle and extending upwardly therefrom; said boom having an articulated gooseneck formed intermediate its ends; and a dipstick attached intermediate its ends to the othEr end of said boom, said dipstick including a digging tool movably attached to one end thereof; said articulated gooseneck boom being in two sections interconnected through articulated joint means, hydraulically operated cylinder means connected between said two sections, said dipstick, and said bucket, respectively, for actuation thereof, attachment means on said two sections and said dipstick for pivotal interconnection thereof and for connection of said hydraulic cylinder means thereto, said articulated gooseneck boom comprising a foot section and a point section; said foot section pivotally attached at one end thereof to said supporting vehicle and said point section pivotally attached at one end thereof to the other end of said foot section; said dipstick pivotally attached intermediate its ends to the other end of said point section, said foot section comprising an elongate member and said attachment means comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side flanges at each end thereof, and a widened portion intermediate the ends thereof on the underside of said foot section defining a pair of spaced downwardly extending actuator receiving channels bounded on their sides by attaching flanges; said longitudinally extending flanges at said one end of said foot section being pinned by a pivot shaft to the support vehicle; said longitudinally extending flanges at said other end of said foot section being received in and pinned to the attachment means on said point section by a pivot shaft; and said hydraulically operated cylinder means being connected between said point section and said actuator-receiving channels on said foot section, said articulated gooseneck resulting in said backhoe having a substantially larger digging profile than is possible with either a straight boom or a fixed gooseneck boom and having a particularly greater undercutting ability.

Claim 10

A backhoe as in claim 7 wherein said attachment means on said point section comprises a pair of spaced rearwardly extending flange receiving channels formed in said one end of said point section and receiving said longitudinally extending side flanges on said other end of said foot section; a rearwardly extending flange outwardly of each of said channels and having formed therein a first pair of actuator-receiving channels in alignment with said flange-receiving channels; downwardly extending flanges on the underside of said point section spaced from the end thereof, said flanges defining a second pair of actuator-receiving channels; said hydraulically operated cylinder means comprising a pair of hydraulically operated gooseneck cylinders attached between the foot section and point section with opposite ends thereof received in the actuator-receiving channels on said foot section and the second actuator-receiving channels on the point section; and a pair of hydraulically operated hoist cylinders connected between said support vehicle and said first pair of actuator receiving channels on said point section.

Claim 11

A backhoe as in claim 8 wherein said attachment means on said point section includes an upstanding attachment plate or flange spaced from said one end of said point section and having a third actuator-receiving channel formed therein; and a hydraulically operated dipstick cylinder connected between said third actuator-receiving channel and the other end of said dipstick, said dipstick being pivotally connected intermediate its ends between a pair of attaching plates carried by said other end of said point section.