US3774954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grab bucket operating apparatus
Assignee: Algoship International Ltd
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Filing: 1972-03-09
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1992-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A grab bucket operating apparatus in which the half shells of the bucket are mounted on individual torque shafts, each of the torque shafts is provided with a lever and a hydraulic unit is operatively connected to one of the levers, and a link member connects the levers to ensure synchronous opening and closing of the half shells, and an accumulator ensures maintenance of hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit, and electric and hydraulic controls are provided for the operating mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 M Taguchi
- 👤 T Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:17
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66C; B66C3/00; B66C3/14; B66C3/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
309 words
Apparatus for operating grab buckets and the like comprising a housing, an electric motor, a pump operatively connected to said motor, hydraulic accumulator, and a cylinder and piston device all mounted within the said housing, the said cylinder and piston device being pivotally mounted at one end of the said housing, a pair of torque shafts each mounted in bearings on the under side of said housing and disposed transversely of the axis of the cylinder and piston device, a grab bucket shell mounted on each of said torque shafts, a lever mounted on each of said torque shafts, a first of said levers adjacent to the pivot mounting of the cylinder and piston device being directed downwardly with respect to the said housing and the second of said levers being directed upwardly into the said housing, said second lever having its free end coupled to the free end of the piston rod of the cylinder and piston device, a tie rod connected at one end to the free end of said first lever and having its opposite end connected to said second lever at a position intermediate of its torque shaft and its connection to the said piston rod, hydraulic connections between said pump, accumulator and the cylinder of said cylinder and piston device, means to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the said cylinder and piston device to effect rotation of said torque shafts in counter direction to each other for opening and closing of the grab bucket shells, said means to control the flow of hydraulic fluid from the said pump including a pair of solenoid valves to control the extension and retraction cycles of the cylinder and piston device, and including a pair of timers controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valves and the opening and closing cycles of the grab bucket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
309 words
Apparatus for operating grab buckets and the like comprising a housing, an electric motor, a pump operatively connected to said motor, hydraulic accumulator, and a cylinder and piston device all mounted within the said housing, the said cylinder and piston device being pivotally mounted at one end of the said housing, a pair of torque shafts each mounted in bearings on the under side of said housing and disposed transversely of the axis of the cylinder and piston device, a grab bucket shell mounted on each of said torque shafts, a lever mounted on each of said torque shafts, a first of said levers adjacent to the pivot mounting of the cylinder and piston device being directed downwardly with respect to the said housing and the second of said levers being directed upwardly into the said housing, said second lever having its free end coupled to the free end of the piston rod of the cylinder and piston device, a tie rod connected at one end to the free end of said first lever and having its opposite end connected to said second lever at a position intermediate of its torque shaft and its connection to the said piston rod, hydraulic connections between said pump, accumulator and the cylinder of said cylinder and piston device, means to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the said cylinder and piston device to effect rotation of said torque shafts in counter direction to each other for opening and closing of the grab bucket shells, said means to control the flow of hydraulic fluid from the said pump including a pair of solenoid valves to control the extension and retraction cycles of the cylinder and piston device, and including a pair of timers controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valves and the opening and closing cycles of the grab bucket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the said tie rod is connected to the respective first and second levers at an equal radius from the axis of the torque shafts on which they are mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the said cylinder and piston device when extended effects closing of the grab bucket and when retracted effects opening of the grab bucket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the said tie rod effects rotation of the torque shafts in directions opposite to each other when the cylinder and piston device is activated in either extending or retracting directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the bearings in which the said torque shafts are mounted are of the split type, and the torque shafts and their attached levers and grab bucket shells are detachable from the said cylinder and piston device and the said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the said grab bucket shells are mounted on the end portions of the torque shafts beyond the adjacent sides of the said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the said solenoid valves can be manually operated to permit the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic accumulator to the cylinder and piston device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for operating grab buckets and the like comprising: a frame, a pair of parallel torque shafts mounted on the frame, a grab bucket shell mounted on each of said torque shafts, a double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder unit mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the grab buckets to open them when moved in one direction and close them when moved in the other direction, pipe means for delivering the output of the pump to either side of the piston and cylinder unit, power means for operating the pump, a switching valve in the pipe means between the pump means and the piston and cylinder unit, said switching valve including a first solenoid means for moving the valve to a first position to deliver hydraulic fluid to a first side of the piston to expand the piston and cylinder unit, and a second solenoid means for moving the valve to a second position to deliver hydraulic fluid to the second side of the piston to retract the piston and cylinder unit, and including a timer means for controlling the opening and closing either of said solenoids and for controlling the duration of operation of the power means to operate the pump and hence pump hydraulic fluid towards to said piston and cylinder unit.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for operating grab buckets and the like comprising: a frame, a pair of parallel torque shafts mounted on the frame, a grab bucket shell mounted on each of said torque shafts, a double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder unit mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the grab buckets to open them when moved in one direction and close them when moved in the other direction, pipe means for delivering the output of the pump to either side of the piston and cylinder unit, power means for operating the pump, a switching valve in the pipe means between the pump means and the piston and cylinder unit, said switching valve including a first solenoid means for moving the valve to a first position to deliver hydraulic fluid to a first side of the piston to expand the piston and cylinder unit, and a second solenoid means for moving the valve to a second position to deliver hydraulic fluid to the second side of the piston to retract the piston and cylinder unit, and including a timer means for controlling the opening and closing either of said solenoids and for controlling the duration of operation of the power means to operate the pump and hence pump hydraulic fluid towards to said piston and cylinder unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including a hydraulic accumulator in the pipe means between the pump and the switching valve, said timer means being operable to permit the pump to pressurize the hydraulic accumulator when the grab buckets are not being moved, whereby the Energy of the hydraulic accumulator is released during the time that the grab buckets are being moved.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 9, said timer means being adjustable to vary the cycle time of the opening and closing of the grab buckets for different types of loads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9, said power means being an electric motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, said piston and cylinder unit being operable to close the buckets together when extended and to open the buckets when retracted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 9, including means for manually operating said solenoid valves to permit the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic accumulator to the piston and cylinder unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 9, said frame being a housing containing the power means which is an electric motor, said hydraulic accumulator and said hydraulic piston and cylinder unit, the piston and cylinder unit being pivotally connected to the housing, said torque shafts being mounted on the underside of said housing and disposed transversely of the axis of the piston and cylinder unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 14, including a lever fixedly mounted on each torque shaft, a first of said levers adjacent to the pivot mounting of the piston and cylinder unit being directed downwardly with respect to said housing and the second of said levers being directed upwardly into said housing, said second lever having its free end coupled to the free end of the piston rod of the piston and cylinder unit, a tie rod connected at one end to the free end of said first lever and having its opposite end connected to said second lever at a position intermediate of its torque shaft and its connection to said piston rod.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tie rod is connected to respective first and second levers at an equal radius from the axis of the torque shafts on which they are mounted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tie rod effects rotation of the torque shafts in directions opposite to each other when the piston and cylinder unit is activated in either the extending or the retracting directions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 15, including bearings mounting said torque shafts being of the split type, the torque shafts and their attached levers and grab bucket shells being attachable from the said piston and cylinder unit and the said housing, and wherein the grab bucket shells are mounted on end portions of the torque shafts beyond the adjacent sides of the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |