Excavator basket-stick connection

Claim 2

A connecting device for interchangeably connecting an excavator basket to an excavator stick comprising a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of spaced apart, parallel elongated members integrated by a bight member adjacent one frame end, a cross member further integrating said elongated members spaced from said one end, said elongated members extending beyond said bight member at said one end and formed into curved lugs adapted to hookingly engage an edge of said basket, said elongated members adjacent the other frame end being equipped with aligned openings for the receipt of a pivot pin, said pin also adapted to engage the basket pivot means, each elongated member adjacent said bight member being equipped with a first locking means disposed in confronting relation with its associated lug for receipt of lock to stabilize said frame on a basket against movement on said basket parallel to the length of said elongated members and away from said basket, and said bight member being equipped with second locking means for engagement with said basket to stabilize said frame against movement on said basket perpendicular to the length of said elongated members.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 in which said bight member lock includes a slot engageable with a basket protuberance upon hooking engagement of said elongated member lugs with said basket edge.

Claim 4

In combination, an excavator basket, and excavator stick and a connecting device therebetween releasably fixed to said basket and pivotally connected to said stick for facilitating interchangeability, said basket having a wall equipped with means external of said basket for optionally pivotally connecting said basket to said stick, said wall terminating in an upper free edge, said device including a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel elongated members integrated by a bight member adjacent one frame end, a cross member further integrating said elongated member spaced from said one end, said elongated members extending beyond said bight member at said one end and formed into curved lugs hookingly engaging said edge, said elongated members adjacent the other frame and being equipped with aligned openings for the receipt of a pivot pin, a pin extending througH said aligned openings and said basket external means, each elongated member adjacent said bight member being equipped with a first locking means disposed in confronting relation to its associated lug for the receipt of a lock to stabilize said frame on said basket against movement on said basket parallel to the length of said elongated members and away from said basket, a lock operably associated with each first locking means, said basket adjacent said edge being equipped with cooperating locking means adapted to cooperate with second locking means on said bight member for stabilizing said frame against movement on said basket perpendicular to the length of said elongated members, and second locking means on said bight member.

Claim 5

In combination, an excavator basket, and excavator stick and a connecting device therebetween releasably fixed to said basket and pivotally connected to said stick for facilitating interchangeability, said basket having a wall equipped with means external of said basket for optionally pivotally connecting said basket to said stick, said wall terminating in an upper free edge, said device including a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel elongated members integrated by a bight member adjacent one frame end, a cross member further integrating said elongated member spaced from said one end, said elongated members extending beyond said bight member at said one end and formed into curved lugs hookingly engaging said edge, said elongated members adjacent the other frame and being equipped with aligned openings for the receipt of a pivot pin, a pin extending througH said aligned openings and said basket external means, each elongated member adjacent said bight member being equipped with a first locking means disposed in confronting relation to its associated lug for the receipt of a lock to stabilize said frame on said basket against movement on said basket parallel to the length of said elongated members and away from said basket, a lock operably associated with each first locking means, said basket adjacent said edge being equipped with cooperating locking means adapted to cooperate with second locking means on said bight member for stabilizing said frame against movement on said basket perpendicular to the length of said elongated members, and second locking means on said bight member.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 3 in which said wall adjacent said edge is equipped with a thickened portion for engagement with said curved lugs.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 3 in which said locking means includes a wedge.

Claim 8

An excavator basket adapted to be connected to a plurality of excavating sticks comprising a generally rectangular box having a front wall terminating in a free edge for digging and a rear wall spaced from said front wall, said rear wall having fixed thereto a pair of spaced apart mounting lugs each equipped with a pin receiving opening with the openings aligned to receive a pin disposed generally parallel to said digging edge, said rear wall also terminating in a free edge having a beam section, said rear wall and the portion thereof adjacent said free edge being equipped with inner and outer bearing surfaces, a lock means on said rear wall between said bearing surfaces for stabilizing said basket against movement relative to said stick parallel to said digging edge, said bearing surfaces being arranged to stabilize said basket against movement relative to said stick in the two other directions orthogonally related to said digging edge.

Claim 9

An excavator basket adapted to be connected to a plurality of excavating sticks comprising a generally rectangular box having a front wall terminating in a free edge for digging and a rear wall spaced from said front wall, said rear wall having fixed thereto a pair of spaced apart mounting lugs each equipped with a pin receiving opening with the openings aligned to receive a pin disposed generally parallel to said digging edge, said rear wall also terminating in a free edge having a beam section, said rear wall and the portion thereof adjacent said free edge being equipped with inner and outer bearing surfaces, a lock means on said rear wall between said bearing surfaces for stabilizing said basket against movement relative to said stick parallel to said digging edge, said bearing surfaces being arranged to stabilize said basket against movement relative to said stick in the two other directions orthogonally related to said digging edge.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 6 in which said locking means includes an upstanding protuberance positioned along the center plane passing through said front and rear walls.