Abstract This grab bucket comprises a pair of shells or scoops pivoted to the lower portion of a frame structure and operatively connected to a vertical hydraulic cylinder and piston actuator of which the piston rod is held against translation in relation to said frame structure, the upper end of the cylinder of said actuator carrying the pivot pins of links connected to said pair of shells or scoops. The frame structure comprises on the one hand an upper rocker rigid with the piston rod of said hydraulic actuator and on the other hand a frame structure body detachable from said rocker. The shells themselves are detachable from the base of the hydraulic cylinder to permit the operation of the grab bucket not only as a digging bucket but also as a rehandling bucket after disassembling the frame structure body and connecting the links to the rocker.
A method of converting a digging bucket suspended from a frame to a rehandling bucket, said digging bucket having a pair of mating shells, each of which has inner and outer pivot connections, a piston including a rod affixed to said frame, a cylinder reciprocably mounted upon and sealingly engaging said rod and piston, link means pivotally connected between said cylinder and said outer pivot connections and pivot means carried by said frame and pivotally connecting said inner pivot connections to said frame; said method comprising the steps of: disconnecting said link means from said cylinder; disconnecting said pivot means from said inner pivot connections; connecting said inner pivot conections to said cylinder; and, connecting said link means to said frame.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of converting a digging bucket suspended from a frame to a rehandling bucket, said digging bucket having a pair of mating shells, each of which has inner and outer pivot connections, a piston including a rod affixed to said frame, a cylinder reciprocably mounted upon and sealingly engaging said rod and piston, link means pivotally connected between said cylinder and said outer pivot connections and pivot means carried by said frame and pivotally connecting said inner pivot connections to said frame; said method comprising the steps of: disconnecting said link means from said cylinder; disconnecting said pivot means from said inner pivot connections; connecting said inner pivot conections to said cylinder; and, connecting said link means to said frame.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
233 words
A method of converting a digging bucket suspended from a frame to a rehandling bucket, said digging bucket having a pair of mating shells, each of which has inner and outer pivot connections, a piston including a rod affixed to said frame, a cylinder reciprocably mounted upon and sealingly engaging said piston, said cylinder having a first end with pivot lugs extending outward therefrom and a second end, a gland cover sealingly engaging said rod and detachably secured to said first end of said cylinder, an end cover detachably secured to and sealing the second end, a frame member detachably secured to said frame and extending around said cylinder; said frame member having lateral apertures through which said pivot lugs extend, link means connected between said pivot lugs and said outer pivot connections on each shell and pivot pins connecting said inner pivot connections to the lower end of said frame member; the method comprising the steps of: disconnecting said link means from said pivot lugs; removing said pivot pins; detaching said frame member from said frame and removing said frame member; detaching said covers from said cylinder; reversing said cylinder end for end on said piston; securing said gland cover to said second end of said cylinder and said end cover to said first end; connecting said inner pivot connections to said pivot lugs; and connecting said link means to said frame.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
233 words
A method of converting a digging bucket suspended from a frame to a rehandling bucket, said digging bucket having a pair of mating shells, each of which has inner and outer pivot connections, a piston including a rod affixed to said frame, a cylinder reciprocably mounted upon and sealingly engaging said piston, said cylinder having a first end with pivot lugs extending outward therefrom and a second end, a gland cover sealingly engaging said rod and detachably secured to said first end of said cylinder, an end cover detachably secured to and sealing the second end, a frame member detachably secured to said frame and extending around said cylinder; said frame member having lateral apertures through which said pivot lugs extend, link means connected between said pivot lugs and said outer pivot connections on each shell and pivot pins connecting said inner pivot connections to the lower end of said frame member; the method comprising the steps of: disconnecting said link means from said pivot lugs; removing said pivot pins; detaching said frame member from said frame and removing said frame member; detaching said covers from said cylinder; reversing said cylinder end for end on said piston; securing said gland cover to said second end of said cylinder and said end cover to said first end; connecting said inner pivot connections to said pivot lugs; and connecting said link means to said frame.