AU696214B2 - Load retaining net assembly for excavating hoe or bucket - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3,2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT ease .06.

*s .0 S* S Invention Title: "LOAD RETAINING NET ASSEMBLY FOR EXCAVATING HOE OR BUCKET"" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:

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1_ "LOAD RETAINING NET ASSEMBLY FOR EXCAVATING HOE OR BUCKET" THIS INVENTION relates to a load retaining net assembly for an excavating hoe or bucket. The excavating hoe or bucket may be used in mining applications such as clearing overburden from an accessible coal or mineral deposit or for land reclamation purposes.

An excavating hoe which may be used in mining applications such as for clearing overburden from an accessible coal or mineral deposit has been described in Australian Patent 576437. A load retaining net assembly for an excavating hoe or bucket is also described in Australian Patent 661202, A conventional dragline bucket for use with draglines is also described in Australian Patent 576437, Both the hoe and the bucket in conventional practice are connected to one or more draglines or drag cables for moving the hoe or bucket in a forward direction and one or more tail lines for moving the hoe or bucket in a f reverse direction. There are also provided hoist cables supporting the dragline bucket from a boom pivotally mounted to a walking machine having crawler tracks or other form of locomation.

•co• The conventional dragline bucket is usually arcuate in 20 shape having a base and side wall provided with an open front or access o*0o mouth whereby soil or overburden may gain access to the interior of the bucket as the bucket is dragged or moved through loose overburden. A plurality of ripper teeth along a free edge of the base may be provided in the open front or access mouth.

I LIIII1---~ The excavator bucket may also be provided with a rear end which has a pair of opposed hoist chains each attached to a respective support lug on the external or internal face of the upper side wall. The hoist chains may be interconnected by a horizontal spreader bar. 'There also may be provided a dump cable which passes around a dump sheave which is attached at one end to the drag cables and at another end to a front end of the dragline bucket.

There also may be provided a support loop or support arch adjacent the open front of the bucket to which may be attached further cable(s) connected to the hoist cable(s) and also to the drag cable(s) by use of an appropriate sheave mechanism. There also may be provided a pair of drag chains which are each attached at one end to an associated front vertical edge on each side of the open front of the dragline bucket and which are each attached at their other end to the drag cable(s).

However, it will also be appreciated that in some dragline :oe: buckets the support arch is omitted, 9*9* The excavating hoe as described in Australian Patent 576437 includes a body frame and a scraper blade attached to a rear end 9999 9*99 of the body frame. The body frame also has generally horizontal disposed 20 means on the top of the body frame for floating the body frame on a load eeoc of scraped material advanced by the scraper blade and the body frame has side means for loading and/or retaining the load of scraped material advanced by the scraper blade. In operation, the scraper blade engages the material when the hoe is traversed in a forward direction and is non- 4 operative when the hoe is traversed by the tail line in a reverse direction, Australian Patent 661202 refers to a load retaining net assembly for a dragline bucket or excavating hoe as described above which includes a top wall formed from a network of flexible line members which are releasably attached and are utillsed to retain a load within the body of the hoe or bucket upon forward movement of the hoe. Each line member may be disconnected from each other and reattached at different locations to increase or decrease the load capacity as may be required.

While the aforementioned conventional load retaining net assembly was generally satisfactory in operation, it was considered that operating efficiency of the load retaining net could be improved in one or more respects.

I It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a load retaining net assembly for an excavating hoe or bucket which would 15 improve the operating efficiency thereof.

0* It is a further object of the invention to provide an excavating hoe or bucket which incorporates the above load retaining net assembly.

The invention therefore provides a load retaining net assembly having a variable load capacity for an excavating hoe or bucket which is adapted to be attached to an upp- edge of the hoe or bucket, said load retaining net assembly including one or more body parts and one or more intermediate line members wherein the one or more intermediate line members are attached to said body part(s) whereby in use said intermediate line membe'r(s) facilitate drawing together adjacent I I fi body parts or adjacent portions of a single body part to vary the load capacity of the load retaining net assembly as required.

The Intermediate line member(s) as described above are preferably threaded through the attached body part(s). In this regard, the body part(s) after such drawstring movement of the intermediate line member(s) can be released and reattached to the upper edge of the bucket or hoe when required, The or each body part may comprise a network of flexible line members which intersect or are releasably attached to the other by shackles or other form of releasable attachment.

1: The body part(s) may comprise a top wall of the load *9* retaining net assembly or a top wall and side wall if desired.

,There also may be provided one or more peripheral line members which are attachable to the upper edge of the hoe or bucket in 4 :oi 9 4 15 any suitable manner. The provision of such peripheral line members 9* simplifies installation of the load retaining net assembly to the hoe or bucket and reduces impact loadings between the attachment locations on o the hoe or bucket and the body part(s) when compared to the case if the body part(s) were mounted directly to the upper edge of the hoe or bucket.

Preferably the attachment locations are formed by a plurality of spaced inwardly extending mounting projections each having an I 6 aperture or passage through which the peripheral line member(s) may be passed. Preferably the projections form eyelets and are attached to opposed side walls and a front and rear end of the hoe or bucket. The provision of such eyelets provides an advantage over the disclosure of Australian Patent 661202 where the line members in the form of chains were looped through apertures in the hoe or bucket because the load retaining net assembly is more rigidly fixed near the upper edge of the hoe or bucket thereby maximising support for the retained load. Suitably the peripheral line member(s) are attached to the eyelets by shackles or other form of releasable couplings.

In another embodiment, the load retaining net assembly of the invention may include one or more carry line members which are '0.0 preferably longitudinally oriented but which may also be transversely oriented and be attached to opposed parts of the hoe or bucket. These carry line members serve the purpose of supporting the top wall at times when the hoe or bucket is not loaded. This improves the loading ability of the hoe or bucket by lifting the top wall clear when the load is entering or *99* 0leaving the hoe or bucket.

The carry line members in one arrangement may include 20 marginal line members for opposed body parts or body part portions which may engage the intermediate line member(s) discussed above.

There also may be provided an ancillary pair of carry line members which are attached to opposed parts of the hoe or bucket and which are each located adjacent to proximal marginal line members and II- lrrrrrr;- 7 outwardly thereof as shown hereinafter.

The ancillary carry line members may be positioned under, but not attached to, the top wall of the load retaining net assembly and serve to support the top wall when the hoe or bucket is empty. Such carry line members are suitably kept under sufficient tension to minimise the catenary effects of the top wall. However, when the hoe or bucket fills or empties, these carry line members provide minimal restriction to the inflowing or outflowing load material, or to the effective operation of the load retaining net assembly.

There also may be provided link members which may be circular but which are more preferably oblong or ellipsoidal which are attached to the mounting projections ahead of the flexible line members comprising the body part(s). Such link members may be used to support the body part(s) or used to adjust the tension in the body part(s), This arrangement permits a free end portion or return portion of the line members to be returned through the link members and then attached to the remainder of the flexible line member using a coupling or shackle, By pulling the line member through the link members in this way, it is easier to apply necessary tension and also to utilise a ready made plurality of 20 spaced attachment points which are formed by the aforementioned mounting projections which enable for fine adjustments to be made to the effective length of the main flexible line members.

In another embodiment, it is preferred to utilise a heavier grade of flexible line members in a forward end or front end of the load

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8 retaining not assembly. It is apparent that material entering and leaving the hoe or bucket concentrates wear activities at the front part of the load retaining net assembly and that a much improved working life is possible when a heavier grade of flexible line member is employed in the front end of the load retaining net assembly.

In yet another embodiment, it is useful to recognise that the dragline bucket, when fitted with a load retaining net assembly of the invention, can use a steeper carry angle. This can be achieved by either shortening the dump cable or lengthening the hoist chains supporting the bucket. An improved adjunct is to fit an override link between the drag cables and dump sheave, This link prevents the bucket over steepening and protects the dump cables from excessive tensile loading. Two .9.o optional positions are shown for this link hereinafter where the outer end is attached to either the hoist cables or the hoist chains. These alternative positions provide a degree of shock absorbing which further safeguards the integrity of both the dump rope and override link.

Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein:- FIG. 1 is a plan view of the upper edge of an excavating hoe 20 or arch type bucket fitted with a load retaining net assembly of the invention; FIGS. 2A and 2B show two types of suitable eyelet frames used for attaching the load retaining net assembly to the upper edge or top surface of the hoe or bucket; 9 FIG, 3 shows a portion of a peripheral line member attached to eyelet frames and the load retaining net assembly which is a more detailed view of the area marked in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 illustrates an oblong link used to adjust and terminate marginal carry chains and support chains and is a more detailed view of the area marked in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 illustrates flexible line members or intermediate line members twined about the marginal chains and used to adjust the surface area of the load retaining net assembly and is a more detailed view of the area marked in FIG. 1; and FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation of a dragline with detailed insert shown in FIG. 7 showing the dragline bucket complete with three optional positions for the flexible override link member. This link limits the load imparted to the dump rope when the bucket is operated in the region approximately between A 1.50 and A In FIG. 1, there is shown a top net assembly 10 which is mounted to an excavator bucket 11 which incorporates an arch 12 spaced S* protrusions 13. There is provided a peripheral line member 14 in the form of a chain of heavy grade metal which is attached to eyeplate projections So 20 15 which are shown in detail in FIGS. 2A and 2B described hereinafter.

Each eyeplate projection 15 is welded or otherwise rigidly attached to an internal surface of top edge 11A of bucket 11. There is also included body parts 16 of top net assembly 10 which are formed from flexible line members 17 in the form of chains of light grade metal. There is also provided wear panels 18 formed from flexible line members 19 which are chains of medium grade metal. There is also provided a pair of outer longitudinal carry chains 20 which pass underneath top net assembly and which are attached to oblong or elliptical links 21 attached to eyeplate projections 15 at the arch end 22 of the bucket 11 and also attached to oblong links 23 attached to eyeplate projections 15 at the other end 24 of the bucket 11. Support chains 20 are formed from medium grade metal as indicated in FIG. 1.

There is also provided a pair of inner longitudinal marginal carry chains 25 which are attached to a central panel 26 of top net assembly 10 as hereinafter described in FIG, The central panel 26 includes an arch end portion 27 made from one or more chains 27A of medium grade metal and another end portion 28 made from chain(s) of light grade metal 27B. There is also included round couplings or shackles 29 as well as oblong links ooee Chain(s) 27A or 27B comprise examples of intermediate line members which function as a drawstring as described above.

*The association between links 21 and shackles 29 as well as links 23 and shackles 29 is basically the same and is described o* 9.

S, 20 hereinafter in FIG. 4.

In relation to the association between links 30 and shackles 29A and 296, such association is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 4 with the exception that carry chains 25 each pass through an associated link 30 as shown in FIG. 1. There is also provided a further 11 chain or loop 25A which engages with each shackle 29A and a further chain or loop 28A which engages with each shackle 29B,.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, there are described alternative forms of eyeplate projections 15A and 15B which may be utilised in conjunction with the net assembly 10 of the invention. Eyeplate projection includes a central aperture or eye 31 and a body 32 having an enlarged mouth Eyeplate projection 15B includes, on the other hand, a central aperture or eye 31A which is completely surrounded by body 32A which is of a trapezoidal shape also having a tapered base 33.

In FIG. 3, there is shown each eyeplate projection 15 to which are attached links or shackles 34, Each eyeplate projection 15 is welded at 35 to top edge 11A of bucket 11. There is also shown peripheral chain 14 which is also attached by shackles 34 to chains 17 of light grade metal.

In FIG. 4, there is shown a detailed view of the oblong links 21 to which are attached eyeplates 15 and an associated chain 20 which forms a return loop 20A which is re-attached to chain 20 by shackle 29.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a detailed view of arch end portion 27 of central panel 26 which comprises a continuous length of chain 27A 20 formed from heavy or more preferably medium grade metal which is looped around longitudinal body chains 25 at 40. An optional shackle 41 may also be utilised to lock the chains 27A in position. There is also shown wear panels 18 formed from chains 19 as hereinbefore described which are each attached to body chains 25 by shackles 42. Each chain 12 19 is attached to each other at intersection points by shackles 43.

In FIG. 6, there is shown a dragline assembly 44 including walking machine 45 having crawler tracks or feet 46A operatively attached to sub-frame 46B, boom frame 47, stationary frame 48 for hoist cable 49, sheaves 50A and 50B carried by stationary frame 48, sheave 51, drag cable 52 supported by sheaves 50A and 51, point sheave 53, dump cable 54, dump sheave 55, hoist chain(s) 56 attached to dragline bucket 11 and drag chains 56A attached to bucket 11.

In FIG. 7, there is shown hitch 57 interconnecting hoist cable 49 and hoist chain 56. There is also shown drag cable(s) 52 attached to drag chain(s) 56A at intersection point 57A. There is also shown over-ride link 58 extending between intersection point 57A and dump sheave 55 and also being attached to hitch 57. There is also shown alternative link positions indicated by lines 59 and 60 in phantom.

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Claims (24)

1. A load retaining net assembly having a variable load capacity for an excavating hoe or bucket which is adapted to be attached to an upper edge of the hoe or bucket, said load retaining net assembly including one or more body parts and one or more intermediate line members wherein the one or more intermediate line members are attached to said body part(s) whereby in use said intermediate line member(s) facilitate drawing together adjacent body parts or adjacent portions of a single body part to vary the load capacity of the load retaining net assembly as required.

2. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the intermediate line member(s) are threaded through the attached body part(s).

3. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 VS 15 including one or more peripheral line members attachable to the upper edge of the excavating hoe or bucket.

4. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 3 wherein there is provided a single peripheral line member attached to the peripheral edge.

5. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is provided a pair of body parts separated by said intermediate line member(s).

6. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 5 wherein there is provided a marginal line member for each body part which is M 14 attached to opposed parts of the excavating hoe or bucket.

7. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 6 wherein there is provided a single intermediate line member separating each body part.

8. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is provided one or more carry line members interconnecting opposed parts of the excavating hoe or bucket for carrying said one or more body parts.

9. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 6 wherein there is provided a pair of carry line members interconnecting opposed parts of the bucket or hoe wherein each carry line member is located outwardly of and adjacent to a proximal marginal line member.

A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is provided one or more wear panels located adjacent to a front end of the excavating hoe or bucket.

11. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim wherein there is i provided a pair of wear panels in each body part *go*,separated by said intermediate line member(s).

12. A load i 3taining net assembly as claimed in any preceding •i S 20 claim wherein the peripheral line member(s) are attached to inwardly extending projections of the upper edge of the hoe or bucket in use so as to maintain said body part(s) in a substantially horizontal plane when the body part(s) are in an untensioned state.

13. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 12 ~~M i. wherein said one or more peripheral line members are looped through shackles which are attached to each inwardly extending projection.

14. A load retaining nb assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 8-13 wherein the carry line members are looped through round or substantially ellipsoidal link members which are attached to inwardly extending projections of the opposed body parts whereby a free end portion of the or each carry chain is attached to a remainder part thereof by a shackle.

A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 6-14 wherein each marginal line members are looped through round or substantially ellipsoidal link members which are attached to inwardly extending projections of the opposed body parts whereby a free end portion of the or each carry chain is attached to a remainder part thereof by a shackle.

16. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in Claim 11 wherein each wear panel is formed from heavy or medium grade material and is separated by an intermediate line member which is also formed from heavy or medium material.

17. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any preceding S. 20 claim wherein the or each body part is formed from light or medium grade material.

18. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3-17 wherein said peripheral line member(s) are formed from heavy grade material. I C C.. be C. C C.. C be 16

19. A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 8-18 wherein the carry line member(s) are formed from medium grade material.

A load retaining net assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 5-18 wherein the marginal line members are formed from heavy grade material.

21. A load retaining net assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. An excavating hoe or bucket incorporating a load retaining net assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

23. An excavating hoe or bucket assembly including the excavating hoe or bucket of Claim 22, the excavating hoe or bucket having a top edge incorporating a plurality of spaced inwardly extending projections wherein each projection has a line retaining aperture or 15 passage.

24. An excavating bucket assembly as claimed in Claim 23 having a pair of hoist chains which are attached to opposed sides of the bucket or hoe, a hitch interconnecting said pair of hoist chains to one or more hoist cables, a dump sheave located adjacent to and attached to said hitch, drag cable(s) attached to a front end of the bucket or hoe, a dump chain engaging said dump sheave and attached to a front end of the bucket and also being attached to said drag cable(s) characterised in that there is provided an over-ride link engaging said hitch or said hoist chain or said hoist cable adjacent said hitch and also engaging said drag 17 cable(s). An excavating bucket or hoe assembly as claimed in Claim 24 wherein said over-ride link is attached to said hitch and said dump sheave as well as said drag cable(s). DATED this twenty-fourth day of July 1998. R. A. BEATTY ASSOCIATES PTY. LIMITED, by its Patent Attorneys, FISHER ADAMS KELLY. *0 0 0* *o *o* **ao o *m I I II II Ollllr 18 ABSTRACT A load retaining net assembly (10) having a variable load capacity for an excavating hoe or bucket (11) which is adapted to be attached to an upper edge (11A) of the hoe or bucket said load retaining net assembly (10) including one or more body parts (16) wherein the or each body part (16) and one or more intermediate line members (27A, 27B) attached to said body part(s) (16) in such manner whereby in use said intermediate line member(s) (27A, 27B) function in a similar manner to a drawstring to vary the load capacity of the load retaining net assembly (10) when required. .ob S **S *4 I