US3043032A - Back-filling blade for a power shovel - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1962 N. DlscENzA BACK-FILLING BLADE FOR A POWER SHOVEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1960 July 10, 1962 N. DlscENzA BACK-FILLING BLADE FOR A POWER SHOVEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1960 JNVENTOR /VEL 50N /SCENZA B Y y ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,943,032' BACK-FILLELG BLADE FR A PWER SHVEL Nelson Discenza, 9i) Lancaster Road, West Hartford, Conn. Fiied June 3i), 1969, Ser. No. 40,901 6 flaims. (Cl. 257-1175) This invention relates to earth moving equipment and more particularly to back-filling blade attachments for the bucket of la power shovel for extending its range of effective operation to backiilling and -grading work.

The art of earth moving has undergone revolutionary changes within recent years. Innovations and improvements in equipment and technique have taken place which heretofore were undreamed of. Huge, self-propelled vehicles are now available lwhich are capable of transporting tous of earth easily, quickly and conveniently over terrain which would formerly have been impassable. Great giants of machinery can now level or move whole hills with relative ease. Earth moving equipment is available today which can accomplish in a single day what formerly required weeks or even months of arduous hand labor.

My invention, however, relates to a category of earth working apparatus and technique which has remained relatively unchanged while such great forward strides were being accomplished in development of heavy equipment and its use. Considered individually, the magnitude of small excavation projects such as trench digging or residential excavating does not compare with that of highway installation or industrial development. Collectively, however, many thousands of man hours of hand labor are required -to dig `and lill small excavationslabor which might otherwise be put to use in a far greater product-ive capacity. The installation of water or sewer pipes, for example, extending between a typical urban residence and a street main, necessitates digging a trench therebetween approximately four to eight feet -in depth. Small, mobile power shovels designed for work of this general type eiciently 'dispose of the necessary excavation, depositing the dirt removed therefrom on -the surface adjacent to the trench. Once the trench is dug, however, andthe pipe laid, hours of laborious hand work must be spent `by men with shovels Aback-illing the trench, and an even greater number of hours spent shoveling and raking in an effort to clean up and return the area of excavation to its former condition.

By using my improved back-filling blade attachment, however, the same power-shovel used to dig the trench may be speedily converted for use to eiiiciently, Vquickly and economically return the excavated dirt to the trench from -whence it was removed. By simply attaching my back-tilling -blade to the bucket of the power shovel, the shovel may be fused either to push or pull the mounds of dirt previously deposited along the edge of the trench into the excavation. Since my back-filling blade shields the digging teeth of the bucket, there is no danger of their gouging or scarring an establishedlawn as the edge of the blade is drawn along the surface thereof.

Earth moving equipment of the bulldozer type is frequently employed in an eirort to minimize the hand work associated with back-filling. Eiective use of such equipment, however, is restricted because of the relatively large amount of operating area required therefor, and is prohibited in areas having established lawns and landscaping unless there is no concern for probable damage thereto. At best, the conventional bulldozer can accomplish only rough grading leaving a 'substantial amount of iinish work to be accomplished by hand labor. The use of a bulldozerl also involves bringing another piece of heavy 'equipment to the job site which notl only compounds" scheduling problems but is also an additional expense.

The use of my improved back-lling blade attachment,

however, permits a power shovel operatorV of ordinary skill to perform, in addition lto the excavating operation, both the back-filling of the bulldozer and the cleanup finish grading heretofore of necessity done by hand labor using` picks, shovels and rakes. A trench or the like may be rapidly and inexpensively back-iilled, and rough and iinish `grading may be accomplished with the same equipment and with the economy and eiflciency of modern mechanization-'utilizing only one piece of equipment for excavating, back-lling and grading.

A primary object of the Iinvention is to provide an attachment for power shovels yand the like which will extend their iield of effective operation and permit their use for back-filling and grading.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such an attachment having means cooperable with the teeth on the ybucket for positioning the attachment there- A still further object of the invention is to provide an attachment which will, in one form, utilize the capacity of the bucket to permit the movement of large quantities of earth or like materials.

Another object of my invention is to provide an attachment that can be conveniently and securely aixed to the bucket of a powerl shovel and which will greatly increase the utility thereof.

Still another object is to provide an improved attach-k ment for a power shovel, Ithe use of which will virtually eliminate the expense of costly hand labor in back-filling trenches and like excavations. Y

A still further Objectis -to provide such an attachment which may be detachably secured to the bucket of a power shovel.

Another object is to provide such an attachment cooperable with the teeth on the bucket whereby said teeth may'be sheathed to prevent scarring or gouging of established lawns. q i

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the lfollowing description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is an elevational side view showing the bucket of a conventional power shovel having a preferred form of my improved attachment mounted thereon.

'.FIG. 2 is an isometric View of said attachment;

IFIG. 3 is a sectional side view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a similar view taken on line -4-4 of `FIG. 2.

IFIG. 5 is an elevational side view showing a modified form of my attachment mounted upon the bucket 0f a conventional power shovel.

FIG. r6 is an isometric'front View of said modified form.

of said attachment. p

FIG. 7 is a sectional side View taken onl line7-7 of FIG. 6.

As shown in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes the bucket of a conventionalpower shovel. Said bucket is pivotally mounted on'a boom 6 and is operated by a control bar 7 in the well-known manner.v The bucket is provided with a series of spaced teeth 8 which project from the lower edge thereof and are adapted to bite into the earth when said bucket is used for diggingoperations. u

In its preferred form, illustrated in FIGS. l to 4, my improved attachment7 indicated generally at 9, comprises a front plate 10 having a width greater than that of the bucket 5 and also having spaced side portions 11- 11 extending upwardly from its opposite ends. SaidV side portions are provided with opposed, rearwardly extending flanges 12-'12 on the inner edges thereof disposed perpendicularly thereto and are spaced to embrace the opposite sides of said bucket fwhereby they rmay be detachably secured thereagainst. f

An elongated rear plate 13 is secured along its lower edge to the lower edge Vof said front plate and is inclined rearwardly therefrom toY provide a pocket 14 therebetween adapted to receive the teeth S-S for positioning 'and securing the attachment on the bucket as shown in FIGS. 1 and`2. The said pocket 14 formed thereby is of-such size and shape as to receive the teeth 8-8 wherebythe undersurface of said teeth rests in'abutting contact with the inner surface of said rear plate whilethe pointsthereof rest against the yrear surface of the ront plate 10 in cooperate engagement therewith to prevent movement of said attachment when force is exerte against said front plate.l

Y The pocket 14 not only aids in positioning and securing the attachment but also serves to shield or sheath the said teeth in order to prevent scarring orgouging thereby during operation of the power shovel. The said attachment is Ysecured to the bucket by means of suitable bolts 15a-15 which extend through: holes 16-16 in the ilanges 12--12 and through aligned holes in the sides of the bucket. If desired, the portions of the pocket outwardly of the bucket may be closed by suitable plates 17-.17V which also serve to support `the plate 13.

When it is desired to convert the power shovel for use inback-filling, it isV a 'simple matter to attach my irnproved back-iilling blade thereto by seating the teeth of the bucket into the pocket 14 designed therefor. The flanges 12-12n1ay then be secured to their respective sides of the bucket by the said bolts 15-15.

, In the modified form illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the said attachment comprises a plate 18 having a forwardly inclined lower portion 19. The two side and -upper edges of said plate 18` are provided'wit-h forwardly extending flanges A2,0--20 and 21 respectivelyto coniine, insofar as possible, the lill or earth to said plateand thereby increase the capacityV thereof. If desired, the llanges ,20--3 20may Ibe extended along the edgesn ofthe portion 19, as at 20a-LY The said vllanges further tend to increasegthe strength and rigidity of the device.

The said lower portion 19-of the plate 18 is inclined forwardly and is-provided on the rear side thereof with a supporting bar 22 rigidly secured thereto.' Said bar extends longitudinally of the plate and is positioned so as to rest inthe angle 23 formed bythe front surface Vof the teeth 8a and the side of the bucket 5a as shown in FIG. 5 when thevmodiiied form of my invention is positioned on said bucket. rIhe angle formed by the front plate and the lower portion thereof is such that the rear surface of the plate 18 rests in abutting engagement with eachA of the kiront-edges ofthe sides of the Abucket while 'the lower or marginal edge 24 of thek lower portion 19 thereof rests upon the upper surface of said teeth -andextends Yslightly forward thereof. v f

The-said plate 18'is `providedqwith rearwardly extending flanges 25-25 adapted to receive'thev bucket 5a therebetween and to rbe securedto said bucket Vby meansV of v 4 type having opposed sides, an open front, and a plurality of laterally spaced digging teeth along the forward lower edge thereof, a back-filling attachment comprising a blade -having a front plate, said plate being wider than said shovel whereby -said plate extends outwardly of the opposed sides thereof, said plate having an `opening therein of substantially the same width as said shovel, the side edges of said opening abutting said opposed sides whereby the said plate and [said shovel together form a continuous dirt-engaging surface, means lat the lower end of said plate engaging, loverlying and shielding all of said teeth to prevent scarring of the ground when said shovel is converted to back-filling purposes, and means on said front plate'securing said attachment to the said opposed sides of the bucket.

2. In combination with an excavating shovel of the type having opposed sides, an open front, and a plurality of laterally spaced digging teeth along the forward lower edge thereof, a back-filling attachment comprising a blade including a -rear plate and a front plate extending outwardly of said opposed sides of said bucket, said rear plate being inclined rearwardly relative to said front plate and secured thereto along its lower edge toofonn a locating pocket therebetweenreceiving the said teeth for positioning the said attachmenton the said bucket with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the ground and for sheathing the said teeth to prevent scarring when the said shovel is converted to back-lling purposes, said -front plate having upwardlyV extending spaced side portions forming an opening in said front plate, said opening receiving the said bucket therein'when the said teeth are positioned in the said locating pocket, vthe said side portions .abutting the outer faces of the said opposed sides whereby the said open front of said bucket is unobstructed by the said blade, and means Von said side portions securing said attachment to the said opposed sides of the bucket. Y n

3. In combination with an excavating shovel -of the type having opposedsides, an open front, and a plurality, of laterally. spaced digging teeth along thefforward lower edge thereof, a back-lling attachment comprising a blade including Va rear plate and a front plate extending out- .Wardly of said opposed sides of said bucket, said reary Aplate being inclined rearwardly relative to said front plate and secured thereto along its lower edge to form a locating pocket therebetween receiving the saidr teeth for positioning the said attachment on the said bucket with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the ground and for sheathing the said teeth to prevent scarring when the said shovel-is converted to back-filling purposes, transverse web portions connecting the portions of said rear plate and said -front'plateextending beyond said opposed sides, rearwardly extendingilariges-v on said front plate in suitable bolts 26 which extend through holes 25a'-25a in the anges 25o-25 andthrough alignedholes inthe sides of saidbucket. Y. o n .y

A guard plate 2,7` may be provided to' extend upwardly from the plate 18 and across the upper portion of the bucket 5ar whereby to prevent and spilling of Vearth into the bucket during the back-filling operation. The weight of earth is well known and if the' bucket were to become iilled,'the productive eciency of the power shovel would beV greatly reduced since much of its usable horsepower abutment -with they opposed sides of said shovel, said flanges beingl attached at their lower ends to said transverse web portions and means detachably securing said flanges to said opposed sides whereby said blade is dei tachably secured to said bucket.

' of laterally spaced digging. teethV projecting forwardly from the lower edge of said mouth, a back-'filling attachwould be wasted `in merely carrying about the dead weight .Qf a bucket aut-.d with-earth. Y

' llVhen;mountingl the modified form of my attachment toV the `bucketjof a'conventional power shovel it is simply positioned thereonwith the bar 22 restingin the angle .23

andremovablysecured thereon by the bolts 26526 as aforementioned. Iclairry Y z 1 Y f 1. In combination with an excavating shovel of Vthe ment comprising a blade including a lplate that is` wider in a horizontal direction than said bucket land extends laterally outwardly of said opposed sides thereof, said plate having an opening located substantiallyV centrally thereof and receiving said bucket,y said opening having spaced vertical side edges disposed `in close proximity to the outer surface ofthe said vertical sides of said rbucket and a horizontal lower edgeladjacent to the lower portion of said mouth whereby said bucket 'may receive dirt through said mouth during use of said blade V toaugrnent the capacity thereof, saidY plate having a portion below the lower edge ofsaid opening overlying and shielding said teeth and means on said plate detachably securing said plate to said bucket.

5. In combination with `an excavating bucket of the type having opposed sides, an open front and a plurality of laterally spaced digging teeth along the lower, forward edge thereof, a back-lling attachment comprising a blade including -an elongated plate of generally rectangular form attached to said bucket in a substantially upright position and having side portions thereof extending outwardly of said opposed sides of said bucket, said blade having its longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the ground, means on the rear surface of said blade engageable with and receiving at least one of said plurality of laterally spaced digging teeth for positioning and securing the lower edge portion of said attachment on said bucket whereby the said teeth may be shielded to prevent scarring when the said shovel is used for back-filling purposes, said outwardly and upwardly extending side portions forming an opening in said blade of substantially the same width as said shovel whereby the said plate and said excavating bucket together form a continuous dirt engaging and dirt carrying surface, `and connecting means on said side portions detachably securing said blade in position on said bucket.

6. The attachment defined in claim 5 wherein the said attaching means includes a pair of rearwardly extending spaced flanges on the rear surface of said blade positioned inwardly of the inner edges of said outwardly and upwardly extending side portions, and abutment surfaces on said anges for abutting engagement with the outside surface of said opposed sides to detachably secure the said side portions in abutment with said opposed sides of said bucket.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,964 Collins Feb. 1, 1910 1,023,849 Huish Apr. 23, 1912 1,762,946 Atkinson June 10, 1930 1,765,892 Wagner June 24, 1930 1,923,412 Bacon Aug. 22, 1933 2,488,695 Upton Nov. 22, 1949 2,555,752 Merola June 5, 1951 2,644,251 Smith July 7, 1953 2,652,640 Schield Sept. 22, 1953 2,783,558 Morgan Mar. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,003 Italy Mar. 3l, 1955

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