Patent ID: 6108945
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: E02F

Abstract:
A clam shell bucket including:a first and second bucket halves, each bucket half including:a first and a second side walla first side wall screen, the first side wall screen constituting at least a portion of the first side wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the first side wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the first side wall screena second side wall screen, the second side wall screen constituting at least a portion of the second side wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the second side wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the second side wall screen;a bucket back wall, the bucket back wall having:a bucket digging edgea bucket top edge andthe bucket back wall being rigidly connected between the first and the second side walls and extending from the bucket top edge to the bucket digging edge andwherein the bucket back wall includes:a bucket back wall screen, the bucket back wall screen constituting at least a portion of the back wall and functionally positioned so as to allow padding material to pass through the bucket back wall screen but prohibit the passage of stones through the bucket back wall screen;a bucket connecting plate, the bucket connecting plate being rigidly connected to the bucket back wall and positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall; the bucket connecting plate having:a bucket pivot point collar, the bucket pivot point collar being positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that the bucket may be pivotably connected to a bucket pivot point; anda bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder connection collar being positioned on the bucket connecting plate so that a bucket actuating hydraulic cylinder may be pivotably connected to the bucket connecting plate.