# Patent

## Title
Trench wall ripper apparatus

## Abstract

An apparatus coupled to an excavation bucket for creating a trench sidewall having indentations formed therein.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/093,464, filed Mar. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,234, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.


BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an excavation bucket and, more particularly, to a ripper apparatus coupled to an excavation bucket and configured to create indentations in a trench wall.
Excavation buckets of the type used with backhoes are well-known in the art. Such excavation buckets are often used to dig trenches, for example, in connection with septic systems. Conventional excavation buckets provide for substantially smooth vertical sidewalls in the trench. However, it is desirable, particularly in connection with septic systems, to provide a plurality of grooves or indentations within the trench sidewalls in order to increase the surface area thereof, thereby providing for more efficient absorption by the sidewalls and improving efficiency of the septic system.
Furthermore, particularly when digging trenches in soil with high moisture content, conventional excavation buckets will smear or compact the soil of the trench sidewalls. As such, absorption efficiency of the resulting septic system is reduced. Breaking-up the sidewalls not only increases the absorption surface area but improves the porosity of soil, thereby facilitating improved absorption and improving efficiency of the septic system.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an excavation bucket is configured to form a trench, the bucket comprising a longitudinally extending first sidewall, a longitudinally extending second sidewall positioned in spaced relation to the first sidewall, and a bottom portion connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The excavation bucket further includes a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth supported by the bottom portion. A first mounting member is releasably coupled to the first sidewall and has an inner surface facing an outer surface of the first sidewall. A plurality of first cutters extend laterally outwardly from the first mounting member in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the first sidewall. The plurality of first cutters is configured to create indentations in a first wall of a trench formed by the bucket. A second mounting member is releasably coupled to the second sidewall and has an inner surface facing an outer surface of the second sidewall. A plurality of second cutters extending laterally outwardly from the second mounting member in a second direction opposite the first direction and substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the second sidewall. The plurality of second cutters are configured to create indentations in a second wall of a trench being formed by the bucket. A first loop is coupled to the first sidewall and receives one of the cutting teeth, and a second loop is coupled to the second sidewall and receives another one of the cutting teeth.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a ripper apparatus kit is provided for attachment to an excavation bucket including a mounting member including a plurality of through holes extending between inner and outer surfaces, a plurality of cutters configured to be removably supported within the holes of the mounting member by being inserted from the inner surface of the mounting member and to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the mounting member, and a coupler configured to releasably secure the mounting member to the excavation bucket. The coupler includes a fastener configured to extend through an aperture formed within the mounting member, and a loop configured to receive a cutting tooth of the bucket.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a cutter is configured to be removably supported by an excavation bucket. The cutter includes a cylindrical base portion, and a plurality of longitudinally extending splines supported by the base portion. A cutting portion is supported by the base portion.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a cutter is configured to be removably supported by an excavation bucket and comprises a longitudinally extending tapered shaft, and four cutting edges supported by the tapered shaft to define a diamond-shaped traverse cross-section wherein the shaft is annealed.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backhoe including a conventional excavation bucket;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the excavation bucket of FIG. 1 digging a trench;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view similar to FIG. 2, showing the excavation bucket with the illustrative embodiment ripper apparatus of the present invention coupled thereto for forming a plurality of indentations within the opposing sidewalls of the trench;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the excavation bucket of FIG. 1, with the illustrative embodiment ripper apparatus of the present invention positioned in spaced relation thereto;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the excavation bucket and the ripper apparatus of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the excavation bucket of FIG. 1, with the illustrative embodiment ripper apparatus of the present invention coupled thereto;
FIG. 6A is a detail view of FIG. 6;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the excavation bucket and the ripper apparatus of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a partially exploded front perspective view of the illustrative embodiment ripper apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is rear perspective view of the mounting member of the ripper apparatus of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment cutter of the ripper apparatus of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment cutter; and
FIG. 12 is an end view of the cutter of FIG. 11.



Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention in several forms and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The embodiments discussed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.
With reference initially to FIG. 1, a conventional backhoe 10 is illustrated as including a movable support arm 12 having a first end 14 coupled to an operator platform 16. A second end 18 of the support arm 12 is operably coupled to an excavation bucket 20. As is known in the art, the arm 12 is configured to be moved both vertically and horizontally through conventional actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders 22. Operation of the hydraulic cylinders 22 is controlled by an operator interface (not shown) supported by the operator platform 16.
As shown in FIG. 2, the excavation bucket 20 may be controlled through operation of the arm 12 in order to dig or form a trench 24 having opposing vertical sidewalls 26a, 26b. The excavation bucket 20 includes a first sidewall 28a and a second sidewall 28b. A bottom portion 30 connects the first sidewall 28a to the second sidewall 28b. A plurality of cutting teeth 32 extend outwardly from the bottom portion 30 and are illustratively formed of hardened steel. As is known in the art, the cutting teeth 32 facilitates digging, particularly through hard soil, clay, and rocks.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sidewalls 26a, 26b of the trench 24 formed by the excavation bucket 20 are substantially smooth or planar. As noted above, the soil in the sidewalls 26a, 26b is often smeared or compacted, particularly if the soil has a high moisture content. In order to facilitate absorption and to provide for an efficient septic system, a plurality of indentations, channels, or grooves 34 break-up the substantially smooth sidewalls 26a, 26b. The plurality of indentations 34 together provide a corrugated appearance to the respective sidewalls 26a, 26b as shown in FIG. 3.
With reference now to FIGS. 4-7, in the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a ripper apparatus 36a, 36b is removably coupled to each sidewall 28a, 28b of the excavation bucket 20. Each ripper apparatus 36 includes a mounting member 38 and a coupler 40 configured to releasably attach the mounting member 38 to an outer surface 41 of a respective sidewall 28a, 28b. Illustratively, the coupler 40 includes a fastener such as a conventional bolt 42 configured to threadably couple with a nut 44. More particularly, the bolt 42 passes through an opening 46 in the mounting member 38 and an opening 48 within the excavation bucket sidewall 28 to provide a first or upper securing point for the mounting member 38. The coupler 40 further includes a loop 50 which is configured to receive an outer cutting tooth 32 of the excavation bucket 20, thereby providing a second or lower securing point. As shown in FIGS. 6, 6A and 9, the loop 50 is substantially D-shaped and is configured to rest within a recess 51 formed in the respective cutting tooth 32.
A plurality of cutters 52 are removably supported within the mounting member 38. With reference now to FIGS. 8-10, the mounting member 38 illustratively includes a substantially planar plate having a plurality of openings 54 formed therein. The openings 54 are configured to removably receive the cutters 52. As such, the cutters 52 may be easily inserted and removed as needed for maintenance and replacement. Illustratively, both the mounting member 38 and the cutters 52 are formed of a strong, durable material, such as hardened steel.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, each cutter 52 includes a base portion 56, illustratively cylindrical or conical shaped, supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced compression splines 58. The compression splines 58 are configured to be press fit within the openings 54 of the mounting member 38. In other words, the outer diameter collectively formed by the compression splines 58 is slightly greater than the diameter of the openings 54. A tapered cutting portion 60 is supported by the base portion 56 and illustratively includes a plurality of cutting edges 62. In the illustrative embodiment, a total of three cutting edges 62 are provided, thereby forming a triangular cutting point 63. The triangular cutting point 63 provides for improved cutting and stability, while providing for consistent cutting regardless of the orientation of the excavation bucket 20. It should be appreciated that the number and orientation of the cutting edges 62 may be varied without altering the scope of the invention. An enlarged foot 64 supports the base portion 56 and is configured to be received within a counterbore 66 formed on an inner surface 68 of the mounting member 38, so that the foot 64 is flush with the inner surface 68 (FIG. 9).
A further illustrative cutter 152 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 as including foot 64 supporting a tapered shaft or cutting portion 160. The shaft 160 includes a plurality (illustratively four) cutting edges 162a, 162b, 162c, 162d defined by walls 164a, 164b, 164c, 164d, thereby defining a diamond-shape in traverse cross-section. Illustratively, the cutter 152 has a length of approximately 2.44 inches, with the foot 64 having a length of approximately 0.19 inches for receipt within a respective counterbore 66 of mounting member 38. All four walls 164 have a taper (illustratively approximately 1 degree) to define a compression surface configured to be press fit within opening 54 of the mounting member 38. Distance between opposing parallel walls 164a and 164c proximate foot 64 is illustratively about 3.57 inches, while distance between opposing parallel walls 164b and 164d proximate foot 64 is illustratively about 3.73 inches.
Illustratively, the mounting member 38 is formed of hardened steel (illustratively having a hardness of about 40 Rockwell), while the cutter 152 is formed of annealed steel (illustratively having a hardness of about 18 Rockwell). As such, the softer steel of the cutter 152 deforms as it is press fit into opening 54 of the mounting member 38, thereby preventing potential breaking of the mounting member 38.
To install the ripper apparatus 36 of the present invention, opening 48 is formed within the respective sidewall 28 of the excavation bucket 20. Next, the individual cutters 52 are press fit within the openings 54 of the mounting member 38. More particularly, the cutting portions 60 are inserted through the openings on the inner surface 68 such that the compression splines 58 secure the cutters 52 in position, and the foot 64 is received within the counterbore 66. Next, the loop 50 of the mounting member 38 is received over the outer cutting tooth 32 (closest to the respective sidewall 28) of the bucket 20 and placed within recess 51. The bolt 42 is then passed through the openings 46 and 48 and the nut 44 secured thereto. The ripper apparatus 36 is now in position for operation. The ripper apparatus 36 may be removed by merely reversing the above-described process.
While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

## Claims

1. An excavation bucket configured to form a trench, the bucket comprising:
a longitudinally extending first sidewall;
a longitudinally extending second sidewall positioned in spaced relation to the first sidewall;
a bottom portion connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth supported by the bottom portion;
a first mounting member releasably coupled to the first sidewall and having an inner surface facing an outer surface of the first sidewall;
a plurality of first cutters extending laterally outwardly from the first mounting member in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the first sidewall, the plurality of first cutters being configured to create indentations in a first wall of a trench formed by the bucket;
a second mounting member releasably coupled to the second sidewall and having an inner surface facing an outer surface of the second sidewall; and
a plurality of second cutters extending laterally outwardly from the second mounting member in a second direction opposite the first direction and substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the second sidewall, the plurality of second cutters being configured to create indentations in a second wall of a trench being formed by the bucket; and
a first loop coupled to the first sidewall and receiving one of the cutting teeth, and a second loop coupled to the second sidewall and receiving another one of the cutting teeth.

2. The bucket of claim 1, further comprising a first fastener extending through an aperture formed within the first sidewall to couple the first mounting member to the first sidewall, and a second fastener extending through an aperture formed within the second sidewall to couple the second mounting member to the second sidewall.

3. The bucket of claim 1, wherein:
the first mounting member includes a plurality of openings;
the second mounting member includes a plurality of openings;
each of the plurality of first cutters having at least one compression surface defining an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the opening of the first mounting member receiving the first cutter such that the first cutters are compression fit within the openings of the first mounting member; and
each of the plurality of second cutters having at least one compression surface defining an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the opening of the second mounting member receiving the second cutter such that the second cutters are compression fit within the openings of the second mounting member.

4. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the at least one compression surface of the plurality of first cutters and the at least one compression surface of the plurality of second cutters are defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced compression splines.

5. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the at least one compression surface of the plurality of first cutters and the at least one compressions surface of the plurality of second cutters are defined by a tapered shaft.

6. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting members are formed of hardened steel, and the plurality of first and second cutters are formed of annealed steel.

7. A ripper apparatus kit for attachment to an excavation bucket, the ripper apparatus kit comprising:
a mounting member including a plurality of through holes extending between inner and outer surfaces;
a plurality of cutters configured to be removably supported within the holes of the mounting member by being inserted from the inner surface of the mounting member and to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the mounting member; and
a coupler configured to releasably secure the mounting member to the excavation bucket, the coupler including a fastener configured to extend through an aperture formed within the mounting member, and a loop configured to receive a cutting tooth of the bucket.

8. The ripper apparatus kit of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of cutters includes a compression surface defining an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the hole of the mounting member receiving the respective cutter, such that the cutters are compression fit within the holes of the first mounting member.

9. The ripper apparatus kit of claim 8, wherein the compression surface is defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced compression splines.

10. The ripper apparatus kit of claim 8, wherein the compression surface is defined by a tapered shaft.

11. The ripper apparatus kit of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of cutters includes a diamond-shaped traverse cross-section.

12. The ripper apparatus kit of claim 11, wherein each of the cutters includes four cutting edges.

13. The ripper apparatus kit of claim 8, wherein the mounting member is formed of hardened steel, and the plurality of cutters are formed of annealed steel.

14. A cutter configured to be removably supported by an excavation bucket, the cutter comprising:
a cylindrical base portion;
a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced compression splines supported by the base portion; and
a cutting portion supported by the base portion, the cutting portion extending longitudinally from the base portion and including a plurality of cutting edges.

15. The cutter of claim 14, wherein the cutting portion includes three cutting edges.

16. The cutter of claim 14, further comprising an enlarged foot configured to be recessed within a counterbore supported by the bucket, the base portion being positioned intermediate the enlarged foot and the cutting portion.

17. A cutter assembly configured to be removably supported by an excavation bucket, the cutter assembly comprising:
a mounting member formed of hardened steel and including an opening;
a cutter including:
a longitudinally extending tapered shaft formed of annealed steel having a hardness less than the steel of the mounting member;
four cutting edges supported by the tapered shaft to define a diamond-shaped traverse cross-section; and
wherein the tapered shaft defines a compression surface press fit into the opening of the mounting member such that the softer steel of the tapered shaft is deformed by the harder steel of the mounting member.

18. The cutter assembly of claim 17, further comprising an enlarged foot configured to be recessed within a counterbore formed within the mounting member supported by the bucket.

19. The cutter assembly of claim 17, wherein the mounting member has a hardness substantially equal to 40 Rockwell, and the cutter has a hardness substantially equal to 18 Rockwell.

20. The cutter assembly of claim 17, wherein the taper of the shaft extends between opposing ends and is substantially equal to 1 degree to define the compression surface.