Abstract:
A power shovel ( 10 ) is disclosed for use on a bucket ( 14 ) of a front end loader ( 12 ). No modifications are required to the bucket ( 14 ) other than several bolt holes to mount the upper support bracket ( 24 ) of the power shovel. Alternatively, the upper support bracket ( 24 ) may be welded directly to the upper portion of the bucket ( 14 ) without drilling holes for bolts. The power shovel ( 10 ) includes a lower support bracket ( 22 ) fit over the blade ( 16 ) of the bucket ( 14 ) and an upper support bracket ( 24 ) bolted onto the top of the bucket ( 14 ). Chains ( 26, 28 ) are tensioned between the lower and upper support brackets around the back of the bucket ( 14 ) to secure the lower support bracket ( 22 ) on the bucket ( 14 ). A digging portion ( 20 ) is welded to the lower support bracket ( 22 ) and further supported by support arms ( 30, 32 ) extending between the upper support bracket ( 24 ) and the digging portion ( 20 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an attachment for a front end loader bucket.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A front end loader with a bucket thereon is used in many applications. For example, the front end loader can be used to dig a trench, uproot trees, grade a surface and many other uses. However, the configuration of the typical bucket, having a broad front edge blade, limits the usefulness of the front end loader. The need exists to enhance the capabilities of the front end loader while maintaining standard functionality.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an attachment is provided for a front end loader bucket. The bucket has a linear blade and a top. The attachment includes a lower support bracket fit over the blade of the bucket and an upper support bracket mounted to the top of the bucket. At least one chain is secured to the lower support bracket at a first end thereof and to the upper support bracket at an opposite end thereof. A digging portion having an inner end and an outer end is secured to the lower support bracket at the inner end. First and second support arms are mounted between the upper support bracket and the digging portion.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, in which:  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power shovel forming a first embodiment of the present invention mounted on a bucket of a front end loader;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the power shovel;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a side view of the power shovel mounted on the bucket;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is a top view of the upper support bracket;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a front view of the upper support bracket;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a side view of the digging portion; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is a front view of the digging portion and lower support bracket.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    With reference now to the drawings, a power shovel  10  forming a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The power shovel  10  is an attachment to the bucket  14  of a front end loader  12 . The bucket  14  is of the standard configuration with a linear blade  16 . The blade  16  may or may not have teeth  18 .  
         [0013]    The power shovel  10  includes a digging portion  20 , a lower support bracket  22 , an upper support bracket  24 , a first chain  26 , a second chain  28 , a first support arm  30  and a second support arm  32 . The lower support bracket  22  fits over the blade  16  of the bucket  14  in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter. The inner end  34  of the digging portion  20  is secured to the lower support bracket  22 , as by weld  36 . The upper support bracket  24  is mounted to the top  38  of the bucket  14  by any suitable mechanism. As shown, the upper support bracket  24  is bolted to the top  38  with four bolts  40  and suitable nuts. This would, of course, require four holes to be drilled in the top  38  of the bucket  14 , but these holes would not impair the normal function of the bucket  14 . Alternatively, or in addition, the upper support bracket could be welded to the bucket  14 . The first chain  26  is attached by a bolt  44  to the lower support bracket  22  at a first end and extends around the back and top  38  of the bucket for attachment to the upper support bracket  24  at J-bolt  48 . The second chain  28  is similarly secured by a bolt  44  to the lower support bracket  22  and extends around the back and top  38  of the bucket  14  for attachment to the upper support bracket  24  by a J-bolt  48 . The nuts  50  securing the J-bolts  48  to the upper support bracket  24  can be tightened or loosened to tension the chains  26  and  28  to an appropriate degree. Sufficient tension is applied by the chains  26  and  28  to securely mount the lower support bracket  22  on the blade  16  of the bucket  14 . The first and second support arms  30  and  32  are mounted between the upper support bracket  24  and either side of the digging portion  20  to further support the digging portion  20 .  
         [0014]    The lower support bracket  22  is preferably formed of a nested inner angle bracket  52  and outer angle bracket  54 . The brackets  52  and  54  are nested to define a gap  56  to receive the front of blade  16  as the lower support bracket  22  is fit over the blade. The brackets  52  and  54  are held in the nested configuration by the bolts  44 . In addition, the brackets  52  and  54  can be welded together. The upper support bracket  24  is formed by angle iron  58  and reinforcing strap  60  secured to the top  38  of the bucket  14  by bolts  40 . The strap  60  is positioned inside the bucket  14  to reinforce the attachment of the upper support bracket  24  to the bucket  14 . The upper support bracket  24  mounts plates  62  to which the J-bolts  48  are bolted. Upper support bracket  24  also mounts channel mounts  64  having an aligned hole  66  through its sides to mount one end of the support arms  30  and  32 . The digging portion  20  similarly mounts channel mounts  68  on either side thereof having aligned holes  70  to receive the other end of the support arms  30  and  32 . A piece of angle iron  80  is preferably welded on the top and inner end  34  on each side of the digging portion  20  to mount channel mounts  68 . The first and second support arms  30  and  32  are preferably adjustable length links of the type used in the center portion of a normal three point hitch on types of farm equipment. Each end of the support arms  30  and  32  has a movable joint with a passage to receive a bolt  72  to mount the ends to one of the channel mounts  64  and  68 . The length of the support arms  30  and  32  can be adjusted by rotating barrel member  74  to shorten or length the arm.  
         [0015]    The outer end  76  of the digging portion  20  is preferably sharpened to more easily penetrate the ground. As can be understood, the front end loader  12  and bucket  14  can be manipulated to operate the power shovel  10  for many purposes. For example, the power shovel  10  can be used to fill the bucket  14  with dirt by tilting the power shovel  10  into the ground while moving the front end loader  12  forward to drive dirt through the digging portion  20  into the bucket  14 . The power shovel  10  can be used for transplanting trees, ditching and digging. Also, the power shovel  10  can be used to control pouring of concrete or other materials, either liquid or solid, by using the digging portion  20  as a pouring spout. The power shovel has the ability to penetrate and load hard earth or other material. After the digging portion has been filled, the bucket can be raised and tilted to allow the bucket to be filled. Because the typical front end loader is designed to load and transport loose or soft material, it is not effective to dig or load hard earth or other such materials. The cutting edge of the blade  14  is normally at least three to six feet in length and this length makes it difficult to penetrate and load hard earth or other material. The power shovel  10  is designed to allow the shovel to be lowered into the ground while the front end loader moves forward, slowly filling the front end loader bucket  14 . The power show  10  can also fill the front end loader bucket  14  by keeping the tractor in one spot by lowering the power shovel  10  into the ground, filling the shovel and raising the front end loader bucket  14  while tilting the bucket and dumping the shovel contents into the bucket  14 . The upper support bracket  24  and lower support bracket  22  can also be used to mount other implements than the digging portion  20 . For example, the brackets can mount a platform bale carrier, boom pole, round bale probe for transporting round hay bales, a pallet fork, a sod removal attachment, and any other equipment designed to be mounted on the brackets.  
         [0016]    The digging portion  20  is preferably a curved piece of steel approximately two feet long and ¼ inch thick. The digging portion  20  can be bolted to lower support bracket  22  instead of or in addition to weld  36 . The radius of the digging portion  20  is preferably about  16  inches. The angle iron  58  is preferably 3 inches by 3 inches by 36 inches long and has four ½ in. diameter bolt holes spaced equally apart. The strap  60  is preferably steel flat bar 1½ inches wide by ¼ inch thick by 36 inches long. The plates  62  are preferably 2½ in. by ⅜ in. by 6 in. flat steel with a ¼ in. diameter hole. The channel mounts  64  and  68  are preferably 3 in. tall by 3 in. wide by 3½ inch long, with a ¾ in. diameter hole  66  or  70 , and are preferably of tube steel. The lower support bracket  22  is preferably formed of a 3 in. by 3 in. by 3 ft. long angle iron forming bracket  52  and a 2 in. by 2 in. by 3 ft. long angle iron forming bracket  54 . Two ½ in. diameter holes are drilled in the angle brackets  52  and  54  to receive the bolts  44 . The chains  26  and  28  are preferably about 4 ft. long. The support arms  30  and  32  are preferably adjustable between about a 12 inch length and a 16 inch length. The power shovel  10  can be made for small, medium and large tractors and will vary in size and length accordingly.  
         [0017]    One advantage of power shovel  10  is that it can be used to fill the bucket  14  with material, such as dirt or sod. The power shovel  10  is driven into the material to be loaded, such as hard packed soil, such that the material is driven up the digging portion  20  into the bucket. It may be possible to completely fill the bucket  14  in this manner. However, if the material does not flow evenly into the bucket, it may be necessary to tilt the bucket upward to allow the material to redistribute itself evenly in the bucket before again lowering the bucket and engaging the material with the digging portion  20  to drive additional material up the digging portion  20  and into the bucket. It may take several upward tilts of the bucket in this manner to completely fill the bucket.  
         [0018]    While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, it is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.