Patent Publication Number: US-7712234-B2

Title: Trench wall ripper apparatus

Description:
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 including a first sidewall, and a second sidewall positioned in spaced relation to the first sidewall. A bottom portion connects the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A ripper apparatus is releasably attached to the first sidewall. The ripper apparatus includes a mounting member, a coupler configured to releasably attach the mounting member to the first sidewall, and a plurality of cutters extending outwardly from the mounting member and configured to create indentations in a sidewall of the trench formed by the bucket. 
   According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a ripper apparatus kit is provided for attachment to an excavation bucket. The ripper apparatus kit includes a mounting member, and a plurality of cutters configured to be supported by the mounting member and to extend outwardly therefrom. A coupler is configured to releasably secure the mounting member to the excavation 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. 

   
     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 ; and 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment cutter of the ripper apparatus of  FIG. 8 . 
   

   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  26   a ,  26   b . The excavation bucket  20  includes a first sidewall  28   a  and a second sidewall  28   b . A bottom portion  30  connects the first sidewall  28   a  to the second sidewall  28   b . 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  26   a ,  26   b  of the trench  24  formed by the excavation bucket  20  are substantially smooth or planar. As noted above, the soil in the sidewalls  26   a ,  26   b  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  26   a ,  26   b . The plurality of indentations  34  together provide a corrugated appearance to the respective sidewalls  26   a ,  26   b  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 4-7 , in the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a ripper apparatus  36   a ,  36   b  is removably coupled to each sidewall  28   a ,  28   b  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  28   a ,  28   b . 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 ,  6 A 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 ). 
   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.