Patent Publication Number: US-2012036742-A1

Title: Debris removal apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus to remove solid debris from an area containing a liquid. The apparatus can attach to an excavator arm, or an excavator bucket. The width of the apparatus is variable, depending on the desired use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,758 discloses a heavy-duty scraping and rake attachment for excavator buckets for clearing brush-covered earth. The attachment is easily mountable to the bucket, thus avoiding the work and expense of removing the bucket from the arm. The scraper portion provides for offset toothed scrapers, a combination of toothed scraper and blade, and blade only use and is used in conjunction with a heavy-duty rake and power-operated thumb to grasp and remove the material rooted or scraped up from the earth by the scraper. The scraper portion and rake are included in a single unit, attachable and detachable from the excavator bucket. Scraper and blade attachments either detachably connected to the unit with bolts or permanently welded in place as desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,435 discloses a brush rake for attachment to an excavator arm equipped with a bucket and a thumb having inner and outer pairs of teeth. The brush rake has a parallel array of rake teeth attached to a rake bar, and a mounting plate having one end thereof attached to the rake bar. An opposite end of the mounting plate is adapted to overlie the body of the thumb and to be received between the outer pair of teeth of the thumb. A parallel pair of apertured ears attached to the rake bar is so disposed thereon that when the rake bar is placed adjacent and transversely with respect to the teeth of the thumb, the ears lie adjacent and on opposite sides of the inner teeth of the thumb. Mounting holes are provided in the mounting plate and matching holes are bored through the body of the thumb. The brush rake is attached to the thumb by inserting pins through the ears and through holes bored through the inner teeth of the thumb, and by inserting mounting bolts through the mounting holes and matching holes in the thumb. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,755 discloses a claw/rake tool attachment for use with a powered digging or material moving machine. The attachment is for clearing undergrowth and timber and consists of spaced parallel tines mounted onto a support means that is affixed to the work arm of a machine. The undergrowth and timer are held by the tines while unwanted material such as soil and the like passes through the space between the tines and is not carried with the undergrowth and timber being cleared. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that among other things, provides for use with an excavator: (1) the use of a screen to allow liquid to drain out of the apparatus, and allows the apparatus to pick up the debris, such as plant-life; (2) a structure having container portion with a bottom with upstanding edges to capture and retain the debris; (3) a structure that may accommodate cleaning ditches of varying widths by; (4) can carry and transport any debris that it picks up; (5) can determine if the container if off balance; and (5) can have non-metallic features that protect the user from electrical shock. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is a debris cleaning apparatus ( 10 ), comprising: a container ( 140 ) having a left edge ( 150 ) and a right edge ( 160 ), and a front edge ( 220 ); a means to attach ( 190 ) the container ( 140 ) to an excavator bucket ( 100 ); a screen ( 80 ) disposed between said left edge ( 150 ) and said right edge ( 160 ) along the horizontal direction; and between the front edge ( 220 ) and a first member upper edge ( 70 ); and a means to adjust the widthwise coverage area ( 260 ) of the container. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a debris cleaning apparatus ( 10 ), comprising: a container ( 140 ) having a left edge ( 150 ) and a right edge ( 160 ), and a front edge ( 220 ); a means to attach ( 190 ) the container ( 140 ) to an excavator bucket ( 100 ); a screen ( 80 ) disposed between said left edge ( 150 ) and said right edge ( 160 ) along the horizontal direction; and between the front edge ( 220 ) and a first member upper edge ( 70 ); and a compression weight sensor ( 370 ) disposed in a position to monitor a downward force near the left fourth member ( 50 ), and another compression weight sensor ( 370 ) positioned to monitor a downward force disposed near the right fourth member ( 50 ). 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the debris removal apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the debris removal apparatus in operation, with debris in the container of the apparatus; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the function and structure of the retention member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     
         
         
           
               10  debris removal apparatus 
               20  first member 
               30  second member 
               40  third member 
               50  fourth member 
               60  fifth member 
               70  first member upper edge 
               80  screen 
               90  angle bracket 
               100  excavator bucket 
               110  cable 
               120  transverse attachment 
               130  top support 
               140  container 
               150  left edge 
               160  right edge 
               170  liquid 
               180  aperture 
               190  means to attach 
               200  excavator arm 
               210  screen support 
               220  front edge 
               230  transverse attachment front end 
               240  transverse attachment rear end 
               250  cable attachment 
               260  hook 
               270  widthwise coverage area 
               280  bar 
               290  bottom of the container 
               300  fifth member upper edge 
               310  retention member 
               320  hinge 
               330  locking pin 
               340  retention aperture 
               350  X-brace 
               360  first member upper edge aperture 
               370  compression weight sensor 
           
         
       
    
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, the present invention may be used for removing debris in roadside swampy ditches. The present invention may be removably mounted to an excavator bucket, or if the bucket is removed, it may be removably connected to the excavator arm. The present invention is of particular importance for use to remove plant-life, such as weeds, lilly-pads, and other debris, while allowing the water, small animals, and microbes to remain in the environment. 
     The present invention differs from the prior art by, among other things, (1) the use of a screen to allow liquid to remain, and allows the apparatus to pick up the debris, such as plant-life; (2) a structure having a bottom with upstanding edges to capture and retain the debris; (3) a structure that may accommodate cleaning ditches of varying widths; (4) can carry and transport any debris that it picks up; (5) has weight sensors that allow the operator to determine if the container is off balance; and (6) has a non-metal component separating the apparatus from the excavator, to prevent electrical damage to the excavator, or the operator. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention of the debris cleaning apparatus  10 , which may have a container  140 . The container  140  may have a first member  20 , and it may have a second member  30  extending forwardly from said first member  20 . The first member  20  may extend leftwardly to a left edge  150 , and the first member  20  may extend rightwardly to a right edge  160 . 
     A third member  40  may extend upwardly and forwardly from said second member  30 , terminating at a front edge  220  at about a 45 degree angle. A fourth member  50  may extend leftwardly and upwardly from the second member  30  at about a 45 degree angle. Another fourth member  50  may extend rightwardly and upwardly from the second member  30  at about a 45 degree angle. A fifth member  60  may be pivotally mounted on the left edge  150 . The fifth member  60  may pivot on an axis that is parallel to the left edge  150 . Another fifth member  60  may pivot on an axis that is parallel to the right edge  160 . 
     In one embodiment the second member  30  may define the bottom of the container  290 . 
       FIG. 1  also illustrates a top support  130  which may run widthwise. A transverse attachment  120  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ) may be disposed or securely attached to the top support  130 . The transverse attachment  120  may be an L-shaped bracket, with the upper side disposed substantially horizontal, and then extend downwardly. 
     Screen supports  210  may extend lengthwise from the top support  130  to the front edge  220 . Screen supports  210  may be disposed substantially parallel with one another, and dispose between the left edge  150  and the right edge  160 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in a further embodiment, a compression weight sensor  370  may be disposed near the left fourth member  50 , and another compression weight sensor  370  may be disposed near the right fourth member  50 . The sensors  50  may be operatively connected to a display that the operator can see, so the operator can see if the weight reading on both of the sensors. This way if one sensor is substantially higher than the other, the operator may determine that the container  140  may be off balance and therefore unsafe to rise at heights, or to carry for substantial distances. If the operator determines that there is an unsafe weight differential, then he or she may decide to dump the debris in the container  140 , and then attempt to re-load the debris. 
       FIG. 1  also illustrates a X-brace  350  that may support the screen  80 . The screen  80  may be immediately forward from and secured to the X-brace  350 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the present invention in use, with solid debris disposed within the container  140 , and liquid  170  left behind in the environment. The liquid  170  is not retained within the container  140  because it may pass through container  140  because the container  140  may have a screen portion  80  with apertures  180  to retain solids and allow liquid  170  to pass through. 
     The transverse attachment  120  may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the top support  130 . There may be two transverse attachments  120 , one 120 leftwardly of the center of the apparatus, and another 120 rightwardly of the center, to allow a cable  110  to attach from one transverse attachment  120 , over an excavator bucket, to another transverse attachment  120 , to securely hold the debris cleaning apparatus  10  to an excavator bucket  100 . 
     The transverse attachment  120  may have a front end  230 , and a rear end  240 . A cable attachment  250  may be disposed at or near a front end  230  and a rear end  240  of each transverse attachment  240 , enabling a first cable  110  to extend from one transverse attachment  120  front end  230  to another transverse attachment front end  230 ; and enabling a second cable to extend from one transverse attachment  120  rear end  240  to the other transverse attachment rear end  240 . 
     In one embodiment, the cable  110  may be attached at a first end to a ratchet-like cable attachment  250 , and the cable may have a hook  260  at the other end. The cable may extend from over an excavator bucket  100  and the hook  260  can hook to one the downwardly extending side of the transverse attachment  120 . Then the cable  110  may be tightened by the ratchet-like cable attachment  250 , so that the cable  110  is in a state of tension, to tightly keep the top support  130  in contact the a portion of the excavator bucket  100 . 
     In one embodiment the screen portion  80  may be a galvanized wire mesh that may be about 2 inches by 2 inches if square. In another embodiment the screen portion may be about 1 inch by 1 inch if square. And if not square then the approximate area of 1 square inch may suffice, up to about 9 square inches. For example the screen  80  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an elongated hexagonal shape. 
     The debris removal apparatus  10  may have a means to attach  190  to an excavator bucket  100  other than using the cable  110  and the cable attachment. For example, another means to attach  190  may be employed, such as a mounting bracket, such as that from U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,758. 
     Although the width of the bucket may be fixed from the left edge  150  to the right edge  160 , it may be able to vary by having a telescoping portions of a first member upper edge  70  and the front edge  220  (not illustrated) that can telescope outwardly, either leftwardly or rightwardly for increased widthwise coverage area  270 . Alternatively, this can be performed with the fifth member  60  being able to be folded out for increased widthwise coverage area  270 . 
     In one embodiment a bar  280  may extend from the rear part of the top support  130  downwardly to the bottom of the container  140 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment having a fifth member upper edge  300  that is substantially level with the first member upper edge  70 . In this embodiment the fifth member upper edge  300  may have an aperture (not illustrated) to receive a locking member, such as a locking pin  330  that may be removably disposed through a retention aperture  340  in the retention member  310 . A first member upper edge aperture  360  (not illustrated) may be disposed through the first member upper edge  70 . The first member upper edge aperture  360  (not illustrated) may removably receive a locking pin  330 , which may be removably disposed through the retention member  310 . 
     Alternatively, the fifth member  60  may rotate about the hinge  320  my motorized or mechanical means, to allow the driver of the excavator to open or close the fifth members  60  from the driver&#39;s cab location. 
     In one embodiment, the top support  130  and cable  110  is made from non-metallic composite, so that electricity cannot be conducted from the earth to the excavator, in case there is live wire in the area that is being cleaned by the apparatus  10 . 
     Thus when there is a locking pin  330  through a retention aperture  340  and the first member upper edge aperture  360 , and there is another locking pin  330  through another retention aperture  340  and the fifth member upper edge aperture  360 , then the fifth member  60  will be held in position and prevented from swinging about the hinge  320 . 
     The screen  80  may have the following properties: 
     Sheet Thickness for Hexagonal Opening Expanded Metal: 0.5 to 3.0 mm; Opening: 1500 mm wide; Supplied in the form of sheet or roll; Dimensions of hexagonal expanded metal are made according to customer needs. Other opening patterns like round, diamond and special shapes may be suitable. The diagonal opening may be parallel to the width of the sheet. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.