Excavator Bucket With an Internally Deployable Breaker

Abstract

An excavating machine, representatively a skid steer, has a pair of loader arms to which an excavating bucket is mounted. A hydraulic breaker assembly is protectively mounted inside the bucket and movable to extend outward therefrom. The bucket may be operated independently of the breaker assembly for digging operations. The breaker assembly may be positioned independently of the bucket and the breaker actuated for removing refusal material. The bucket and the breaker may then be cooperatively operated to perform removal operations. The same excavating machine can be used for digging and breaking operations without the need for a second excavating machine or device dedicated to breaking the refusal material.

1 . A bucket-breaker assembly for use on an excavating machine, comprising:
 a bucket pivotally connected to a pair of loader arms of an excavating machine;   the bucket having an interior and an exterior; and,   a breaker assembly pivotally movable between a retracted position internal to the bucket and a deployed position partially external of the bucket.   
     
     
         2 . A bucket-breaker assembly for use on an excavating machine, comprising:
 a bucket pivotally connected to a pair of loader arms of an excavating machine;   the bucket having an interior and an exterior; and,   a breaker assembly pivotally movable between a retracted position inside of the bucket and a deployed position that extends beneath the bucket.   
     
     
         3 . A bucket-breaker assembly for use on an excavating machine, comprising:
 a bucket pivotally connected to a pair of loader arms of an excavating machine, and pivotal about a first axis;   the bucket having an interior and an exterior; and,   a breaker assembly pivotally connected to the bucket, and pivotal about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.   
     
     
         4 . A bucket-breaker assembly for use on an excavating machine, comprising:
 a bucket pivotally connected to a pair of loader arms of an excavating machine;   the bucket having an interior and an exterior;   a passage extending between the interior and exterior of the bucket;   a breaker assembly pivotally connected at a breaker pivot located on the interior of the bucket; and,   the breaker assembly pivotally movable between a retracted position internal to the bucket and a deployed position extending through the passage.   
     
     
         5 . The bucket-breaker assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a latch attached to the interior of the bucket;   the latch operable to secure the breaker assembly in the retracted position.   
     
     
         6 . The bucket-breaker assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shield mounted to the interior of the bucket;   the shield substantially covering the breaker assembly when the breaker assembly is in the retracted position.   
     
     
         7 . The bucket-breaker assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shield mounted to the interior of the bucket;   the shield substantially covering the passage between the bucket interior and the bucket exterior.   
     
     
         8 . The bucket-breaker assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flange mounted to the interior of the bucket;   a breaker pivot connection attached to the flange; and,   a shield substantially covering the passage between the bucket interior and the bucket exterior.   
     
     
         9 . The bucket-breaker assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a portal located on the shield;   the portal accessible from the interior of the bucket to permit adjustments to the breaker assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The bucket-breaker assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the excavating machine is a skid steer.