System and method for removing material from a sloping surface

Abstract

A system for removing material from a sloping surface includes a plurality of cables and pulleys used to manipulate positioning of a slusher bucket across the sloping surface. A multiple drum winch communicates with the cables to selectively retract or feed the cables enabling precise positioning of the slusher bucket. An elevated upper transverse anchoring cable is used to secure one or more of the pulleys. The anchoring cable itself can be mounted to the ground by one or more ground anchors. According to another aspect of the invention, it includes an improved slusher bucket configuration with two working edges. A preferred embodiment of the bucket configuration includes a scraper edge and scarifying teeth located on another working edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system especially adapted for removing materials from a sloping surface, said system comprising:
 a slusher bucket;   a plurality of cables connected to the slusher bucket for selectively moving the slusher bucket along a sloping surface;   a plurality of pulleys communicating with a plurality of cables to control the selective movement of the slusher bucket;   a winch assembly having a plurality of drums which control movement of the plurality of cables; and   an upper transverse anchoring cable located at a selected position at or near an upper surface of the sloping surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of pulleys is secured to said anchoring cable.   
     
     
         2 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said anchoring cable is elevated above the ground over which said anchoring cable is mounted.   
     
     
         3 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said anchoring cable has first and second ends, each end of said anchoring cable being anchored to the ground by one or more ground anchors.   
     
     
         4 . A system, as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said one or more ground anchors include a plurality of ground anchors interconnected to an adjacent end of said anchoring cable by corresponding connecting cables.   
     
     
         5 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , further including:
 a mounting assembly for securing said transverse anchoring cable to the ground, said mounting assembly including a cable ring attached to each opposite end of said anchoring cable, and a plurality of ground anchors attached to each cable ring by a corresponding plurality of connecting cables.   
     
     
         6 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said upper transverse anchoring cable includes a plurality of cables connected to one another, end to end, and wherein at least one cable of said plurality of cables extends in a different direction as compared to the other cables.   
     
     
         7 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said upper transverse anchoring cable extends linearly.   
     
     
         8 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said upper transverse anchoring cable has a plurality of segments that extend linearly, and at least one segment of said plurality of segments extends in a different direction.   
     
     
         9 . A method of selectively positioning cables used to control operation of a slusher bucket on a sloping surface, comprising:
 providing a slusher bucket connected to a system of cables and pulleys used to control movement of the slusher bucket on the sloping surface to remove bulk materials;   providing an upper transverse anchoring cable that traverses a selected portion of the sloping surface to be worked, said anchoring cable being elevated above the ground to which the anchoring cable is mounted;   securing one or more pulleys to said anchoring cable; and   selectively positioning and repositioning the pulleys on said anchoring cable to achieve desired control of the slusher bucket as it is moved up and down the sloping surface and as it is moved laterally across the sloping surface.   
     
     
         10 . A slusher bucket comprising:
 a bail;   a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls connected to opposite ends of said bail;   at least one support arm extending away from said bail;   an eye communicating with a free end of said at least one support arm for connection to a cable;   a first working surface of said bucket including a scraper surface; and   a second working surface of said bucket including a plurality of scarifying teeth, said second working surface being located on an opposite side of said bail.   
     
     
         11 . A system especially adapted for removing materials from a sloping surface, said system comprising:
 a contact implement;   a plurality of cables connected to the contact implement for selectively moving the contact implement along a sloping surface;   at least one pulley communicating with at least one of the plurality of cables to control the selective movement of the contact implement;   a winch assembly having a plurality of drums to control movement of the plurality of cables; and   an upper transverse anchoring cable located at a selected position on or adjacent the sloping surface, wherein the at least one pulley is secured to said upper transverse anchoring cable and said upper transverse anchoring cable is separated from and not connected to said winch assembly.   
     
     
         12 . A system, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said anchoring cable is elevated above the ground over which said anchoring cable is mounted.   
     
     
         13 . A system, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said anchoring cable has first and second ends, each end of said anchoring cable being anchored to the ground by one or more ground anchors.   
     
     
         14 . A system, as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said one or more ground anchors include a plurality of ground anchors interconnected to an adjacent end of said anchoring cable by corresponding connecting cables.   
     
     
         15 . A system, as claimed in  claim 11 , further including:
 a mounting assembly for securing said transverse anchoring cable to the ground, said mounting assembly including a cable ring attached to each opposite end of said anchoring cable, and a plurality of ground anchors attached to each cable ring by a corresponding plurality of connecting cables.   
     
     
         16 . A system, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said upper transverse anchoring cable includes a plurality of cables connected to one another, end to end, and wherein at least one cable of said plurality of cables extends in a different direction as compared to the other cables.   
     
     
         17 . A system, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said upper transverse anchoring cable extends linearly.   
     
     
         18 . A system, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said upper transverse anchoring cable has a plurality of segments that extend linearly, and at least one segment of said plurality of segments extends in a different direction.