Monolithic Floor for Hot Slag Bucket

Abstract

The disclosure provides a monolithic floor for use with a hot slag bucket. The monolithic floor improves the lifespan of the bucket when used with hot slag by reducing warpage caused by heating and cooling and thus significantly reduces the cost of owning and operating the hot slag bucket.

1 . A prime mover bucket for use with extreme materials such as hot slag; the bucket comprising:
 a flat monolithic floor fabricated from a substantially uniform piece of steel; the flat monolithic floor defining a pair of side edges, a front portion, and a rear edge; the flat monolithic floor defining the entire floor of the prime mover bucket; and   the flat monolithic floor having a substantially uniform thickness in the range of 1.5 inches to 3 inches.   
     
     
         2 . The bucket of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic floor of free of sections welded together. 
     
     
         3 . The bucket of  claim 1 , further comprising a wrapper; the rear edge of the monolithic floor being disposed under the wrapper. 
     
     
         4 . A prime mover bucket for use with extreme materials such as hot slag; the bucket comprising:
 a flat monolithic floor fabricated from a single piece of steel that is free of sections welded together; the flat monolithic floor defining a pair of side edges, a front portion, and a rear edge; and   the flat monolithic floor having a substantially uniform thickness in the range of 1.5 inches to 3 inches.   
     
     
         5 . The bucket of  claim 4 , further comprising left and right side plates; each side edge of the monolithic floor being connected to one of the left and right side plates. 
     
     
         6 . The bucket of  claim 5 , further comprising a wrapper; the rear edge of the monolithic floor being disposed under the wrapper. 
     
     
         7 . The bucket of  claim 6 , further comprising left and right side plates; each side edge of the monolithic floor being connected to one of the left and right side plates. 
     
     
         8 . A method of retrofitting a used bucket having a bucket core and a warped floor wherein the retrofit bucket will be used with extreme materials such as hot slag; the method comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a monolithic floor from a substantially uniform piece of steel that has a substantially uniform thickness wherein the monolithic floor has a floor portion and a base edge;   removing the warped floor from the used bucket core; and   welding the monolithic floor to the bucket core.