Bucket

Abstract

Disclosed is a bucket for moving material. The bucket comprising an engagement beam for engaging a machine. The engagement beam including a plurality of lugs. The bucket further comprises a basket supported by the engagement beam. The basket having a basket body defining a basket interior. In some embodiments, the engagement beam is cast. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the basket body is removable to allow for replacement of the at least a portion of the basket body.

1 - 79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . A bucket for moving material, the bucket comprising:
 an engagement beam for engaging a machine, the engagement beam being formed of one or more cast components and at least a portion of the engagement beam includes a closed hollow section; and   a basket supported by the engagement beam, the basket having a basket body defining a basket interior,   wherein the engagement beam comprises a beam body and end portions, the beam body extending along a longitudinal axis between the end portions, and a plurality of lugs extending from the beam body, wherein the end portions are configured to be fixed to the beam body to cap the closed hollow section.   
     
     
         81 . The bucket according to  claim 80 , wherein the basket is removable to allow for replacement of at least a portion of the basket body. 
     
     
         82 . A bucket according to  claim 80 , wherein each end portion is integrally cast with the beam body. 
     
     
         83 . The bucket according to  claim 80 , wherein the basket body includes basket members, the basket members comprise side plates in facing arrangement with one another and one or more shell plates, the one or more shell plates extend between the side plates, and wherein at least some of the basket members are removable to allow for replacement of the at least some of the basket members. 
     
     
         84 . The bucket as defined by  claim 83 , wherein each end portion includes a body portion which extends along the longitudinal axis and a side wall portion configured to abut the respective side plate of the basket. 
     
     
         85 . The bucket as defined in  claim 84 , wherein the side wall portion of each end portion includes a forward facing edge aligned with a leading edge of the basket body to form a forward edge of the bucket and a rear side wall portion extending to and abutting the one or more shell plates. 
     
     
         86 . The bucket according to  claim 84 , wherein each end portions includes an arcuate transition region between the body portion and the side wall portion. 
     
     
         87 . The bucket as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the beam body and/or the end portions may be adjusted by trimming the beam body and/or the end portions to a predetermined length. 
     
     
         88 . The bucket according to  claim 80 , wherein the engagement beam includes a lug being integrally formed with the beam body. 
     
     
         89 . The bucket according to  claim 88 , further comprising a plurality of lug tails, wherein the lug tails are formed separately and coupled to the basket extending respectively from each lug. 
     
     
         90 . The bucket as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the beam body includes a wall having a variable thickness. 
     
     
         91 . The bucket as defined in  claim 90 , wherein the beam body includes an inner surface defining the closed hollow section and the beam body further comprises a plurality of internal supports extending in a lateral direction from the inner surface offset from the plurality of lugs. 
     
     
         92 . The bucket as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the engagement beam is separable from the basket body to allow for removal of the basket body from the engagement beam and attachment of a new basket body to the engagement beam such that the engagement beam is re-usable. 
     
     
         93 . The bucket as defined in  claim 83 , wherein at least one of the side plates is formed as a casting. 
     
     
         94 . The bucket as defined in  claim 80 , wherein the engagement beam comprises at least one access portal extending into the hollow section of the engagement beam. 
     
     
         95 . The bucket as defined in  claim 94 , further comprising equipment housed in the hollow section of the engagement beam. 
     
     
         96 . The bucket as defined in  claim 95 , wherein the equipment includes monitoring equipment for monitoring condition and/or productivity of the bucket and/or lubrication equipment. 
     
     
         97 . The bucket as defined in  claim 96 , wherein the monitoring equipment includes one or more of communications equipment, data acquisition equipment, at least one sensor, at least one transducer, at least one camera, onboard processing, power and wiring. 
     
     
         98 . The bucket as defined in  claim 97 , wherein the monitoring equipment includes the at least one sensor and/or camera fitted to the at least one access portal to monitor the condition and/or productivity of the basket. 
     
     
         99 . The bucket according to  claim 80 , wherein the beam body is formed of multiple cast components that are welded together in an end-to-end configuration, and wherein weld regions between the cast components are located in areas of low stress to minimise failure of the weld regions.