US3842999A

US3842999A - Demolition bucket

Info

Publication number: US3842999A
Application number: US00324995A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Asbury
Original assignee: Asbury Industries Inc
Current assignee: American Coupler Systems Inc
Priority date: 1973-01-19
Filing date: 1973-01-19
Publication date: 1974-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-22
Also published as: CA1003789A

Abstract

A bucket is supported by tilt arms and lift booms to the front end of a conventional earth working machine and is pivotally connected at the bucket top portion to the top portion of an overlying clamp device. The bucket includes a curved rear portion rigidly secured to a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls and a reinforced bottom portion. The bucket portion is open at the forward end into which materials for loading, carrying and dumping are introduced. The clamp device includes a pair of laterally spaced arcuate rib sections which are joined at the forward end thereof to a concave front plate. Piston cylinder assemblies mounted rearwardly of the bucket are connected at one end to the bucket lower portion and extend upwardly therefrom to pivotally connect at the other end to each of the clamp device rib pairs. Actuation of the piston cylinder assemblies moves the clamp device toward and away from the bucket portion to provide for selective positioning of the clamp device relative to the bucket. The clamp device is removable from pivotal connection with the bucket by disengaging the pins which join the clamp device to the bucket. When the clamp device is removed from attachment with the bucket, the piston cylinder assemblies are retained in static position on the rear portion of the bucket.

Description

United States Patent 1 Asbury [111 3,842,999 [451 Oct. 22, 1974 DEMOLITION BUCKET [75] Inventor: Edward G. Asbury, Delmont, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Asbury Universal, Inc., Murrysville,

22 Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 21 Appl.No.:324,99S

[52] US. Cl 214/145, 2l4/D1G. 5, 214/D1G. 7 [51] Int. Cl E02f 3/70 [58] Field 01' Search 214/145, DIG. 5, DIG. 7; 37/1 17.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,978 11/1941 Branovic 214/D1G. 7 2,805,887 9/1957 Selby 2l4/DIG. 7 3,148,787 9/1964 Clark 37/117.5 3,250,028 5/1966 Hunger 37/l17.5 3,252,606 5/1966 Pryor 37/] 17.5 3,296,720 l/l967 Sagerer... 37/117.5 3,334,430 8/1967 Ulrich 37/1175 Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-John Mannix Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stanley J. Price, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A bucket is supported by tilt arms and lift booms to the front end of a conventional earth working machine and is pivotally connected at the bucket top portion to the top portion of an overlying clamp, device. The bucket includes a curved rear portion rigidly secured to a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls and a reinforced bottom portion. The bucket portion is open at the forward end into which materials for loading, carrying and dumping are introduced. The clamp device includes a pair of laterally spaced arcuate rib sections which are joined at the forward end thereof to a concave front plate. Piston cylinder assemblies mounted rearwardly of the bucket are connected at one end to the bucket lower portion and extend upwardly therefrom to pivotally connect at the other end to each of the clamp device rib pairs. Actuation of the piston cylinder assemblies moves the clamp device toward and away from the bucket portion to provide for selective positioning of the clamp device relative to the bucket. The clamp device is removable from pivotal connection with the bucket by disengaging the pins which join the clamp device to the bucket. When the clamp device is removed from attachment with the bucket, the piston cylinder assemblies are retained in static position on the rear portion of the bucket.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a material handling apparatus mounted to an earth working machine for use in demolition and earth moving operations and more particularly to a material handling apparatus that is easily convertible from an earth moving type machine to a demolition type machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional material handling machines are characterized by the limitation of performing one of two basic material handling operations, one operation which involves bulldozing or grading type functions and the other which involves demolition or carrying and grappling type functions. Because the two basic material handling operations necessitate different structural designs, many operations associated with land clearing, excavation, urban renewal or demolition demand the use of two different types of machines to accomplish the above basic operations. In the past, the use of a bucket type loader to perform the tasks of demolishing structures, uprooting trees and the collection of rubble has resulted in substantially reduced operational efficiency. The corresponding problem has been encountered when demolition type vehicles have been used to perform the tasks of grading, cutting and backfilling, which are complicated by the cumbersome structure and reduced operator visibility of the demolition apparatus.

Tractor mounted bucket loaders adapted for multipurpose use to accomplish material handling opera- -the art. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,812,595; 3,077,999 and 3,250,028 disclose a bucket pivotally supported at the ends of lift arms and tilt arms extending forwardly of a conventional tractor vehicle. The bucket includes a cover clamp which is pivotally connected by pin means at its upper end to the upper portion of the bucket to provide for relative movement of the cover clamp toward and away from the bucket by actuation of hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic cylinders are positioned to the rear of the bucket and arranged to pivot at one end to the bucket and at the other end to the cover. When the bucket and cover clamp arrangement are used for bulldozing type operations, the cover clamp is pivoted to its fully opened position extending vertically upwardly relative to the bucket. No provision is made for removing the cover clamp from the pivotal connection with the bucket when the bucket is to be used for operations not requiring utilization of the cover clamp. Furthermore, the cover clamp is not adapted for use as a battering ram for demolition operations.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,602 an articulated first gathering cover is pivotally mounted at its rear portion to the top portion of the bucket and a second gathering cover is, in turn, pivotally mounted at its rear portion to the first cover front end. Both the actuating means for the first gathering cover and the second gathering cover are positioned forward of the bucket and above the respective gathering covers.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,786 provides hydraulic cylinders, connecting the bucket to the cover clamp, which are entirely enclosed within the walls of the bucket for protection of the cylinders from entry of debris into the enclosures. Inspection plates and protective caps must be removed in order to provide excessibility to the hydraulic cylinders. Furthermore, a blunt forward face of the cover clamp is intended for use as a battering ram in demolition operations. There is need for a material handling apparatus that is adaptable for economic and efficient use in both demolition and earth moving type operations and that is easily converted from one type of operation to another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combination bucket and clamp device for the loading and handling of materials and for the completion of land clearing and demolition operations. A clamp device is pivotally connected in overlying relation to a bucket. The bucket includes a curved rear portion which is engaged in abutting relation with a pair of parallel spaced side walls and a bot tom portion having a cutting edge which extends forwardly therefrom. The bucket has an open forward end portion into which materials enter the bucket. The clamp device has a reinforced concave forward portion which is supported at opposite ends by two sets of parallel spaced arcuate rib pairs. The clamp device includes means secured thereto for transferring impact forces to a stationary object. Pivot connections positioned between the bucket and clamp device provide means for engaging and disengaging the clamp device to the bucket. When the clamp device forward end portion abuts the bucket forward end portion a substantial area is enclosed between the bucket and the clamp device for the transporting of materials. Piston cylinder means positioned rearwardly of the bucket and connected at one end to the bucket rear portion and at the other end to the clamp device operably move the clamp device toward and away from abutting relation with the bucket. Retaining means positioned at opposite ends of the bucket rear portion maintain the piston cylinder means in static operation when the clamp device is disengaged from pivotal connection to the bucket portion and removed from combination therewith.

Locating the piston cylinder assemblies rearward of the bucket positions the center of gravity of the combination bucket and clamp device at a point within the dimensions of the bucket to thereyb increase the stability of the tractor while maneuvering the bucket and clamp device in execution of the desired material handling operation. Another feature provided by the rearward location of the piston cylinder assemblies includes protection of the assemblies from damage caused by falling debris. In addition, debris is prevented from collecting in the space between the bucket rear portion and the front of the tractor by the presence of a reinforced expanded metal shield which projects substantially vertically upward from the top surface of the bucket.

When the bucket and clamp device arrangement is assembled, the piston cylinder assemblies provice for preselected positioning of the clamp device in a number of different angular positions with respect to the bucket portion. With this arrangement, the clamp device and bucket may be used in clamshell operations in demolition operations. The concave forward portion of the clamp device is provided with means for imparting impact forces to a stationary object when the bucket and clamp device arrangement is used as a battering Another object of this invention is to provide a combination clamp device and bucket in which the angular movement of the clamp device relative to the bucket may be controlled by actuation of conventional piston cylinder assemblies located in a position on the bucket which increases the stability of the tractor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combination clamp 'device and bucket which is secured by pivot connections effecting quick disassembly of the combination as desired for different operations thus eliminating the need for a number of individual material handling machines limited to a sole function.

These and other objects of this invention will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the demolition bucket mounted to a conventionalearth working machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the bucket shown in FIG. 1, in which the side plate and clamp device are removed from engagement with the bucket.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the demolition bucket shown in FIG. 1, illustrating in phantom lines the clamp device in open position relative to the bucket in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation partially fragmented, illustrating the bucket and clamp device arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 there is illustrated a demolition bucket generally designated by the numeral that is mounted to the front portion of a conventional earth working machine 12 of the tract or wheeled type. The demolition bucket 10 includes a clamp device 14 that is pivotally connected by pins 16 to a bucket 18. The bucket 18 is mounted on the forward end of apair of lift booms 20 by boom pins 22 which pivotally connect the lift booms 20 to a pair of parallel spaced

brackets

24 and 26 which extend rearwardly from opposite ends of the bucket 18. Piston cylinder assemblies (not shown) operably raise and lower the lift booms 20 and the bucket 18 together with the clamp device 14 in variable positions relative to the ground.

A pair of tilt arms 28 are pivotally connected at their forward end to the parallel spaced

brackets

24 and 26 by pins 30 and at the other end to lever 32 by pins 34. The piston cylinder assemblies 36 are pivotally connected to the lower portion of lever arms 32 to provide for reciprocal motion of levers 32 about point 38. Upon actuation of the piston cylinder assemblies 36 the lever arms 32 impart tilting movement to the bucket 18 through the tilt arms 28 and the parallel spacedbrackets 24 and 26 for positioning the bucket 18 as required by the desiredmaterial handling operation.

The bucket 18 includes a pair of laterally spaced side walls 40 (illustrated in FIG. 2) which are rigidly secured to a reinforced bottom surface 44 and have an arcuate forward edge 42. The reinforced bottom surface 44 terminates in a tapered forward end portion 47 to which is suitably secured a plurality of cutting edges 45. The cutting edges 45 are constructed of hardened material capable of resisting impact stresses imparted thereto. A back plate 46 is welded orrigidly secured in a suitable manner to the rear portion of the bottom surface 44 and extends upwardly therefrom in an arcuate path. The side walls 40 are rigidly secured to the back plate 46 to provide an enclosed area adapted for collecting and discharging material from the bucket 18. The side walls 40 are provided with a plurality of bores 48 in which are threadably engaged the bolts 50 (illustrated in FIG. 3) for securing the removable side plates 52 to the side walls 40. The side plates 52 are bolted onto the side walls 40 when the bucket 18 is used for dumping, loading and other bulldozing operations.

An angle brace 54 is rigidly secured to the top portion of the back plate 46 and extends longitudinally thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The angle brace 54 supports a protective shield 56 which projects vertically upward from the back plate 46. The shield 56 is fabricated of expanded metal material which provides the operator with observation of the material handling operation and protects the operator and machinery from falling debris. The protective shield 56 is reinforced at its intermediate section by a transverse member 58 extending from the angle brace 54 to the top edge 60 of the shield 56. The transverse member 58 insures the structural rigidity of the protective shield 56 when struck with debris discharged over the top of the bucket 18.

A pair of connecting

plates

62 and 64 extend rearwardly from the opposite ends of the back plate 46 outboard of the parallel spaced

brackets

24 and 26. A pair of aligned bores 66 and 68 are provided in the upper forward portion of connecting

plates

62 and 64 respectively. When the bucket 18 and the clamp device 14 are used in combination with one another, the rib pairs 70 and 72 of the clamp device 14 are positioned within the lateral spaces provided by the pairs of connecting

plates

62 and 64 respectively (as illustrated in FIG. 4). With this arrangement, the bores 74 and 76 of rib pairs 70 and 72 are coaxially aligned with the

bores

66 and 68 of the pairs of connecting

plates

62 and 64. The

bores

66 and 68, 74 and 76 have substantially the same diameter so that the pins 16 may be inserted through the aligned bores to provide for pivotal connection of the bucket 18 with the clamp device 14.

Circular bosses 78, having an internal bore extending therethrough of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pins 16, are formed integral with the pairs of connecting

plates

62 and 64 on the outer surfaces thereof. The bosses 78 serve to reduce the sheer forces subjected upon the pins 16 by the weight of the bucket 18. In a similar manner, the circular bosses 80 are formed integral with the rib pairs 70 and 72 on the outer surfaces thereof and further aid to reduce the sheer forces applied to the pin 16 by the weight of the clamp device 14. Also, the collar type spacers 82 are rigidly secured to the rib pairs 70 and 72 extending in the lateral space between the rib sections. The spacers 82 have an inner bore through which the pins 16 pass. The presence of the spacers 82 insures the structural rigidity of the rib pairs 70 and 72 when the clamp device 14 is employed in combination with the bucket 18.

Movement of the clamp device 14 relative to the bucket 18 about the pivotal connection of the connecting

plates

62 and 64 with the rib pairs 70 and 72 is controlled by actuation of the piston cylinder assemblies 84. The piston cylinder assemblies 84 are positioned at opposite ends and rearward of the bucket 18 transverse to the bucket bottom surface 44. Each of the piston cylinder assemblies 84 includes a piston cylinder 86 and a retractable piston rod 88 which extends from the cylinder 86. The piston cylinders 86 are pivotally connected to the bucket 18 by the clevis joints 85 and pins 87 to the brackets 89 which are rigidly secured to the bottom rear portion of the back plate 46. At the opposite end of the piston cylinder assemblies 84 each of the retractable piston rods 88 have a circular ring portion 90 with a bore 92 extending therethrough. The piston rods 88 are pivotally connected to the rib pairs 70 and 72 by the pins 96 which extend through the aligned bores 98 located in the rib pairs 70 and 72 and the bores 92 of the circular rings 90.

The actuation of the piston cylinder assemblies 84 is controlled by the supply of fluid under pressure directed through feedlines (not shown) communicating with the rear of the piston cylinders 86. Supplying fluid under pressure to the piston cylinders 86 acts to extend the piston rods 88 outwardly from the cylinders 86 to provide for angular movement of the clamp device 14 relative to the bucket 18 about the pivot connection at the pin 16. With this arrangement, the relative position of the clamp device 14 with respect to the bucket 18 can be selectively controlled by the piston cylinder assemblies 84 so that the clamp device 14may be opened as illustrated by the phantom lines illustrated in FIG. 3. By controlling the relative position of the clamp device 14, the demolition bucket may be used in clamshell operations which require grappling of loose materials, such as, tree trunks, building rubble, steel beams and the like in addition to loading and dumping of loose materials. Furthermore, the demolition bucket 10 is suitable for use in bulldozing operations by actuation of the piston cylinder assemblies 84 to close the clamp device 14 in a position of abutting contact with the bucket 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

When the demolition bucket 10 is intended to be used for conventional front end loading and excavating operations, the clamp device 14 may be easily removed from assembly with the bucket 18 by releasing the clamp device 14 from connection with the piston cylinder assemblies 84 and the bucket 18. The conversion is accomplished by removing the pins 16 from engagement within the

bores

66 and 68 of connecting

plates

62 and 64 aligned with the bores 74 and '76 of the rib pairs 70 and 72. Then the pins 96 are withdrawn from the bores 98 of the rib pairs 70 and 72 aligned with the bores 92 of the circular rings 90. Once the

pins

16 and 96 have been removed from their respective connections between the clamp device 14 and the bucket 18, the clamp device 14 is then freely disassembled from arrangement with the bucket 18 and accordingly placed aside. Then the pins 96 are reinserted through the bores 92 of rings and fluid is extracted from the piston cylinder assemblies 84to retract the piston rods 88. The piston rods 88 are retracted to a position where the pins 16 are aligned with the slotted openings of the semicircular support members 100 which are rigidly secured to the inner surfaces of the connecting

plates

62 and 64. The piston rods 88 are maintained in static operation relative to the piston cylinders 86 by alignment of the pins 96, passing through the circular rings 90, in the recesses provided by the support membersv 100. The pins 96 are retained in engagement with the support members 100 by the keeper pins 101 which pass through aligned holes in the support members 100 and pins 96.

The positioning of the piston cylinder assemblies 84 rearward of the bucket 18 provides for efficient conversion of the demolition bucket 10 from an apparatus adapted for use as a clamshell, battering ram and bulldozer to a front end loader. Furthermore, arranging the piston cylinder assemblies 84 to the rear of the bucket 18 gives greater stability to the earth working machine 12 by providing a center of gravity for the demolition bucket 10 located rearward of the clamp device 14 within the dimensions of the bucket side plates 52. Thus, by reducing the distance between the center of gravity of the demolition bucket 10 and the boom pin 22 greater stability for controlling operation of the earth working machine 12 is achieved. In addition, with the above described arrangement, it is now possible to remove the clamp device 14 from connection to the bucket 18 without requiring disassembly of the feedlines which supply fluid under pressure to the piston cylinder assemblies 84.

The clamp device 14 includes the top plates 102 which are rigidly secured to the rib pairs 70 and 72 for greater structural strength thereof. The top plates 102 extend forwardly from the rear portion of the clamp device 14 and are secured to the top surface of the curved clamp plate 104. The curved clamp plate 104 has a concave configuration which projects forwardly of the clamp device 14 and terminates at: the bottom portion of the rib pairs 70 and 72. The clamp plate 104 is rein forced by a welded support frame work 103 positioned within the rib pairs 70 and 72 at opposite ends of the clamp plate 104 to give plate 104 structural rigidity when used as a moldboard in bulldozing operations.

Striking

edges

106 and 108 are rigidly secured to the top and bottom edges of the clamp plate 104. The striking edge 108 is arranged to contact the ground when the clamp device 14 is fully closed in abutting relation to the bucket 18, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The clamp device 14 may be selectively maneuvered by actuation of the piston cylinder assemblies 36 for use as a battering ram in demolition operations. With this arrangement, the concave curvature the clamp plate 104 permits the application of an upwardly directed impact force by striking edge 106 or a downwardly directed impact force by striking edge 108. In addition, the

striking edges

106 and 108 may be used in cooperation by applying a forwardly directed impact force to a stationary object when the demolition bucket. 10 is maintained in a closed position.

To facilitate the grappling of large objects. such as, junk automobiles, tree trunks, beam members and other like objects, the inner edge 110 of the outer ribs of the

pairs

70 and 72 are provided with teeth 112. Also a plurality of cutting edges 114 extend downwardly from the bottom-surface of the clamp device 14. When the clamp device 14 and the bucket 18 are fully closed for use in bulldozing operations, the cutting edges 114 are positioned between the cutting edges 45 andare arranged in abutting relaon with the tapered forward end portion 47 to thereby provide for the transmission of impact forces exerted upon the cover plate 104 of the clamp device 14 through the bucket bottom surface 44 to the lift booms 20. Thus, the present invention provides a demolition bucket capable of a wide variety of material handling operations which require efficient conversion from an excavating-loading type machine to a demolition-grappling-bulldozing type machine. The demolition bucket eliminates the need and additional expense of two different types of machines required for the completion of these varied tasks by providing a convertible material handling machine capable of efficiently performing all the above described tasks.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a material handling apparatus, the combination comprising,

a bucket having a curved rear portion engaged in abutting relation with a pair of parallel spaced side walls and a bottom portion having a cutting edge extending forwardly thereof,

said bucket having an open forward end portion,

a clamp device pivotally connected in overlying relation with said bucket, said clamp device having a reinforced concave forward end portion and parallel spaced rib sections,

said parallel spaced rib sections rigidly support said clamp device forward end portion at opposite ends thereof,

striking means secured to the top and bottom of said clamp forward end portion for imparting impact forces to a stationary object,

pivot connecting means for removing said clamp device from connection to said bucket,

piston cylinder means for angularly moving said clamp device to a first preselected position spaced from contact with said bucket and to a second position with said clamp forward end portion in abutting relation with said bucket forward end portion such that an enclosure is formed between said clamp device and said bucket,

said piston cylinder means positioned rearwardly of said bucket, and

retaining means provided on said bucket rear portion for securing said piston cylinder means to said bucket and for maintaining said piston cylinder means in static operation when said clamp device is removed from connection to said bucket.

2. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said pivot connecting means includes,

a pair of laterally spaced plate members rigidly secured to each end of said bucket rear portion, said spaced plate members having coaxially aligned bores extending therethrough,

said clamp device rib sections having coaxially aligned bores extending therethrough,

said rib sections positioned in the lateral spaces provided between said plate members so that the bores of said rib sections are coaxially aligned with the bores of said plate members, and

a first pin member coaxially retained in rigid engagement within the aligned bores of said rib sections and said plate members so that said clamp device is arranged for angular movement relative to said bucket.

3. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes,-

said first pin member being removable from engagement with said aligned bores of said rib sections and said plate members so that said clamp device may be selectively removed from connection with said bucket.

4. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said piston cylinder means includes,

a pair of piston cylinder assemblies connected at one end to said bucket rear portion and at the other end to the top rear portion of said clamp device inclined from the vertical and parallel to the transverse axis of said bucket.

5. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said piston cylinder assemblies includes,

piston rod positioned in said piston cylinder assembly,

said piston rod having means for connecting said piston rod to said clamp device,

said piston rod operable upon actuation of said piston cylinder assembly to extend and retract relative to said piston cylinder assembly to thereby effect movement of said clamp device about the pivotal connection of said clamp device to said bucket so that said clamp device opens and closes relative to said bucket.

6. In a material handling apparatus the combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said means for connecting said piston rod to said clamp device includes,

a circular ring member formed integral with said piston rod, said ring member having a bore extending therethrough,

a second pin member aligned in said ring member bore,

said second pin member having opposite ends secured to said rib sections so that movement of said piston rod is transmitted through said second pin member to said rib sections to thereby provide for angular movement of said clamp device relative to said bucket.

7. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for retaining said piston cylinder means in static operation includes,

a pair of semi-circular support members each having a slotted recess formed therein,

said support members mounted oppositely to the inner surface of each of said laterally spaced plate members, and

said slotted recesses of said support members aranged to receive said piston cylinder means when said clamp device is removed from connection with said bucket.

said bucket having a shield member secured to the bucket top edge and extending substantially vertically upward therefrom,

said shield member fabricated of expanded metal to thereby provide visibility through said shield member.

Claims

1. In a material handling apparatus, the combination comprising, a bucket having a curved rear portion engaged in abutting relation with a pair of parallel spaced side walls and a Bottom portion having a cutting edge extending forwardly thereof, said bucket having an open forward end portion, a clamp device pivotally connected in overlying relation with said bucket, said clamp device having a reinforced concave forward end portion and parallel spaced rib sections, said parallel spaced rib sections rigidly support said clamp device forward end portion at opposite ends thereof, striking means secured to the top and bottom of said clamp forward end portion for imparting impact forces to a stationary object, pivot connecting means for removing said clamp device from connection to said bucket, piston cylinder means for angularly moving said clamp device to a first preselected position spaced from contact with said bucket and to a second position with said clamp forward end portion in abutting relation with said bucket forward end portion such that an enclosure is formed between said clamp device and said bucket, said piston cylinder means positioned rearwardly of said bucket, and retaining means provided on said bucket rear portion for securing said piston cylinder means to said bucket and for maintaining said piston cylinder means in static operation when said clamp device is removed from connection to said bucket.

2. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said pivot connecting means includes, a pair of laterally spaced plate members rigidly secured to each end of said bucket rear portion, said spaced plate members having coaxially aligned bores extending therethrough, said clamp device rib sections having coaxially aligned bores extending therethrough, said rib sections positioned in the lateral spaces provided between said plate members so that the bores of said rib sections are coaxially aligned with the bores of said plate members, and a first pin member coaxially retained in rigid engagement within the aligned bores of said rib sections and said plate members so that said clamp device is arranged for angular movement relative to said bucket.

3. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes, said first pin member being removable from engagement with said aligned bores of said rib sections and said plate members so that said clamp device may be selectively removed from connection with said bucket.

4. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said piston cylinder means includes, a pair of piston cylinder assemblies connected at one end to said bucket rear portion and at the other end to the top rear portion of said clamp device inclined from the vertical and parallel to the transverse axis of said bucket.

5. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said piston cylinder assemblies includes, piston rod positioned in said piston cylinder assembly, said piston rod having means for connecting said piston rod to said clamp device, said piston rod operable upon actuation of said piston cylinder assembly to extend and retract relative to said piston cylinder assembly to thereby effect movement of said clamp device about the pivotal connection of said clamp device to said bucket so that said clamp device opens and closes relative to said bucket.

6. In a material handling apparatus the combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said means for connecting said piston rod to said clamp device includes, a circular ring member formed integral with said piston rod, said ring member having a bore extending therethrough, a second pin member aligned in said ring member bore, said second pin member having opposite ends secured to said rib sections so that movement of said piston rod is transmitted through said second pin member to said rib sections to thereby provide for angular movement of said clamp device relative to said bucket.

7. In a material handling appaRatus, the combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for retaining said piston cylinder means in static operation includes, a pair of semi-circular support members each having a slotted recess formed therein, said support members mounted oppositely to the inner surface of each of said laterally spaced plate members, and said slotted recesses of said support members aranged to receive said piston cylinder means when said clamp device is removed from connection with said bucket.

8. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 7 which includes, said piston cylinder means maintained immovable relative to said bucket when retained in said slotted recesses of said support members.

9. In a material handling apparatus, the combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes, said bucket having a shield member secured to the bucket top edge and extending substantially vertically upward therefrom, said shield member fabricated of expanded metal to thereby provide visibility through said shield member.