Although the present invention refers exclusively to a bucket for use in mining and large scale excavation, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be applied to smaller buckets and excavator machines.

Conventionally excavator buckets are used until they require repair or replacement. Common repairs include patching or reshaping the walls making up the bucket and refurbishment of the cutting edge or teeth on the edge of the bucket. These types of repair require considerable down time for the machinery and often it is more efficient to replace the bucket with a new one rather than wait for the bucket to be repaired.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an excavation apparatus that addresses the abovementioned problems. It is therefore a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of repairing an excavation apparatus that addres ses the abovementioned problems. It is therefore a yet further aim of the present invention to provide a method of using an excavation apparatus that addresses the abovementioned problems. In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bucket apparatus for excavation, said bucket including an upper section and a lower section, said upper section attached to an excavator machinery arm in use, wherein the upper section and at least one lower section are attached together with attachment means such that the lower section can be detached or removed and replaced with second or further lower sections.

As such, the lower section of the bucket apparatus is easily replaceable when worn, therefore reducing down-time and expense of replacing or refurbishing the entire bucket apparatus . Preferably the upper section of the bucket apparatus remains attached to the excavator machinery.

In a preferred embodiment the lower section is selectively removable from the upper section.

Preferably the upper section is configured to combine or be connected to lower bucket sections with various shapes. In one embodiment the upper section includes at least a first beam means. Typically the first beam means includes one or more apertures. Further typically the first beam means includes a plurality of apertures, said apertures selectively located, configured and/or shaped to accept various types of attachment means. In one embodiment, multiple lower sections are available to be connected to an upper section. Typically a plurality of various shaped lower sections are manufactured to fit or combine with an existing upper section. Further typically it is more economic to replace a lower section if it becomes worn or damaged, and/or if the type of material being excavated requires a different bucket, than it is to replace an entire bucket. In one embodiment the capacity of the bucket can be selected and/or adjusted by switching or replacing a first lower section with a second lower section of different dimensions.

Typically attachment means includes any one or any combination of bolts, pins, screws and/or other such releasable means of attachment.

In one embodiment the attachment means includes a pin connection. Typically the pin connection includes at least one longitudinal member that extends through at least part of the upper section and at least part of the lower section in use. Further typically the pin connection includes at least two flange members that extend from the longitudinal member between which the parts of the upper and lower sections are located in use. In one embodiment at least one of the flange members is bolted or screwed to the longitudinal member. Typically the longitudinal member extends through holes or apertures in the upper and lower members. In one embodiment the bucket apparatus includes at least one back bar means. Typically the back bar means is configured to provide a secure and/or fixed joint location between the upper and lower sections. Further typically the back bar means includes two members.

In one embodiment one of the back bar members is located on the upper section and the second back bar member on the lower section. Typically the back bar means strengthens and/or supports the back o f the bucket apparatus when assembled.

In one embodiment the back bar members are aligned and/or abutted to ensure the upper and lower sections are in the correct orientation and/or location to be attached together. Typically a first back bar members includes a locating pin or protrusion and a second back bar member includes a reces s or hollow to receive at least part of the locating pin.

Typically attachment means are used to attach the back bar members together. In one embodiment the back bar members are bolted together.

Typically the back bar members are attached by attachment means at least part of which pas s through corresponding apertures or holes ion said back bar members. Further typically the holes or apertures on a first back bar member are aligned by positioning the locating pin or protrusion in a corresponding recess in a second back bar member.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bucket for attachment to a digger or excavation machinery in use, said bucket comprising upper and lower sections wherein the lower section is detachably attached to the upper section.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of refurbishing or replacing at least part of a bucket, said bucket including said bucket including an upper section and a lower section, said upper section attached to an excavator machinery arm in use, wherein the upper section and at least one lower section are attached together with attachment means and the lower section can be replaced and/or selectively removed.

In one embodiment the upper section remains attached to the excavator machine whilst the lower section is removed and/or replaced.

Specific embodiment of the invention are now described with reference to the following figures wherein:

Figure 1 shows an assembled two part bucket in accordance with an aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the two bucket parts or sections detached in accordance of one aspect of the invention; The present invention provides a bucket for large excavator best suited for high abrasive construction, quarry and mining scenarios.

Turning to figures 1 and 2, the bucket 2 has upper 4 and lower 6 parts or sections. The lower section 6 is a replicable lower section which can be easily replaced when worn out with no need for a repair. This eliminates down time and expense.

The top section 4 of the bucket 2 will remain on the excavator (not shown) and the worn lower part 6 can simply be replaced in approximately the same time it will take to remove a standard bucket.

The bucket lower section 6 is removed and replaced via pins 8 and bolts 10.

The upper section 4 of the bucket 2 has been designed to accept various shaped lower sections 6.

The main beam 12 of the upper section 4 has been designed to accept various OEM machine manufacturers connections .

Also the upper section 4 is designed to accommodate a single plate side front ( lower section) . The lower section of the bucket is replaceable and can be discarded (scrapped) once it is worn out as a repair would be uneconomical to attempt.

The lower section can be designed with customer’s requirements in mind (customer input) . For example multiple lower sections 6 can be manufactured to be ready on the mine site for change out of the worn or broken working section 6. Various shaped lower sections 6 can be manufactured and will fit to existing upper section 4.

For example figure 3b shows a ‘throw away’ large capacity lower section that can be manufactured working on the principle that all wears together rendering the lower section totally uneconomical to repair— new replacement fitted.

Figures 3a and 3b show side views of a buckets, where 4a shows a standard lower section and 4b shows a large capacity lower section 6.

The side view of the lower section also show the side pin connection means 14. Figures 4a-4d show the side pin connection in more detail. Figure 4 shows the side pin 14 where it can be seen that the pin includes two parts 16a, 16b, each with a flange 18a, 18b between which the upper and lower sections are located in use. The pin and thereby the sections are held in place by bolts 20 that extend into the longitudinal body of the pin which passes through apertures in the sections.

Turning to figure 5 where there is shown the back or supporting bar 22 feature of this example. The back bar 22 connection is designed to make a secure fixed joint between upper 4 and lower 6 bucket sections.

The back bar comprises two elongate bar parts 24a, 24b one part on the upper bucket section and one part on the bucket lower section. In this example the bars incorporate two locating pins 26 to align the apertures in the bars through which bolts will finally secure the joint fitted. The joint can also be secured by pins of the type previously described.. The back bar also adds strength to the back of the bucket and supports the connections.