Bucket with quick attach blade

Abstract

A blade accessory for use with heavy equipment to permit changeability between a bucket and a grading blade, the blade accessory comprising a frame, means for mounting the frame to the vehicle, means for attaching a bucket to the frame to permit pivotal movement of the bucket with respect to the frame about a vertical axis along with means to pivotably move the bucket in a horizontal plane. Means to mount the blade member on the front of the bucket are such that the blade member may be angled when the bucket is moved in the horizontal plane.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A blade accessory for attachment to a vehicle, the accessory comprising: 
 a frame, means for mounting said frame to said vehicle;    a bucket, means for attaching said bucket to said frame to permit pivotal movement of said bucket with respect to said frame about a vertical axis, means to pivotably move said bucket in a horizontal plane;    a blade member and means to mount said blade member on a front face of said bucket such that said blade member is angled when said bucket is moved in said horizontal plane.    
     
     
         2 . The blade accessory of    claim 1    wherein said means to pivotably move said bucket in a horizontal plane comprises a cylinder assembly, said cylinder assembly comprising: 
 a cylinder, said cylinder having a piston rod, first and second connecting rods, each of said connecting rods having a first end connected to a distal end of said piston rod, a second end of said first connecting rod being connected to said frame, and a second end of said second connecting rod being connected to said bucket, the arrangement being such that movement of said piston will cause said connecting rods to move apart to thereby cause said bucket to pivotably move with respect to said frame.  
 
     
     
         3 . The blade accessory of    claim 1    wherein said means for attaching said bucket to said frame includes a V-shaped member having first and second arms, a first end of said first and second arms being pivotably connected to a center connecting point on said frame, second ends of each of said first and second arms being connected to said bucket.  
     
     
         4 . The blade accessory of    claim 1    wherein said blade member includes a blade frame, said blade frame having a tongue portion extending through a rear wall of said bucket, said tongue portion being secured to said bucket rearwardly of said rear wall.  
     
     
         5 . The blade accessory of    claim 4    wherein said means for attaching said blade member to said bucket comprises a locking pin, said locking pin being pneumatically driven into and out of a locking position.  
     
     
         6 . The blade accessory of    claim 1    wherein said means to pivotably move said bucket in a horizontal plane comprises first and second cylinder assemblies, each of said cylinder assemblies comprising a cylinder, each of said cylinders having a piston rod, first and second connecting rods, each of said connecting rods having a first end connected to a distal end of said piston rod, a second end of said first connecting rod being connected to said frame, and a second end of said second connecting rod being connected to said bucket, the arrangement being such that movement of said piston will cause said connecting rods to move apart to thereby pivotably move said bucket with respect to said frame.  
     
     
         7 . The blade accessory of    claim 6    wherein each of said cylinders is generally vertically oriented.  
     
     
         8 . The blade accessory of    claim 4    wherein said blade frame fits within said bucket, said bucket including guide means to guide said blade frame into a desired position.