Hydraulically actuated impact apparatus

Abstract

An impact actuator assembly has a housing having a front, a rear, two opposite sides, a top and a bottom, and defining an actuator receiving area. A hydraulic actuator is fixedly mounted in the actuator receiving area, and provided with an actuator head, at least a portion of which extends forwardly of the actuator receiving area. A nosepiece is fixedly attached to the front of the housing at a distance from the actuator receiving area, defining a space between the nosepiece and the actuator head. The nosepiece is provided with at least one longitudinal hollow guide for receiving a tool pin, each of the tool pins having a rear and a front. The rear of the tool pin extends in the space between the nosepiece and the actuator head and the front of tool pin extends beyond the front of the housing. A plurality of hydraulic connectors are mounted on the housing and operatively connected to the actuator. When the actuator is actuated, the actuator head is engaged in reciprocating longitudinal movement to cyclically impact the tool pin.

1 . An impact actuator assembly comprising: 
 a housing having a front, a rear, two opposite sides, a top and a bottom, and defining an actuator receiving area;    a hydraulic actuator fixedly mounted in said actuator receiving area, said actuator being provided with an actuator head, at least a portion of said actuator head extending forwardly of said actuator receiving area;    a nosepiece fixedly attached to said front of said housing at a distance from said actuator receiving area, defining a space between said nosepiece and said actuator head;    said nosepiece being provided with at least one longitudinal hollow guide for receiving a tool pin, each of said tool pin having a rear and a front, said rear of said tool pin extending in said space between said nosepiece and said actuator head, said front of said tool pin extending beyond said front of said housing; and    a plurality of hydraulic connectors mounted on said housing and operatively connected to said actuator;    whereby, in use, when said actuator is actuated, said actuator head is engaged in reciprocating longitudinal movement to cyclically impact said tool pin.    
   
   
       2 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuator head has a flat surface, generally parallel to a rear surface of said nosepiece.  
   
   
       3 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said actuator receiving area is separate from said housing.  
   
   
       4 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said hydraulic connectors are mounted on said top of said housing.  
   
   
       5 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said impact actuator assembly comprises three longitudinal hollow guides aligned with each other, and a tool pin in each of said longitudinal hollow guides.  
   
   
       6 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said rear surface of said nosepiece is further provided with positioning spacers.  
   
   
       7 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said tool pins are held in position within said nosepiece with a backing rod.  
   
   
       8 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said rear surface of said nosepiece further includes a plurality of recesses, each recess being provided with a spring member, one end of said spring member seating on an end wall of said recess, the other end thereof seating against an abutment member secured within said recess, wherein said abutment member extends into said space between said nosepiece and said actuator receiving area.  
   
   
       9 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein a length of said space between said nosepiece and said impact actuator receiving area is shorter than a piston stroke.  
   
   
       10 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein a length of said space between said nosepiece and said impact actuator receiving area is longer than a piston stroke.  
   
   
       11 . An excavation bucket having a floor, a back wall, side walls provided with mounting brackets, said excavation bucket being provided with at least one impact actuator assembly according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       12 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein said actuator head has a flat surface, generally parallel to a rear surface of said nosepiece.  
   
   
       13 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuator receiving area is separate from said housing.  
   
   
       14 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 13 , wherein said hydraulic connectors are mounted on said top of said housing.  
   
   
       15 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 13 , wherein said impact actuator assembly comprises three longitudinal hollow guides aligned with each other, and a tool pin in each of said longitudinal hollow guides.  
   
   
       16 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 13 , wherein said rear surface of said nosepiece is further provided with positioning spacers.  
   
   
       17 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 15 , wherein said tool pins are held in position within said nosepiece with a backing rod.  
   
   
       18 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 17 , wherein said rear surface of said nosepiece further includes a plurality of recesses, each recess being provided with a spring member, one end of said spring member seating on an end wall of said recess, the other end thereof seating against an abutment member secured within said recess, wherein said abutment member extends into said space between said nosepiece and said actuator receiving area.  
   
   
       19 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 17 , wherein a length of said space between said nosepiece and said impact actuator receiving area is shorter than a piston stroke.  
   
   
       20 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 16 , wherein a length of said space between said nosepiece and said impact actuator receiving area is longer than a piston stroke.  
   
   
       21 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 11 , wherein said excavation bucket comprises at least two impact actuator assemblies.  
   
   
       22 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least two impact actuator assemblies are hydraulically connected in parallel.  
   
   
       23 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least two impact actuator assemblies are hydraulically connected in series.  
   
   
       24 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said front of each of said tool pin is wedge-shaped.  
   
   
       25 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the front of each of said tool pins is further connected to a compacting plate.  
   
   
       26 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the front of each of said tool pins is further connected to a V-shaped knife.  
   
   
       27 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the front of each of said tool pins is further connected to a levelling knife.  
   
   
       28 . An impact actuator assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the front of each of said tool pins is further connected to a compaction roller.  
   
   
       29 . An excavation bucket according to  claim 21 , wherein at least two of said nosepieces of said at least two impact actuators are formed of a single piece.