Debris removal apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus that can be removably attached to an excavator has a bottom portion having a screen as part of the container, and the container has a variable widthwise coverage area. Liquid may drain from the screen, and debris may remain in the container to clean swampy areas.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A debris cleaning apparatus ( 10 ), comprising:
 a container ( 140 ) having a left edge ( 150 ) and a right edge ( 160 ), and a front edge ( 220 );   a means to attach ( 190 ) the container ( 140 ) to an excavator bucket ( 100 );   a screen ( 80 ) disposed between said left edge ( 150 ) and said right edge ( 160 ) along the horizontal direction; and between the front edge ( 220 ) and a first member upper edge ( 70 ); and   a means to adjust the widthwise coverage area ( 260 ) of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said means to adjust the widthwise coverage area ( 260 ) includes a fifth member ( 60 ) extending leftwardly from said left edge ( 150 ) and another fifth member ( 60 ) extending rightwardly from said right edge ( 160 ). 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , wherein said fifth member ( 60 ) is hingeldy disposed on said left edge ( 150 ), and said other fifth member ( 60 ) is hingedly disposed on said right edge ( 160 ). 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein said fifth member ( 60 ) has a fifth member upper edge ( 300 ) that is about the same horizontal height as said first member upper edge ( 70 ), and retention member ( 310 ) is adjustably connected to both the first member upper edge ( 70 ) and said fifth member upper edge ( 300 ), whereby said fifth member ( 60 ) can be locked in position at varied angles with respect to said first member ( 20 ). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top support ( 130 ) that is secured above said first member upper edge ( 70 );   an elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) secured to and oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support ( 130 );   a cable ( 110 ) secured at one end to said elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ), capable of extending over an excavator bucket ( 100 ) and extending to another elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ), whereby said excavator bucket ( 100 ) is disposed between each of said elongate transverse attachments ( 120 ) and said top support ( 130 ) capable of being securely disposed to an excavator bucket ( 100 ) when the cable ( 110 ) is taught.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top support ( 130 ) that is secured above said first member upper edge ( 70 ) via a plurality of screen supports ( 210 ) oriented substantially vertical;   an elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) secured to and oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support ( 130 ) leftwardly of the center of the apparatus ( 10 );   another elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) secured to and oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support ( 130 ) rightwardly of the center of the apparatus ( 10 );   each elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) having a front end ( 230 ) and a rear end ( 240 );   a first cable ( 110 ) secured at one end to said elongate transverse attachment front end ( 230 ) and capable of extending over an excavator bucket ( 100 ) and extending to another elongate transverse attachment front end ( 230 );   a second cable ( 110 ) secured at one end to said elongate transverse attachment rear end ( 240 ) and capable of extending over an excavator bucket ( 100 ) and extending to another elongate transverse attachment rear end ( 240 );   ( 120 ), whereby said excavator bucket ( 100 ) is disposed between each of said elongate transverse attachments ( 120 ) and said top support ( 130 ) capable of being securely disposed to an excavator bucket ( 100 ) when the cable ( 110 ) is taught.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said top support ( 130 ) is made of rigid non-conductive material, and said cables ( 110 ) are also made of non-conductive material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a compression weight sensor ( 370 ) disposed in a position to monitor a downward force near the left fourth member ( 50 ), and another compression weight sensor ( 370 ) positioned to monitor a downward force disposed near the right fourth member ( 50 ).   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 8 , wherein one of said weight sensors ( 370 ) is disposed on said second member ( 30 ) leftwardly of the center of the apparatus, and another weight sensor ( 370 ) is disposed on said second member ( 30 ) rightwardly of the center of the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . A debris cleaning apparatus ( 10 ), comprising:
 a container ( 140 ) having a left edge ( 150 ) and a right edge ( 160 ), and a front edge ( 220 );   a means to attach ( 190 ) the container ( 140 ) to an excavator bucket ( 100 );   a screen ( 80 ) disposed between said left edge ( 150 ) and said right edge ( 160 ) along the horizontal direction; and between the front edge ( 220 ) and a first member upper edge ( 70 ); and   a compression weight sensor ( 370 ) disposed in a position to monitor a downward force near the left fourth member ( 50 ), and another compression weight sensor ( 370 ) positioned to monitor a downward force disposed near the right fourth member ( 50 ).   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein said means to adjust the widthwise coverage area ( 260 ) includes a fifth member ( 60 ) extending leftwardly from said left edge ( 150 ) and another fifth member ( 60 ) extending rightwardly from said right edge ( 160 ). 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 11 , wherein said fifth member ( 60 ) is hingeldy disposed on said left edge ( 150 ), and said other fifth member ( 60 ) is hingedly disposed on said right edge ( 160 ). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 12 , wherein said fifth member ( 60 ) has a fifth member upper edge ( 300 ) that is about the same horizontal height as said first member upper edge ( 70 ), and retention member ( 310 ) is adjustably connected to both the first member upper edge ( 70 ) and said fifth member upper edge ( 300 ), whereby said fifth member ( 60 ) can be locked in position at varied angles with respect to said first member ( 20 ). 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a top support ( 130 ) that is secured above said first member upper edge ( 70 );   an elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) secured to and oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support ( 130 );   a cable ( 110 ) secured at one end to said elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ), capable of extending over an excavator bucket ( 100 ) and extending to another elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ), whereby said excavator bucket ( 100 ) is disposed between each of said elongate transverse attachments ( 120 ) and said top  110  support ( 130 ) capable of being securely disposed to an excavator bucket ( 100 ) when the cable ( 110 ) is taught.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a top support ( 130 ) that is secured above said first member upper edge ( 70 ) via a plurality of bars ( 280 ) oriented substantially vertical;   an elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) secured to and oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support ( 130 ) leftwardly of the center of the apparatus ( 10 );   another elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) secured to and oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said top support ( 130 ) rightwardly of the center of the apparatus ( 10 );   each elongate transverse attachment ( 120 ) having a front end ( 230 ) and a rear end ( 240 );   a first cable ( 110 ) secured at one end to said elongate transverse attachment front end ( 230 ) and capable of extending over an excavator bucket ( 100 ) and extending to another elongate transverse attachment front end ( 230 );   a second cable ( 110 ) secured at one end to said elongate transverse attachment rear end ( 240 ) and capable of extending over an excavator bucket ( 100 ) and extending to another elongate transverse attachment rear end ( 240 );   ( 120 ), whereby said excavator bucket ( 100 ) is disposed between each of said elongate transverse attachments ( 120 ) and said top support ( 130 ) capable of being securely disposed to an excavator bucket ( 100 ) when the cable ( 110 ) is taught.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 15 , wherein said top support ( 130 ) is made of rigid non-conductive material, and said cables ( 110 ) are also made of non-conductive material. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein one of said weight sensors ( 370 ) is disposed on said second member ( 30 ) leftwardly of the center of the apparatus, and another weight sensor ( 370 ) is disposed on said second member ( 30 ) rightwardly of the center of the apparatus.