Mini excavator for pick-up trucks and other light vehicles

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to compact excavators. In particular, embodiments of the present invention provide a compact excavator that can be easily mounted and removed from the bed or rear of a light vehicle, such as a pickup truck, for convenient portability and use while reducing the overall cost as the excavator of the present invention eliminates the need for drive train and mobility components (e.g., treads, steering).

1 . A portable excavator for mounting to a light vehicle, said portable excavator comprising:
 a low profile frame formed to fit in the bed of said light vehicle and comprising a plurality of interfaces;   an excavator comprising an undercarriage, a boom, a control interface and a power system;   said undercarriage is formed such that it can be secured to said low profile frame via a plurality of mounting means, wherein each mounting means engages with at least one of said interfaces of said plurality of interfaces of said low profile frame; and   said control interface and said power system work in conjunction with one another to operate the boom of said excavator.   
     
     
         2 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said power system comprises one or more hydraulic pumps and an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         3 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said control interface comprises one or more controllers configured to provide directional input to said boom. 
     
     
         4 . The portable excavator of  claim 3 , wherein said controllers are joysticks. 
     
     
         5 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said interfaces are self-centering interfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting means are threaded bolts. 
     
     
         7 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more support pylons removably securable to said low profile frame and configured to adjustably extend from the bed of said light vehicle to a surface below and provide additional stability to the excavator when said excavator is in operation. 
     
     
         8 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more light vehicle frame locking bracket configured to secure said low-profile frame to said bed. 
     
     
         9 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said low-profile frame is affixed to said bed of said light vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said boom comprises a tool arm configured to receive one or more tools selected from the group comprising a bucket, a grapple and a drill. 
     
     
         11 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said excavator is configured to rotate 360 degrees in the bed of said light vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . A portable excavator for mounting to a light vehicle, said portable excavator comprising:
 a low profile frame formed to fit in the bed of said light vehicle and comprising a plurality of interfaces;   an excavator comprising an undercarriage formed such that it can be secured to said low profile frame via a plurality of mounting means, wherein each mounting means engages with at least one of said interfaces of said plurality of interfaces of said low profile frame.   
     
     
         13 . The portable excavator of  claim 12 , wherein said interfaces are self-centering interfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The portable excavator of  claim 12 , wherein said mounting means are threaded bolts. 
     
     
         15 . The portable excavator of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more support pylons removably securable to said low profile frame and configured to adjustably extend from the bed of said light vehicle to a surface below and provide additional stability to the excavator when said excavator is in operation. 
     
     
         16 . The portable excavator of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more light vehicle frame locking bracket configured to secure said low-profile frame to said bed. 
     
     
         17 . The portable excavator of  claim 12 , wherein said low-profile frame is affixed to said bed of said light vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said excavator comprises a tool arm configured to receive one or more tools selected from the group comprising a bucket, a grapple and a drill. 
     
     
         19 . The portable excavator of  claim 1 , wherein said excavator is configured to rotate 360 degrees in the bed of said light vehicle.