Latch keeper assembly for earth-working bucket

Abstract

A latch keeper assembly for earth-working bucket, has: a latch keeper securable to a ledge of the earth-working bucket, the latch keeper defining a recess; a member received within the recess of the latch keeper; and a dutchman removably securable to the member. Also, a bucket has: a main body; a door pivotally mounted on the main body; a locking mechanism having a latch bar movable between locked and unlocked positions to selectively lock or unlock the door; and a latch keeper defining a recess for receiving a distal end of the latch bar when the latch bar is in the locked position and when the door is closed, the latch keeper, wherein one of the latch bar and the latch keeper includes rolling elements such that the latch bar is rollingly engaged to the latch keeper in the locked positing of the latch bar.

1 . A latch keeper assembly for earth-working bucket, comprising:
 a latch keeper configured to be in a ledge of the earth-working bucket, the latch keeper defining a recess;   a member received within the recess of the latch keeper; and   a dutchman removably securable to the member.   
     
     
         2 . The latch keeper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member is removably securable to the latch keeper within the recess. 
     
     
         3 . The latch keeper of  claim 1 , wherein the recess is opened on a rear end of the latch keeper, the member closing the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The latch keeper of  claim 1 , wherein the member is locked within the recess by abutting shoulders. 
     
     
         5 . The latch keeper of  claim 1 , wherein a top face of the member and a top face of the dutchman are angled. 
     
     
         6 . The latch keeper of  claim 5 , wherein the top face of the member and the top face of the dutchman are aligned and parallel to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The latch keeper of  claim 1 , wherein the dutchman has a front face configured to contact a latch in the recess, the front face having rollers protruding from the front face. 
     
     
         8 . The latch keeper of  claim 1 , wherein the dutchman has a front face configured to contact a latch in the recess, the front face being curved. 
     
     
         9 . The latch keeper of  claim 1 , wherein the dutchman has a cylindrical portion, with at least one bearing mounted thereon, the at least one bearing configured to contact a latch in the recess, 
     
     
         10 . The latch keeper of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one bearing is a bearing with rolling elements. 
     
     
         11 . The latch keeper of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one bearing is a plain bearing. 
     
     
         12 . The latch keeper of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one bearing is a bushing. 
     
     
         13 . The latch keeper of  claim 1 , wherein the dutchman has a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion configured to contact a latch in the recess. 
     
     
         14 . The latch keeper of  claim 9 , wherein the dutchman has ends with flats, the flats abutting complementary portions of the member to block rotation of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         15 . The latch keeper of  claim 14 , wherein the member includes support blocks having cavities for receiving the ends with flats. 
     
     
         16 . A bucket comprising:
 a main body defining a cavity and an opening for unloading a content of the bucket from the cavity;   a door pivotally mounted on the main body, the door movable between a closed position in which the opening is substantially closed by the door and an opened position in which the content may exit the bucket via the opening;   a locking mechanism having a latch bar movable between locked and unlocked positions to selectively lock or unlock the door to close or open the opening; and   a latch keeper assembly according to  claim 1 , the latch keeper assembly cooperating with the latch bar.   
     
     
         17 . A bucket comprising:
 a main body defining a cavity and an opening for unloading a content of the bucket from the cavity;   a door pivotally mounted on the main body, the door movable between a closed position in which the opening is substantially closed by the door and an opened position in which the content may exit the bucket via the opening;   a locking mechanism having a latch bar movable between locked and unlocked positions to selectively lock or unlock the door to close or open the opening; and   a latch keeper defining a recess for receiving a distal end of the latch bar when the latch bar is in the locked position and when the door is closed, the latch keeper,   wherein one of the latch bar and the latch keeper includes rolling elements such that the latch bar is rollingly engaged to the latch keeper in the locked positing of the latch bar.   
     
     
         18 . The bucket of  claim 17 , wherein the rolling elements are secured to a dutchman of the latch keeper. 
     
     
         19 . The bucket of  claim 17 , wherein the rolling elements are secured to a removable member of the latch keeper. 
     
     
         20 . The bucket of  claim 17 , wherein the rolling elements are secured to the distal end of the latch bar. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)