Powered conveying surface bucket

Abstract

A powered conveying surface bucket assembly for attachment to a vehicle, includes a bucket assembly; a conveyor system that extends at least a portion of a width of a bucket bottom wall of the bucket assembly; and a power system connected to the conveyor system to rotate the conveyor system with respect to the bucket bottom wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A powered conveying surface bucket assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising:
 a bucket assembly;   a conveyor system that extends at least a portion of a width of a bucket bottom wall of the bucket assembly; and   a power system connected to the conveyor system to rotate the conveyor system with respect to the bucket bottom wall.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a drive system located between a first lateral conveyor section and a second lateral conveyor section of the conveyor system. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the drive system is centrally located laterally on the bucket bottom wall. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the power system is operable to power the drive system. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the power system comprises a hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a housing centrally located laterally on a bucket bottom wall between the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic motor is mounted within the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a drive system within the housing to selectively drive the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the drive system comprises a transmission system. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the drive system comprises a brake clutch. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as recited in  claim 8 , further comprises a running gear system to support each of the first lateral conveyor section and the second lateral conveyor section. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the running gear system comprises a sprocket assembly along a sprocket axis, a roller assembly along a respective roller axis, and an idler assembly along an idler axis. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the drive sprocket axis is located adjacent to a leading edge of the bucket bottom wall. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the idler axis is located adjacent to a rear edge of the bucket bottom wall. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a replaceable bucket leading edge along the leading edge of the bucket bottom wall, the replaceable bucket leading edge angled with respect to the bucket bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a rear gate rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the rear gate located adjacent a bucket back wall and the bucket bottom wall. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a front gate movable between a front gate open position and a front gate closed position, the front gate located adjacent a bucket cutting edge and the bucket bottom wall.