MN3202: Opencast Mining Machinery

DESIGN OF BUCKETS FOR VARIOUS CYCLIC EXCAVARORS

Diptendra Saha

Abstract – Excavators are common heavy-duty
hydraulic human-operated tools used in a wide range
of construc�on tasks, including digging, levelling
terrain, hauling and dumping objects, and straight
trac�on. Backhoe excavators typically have the worst
working condi�ons. Excavator components must
withstand heavy weights and unexpected opera�ng
circumstances due to the harsh working environment.
Excavator bucket is a crucial part of it. Therefore, it is
essen�al for designers to produce equipment that is
not only highly reliable but also lightweight and
inexpensive, with a design that is secure under all
loading circumstances.
of damage to the bucket's teeth occurring
during excava�on. Therefore, this instance
demonstrates that an operator may
occasionally damage an excavator part's teeth
as a result of improper handling. Therefore, in
order to reduce damage, it is important to
calculate the pressure using the finite element
approach at the �p of a por�on of the bucket
excavator teeth.

Key Words – Excavator Load, Sta�c load, Total

deforma�on, Stresses, etc

1.Introduc�on
An excavator with a bucket is an example of
an earth moving machine comprising a boom,
arm, and bucket-mounted hydraulically driven
mechanism fixed to an upper rota�ng chassis
on a driveable body with wheels or tracks.

A bucket in a cyclic excavator is a specific

container that is atached to the machine and
General view of a Hydraulic shovel excavator
u�lised as part of the bulk material handling
system. The bucket might be fastened to a 1.1.Types of Buckets
crane's li�ing hook, the end of an excava�on
1) Digging Bucket: The digging bucket is the
machine's arm, a dragline excavator's wires, or
bucket used by excavators the most
the arms of a power shovel. Buckets might
differ from the conven�onal bucket (pail), frequently. It is the basic bucket that every
which is used to hold objects. To break up excavator ships with. These mul�purpose
buckets may be used to dig through rocky
hard material and prevent wear and tear on
terrain, dense vegeta�on, or even frost-
the bucket, excavators o�en use buckets that
covered ground. With short, blunt teeth
are formed of solid steel and have teeth that
designed to cut through tough soil, they come
protrude from the cu�ng edge.
in a variety of sizes and forms. The length and
When doing excava�on opera�ons in various sharpness of these teeth will depend on how
circumstances, the excavator's teeth are the hard the soil is.
por�on that makes ini�al contact with the
2) Rock Bucket: Designed for use with hard
earth. While using an excavator might
rocks, this excavator bucket. They feature
reinforced structural sec�ons for strength,
although their design is similar to that of
enhance certain everyday requirements, there
digging buckets. They can push with more
is no emergency possibility checking done
force and feature longer, sharper teeth with a
while it is being used, which increases the risk

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thin V-shaped cu�ng edge. They have the Op�mized reinforced construc�on for high
strength to cut through solid rock while strength and performance matched to the
keeping their structural integrity. machine‘s power.
Pin on or dedicated hinges are available,
3) V-Bucket: A unique excavator bucket, the V Hinge plates
bucket. Its V-shaped form makes it easy for it Pass through torque tube for beter load
to pierce through the earth. Digging is made distribu�on
simpler by the angled sides. This reduces the and durability.
cost of digging's power. This kind of excavator Sidebar
bucket is perfect for tasks that entail laying Re-drilled to add sidebar protec�on.
pipelines. Side plate
Side wear plates
4) Skeleton Bucket: A skeleton bucket is a Side plates meet up with botom wear plates
specially made bucket for excava�ng. While for
excava�ng, it completes another mission. The seamless corner protec�on.* High strength
bucket is constructed of gaps between the steel
bars. During excava�on, �ny par�cles fall u�lized for added protec�on.
Base edge
through these openings. This tool is used for
Straight or “spade”, depending on applica�on.
separa�ng dirt with coarser and finer
Gussets
par�cles.
For maximum rigidity.
5) Cleanup Bucket: These containers serve a Adjuster group
purpose akin to an ice cream scoop. They are Allows for easy correc�on for wear between
the s�ck
used for scooping purposes, have a higher
and bucket.
capacity, and lack teeth. They are employed to
Teeth (�ps)
scoop soil and so�er materials. Their sturdy Forged from steel with proper�es that
construc�on and skill with delicate materials maintain
typically results in minimal maintenance hardness for long wear life in tough digging
expenses. These excavator buckets are u�lised applica�ons.
for tasks including levelling, sloping, sloping, Side cuters& sidebar protectors
and backfilling. For protec�on and penetra�on.

2.Methodology
It is essen�al to measure the forces at various
atachment loca�ons since they are key to the
analysis and need to be precise in order to get
findings that are near to the real thing. The
technique used is design view to determine
the maximum digging force for the specified
cylinder pressures. Mathcad is used in the
second step to measure the forces at each
pivot point of the atachment.

Calcula�on of Digging and Breakout Force

Typical Bucket of an excavator
The digging force is the available force at the �p of
1.3.Parts of a Bucket the bucket teeth created by the s�ck cylinder(s).
Maximum digging force is calculated with
Hinge dimension
“a” at its maximum and with the bucket in a
posi�on calculated for maximum breakout force

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 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑑𝑑𝐴𝐴 × 𝑑𝑑𝐶𝐶 𝑑𝑑 𝑟𝑟
𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵 = � � 𝐹𝐹1 = ×
𝑑𝑑𝐷𝐷 𝑑𝑑𝐵𝐵 𝑐𝑐 × 𝑒𝑒 𝐿𝐿
Fl- Bucket cylinder force
c- Perpendicular distance bucket cylinder
axis - lever pivot
d- Perpendicular distance connec�ng link
axis - lever pivot
e- Perpendicular distance connec�ng link
axis – bucket pivot
r- Radius bucket pivot - tooth lip

4.Design Parameters
dA = Distance between Boom and arm
fixed point
dB = Distance between arm and bucket
cylinder fixed point
dC = Distance between arm end and
cylinder end fixed point
dD = Distance between bucket end to the
�p of teeth of bucket
dE = Distance between boom cylinder end
Digging Force
and arm cylinder end
3.Breakout Force
The force that is made available at the �p of
the teeth by the bucket cylinder is known as
the breakout force. When the tooth force is at
its greatest, the maximum breakout force is
obtained.

Different kind of bucket forces

Breakout Force

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5.Calcula�on of Excavator

Bucket Capacity according to SAE

SAE (Society of automo�ve engineer)

(𝑏𝑏1 + 𝑏𝑏2) 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴12 𝑏𝑏13

𝑉𝑉 = 𝐹𝐹 + −
2 4 12
Capacity calcula�on according to CECE
(Commitee for European Construc�on
Equipment)

(𝑏𝑏1 + 𝑏𝑏2) 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴12 𝑏𝑏13

𝑉𝑉 = 𝐹𝐹 + −
2 8 24

6.Defina�on of Used Symbols

A = BUCKET OPENING, measured from cu�ng

edge to end of bucket rear plate

B = CUTTING WIDTH, measured over the teeth

or side cuters

b = BUCKET WIDTH, measured over sides of

bucket at the lower lip without teeth of Side
cuters atached
b1 = INSIDE WIDTH FRONT, measured at
cu�ng edge
b2 = INSIDE WIDTH REAR, measured at
narrowest part in the back of the bucket
F = SIDE PROFILE AREA OF BUCKET, bounded
by the inside contour and the strike
Plane of the bucket. Angular or curved
indenta�on of the side leading edge from the
strike plane is not being considered if less
than A/12.
7.Material Fill Factor and comparison
We can say it is either under or over filled
Comparison of various bucket specs and
digging force
8.Conclusion
In conclusion, designing buckets for different
cycle operators is an important considera�on
in the engineering and construc�on
industries. To make sure that buckets can
endure the hard circumstances connected
with cyclic opera�ons, it demands the use of
scien�fic ideas and cu�ng-edge technology.
The efficacy and longevity of the buckets are
significantly influenced by the material
choices, design criteria, and manufacturing
procedures. Excavators, loaders, and backhoes
are just a few examples of cyclic operators
whose produc�vity and efficiency may be
improved by properly built buckets. Further
research and development are required to
enhance the design of buckets for different
cycle operators in order to increase their
performance and lessen their environmental
effect as the demand for these machines rises.

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9.Acknoledgement
Author expresses gra�tude to Prof. (Dr.) I.N.
Sinha for allowing him to teach me and for
allowing me to research and write a term
project on "Design of Buckets of Various Cyclic
Excavators.". The author also acknowledges all
others who supported him during this �me.

10.References
• Prof I. N. Sinha notes, IIEST Shibpur;
email: indranaths@mining.iiests.ac.in

• SAE INTERNATIONALS, SAE J1179:

Hydraulic Excavator and Backhoe
Digging Forces, 400 Commonwealth
Drive, Warrendale, PA, 1990, page 1.

• B. Kumar and T. Alam, "Excavator

Bucket Tooth Wear Analysis”.,
Interna�onal Conference on
Electrical, Electronics, and
Op�miza�on Techniques

11.About the author

Diptendra Saha a 3rd year

mining engineering student in
IIEST Shibpur

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