Bucket for handling ground material

1 . A bucket for a loader, the bucket comprising:

a handling section connected to a separate load carrying section to form a fixed body, the handling and load carrying sections defining a load carrying space and an open mouth through which material is received into and discharged from the load carrying space, the handling section including an upper wall that extends rearward in a direction away from the open mouth, and the load carrying section including a base wall and two side walls projecting up from each side of the base wall;

a primary side fastening arrangement fastening each side wall of the load carrying section to the upper wall of the handling section, the primary side fastening arrangement mounting the load carrying section on the handling section while permitting the handling section to pivot relative to the load carrying section; and

a secondary end fastening arrangement that is different to the primary side fastening arrangement and that fastens the upper wall to the base wall;

wherein during replacement of the load carrying section, the handling section is configured to be mounted on the load carrying section and pivoted into an assembly position, and the handling and load carrying sections are configured for a rear end of the upper wall to slide over a rear end of the base wall.

2 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 1 , wherein the handling section includes a mounting formation, and the load carrying section includes a complementary mounting formation interacting with the mounting formation of the handling section.

3 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 2 , wherein the load carrying section is sized and configured to be received within the mounting formation of the handling section.

4 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 2 , wherein the mounting formation of the handling section includes locating tabs on each side of the upper wall that locates the load carrying section on the handling section in a lateral direction.

5 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 2 , wherein the mounting formation of the handling section further includes locating tabs on the upper wall for locating the load carrying section on the handling section in a front to rear direction.

6 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary end fastening arrangement includes a plurality of mechanical fasteners that fasten the upper wall to the base wall.

7 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of mechanical fasteners is arranged in a line from one side of the upper wall to the other side.

8 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary end fastening arrangement includes at least one weld for welding the rear end of the upper wall to the base wall.

9 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 1 , wherein the mouth has a width extending from one side wall to the other side wall and a height extending from the base wall to the upper wall at the mouth, and the width of the mouth is greater than the height of the mouth, and wherein the width of the mouth is at least 50% greater than the height of the mouth.

10 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 1 , wherein the primary side fastening arrangement is configured to correctly position the handling section relative to the load carrying section in a lateral direction, and comprises a primary fastener on each side of the fixed body connecting the side wall to the upper wall that permits the handling section to pivot relative to the load carrying section.

11 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 10 , wherein the primary side fastening arrangement comprises a boss formation on each side of the load carrying section forming a fastener aperture, and a further boss formation on each side of the handling section forming a further fastener aperture, and wherein said one and further fastener apertures on each side are aligned with each other to receive the primary fastener therethrough.

12 . The bucket for a loader according to claim 10 , wherein each primary fastener includes a pin.

13 . A method of changing the size of a bucket for a loader comprising a handling section that is connected to a separate load carrying section to form a fixed body defining a load carrying space and an open mouth through which material is received into and discharged from the load carrying space, the handling section including an upper wall that extends in a direction away from the open mouth, and the load carrying section including a base wall and two side walls projecting up from each side of the base wall, a primary side fastening arrangement fastening each side wall of the load carrying section to the upper wall of the handling section, the primary side fastening arrangement mounting the load carrying section on the handling section while permitting the handling section to pivot relative to the load carrying section, and a secondary end fastening arrangement that is different to the primary side fastening arrangement and that fastens the upper wall to the base wall, the method comprising:

separating said one load carrying section from the handling section by removing the secondary end fastening arrangement to detach the upper wall from the base wall, and then removing the primary side fastening arrangement to detach the side walls from the upper wall, bringing another load carrying section of different size to said one load carrying section into position adjacent to said one handling section;

mounting said one handling section on the other load carrying section by means of the primary side fastening arrangement so that the handling section is supported on the other load carrying section;

pivoting the handling section into an assembly position on the other load carrying section by sliding a rear end of the upper wall over a rear end of the base wall; and then

fastening the upper wall to the base wall of the other load carrying section with the secondary end fastening arrangement to form a reconfigured bucket having a different volume of load carrying space.

14 . The method of changing the size of a bucket for a loader according to claim 13 , wherein the handling section includes a mounting formation and the load carrying section includes a complementary mounting formation interacting with said one mounting formation and said complementary mounting formations of each of said one and other load carrying sections are sized and configured so that they both fit on said one mounting formation on the handling section.

15 . The method of changing the size of a bucket for a loader according to claim 13 , wherein the bucket body has a depth in a direction from a front end to the rear end of the upper wall, and changing the load carrying section increases or decreases the depth of the bucket body which increases or decreases the volume of the load carrying space.

16 . The method of changing the size of a bucket a loader according to claim 13 , wherein the primary side fastening arrangement includes a boss formation on each side of the load carrying section forming a fastener aperture, and a further boss formation on each side of the handling section forming a further fastener aperture, and said one and further fastener apertures on each side are aligned with each other to receive the primary fastener therethrough.

17 . The method of changing the size of a bucket for a loader according to claim 13 , wherein the primary side fastening arrangement is configured to correctly position the handling section relative to the load carrying section in a lateral direction, and the primary side fastening arrangement comprises a primary fastener including a pin on each side of the body connecting the side wall to the upper wall that permits the handling section to pivot relative to the load carrying section.

18 . A method of refurbishing a bucket for a loader comprising a handling section that is connected to a separate load carrying section to form a fixed body defining a load carrying space and an open mouth through which material is received into and discharged from the load carrying space, the handling section including an upper wall that extends rearward in a direction away from the open mouth, and the load carrying section including a base wall and two side walls projecting up from each side of the base wall, a primary side fastening arrangement fastening each side wall of the load carrying section to the upper wall of the handling section, the primary side fastening arrangement mounting the load carrying section on the handling section while permitting the handling section to pivot relative to the load carrying section, wherein the handling and load carrying sections are configured for a rear end of the upper wall to slide over a rear end of the base wall while the load carrying section is pivotally mounted on the handling section, and a secondary end fastening arrangement that is different to the primary side fastening arrangement and that fastens the upper wall to the base wall, the method comprising:

separating said one load carrying section from the handling section by removing the secondary end fastening arrangement to detach the upper wall from the base wall, and then removing the primary side fastening arrangement to detach the side walls from the upper wall and separate the handling and load carrying sections;

bringing another load carrying section into position adjacent to said one handling section;

mounting said one handling section on the other load carrying section by means of the primary side fastening arrangement so that the handling section is supported on the other load carrying section;

pivoting the handling section into an assembly position on the other load carrying section by sliding the rear end of the upper wall over the rear end of the base wall; and then

fastening the upper wall to the base wall with the secondary end fastening arrangement to form a refurbished bucket.

19 . The method of refurbishing a bucket according to claim 18 , wherein said removing the fastening arrangement includes cutting or unfastening mechanical fasteners from the handling and load carrying sections and fastening said other load carrying section to said one handling section with the fastening arrangement includes fastening the side walls to the upper wall with mechanical fasteners and fastening the rear end of the upper wall to the base wall with mechanical fasteners; or

wherein said removing the fastening arrangement includes cutting welds fastening the handling and load carrying sections to each other, and wherein fastening said other load carrying section to said one handling section includes welding the side walls to the upper wall and welding the rear end of the upper wall to the base wall.

20 . The method of refurbishing a bucket according to claim 18 , wherein the primary side fastening arrangement is configured to correctly position the handling section relative to the load carrying section in a lateral direction, and the primary side fastening arrangement comprises a primary fastener including a pin on each side of the body connecting the side wall to the upper wall that permits the handling section to pivot relative to the load carrying section.