Shovel having a wristing dipper

1. A mining shovel comprising:

a base;

a boom extending from the base, the boom having a lower end attached to the base and an upper end remote from the base;

a pulling mechanism mounted on the upper end of the boom;

a boom attachment having a first end pivotally coupled to the boom and a second end;

a boom attachment actuator extending between the boom attachment and at least one of the base and the boom, wherein the boom attachment actuator is operable to pivot the boom attachment relative to the boom;

a dipper pivotally connected to the second end of the boom attachment for pivoting movement about the second end of the boom attachment in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the dipper moveably supported by the pulling mechanism; and

a dipper actuator coupled between the boom attachment and the dipper and operable to selectively pivot the dipper relative to the boom attachment in the first direction and the second direction.

2. The mining shovel of claim 1 , wherein the boom attachment actuator is pivotally coupled to the at least one of the base and the boom and to the boom attachment.

3. The mining shovel of claim 1 , wherein the boom includes a first portion having two parallel boom members extending upwardly from the base, and a second portion extending upwardly and forwardly from the first portion.

4. The mining shovel of claim 3 , wherein the boom attachment actuator is positioned between the two parallel boom members.

5. The mining shovel of claim 1 , wherein movement of the dipper is controlled by simultaneous operation of the boom attachment actuator and the pulling mechanism.

6. The mining shovel of claim 1 , wherein the boom attachment includes a first portion pivotally coupled to the boom and a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion.

7. The mining shovel of claim 6 , wherein the dipper is pivotally coupled to the second portion.

8. The mining shovel of claim 7 , wherein the pulling mechanism is coupled to one of the dipper and the second portion for supporting the second end of the boom attachment.

9. The mining shovel of claim 7 , wherein the dipper actuator is coupled between the second portion and the dipper.

10. The mining shovel of claim 1 , wherein the pulling mechanism includes a sheave rotatably coupled to the second end of the boom and a rope extending from the base, over the sheave, and coupled to the second end of the boom attachment.

11. A mining shovel comprising:

a base;

a boom having a first boom end coupled to the base and a second boom end;

a pulling mechanism at the second boom end;

a boom attachment having a first portion coupled to the boom between the first boom end and the second boom end, and a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion and supported by the pulling mechanism;

a dipper coupled to the second portion of the boom attachment; and

a dipper actuator coupled between the boom attachment and the dipper and operable to pivot the dipper with respect to the second portion.

12. The mining shovel of claim 11 , wherein the dipper is pivotally coupled to the second portion of the boom attachment.

13. The mining shovel of claim 11 , further comprising a boom attachment actuator extending between the boom attachment and at least one of the base and the boom, wherein the boom attachment actuator is operable to pivot the boom attachment relative to the boom.

14. The mining shovel of claim 11 , wherein the pulling mechanism includes a sheave rotatably mounted to the second boom end and a rope extending from the base, over the sheave, and generally downwardly to support the second portion of the boom attachment.

15. The mining shovel of claim 11 , wherein the dipper actuator is coupled between the first portion of the boom attachment and the dipper.

16. The mining shovel of claim 11 , wherein the dipper actuator is coupled between the second portion of the boom attachment and the dipper.

17. The mining shovel of claim 11 , wherein the dipper actuator positioned below the second portion of the boom attachment.

18. A mining shovel comprising:

a base;

a boom having a first boom end coupled to the base and a second boom end;

a pulling mechanism at the second boom end;

a boom attachment having a first portion coupled to the boom between the first boom end and the second boom end, and a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion and supported by the pulling mechanism;

a boom attachment actuator extending between the boom attachment and at least one of the base and the boom, the boom attachment actuator operable to pivot the boom attachment relative to the boom;

a dipper pivotally coupled to the second portion of the boom attachment; and

a dipper actuator coupled between the boom attachment and the dipper and operable to pivot the dipper relative to the boom attachment.

19. The mining shovel of claim 18 , wherein the boom attachment actuator is coupled to the first portion of the boom attachment.

20. The mining shovel of claim 18 , wherein the dipper actuator is coupled between the second portion of the boom attachment and the dipper.

21. The mining shovel of claim 18 , wherein the pulling mechanism includes a sheave rotatably mounted to the second boom end and a rope extending from the base, over the sheave, and coupled to the dipper via a dipper connecting element.