Elevator buckets
Some elevator buckets 1, 11, 21, 31, 41 have aperture orifices 2, 3, 4, 12, 22; 42, 43, 44, 52 . Traditionally, these aperture orifices are formed by drilling a solid bucket wall but by provided aperture features 12′, 13′, 52 ′ in a moulded bucket with some already moulded aperture orifices then some markers or pre-cursors for aperture orifices are provided and provision of elevator buckets is more efficient with aperture orifices.
1. An elevator bucket comprising a scoop with a plurality of aperture features, at least one aperture feature defining an elongate orifice through a wall thickness of the scoop when initially formed to act as a vent for the bucket when filled with a bulk material having a dimension greater than a width of the elongate orifice;
the bulk material filling the bucket having said dimension greater than the width of the elongate orifice and the elongate orifice having a length greater than said width;
the elongate orifice venting air inside the bucket and out of the bucket when the bucket is being filled;
the elongate orifice being free of bulk material after the bucket is emptied; and
the bucket is made of a polymer material.
2. The bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bucket is formed of a plastics material by moulding in a mould.
3. The bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture features include a number of orifices in a wall of the scoop.
4. The bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture features are a number of variations in the thickness depth of a wall of the scoop.
5. The bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture features are a number of markings formed in the scoop.
6. The bucket as claimed in claim 5 wherein the markings are ridges or ribs or indentations in the scoop.
7. The bucket as claimed in claim 5 wherein the markings provide a guide for punching an orifice in a wall of the scoop.
8. The bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture features define one or more predetermined orifice patterns in the scoop.
9. The bucket as claimed in claim 8 wherein each orifice pattern comprises a distinct type of aperture feature.
10. The bucket as claimed in claim 8 wherein each orifice pattern has a distinct number or letter or symbol for identification in the plurality of aperture features.
11. A method of forming an elevator bucket, the method comprising:
providing a mould for a plastics material, the mould having relief aperture features to define elongate aperture orifices in an aperture pattern in the bucket, wherein the relief aperture features comprise a depression or rib or ridge to form an aperture feature in relief within the elevator bucket;
rendering at least one aperture pattern active within the mould;
moulding an elevator bucket with a plastics material in the mould with that at least one aperture pattern; and
forming at least one aperture orifice in the elevator bucket.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the relief aperture features include a peg whereby an orifice is formed in the elevator bucket when moulded by the peg extending across a width of a wall of the elevator bucket as moulded.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the peg is removed.