Quick coupler

• US 10,184,224 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Ito, Daijiro, Yoshida, Tsuyoshi, Hashimoto, Akira, Tsukada, Takuya, Higuchi, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Setliff, Matthieu F
• Application Number:
  US15/315,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20170107687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3604 Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3618 with two separating hooks
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3645 with auto-engagement means for automatic snap-on of the tool coupler part
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3663 hydraulically-operated

Abstract

An edge of a guide hole includes a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a guide portion. The first contact portion is in contact with the second connecting pin while the second connecting pin is positioned in the lock actuation position. The second contact portion is in contact with the second connecting pin while the second connecting pin is positioned in the lock release position. The guide portion extends in a direction intersecting the movement direction of the second connecting pin between the first contact portion and the second contact portion. The guide portion is pressed by the second connecting pin that moves from the lock actuation position to the lock release position in order to resist the urging force of an urging member and cause the second lock member to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Claims

1. A quick coupler comprising:

a coupler body including a first hook;

a movable member including a second hook and supported in a movable manner on the coupler body;

a hydraulic cylinder including a first end portion connected to the coupler body and a second end portion connected to the movable member, the hydraulic cylinder causing the movable member to move so that the second hook moves away from the first hook due to expansion of the hydraulic cylinder, and the hydraulic cylinder causing the movable member to move so that second hook moves closer to the first hook due to contraction of the hydraulic cylinder;

a second connecting pin connecting the second end portion of the hydraulic cylinder and the movable member,

a second lock member configured to move to a locked position and an unlocked position, the second lock member protruding into an opening of the second hook in the locked position, and the second lock member retracting from the locked position in the unlocked position; and

an urging member urging the second lock member toward the locked position,

the movable member including a second support hole that supports the second connecting pin in a movable manner between a lock release position and a lock actuation position along an expansion and contraction direction of the hydraulic cylinder,

the second connecting pin moves from the lock release position to the lock actuation position due to the expansion of the hydraulic cylinder,

the second connecting pin moves from the lock actuation position to the lock release position due to the contraction of the hydraulic cylinder,

the second lock member includes a guide hole disposed so as to overlap the second support hole,

the second connecting pin is inserted into the second support hole and the guide hole, and

an edge of the guide hole including

a first contact portion that is in contact with the second connecting pin while the second connecting pin is positioned in the lock actuation position,

a second contact portion that is in contact with the second connecting pin while the second connecting pin is positioned in the lock release position, and

a guide portion that extends in a direction that intersects a movement direction of the second connecting pin between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, and the guide portion being pressed by the second connecting pin that moves from the lock actuation position to the lock release position in order to resist an urging force of the urging member and cause the second lock member to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

2. The quick coupler according to claim 1, wherein

the second support hole is an elongated hole that extends along the expansion and contraction direction of the hydraulic cylinder.

3. The quick coupler according to claim 1, wherein

the second lock member is supported by the movable member to allow rotation between the locked position and the unlocked position.

4. The quick coupler according to claim 1, wherein

the edge of the guide hole further includes

a first corner portion including the first contact portion,

a second corner portion including the second contact portion,

a third corner portion disposed along a movement direction of the second lock member with respect to the first corner portion,

a first connecting portion including the guide portion, the first connecting portion connecting the first corner portion and the second corner portion,

a second connecting portion connecting the second corner portion and the third corner portion, and

a third connecting portion connecting the third corner portion and the first corner portion.

5. The quick coupler according to claim 4, wherein

the third corner portion is disposed below a gap with respect to the second connecting pin in the lock actuation position so that the second lock member is moveable from the locked position to the unlocked position while the second connecting pin is positioned in the lock actuation position.

6. The quick coupler according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first lock member configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, the first lock member protruding into an opening of the first hook in the locked position, the first lock member retracting from the locked position in the unlocked position; and

a first connecting pin connecting the first end portion of the hydraulic cylinder and the coupler body,

the coupler body including a first support hole movably supporting the first connecting pin along the expansion and contraction direction of the hydraulic cylinder, and

the first end portion of the hydraulic cylinder moving away from the second end portion within a movability range of the first connecting pin in order to move the first lock member from the unlocked position to the locked position.

7. The quick coupler according to claim 6, wherein

the first support hole is an elongated hole that extends along the expansion and contraction direction of the hydraulic cylinder.

8. The quick coupler according to claim 6, further comprising:

an elastic member inserted into the first support hole, the elastic member being configured to press the first connecting pin in a direction from the second end portion toward the first end portion.

9. The quick coupler according to claim 6, wherein

the first end portion of the hydraulic cylinder moves closer to the second end portion within a movability range of the connecting pin in order to move the first lock member from the locked position to the unlocked position.