COUPLER FOR EXCAVATORS

• US 20100067982A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ian Hill
• Original Assignee: Ian Hill
• Inventors: Hill, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/321
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3622 with a hook and a locking element acting on a pin
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3645 with auto-engagement means for automatic snap-on of the tool coupler part
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/365 with redundant latching means, e.g. for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3663 hydraulically-operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/22 with fluid pressure responsive component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/59 Manually releaseable latch type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/595 Lever

Abstract

A coupler for an excavator, the coupler comprising first and second recesses for receiving the pins of an attachment, a latching hook movable into and out of a latching state in which it closes the second pin-receiving recess, and a blocking bar movable into and out of a blocking state in which a portion of the blocking bar closes the first recess. The arrangement is such that, when the blocking bar is engaged in use by an attachment pin contained within the first recess, the action of the pin on the blocking bar urges the blocking bar into its blocking state. The blocking bar is further arranged so that, in the blocking state, it lies in the path of the latching hook and that, upon movement of the latching hook out of the latching state, the latching hook engages with the blocking bar to retain it in the blocking state.

Claims

1. A coupler for an excavator, the coupler comprising:

a body having first and second recesses for receiving first and second pins, respectively, of an attachment;

a latching member movable into and out of a latching state in which it at least partially closes said second pin-receiving recess; and

a blocking member movable into and out of a blocking state in which a portion of the blocking member at least partially closes said first recess, wherein the blocking member is arranged so that, in the blocking state, it lies in the path of the latching member and that, upon movement of the latching member out of the latching state, the latching member engages with the blocking member to retain the blocking member in the blocking state.

2. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blocking member is pivotably mounted to the body at a pivot point, said first recess being located substantially between said latching member and said pivot point.

3. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the blocking member is shaped so that, when engaged in use by an attachment pin contained within said first recess, the action of the pin on said portion urges said blocking member into its blocking state.

4. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the blocking member is shaped to present a concave curved surface to said first recess when the blocking member is in the closed state.

6. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the blocking member is provided by a jaw or recess.

7. A coupler as claimed in claim 6, wherein said blocking member is pivotably mounted to the body at a pivot point said first recess being located substantially between said latching member and said pivot point, and wherein said jaw or recess is located between said pivot point and a free end of the blocking member.

8. A coupler as claimed in claim 7, wherein said free end is engagable with the latching hook.

9. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, further including a lever movable into and out of a holding state in which it is capable of holding the blocking member out of the blocking state.

10. A coupler as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lever is coupled to the latching hook to move into the holding state when the latching hook is moved out of the latching state and to move out of the holding state when the latching hook moves into the latching state.

11. A coupler as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the lever is mounted on the body at or adjacent the rear of the latching member.

12. A coupler as claimed in claim 9 further including means for resiliently biasing said lever into contact with the rear of the latching member.

13. A coupler as claimed in claim 9, wherein the latching member carries a cam and the lever includes a cooperating cam surface, the cam being arranged to ride along the cam surface as the latching member moves into and out of its latching state, the cam surface being shaped to cause the angle of inclination between the latching member and the lever to increase as the latching member moves out of the latching state and to decrease as the latching member moves into the latching state.

14. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, further including means for biasing said blocking member into its blocking state, the biasing means being coupled to the blocking member and arranged to engage with an excavator arm to which the coupler is attached during use depending on the relative orientation of the coupler and the arm, wherein in at least a first relative orientation of the coupler and the arm, the biasing means is held under tension between the arm and the blocking member and urges the blocking member into its blocking state.

15. A coupler as claimed in claim 14, wherein the biasing means comprises a leaf spring, a torsion spring or other resilient biasing member.

16. A coupler as claimed in claim 14, wherein the biasing means comprises a biasing member having a body with a bent portion that is bent with respect to the body and arranged for engagement with the excavator arm in said at least first relative orientation of the coupler and arm.

17. A coupler as claimed in claim 16, wherein said bent portion is bent towards said arm in said at least first relative orientation of the coupler and arm.

18. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism including a locking member movable into and out of a locking state in which it prevents the blocking member from moving out of the blocking state.

19. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when said blocking member is in said blocking state and said latching member is in said latching state, said blocking member prevents said latching member from moving out of said latching state.

5. (canceled)

20. A coupler for an excavator, the coupler comprising:

a body having first and second recesses for receiving first and second pins, respectively, of an attachment;

a latching member movable into and out of a latching state in which it at least partially closes said second pin-receiving recess; and

a blocking member movable into and out of a blocking state in which a portion of the blocking member at least partially closes said first recess, wherein the blocking member is arranged so that, in the blocking state, it lies in the path of the latching member and that, upon movement of the latching member out of the latching state, the latching member engages with the blocking member to retain the latching member in the latching state.