Latching mechanism for a quick coupler

• US 5,890,871 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Woerman, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Underwood, Donald W.
• Application Number:
  US08/987,976
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 414/723, 37/468, 403/409.1, 403/328, 403/322.4, 403/322.1
• US Class Current: 414/723
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3627 with a hook and a longitudinal locking element
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/364 using wedges
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3663 hydraulically-operated

Abstract

A quick coupler for detachably coupling a bucket or other work tool to the stick of an excavator or backhoe is disclosed. The quick coupler has a latching mechanism with is powered by a single acting cylinder to unlatch the coupler and which is powered by both a spring device and a gas charged accumulator to latch the coupler to the bucket.

Claims

1. A latching mechanism for securing a quick coupler to a pair of coupler receiving brackets on a work tool, said brackets having a pair of latching notches provided thereon, comprising:

a transverse latch bar carriable on said quick coupler and adapted for movement from an unlatching position wherein said bar is free of said latching notches to a latching position wherein said bar is disposable in latching engagement with said latching notches of said brackets for securing said coupler to said bracket; and

an actuator mechanism carriable on said quick coupler adapted to move said latch bar between its unlatching position and its latching position, said actuator mechanism including a hydraulic cylinder adapted to provide an unlatching force to selectively move said latch bar to its unlatching position, a mechanical spring device adapted to provide a first latching force for biasing said latch bar towards its latching position and a gas charged accumulator adapted to provide a second latching force for biasing said latch bar toward its latching position.

2. The latching mechanism of claim 1 wherein said hydraulic cylinder is a single acting cylinder having a head end and a rod end and being extendible when pressurized fluid is directed to its head end, and wherein said gas charged accumulator is fluidly connected to the rod end of said cylinder and is adapted to supply a predetermined amount of fluid pressure to said rod end for biasing said latch bar toward its latching position.

3. The latching mechanism of claim 1 including a guide mechanism adapted to reciprocatably mount said latch bar for movement between its latching position and its unlatching position.

4. The latching mechanism of claim 2 including means for selectively directing pressurized fluid into said head end of said cylinder for causing said rod end to extend so as to move said latch bar to its unlatching position and for releasing fluid pressure from said head end.

5. A latching mechanism for securing a quick coupler to a pair of coupler receiving brackets on a work tool, said brackets having a pair of latching notches provided thereon, comprising:

a transverse latch bar adapted to be received into said pair of latching notches for latching said coupler to said brackets;

a guide mechanism adapted to reciprocatably mount said latch bar to said quick coupler for movement of said latch bar between an unlatching position wherein said bar is free of said latching notches and a latching position wherein said bar is disposable in latching engagement with said latching notches of said brackets for securing said coupler to said brackets; and

an extensible and retractable hydraulic cylinder mountable to said coupler and having a head end and an opposite rod end connected to said latch bar;

means for selectively directing pressurized fluid into said head end of said cylinder for causing said rod end to extend so as to move said latch bar to its unlatching position and for releasing fluid pressure from said head end;

a pair of compression springs that are arranged to be compressed when said latch bar is moved to its unlatching position so as to provide a first biasing force for returning said latch bar to its latching position and maintaining said latch bar in its latching position when fluid pressure is released from the head end of said cylinder; and

a gas charged accumulator fluidly connected to the rod end of said cylinder and adapted to supply a predetermined amount of fluid pressure to said rod end to provide a second biasing force for biasing said latch bar toward its latching position and for maintaining said latch bar in its latching position when fluid pressure is released from the head end of said cylinder.