Quick coupler for bucket excavators

• US 6,422,805 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Miller UK Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Gary Miller, Jacqueline Miller, Ronald Keith Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Underwood, Donald W.
• Application Number:
  US09/337,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 414/723, 374/68, 403/320, 403/321, 403/325, 172/272-275
• US Class Current: 414/723
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3618 with two separating hooks
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3622 with a hook and a locking element acting on a pin
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3627 with a hook and a longitudinal locking element
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/365 with redundant latching means, e.g. for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3663 hydraulically-operated

Abstract

A coupler for connecting a dipper arm of an excavator to a bucket without the need for the operator of the excavator to leave the cab of the excavator, the coupler having means for connecting it to the end of the dipper arm, and means, including a latching hook for connecting it to one of a plurality of different buckets and wherein locking means is provided to prevent inadvertent unlatching of the latching hook, said locking means being operable from the cab. The locking means may be gravity operated and include resiliently deformable means thereon to prevent unlatching when the coupler is inverted. Alternatively, it may be spring operated in which case, further means is provided to move the locking means against the bias of the spring. Preferably, the hook has a special internal profile so that when it is supporting the weight of a bucket, it will tend to move to a latching position, not to an unlatching position.

Claims

1. A coupler to enable an excavator operator to couple an excavator bucket to a dipper arm of an excavator without leaving his cab, the coupler comprising a first open-ended aperture, a second open-ended aperture and a movable latching member co-operating with said second open-ended aperture, the latching member including a locking face, power-operated means for moving the latching member between latched and unlatched positions;

a control for the power operated means operable by the operator from the cab, and a bifurcated blocking bar, the two limbs of which are pivotally supported on a first pivot axis, and the opposite end of which is adapted to bear against said locking face the blocking bar moveable independently of the latching member from and into a blocking position in which it prevents the latching member from being disengaged.

2. A coupler to enable an excavator operator to couple an excavator bucket to a dipper arm of an excavator without leaving his cab, the coupler comprising a first open-ended aperture, a second open-ended aperture and a movable latching member including a locking face co-operating with said second open-ended aperture, power-operated means for moving the latching member between latched and unlatched positions;

a control for the power operated means operable by the operator from the cab, and a single blocking bar pivotally supported at one end region on a first pivot axis and adapted to bear at its opposite end against said locking face and moveable about the first pivot axis independently of the latching member from and into a blocking position in which it prevents the latching member from being disengaged.

3. A coupler according to claim 3 wherein the locking face is stepped.

4. A coupler according to claim 4 wherein the locking face is stepped.