Hydraulic coupler

• US 6,902,346 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Estate Of Coms Razer (USA), LLC, FairWinds Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hendrix Manufacturing Limited
• Inventors: Jones, Wilson A., Steig, Kenneth M. Jr., Thompson, Richard A., Hawkins, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACARTHUR, VICTOR L
• Application Number:
  US10/097,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20030175072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 172/683, 374/68, 414/686, 414/723, 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.3, 403/315, 403/322.4, 403/326
• US Class Current: 403/322.3
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/59 Manually releaseable latch type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/591 having operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/593 Remotely actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/595 Lever

Abstract

A quick coupler for attaching implements, such as buckets or other tools, to heavy equipment, such as backhoes and excavators, which includes two recesses or channels for receiving a pair of machine pins of an implement. A hydraulic piston actuates a first locking lever to enclose one of the pair of machine pins in one recess and a second locking lever to enclose the other one of the pair of machine pins in the other recess.

Claims

1. A coupler for releasable connection to a boom of a piece of equipment and for attaching an implement, the coupler comprising:

a body comprising a pair of interconnected opposed plates having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having means for releasably connecting said coupler to the boom of said piece of equipment and said lower portion having a first recess and a second recess for releasable connection to said implement;

a first lever pivotably connected to said body between said plates for blocking said first recess to attach said implement;

a second lever pivotably connected to said body between said plates for blocking said second recess to attach said implement, and

an actuator connected at one end thereof to said first lever and at the opposite end thereof to said second lever, wherein in operation said actuator pivotably moves said first lever and said second lever to engage and attach said implement and to disconnect said implement.

2. A coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper portion comprises a first pair of spaced apart plates and said lower portion comprises a second pair of spaced apart plates.

3. A coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means of releasably connecting said coupler to said boom comprises a pair of spaced apart passageways.

4. A coupler in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a pair of spaced apart apertures in each plate of said first pair of spaced apart plates.

5. A coupler in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first recess is defined by a first notch in each plate of said second pair of spaced apart plates and said second recess is defined by a second notch in each plate of said second pair of spaced apart plates.

6. A coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first lever is attached to said upper portion and said second lever is attached to said lower portion.

7. A coupler in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

8. A coupler in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first notch opens downward and said second notch opens forward.

9. A coupler in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first lever and said second lever pivot in a common direction.