Coupler with improved pin lock

• US 6,962,475 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paladin Brands LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JRB Attachments, LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fatemi, Ray S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Underwood, Donald W.
• Application Number:
  US10/758,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 414/723, 374/68, 172272-275
• US Class Current: 414/723
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3618 with two separating hooks
• 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 includes a body having first and second recesses that are adapted for respectively receiving first and second associated pins of an associated bucket or other implement. A wedge lock member is movably secured to the body and is movable between a retracted position one or more extended positions. The wedge lock member at least partially obstructs the second recess when it is moved to an extended position so as to capture a second associated pin in the second recess. An actuator is operably coupled to the wedge lock member and is operable to move the wedge lock member between its retracted and extended positions. A supplemental lock arm member is movably secured to the coupler body and is movable between an unlocked position and one or more locked positions. When the supplemental lock arm member is in its locked position, it engages and prevents movement of the lock member from the one or more extended positions to the retracted position. The supplemental lock arm member is movable from its locked position to its unlocked position in response to at least substantial full curling of the coupler body relative to an associated arm to which the coupler body is connected.

Claims

1. A coupler comprising:

a body including first and second recesses, said body adapted for pivotal connection to an associated arm and an associated control link, said first and second recesses adapted for respectively receiving first and second associated pins of an associated implement;

a main lock member movably secured to said body and movable between a retracted position and an extended position, said main lock member at least partially obstructing said second recess when moved to said extended position;

an actuator operably coupled to said main lock member and operable to move said main lock member to and between said retracted position and said extended position; and

,

a supplemental lock member movably secured to said body and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, said supplemental lock member, when located in said locked position, blocking movement of said main lock member from said extended position to said retracted position, said supplemental lock member comprising a first end for blocking movement of said main lock member from said extended position to said retracted position and a second end that projects outwardly from said body and that is adapted to be engaged to move said supplemental lock member from said locked position to said unlocked position when said body is pivoted to a select angular position relative to an the associated arm and associated control link.

2. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said select angular position is an at least substantially fully curled position relative to the associated arm and control link.

3. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a spring engaged with said supplemental lock member and biasing said supplemental lock member to said locked position.

4. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises one of a manual actuator, a fluid-cylinder actuator and a solenoid actuator.

5. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supplemental lock member is pivotally secured to said body and adapted for pivoting movement between said locked position and said unlocked position.

6. The coupler as set forth in claim 5, wherein said main lock member is slidably secured to said body and moves linearly between said retracted position and said extended position.

7. The coupler as set forth in claim 6, wherein said extended position of said main lock comprises first and second different extended positions, and wherein said first end of said supplemental lock member comprises a first stop surface that prevents movement of said first lock member from said first extended position to said retracted position and a second stop surface that prevents movement of said first lock member from said second extended position to said retracted position.

8. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a stem adjustably connected to said second end of said supplemental lock member and adapted for being positioned and secured in different positions relative to said second end of said supplemental lock member.

9. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein a location of said second end of said supplemental lock member relative to said body provides a visual indication of said supplemental lock member being in said locked position.

10. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a first proximity sensor located adjacent said second recess to sense a presence of the second associated pin in the second recess.

11. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a second proximity sensor for sensing a presence of said supplemental lock member in said locked position.

12. The coupler as set forth in claim 5, wherein said body comprises first and second sidewalls defining a channel therebetween, said coupler further comprising a cross-pin that extends between said first and second sidewalls through said channel, said supplemental lock member pivotally connected to said cross-pin.

13. A coupler comprising:

a body including first and second pin-receiving recesses;

a main lock member selectively movable between an extended position where said main lock member at least partially obstructs one of said first and second recesses and a retracted position;

a supplemental lock member connected to said body and movable between a locked position, where said supplemental lock member blocks movement of said main lock member from said extended position to said retracted position, and an unlocked position, said supplemental lock member including a portion that is moved relative to said body only when said body moves from an uncurled position to a curled position relative to an associated excavator arm so that said supplemental lock member correspondingly moves from said locked position to said unlocked position when said body is moved from said uncurled position to said curled position.

14. The coupler as set forth in claim 13, wherein said supplemental lock member is pivotally secured to said body.

15. The coupler as set forth in claim 13, wherein said supplement lock member comprises a portion that provides a visual indicator to an observer if said supplement lock member is in said unlocked position.

16. The coupler as set forth in claim 13, wherein said supplemental lock member is spring-biased into said locked position.

17. A coupler comprising:

a body including first and second recesses adapted for respectively receiving first and second associated attachment pins;

a main lock connected to said body and movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said main lock obstructs said second recess when in said extended position;

an actuator operably coupled to said main lock and selectively operable to move said main lock to and between said retracted position and said extended position;

a supplemental lock movably secured to said body and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, said supplemental lock comprising a first end adjacent said main lock and comprising a second end that projects from said body, wherein said supplemental lock moves from said locked position, where said first end blocks movement of said main lock from said extended position to said retracted position, to said unlocked position, where said first end allows movement of said main lock from said extended position to said retracted position, when said second end of said supplement lock is moved by contact with an associated excavator arm; and

,

a spring that biases said supplemental lock into said locked position.