Spread-style coupler with supplemental lock system

• US 7,306,395 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• 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): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kennedy, Joshua T
• Application Number:
  US11/059,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20050169703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.3, 403/322.4, 374/68, 414/723
• US Class Current: 403/321
• 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 3/365 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

Abstract

A coupler includes a first hook assembly comprising a first hook adapted to receive a first associated attachment pin and a second hook assembly comprising a second hook adapted to receive a second associated attachment pin. The second hook assembly selectively pivots under force of an actuator relative to the first hook assembly by an actuator. The actuator comprises a screw jack that includes a locking sleeve to prevent unintended rotation of the screw member. Alternatively, the coupler includes a locking cam that moves between a retracted position and an extended position and a supplemental lock that selectively prevents movement of the locking cam from the extended position to the retracted position, and the actuator is operatively coupled to the second hook assembly and the locking cam.

Claims

1. A coupler comprising:

an upper portion defining a first pin-on axis and a second pin-on axis, wherein said upper portion comprises first and second ribs arranged in parallel spaced relation and defining an upper channel therebetween, wherein said first and second ribs define respective first pin-on bores coincident with said first pin-on axis, and said first and second ribs define respective second pin-on bores coincident with said second pin-on axis;

a first hook assembly immovably connected to said upper portion and comprising a first hook adapted to receive a first associated attachment pin;

a second hook assembly comprising a second hook adapted to receive a second associated attachment pin, said second hook assembly pivotably connected to said upper portion and selectively pivotable toward and away from said first hook assembly;

a locking cam pivotally connected to said first hook assembly and pivotally movable relative to said first hook between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said locking cam at least partially blocks said first hook when in said extended position;

an actuator operatively connected between said second hook assembly and said locking cam, said actuator being operable between a first position and a second position, wherein;

(i) when said actuator is operated from said first position to said second position, said actuator moves said second hook away from said first hook and moves said locking cam from said retracted position to said extended position; and

, (ii) when said actuator is operated from said second position to said first position, said actuator moves said second hook toward said first hook and moves said locking cam from said extended position to said retracted position;

a stop immovably secured relative to said upper portion and said first hook, said stop fixed in position relative to the pivotable locking cam so that said pivotable locking cam moves relative to said stop when said locking cam moves between its extended and retracted positions; and

,

a pendulum lock bar pivotally connected to the locking cam and movable under force of gravity between a locked position and an unlocked position depending upon an angular orientation of said coupler, said pendulum lock bar comprising a stop face, wherein;

(i) said stop face of said pendulum lock bar is located to engage said stop and prevent movement of said locking cam from said extended position to said retracted position when said pendulum lock bar is located in said locked position; and

, (ii) said stop face of said pendulum lock bar is moved out of alignment with said stop when said pendulum lock bar is located in said unlocked position so that said locking cam is movable from said extended position to said retracted position when said pendulum lock bar is in said unlocked position;

wherein the pendulum lock bar moves together with the locking cam when the locking cam moves between its extended and retracted positions and also pivots relative to the moveable locking cam.

2. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator is connected to said locking cam by a first shaft, and wherein said pendulum lock is pivotally connected to said locking cam by said first shaft.

3. The coupler as set forth in claim 2, wherein said locking cam is pivotally connected to said first hook assembly by a second shaft.

4. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop is connected to said first hook assembly.

5. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises one of:

(i) a screw jack assembly comprising a rotatable screw member; and

(ii) a hydraulic cylinder comprising a body and a rod that is selectively extensible from and retractable into said body under fluid pressure.

6. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first hook comprises a first open mouth and a first innermost surface, and wherein said second hook comprises a second open mouth and a second innermost surface, said second open mouth defined between first and second terminal ends of said second hook, wherein said second terminal end is spaced from said second innermost surface by a distance that is at least 1.5 times the distance between said first terminal end and said second innermost surface, said second hook further comprising a guide ramp surface that extends from said second terminal end toward said second innermost surface, said guide ramp adapted to engage and slidably guide the second associated attachment pin into said second hook.

7. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said first hook is partially defined by a first set of multiple arcuate surfaces having a first set of different radii centered at a first set of different origins to engage a first set of pin diameters for the first associated attachment pin, respectively; and

,

said second hook is partially defined by a second set of multiple arcuate surfaces having a second set of different radii centered at a second set of different origins to engage a second set of pin diameters for the second associated attachment pin, respectively.

8. The coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second hook assembly comprises first and second ears that are pivotally connected to said first and second ribs, respectively.

9. The coupler as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second ears define first and second apertures that are rotatably supported on first and second bosses projecting from said first and second ribs, respectively.