Coupler with secondary lock on front hook

• US 8,262,310 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paladin Brands LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Paladin Brands LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sikorski, Robert, Daraie, Shadruz
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, JOSHUA T
• Application Number:
  US12/622,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20100124453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 414/723, 374/68, 403/322.3, 403/322.4
• US Class Current: 403/322.3
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3618 with two separating hooks
• 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: Y10T 403/57 Distinct end coupler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/593 Remotely actuated

Abstract

A coupler includes a frame with a front hook and a rear hook. A rear hook lock moves between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the rear hook lock obstructs an open mouth of the rear hook when the rear hook lock is in its locked position. An actuator is connected to the frame and is operatively connected to the rear hook lock. The actuator is adapted to move the rear hook lock between its unlocked and locked positions. A secondary lock includes a latch that moves between extended and retracted positions, wherein the latch obstructs an open mouth of the front hook when the latch is in its extended position. A first lock bar is connected to the frame and is movable between: (i) a disengaged position in which the first lock bar allows movement of the rear hook lock to its unlocked position and allows movement of said latch to its retracted position; and, (ii) an engaged position where the first lock bar blocks movement of the rear hook lock to its unlocked position and blocks movement of the latch to its retracted position. The first lock bar is biased toward its engaged position and is adapted to be moved to its disengaged position by contact with an associated excavator arm.

Claims

1. An attachment coupler comprising:

a frame including;

(i) an upper portion adapted for connection to an excavator arm and control link; and

, (ii) a lower portion including a front hook and rear hook respectively adapted for engaging first and second associated attachment pins of an associated attachment;

a lock plate movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein said lock plate obstructs said rear hook to capture the second associated attachment pin in the rear hook when in said locked position and wherein said lock plate is withdrawn relative to said rear hook to allow movement of the second associated attachment pin into and out of the rear hook when in said unlocked position;

an actuator operably connected to the lock plate for moving the lock plate to and between its unlocked position and its locked position;

a first lock bar connected to the frame and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said first lock bar blocks movement of said lock plate from its locked position to its unlocked position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position;

a secondary lock associated with said front hook, said secondary lock comprising a latch that moves between an extended position and a retracted position, said latch including a latch bar and at least a first latch projection connected to the latch bar, wherein said first latch projection projects into and obstructs said front hook to capture the first associated attachment pin in said front hook when said latch is in its extended position, said first latch projection retracted relative to said front hook to allow movement of the first associated attachment pin into and out of said front hook when said latch is in said retracted position, wherein said secondary lock further comprises;

(i) first and second latch bar housings connected to said frame and respectively slidably engaged with opposite first and second ends of the latch bar; and

(ii) first and second latch springs located respectively in said first and second latch bar housings and acting respectively on said first and second ends of said latch bar;

wherein said latch is biased to its extended position and movable from its extended position to its retracted position by contact between the latch and the first associated attachment pin when said first lock bar is in its disengaged position; and

wherein said first lock bar blocks movement of said latch from its extended position to its retracted position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position.

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

first and second latch pins are respectively connected to said first and second ends of said latch bar; and

,

said first and second latch pins are respectively connected to said first and second latch bar housings; and

wherein said latch bar is slidable on said first and second latch pins and said first and second latch pins are slidable relative to said first and second latch bar housings.

3. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and second latch springs are coaxially positioned on said first and second latch pins.

4. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latch further comprises a second latch projection connected to said latch bar and that projects into and obstructs said front hook to capture the first associated attachment pin in said front hook when said latch is in its extended position, said second latch projection retracted relative to said front hook to allow movement of the first associated attachment pin into and out of said front hook when said latch is in said retracted position.

5. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first lock bar comprises:

a first lock face adapted to abut the lock plate and prevent movement of the lock plate from its locked position to its unlocked position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position; and

,

a second lock face adapted to abut the latch of the secondary lock to prevent movement of the latch from its extended position to its retracted position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position.

6. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second lock face is located on said first lock bar such that contact between said second lack face and said latch urges said first lock bar toward its engaged position.

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

a second lock bar connected to the frame and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said second lock bar blocks movement of said lock plate from its locked position to its unlocked position when said second lock bar is in its engaged position.

8. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 7, wherein both said first and second lock bars comprise:

a first lock face adapted to abut the lock plate and prevent movement of the lock plate from its locked position to its unlocked position when said first and second first lock bars are in the engaged position; and

,

a second lock face adapted to abut the latch of the secondary lock to prevent movement of the latch from its extended position to its retracted position when said first and second lock bars are in the engaged position.

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

said frame upper portion comprises first and second spaced-apart upper ribs;

said frame lower portion comprises first and second spaced-apart lower ribs that are connected respectively to said first and second upper ribs;

said first and second lower ribs respectively comprise first and second inner slots located on an inner side of an open mouth of said rear hook and first and second outer slots located on an outer side of said open mouth of said rear hook;

said lock plate is slidably supported in said first and second inner slots and extends across said open mouth and into the first and second outer slots when said lock plate is in its locked position.

10. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first latch projection comprises first and second ramp surfaces that converge toward each other, wherein contact between the associated first attachment pin and either the first or second ramp surface urges the latch toward its retracted position.

11. A coupler comprising:

a frame including a front hook and a rear hook;

a rear hook lock that moves between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein said rear hook lock obstructs an open mouth of the rear hook when said rear hook lock is in its locked position;

an actuator connected to said frame and operatively connected to said rear hook lock, said actuator adapted to move said rear hook lock between its unlocked and locked positions;

a secondary lock comprising a latch that moves between extended and retracted positions, wherein said latch obstructs an open mouth of said front hook when said latch is in its extended position;

a first lock bar connected to said frame, said first lock bar movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said first lock bar comprising;

(i) a first lock face that blocks movement of said rear hook lock from its locked position to its unlocked position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position; and

, (ii) a second lock face that blocks movement of said latch of said secondary lock from its extended position to its retracted position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position, said first lock bar biased toward its engaged position and adapted to be moved to its disengaged position by relative movement between said frame and an associated arm to which said frame is connected sufficient to cause a projecting end of said first lock bar to contact the associated arm;

a second lock bar connected to said frame, said second lock bar movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said second lock bar comprising;

(i) a first lock face that blocks movement of said rear hook lock from its locked position to its unlocked position when said second lock bar is in its engaged position; and

, (ii) a second lock face that blocks movement of said latch of said secondary lock from its extended position to its retracted position when said second lock bar is in its engaged position, said second lock bar biased toward its engaged position and adapted to be moved to its disengaged position by relative movement between said frame and the associated arm to which said frame is connected sufficient to cause a projecting end of said second lock bar to contact the associated arm; and

,

a first lock bar spring connected between the first lock bar and the frame, and a second lock bar spring connected between the second lock bar and the frame, said first and second lock bar springs respectively biasing said first and second lock bars to their engaged positions.

12. The coupler as set forth in claim 11, further comprising at least one latch spring that biases said latch to said extended position.

13. A coupler comprising:

a frame including a front hook and a rear hook;

a rear hook lock that moves between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein said rear hook lock obstructs an open mouth of the rear hook when said rear hook lock is in its locked position;

an actuator connected to said frame and operatively connected to said rear hook lock, said actuator adapted to move said rear hook lock between its unlocked and locked positions;

a secondary lock comprising a latch that moves between extended and retracted positions, wherein said latch obstructs an open mouth of said front hook when said latch is in its extended position;

a first lock bar connected to said frame, said first lock bar movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said first lock bar comprising;

(i) a first lock face that blocks movement of said rear hook lock from its locked position to its unlocked position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position; and

, (ii) a second lock face that blocks movement of said latch of said secondary lock from its extended position to its retracted position when said first lock bar is in its engaged position;

said first lock bar biased toward its engaged position and adapted to be moved to its disengaged position by relative movement between said frame and an associated arm to which said frame is connected sufficient to cause a projecting end of said first lock bar to contact the associated arm;

at least one latch spring that biases said latch to said extended position.

14. The coupler as set forth in claim 13, wherein said latch comprises:

a latch bar; and

,

at least a first latch projection connected to said latch bar, wherein said first latch projection obstructs said open mouth of said front hook when said latch is in its extended position.

15. The coupler as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first latch projection comprises:

first and second ramp surfaces that converge toward each other to define a tip of said first latch projection, wherein said first ramp surface faces toward an inner region of said front hook and said second ramp surface faces away from said inner region of said front hook.