Front pin lock for a tool attachment device

• US 9,783,951 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelwrist AB
• Original Assignee: Steelwrist AB
• Inventors: Nilsson, Markus, Siggstedt, Sven, Stockhaus, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Michael P
• Assistant Examiner(s): McMahon, Matthew R
• Application Number:
  US14/345,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3609 of the quick acting type, e.g. controlled from the operator seat quick-acting couplers to connect booms or arms to tractors E02F3/627; quick-acting couplers for machines mounted on tractor A01B59/06; couplings of the quick-acting type per se F16L37/00
• 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 3/3645 with auto-engagement means for automatic snap-on of the tool coupler part
• 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: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7075 including discrete retainer

Abstract

A quick coupler (1) for attaching a tool (2), comprising an attachment bracket with two parallel attachment pins (3a, 3b), to an earth moving vehicle, where the quick coupler (1) comprises a frame (4) with a first cutout (5) and a second cutout (6) arranged substantially perpendicular to each other, which are adapted to cooperate with the respective attachment pin (3a, 3b) of the tool (2). The quick coupler (1) further comprises at least one, in relation to the frame (4) moveable locking arrangement (9), adapted to delimit the second cutout (6) in a direction parallel to the first cutout (5), whereby one of the attachment pins (3aq, 3b) of the tool is locked in the second cut-out (6) and at least one locking segment (18a, 18b) arranged to be rotated in relation to the frame (4) in at least a first and a second direction between different positions, whereby the locking segment (18a, 18b) in at least one position delimit the first cut-out (5) and locks the second of the attachment pins (3a, 3b) of the tool.

Claims

1. A quick coupler for attaching a tool, comprising an attachment bracket with two parallel attachment pins, to an earth moving vehicle, wherein the quick coupler comprises

a frame with a first cut-out and a second cut-out arranged substantially perpendicular to each other, where each respective cut-out is adapted to cooperate with a respective attachment pin of the tool,

at least one locking arrangement, moveable in relation to the frame and adapted to delimit the second cut-out in a direction parallel to the first cut out, whereby one of the attachment pins of the tool is locked up in the cutout,

one single actuator arranged in the frame adapted to move the at least one locking arrangement between a first open position, corresponding to a retracted position of the actuator, and a second locked position, corresponding to an extended position of the actuator,

at least one locking piston arranged to be moved between an inner position and an outer position, and

at least one locking segment arranged to be rotated in relation to the frame in a first direction and a second direction between different positions, whereby the locking segment in at least one position delimits the first cut-out,

characterized in that the one single actuator is arranged between the at least one locking arrangement and the at least one locking piston and is arranged to move both the at least one locking arrangement and the at least one locking piston in relation to the frame,

that the at least one locking segment is arranged in relation to the at least one locking piston so that the at least one locking segment is prevented from rotating in the first direction, to prevent removal of the respective attachment pin from the first cut-out, when the locking arrangement is in the second locked position and is allowed to rotate in the first direction, to allow removal of the respective attachment pin from the first cut-out, when the at least one locking arrangement is in the first open position,

that the at least one locking segment is arranged in relation to the locking piston so that the at least one locking segment is allowed to rotate in the second direction, to allow insertion of the respective attachment pin into the first cut-out, when the at least one locking arrangement is in either the locked position or the open position,

where the at least one locking segment is arranged to rotate in relation to the at least one locking piston,

wherein the at least one locking piston has an outer end and an inner end whereby the at least one locking segment is arranged in relation to the at least one locking piston so that at least some point on the outer end of the at least one locking piston is located at a first distance from the centre of rotation of the at least one locking segment at the outer position of the at least one locking piston, when the at least one locking arrangement is in the locked position, and where at least some point on the outer end of the at least one locking piston is located at a second distance from the centre of rotation of the at least one locking segment at the inner position of the at least one locking piston, when the at least one locking arrangement is in the open position, where the first distance is less than the second distance, where the at least one locking segment has a cam surface, by which the radius from the centre of rotation to the cam surface varies along the circumference of the locking segment, whereby the at least one locking segment has a cam surface section at a corresponding first radius and a second radius, whereby the first radius is larger than the second radius,

wherein the first radius of the at least one locking segment is larger than the first distance at the outer position of the at least one locking piston, when the locking arrangement is in the locked position, and smaller than the second distance at the inner position of the at least one locking piston, when the at least one locking arrangement is in the open position, and wherein the second radius is smaller than the first distance at the outer position of the at least one locking piston, when the at least one locking arrangement is in the locked position and smaller than the second distance at the inner position of the at least one locking piston, when the at least one locking arrangement is in the open position.

2. A quick coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that a locking plate is attached to the one single actuator, whereby the inner end of the at least one locking piston is mechanically disconnected from the locking plate, whereby the inner end of the at least one locking piston is at a third distance from the locking plate, whereby the third distance is null when the at least one locking arrangement is in the locked position.

3. A quick coupler according to claim 2, characterized in that the first radius of the at least one locking segment is larger than the sum of the first distance and the third distance when the at least one locking arrangement is in the locked position and smaller than the sum of the second and the third distance when the at least one locking arrangement is in the open position and where the second radius is smaller than the sum of the first and the third distance when the at least one locking arrangement is in the locked position and smaller than the sum of the second and the third distance when the at least one locking arrangement is in the open position.

4. A quick coupler according to claim 2, characterized in that the quick coupler further comprises a lock indication device which visually indicates if the locking arrangement is in the open position or the locked position, in which the one single actuator is arranged between the at least one locking arrangement and the at least one lock indication device wherein the single actuator is arranged to move both the at least one locking arrangement and the lock indication device in relation to the frame so that the lock indication device visually indicates when the at least one locking arrangement is in the baked position, whereby the lock indication device and the at least one locking piston are arranged in the locking plate on the same side of the one single actuator.

5. A quick coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that the quick coupler is adapted to cooperate with a first attachment pin of the tool with a first diameter, wherein the quick coupler is adapted to receive the first attachment pin through an opening to rest in the first cut-out, whereby the cam surface section at the second radius is located on a shortest distance to an opposite wall of the opening when the at least one locking arrangement is located in the locked position and the first attachment pin is inserted to rest in the first cut-out and the at least one locking segment is limiting the first cut-out, whereby the cam surface section at the first radius at this position touches a part of the outer ends of the at least one locking piston, whereby the first radius is of such a length that the first diameter is larger than the shortest distance to the opposite wall of the opening when the at least one locking arrangement is located in the locked position and the first attachment pin is inserted to rest in the cut-out and the at least one locking segment delimits the first cut-out.

6. A quick coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one locking piston is adapted to be moved essentially linearly by the one single actuator in at least one direction essentially parallel to the extension direction of the first cut-out.

7. A quick coupler according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one locking arrangement and the at least one locking piston are arranged to be moved essentially simultaneously in opposite directions.