Direct pin quick coupler

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6431785
  • Patent Number
    6,431,785
  • Date Filed
    Monday, June 5, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 13, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Browne; Lynne H.
    • Cottingham; John R.
    Agents
    • Fish & Richardson P.C.
Abstract
A quick coupler for attaching a tool having first and second generally parallel pins to an excavator or the like has a coupler body and a lock plate assembly. The coupler body includes a pair of generally parallel sidewall plates spaced from and generally parallel to each other, and a set of cross members extending generally between the sidewall plates. The set of cross members includes at least first and second cross members spaced from each other and defining a slide port. The pair of sidewall plates defines a first slot facing in a first direction for engagement with the tool first pin and a second slot facing in a second direction transverse to the first direction for engagement with the tool second pin. The lock plate assembly, for releasable securing engagement of the second slot with the second pin, includes a lock plate and a lock pin. The lock plate is moveable relative to the coupler body along a lock plate axis generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the second pin, between a first lock plate position engaged with the slide port for obstructing the second slot to secure engagement of the second slot with the second pin, and a second lock plate position removed from obstruction of the second slot for removal or insertion of the second pin in engagement with the second slot. The lock pin, for releasable engagement with the lock plate, is moveable between a first lock pin position engaged with the lock plate in manner to resist removal of the lock plate from its first position engaged with the slide port, and a second lock pin position releasing the lock plate.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




This invention relates to couplers for attaching excavator buckets and other tools to heavy construction equipment.




BACKGROUND




Quick couplers have been widely used with excavating equipment, e.g. hydraulic excavators (backhoes), to allow individual pieces of equipment to be used with a variety of tools, e.g., different buckets, grapples and the like, without extended downtime for changing tools. Conventional quick couplers are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,726,731 and 3,231,116. Quick couplers typically consist of a pair of spaced parallel plates, the plates defining holes for fixed attachment of the coupler to the end of a backhoe. The plates also define a first slot facing generally forward to engage a first pin on the bucket or tool, and a second slot, facing generally downward (i.e., disposed at 90° to the first slot) to engage a second pin on the bucket or tool. In operation, the first pin is engaged in the first slot. The coupler is then rotated about the longitudinal axis of the first pin to engage the second pin in the second slot. The coupler and tool are thereafter secured together by engagement, e.g., of a coupler gate with the second pin. This coupler gate is typically pivotally mounted to a pin on the coupler such that it pivots about a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of the first and second slots/pins. These conventional couplers can be rendered virtually unusable by a relatively small degree of wear in the slots. This problem of wear in a conventional coupler was addressed in Arnold U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,353, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.




SUMMARY




According to the invention, a quick coupler for attaching a tool having first and second generally parallel pins to an excavator or the like comprises a coupler body with a pair of sidewall plate members disposed spaced from and generally parallel to each other, and a set of cross members extending generally between the sidewall plate members, the set of cross members comprising at least first and second cross members spaced from each other and defining a slide port, and the pair of sidewall plate members defining a first slot facing in a first direction for engagement with the first pin of the tool and a second slot facing in a second direction transverse to the first direction for engagement with the second pin of the tool; and a lock plate assembly for releasable securing engagement of the second slot with the second pin comprising a lock plate moveable relative to the coupler body along a lock plate axis generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the second pin, between a first lock plate position engaged with the slide port for obstructing the second slot to secure engagement of the second slot with the second pin, and a second lock plate position removed from obstruction of the second slot for removal or insertion of the second pin in engagement with the second slot; and a lock pin for releasable engagement with the lock plate, the lock pin being moveable between a first lock pin position engaged with the lock plate in manner to resist removal of the lock plate from the first lock plate position engaged with the slide port, and a second lock pin position releasing the lock plate.




Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following additional features. The set of cross members further comprises at least a third cross member extending between the sidewall plate members and disposed generally along the lock plate axis and beyond the second slot relative to the first and second cross members and in a position to support the lock plate in the first lock plate position. The lock plate in the second lock plate position is removed from the lock plate port. The lock pin, in the first lock pin position is engaged between the lock plate and at least one cross member of the set of cross members. In the first lock plate position, the at least one cross member and the lock plate define aligned apertures, and the lock pin, in the first lock pin position, is engaged in the aligned apertures. The lock plate further defines a stop member disposed for engagement with at least one of the first and second cross members for terminating movement of the lock plate along the lock plate axis between the first lock plate position and the second lock plate position. The stop member defines a handle surface for the lock plate for movement from the second lock plate position toward the first lock plate position.




The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.











DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an unattached bucket and backhoe arm with an improved quick coupler according to one embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of an improved quick coupler according to one embodiment of the invention attached to a bucket;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of the improved quick coupler of

FIG. 2

with the lock plate in open position.





FIG. 4

is a cross sectional view of the improved quick coupler taken along line


4





4


of

FIG. 3

with the lock plate assembly removed.





FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view of the improved quick coupler taken along line


4





4


of

FIG. 3

secured to bucket attachment pins with the lock plate assembly in the closed position.











Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.




It will also be noted that the figures are generally not drawn to scale.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION




Referring to

FIG. 1

, an improved quick coupler


10


of the invention is shown attached to the arm


13


of a backhoe (not shown) by means of pins


8


extending through apertures


12


(shown in FIG.


3


). The quick coupler


10


, which may, of course, be mounted in any other conventional manner, permits attachment of a range of tools, e.g., buckets, grapples and the like, having first and second generally parallel pins (as described below), to a backhoe or other excavator.




The quick coupler


10


has a coupler body


11


consisting of a pair of sidewall plate members


20


,


22


disposed spaced from and generally parallel to each other, and a set of cross members extending generally between the sidewall plate members


20


,


22


. The set of cross members includes first and second cross members


24


,


26


disposed generally parallel and spaced from each other to define a slide port


28


, to be discussed in more detail below. The sidewall plate members


20


,


22


together define a first slot


30


facing in a first direction for engagement with the first pin


16


of the tool


14


, and a second slot


32


facing in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, for engagement with the second pin


18


of the tool


14


.




The quick coupler


10


further consists of a lock plate assembly


38


for releasable securing-engagement of the second slot


32


with the second pin


18


. The lock plate assembly


38


includes a lock plate


40


and a lock pin


42


.




The lock plate


40


is moveable relative to the coupler body


11


along a lock plate axis R—R (

FIG. 3

) generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the second pin


18


, between a first lock plate position (e.g., as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 5

) engaged with the slide port


28


for obstructing the second slot


32


to secure engagement of the second slot


32


with the second pin


18


, and a second lock plate position (e.g., as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

) removed from obstruction of the second slot


32


(and, in the preferred embodiment, removed from the slot) to permit removal or insertion of the second pin


18


into or from engagement with the second slot


32


. The set of cross members also includes a third cross member


44


extending between the sidewall plate members


20


,


22


and disposed generally along the lock plate axis R—R and beyond the second slot


32


relative to the first and second cross members


24


,


26


, in a position to support the lock plate


40


in its first lock plate position.




The lock pin


42


, constructed for releasable engagement with the lock plate


40


, is moveable between a first lock pin position engaged in apertures


46


,


47


,


48


defined by the lock plate


40


, first cross member


24


, and second cross member


26


, respectively, the apertures


46


,


47


,


48


being in alignment when the lock plate


40


is in its first position, in the slide port


28


, and a second lock pin position when the lock pin


42


is removed from engagement in apertures


46


,


47


,


48


. Engagement of the lock pin


42


in the aligned apertures


46


,


47


,


48


resists removal of the lock plate


40


from the first lock plate position engaged with the slide port


28


. The lock pin


42


is selectively removable to release the lock plate


40


, and may be secured against dislodgement from its first position, e.g., by a clip pin or the like engaged in aperture


43


adjacent the inner end of the lock pin


42


.




The lock plate


40


has an enlarged stop member


50


at its outer end which is sized and constructed to engage with the end surfaces


52


,


54


of the first and second cross members


24


,


26


when the lock plate


40


is fully inserted into the slide port


28


, with the apertures


46


,


47


,


48


of the lock plate


40


, first cross member


24


, and second cross member


26


in alignment. The stop member


50


also defines an exposed handle surface


56


to facilitate removal of the lock plate


40


from the slide port


28


.




Movement of second pin


18


within second slot


32


during use increases wear, and makes the tool difficult and eventually impossible to use, thus, for efficient operation, it is desired that slot


32


and lock plate


40


tightly engage tool pin


18


when lock plate assembly


38


is in the first lock plate position. Because lock plate


40


is readily removable from the coupler body


11


, it is easily repaired or replaced when wear becomes excessive.




A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the lock pin


42


may be secured in its rather than having the latch mechanism


38


manually actuated the latch mechanism


38


may be actuated by remote control, e.g., from the cab of the excavator, using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders to move the latch lever. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A quick coupler for attaching a tool to an excavator, the tool having first and second generally parallel pins, said quick coupler comprising:a coupler body comprising a pair of sidewall plate members disposed spaced from and generally parallel to each other, and a set of cross members extending generally between said sidewall plate members, said set of cross members comprising at least first and second cross members spaced from each other and defining a slide port, and said pair of sidewall plate members defining a first slot facing in a first direction for engagement with the first pin of the tool and a second slot facing in a second direction transverse to said first direction for engagement with the second pin of the tool; and a lock plate assembly for releasable securing engagement of said second slot with the second pin, said lock plate assembly comprising: a lock plate moveable relative to said coupler body along a lock plate axis generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the second pin, between a first lock plate position engaged with said slide port for obstructing said second slot to secure engagement of said second slot with the second pin, and a second lockplate position removed from obstruction of said second slot for removal or insertion of the second pin in engagement with said second slot; and a lock pin for releasable engagement with said lock plate, said lock pin being moveable between a first lock pin position engaged with said lock plate in manner to resist removal of said lock plate from said first lock plate position engaged with said slide port, and a second lock pin position releasing said lock plate.
  • 2. The quick coupler of claim 1, wherein said set of cross members further comprises at least a third cross member extending between said sidewall plate members and disposed generally along said lock plate axis and beyond said second slot relative to said first and second cross members and in a position to support said lock plate in said first lock plate position.
  • 3. The quick coupler of claim 1, wherein said lock plate in said second lock plate position is removed from said slide port.
  • 4. The quick coupler of claim 1, wherein said lock pin, in said first lock pin position is engaged between said lock plate and at least one cross member of said set of cross members.
  • 5. The quick coupler of claim 4, wherein, in said first lock plate position, said at least one cross member and said lock plate define aligned apertures, and said lock pin, in said first lock pin position, in engaged in said aligned apertures.
  • 6. The quick coupler of claim 1, wherein said lock plate further defines a stop member disposed for engagement with at least one of said first and second cross members for terminating movement of said lock plate along said lock plate axis between said first lock plate position and said second lock plate position.
  • 7. The quick coupler of claim 6, wherein said stop member defines a handle surface for said lock plate for movement from said second lock plate position toward said first lock plate position.
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Entry
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