Patent Application
20180080192
The present disclosure relates to work tools of machines, and more particularly to an interface for coupling a work tool to a machine.
Based on tasks required to be performed by a machine, various work tools are coupled to the machine. For example, a multi-purpose bucket is coupled to a skid steer loader for raising material from a worksite, and a trencher is coupled to the skid steer loader to dig a trench at the worksite. In cases where such tasks need to be performed at a location away from a frame of the machine, an excavator machine is used. However, it is difficult to mount skid steer loader work tools on the excavator machine.
US Patent Publication Number 2014/0317967 (the '967 publication) describes an excavator having an undercarriage assembly and a turret assembly rotatable relative to the undercarriage assembly. The undercarriage assembly has an undercarriage implement support that may pivot about a lift axis. An undercarriage coupler is coupled to the undercarriage support and includes an undercarriage coupler interface that is configured to operably engage an undercarriage implement interface provide on an undercarriage implement. The turret assembly also carries a turret implement, and therefore the excavator may simultaneously employ both the undercarriage implement and the turret implement. However, the '967 publication does not disclose a manner in which the undercarriage implement interface can be coupled to a stick end of the excavator.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, an interface for coupling a work tool to a stick of a machine is provided. The interface includes a plate having an engaging face and a coupling face opposite to the engaging face. The engaging face of the plate is connected to the work tool. The interface also includes a first bracket and a second bracket positioned at a predefined distance from the first bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket extend from the coupling face of the plate and include at least one first hole and at least one second hole, respectively. The at least one second hole is aligned with the at least one first hole. The interface also includes a first pin received through the at least one first hole and the at least one second hole, and connected to a coupling member. The coupling member is connected to the stick of the machine and is configured to couple the work tool to the stick of the machine.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a machine is provided. The machine includes a frame, a stick having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the stick is pivotally coupled to the frame. The machine also includes an interface for coupling a work tool to the stick. The interface includes a plate having an engaging face and a coupling face opposite to the engaging face. The engaging face of the plate is connected to the work tool. The interface also includes a first bracket and a second bracket positioned at a predefined distance from the first bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket extend from the coupling face of the plate and include at least one first hole and at least one second hole, respectively. The at least one second hole is aligned with the at least one first hole. The interface also includes a first pin received through the at least one first hole and the at least one second hole. The machine further includes a coupling member having a first engaging portion configured to engage with the first pin of the interface. The engagement of the first pin and the first engaging portion allows coupling of the interface with the stick of the machine.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an interface assembly for coupling a work tool to a stick of a machine is provided. The interface assembly includes an interface. The interface includes a plate having an engaging face and a coupling face opposite to the engaging face. The engaging face of the plate is connected to the work tool. The interface also includes a first bracket and a second bracket positioned at a predefined distance from the first bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket extend from the coupling face of the plate and include at least one first hole and at least one second hole, respectively. The at least one second hole is aligned with the at least one first hole. The interface also includes a first pin received through the at least one first hole and the at least one second hole. The interface assembly also includes a coupling member having a first engaging portion configured to engage with the first pin of the interface. The engagement of the first pin and the first engaging portion allows coupling of the interface with the stick of the machine.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claims.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the interface 102 includes a first bracket 214 extending from the coupling face 212 of the plate 208. The first bracket 214 is embodied as a flat plate-like structure having uniform thickness. However, the first bracket 214 may also include a linearly varying thickness along a length of the first bracket 214. Shape and size of the first bracket 214 can be predetermined. In one example, the first bracket 214 can be molded using Carbon Steel material. Further, the first bracket 214 is attached to the coupling face 212 such that the first bracket 214 is perpendicular to the plate 208. In one example, the first bracket 214 may also be attached inclined to the coupling face 212 of the plate 208. Contacting portions of the first bracket 214 and the plate 208 can be welded to retain the first bracket 214 attached to the plate 208. In one example, the contacting portions can be attached in any manner known in the art. In this embodiment, the first bracket 214 includes at least one first hole 216, hereinafter individually referred to as the hole 216 or commonly referred to as the holes 216. Specifically, the first bracket 214 includes three holes 216 located along a periphery of the first bracket 214, as shown in
In one embodiment, the coupling face 212 of the plate 208 may include an arcuate portion 218 extending between the first end 204 and the second end 206 of the interface 102. With such arcuate portion 218, the first bracket 214 can be accordingly manufactured to include a complimentary arc 220 to conform to the arcuate portion 218. In order to add to structural stability of the first bracket 214, the interface 102 includes a first rib 222 attached to the coupling face 212 and the first bracket 214. The first rib 222 extends towards the first end 204 of the interface 102. In cases where the coupling face 212 includes the arcuate portion 218, the first rib 222 is welded to the first bracket 214 and the arcuate portion 218.
The interface 102 further includes a second bracket 224 extending from the coupling face 212 of the plate 208. The second bracket 224 may be identical to the first bracket 214 with respect to shape, size, and configuration. For instance, the second bracket 224 includes at least one second hole 226, hereinafter individually referred to as the hole 226 or commonly referred to as the holes 226. As illustrated in
The interface 102 further includes a first pin 228 coaxially received through the aligned holes 216 and 226 along a first common axis 229. The first pin 228 is embodied as a cylinder having a length ‘L’. However, in one example, cross-section of the first pin 228 can be, but not limited to, a square or an oval. Shape of the holes 216 and 226 receiving the first pin 228 may correspond to the cross-section of the first pin 228, so that peripheries of the holes 216 and 226 conform to an outer surface of the first pin 228. Such arrangement ensures rigid engagement between the first pin 228, the first bracket 214, and the second bracket 224. The length ‘L’ of the first pin 228 may be greater than the predefined distance ‘D1’ between the first bracket 214 and the second bracket 224. As such, the first pin 228 extends beyond the second bracket 224 when received through the holes 216 and 226.
In addition to the first pin 228, the interface 102 can also include a second pin 230. The second pin 230 is identical to the first pin 228 with respect to shape, size, and configuration. In the aligned condition of the holes 216 and the holes 226, the second pin 230 is coaxially received through the aligned holes 216 and 226 along second common axis 231.
The machine 100 further includes the coupling member 202 for coupling the interface 102 with the stick 108 of the machine 100. The coupling member 202 includes a coupler body 234 and a pair of sidewall members, such as a first sidewall member 236 and a second sidewall member 238, attached to the coupler body 234. The first sidewall member 236 and the second sidewall member 238 are spaced apart to a predefined distance ‘D2’ therebetween and a width ‘W’ of the coupling member 202. The width ‘W’ of the coupling member 202 is less than the predefined distance ‘D1’ defined between the first bracket 214 and the second bracket 224. Each of the first sidewall member 236 and the second sidewall member 238 includes a pair of apertures, such as the first pair of apertures 240 and the second pair of apertures 242, respectively. The first pair of apertures 240 is aligned with the second pair of apertures 242.
The coupler body 234 further includes a first engaging portion 244 and a second engaging portion 246 distant from the first engaging portion 244. The first engaging portion 244 is configured to engage with the first pin 228 and the second engaging portion 246 is configured to engage with the second pin 230. It will be understood that the first and second engaging portions 244, 246 may have a cross-section corresponding to cross-section of the first pin 228 and the second pin 230, respectively, so that the first and second engaging portions 244, 246 conform to surface of the first pin 228 and the second pin 230. In one example, distance between the first engaging portion 244 and the second engaging portion 246 may be designed based on distance between the first pin 228 and the second pin 230 in an engaged condition of the pins 228, 230 and the brackets 214, 224. In another example, based on the distance between engaging portions 224, 246 of the coupling member 202, the pins 228 and 230 can be attached to the brackets 214, 224.
Further, the second end 114 of the stick 108 includes a first engaging aperture 248, and a coupling arm 250 includes a second engaging aperture 252, provided to engage with the first pair of apertures 240 and the second pair of apertures 242. The coupling arm 250 is connected to the stick 108 via a connecting element 254 and actuated by the hydraulic actuator 113 of the machine 100.
A perspective view of an assembled condition of the coupling assembly 200 is illustrated in
Since width ‘W’ of the coupling member 202 is less than the predefined distance ‘D1’ defined between the first bracket 214 and the second bracket 224, the coupling member 202 is received within the predefined distance ‘D1’. Further, the first engaging portion 244 is engaged with the first pin 228 and the second engaging portion 246 is engaged with the second pin 230. Subsequent to the engagement of the coupling member 202 and the interface 102, the stick 108 and the coupling arm 250 are engaged with the coupling member 202.
Furthermore, the second end 114 of the stick 108 is positioned between the first sidewall member 236 and the second sidewall member 238 of the coupling member 202 to align the first engaging aperture 248 with the holes 216 and 226. Similarly, the second engaging aperture 252 of the coupling arm 250 is also aligned with the holes 216 and 226. Additional engaging pins (not shown) are inserted through the aligned holes 216, 226 and the engaging apertures 248, 252 to couple the stick 108 with the coupling member 202. As such, the coupling member 202 allows coupling of the interface 102 with the stick 108 of the machine 100. Specifically, engagement of the first pin 228 and the first engaging portion 244 of the coupling member 202 allows coupling of the interface 102 with the stick 108 of the machine 100.
Various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed as limitations to the present disclosure.
The present disclosure relates to the interface 102 for coupling the work tool 116 to the stick 108 of the machine 100. As described earlier, the interface 102 includes the brackets 214, 224 and pins 228, 230 attached to the brackets 214, 224. These pins 228, 230 are capable of engaging with the engaging portions 244, 246 of the coupling member 202, thereby allowing the interface 102 to be coupled with the stick 108 of the machine 100. The present disclosure also provides the interface assembly 400 to enhance flexibility of coupling various work tools to the machine 100.
For instance, other work tools, such as a fork carriage and a trencher, which are employed on a skid-steer loader machine, can now be coupled to the stick 108 of the machine 100 via the interface 102 or the interface assembly 400. Therefore, the machine 100 whilst being, for example, the mini-hydraulic excavator, can be employed to perform various other jobs besides material handling.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
