Patent Application
20070248445
The disclosed embodiments relate to interchangeable tool attachments such as buckets, grapples, hydraulic hammers, tampers, augers and the like used with a power operated arm of an implement such as an excavator or backhoe. More particularly, the embodiments relate to an attachment device that allows attachments to be quickly attached to the power operated arm.
A fragmentary portion of an attachment 40 is partially engaged with the quick attachment mount 22 at pin 38. Attachment 40 includes an engagement region 44 which is adapted to engage with support region 46 of quick attachment mount 22 when the quick attachment mount is rotated about pin 38 in the direction of arrow 48. The attachment 40 is then secured to the quick attachment mount 22 at support region 46.
When the attachment 40 is fixedly attached to the attachment mount 22, actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 14 to extend or retract the cylinder rod 16 will cause the attachment 40 to pivot about boom arm pivot joint 20. Attachments of the type used with excavators or back hoes can have a pivotal rotation of approximately 270 degrees.
Side plates 50 and 52 are attached and joined together by a retainer or cradle 42. Retainer 42 and first and second sides 50 and 52 collectively hold a pin 38. Pin 38 is positioned to extend outside the width of retainer 42 to provide an engagement surface for an attachment. First side 50 and second side 52 are also connected via a support region 46, a multi-surfaced crossmember that extends along an end of the each of the first and second sides.
As shown in
Support region 46 is positioned to engage and support the engagement region 44 of attachment 40 when the quick attachment mount 22 is rotated into position. In addition, the engagement region 44 has a pair of bores (not shown) that match up with a pair of bores 54 that extend through the engagement surface 46. Thus, when the attachment 40 is rotated into position, the attachment can be fixedly secured to the quick attachment mount 22. Typically, a fastener arrangement such as a nut and bolt or a pin of some sort is extended through the aligned bores to fixedly attach the attachment to the attachment mount 22.
However, requiring the use of fasteners such as nuts and bolts to secure the attachment to the attachment mount is time consuming. Often times, an operator wants to quickly disengage one attachment and engage a second attachment to do different types of work at a work site. Thus, what is needed is an attachment mount that provides a quicker and easier method of attaching the attachment to the attachment mount.
One embodiment is directed toward an hydraulic interface between a power machine having an hydraulic power system and an attachment mounting bracket having an hydraulically actuated engagement member. The hydraulic interface includes a first portion capable of being coupled to the hydraulic power system and a second portion fixedly attached to the attachment mounting bracket. The first portion is pivotally coupled to the second portion so that the attachment bracket is capable of pivoting with respect to the first portion of the hydraulic interface. The second portion includes an outlet capable of providing oil from the outlet of the first portion to the attachment mounting bracket. The hydraulic interface can include a third portion that is also pivotally coupled to the second portion and is fixedly attached to the first portion. The third portion can include an inlet capable of being coupled to the hydraulic power system and an outlet. The second portion can further include an outlet capable of providing oil from the outlet of the third portion to the attachment mounting bracket. The attachment mounting bracket is pivotable with respect to the power machine and the hydraulically actuated engagement member can be actuated to secure or release an attachment with respect to the attachment mounting bracket.
One embodiment is directed toward an attachment interface system configured to couple an attachment to a power machine. The power machine has an hydraulic power system and at least one arm with an attachment mounting bracket pivotally attached to the at least one arm. The attachment bracket includes a housing with an engagement member located therein capable of moving from a first position to a second position to engage and secure the attachment to the mounting bracket. The system further includes an hydraulic interface member fixedly attached to the mounting bracket and capable of providing hydraulic oil to the housing to move the engagement member from a first to a second position. At least a portion of the hydraulic interface member is capable of pivoting with respect to the mounting bracket.
One embodiment is directed toward a method of providing an attachment interface between a power machine and an attachment. The method includes pivotally attaching a mounting bracket to the power machine having at least one attachment engagement member, capable of moving between a first position and a second position under hydraulic power. A hydraulic interface is provided between the power machine and the mounting bracket. The hydraulic interface is fixedly attached to the mounting bracket and includes an internal path for receiving hydraulic oil from the hydraulic power source and providing oil to the mounting bracket to manipulate the attachment engagement member. The hydraulic interface includes a first portion, which is pivotable with respect to a second portion, which is fixedly attached to the mounting bracket. The hydraulic interface is connected to the hydraulic power source and oil is provided in response to an operator input to the mounting bracket to move the engagement member between the first and second position.
The concepts presented herein will be further explained with reference to the attached figures, wherein like structure or system elements can be referred to by like reference numerals throughout the several views.
While the above-identified figures set forth one or more embodiments, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted herein. In all cases, concepts presented herein describe the embodiments by way of representation and not by limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of these embodiments.
Quick attachment mounting bracket 102 includes a first side 108 and a second side 110 coupled together on either side of a cross member 112. The first and second sides 108 and 110 are substantially similarly shaped and extend generally linearly from a proximal end 104 of the quick attachment mounting bracket to a distal end 106. At the distal end 106 of the quick attachment mounting bracket 102, the first and second sides 108 and 110 curve downwardly and toward the proximal end 104 of the quick attachment mounting bracket. The curved shape of the first and second sides 108 and 110 together with the cross member 112, which follows the shape of the first and second sides, provide an attachment cradle or retainer 118 capable of supporting a portion of an attachment such as the attachment 40 shown in a fragmentary view in
The pins 120 are configured to accept and support a portion of the attachment similar to pin 38 shown in
Cylinder link assembly 130 is shown coupled to the quick attachment mounting bracket 102 at pivot joint 133. Cylinder link assembly 130 has a first link 136 and second link 138 each coupled to a cross member 140 that extends between a portion of the first and second links. Each of the first and second links 136 and 138 have a bore 142 formed into a proximal end 132 and a distal end 134 of the cylinder link assembly 130. The bores 142 are positioned to accept a pin (not shown) extending through the bore to attach the cylinder link to the quick attachment mounting bracket 102 on the proximal end 132 and a cylinder or other links or brackets (not shown) on the distal end 134 of the cylinder link. A bushing 144 is inserted into each of the bores 142 to provide an engagement surface for the pins where they are inserted into the bores.
Returning again to the pivot joint 133, a pin (not shown) extends through the first and second sides 108 and 110 of the quick attachment mounting bracket 102 and the first and second links 136 and 138 of the cylinder link assembly 130 to pivotally connect the cylinder link assembly to the quick attachment mounting bracket 102. In addition, a hydraulic interface 150 is positioned between the first and second links 136 and 138 of the cylinder link assembly 130. The hydraulic interface 150 is adapted to accept a pin (not shown) through its center portion to secure the hydraulic interface between the first and second links 136 and 138 of the cylinder link assembly. The hydraulic interface 150 includes a center portion 152, which, in one embodiment, is surrounded by a first end portion 154 and second end portion 156. The center portion 152 of the hydraulic interface is fixedly attached to the quick attachment mounting bracket 102. As is shown in
As has been discussed above, cylinder link assembly 130 is pivotally connected to quick attachment mounting bracket 102 to allow the quick attachment mounting bracket to pivot with respect to the cylinder link assembly as the cylinder rod (not shown), which is attached to the cylinder link assembly, extends or retracts. Because the center portion 152 of the hydraulic interface 150 is fixedly attached to the cross member 112, the center portion will pivot with the quick attachment mounting bracket 102. As will be discussed below, the first end portion 154 and the second end portion 156 are not fixedly attached to the hydraulic interface 150. Thus, the first end portion 154 and the second end portion 156 do pivot with respect to the center portion 152 of the hydraulic interface 150 when the quick attachment mounting bracket 102 pivots with respect to cylinder link assembly 130.
Engaging pins 122 include a base 162 and a rod 164 attached to and extending from the base. An internal bore 166 is formed through the base 162 and into the rod 164. A cross bore 168 is formed through the rod 164 of engaging pin 122 near an end opposing the base 162. A spring 146 is positioned within the cavity 128 and is sized and positioned to extend into the internal bore 166 of each of the engaging pins 122. Spring 146 will be discussed in detail below. Bushing 148 is adapted to fit snugly over the rod 164 of pin 122 and within the cavity 128. A retaining pin 170, which in one embodiment is a lynch pin, is adapted to fit into the cross bore 168 of each of the engaging pins 122 when the pins 122 are extended.
When the engaging pins 122 are positioned in a retracted state as shown in
When the oil is ported into the reduced diameter portion 176 through orifice 178, the pins 122 are urged apart to extend out of the cavity 128 of the housing 124. As the pins extend, any hydraulic oil located on the rod side 164 of the engaging pins 122 is ported out of the cavity 124 through the rod orifices (not shown) on each side of the cavity 124. The hydraulic oil located within the cavity 124 between the base portions 162 of the pins will hold the pins extended. In addition, spring 146 applies a force against each of the engaging pins 122 to hold the pins in an extended position even if there is a loss of hydraulic pressure between the bases 162 of the pins within the cavity 128.
As shown in
As described above, hydraulic oil is used to extend the pins 122. To retract the pins 122, retaining pins 170 must be removed. Once the retaining pins 170 are removed, hydraulic oil is ported through the rod orifices (not shown) and into the cavity 128 on the rod 164 side of the engaging pins 122 to urge the engaging pins back toward the reduced diameter portion 176. At this time, the hydraulic oil located in the cavity between the pins 122 is urged out of the base orifice 178. A detailed description of how oil is ported into and out of the cavity 128 of the housing 124 will be discussed below.
Referring to
First end portion 154 includes a cylindrically-shaped shoulder 188 sized to fit within bore 208 of center portion 152. Shoulder 188 includes an outer seal 190 and an inner seal 192. A bore 194 extends through the first end portion 154. When first end portion 154 is positioned within center portion 152 the orifice 198 is located between the inner seal 192 and the outer seal 190. The first end portion 154, as described above, has a cavity extending from the first hydraulic fitting 182 that allows oil to pass from hydraulic lines attached to fitting 182. The internal cavity extends within the body of first end portion 154 to an orifice (not shown) positioned between the outer seal 190 and the inner seal 192. Thus, when first end portion 154 is positioned within the center portion 152, hydraulic oil that enters first hydraulic fitting 182 travels through the cavity within the first end portion, out the orifice, and into a volume that extends around the circumference of the shoulder 188 between the inner seal 192 and the outer seal 190. This oil is then capable of moving through the first orifice 198 and out of the hydraulic interface 150. Because the oil exits from the first end portion 154 into a volume that extends around the entire circumference of the shoulder 188, the first end portion 154 can pivot at any angle with respect to the center portion 152 without interrupting the flow of oil through the hydraulic interface 150.
Similarly, second end portion 156 has a pair of inner and outer seals (not shown) and an orifice (not shown) disposed between the inner and outer seals and in communication with internal cavity of the second end portion. Second end portion 156 also similarly includes a bore 195 extending through the second end portion. When the second end portion 156 is positioned within the center portion 152 of the hydraulic interface 150, orifice 200 is positioned within or between the inner and outer seals of the second end portion 156. Thus, oil that enters second hydraulic fitting 186 is capable of moving through the internal cavity and exiting the hydraulic interface through orifice 200. While the hydraulic oil is described as moving into one of the first and second hydraulic fittings 182 and 186 and out of the orifices 198 and 200, it is to be understood that hydraulic oil can move in the opposite direction as well.
Second end portion 156 includes a plurality of bores 206 that extend from an outer surface of the second end portion through the shoulder. The bores 206 are sized to accept fasteners 202. First end portion 154 has similarly positioned bores 196 such that when first and second end portions 154 and 156 are positioned within center portion 152, fasteners 202 extend through the second end portion and into the first end portion. Fastener couplers 204 are sized to fit within the orifices 196 of the first end portion 154. The fasteners 202 are engaged with the fastener couplers 204 to secure the first end portion to the second end portion. In one embodiment as shown in
Returning briefly to
When the hydraulic interface 150 is assembled, as described above, center portion 152 is fixedly attached to the cross member 112 of quick attachment mounting bracket 102. Thus the center portion 152 rotates with the quick attachment mounting bracket 102 when it rotates with respect to the cylinder link assembly 130. However, first end portion 154 and second end portion 156 are not attached to the cross member 112, and do not rotate with the quick attachment mounting bracket 102. In other words, the first end portion 154 and the second end portion 156 remain aligned with the cylinder link assembly 130 and not with the quick attachment mounting bracket 102. In one embodiment, quick attachment mounting bracket 102 can have up to 270 degrees of rotational travel with respect to the cylinder link assembly 130. Because the interfaces between the first and second end portions 154 and 156 and the center portion 152 are accomplished as described above, the quick attachment mounting bracket 102 can move without requiring hydraulic hoses to travel the up to 270 degrees of rotation.
In one embodiment, the operator input 242 is a switch having two output poles 272 and 274. Input switch 242 is a three-position switch having a neutral or unactuated position wherein power from battery 276 is applied to neither output pole 272 nor output pole 274. In addition, input switch 242 has a first actuated position that provides battery power to output pole 272 and a second actuated position that provides battery power to output pole 274.
Valve 222 includes three positions, a neutral position 252, a first energized position 254, and a second energized position 256. Valve 222, in one embodiment, is actuated by one or more electronic actuators 270, which are coupled to the output poles 272 and 274 of the operator input 242. The electronic actuators 270, in one embodiment, are solenoids, which respond to a signal from output pole 272 by causing valve 222 to move to the first energized position 254 and to a signal from output pole 274 to cause valve 222 to move to the second energized position 256. If there is no signal present from either pole 272 or 274 electronic actuator causes or allows value 222 to move to a neutral position 252.
It is to be understood that the interface between the operator input 242 and the valve 222 can have many different implementations without departing from the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, electronic actuator 270 can include a pair of solenoids and the actuation of one or the other can cause the valve 222 to move into different positions. In Addition, any other type of actuator can be used, including, as an example, a linear actuator coupled to a valve spool to shift the spool into different positions. As another example, individual solenoid valves can be used to independently control the flow of oil from two interfaces 232 and 234 on the first side 230 of the valve 222 to the two interfaces 238 and 240 on the second side 236 of the valve. Further, actuator 270 can act indirectly on valve 222 by, for example, porting oil to shift a valve spool within valve 222. In addition, although operator input 242 is described above as a switch directly coupled to electronic actuator, the operator input can take a number of different forms, including a switch coupled to an electronic controller that, in turn, supplies signals to the valve 222.
When the valve 222 is in the neutral position 252, interfaces 238 and 240 are blocked so that no oil can travel in or out of the base orifice 178 or the rod orifices 244. Thus, the pins 122 remain in their current position, whether retracted or extended. It should be understood that valve 222 can have hydraulic components such as check valves or pilot operated check valves. Schematic 230 is a simplified schematic to show the functional results that occur when the valve 222 is in a particular position. Any number of implementations of valve 222 can be incorporated without departing from the scope of the embodiments described herein.
When the valve 222 is in the first energized position 254, the interface 238 is in communication with tank 224 to allow oil from the base orifice 178 to flow to tank. Further, interface 240 is in communication with interface 232, which supplies pressurized hydraulic oil to rod orifices 244. Thus, in the first energized position 254, the oil ported into the rod orifices 244 urge the engaging pins 122 to be retracted.
When the valve 222 is in the second energized position 256, the interface 238 is in communication with interface 232, which supplies pressurized hydraulic oil to the base orifice 178. Further, the interface 240 is in communication with tank 224 to allow oil from the rod orifices 244 to flow to the tank. Thus, in the second energized position 256, the oil ported into the base orifice 178 urge the engaging pins 122 to be extended.
The disclosed embodiments provides a number of advantages. By providing an arrangement of the type described above, an improved method of mounting attachments to equipment has been provided. Further, the addition of a hydraulic interface that allows oil to be ported through it even as the attachment is pivoting throughout its entire range of motion, the need for hydraulic supply lines that can withstand repeated cycles of rotation has been eliminated. In addition, the incorporation of retaining pins into the extended engagement members provides additional retention of any attachment that has been connected to the quick attachment mounting bracket.
Although several alternative embodiments have been described herein, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the embodiments.
