CA2959934A1

CA2959934A1 - Wedge coupler lug attachments

Info

Publication number: CA2959934A1
Application number: CA2959934A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Benjamin J. Craig; James K. Brown; Michael Mcintosh; Mark R. Waugh
Original assignee: Craig Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: Craig Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-06
Filing date: 2017-03-06
Publication date: 2018-09-06
Also published as: CA2997323A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to wedge hook lugs for attachment to an implement to permit connection of a wedge coupler on the work arm of a primary mover such as a back hoe, excavator or loader. The wedge hook lugs comprising a pair of lugs each lug having a rear facing hook section, a saddle section, the rear facing hook section and saddle section configured and adapted to accommodate bosses on the wedge coupler on the work arm that transfer the digging force from a powerlink of the primary mover to the attachment and a wedge bar receiver section to receive a wedge bar on the wedge coupler. The wedge bar receiver section is configured and adapted, in combination with the rear facing hook section, to retain the attachment to the wedge coupler by engagement with both lugs across the width of the pair of wedge hook lugs mounted on the attachment.

Description

TITLE: WEDGE COUPLER LUG ATTACHMENTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to an improved design for wedge coupler lug attachments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] When switching attachments (implements), such as buckets, on the work arm of a primary mover, such as a backhoe, excavator or loader, with a quick coupler the current process is very difficult if the attachment is not on level ground or perfectly aligned with the machine. The coupler on the work arm needs to be maneuvered on to hooks on the attachment which can only be done when the hooks are aligned and the attachment is on level ground. The profile of existing hooks requires the attachment to be curled away from the operator which requires precise operation of the work arm and it is difficult for the operator to visually confirm the hook on the attachment is fully engaged with the coupler. The nature of the hooks combined with the curling away from the operator movement required by the profile of the hooks, makes the process of coupling and uncoupling the implement very difficult and unsafe as the operators visibility of the attachment can be hindered by curling the attachment away from their position.

[0003] There is a need for a lug profile that improves the coupling process for attaching implements to prime movers.

[0004] In the prior art the focus at attempting to solve the problem has been on the coupler that attaches to the work arm.

[0005] US Patent No. 8469623 relates to a coupler and how the coupler is retained on the attachment. The coupler is maneuvered on to front facing hooks on the attachment which can only be done when the hooks are aligned and the attachment is on level ground. The profile of the hooks requires the attachment to be curled away from the operator which requires precise operation of the work arm and it is difficult for the operator to visually confirm the hook on the attachment is fully engaged with the coupler.

[0006] US Patent No. 7654019 shows a mounting bracket on the attachment having front hooks. The profile of the mounting bracket requires the attachment to be curled away from the operator.

[0007] US Patent Publication No. 2007/0201973 provides a set of pins on the coupler system that are used to retain the attachment by activating a cylinder in the locking pin.
Pin Grabber style couplers that grab OEM bucket pins engage in a similar fashion as the coupler grabs the bucket pins but there has never been a wedge lock lug profile where the coupler grabs the bucket lug for the coupling process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides an improved design of wedge hook lugs that when installed on an attachment allow the attachment to be coupled/uncoupled by curling the work arm of the primary mover towards the machine with the work arm off the ground.
This facilitates picking up attachments that have fallen over or are on uneven ground. The operator can visually confirm the hook is fully engaged from the cab which improves safety.

[0009] The wedge hook lugs according to the present invention can be installed on various attachments and works with known wedge couplers on the work arms of primary movers.

[0010] In one embodiment the present invention provides wedge hook lugs for attachment to an implement to permit connection of a wedge coupler on the work arm of a primary mover such as a back hoe, excavator or loader. The wedge hook lugs comprise a pair of lugs each lug having a rear facing hook section, a saddle section and a wedge bar receiver section. The rear facing hook section and saddle section are configured and adapted to accommodate bosses on the wedge coupler on the work arm that transfer the digging force from a powerlink of the primary mover to the attachment. The wedge bar receiver section is configured and adapted, in combination with the rear facing hook section, to retain the attachment to the wedge coupler by engagement of a wedge bar on the wedge coupler with both lugs across the width of the pair of wedge hook lugs mounted on the attachment.

[0011] Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, the preferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic plan drawing of one embodiment of a wedge coupler on the work arm of a primary mover such as a back hoe, excavator or loader attached to an attachment (bucket in the drawing) by means of wedge hook lugs according to the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the attachment (bucket) of Figure 1 having a pair of wedge hook lugs according to the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 is schematic side plan view of the attachment of Figure 2

[0016] Similar references are used in different figures to denote similar components DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to the drawings, an embodiment in Figure 1 a wedge coupler 1 on the work arm 2 of a primary mover such as a back hoe, excavator or loader (not shown) is attached to an attachment 3 (bucket in the drawing) by means of wedge hook lugs 4 according to the present invention.

[0018] In the embodiment shown in the Figures the wedge hook lugs 4 of the present invention comprise a pair of lugs 5, 6 each lug 5,6 having a rear facing hook section 7, a saddle section 8 to accommodate bosses 9 on the wedge coupler 1 on the work arm 2 that transfer the digging force from the powerlink of the primary mover to the attachment 3 and a wedge bar receiver section 10 to receive the wedge bar 11 on the wedge coupler 1 that retains the attachment by engaging with both lugs 5,6 across the width of the pair of wedge hook lugs 4. The term "rear" is intended to refer to a direction away from the operator of the primary mover.

[0019] In order to attach a quick wedge coupler on the end of a work arm to an attachment, such as a bucket as shown in the drawings, having the wedge hook lugs according to the present invention, the quick wedge coupler is inserted between the pair of wedge hook lugs 4 just in front of the rear facing hook section 7. The operator curls and lifts the work arm in towards the operator to engage the lifting the bucket off the ground. As the work arm curls in, the bosses on the wedge coupler aligns with the saddle section 8 on the each of the pair of lugs 5,6.

[0020] The saddle section 8 on each lug 5,6 is a machine position for the bosses on the wedge coupler that transfer the excavator power link forces to the bucket through the lugs 5,6.

[0021] The wedge bar receiver section 10 on each lug 5,6 is a machined surface that the wedge coupler wedge bar 11 engages completely to retain the bucket on the wedge coupler. The wedge coupler wedge bar can be engaged manually or hydraulically.

[0022] The surfaces on the rear facing hook section, saddle section and wedge bar receiver section are all machined to work together in such a way that the wedge coupler on the work arm remains in contact with all three surfaces at the same time.

[0023] While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that such embodiment is by way of example and is not limiting as is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details illustrated in the drawings. Other modifications and applications, or equivalents, will occur to those skilled in the art. For example the wedge bar could also go through the lugs by retracting and extending pins in the wedge coupler, the rear facing hook section can have different profiles depending on the configuration of the wedge coupler and the lug spacing on the attachment can be different widths so long as the wedge coupler is engaged with both lugs.

[0024] The terms "having", "comprising" and "including" and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of "optional" or "may include" and not as "required". Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and attached drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims that follow. The scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated , but rather one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the embodiment described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Wedge hook lugs for attachment to an implement to permit connection of a wedge coupler on the work arm of a primary mover such as a back hoe, excavator or loader, said wedge hook lugs comprising a pair of lugs each lug having a rear facing hook section, a saddle section, the rear facing hook section and saddle section configured and adapted to accommodate bosses on the wedge coupler on the work arm that transfer the digging force from a powerlink of the primary mover to the attachment and a wedge bar receiver section to receive a wedge bar on the wedge coupler, the wedge bar receiver section configured and adapted, in combination with the rear facing hook section, to retain the attachment to the wedge coupler by engagement with both lugs across the width of the pair of wedge hook lugs mounted on the attachment.