Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
  • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
  • E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
  • E02F3/36—Component parts
  • E02F3/3604—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like
  • E02F3/3609—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like of the quick acting type, e.g. controlled from the operator seat
  • E02F3/3622—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like of the quick acting type, e.g. controlled from the operator seat with a hook and a locking element acting on a pin
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
  • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
  • E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
  • E02F3/36—Component parts
  • E02F3/3604—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like
  • E02F3/3609—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like of the quick acting type, e.g. controlled from the operator seat
  • E02F3/3654—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like of the quick acting type, e.g. controlled from the operator seat with energy coupler, e.g. coupler for hydraulic or electric lines, to provide energy to drive(s) mounted on the tool
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
  • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
  • E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
  • E02F3/36—Component parts
  • E02F3/3604—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like
  • E02F3/3609—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like of the quick acting type, e.g. controlled from the operator seat
  • E02F3/3663—Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like of the quick acting type, e.g. controlled from the operator seat hydraulically-operated
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
  • E02F9/20—Drives; Control devices
  • E02F9/22—Hydraulic or pneumatic drives
  • E02F9/2264—Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives
  • E02F9/2271—Actuators and supports therefor and protection therefor
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
  • E02F9/20—Drives; Control devices
  • E02F9/22—Hydraulic or pneumatic drives
  • E02F9/2264—Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives
  • E02F9/2275—Hoses and supports therefor and protection therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to both a method and a mechanical and multifluidic coupling system between the tool holder frame of a manipulator machine such as, in particular, a hydraulic loader and an interchangeable tool.
• a manipulator machine such as, in particular, a hydraulic loader and an interchangeable tool.
• devices have already been proposed capable of ensuring both the mechanical connection and the fluid connection between two elements, one of which consists in one main machine, and the other in auxiliary equipment which can be fixed in a removable and interchangeable manner to said machine, in order to perform a particular job.
• the first element is, for example, a motor vehicle or a manipulator.
• the second element is any working device, for example a trailer intended to contain materials, or a tool capable of carrying out a specific operation.
• the second element comprises control members, such as cylinders or motors controlled by fluid (hydraulic fluid and / or compressed air), it is necessary to connect the various supply and evacuation conduits of this fluid to conduits equipping the first element, which are connected to a source producing the pressurized fluid, and a return and atmospheric pressure tank, which are either carried directly by the first element, or carried by another machine to which this first is attached element.
• control members such as cylinders or motors controlled by fluid (hydraulic fluid and / or compressed air)
• a very characteristic situation in which such a configuration is encountered is that comprising an agricultural tractor on which is mounted a hydraulic loader intended to receive different interchangeable tools.
• the hydraulic pressure source is placed on the tractor.
• the hydraulic supply lines of the various cylinders of the loader are connected to those of the tractor by a multiple connection device, for example of the type described in document EP-B-0 390 715.
• the loader comprises a tool-carrying frame on which a number of interchangeable tools can be mounted and locked.
• Some of these tools also include control members, such as hydraulic cylinders.
• the connection of the tool with the tool holder frame also requires, therefore, that a hydraulic connection be made between the conduits supplying the tool cylinders and the hydraulic conduits present on the loader.
• One of the two housings is provided with a set of male fluid connection members, while the other is provided with a set of complementary female connection members.
• the two sets of male and female connectors are identical in number and occupy a similar positioning inside their housing, so that when the two housings are placed in coincidence, their openings facing one another, each of the female organs is located exactly in line with the male organ to which it is assigned.
• each male connector is fitted into the associated female connector, thus ensuring the connection multiple fluidics sought.
• the tool to be coupled includes an electrically controlled device.
• the ambient environment in which we operate is often polluted, the air containing a large quantity of dust or other undesirable particles, which are liable to accumulate in the housings, and even inside the connector members.
• Document DE 197 51 292 describes a mechanism for protecting fluidic connection elements, a play of which - in this case the male elements - are carried by a first support integral with a tool-carrying device, such as for example the arm of an excavator, and the other set - in this case the female elements - are carried by a second support secured to a removable and interchangeable tool.
• Each of these supports has the shape of a cylinder surrounded by a split cylindrical sleeve (of C section) coaxial with the support.
• Each sleeve acts as a protective cover which is able to pivot on its support so as to selectively occupy either a first position in which it covers and protects from dirt the associated set of connectors, or a second position in which it discovers them.
• the sleeves When not in use, the sleeves automatically occupy said first protective position.
• the two sleeves are rotated by means of ad hoc control members to uncover the connectors and authorize this coupling.
• the main objective of the present invention is to propose a method and a coupling system both mechanical and fluid, of the kind mentioned above, making it possible to obtain permanent protection of each of the connector housings, without to counteract the automaticity and the ease of coupling, this by performing an automatic coupling taking place in the following three successive phases:
• the mechanical connection requires the correct prior positioning of the two elements, and the fluid connection requires the prior locking of these two elements.
• the two elements to be coupled have not been correctly positioned and, a fortiori, if it is not possible to couple them mechanically, the fluid connection is also not possible.
• Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic coupling system, which can be entirely controlled by the operator without the latter having to get off the vehicle on which he is located, in particular his tractor if we are dealing with a hydraulic loader fitted to an agricultural tractor.
• the method according to the present invention is a method of both mechanical and fluid coupling between the tool holder frame of a manipulator machine such as, in particular, a hydraulic loader and an interchangeable tool, said tool holder frame being equipped with 'a first housing - said frame housing - provided with a set of male or female fluid connection members, while said tool is equipped with a second housing - called tool housing - provided with a set of female or male complementary fluid connection members, the tool holder frame and the tool being provided with means for hooking and mutual locking, said frame and tool housings each being provided with a movable and retractable protective cover which normally covers the connection members of the associated housing, said covers being arranged and positioned in such a way that the correct positioning of the tool-holder frame with respect to the tool with a view to their mutual coupling automatically causes the retraction of each of these covers, and ensures direct matching of the fluid connection members of the two housings.
• the operation is carried out sequentially by implementing the following successive steps: i) the tool holder is approached to the tool so as to cause the two protective covers to retract and to position the housings in alignment one of the other so that each male or female fluidic connection member is perfectly opposite and in alignment with the female or male member with which it is associated; ii) causing the mechanical locking of the tool on the tool holder frame; iii) causing all of the male fluid connection members to fit into the associated set of female members, in order to ensure the fluid connection between, the tool holder frame and the tool.
• the movement of mutual approach and positioning of the housings which is carried out in phase (i) and the interlocking movement of all the organs of fluidic connections of phase (iii) are made in substantially orthogonal directions (one transverse and the other axial, if we consider the axis of the connectors).
• the system which is the subject of the present invention is a coupling system that is both mechanical and fluid between the tool holder frame of a manipulator machine such as, in particular, a hydraulic loader, and an interchangeable tool, in which said tool-carrying frame is equipped with a first housing - called frame housing - provided with a set of male or female fluid connection members, while said tool is equipped with a second housing - called tool housing - provided with a set of complementary female or male fluid connection members, the tool holder frame and the tool being provided with means for hooking and mutual locking.
• a manipulator machine such as, in particular, a hydraulic loader
• an interchangeable tool in which said tool-carrying frame is equipped with a first housing - called frame housing - provided with a set of male or female fluid connection members, while said tool is equipped with a second housing - called tool housing - provided with a set of complementary female or male fluid connection members, the tool holder frame and the tool being provided with means for hooking and mutual locking.
• said frame and tool housings are each provided with a movable and retractable protective cover which normally covers the connection members of the associated housing, said covers being arranged and positioned in such a way that the correct positioning of the tool-holder frame with respect to the tool with a view to their mutual coupling automatically causes the retraction of each of these covers, and ensures the direct matching of the fluid connection members of the two housings and that, on the other hand, said frame housing is slidably mounted in a support fixed to the tool-carrying frame, means being provided for moving it in the direction of said tool housing after the fluid connection members of the two boxes have been matched, to ensure their nesting.
• this system comprises means capable of achieving the mechanical locking of the tool on the tool holder prior to the above-mentioned movement from the frame housing to the tool housing, intended to ensure the fluid connection .
• the mechanical locking of the tool on the tool holder is achieved by means of a pair of sliding rods which are mounted on the tool holder frame in a horizontal transverse direction, and whose portions d ends are adapted to penetrate holes provided on the tool, the movement of these rods being controlled by a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the tool holder frame.
• this hydraulic cylinder also controls the movement of the frame casing in a direction perpendicular to that of the rods, this by means of a cam device. Furthermore, according to a certain number of advantageous, non-limiting characteristics:
• the support in which the frame casing can slide comprises stop members capable of immobilizing the tool casing to resist the pressure generated by the fluid at the time of the fitting of the male connection members into the female connection members ;
• the tool has the general shape of a bucket, or bucket, on the back of which is fixed the tool housing;
• the fluid connection members are hydraulic connection members, which supply cylinders and / or hydraulic motors fitted to the tool, from a source of pressurized hydraulic liquid coming from the manipulator machine;
• the frame and tool housings further comprise at least one pair of complementary male / female electrical connection pins;
• the covers are retractable by pivoting and / or by translation, and are urged by an elastic system, such as a set of springs, to automatically return to their active position of protection of the connection members during uncoupling of the tool by compared to the tool holder frame.
• FIG. 1 is a side view of the end portion of a known type agricultural loader and a tool placed on the ground, intended to be coupled to the tool holder frame of the loader;
• FIG. 2 is a view on a larger scale illustrating the approach and the start of attachment of the tool holder frame on the tool;
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are end views of the coupling system, intended to illustrate the principle of coupling both mechanical and fluid, respectively before and after this coupling.
• Figure 1 is shown the front part of a known type agricultural loader, mounted in front of a tractor not shown.
• Such a loader C comprises a number of hydraulic cylinders, including the cylinder Vi shown, called “tipping cylinder”, which is used to rotate the tool holder 1 about a transverse horizontal axis, that is to say perpendicular to the drawing sheet.
• the tool holder 1 has, at its upper end, a pair of lateral gutters 10, in the general shape of "U", the opening of which is directed towards the front and upwards.
• the gutters 10 are used for attaching the tool 2, by fitting into these gutters sections of bars 21 arranged in the upper part of the tool.
• the tool 2 in question consists of a bucket - or bucket - 20, provided with a claw 200; in known manner this has the general configuration of a rake provided with a series of teeth carried by a support 201 which can pivot, in one direction or the other, around an axis 202. This pivoting is symbolized in Figure 1 by the double arrow K.
• U is controlled by a N 2 double-acting hydraulic cylinder. More specifically, a pair of cylinders V 2 is provided (only one of which is visible in the drawing) arranged symmetrically on either side of the median vertical axis of symmetry of the tool.
• This kind of versatile tool is widely used by farmers, especially in silage and silage operations, the claw allowing to fill the bucket with materials such as straw or hay, and to retain them in the bucket during transport.
• the tool holder 1 and the tool 2 are each provided with a half-assembly of fluid connection, intended to ensure the hydraulic connection between supply and liquid discharge conduits 30a coming from the charger to receiving conduits 30b supplying the pair of cylinders N 2 .
• These half-assemblies each consist of a flat housing which has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, of relatively small thickness, in the longitudinal direction.
• the housing 3a carried by the tool holder is mounted, and guided in translation, in the longitudinal direction, in a support 9 which affects the general shape of a frame.
• This housing is fixed in the central part, at the front of the tool holder 1.
• the housing 3b is fixed, by means of a support plate 4, to the external face of the tool, that is to say -to say on the back of the bucket 2, in the upper region thereof. It is therefore not exposed to the materials contained in the bucket.
• the housing 3a is open at the top while the housing 3b is open at the bottom.
• the fluid connectors are hydraulic connectors, the male members 60a of which are carried by the housing 3a and the female members 60b by the housing 3b.
• four hydraulic connections 60a-60b are provided, arranged in pairs, each pair being intended to constitute the outward and return passages towards one of the two cylinders V 2 of the tool.
• the housing 3a further comprises a pair of rods, or centering pins 6a which are intended to be inserted, with little play, in the receiving openings 6b provided in the housing 3b.
• All the axes of the pins 6, the hydraulic connectors 60 and the electric pins 61 have parallel axes, in this case located substantially in the same longitudinal vertical plane, parallel to the direction of movement of the movable housing 3a in its support 9 .
• the housing 3a is covered at its upper part with a shell in two parts.
• This comprises a bent plate 53a fixed against the front wall (tool side) of the support 9 and, at the rear, an articulated cover 5a, the transverse articulation axis 50a of which is carried by the support 9.
• This shell covers the normally open space of the housing upwards, above the hydraulic connection elements 60a and electrical connection 61a; it also covers, of course, the centering pins 6a.
• the cover 5a has a section in the general shape of an inverted "L", a branch 51a of which extends parallel above the opening of the housing 3a. Its other branch is articulated at the rear of the housing around said axis 50a.
• An elastic return system such as a pair of helical torsion springs for example, normally maintains the cover 5a in its closed position illustrated in FIG. 4. Its front edge bears against an inclined edge 530a of the fixed element 53a.
• the assembly forms a shell which completely closes the opening of the housing 3a, because the movable cover 5a is further provided with lateral end cheeks (referenced 500a in FIG. 4A) which protect the connector members on the sides.
• the housing 3b is provided with a cover 5b which consists of a flat plate of the "guillotine" type which can slide forward in its own plane.
• an elastic return system 50b such as a set of pin springs, constantly tends to push the plate 5b backwards, against this overhang 300b in its active closed position of the housing 3b.
• the part 51a of the cover has, on its front end (facing the tool) a flange folded upwards at a right angle, referenced 52a. It will be noted, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, that the box 3b is not mounted directly on the support plate 40 fixed to the tool 2.
• this box is carried by a plate 42 parallel to the support plate 40, and fixed on the latter by means of silent-blocks (elastic buffers) which give a certain freedom of movement to the box 3b relative to the tool 2 .
• the tool being placed on the ground S, as shown in FIG. 1, the person in charge of the operation, who is in the tractor, by controlling the jacks suitable for the loader, begins by approaching the tool holder 1 of the tool so as to position the chutes 10 under the bar portions 21.
• the housing 3a is positioned under the housing 3b, just in alignment with the latter.
• the cover plate 5b has moved backwards, in its own plane, as symbolized by the arrow g in FIG. 4 A.
• the plate 5b is extended laterally, on each of its sides, by lugs which are opposite the support 9 of the housing 3 a, so that it is this support which actuates the cover 5b in the direction of its retraction, pushing it forward, against the return spring 50b.
• each male connector element both hydraulic and electrical, being located opposite and in the alignment of the female element associated with it, but without the connection being made; this situation is illustrated in figure 5.
• each of the male and female fluidic elements is equipped with a closing valve, which prevents any untimely escape of the liquid out of the connector, even if the liquid is at high pressure, until the connection is made. .
• Connectors of this kind are well known and widely used commercially. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, we will now explain how the mechanical connection and the hydraulic and electrical connection of the tool to the tool holder operate successively.
• the locking device of known type, comprises a control cylinder 7 secured to the tool holder frame, the axis of which is arranged horizontally and transversely.
• the device comprises a pair of coaxial sliding rods 11, 11 ′ arranged in the axis of the jack 7, on each side of the latter.
• the rod 11 is secured to the cylinder body, while the rod 11 'is secured to the cylinder rod 700, which it extends.
• the two rods are guided in axial translation in suitable openings formed in plates 120-100 and respectively 120'- 100 'welded to the tool holder frame 1.
• each of the rods 11, 1 V there is a receiving opening 22, 22 ', formed in a part 220, respectively 220', integral with the tool.
• the displacement of the housing 3a in its support which is made perpendicular to the axis common to the jack 7 and to the rods 11, 11 ′, that is to say in the longitudinal direction, is controlled by a cam device 8.
• This device 8 which consists of a plate, is carried by the tool holder frame, and movably mounted on the latter.
• the device 8 is mounted on the base of the support 9. It comprises a pair of elongated holes, or slots 81, arranged horizontally and located at the base of the element 8, in the extension of one another .
• the support 9 is provided with a pair of guide fingers 30 which can slide freely each in a slot 81.
• Above the slots 81 are disposed oblique slots 82, in each of which engages and can slide a finger 31 secured of the housing 3a.
• the part 8 is provided with an appendage 80 directed downwards which is fixed to the end of the rod of the jack 7, in its zone of junction 72 with the rod 11 '.
• the cylinder 7 is retracted.
• the end portions of the rods 11, 11 ' are just engaged in the guide openings of the innermost plates 100, 100'.
• they are set back (inwards) relative to the plates 220, 220 ', outside the corresponding locking holes 22, 22'.
• the rod 11 ' being in its position corresponding to the end of travel position of the jack rod 700 to the left (FIG. 5), the part 8 is also in its end of travel position to the left; in this situation, the fingers 30 are at the right end of the slots 81.
• the inclined lights 82 are directed downwards and to the right, and the fingers 31 carried by the movable housing 3a are also at the right end of the lights 82.
• the jack 7 When the jack 7 is supplied with pressurized liquid, via the pipe 70 (while the pipe 71 is connected to the atmospheric pressure tank), by actuating an appropriate valve, the jack 7 is caused to extend.
• the rod 11 is simultaneously displaced to the left, until the left part of the cylinder body abuts against the element 120, and simultaneously the extension to the right of the rod 11 ', until the connection element 72 of the jack rod with the rod 11 abuts against the fixed part 120'.
• This movement also causes, via appendix 80, the movement to the right of the cam part 8 along h '.
• the part 8 is kept at the same height, as a result of the guidance of the fingers 30 in the slots 81. It therefore follows a horizontal rectilinear trajectory.
• This offset is due in particular to the fact that the lower end portions of the grooves 82 are not inclined but horizontal (like the slots 81), over a short distance.
• the support 9 in which the lower housing 3 a is guided in translation has, at the upper part, solid lateral parts 90 which are capable of serving as support for the lateral portions of the housing 3b, and more particularly on the upper face of these lateral parts.
• These parts 90 therefore serve as stops for the housing 3b, and immobilize it completely in upward translation, so as to withstand the pressure exerted by the mobile housing 3a, moving from bottom to top, during the connection.
• the covers 5a and 5b under the action of their return spring, then automatically return to their initial position, so as to protect the connectors of each of the housings 3a and 3b.
• the cover 5a on one side and the plate flange 530a on the other side also provide some protection of the plane of joint between the two boxes, protecting the assembly from ambient pollution (see in particular FIGS. 4A).
• each pair of fluidic or electrical connectors is not necessarily used. Their number is chosen to be sufficient to be able to meet the requirements of the tool in the series that requires the most.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Automatic Tool Replacement In Machine Tools (AREA)
• Constituent Portions Of Griding Lathes, Driving, Sensing And Control (AREA)
• Shovels (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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• 2000
  • 2000-09-08 FR FR0011441A patent/FR2813941B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-09-07 US US10/363,895 patent/US6899509B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-09-07 JP JP2002525306A patent/JP2004508472A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2001-09-07 AU AU8782501A patent/AU8782501A/xx active Pending
  • 2001-09-07 WO PCT/FR2001/002778 patent/WO2002020906A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-09-07 DE DE60102711T patent/DE60102711T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-07 NZ NZ524628A patent/NZ524628A/en unknown
  • 2001-09-07 EP EP01967446A patent/EP1317585B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-07 AU AU2001287825A patent/AU2001287825B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-09-07 DK DK01967446T patent/DK1317585T3/da active
  • 2001-09-07 AT AT01967446T patent/ATE263870T1/de active
  • 2001-09-07 ES ES01967446T patent/ES2218447T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime

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