EP1522635B1 - Quick coupler for attaching tools to an excavator arm - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a quick-change coupling for attachment of the working tools on an excavator boom, as explained in claim 1.

In a known embodiment of this type, the Aufnehmeausnugmungen the hook connections and the Audrückfläche and the wedge lock are offset in plane parallel to the transverse center plane arranged on the working tool, the hooks of the hook connection are provided symmetrically to the transverse center plane on the working tool, and the pressure surface and wedge lock substantially in the area the transverse center plane are effective. Such a design has the disadvantage that several different receiving organs must be provided, which are subjected to strong bending forces due to the lateral displacement to each other in unequal stress of the working tool.

Also with analog, eg off US 5 024 010 A . EP 0 616 084 A . DE 44 12 373 A or DE G 93 14 409 U known embodiments are attached as holding members for the hook connection of the receptacles for the wedge locking separate parts on the working tool, with the above-mentioned disadvantages of the known type still comes that the fasteners (especially welds) of the holding members of the hook connection or recordings of the spline on the Working tool not only the high workforce, but also holding and Locking forces must absorb, the latter are not insignificant in terms of secure coupling.

The US 6231296 B1 discloses an apparatus for coupling a tool to an excavator boom, the apparatus comprising a boom mounting member and a locking unit having a hydraulic cylinder and a control unit for applying working pressure to the cylinder. The cylinder includes two pistons with laterally ausfabrbaren from the cylinder locking wedges, wherein the pressure range of the piston on its side facing away from the piston rod to lock is greater than on its piston rod receiving side to open the lock. The boom-mounting member includes two parallel connecting arms, between which the cylinder is arranged, so that the locking wedges extend laterally from the connecting arms on both sides. On the part of the tool, the device has hook-shaped coupling elements, in which the provided at the coupling end of the connecting arms insert elements are suspended, and locking elements that provide the wedge surfaces of the spindles on a counter-support on. The coupling elements and the blocking elements are each plate-shaped, but formed separately from each other, wherein in each case the plane of a blocking element is arranged offset to the plane of its counteracting coupling element. The elements do not form a common plate.

The WO 94/29533 A describes a coupling device for securing a connection assembly having at least one connecting element, which is engageable with a mounting plate fixed to a working device in linear alignment. The coupling device has a locking member mounted in linear alignment with the corresponding connecting member, the locking member being interposed between a first position in which the locking member is engaged with the corresponding mounting plate to secure the connecting member thereto and a second position. in which the locking member is released from the mounting plate, so that a movement of the connecting element is possible relative to this, is movable. An actuator is threadedly engaged with the corresponding obturator to move the obturator between the first and second positions by rotation of the actuator.

Another coupling device is in the US 4,854,813 A described. The coupling device includes a pair of support arms having distal ends and a work implement. On the implement, a pair of pivot plates are mounted, wherein define both first and second contoured, spaced apart recordings. A pair of connecting members of generally equal length and width have first and second end portions which are pivotally connected between the distal ends of the support arms. The end portions are adapted to be fittingly received in the first and second receptacles, respectively. At each hinge plate, a guide plate is attached near the first and second receptacles. Locking members are associated with the connecting members to selectively lock the engagement of the end portions, which provide a direct, linear force protruding connection substantially over the entire length and width of each connecting member. A first bolt member extends between the first end portions of the respective connecting members to pivotally mount the connecting members to one of the support arms, and a second bolt member extends between the second end portions of the connecting members to pivotally mount the connecting members to the other of the support arms the first and second pin members are the only structural connections between the connectors.

The DE 44 12 373 A1 discloses a quick-change system for attaching an excavator tool to an excavator, comprising a box-like changer member hinged with two parallel bolts to the stick of the excavator and releasably secured to the excavator tool with two further connections, one of which serves as a bearing for receiving a tool-side abutment and the second connection is designed as acting between the housing and the tool locking, characterized in that the changer part at or near its end facing away from the bearing with a pressure surface and the tool with an associated, obliquely to the tool extending counter-pressure surface are, wherein the arrangement is made such that the changer part rests with tool received on the tool-side abutment and the counter-pressure surface and in this position against lifting from the counter-pressure surface can be locked.

In the training according to NL-C-1017043 In the area of the wedge locking pressure surfaces are provided by the fact that the coupling part of the excavator boom a bolt is provided which is inserted when locking in a matching recess on the coupling part of the working tool. Thus, a determination is achieved only in the field of wedge locking.

Erfindungsgmäß the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided in that the counterpart for the wedge lock is formed by a transversely extending to the planes of the support plates wedge bar, which is guided in a direction away from the working tool obliquely rising path and displaceable transversely to the Keilstablängsrichtung, the mutual pressure surfaces thereby are formed, that a pressure plate is provided on the coupling part, which is engageable with corresponding counter-contact surfaces on the coupling part under the taking place by the inclination of the pressure surfaces pushing the cross bar into the hook of the hook connection in abutment. Characterized in that the receiving recesses are provided congruent for both the hook connection and the spline connection on each side of the longitudinal center plane, the forces are introduced evenly in the coupling plates, wherein the coupling plates between hook connection and splined connection are each claimed only to train. This is because the hook connection, on the one hand, and the pressing surfaces, on the other hand, face each other and the spline connection causes the pressing surfaces to be displaced relative to each other in such a manner that the receiving recess of the splined connection is urged away from one another with respect to the hook connection and the pressing surfaces. The attachment of the coupling plates on the working tool is free from the coupling forces and only needs to absorb the workforce. The quick-change coupling according to the invention causes in a simple manner that upon displacement of the wedge member in the support plates, these are pulled towards the working tool out, whereby the corresponding contact pressure of the pressure surfaces and thus the hook connection is achieved.

In this case, the wedge rod to pass through the support plates and protrude to the excavator boom remote from the outer sides of the support plates, on both sides of each of the support plates, the spline is provided. Thus, it is possible to record with one and the same attached to the excavator coupling part working tools in which the coupling plates on the working tool either within the support plates, or even outside the plate, so further away from each other, are mounted. This is achieved in the same way for the hook connection characterized in that the counterparts for the hook connection, by a the support plates passing through the excavator boom on the opposite outer sides, the support plates projecting cross bar is formed. In Preferably, a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit may be provided for actuating the wedge bar, which is fully extended with unlocked wedge lock. This has the advantage that the piston surface which is available when locking the wedge connection, due to the attached piston rod is less than to release the wedge lock, whereby a possible seizure of the wedge connection is counteracted insofar as greater forces can be applied when loosening than when locking. In order to attach the working tools for both the deep trench and for the high trench, ie counter-directed, the receiving recesses of the coupling plate with respect to the plane transverse to the plane vertical center plane can be formed symmetrically. Furthermore, two coupling plates can be provided on each side of the longitudinal center plane, wherein the support plates can be inserted into the intermediate space between the adjacent coupling plates. In order to Especially for larger tools very stable coupling parts can be achieved on the working tool. In order to let the forces act only on the connecting members as possible, the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit may be supported with its end facing away from the wedge rod at the belonging to the hook connection cross bar. Finally, in order to support the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit in the direction of attachment of the excavator jib cranked tabs may be provided which are secured against pivoting relative to the support plates. This ensures that the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit is aligned with its longitudinal axis directly in the direction of movement of the wedge surfaces having bar. In order to keep the mutually movable parts of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit of impermissible forces, the connection between the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit and the wedge rod can be done while maintaining a game.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine erste Ausführungsvariante im Schaubild im gekuppelten Zustand der beiden Kupplungsteile.
• Fig. 2 ist eine Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 3 eine Stirnansicht und
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht auf die Ausbildung gemäß Fig. 1. In der Darstellung ist dabei sowohl der Baggerausleger als auch das Arbeitswerkzeug weggelassen, um die Darstellung nicht zu verkomplizieren.
• Fig. 5 zeigt den am Baggerausleger anzubringenden Kupplungsteil alleine, ohne den am Arbeitswerkzeug befindlichen Kupplungsteil und zwar in Seitenansicht.
• Fig. 6 ist eine Draufsicht auf diesen Kupplungsteil,
• Fig. 7 gibt einen Schnitt nach Linie A-A der Fig. 6 und
• Fig. 8 einen Schnitt nach Linie C-C der Fig. 6 wieder.
• Fig. 9 zeigt im Schaubild eine erste Ausführungsvariante des am Arbeitswerkzeug anzubringenden Kupplungsteiles.
• Fig. 10 ist eine Seitenansicht dieses in Fig. 9 dargestellten Kupplungsteiles.
• Fig. 11 gibt eine weitere Ausführungsvariante des am Arbeitswerkzeug anzubringenden bzw. befindlichen Kupplungsteiles im Schaubild wieder.
• Fig. 12 ist eine zugehörige Seitenansicht.

In the drawings, various embodiments of the subject invention are shown.

• Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment in the diagram in the coupled state of the two coupling parts.
• Fig. 2 is a side view,
• Fig. 3 an end view and
• Fig. 4 a plan view of the training according to Fig. 1 , In the representation of both the excavator boom and the working tool is omitted so as not to complicate the presentation.
• Fig. 5 shows the coupling part to be mounted on the excavator boom alone, without the coupling part located on the working tool and that in side view.
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of this coupling part,
• Fig. 7 gives a cut to line AA the Fig. 6 and
• Fig. 8 a section along line CC the Fig. 6 again.
• Fig. 9 shows in the diagram a first embodiment of the attached to the working tool coupling part.
• Fig. 10 is a side view of this in Fig. 9 illustrated coupling parts.
• Fig. 11 gives a further embodiment of the attached to the working tool or coupling part in the graph again.
• Fig. 12 is an associated side view.

With respect to the attached to the working tool coupling part is still to be noted that the projecting away from the working tool coupling parts not necessarily, as in the Fig. 9 and 11 reproduced, need to be present several times on each side, but it is sufficient for certain applications also from that the vertical parts are provided individually on each side of the longitudinal center, it being possible, as required, the corresponding vertical portions of the coupling part either to the Inner sides or on the outer sides of the excavator arm ago depressed coupling part can be arranged

The quick-change coupling according to the invention has a coupling part 1 to be fastened to the excavator boom and a coupling part 2 to be fastened to the working tool, the two coupling parts being connected to one another via a hook connection 3 on the one hand and a splined connection 4 on the other hand, with additional slanted start-up contact surfaces cooperating with each other on both coupling parts 5 are provided, which are pressed by the spline connection to each other, so as to achieve a play-free fit of the two coupling parts.

The coupling part 1 to be fastened to the excavator boom has eyelets 6, 7, through which the fastening bolts can be pushed through and fastened therein for attachment to the excavator boom.

To achieve the hook connection 3, a transverse bar 8 is arranged on the hook to be fastened to the working tool to be fastened coupling part 2 on the excavator boom to be fastened to the coupling part 1. The wedge connection is formed by a wedge-shaped, flattened rod 10 extending parallel to the transverse bar 8 in the region of the wedge connection, contact surfaces 11 being provided as counter surfaces on the coupling part, along which the wedge bar 10 can be moved so that the coupling part 1 is pulled into the coupling part 2 becomes. To fix the two coupling parts to each other, the mutual pressure surfaces 5 are formed by the coupling part 1, a pressure plate 12 is provided, which is engageable with corresponding counter-contact surfaces 13 on the coupling part 2 in Appendix. The inclination of the pressure plate 12 corresponds in the coupled state about the inclination of the Gegenandrückfläche 13, so that upon actuation of the wedge connection a mutual distortion between the spline and Andrückflächen is given, which also has the effect that due to the inclination of the Andrückflächen 5, the cross bar 8 in the hooks 9 is pressed in. To move of the wedge bar 10, a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 15 is provided which is arranged so that for insertion of the wedge bar 10 on the respective counter wedge surfaces 11, the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit is for the purpose of shortening the same pressurized. This has the advantage that a higher pressure can be used for opening than for insertion of the wedge connection, whereby any jamming can be prevented, or these jamming can be solved easily. To form the hook 9, the wedge abutment surface 11 and the Gegenandrückfläche 13 which is attached to the working tool coupling part 2 by coupling plates 14,14 'is formed, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the working tool. These coupling plates 14,14 'are parallel to one another and are fastened to a support plate 18. Cross connections for connecting the plates to each other are not provided.

In the excavator boom to be attached to the coupling part 1 support plates 16 are provided, on the one hand, the eyelets 6,7 and on the other hand carry the cross bar 8 for hooking the coupling part 1 in the hooks 9 of the coupling part 2, wherein the cross bar 8, the two support plates 16 together and these projected on the outside on both sides. Furthermore, the two support plates 16, which also extend parallel to each other and are arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane of the working tool and also the kinking plane of the excavator boom, are still connected to each other by the pressure plate 12.

Between these two support plates 16, a connecting web 17 is additionally provided, which is attached via a central lug 20 on the transverse bar 8 and from which on the side facing away from the tab 12 two mounting tabs 21 are mounted wegragend between which the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 15 pivotally is attached. The connecting plate 20 as well as the two fastening straps 21 are each bent towards the holding eyes 6, 7, whereby the longitudinal axis of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 15 comes to rest approximately in the direction of movement of the wedge bar 10. The wedge bar 10 is guided in the support plates 16 via slots 23, and projects beyond the support plates on both sides of the outside. The wedge surfaces on the wedge bar 10 are provided both at the located between the support plates 16, these adjacent areas as well as on the support plates 16 on the outside superior areas. The hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 15 engages the wedge bar 10 in the middle, the wedge rod 10 by a guide plate 22 in the axial Direction is led. The connection makes it possible that any moments are transmitted to the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit by any wedge movements, eg pivoting about its longitudinal axis. This is in addition to the pivotal mounting of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit still achieved in that the connection of the piston rod with the wedge bar 10 is carried out in such a way that on the one hand, the inner diameter of the eye of the piston rod is greater than the outer diameter of the wedge bar 10 (about 1 mm difference) and that on the other hand provided for axially fixing the eye of the piston rod on the wedge bar holding plates of the eyelet distanced (about 2 mm) are attached to the wedge bar. At these holding plates, the guide plates 22 are mounted. Thus, for example, with slight inclination of the wedge, the mutually movable parts of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit are not unduly burdened.

The wedge bar 10 is formed as continuous, wherein it is fully flattened in the region of attachment of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit, so circular, flattened on both sides of the articulation of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit to a wedge surface.

In the embodiment of the working tool to be fastened coupling part 2 according to FIGS. 9 and 10 this coupling part is also formed symmetrically with respect to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the working tool, ie that on each coupling plate a hook 9 for the hook connection 3 counter-hook 9 and corresponding counter-facing surfaces 11 'for the spline 4 and 13' for the system of the pressure plate 12 are provided. This is intended, for example, that an excavator bucket can be mounted on the one hand for the deep operation with the opening downwards or for the high operation with the opening upwards, with one and the same coupling tool. Here are according to Fig. 2 In addition to the clutch plates 14 clutch plates 19 are provided, which are formed and arranged congruently with the clutch plates 14, wherein the distance between the plates 14 and 19 is dimensioned so that the support plates 16 of the coupling part 1 can intervene therebetween. It then engages the support plate 14 respectively in the located on the outer sides of the support plate 16 areas of the transverse bar 8, the wedge bar 10 and the support plate 12, wherein the plates 19 at the located on the inside of the support plate 16 areas of the transverse bar 8, the wedge bar 10 and the support plate 12 attack.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 11 and 12 is intended for easy attachment, ie that the coupling part 2 is not symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the working tool, so that the relevant working tool can be attached only in a certain direction. Accordingly, each coupling plate 14 of the coupling part 2 only a hook portion 9 and a wedge contact surface 11 or contact surface 13 for the pressure plate 12. The additional hook coupling plates 19 'are provided only in the hook area but not in the region of the spline connection or pressure plate.

An essential feature of the quick-change coupling according to the invention is that the mutual support of the individual parts of the hook connection with respect to the spline each extend in parallel planes, so that both the clutch plates 14 and 19 and the support plates 16 each claimed only to train are, whereby a buckling or bending of the plates is prevented.

With 24 or 24 ', a clearance between the wedge surface 11 and 11' and the Gegenandrückfläche 13 and 13 'is provided which is dimensioned so that the pressure plate 12 can be moved simultaneously with the fully pushed back wedge rod 10 to the pressure plate 12th on the counter-pressure plate 13 in abutment and to move the wedge rod 10 against the wedge abutment surface 11.

To couple a tool to an excavator boom, the excavator boom is lowered with its coupling part 1 so that the cross bar 8 engages the hook 9 of the hook connection 3, which then the pressure plate 12 and the wedge rod 10 by pivoting the coupling part 1 through the free space 24 is lowered through until the pressure plate 12 abuts the Gegenandrückfläche 13. Thereafter, with the aid of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 15, the wedge bar 10 is moved in the direction of the wedge running surface 11, and after concerns of the wedge bar 10 so long on this wedge surface 11 is displaced transversely to Keilstablängsrichtung until a rich concern of the pressure plate 12 is present at the Gegenandrückfläche 13, wherein due to the inclination of the individual parts of the coupling part 1 along the Gegenandrückfläche 13 is shifted in the direction of the hook 9, that the cross bar 8 is mounted without play in the hook 9. In this position, the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit is then fixed or the pressure is maintained until a decoupling is to take place.

At the end of the work, the working tool is placed on the ground, after which then the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 15 in the sense of Extension is pressurized, causing the wedge rod 10 is now moved away from the wedge abutment surface 11, namely until the wedge rod 10 comes to rest in the region of the free space 24. Thereafter, by pivoting the coupling part 1 to the crossbar 8 in the hook 9 of the hook connection 3 of the coupling part 1 in the region of the pressing surfaces 5 and the spline 4 are released from the coupling part 2 and then then the crossbar 8 can be moved out of the hook 9 of the hook connection 3 ,

Should in the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 and 10 the working tool directed differently, so rotated by 180 °, are coupled to the excavator boom, then the coupling takes place via the hooks 9 ', the Keilanlaufflächen 11' and the Gegenandrückfläche 13 ', wherein the hooks 9, the Keilanlaufflächen 11 and the Gegenandrückfläche 13 without function are.

Claims (9)

1. A quick coupling for attaching tools to an excavator arm, in which a respective coupling body member (1, 2) is arranged on the tool and on the excavator arm, wherein the two coupling body members (1, 2) are fixable with respect to one another by a hook connection (3) constituted by a transverse bar (8) and hooks (9) and a wedge lock (4), with opposed pressure surfaces (5), acting as an opposed mounting and provided on the tool on both sides of its central plane and parallel to it there is at least one respective coupling plate (14, 14^-), which include in a plane the receiving recesses of both the hook connection (3) and also the wedge connection (4), wherein the coupling plates (14, 14^-) are congruent with one another and wherein provided on the excavator arm on both sides of the hinge plane of the arm in the coupled state to the coupling plates (14) on the tool are parallel extending support plates (16, 16^-) for the counterparts which are to be fixed or suspended in the recesses in the coupling plates (14), characterised in that the counterpart for the wedge lock (4) is constituted by a wedge bar (10), which extends transversely to the planes of the support plates (16) and which is guided in a track (26) rising obliquely away from the tool and is movable transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wedge bar, wherein the opposed pressure surfaces (5) are defined by a pressure plate (12) provided on the coupling body (1), which is movable into engagement with corresponding of posed engagement surfaces (13) on the coupling body (2) by the pressing of the transverse bar (8) in the hook (9) of the hook connection (3) occurring as a result of the inclination of the pressure surfaces.
2. A quick coupling as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the wedge bar (10) passes though the support plates (16) and projects at the outer surfaces of the support plates remote from the excavator arm, wherein the wedge profile is provided on both sides of the each the support plates.
3. A quick coupling as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the counterparts for the hook connection are constituted by a transverse bar (8), which passes through the support plates (16) and projects at the outer surfaces of the support plates remote from the excavator arm.
4. A quick coupling as claimed in claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit (15), which is fully extended when the wedge lock (4) is unlocked, is provided for actuating the wedge bar (10).
5. A quick coupling as claimed in claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the receiving recesses in the coupling plate (14) are symmetrically constructed with respect to the vertical central plane extending transversely to the plane of the plate.
6. A quick coupling as claimed in claims 1 to 5, characterised in that provided on both sides of the longitudinal central plane are two respective coupling plates (14, 14^-), wherein the support plates (16) can be inserted into the gap between the adjacent coupling plates.
7. A quick coupling as claimed in claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the hydraulic piston/cylinder unit (15) is supported at its end remote from the wedge bar (10) on the transverse bar (8) forming part of the hook connection.
8. A quick coupling as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that cranked links (20, 21), which are secured against pivoting with respect to the support plate (16), are provided to support the hydraulic piston/cylinder unit (15) in the direction towards the attachment of the excavator arm.
9. A quick coupling as claimed in one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the connection between the hydraulic piston/cylinder unit (15) and the wedge bar (10) is effected whilst maintaining a clearance.

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