EP2002063B1 - Quick-action coupling with tool detection. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a quick coupling for coupling a working tool to the boom of a construction machine, wherein the working tool and the boom end per a coupling part are provided, by means of the coupling parts and the power lines, in particular hydraulic lines for working tools provided on the driven aggregates, can be coupled, and wherein on the working tool a marking carrier for identifying the working tool and on the boom of the construction machine one or more detectors are provided for displaying the recorded working tool, which are connected to the control of the hydraulic system of the construction machine.

In such couplings, the hydraulic supply must be made according to the tool manufacturer, with the correct amount of oil and the correct pressure on the carrier must be set. In modern hydraulic excavators this can be done by means of built-in modern construction machinery control electronics via a program selection stored there. As a rule, between 3 and 10 different settings are available, which are assigned to the respective tool type.

In order to prevent the operator from selecting wrong programs or accelerating the coupling process, it is already known from a prior art ( EP 1 375 757 ) provided to provide a transponder on the working tool, which can be read by means of a provided on the Baggerarmende reader, the read-out data of the control electronics of the construction machine are supplied. This design has the disadvantage that both the transponder and the electronic read-out devices are sensitive components, which are easily damaged or put out of operation by rough handling, as is usually the case on the construction site, whereby damage to the working tool or can occur on the driven aggregates provided thereon.

The publication WO 2004/072387 discloses a quick coupling with all the technical features according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention is based on the object, a quick coupling of the type mentioned in such a way that they work reliably even under the harsh working conditions on construction sites.

The object is achieved by the teaching of the entire claim 1.

According to the invention this is achieved in that a plurality of raster arranged projections, pins or the like are provided on the working tool or on the coupling part provided thereon as a marking carrier, and that as detectors at the boom end the construction machine or attached to the coupling part in the same grid-like arrangement by the projections, pins or the like operable switches, sensors or the like are provided. Thus, no electronic or electronically effective components are present on the working tool, wherein the provided at the boom end of the construction machine detectors can be easily protected, and also also receive no sensitive electronic components.

Advantageously, the sensors may be designed as contactless proximity sensors, whereby a mechanical stress during the coupling process is avoided. Such non-contact proximity sensors can be designed as capacitive, inductive or optical sensors or sensors with ultrasound technology, whereby due to the approach of the pins or the projections in the grid of the corresponding sensor is addressed. In a simplified embodiment, the switches can also be mechanical pressure switches, which can be triggered by a corresponding concern to the actuator of the pressure switch, the switching pulse. Finally, the detectors can be recessed in recesses, whereby an additional safeguard against damage or mechanical effects from the outside is present.

• Fig. 1 zeigt die erfindungsgemäße Schnellkupplung in Seitenansicht.
• Fig. 2 ist ein Teilschnitt nach Linie II, II der Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 gibt in Seitenansicht den am Arbeitswerkzeug vorgesehenen Kupplungsteil wieder.
• Fig. 4 ist eine Draufsicht auf den Kupplungsteil gemäß Fig. 3.
• In Fig. 5 ist der am Auslegerarm vorgesehene Kupplungsteil in Seitenansicht wiedergegeben und
• Fig. 6 zeigt denselben in Unteransicht.
• Fig. 7 illustriert die verschiedenen Möglichkeiten der Anordnung von Stiften und Übermittlung von Codes bei einer Vierstift-Anordnung, wobei jeder Punkt einen tatsächlichen Stift darstellt und jede vertikale Reihe eine Anordnungsmöglichkeit von einem oder mehreren Stiften zu Codierung des Werkzeuges bedeutet.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the subject invention is shown.

• Fig. 1 shows the quick coupling according to the invention in side view.
• Fig. 2 is a partial section according to line II, II of Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 3 gives in side view the provided on the working tool coupling part again.
• Fig. 4 is a plan view of the coupling part according to Fig. 3 ,
• In Fig. 5 is provided on the cantilever arm coupling part shown in side view and
• Fig. 6 shows it in bottom view.
• Fig. 7 illustrates the various possibilities of arranging pins and transmitting codes in a four-pin arrangement, each point representing an actual pin and each vertical row means an arrangement possibility of one or more pins for coding of the tool.

With 1 is schematically indicated to be attached to the boom end of the construction machine coupling part, which cooperates with a coupling part 2 provided on the tool. It is a conventional quick-change coupling, in which the coupling part 1 is provided with hook extensions 7, which in corresponding Einhakbolzen 8 of the tool provided on the coupling part 2 are einhakbar, wherein after lowering of the part 1 on the coupling part 2, a connection eye 9 via a connecting pin 10 with the coupling part 1 provided eyelets 11 can be locked. Such compounds are, as stated, the prior art, so it is not discussed in detail.

In a manner not shown can be coupled to each other by this form of coupling via corresponding coupling blocks hydraulic lines, said hydraulic lines are acted upon by the boom via the coupling part 1 with energy, which is then forwarded via the coupling to the working tool or the aggregates provided thereon.

In order to indicate to the construction machine which tool is currently coupled, the tool has a support plate 5 for projections 6, which cooperate with sensors 4 which are provided on a support plate 3 of the coupling part 1. These sensors 4 are presently designed as non-contact proximity sensors, which can detect whether the detection end of the sensor is opposite to a corresponding projection or not. The details are in Fig. 2 exactly reproduced, in which case a projection or pin is provided for each of the sensors, which address all 4 sensors and pass the corresponding position to the control unit of the construction machine.

Such provided with 4 projections or pins training can serve to pass on 16 different identifiers, depending on how many projections 6 are provided on the support plate 5 of the coupling part 2. Furthermore, the respective position or assignment of the projections to the sensor is decisive. As an embodiment is on Fig. 7 referenced, in which the 4 lines mean the 4 sensors and the dots indicated in the lines represents the respective position of one or more projections. In the Fig. 2 reproduced training thus corresponds to that in the last series of Fig. 7 indicated positioning of the projections. Each row thus means a special program for controlling the tools, the respective program being selected by the control electronics on the basis of the identifier transmitted by the projections or pins.

In this case, the proximity sensors can be designed either as capacitive or inductive sensors, the sensors being selected correspondingly to the respective intended working area. However, the inductive sensors are more robust in operation, since less disturbing influences from the outside can affect the sensors. To all environmental influences To exclude, one can also provide mechanical pressure switch, which react only to the pressure applied via the pins.

In a manner not shown, the detectors or sensors 4 can be recessed in recesses of the associated support plate 3, whereby mechanical action of outer material and the like during the change is avoided. However, then the projections or pins would of course be able to penetrate correspondingly deep into the recesses.

Claims (5)

1. Quick-action coupling for coupling a working tool to the jib of a building machine, a coupling part being provided in each case on the working tool and on the jib end, the energy lines, in particular hydraulic lines, for driven assemblies provided on the working tool also being couplable by means of the coupling parts, and an identification carrier for identifying the working tool being provided on the working tool and one or more detectors for indicating the received working tool being provided on the jib of the building machine, which detectors are connected to the control of the hydraulics of the building machine, characterized in that a plurality of projections, pins (6) or the like arranged in a grid-like manner are provided as identification carriers on the working tool or on the coupling part (2) provided thereon, and in that switches, sensors (4) or the like actuable by the projections, pins (6) or the like are provided as detectors in the same grid-like arrangement on the jib end of the building machine or on the coupling part (1) attached thereto.
2. Quick-action coupling according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sensors (4) are designed as contactlessly active proximity sensors.
3. Quick-action coupling according to Claim 2, characterized in that the proximity sensors (4) are capacitive, inductive or optical sensors or sensors having ultrasonic technology.
4. Quick-action coupling according to Claim 3, characterized in that the switches are mechanical pressure switches.
5. Quick-action coupling according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detectors are arranged so as to be sunk in recesses.

Images