EP2910688A1

EP2910688A1 - Lock and release system

Info

Publication number: EP2910688A1
Application number: EP15156149.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Faedi; Giorgio Cangini
Original assignee: Cangini Benne SRL
Current assignee: Cangini Benne SRL
Priority date: 2014-02-24
Filing date: 2015-02-23
Publication date: 2015-08-26

Abstract

A fast lock and release system (100) for quickly locking a tool (T) in, and releasing it from, the working arm (A) of an operating machine, wherein an adaptor member (200) is designed to be fixed to the tool (T) and a lock and release device (300) is designed to be fixed to the working arm (A); the lock and release device (300) being designed to be locked in and released from the adaptor member (200) thus quickly locking said tool (T) in, and respectively releasing it from, the working arm (A), wherein the device (300) comprises fixed engagement means (304) and translatable engagement means (306) designed to engage with corresponding abutment means of the adaptor member (200) and wherein the device (300) comprises safety means (407) that can be translated from a back position to a forward position and conversely, wherein in the forward position these safety means engage with the same abutment means of the adaptor member (200) which engage the fixed engagement means (304) of the device (300).

Description

The present invention regards the field of mechanical joints and relates to a fast lock and release system. In particular, the present invention relates to a fast lock and release system for quickly locking and releasing a tool. In more detail, the present invention can be advantageously applied to the field of machines for earth movement, demolition works and the like, and relates to a device for locking a tool, for example a bucket or the like, in, and respectively releasing it from, a working arm of a main operating machine, for instance an excavator.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the prior art, the use is well known of fast lock and release systems for the reversible connection of mechanical elements of different kind. These fast lock and release systems are widely used and appreciated in the field of machinery for earth movement, demolition works and/or similar works, as they allow to use different tools on a same operating machine. For example, the known systems allow to use, move or actuate both a bucket and an impact hammer by means of the working arm of the same operating machine; in this way, it is possible to replace a tool with the other, according to the actual needs, in a safe easy and fast way.
Among the known lock and release systems, those of the type illustrated in figures 1-4 are widely used and appreciated; these are essentially comprised of an adaptor member 200, designed to be fixed (for instance by means of welding, screws, bolts or similar solutions) to a tool T, and of a lock and release device 300, designed to be fixed for example (again by means of known solutions) to the working arm A of a main operating machine (not shown in the figures). As the device 300 is designed to be, alternatively, locked in and released from the adaptor member 200, the lock of the tool T in, and the release thereof from, the working arm A is thus provided. In particular, in the systems of the type shown in figures 1-4, the "fixed" adaptor member 200 (wherein "fixed" means designed to be "fixed" to the tool T) essentially comprises an engagement bar 205, while the device 300 comprises both fixed engagement means 304 and movable engagement means 306, that can be namely translated along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the engagement bar 205 of the fixed member 200. Each of the fixed engagement means 304, that are usually two and are spaced from each other by a given distance in the direction of extension of the bar 205, comprises a U-shaped engagement portion for housing a corresponding portion of the bar 205. When the fixed engagement means 304 of the lock and release device 300 engaged in this way with the bar 205 of the fixed member 200, and are therefore in pre-lock position (figure 2), the lock and release device 300 can be rotated around the bar 205 of the fixed member 200 so that the device 300 and the fixed member 200 achieve the reciprocal position shown in figure 3; in this position, by translating the movable engagement means 306 (that are usually two bolts positioned at a given reciprocal distance along a direction parallel to the bar 205) from the back position of figure 3 to the forward position of figure 4, each of the two bolts 306 engages with a corresponding seat 207 of the member 200, thus completing the lock of the device 300 in the member 200 and therefore of the tool T in the working arm A.
To release the device 300 from the fixed adaptor member 200 it is only necessary to perform the described operations in reverse, namely to release the movable engagement bolts 306 (translating them in a direction opposite to the engagement direction, and therefore from the forward position to the back position) and then to release the fixed engagement means 304 from the engagement bar 205.
The known systems described above have some appreciated aspects, for instance the reliability and the easy lock and release operations, but they have some defects and/or inconveniencies.
A particular problem is that an accidental release of the bolts 306, as well their only apparent lock, could result in a complete detachment (complete release) of the device 300 from the adaptor member 200, and thus of the tool T from the arm A, with severe risk for the operators working in the range of the working machine, for instance an excavator, especially if the tool is released when it is in raised position and the arm carrying the adaptor member 200 is moving.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a lock and release system allowing to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art lock and release systems.
In particular, a first object of the invention is to provide a lock and release system, wherein the parts that are reciprocally engaged can be released by means of fast and simple operations, without the need for extraordinary maintenance operations or, in the worst case, repairing operations. In more detail, an object of the present invention is to provide a lock and release system allowing to avoid an excessive engagement of the involved parts, and therefore avoiding the undesired blockage of the engaged parts.
A further object of the present invention is to provide the lock and release system with safety means that prevent the tool from being accidentally released (completely detached). Moreover, a further object of the present invention is to provide safety means that can be automatically inserted and extracted by respectively locking and releasing the movable engagement means.
Lastly, an object of the invention is to provide safety means that can be translated, wherein the translation of the safety means occurs simultaneously with the translation of the movable engagement means.
According to the present invention, the objects described and illustrated above are achieved by means of a lock and release system as claimed in claim 1.
Further advantages are achieved by means of the various embodiments of the lock and release system of the present invention, defined in the dependant claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is particularly advantageously applied in the fields of earth movement, demolition works and the like. In particular, the present invention is advantageously applied for locking a tool, for example a bucket, in, and respectively releasing it from, a working arm of a main operating machine, for instance an excavator.
For this reason, the description below illustrates examples of embodiments of a system according to the invention for locking a bucket in, and releasing it from, the working arm of an excavator.
However, it should be highlighted that the applications of the system according to the invention are not limited to the case of tools and operating machines for earth movement, demolition works or similar works. Namely, the present invention can be conveniently applied every time there is the need for a fast lock and release of mechanical members of different kind and for uses other than a movable support.
The present invention is based upon the general concept, according to which the drawbacks of the state-of-the-art fast lock and release systems can be effectively overcome by combining the movable engagement means of the lock and release system with movable safety means, designed to be inserted and extracted (respectively engaged in, and released from, corresponding abutment means). In particular, according to the present invention, further advantages will be provided by designing these safety means so that they can engage with, and be respectively released from, the same fixed engagement means of the adaptor member designed to be engaged by the fixed engagement means of the device. Moreover, according to the present invention further advantages will be provided by using common movement (translation) means both for the movable engagement means (bolts) and the safety means of the device. In particular, further great advantages will be provided if the movable engagement means and the safety means engage respectively with opposite portions of the same component (for instance a bar) of the fixed element of the system. In this way it is possible to prevent the engaged part from bending, and thus to avoid an excessive engagement of the movable engagement means, that can be released in an easy immediate way, also if the engaged component is subjected to high stresses.
Based upon the considerations summarised above, the object of the present invention is a system according to claim 1, i.e. a fast lock and release system for quickly locking, just by way of non-limiting example, a tool in, and releasing it from, the working arm of an operating machine, this system comprising a member, designed to be fixed to the tool, and a lock and release device, designed to be fixed to the working arm, this lock and release device being designed to be locked in, and released from, this member, thus respectively quickly locking the tool in, and releasing it from, the working arm, wherein this member comprises first fixed engagement means and this lock and release device comprises second fixed engagement means designed to engage with these first fixed engagement means of this member; and wherein this lock and release device comprises safety means that can be translated from a first back position to a second forward position wherein these safety means engage with the first fixed engagement means of this member. Advantageously, in the forward position, the translatable safety means engage with the first fixed engagement means so as to prevent the second fixed engagement means from being accidentally released.
Moreover, advantageously, these first fixed engagement means comprise a bar arranged transversally to the direction of translation of the safety means, and these second fixed engagement means engage with two portions of the outer surface of this bar that are spaced from each other along the direction of extension of the same bar, wherein these safety means, in this forward position, engage with a portion of the outer surface of this bar arranged between the two portions of the outer surface engaging with the second fixed engagement means. According to an embodiment, the safety means translate by means of the rotation of an actuating body that can rotate around a first axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of translation of the safety means.
According to a further variant of embodiment, the actuating body is fixed to these safety means so that the rotation of this actuating body in two opposite directions of rotation leads to a translation of these safety means towards respectively this forward position and this back position. Advantageously, this actuating body comprises a first portion with a cam-shaped surface designed to engage, at least during the rotation of the rotating body, with a constraining element interposed between the actuating body and the safety means. According to a further variant of embodiment, the cam-shaped surface is defined by the edge of a shaped hole of this first portion of the actuating body and the constraining element is housed in the shaped hole at least partially.
The safety means may comprise a drag element fixed to one end of the constraining element in a rotary manner.
According to a further embodiment, this end of the drag element fixed to the constraining element in a rotary manner is fork-shaped with two opposite portions defining an inner space inside which the first portion of the actuating body is housed at least partially.
According to a further variant of embodiment, the device comprises a control member designed to push the actuating body so as to drive this actuating body into rotation at least in the direction of rotation leading to the translation of the safety means towards the forward position.
Advantageously, the- actuating body is designed to be driven into rotation by means of an actuating tool in the direction of rotation leading to a translation of the safety means towards the back position.
The actuating body may be rigidly fixed to a pin rotating around the first axis of rotation, and a portion of this pin may be engaged by means of the tool.
According to a further embodiment, this member comprises fixed engagement abutments and the device comprises third engagement means that can be translated from a back position to a forward position where they engage with the fixed engagement abutments. According to further embodiments, the direction of translation of the third engagement means, that can be translated towards the forward position, is substantially parallel to, and opposite the direction of translation of these safety means towards the forward position and/or the translation of these third engagement means is provided by means of the rotation of the actuating body and/or this actuating body engages with the safety means so that the rotation of the actuating body in two opposite directions of rotation leads to a translation of the third engagement means towards the forward position and the back position respectively.
Moreover, further embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependant claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below with reference to some embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings; contrariwise, all the variants or modifications of the embodiments illustrated and described herein, that will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art, fall within the scope of the present invention. In particular, in the attached drawings:

figures 1-4 show side and/or partially cut-away views of a system, and/or of parts thereof, according to the prior art with the lock device and the adaptor member in different reciprocal positions;
figure 5 shows a perspective exploded view of the fast lock and release device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
figures 6 to 9 are plan views of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention with the engagement bolts in different positions and with some parts omitted for the sake of clarity;
figures 10 to 12 are cut-away and plan views of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the engagement bolts and the safety means respectively in release position and extracted;
figures 13 to 15 are cut-away and plan views of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the engagement bolts and the safety means respectively in lock position and inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 5 shows the main components of the lock and release system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 100 comprises a substantially box-shaped device 300 provided with (two) fixed engagement means 304, that are U-shaped and are designed to engage with a fixed engagement bar 205 of a member 200 (not shown in figure 5) so that each of them houses a corresponding portion of this engagement bar 205 at least partially (see also the following figures).
Moreover, the device 300 is provided with two parallel bolts 306, carried by the box-shaped body 360 of the device 300 in a sliding manner. Each bolt 306 is housed in a freely sliding manner inside a hole 364 provided in the box-shaped body 360 by means of the interposition of a bushing 363 and the two bolts 306 are rigidly joined together by means of a connecting member 309 arranged transversally, so as to define a substantially U-shaped single body 310. In particular, (this single body 310) the connecting member 309 and the two bolts 306 are movable between a back position, wherein the bolts 306 are completely housed inside the box-shaped body, and a forward position, wherein at least the ends of the bolts 306 project from the box-shaped body. In the forwards position, each bolt-shaped engagement means 306 can engage with a respective seat 207 of an abutment means 208 of the member 200 to provide, together with the fixed engagement means 304 and 205 of the device 300 and the adaptor member 200 respectively, the connection between the device 300 and the adaptor member 200, and therefore between the tool T and the actuating means (working arm A of the operating machine). In figure 5, the connecting member 309 is comprised of two parts, but it can also be produced in a single piece if this is useful due to construction needs.
The device 300 also includes elastic means 311 comprising, in the embodiment shown in figure 5, two helical springs 311 acting between a fixed portion of the box-shaped body of the device 300 and the two bolt 306, or on the connecting member 309. This means that the translation of the bolts 306 from the back position (release position) to the forward position (lock position) is due to the action (thrust) of the springs 311, while the translation in the opposite direction, i.e. from the forward position (lock position) to the back position (release position) occurs against the thrust of the springs 311. Moreover, the device 300 comprises stop means 340 designed to ensure that the bolts 306 stop in the lock position or, at least, to limit the undesired or accidental translation of the bolts 306 from the lock position.
In particular, these stop means 340 comprise a rotating body 341, that is housed inside the box-shaped body 360 of the device 300 and is joined, in a rotary way, to the lid of the box-shaped body 360 by means of a rotation pin 347 passing through a through hole of this lid, wherein the end of the pin 347 opposite the stop means 340 is therefore outside the box-shaped body of the device 300, wherein on the outer end of the pin 347 there is connected an actuating lever 355 (whose operation will be described in greater detail below).
A sliding means 345 (represented by means of a pin in figure 5) is fixed to the connecting member 309 connecting the bolts 306 together, in intermediate position between the lines of action of the two helical springs of the elastic means 311, so as to project from the connecting means 309 and to extend in a direction parallel to the pin 347.
The rotating body 341 is provided with a through hole 348 shaped like a slot (curved in plan view) and provided with concave extensions forming seats. In particular, the hole 348 has a first curved elongated edge, peripherally delimited by a cam-shaped annular surface 342 having a first lock seat 343, a second release seat 344 and a set of safety stop seats 350, 351, 352 that are arranged along the edge of the hole 348 and are preferably three. The sliding means 345 is partially housed in the hole 348 and is therefore driven into translation by the annular surface 342 following the rotation of the rotating body 341. This means that in figure 5 a counter-clockwise rotation of the rotating body 341 leads to a translation of the sliding means 345 (and therefore of the connecting member 309 and the bolts 306 ejected from their seats inside the box-shaped body 360) to the left side of figure 5 in a direction opposite to the action of the springs 311, while a clockwise rotation of the rotating body 341 leads to a translation of the sliding means 345 (and, thus, of the connecting member 309 and the bolts 306 that return into their seats inside the box-shaped body 360) to the right side in figure 5 in the direction of action of the springs 311.
In particular, when the bolts 306 are in forward (lock) position, the means 345 is housed in the lock seat 343, while, when the bolts 306 are in back position, the sliding means 345 is housed in the release seat 344.
Namely, the lock seat 343 and the release seat 344 are respectively arranged at the opposite ends of the hole 348 and, therefore, of the annular surface 342, and define the end positions of rotation of the rotating body 341 (and therefore of translation of the bolts 306).
The end of the release seat 344 is provided with a stop means 346, slightly projecting in a direction almost parallel and opposite to that of the elastic means 311. This stop means 346 is designed to abut on the sliding means 345, holding it in the release seat 344.
In particular, the sliding means 345 comprises a hollow cylindrical body, for instance a bushing, that freely rotates around a pin that extends from the connecting member 309 and that, during the movement of the means 345 in the hole 348, rotates around this pin due to the contrast with the edge of the hole 348, in particular with the cam-shaped annular surface 342.
In view of the above description, the sliding means 345 acts as a tappet for the rotating body 341 designed to interact with the annular surface 342 of the hole 348. It should be also noted that, according to the present invention, the seats 350, 351, and 352 allow a safe rotation with stops of the body 341 with respect to its pivot axis, as the lock seat 343 is already designed to condition the width of the stroke of the bolts 306. On the other hand, the number of these seats 350, 351, 352 may vary, from minimum one seat, according to the needs and/or the circumstance and/or the applications. Obviously, the presence of the first lock seat 343, of the second release seat 344 and of the seats 350, 351, 352 allows to detect stop positions in safe conditions of the connecting member 309 and of any other devices mechanically connected thereto, as it will be explained below.
The stop means 340 further comprise an elastic member 353, acting between a fixed portion of the device 300 and the rotating body 341 to transmit to this latter a rotation torque in the direction of rotation corresponding to a translation of the bolts 306 towards the forward (lock) position.
Thanks to this torque, the rotating body 341 always abuts onto the sliding member 345, thus substantially insulating the device 300 against the vibrations due to hammers or other tools.
Each helical spring 311 is partially housed in a longitudinal space of the respective bolts 306.
The box-shaped body 360 is therefore substantially fluid-proof, and is provided with entrance for lubricant or grease nipples (not shown) for filling the box-shaped body 360 with grease so as to lubricate and to avoid, together with the seal means, the entrance of dust, sand, mud, dirt and debris.
For moving the bolts 306, the device 300 also comprises a control member 312, housed in a sliding manner in a through hole, known and therefore not shown, of the exit wall 361, so as to be translatable along the same direction of the bolts 306. In particular, the control member 312 has an end, outside the box-shaped body 360, oriented towards the abutment means 208 of the adaptor member 200, wherein the opposite end of the control member 312 acts on the stop means 340. In particular, the control member 312 can be actuated by abutting against the abutment means 208 so as to act onto the stop means 340.
The rotation pin 347 of the rotating body 341 has an actuating head 354, engaging with a lever tool 355 to drive the rotating body 341 into rotation.
The lock and release operations, as well as the operating principles of the system according to the invention, will be described below with reference to figures 6 to 9. In figures 6 to 9, the features and/or the parts of the system already described above are identified by means of the same reference numbers.
For the lock operations, the fixed engagement means 304 of the device 300 reciprocally engage on the engagement bar 205 of the adaptor member 200, as shown, for example, in figure 2. From this position, the device 300, with the bolts 306 in back position (housed inside the box-shaped body 360, as shown in figure 7), and, thus, with the sliding means 345 in the release seat 344, rotates with respect to the adaptor member 200 in clockwise direction, up to achieve the reciprocal position of figure 3; during this rotation around the engagement bar 205, the control member 312 abuts against the abutment means 208, corresponding to the adaptor member 200, and is therefore pushed towards the inside of the box-shaped body 360, so as to act on the rotating body 341, whose consequent rotation (in counter-clockwise direction in figure 7) frees the release seat 344 from the sliding means 345, allowing the elastic means 311 to bring the bolts 306 to the forward position of figure 6, where the ends of the bolts 306 project from the box-shaped body 360 and engage with the respective seats 207 of the abutment means 208 of the adaptor member 200, thus completely joining the device 300 to the adaptor member 200, and therefore the tool T to the working arm A.
In the joining condition of figure 6, wherein the bolts 306 engage with the respective seats 207 of the abutment means 208, the sliding means 345 abuts against the cam-shaped annular surface 342 near the lock seat 343 and almost faces the safety stop seats 350, 351, 352.
In this condition, if vibrations, pulses and/or forces or stresses, generated by the operation of the tool T and/or of the working arm A, push the bolts 306 towards the inside, the sliding means 345 is forced to translate towards the inside, thus engaging with one of the seats 350, 351, 352, usually with the intermediate seat 351, preventing the bolt means 306 from further translating towards the inside and preventing the respective seats 207 from being released from the abutment member 208. Therefore, if the device 300 and/or the adaptor member 200 are made with excessive tolerances, and in particular with sizes (for instance, longitudinal sizes) different than the project sizes, or if their sizes have been changed due to wear, the pushes and translations of the bolt means 306 towards the inside, in the joining condition of figure 6, can lead the sliding means 345 to abut against, and to stop in, one of the safety stop seats 350, 351, 352, as shown for instance in figure 9, namely in a position where the ends of the bolts 306 always engage with the respective seats 207 of the adaptor member 200, thus preventing the device 300 from being accidentally released from the adaptor member 200, and thus ensuring a real safe joining.
To release the device 300 from the adaptor member 200, it is necessary: firstly to rotate the rotating body 341, by means of the tool 355, so that the rotating means 345 engages again in the release seat 344; then to bring the bolt means 306 to the back position of figure 8, as well as to rotate the device 300 with respect to the adaptor member 200 around the engagement bar 205 of the adaptor member; lastly, to release the fixed engagement means 304 from the engagement bar 205. It should be also noted that, following this operation, the sliding means 345 is still held in the release seat 344, where the bolts 306 are in back position and are therefore ready for a new lock operation, for instance for locking a further tool T.
Additional safety means of the system according to the invention, and the operation principle thereof, will be described below with reference to figures 5 and 10-15; in figures 5 and 10-15, the features and the parts of the system, already described above with reference to other figures, are identified by means of the same reference numbers.
In the exploded view of figure 5, the lock means 340 of the device 300 comprise a second rotating body 400, arranged above the rotating body 341 and engaging with the actuating pin 347, in an integral manner, along the same actuating pin 347. In particular, the actuating pin 347 is partially housed in an engagement seat of the second rotating body 400, so that a rotation of this pin 347 causes the simultaneous rotation, in the same direction, of the first rotating body 341 and of the second rotating body 400.
The second rotating body 400 comprises a shaped through hole 401, whose edge defined a cam-shaped surface 402. A roll or nipple 403, that can rotate around a pin 404, is housed in the hole 401, wherein the opposite ends of the pin 404 project from the opposite parts of the rotating body 400 and wherein the nipple 403 engages, due to rotation, with the cam-shaped surface 402. In other words, during the translation of the pin 404 along the hole 401, the nipple 403 is driven into rotation by means of the abutment against the cam-shaped surface 402. In particular, each of the opposite ends of the pin 404 is housed in a corresponding seat of a drag element 405, whose fork-shaped portion facing the second rotating body 400 comprises two opposite ends spaced from each other by a given distance, in each of which there is provided a seat for housing a corresponding end of the pin 404. In this way, the second rotating body 400 is partially housed in the space defined by the two opposite ends of the fork-shaped portion of the drag element 405.
It is therefore obvious that, during a rotation of the second rotating body 400, the pin 404 slides along the hollow hole 401, driving the drag element 405 into translation. In particular, a rotation in clockwise direction with respect to figure 5 causes a translation of the drag element 405 from the right side to the left side, i.e. towards the inside of the box-shaped body 360), while a rotation in counter-clockwise direction causes a translation of the drag element 405 from the left side to the right side, i.e. towards the outside of the box-shaped body 360.
A spacer 406 is fixed to the end of the drag element 405 opposite to the rotating body 400, a safety stop 407 being fixed to the end of the spacer 406 opposite to the drag element 405; in other words, the spacer 406 is interposed between the drag element 405 and the safety stop 407, wherein the drag element 405, the spacer 406 and the safety stop 407 are joined together by means of a screw 408.
In view of the above description it is clearly apparent that a rotation in clockwise direction (with respect to figure 5) of the second rotating body 400 leads to a translation of the spacer 406 and of the safety stop 407 from the right side to the left side (towards the inside of the box-shaped body 360), while a rotation in counter-clockwise direction leads to a translation of the spacer 406 and of the safety stop 407 from the left side to the right side (towards the outside of the box-shaped body 360).
The use of the lock and release system 100 is clearly apparent from the above description. However, it should be useful to specify what follows.
By comparing figure 12 (corresponding to figure 8) and figures 10 and 11, it is clearly apparent that, when the sliding means 345 is arranged in the release seat 344 of the first rotating body 341 (and, thus, when the bolts 306 are in back position), the pin 404 is arranged at an end of the hole 401 of the second rotating body 400; when the pin 404 is in this position, also the safety stop 407 is arranged in back position, as shown in particular in figure 10.
From this position, by means of the simultaneous rotation of the rotating body 341 and of the second rotating body 400 in counter-clockwise direction, that is due to the push of the control member 312 onto the first rotating body 341, as described above, the sliding means 345 is released from the release seat 344, sliding along the hole 348 up to achieve the lock seat 343, or a safety seat 351 (figures 15 and 6), thus allowing the bolts 306 to move forward up to engage with the respective seats 207 (figure 6).
At the same time, the pin 404 slides along the hole 401 (with the nipple 403 rolling on the cam-shaped surface 402) from the position of figure 11 towards the opposite end of the hole 401, i.e. up to achieve the position shown in figure 14. While the pin 404 slides along the hole 401, thanks to the contrast between the nipple 403 and the cam-shaped surface 402, also the drag element 405, and therefore also the spacer 406 and the safety stop 407, translate, in particular towards the outside and up to achieve the final forward position shown in figure 13.
In this position, the safety stop 407 abuts against the bar 205 of the adaptor member 200, in particular on the surface portion of the bar 205 opposite to the surface portion of the bar 205 engaging with the fixed engagement means 304 of the device 300.
Therefore, thanks to the solution described above, to the engagement of the bolts 306 with the respective seats 207 corresponds the essentially simultaneous engagement of the safety stop 407 with the bar 205; in the same way, by releasing the bolts 306 from the respective seats 207 through the rotation of the pin 347 by means of the lever 355, the safety stop 407 is released from the bar 205 substantially simultaneously. On the other hand, the integral joining between the rotating bodies 341 and 400, the presence of the first lock seat 343, of the secondo release seat 344, and of the seats 350, 351, 352, allow to detect a plurality of intermediate safe lock/stop positions between the back position, wherein the bolts 306 are completely housed inside the box-shaped body and the safety stop 407 is in back position, and the forward position, wherein at least the ends of the bolts 306 project from the box-shaped body and the safety stop 407 is in the respective forward position. Conversely, in case the bolts 306 have been accidentally released (i.e. without, or only with a minimal, rotation of the rotating bodies 341 and 400), the safety stop 407 remains engaging with the bar 205, that is therefore "trapped" between the fixed engagement means 304 and the safety stop 407, thus avoiding the complete release of the device 300 from the adaptor member 200, and therefore of the tool T from the respective working arm A. The description above demonstrates how the system according to the present invention allows to achieve the objects of the invention and/or to overcome the drawbacks of the known systems of the prior art.
In particular, the lock and release device 100 described above allows to solve the problem of the wear of the parts abutting with one other, in particular of the various engagement surfaces, and adequately to absorb the stresses, ensuring an at least partial reciprocal lock between the device 300 and the adaptor member 200, thus preventing the device from being accidentally completely released from the adaptor.
Also, the present invention allows to provide a fast lock and release system that minimizes, and eliminate, bending or deformations of the abutting parts, in particular of the engagement bar of the fixed element, also in case of high stresses to which the system could be subjected.
The lock and release system 100 described above comprises reciprocally engaged parts that can be released from one other by means of simple and immediate operations, without the need for extraordinary maintenance operations, in addition to avoid the undesired blockage of the reciprocally engaged parts. It is clearly apparent that, thanks to these features, the fast lock and release system described above is particularly suitable to be hydraulically controlled.
Lastly, the lock and release system 100 according to the present invention simplifies the operation of insertion and extraction of the safety stop, as these operations are performed through the same mechanism allowing to lock and release the bolts.
Obviously, even if the lock and release system 100 according to the present invention has been illustrated by means of the detailed description of the respective embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings, the scope of the invention is not limited by these embodiments.
Conversely, all modifications and/or variants of the embodiments described and illustrated herein that will be obvious to those skilled in the art based upon the present description, fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is therefore defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A fast lock and release system (100) for quickly locking a tool (T) in, and releasing it from, the working arm (A) of an operating machine, said system (100) comprising an adaptor member (200) designed to be fixed to said tool (T) and a lock and release device (300) designed to be fixed to said working arm, said lock and release device (300) being designed to be locked in and released from said adaptor member (200) thus quickly locking said tool (T) in, and respectively releasing it from, said working arm (A), wherein said adaptor member (200) comprises first fixed engagement means (205) and said lock and release device (300) comprises second fixed engagement means (304) designed to engage with said first fixed engagement means (205) of said adaptor member (200); said lock and release device(300) comprising safety means (407) that can be translated from a first back position to a second forward position wherein said safety means (407) engage with said first fixed engagement means (205) of said adaptor member (200), so as to prevent said second fixed engagement means (304) from being accidentally released, characterized in that that said lock and release device (300) comprises an actuating body (340) rotating around a first axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of translation of said safety means (407) to cause the translation of said safety means (407), and in that said actuating body (340) is associated with said safety means (407) so that the rotation of said actuating body (340) in two opposite directions of rotation leads to a translation of said safety means between respectively said respective forward position and said back position.
System (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first fixed engagement means comprise a bar (205) arranged transversally to the direction of translation of said safety means (407), in that said second fixed engagement means (304) engage with two portions of the outer surface of said bar (205) that are spaced from each other along the direction of extension of the same bar (205), and in that said safety means (407), in said forward position, engage with one portion of the outer surface of said bar (205) arranged between said two portions of the outer surface engaged with said second fixed engagement means.
System (100) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that said actuating body (340) comprises a first portion (400) with a cam-shaped surface (402) designed to engage, at least during the rotation of said body, with one constraining element (403) interposed between said actuating body (340) and said safety means (407).
System (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that said cam-shaped surface (402) is defined by the edge of a shaped hole (401) of said first portion (400) of said actuating body (340) and in that said constraining element (403) is housed in said shaped hole (401) at least partially.
System (100) according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterised in that said safety means comprise a drag element (405) fixed to one end of said constraining element (403) in a rotary manner.
System (100) according to claim 5, characterised in that said end of said drag element (405) fixed to said constraining member (403) in a rotary manner is fork-shaped with two opposite portions defining an inner space inside which said first portion (400) of said actuating body (340) is housed at least partially.
System (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said device (300) comprises a control member (312) designed to push said actuating body (340) so as to drive said actuating body (340) into rotation at least in the direction of rotation leading to the translation of said safety means (407) towards said forward position.
System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said actuating body (340) is designed to be rotated by means of an actuating tool (355) in the direction of rotation leading to the translation of said safety means (407) towards said back position.
System (100) according to claim 8, characterised in that said actuating body (340) is rigidly fixed to a pin (347) rotating around said first axis of rotation, and in that one portion of said pin (347) may be engaged by means of said tool (355).
System (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said member (200) comprises fixed engagement abutments (207), and in that said device (300) comprises third engagement means (306) that can be translated from a back position to a forward position where they engage with said fixed engagement abutments (207).
System (100) according to claim 10, characterised in that the direction of translation of said third engagement means (306) that can be translated towards said forward position is substantially parallel and opposite to the direction of translation of said safety means (407) towards said forward position.
System (100) according to one of claims 10 and 11 depending upon claim 4, characterised in that the translation of said third engagement means (306) is provided by means of rotation of said actuating body (340).
System (100) according to claim 12, characterised in that said actuating body (340) is fixed to said safety means (407) so that the rotation of said actuating body (340) in two opposite directions of rotation leads to a translation of said third engagement means (306) towards respectively said forward position and said back position.
System (100) according to claim 10 depending upon claims 1 and 3, characterised in that said actuating body (340) comprises one second portion (341) integrally associated with said first portion (400) and designed to cause the translation of said third engagement means (306) with at least one stop.
System (100) according to claim 14, characterised in that said second portion (341) has a shaped hole (348) peripherally delimited by a cam-shaped annular surface (342) having a lock seat (343), a release seat (344).
System (100) according to claim 15, characterised in that said cam-shaped annular surface (342) has at least one safety stop seat (350) (351) (352) arranged along the edge of said shaped hole (348).