EP3240933B1 - Quick-change device and adapter for a quick-coupling device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a quick coupler of a quick-change device according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and to an adapter of a quick-change device according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 13.

Numerous quick-change devices for construction machines / mobile work equipment are already used, which comprise a quick-changer on the vehicle side and an adapter on the tool side, which can be easily coupled without the driver having to leave the vehicle and lend a hand. Means are usually provided for establishing a mechanical connection between the quick coupler and adapter and an automatic hydraulic clutch which comprises a coupling part on the implement side and a coupling part on the tool side. When the two coupling parts are connected, a vehicle-side hydraulic circuit is automatically coupled to a tool-side hydraulic circuit. In order to be able to use a tool in at least two orientations, e.g. to use a spoon both as a shovel and as a backhoe, often every required connection, e.g. hydraulic, electrical or media connection, is provided twice, with the respective connection pairs correspondingly symmetrical to the The intersection of the longitudinal and transverse central axes of the quick coupler and the adapter are arranged.

However, the practically unavoidable, technically related leakage in tools with rotary consumers has proven to be disadvantageous. Without this controlled collection of the leakage oil and the associated return into the hydraulic circuit, damage to the hydraulic components of the tool would result. There is also a need for individual connections.

The DE 20 2014 102 547 U1 discloses the generic quick coupler for a quick changer device or an adapter for connecting to a quick changer of a quick changer device according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and 13 respectively.

The object of the invention is to provide a quick coupler and an adapter for a quick-change device, which have a single connection, without restricting the flexibility of the alignment of the quick-change device, while avoiding the disadvantages mentioned. In particular, this single connection is part of a device for collecting leakage oil and for feeding the leakage oil back into the hydraulic circuits of vehicle and tool, which enables an adapter to be received in different orientations.

This object is achieved for the quick coupler by the characterizing features of claim 1 in conjunction with its preamble features.

The invention is based on the knowledge that a single, centrally arranged connection in the quick coupler satisfies both the need for a single connection and also enables a connection to be made with an adapter for a tool in different orientations.

According to the invention, a quick changer for a quick change device for connecting a boom of a mobile working device, such as a construction machine, namely an earth moving device or an earth moving vehicle, also called an excavator, with an adapter of the quick change device, which is connected to a tool, the quick changer at least has a quick coupler connection, such as a hydraulic connection, voltage connection and / or media connection, which can be coupled to an adapter connection connected to the adapter when the quick changer is coupled to the adapter. The adapter can be connected to the quick coupler in different directions, rotated by 180 ° to one another, and the quick changer connection can be connected to the adapter connection in each case. According to one aspect of the invention, the quick coupler connection has at least three connections, of which a first connection is arranged centrally in the intersection of a transverse central axis with a longitudinal central axis of the quick coupler. The at least two further connections are arranged symmetrically with respect to the point of intersection in such a way that the quick coupler connection can be connected to the adapter connection both with a first and with a second orientation rotated by 180 °. Due to this arrangement, both the first centrally located connection and the other connections are always available, regardless of which of the two possible orientations the adapter is attached to the quick coupler.

At least one further pair of connections is preferably provided, which is likewise arranged point-symmetrically to the intersection of the transverse central axis with the longitudinal central axis of the quick coupler. The functionality of the tool used in each case is expanded, since several connections are available at the same time, thanks to the point-symmetrical arrangement, regardless of which of the two possible orientations the adapter is attached to the quick coupler. Depending on the requirements placed on the tool, e.g. Hydraulic connections, electrical connections, media connections for gases and liquids, other energy connections, data connections etc. can be provided.

If the quick coupler connection is formed by a connection block in which the first connection and the further connections are arranged and which forms a structural unit with the connections, the arrangement of the connections as a whole is more stable and against mechanical influences during operation in both the coupled and better protected when uncoupled. In addition, the coupling with the adapter connection is easier to manufacture.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it has proven to be advantageous if at least one pair of guide pins is provided in the quick coupler connection block, which centers the quick coupler connection block and the adapter connection to one another when the quick coupler and adapter are connected. The adapter connection has corresponding guide receptacles. Alternatively, at least one pair of guide receptacles and corresponding guide pins are provided in the quick coupler connection block, so that the quick coupler connection block and the adapter connection are centered on one another when the quick coupler and adapter are coupled. Coupling is made even easier by the guide pins and guide receptacles because they facilitate the mechanical centering of quick coupler and adapter to each other.

It can also be advantageous if the guide pins or guide receptacles are arranged point-symmetrically to the point of intersection of the transverse central axis with the longitudinal central axis of the quick coupler. They support centering when coupling the quick coupler and adapter to each other, regardless of which of the two possible orientations of the adapter is attached to the quick coupler.

The first connection is preferably a leakage oil connection. Leakage oil must be transported from the tool to the mobile work device, so only a single connection is required here.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the leakage oil connection is subjected to a maximum of tank pressure during operation. Leakage oil is returned from the tool to the implement via this leakage oil connection. Due to the comparatively low pressure, the leakage oil connection is less prone to malfunction and its tightness is easier to maintain.

In order to avoid loss of hydraulic fluid in particular and to make changing tools easier, a depressurization is provided which is activated before opening or during opening of the quick coupler and which depressurises further connections with hydraulic pressure-loaded connections.

In a further advantageous embodiment, holes are drilled in the connection block, which form the lines for deriving the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure-loaded connections to the leakage oil connection and are part of the depressurization. On the one hand, this reduces the risk of potential loss of hydraulic fluid due to uncontrolled leakage. On the other hand, problems with recoupling pressure-loaded lines are prevented. Lines formed by bores are also particularly stable.

According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one reading device or a write-reading device is provided, which is provided for reading or reading out and applying data and parameters to a data memory in the adapter or in the tool. This eliminates the need to manually enter information regarding the type of tool used, etc., each time the tool changes. In addition, operating times can be easily recorded, tools can be rented or serviced depending on the operating time, and this data can be evaluated and analyzed.

If two readers or read / write devices are provided and the readers or read / write devices are arranged point-symmetrically to the intersection of the transverse central axis with the longitudinal central axis of the quick coupler, operating data of the tool can be read in and out regardless of its orientation, even if the tool only has a data memory.

It is favorable if the reader (s) or the read / write device (s) is / are integrated in the connector block. Due to its compactness, this arrangement is stable and safe and therefore less prone to failure.

It is also possible to provide further connections arranged asymmetrically with respect to the first connection / leakage oil connection. These can serve the purpose that these connections are only activated when the tool / adapter is aligned to a certain extent.

The object is further achieved in that an adapter for connecting to a quick changer of a quick change device is proposed, which can be connected to a tool and has at least one adapter connection, such as a hydraulic connection, an electrical voltage connection and / or another media connection. When connecting the adapter to a quick coupler, these adapter connections can be coupled to a quick coupler connection provided on the quick coupler side, the adapter being aligned with the quick coupler in different directions rotated by 180 ° to one another, and the quick coupler connection can be connected to the adapter connection in each case is. The adapter connection preferably has three connections, of which a first connection is arranged centrally in the intersection of a transverse central axis with a longitudinal central axis of the adapter (18), and the two further connections are arranged point-symmetrically to the intersection of the longitudinal central axis with the transverse central axis of the adapter such that the adapter connection can be connected to the quick coupler connection both with a first orientation and with a second orientation rotated by 180 °. Due to this arrangement, the adapter can be connected to the quick coupler in both possible orientations. In addition, the first connection for the adapter is always available regardless of the orientation of the adapter, even if tools can be connected that do not use the central connection.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one further pair of connections is provided. This improves the functionality of the tool used, since several connections are also available on the adapter side. According to the requirements placed on the tool, hydraulic connections, electrical connections, media connections for gases and liquids, other energy connections, data connections etc. can be provided.

In particular, the further connections are arranged point-symmetrically to the intersection of the longitudinal central axis with the transverse central axis of the adapter. So the other connections are also on the adapter side regardless of the orientation of the tool is always available and can be connected to assigned connections in the quick coupler.

In a preferred embodiment, the adapter connection is formed by a connection block in which the further connections and the first connection are arranged and which forms a structural unit with the connections. The arrangement of the connections is more stable overall, the connections are less susceptible to damage, and the coupling with the quick coupler is easier to manufacture.

According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one pair of guide receptacles are provided in the adapter connection block, which center the quick change connection and the adapter connection block to one another when the quick coupler and adapter are connected. The quick coupler has corresponding guide pins. Alternatively, at least one pair of guide pins are provided in the adapter connection block, which center the quick coupler connection and the adapter connection block to one another when the quick coupler and adapter are connected, the quick changer then having corresponding guide receptacles. Coupling is made even easier by the guide pins and guide receptacles because they make it easier to manually center the adapter and quick coupler to one another.

It can be expedient if the guide receptacles or guide pins are arranged point-symmetrically to the point of intersection of the transverse central axis with the longitudinal central axis of the adapter, since centering with one another is then facilitated regardless of the orientation of the adapter on the quick coupler.

In an advantageous development of the invention, at least two data memories and / or contact carriers are arranged in the adapter. This means that data relating to the tool, required for operation or purely informal data can be kept, which can be automatically read out by the quick coupler when the tool is coupled and operated with the construction machine. The fact that several data memories are provided means that several types of quick couplers can be supplied with data.

In order to ensure data transmission regardless of the orientation of the tool, it is expedient for the data memories to be arranged point-symmetrically to the intersection of the transverse central axis with the longitudinal central axis of the adapter.

It is also very favorable if the data memory (s) is / are designed as an RFID tag. RFID tags take up little space, in the case of passive RFID transponders they do not have their own energy supply, and are inexpensive to procure.

If the data memory (s) / contact carrier (s) is / are designed as part of a CANBUS system, compatibility with a large number of control components is ensured. In addition, CANBUS systems are reliable, relatively inexpensive, flexible and able to transmit energy for electrical consumers.

In a preferred embodiment, the adapter is designed to match the quick coupler described above. This ensures good compatibility between the adapter and the quick coupler. On the other hand, redundancy is achieved in particular through the paired and point-symmetrical arrangement of the further connections, which under certain circumstances allows operation to continue despite contamination or failure of individual connections.

The task is finally solved particularly well by a quick-change device, which comprises a quick-changer as described above and an adapter as previously described. This combination achieves the highest level of compatibility and redundancy for safe and stable operation.

In the case of the quick coupler and the adapter, the connections are oriented essentially perpendicular to the plane of the quick coupler or the adapter spanned by the transverse central axis and the longitudinal central axis.

Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention result from the following description in connection with the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine Perspektivansicht einer Schnellwechselvorrichtung mit einem Schnellwechsler und einem Adapter, wobei der Schnellwechsler mit einem Ausleger eines nicht gezeigten Baggers und der Adapter mit einem Zweischalengreifer verbunden ist;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht eines über eine Schnellwechselvorrichtung mit einem Ausleger verbundenen Zweischalengreifers, wobei noch keine vollständige Kupplung zwischen dem Schnellwechsler und dem Adapter hergestellt ist;

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Perspektivansicht der in Fig. 2 gezeigten Schnellwechselvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht von unten auf den vom Adapter vollständig gelösten Schnellwechsler;

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf den vom Schnellwechsler vollständig gelösten Adapter;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Adapters von Fig. 5;

Fig. 7

eine Schnittansicht des Anschlussblocks des Schnellwechslers entlang der der Achse Q aus Fig. 4, und

Fig. 8

eine schematische Hydraulikschaltung, welche ein automatische Drucklosschaltung vor dem Lösen des Schnellwechsler vom Adapter zeigt.

In the description, in the claims and in the drawing, the terms and associated reference symbols used in the list of reference symbols given below are used. In the drawing:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a quick-change device with a quick changer and an adapter, the quick changer being connected to a boom of an excavator, not shown, and the adapter being connected to a clamshell bucket;

Fig. 2

a side view of a clamshell bucket connected to a boom via a quick-change device, wherein a complete coupling between the quick-coupler and the adapter has not yet been produced;

Fig. 3

an enlarged perspective view of the in Fig. 2 quick-change device shown;

Fig. 4

a bottom view of the quick coupler completely detached from the adapter;

Fig. 5

a plan view of the adapter completely detached from the quick coupler;

Fig. 6

a perspective view of the adapter of Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 7

a sectional view of the terminal block of the quick coupler along the axis Q from Fig. 4 , and

Fig. 8

a schematic hydraulic circuit, which shows an automatic depressurization before releasing the quick coupler from the adapter.

Fig. 1 shows a quick-change device 16, via which a clamshell bucket 12 is detachably attached to an excavator. For reasons of clarity, only one boom 14 of the excavator is shown.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of a clamshell bucket 12, which is connected to a boom 14 via a quick-change device 16 and which is supported on a base, not shown. In Fig. 3 a perspective view of the same quick change device 16 is shown. For a better overview, both figures show a state of the quick-change device 16 during a coupling or decoupling, in which the quick-change device 16 is open.

The quick change device 16 comprises a quick changer 10, which is connected to the boom 14 of an earth moving machine / excavator, and an adapter 18, which is connected to the clamshell bucket 12 is arranged. For the mechanical coupling of the quick coupler 10 to the adapter 18, two locking axes 22a, 22b arranged parallel to one another are provided on the adapter 18. The locking axes 22a, 22b are only firmly connected laterally with fastening walls 23 spaced parallel to one another. The mechanical coupling between the quick coupler 10 and the adapter 18 takes place in a conventional manner, essentially via a wedge connection between the locking axes 22a, 22b on the adapter side and via a hydraulic drive 20 movable locking bolts, which are not shown for reasons of clarity, on the quick changer side. The coupling will be explained briefly in connection with the following description of quick coupler 10 and adapter 18.

The quick coupler 10 is firmly connected to the free end of the boom 14. The adapter 18 is firmly connected to the clamshell bucket 12. In the Figures 2 and 3 The quick coupler 10 is mounted on the locking axis 22a of the adapter 18 adjacent to the extension 14 such that pivoting the quick changer 10 about an axis A running through the locking axis 22a towards the locking axis 22b moves the quick changer 10 into a locking position, as in FIG Fig. 1 shown, promoted.

A more precise overview results from Fig. 4 , in which the quick coupler 10 completely detached from the adapter 18 is shown in a view from below, and from Fig. 5 , in which the adapter 18 completely detached from the quick coupler 10 is shown in a plan view.

The quick coupler 10 has a connection block 30 in the center on the side assigned to the adapter 18, in which a leak oil connection 32 is arranged centrally. Hydraulic connections 34, 34 'for opening and closing the clamshell bucket 12 and hydraulic connections 36, 36' for rotating the clamshell bucket 12 to the right and left are provided in pairs symmetrically around the leakage oil connection 32. Furthermore, a pair of guide receptacles 38, 38 ′ is also provided symmetrically around the leakage oil connection 32 and supports the centering of the quick coupler 10 and the adapter 18, as will be explained below.

A transverse central axis Q and a longitudinal central axis L of the quick coupler 10 intersect in the leakage oil connection 32, the transverse central axis Q running parallel to the longitudinal extent of the connection block 30.

Relative to the transverse central axis Q, two hydraulic drives 20 are provided at both ends of the connection block 30 and are arranged parallel to one another. The two hydraulic drives 20 each have two hydraulic cylinders 20a, 20b, which can be moved in parallel and locked in their end position. The fixed end of the hydraulic cylinder 20a is connected to a quick-change housing 10a. The two hydraulic cylinders 20b are designed at their free ends as locking bolts which, in the decoupled state of the quick-change device 16, are received in guide elements 26, each of which has a guide tube 26a running parallel to the longitudinal axis L. Therefore, the free ends of the hydraulic cylinders 20b are not shown for the sake of clarity.

In the quick coupler 10, the longitudinal central axis L runs centrally and parallel between axially spaced axes of the locking bolts, which are identical to the axes of the guide tube 26a, since the locking bolts are slidably mounted in the guide tube 26a. The transverse central axis Q runs perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis L parallel and centrally between axes A and B arranged parallel to one another. The axis A forms the contact line of the coupling claws 27 and the axis B the contact line of the locking bolts when the quick coupler 10 is locked with the adapter 18. The axes A and B are aligned parallel to the locking axes 22a, 22b of the adapter 18.

Adjacent to the connection block 30, in relation to its longitudinal extent, an RFID scanner 28, 28 'is arranged on both sides in a point-symmetrical manner with respect to the leak oil connection 32. The function of the RFID scanners 28a, 28b is explained below.

The adapter 18 has, see in particular Fig. 5 , on the side assigned to the quick coupler 10 in the middle of a connection block 40 in which a leak oil connection 42 is arranged centrally. Hydraulic connections 44, 44 'for opening and closing the clamshell bucket 12 and hydraulic connections 46, 46' for rotating the clamshell bucket 12 to the right and left are provided in pairs symmetrically around the leakage oil connection 42 in pairs. Furthermore, a pair of guide pins 48, 48 ′ is also provided symmetrically around the leakage oil connection 42 and supports the centering of the adapter 18 and the quick coupler 10.

A transverse central axis Q ′ and a longitudinal central axis L ′ of the adapter 18 intersect in the leakage oil connection 42, the transverse central axis Q ′ running parallel to the longitudinal extent of the connection block 40.

In the adapter 16, the longitudinal central axis L 'runs centrally and parallel between the mutually spaced fastening walls 23, and / or perpendicularly and centrally to the locking axes 22a and 22b and thus to the central axis A' of the locking axis 22b and the central axis B 'of the locking axis 22a. In the present case, both conditions are met. The transverse central axis Q 'runs parallel and centrally between locking axes 22a, 22b arranged parallel to one another.

Spaced from the connection block 40, the two fastening walls 23 are applied to the adapter 18 symmetrically to the longitudinal central axis L ', between which the two locking axes 22a, 22b arranged symmetrically to the transverse central axis Q' are inserted. Adjacent to the connection block 40, based on its longitudinal extent, an RFID tag 29, 29 'is arranged on both sides in a point-symmetrical manner with respect to the leak oil connection 42.

Due to the arrangement of the leak oil connections 32 and 42 in the intersection of the longitudinal central axis L and L 'and the transverse central axis Q and Q' of the quick coupler 10 and the adapter 18 and the point-symmetrical arrangement described above, the respective mutually assigned leak oil connections 32 and 42 and hydraulic connections 34 34 ', 44, 44' in the in Fig. 1 locking position of the quick-change device 16 shown in alignment with each other. The mutually associated guide receptacles 38, 38 'and guide pins 48, 48' are positioned such that they compensate for minor deviations in the alignment when coupling the quick coupler 10 and adapter 18, that is to say when the locking position is being established, and support centering with one another. Furthermore, the mutually assigned RFID scanners 28, 28 'and RFID tags 29, 29' are positioned relative to one another in such a way that data of the clamshell bucket 12 stored in the RFID tag 29, 29 'are easily read by the RFID scanner 28, 28' can.

No further connections are provided in this exemplary embodiment. However, it is entirely possible to arrange, for example, pairs of electrical connections, data connections, etc. that are still assigned to one another on the connection blocks 30 and 40 in a point-symmetrical manner with respect to the leak oil connection 42. It is also possible to provide connections arranged asymmetrically with respect to the first connection / leakage oil connection. These can serve the purpose of only activating these connections when the tool / adapter is aligned.

In the locking position of the quick-change device 16, the coupling claws 27 arranged on the quick-changer 10 are in engagement with the locking axis 22b arranged on the adapter 18. Furthermore, the hydraulic cylinders 20b are displaced in the direction of the locking axis 22a, so that the as Locking bolt-formed ends of the hydraulic cylinders 20b emerge in regions from the guide tubes 26a of the guide elements 27 and are in contact with the locking axis 22a. Reliable frictional engagement and positive locking between the ends of the hydraulic cylinders 20b designed as locking bolts and the locking axis 22b can thus be achieved via the hydraulic drives 20. Further explanations for locking the quick-change device 16 are unnecessary since a large number of possible embodiments are disclosed in the prior art.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the adapter 18 from the previous figures. From this perspective, the attachment of the locking axes 22a, 22b between the fastening walls 23 and the positioning of the adapter block 40 can be clearly seen.

In Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the terminal block 40 along the in the Fig. 4 shown axis Q shown. It can be seen here that the connections 32, 34, 34 ', 36, 36' are each aligned perpendicular to the plane E of the quick coupler 10 spanned by the transverse central axis Q and the longitudinal central axis L. In a corresponding manner, the connections 42, 44, 44 ', 46, 46' are each oriented perpendicular to the plane E 'of the adapter 18 spanned by the transverse central axis Q' and the longitudinal central axis L '.

Fig. 8 shows the overview of the control for operating the quick coupler 10 for locking and unlocking with the adapter 18. Via the valve 72, the hydraulic cylinders 20a are controlled. The hydraulic pressure at port p is permanently conducted via the 4/2 way valve either to the piston side or to the rod side of the hydraulic cylinder 20a and thus leads to the locking or unlocking movement of the quick coupler 10.

In addition, there is the arrangement of the pressure-free circuit integrated in the valve block of the quick coupler 10. The connections a, b, c and d stand for the connections with the supply lines for the corresponding work functions, for example for a rotatable gripper as a tool on the adapter 18, the connection a stands for "gripper open", the connection b stands for "gripper closed" , connection c for "gripper turn left" and connection d for gripper turn right. The connection e stands for the connection to the leakage oil line, which is connected to the excavator / mobile implement and is only pressurized with tank pressure. The connection f represents the connection to the rod side of the hydraulic cylinders 20a, which are pressurized for the unlocking function of the quick coupler 10. With this pressure for retracting the hydraulic cylinders, this becomes hydraulic Unlockable non-return valve is opened and the residual pressures in the working lines a, b, c and d are directed to the connection e, which is connected to the tank and can therefore be depressurized. The check valves 70a, 70b, 70c and 70d serve to prevent the pressure and hydraulic flow transitions for the connections a, b, c, and d with one another. The unlockable check valve 50 'prevents the uncontrolled outflow of the oil from the connections a, b, c, and d in the direction of the connection f, which is connected to the leakage oil line and thus to the tank of the hydraulic system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Quick coupler

10a

Quick coupler housing

12

Clamshell

14

boom

16

Quick change device

18

adapter

20

hydraulic drives

20a, b

hydraulic cylinders

22a, b

Riegel axes

23

Fortification walls

26

guide elements

26a

guide tube

27

coupling claw

28, 28 '

RFID scanner

29, 29 '

RFID tags

30

terminal block

32

Drain port

34, 34 '

Hydraulic connections open / closed

36, 36 '

Hydraulic connections right / left

38, 38 '

guide receptacles

40

terminal block

42

Drain port

44, 44 '

Hydraulic connections open / closed

46, 46 '

Hydraulic connections right / left

48, 48 '

guide pins

50

unlockable check valve

54

Valve gripper open

54 '

Valve gripper too

56

Valve gripper on the right

56 '

Valve gripper on the left

60

Hydraulic oil pipe

70a

check valve

70b

check valve

70c

check valve

70d

check valve

50 '

unlockable check valve

72

Valve

A

Axis - contact line of the coupling claw on the bolt axis in the locked state

A '

Axis of the bolt axis, axis of rotation for the clutch claws

B

Axis - contact line of the locking bolt on the locking axis in the locked state

B '

Axis of the bolt axis

L

Longitudinal central axis of the quick coupler 10

L '

Longitudinal central axis of the adapter 18

Q

Transverse center axis of the quick coupler 10

Q '

Transverse center axis of the adapter 18

e

Plane which is formed by the longitudinal central axis L and the transverse central axis Q of the quick coupler 10

e '

Plane which is formed by the longitudinal central axis L 'and the transverse central axis Q' of the adapter 18

Claims (18)

1. Quick coupler (10) for a quick-change device (16) for connecting a boom (14) of a mobile implement to an adapter (18) of the quick-change device (16), which adapter is connected to a tool (12), said quick coupler (10) having at least one quick coupler connection (30), for example a hydraulic connection, a voltage connection and/or a media connection, which - at the time the quick coupler (10) is coupled to the adapter (18) - can be connected to an adapter connection (40) connected to the adapter (18), which adapter (18) can be connected to the quick coupler (10) - and thus the quick coupler connection to the adapter connection - in a state in which the adapter (18) is oriented in different directions that are rotated by 180° relative to one another, characterized in that the quick coupler connection (30) has three connections (32, 34, 34'), of which a first connection is arranged centrally at the point where a transverse center axis (Q) intersects a longitudinal center axis (L) of the quick coupler (10), with the further connections (34, 34') being arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the intersection point in such a way that the quick coupler connection (30) can be connected to the adapter connection (40) both in a first orientation of the quick coupler connection (30) and in an orientation thereof which is rotated by 180°.
2. Quick coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one further pair of connections (36, 36') is provided, which are likewise arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the point where the transverse center axis (Q) intersects the longitudinal center axis (L) of the quick coupler (10).
3. Quick coupler according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the quick coupler connection (30) is formed by a connection block which has the further connections (34, 34', 36, 36') and the first connection (32) arranged in it and which forms a structural unit with the connections, in particular in that at least one pair of guide receptacles (38, 38') is provided in the quick coupler connection block (30), which, as the quick coupler (10) is connected to the adapter (18), will act to center the quick coupler connection block (30) and the adapter connection (40) relative to one another, with corresponding guide pins (48, 48') being included in the adapter connection (40) or at least one pair of guide pins being provided in the quick coupler connection block (30) which, when the quick coupler (10) and the adapter (18) are connected to one another, will act to center the quick coupler connection block (30) and the adapter connection (40) relative to one another, with the adapter connection (40) having corresponding guide receptacles in this case.
4. Quick coupler according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide receptacles (38, 38') or guide pins are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the point where the transverse center axis (Q) intersects the longitudinal center axis (L) of the quick coupler (10).
5. Quick coupler according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connection is a leakage oil connection (32), preferably in that, in operation, said leakage oil connection (32) is maximally pressurized with a tank pressure and that this leakage oil connection (32) is used to return leakage oil from the tool (12) to the implement (14).
6. Quick coupler according to claim 5, characterized in that a depressurization circuit is provided which will be activated before and during the opening of the quick coupler (10) so as to depressurize the additional connections (34, 34') that are hydraulic pressure-loaded, in particular in that bores (60) are provided in the connection block (30), which bores (60) constitute the conduits for discharging the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure-loaded connections to the leakage oil connection (32) and are part of the depressurization circuit.
7. Quick coupler according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one reader (28) or one reader/writer (28) is provided that is used for reading data and parameters from, or for reading data and parameters from and recording them onto, a data memory (29) provided in the adapter (18)/the tool (12), in particular also for transmitting signals to the adapter (18)/the tool (12) and for receiving signals from the adapter (18)/the tool (12), preferably in that two readers (28, 28') are provided, which readers (28, 28') are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the point where the transverse center axis (Q) intersects the longitudinal center axis (L) of the quick coupler (10).
8. Quick coupler according to claim 7, characterized in that the reader(s) (28, 28') is/are integrated in the connection block (30).
9. Adapter (18) for connection to a quick coupler (10) of a quick-change device (16), which adapter (18) is adapted to be connected to a tool (12) and has at least one adapter connection, such as a hydraulic connection, a voltage connection and/or a media connection, which, as the adapter (18) is being connected to a quick coupler (10), can be coupled to a quick coupler connection (30) provided on the quick coupler side, which adapter (18) can be connected to the quick coupler (10) - and thus the quick coupler connection to the adapter connection - in a state where the adapter is oriented in different directions that are rotated by 180° relative to one another, characterized in that the adapter connection (40) has three connections (42, 44, 44'), of which a first connection (42) is arranged centrally at the point where a transverse center axis (Q') intersects a longitudinal center axis (L') of the adapter (18), with the further connections (44, 44') being arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the point where the longitudinal center axis (L') intersects a transverse center axis (Q') of the adapter (18) such a way that the adapter connection (40) can be connected to the quick coupler connection (30) both in a first orientation of the adapter connection (40) and in an orientation thereof which is rotated by 180°.
10. Adapter according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one further pair of connections (46, 46') is provided.
11. Adapter according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the further connections (46, 46') are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the point where the longitudinal central axis (L') intersects the transverse center axis (Q') of the adapter (18).
12. Adapter according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the adapter connection (40) is formed by a connection block in which the further connections (44, 44', 46, 46') and the first connection (42) are arranged and which forms a structural unit with the connections (42, 44, 44', 46, 46'), in particular in that at least one pair of guide pins (48, 48') is provided in the adapter connection block (40), which pins, as the quick coupler (10) is being connected to the adapter (18), will act to center the quick coupler connection block (30) and the adapter connection block (40) relative to one another, with corresponding guide receptacles (38, 38') being included in the quick coupler (10), or at least a pair of guide receptacles (38, 38') being provided in the adapter connection block (40), which will act to center the quick coupler connection block (30) and the adapter connection block (40) relative to one another as the quick coupler (10) is being connected to the adapter (18), with the quick coupler (10) having corresponding guide pins (48, 48') in this case.
13. Adapter according to claim 12, characterized in that the guide pins (48, 48') or the guide receptacles are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the point where the transverse center axis (Q') intersects the longitudinal center axis (L') of the adapter (18).
14. Adapter according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that at least two data memories/contact carriers (29, 29') are arranged in the adapter (18), preferably in that the data memories/contact carriers (29a, 29b) are point symmetrical with respect to the point where the transverse center axis (Q') intersects the longitudinal center axis (L') of the adapter (18).
15. Adapter according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the data memories/contact carriers (29, 29') are in the form of RFID tags or that the data memories/contact carriers (29, 29') are designed as parts of a CANBUS system.
16. Adapter according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the first connection is a leakage oil connection (42).
17. Adapter according to one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that the adapter (18) is designed to fit the quick coupler (10) as specified in one of claims 1 to 12.
18. Quick-change device having a quick coupler (10) as specified in one of claims 1 to 8 and an adapter (18) as specified in one of claims 9 to 17.

Images