ES2711328T3 - A system comprising an attachment attachment means and an implement - Google Patents

Abstract

A system comprising an attachment joining means (100) adapted to be installed in a work machine, and further comprising at least one work attachment (200), wherein the attachment attachment means (100) includes the first locking means (105) and first driving coupling means, wherein the implement (200) includes the second locking means (203) and second driving coupling means and wherein the first and second means (203) ) are adapted for a mutual constraint to releasably lock the implement (200) to the implement attachment means (100) and the first and second drive coupling means are adapted for a mutual constraint to releasably connect said drive coupling means to each other, which system further comprises sensor means (115, 202, 210, 217) and detection means (109, 110, 116, 117) adapted for the transfer of information from from the sensor means to the detection means, wherein the sensor means (115, 202, 210, 217) includes at least one sensor unit mounted either in the attachment attachment means or the work attachment, and in wherein the detection means (109, 110, 116, 117) include at least one detection unit mounted on the other of said attachment means of attachment or working implement, whereby at least one sensor unit (115) and at least one detection unit (116) is adapted to send information in the sense that the first (105) and the second (203) locking means are in blocking engagement with each other, characterized in that at least one unit (217) sensor on the implement (200) and at least one detection unit (117) in the attachment attachment means (100) is adapted to send implement identification information.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A system comprising an attachment means of attachment and an implement

Field of the invention

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising, on the one hand, an attachment attachment means adapted to be mounted on a work machine, and on the other hand, at least one attachment or tool, wherein the attachment attachment means includes a first locking means and a first driving coupling means, wherein the implement or tool includes second locking means and second driving coupling means and wherein the first and second locking means are adapted for mutual coercion to releasably lock the implement attachment means of the implement and the first and second drive coupling means are adapted for mutual coercion to releasably connect said drive coupling means to each other.

The expression "drive coupling means" used in the present application includes hydraulic coupling units, electric coupling units and / or pneumatic coupling units.

Background of the invention

Attachment systems for the quick exchange of buckets, buckets and other attachments in connection with excavators, wheel loaders, various types of material handling machines have been an obvious solution in most European markets during the last ten to fifteen years. During this period, the development has progressed quickly from simple mechanical solutions, where the driver leaves his cabin and locks or unlocks the locking mechanism of union with a simple lever movement, until hydraulic solutions, where the driver controls a locking cylinder that activates the union locking mechanism, simply by pressing a button in the driver's cabin. Even fully automatic attachments systems have been commercialized in recent years. In this case, the mechanical and hydraulic buckets, the buckets and other implements are blocked and unlocked completely automatically directly from the driver's cab. Hydraulic hoses and electric power cables are also automatically coupled.

For example, a system of this type, together with its attachment means and its working implement, is described in EP 602 165. The system described in EP 602 165 provides considerable benefits, since the interconnection, the locking and the hydraulic and electrical coupling of the means of joining the implement and the implement can be done without the operator having to leave his place in the work machine.

Most implement attachment systems are based on the principle of attachment attachment means that includes a "capture side" and a blocking side. The majority of the gates of the implements are of the same design, apart from the joints of the symmetrical gates or fasteners that are designed mechanically to be coupled and blocked from two directions. The capture side of the attachment means picks up the implement and puts it in position, and then locks the implement with the help of a locking mechanism in the form of a locking pin or a locking flange that passes to a blocking position in the gate. The locking mechanism goes in the coupling direction of the joint or at an angle of 90 degrees with this direction. The gate is the part of the implement that is connected to the attachment means of attachment.

In the case of the system described in EP 602165, the locking system comprises a rod-shaped element, the so-called gate axis, on each side of the gate and two U-shaped clamps and two L-shaped clamps. in the middle of attachment union. In a coupling operation, the U-shaped clamps act as catch elements in the form of a claw and are mounted mounted on the axis of the gate on the corresponding side of the gate, said axis constituting gripping means. The implement attachment means and the implement rotate relative to one another around the axis of the gate mounted on the U-shaped clamps in a position in which the other axis of the gate is adjacent to the L-shaped clamp. In this position, the locking bolts project outward into the L-shaped clamps to enclose the other axis of the gate together with the L-shaped clamp, thereby firmly locking the implement in the joining means of implement. The hydraulic coupling units in the attachment attachment means are coupled to the corresponding hydraulic units in the implement at the same time with this blocking action.

Problems may arise when coupling the equipment in the manner proposed in EP 602 165, and also when using other similar systems.

• The driver can not see when the implement attachment means is in the correct capture position to rotate the union to its blocking position. This makes the coupling of the implement difficult to achieve, with the risk of the implement falling.

• The driver has managed to reach the correct capture position, but rotates the attachment attachment means to a locking position with the locking mechanism in an externally activated state. Normally, the driver can not see the back side of the joining means at the time of attempting a coupling. This means that the attachment attachment means will not be in the correct locking position. Then there is the danger that the implement is not truly coupled to the means of union and that it may fall. A variant of this possibility is that the attachment attachment means can be firmly clamped in a position halfway where the driver believes that the implement is reliably coupled to the attachment means, but where the implement falls to the ground when it is subjected to load.

• When the attachment attachment means engages with the extended locking pins in conjunction with a quick-connect automatic hose function, there is a serious risk of hitting and crushing the couplings on the implement.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that there is a great need for additional assistance to verify the position of the attachment means of attachment with respect to the implement in relation to coupling and uncoupling operations.

For safety reasons, it is also important that the locking mechanism is always in its blocking mode when working with work implements. This creates the problem of verifying that this is always the case.

Systems of the type in question present other problems. The implements that will be able to connect to the attachment means may be of mutually different types. For reasons of technical nature and safety, it is important that each implement is coupled to the correct hydraulic pressure and flow. For example, if a hydraulic hammer that requires a large flow, a relatively low working pressure and a return line without pressure is connected by mistake to a two-way hydraulic circuit, the return packing of the hammer will blow rapidly.

It is also preferable in many cases to know how long a work implement has been in use and under what conditions, and also to be aware of the condition of the implement.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned problems, either completely or partially, and thus provide an attachment means of attachment and an implement system that satisfies one or more of the following measures:

• Elimination or at least reduction of the danger of an error when coupling the means of union and the implement.

ensure that an implement can not unintentionally loosen the attachment attachment during work, or at least reduce the danger of such an event occurring

ensure that an implement connected to the means of union of the implement is maneuvered in the manner envisaged with respect to the implement in question

facilitate the control of the work done with a given work implement and also its condition.

US 6301811 discloses a system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Summary of the invention

The objective has been achieved in accordance with the first aspect of the invention by virtue of a system of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1 which is provided with the features in the characterization portion of claim 1.

The sensor and the detection means allow to obtain information regarding the mutual relationship between the means of attachment of the implement and the implement and also with respect to the working conditions of the implement. The sensor and the detection means may respectively consist of a plurality of sensor units and detection units and may be adapted to satisfy one or more of the above-mentioned required measures. This will depend on the integrity and sophistication of the system that has been built around said sensor and detection means.

The inventive system allows high safety and reliability requirements to be met and also improves the operator's ability to have control over the work processes. The at least one sensor unit and at least one detection unit are adapted to send information in the sense that the locking elements are in locking engagement with each other. This solves a security problem that is vital in the current context, namely that the operator can continuously verify that the blockade has been achieved safely. This feature also fulfills the function of controlling that a step in a third and last block sequence is has done correctly. Since at least one unit and at least one detection unit are adapted to send implement identification information, it allows the type of implement that has been coupled to be identified and, therefore, allows for the correct electrical supply, the correct supply of oil, the correct pressure and the correct flow rate that will be applied based on this identification. In addition to identifying the type of implement that has been coupled, this function can also be used to identify the implement in question individually, which can be valuable in some cases.

According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive system, at least one sensor unit is mounted on the implement and at least one detection unit is mounted on the attachment attachment means. Although it is within the scope of the invention to mount a respective sensor and a detection unit in the attachment attachment means or in the implement itself, in many cases it is beneficial to mount the detection units in the attachment attachment means since they are These units are intended to forward such information. The detection units mounted on the attachment attachment means facilitate the transfer of information that carries signals to the operator, for example, through signal lines leading to the driving cabin of the work machine. The provision of a detection unit in the attachment attachment means does not, of course, preclude other detection units from the detection means from being mounted on the implement when the system is designed to fulfill several of the functions mentioned above and when said placement of said detection units is beneficial with respect to certain said functions.

According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one sensor unit and at least one detection unit are adapted to transfer information indicating whether or not the implement attachment means and the implement are in an area of predetermined position between each other. The purpose of this embodiment is to fulfill one of the most important requirements, namely, the creation of a first decisive condition for the secure and interference-free coupling of the means of joining the implement with the implement. Therefore, this embodiment allows the operator to be informed as to whether or not the implement attachment means is ready for the next sequence in the coupling procedure.

According to another preferred embodiment, at least one sensor unit and at least one detection unit are adapted to transfer information as to whether the implement attachment means and the implement are in a predetermined position with each other. In many cases, this initial position represents a second sequence in the coupling procedure. The fact that the operator has control over this coupling sequence further contributes to the safety aspect of the coupling procedure. This embodiment may conveniently constitute a complement to the last embodiment given above. Of course, this can also be beneficial when the first coupling sequence is performed in the absence of a control function.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the implement attachment means includes capture means and the implements include grasping means adapted for coercion with the capture means, wherein the capture means or the grasping means include a first sensor unit that is adapted to transfer information to a first detection unit when the capture means are coupled with the gripping means and wherein a second sensor unit is arranged in a certain angular position at the periphery of the means of capture or grasping means and functions for transferring information to a second detection unit when the attachment attachment means and the implement occupies a predetermined position of relative rotation with each other about a pivot axis defined by the capture means or the means of grip.

This embodiment is adapted to a constructive constructive attachment attachment means and an implement design that has been well tested and found to work effectively. The specified location of the sensor units means that said units are placed in the joint component which is decisive in relation to the function of the coupling and, therefore, gives a clear indication of whether the area in which the medium is used of attachment and implement attachment are positioned or not and their relative positions are correct.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the capture means includes at least one claw-like element and the gripping means includes at least one bar element or vice versa, in other words, the capture means may include a bar element and the gripping means may include a claw-like element. Such pairs of coercion elements allow said capture and blocking procedures to be achieved in a constructively simple manner. In addition, this solution provides a useful arrangement with respect to the sensor and the detection units.

According to another preferred embodiment, the second sensor unit is disposed on the bar element. These sensor units can be easily provided in the bar member at well defined angular positions, thereby ensuring that correct function will be obtained.

According to another beneficial embodiment, at least one sensor unit and at least one detection unit are adapted to send information so that the drive coupling devices are mutually coupled. This can ensure that a second step in the third coupling sequence has been correctly performed, while providing access to continuous monitoring that the driving functions are intact.

According to another preferred embodiment, at least one sensor unit and at least one detection unit are adapted to send information related to the operative conditions of the implement. This information can, for example, be related to the operating time of different implements. This information can be used as a basis to implement the service or as a basis for customer billing.

According to another preferred embodiment, control means are provided to control the measures or steps involved in the coupling of the implement attachment means and the implement together and / or to control the measures or steps involved in the maneuvering of the implement. Due to these control means, a re-coupling procedure is achieved, with which the appropriate measures will be taken in response to said information. This further improves the security aspect of the arrangement.

According to another preferred embodiment, the system includes a microprocessor that is adapted to receive and process the received information and to deliver control signals when applicable.

The integration of a microprocessor in the system in this way allows the information to be presented to an operator in a clear and lucid manner, so that appropriate measures can be taken without delay. Since the system according to the immediately preceding embodiment includes control means, it is possible to activate the required measurements automatically through the means of said microprocessor. The microprocessor is, therefore, a component that further improves the safety and reliability of the system. The work history of the individual implements can be stored and processed in the microprocessor.

The preferred embodiments of the inventive system are set forth in the dependent claims of claim 1.

Corresponding advantages are also obtained with the working machine defined in claim 11 and with the method defined in claim 12, in accordance with further aspects of the invention.

The invention will be described more explicitly below by a detailed description of beneficial embodiments thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an implement attachment means and an implement in a first relative position in accordance with known technology;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the components shown in Figure 1 in a second relative position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the components shown in Figure 1 in a third relative position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first part of an inventive implement joining means;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second part of an inventive implement joining means;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of an inventive implement;

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating signal transmission in a system according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of part of an implement.

Description of advantageous embodiments of the invention.

A known system of mutual coupling of an attachment attachment means and an implement is disclosed in Figs. 1 - 3. The system illustrated in these figures and described with reference thereto is included in the view of the techniques described, for example, in EP 602615, to which aqrn is referred to.

The system shown in Fig. 1 therefore includes an implement attachment means 100 and an implement 200. The attachment attachment means is intended to be installed in a running machine (not shown). The implement 200 includes a gate 201, which is the part that is connected to the attachment joining means and which has a standard design for different types of implements. The active part of the implement has been shown only in discontinuous lines and has different designs for different purposes. Therefore, this system allows the implements destined to different types of work to be connected to the implement attachment means 100 installed in the machine.

The attachment attachment means includes a connection portion 101 comprising a capture side 102 on the right in the Figure, and a blocking side 103 on the left of the Figure. The capture side 102 has two recesses 104 in a U-shape, of which only one can be seen in the Figure. The locking side 103 is an L-shaped profile from which two locking bolts 105 can be projected to form a U-shaped profile together with the L-shaped profile. The locking bolts 105 are shown extended in FIG. . one.

The gate 201 on the implement 200 includes a first gate shaft 202 that is adapted for coercion with the capture side 102 of the attachment attachment means, and a second gate axis 203 that is adapted for coercion with the side 103 of blocking of the means of union of implement. Each axis of the gate can be replaced with a short-axis munon in a respective side wall of the gate.

When the attachment attachment means is connected to the implement, the attachment attachment means is maneuvered to a capture position, which is shown in Fig. 2. This means that the U-shaped profiles 104 of the attachment attachment means are they will be mounted mounted on the first gate of the axle 102 of the implement. In this position, the axis 202 of the gate will rest against the bottom of the U-shaped profiles or generally in this position. As will be seen in the Figure, the implement attachment means 100 is tilted upwards in this position. The angular position is not particularly critical in this stage of the procedures and the angle between the attachment means of attachment and the implement can have any value within a given range. The capture position can be defined as a positional region.

The next step in the procedure consists of rotating the implement attachment means 100 and the implement 200 from the position shown in Fig. 2 with respect to the other, so that the union 100 faces the implement. This is done with the locking bolts removed, so that the implement can be rotated to a point such that the second axis of the gate 203 will be positioned in the profile L. When it is there, the components are ready to be firmly locked. This is achieved by extending the bolts to lock the second axis of the gate between the L-shaped profile 103 and the locking bolts 105. The locking bolts 105 are maneuvered between their two positions hydraulically.

Figure 3 shows the components in a firmly locked state. The attachment attachment means is provided with a number of hydraulic coupling units and electric coupling units that must be coupled to the corresponding units provided in the implement. The coupling units are mounted on a coupling ramp in the respective units. The coupling ramp in the attachment attachment means is mounted so that it is maneuvered by the same hydraulic cylinders as those which maneuver the locking bolts. The rear side of the attachment coupling ramp 104 is visible in Figure 3, while its front side and the coupling ramp in the attachment attachment means are hidden from view. The locking bolts extend at the same time that the coupling units are connected. It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to such a simultaneous connection.

The invention is also not restricted to a design wherein the locking bolts are maneuvered in the longitudinal direction of the attachment attachment means as shown in Fig. 3. For example, the locking bolts may be arranged to extend at right angles. to said direction, that is, in a direction parallel to the first gate axis 202. In such a case, the bolts can project into openings in the side members of the implement doors. Of course, other locking bolt maneuvering arrangements are conceivable within the scope of the invention.

Similarly, the capture device may have a design different from the claw-like elements, the U-profiles, in the attachment attachment means and the gripper device may have a different design to the rod elements, say, to the axis of the gate, in the implement. For example, the implement may be provided with claw-like hooks for coercion with complementary elements in the attachment attachment means, as shown in Fig. 8, for example.

An example of the special arrangement of sensor units and detection units on which the present invention is based will now be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 4 - 6.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an attachment joining means according to the invention, although some of its components have been excluded for reasons of simplicity. These components are shown in perspective in Fig. 5.

Four detection units 109 110 are provided adjacent to the capturing side of the attachment attachment means to be located in the recesses 104 in U. These detection units are adapted to coact with sensor units in the first axis 202 of the gate. implement (see Fig. 6). One of these sensor units consists of the shaft 202 of the gate itself. When the implement 200 is in the correct capture position in relation to the implement attachment means 100, as shown in Fig. 2, the first gate axis 202 will be located in the U-profile. The detection units 109 with this they indicate that the axis of the gate is in this position. A positive indication is triggered when the distance between the detection units 109 and said axis 202 of the gate is less than a given value, for example, from 2 to 5 mm, both included. This information is transferred on the signal lines 111 to the operator or to a microprocessor that automatically allows the next coupling sequence to take place.

As mentioned above, the next coupling sequence is to rotate the implement attachment means 100 and the implement relative to each other from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

An indication that the position shown in Fig. 3 has been achieved is achieved with the aid of a given number of sensor units 210 arranged on the axis of the front gate at angular positions given around the periphery of said axis (see Fig. 6). In the illustrated example, these are located "in the nine o'clock position", that is, inside the axis of the gate on a level with its central line. When the position shown in FIG. 6 has been reached, the detection units 110 in the attachment attachment means will be located in a rotational direction opposite to the sensor unit 210 on the axis 202 of the gate and, thereby, they will send this information to the operator or the microprocessor on the 112 signal lines.

At this stage, the system is ready to firmly lock the implement to the attachment joining means, which is done in the manner described with reference to Figs. 1 - 3. The hydraulic cylinders 113 shown in Fig. 5 are activated, causing the cylinders to move a yoke 107 H-shaped upwards to the left in Fig. 5. The yoke 107 carries the bolts 105 of blocking and the coupling ramp 114 of the attachment attachment means, which accompany the yoke as it moves. When this locking movement is complete, the bolts 105 will protrude through the openings 106 in the attachment attachment means (see Fig. 4), said bolts are mounted on the second axis of the tailgate 203 of the implement together with the profile 103 in L, in order to firmly lock the implement. At the same time, the coupling units in the coupling ramp 114 of the attachment attachment means have been coupled together with the coupling units in the attachment coupling ramp 204 (see Fig. 6). The system includes grids 108 to guide the movement of the yoke 107.

A detection unit 115 is provided on the yoke 107, to indicate when this position has been reached. A sensor unit 116 is provided in a non-movable part of the attachment attachment means in such a position that it will be located in front of the detection unit 115 carried by the yoke when the correct position has been reached. The information to this effect, that is, that the blockade has been completed, is sent to the operator or the microprocessor. In the case that the coupling ramps are mutually coupled at the same time that locking is achieved, as in the case of the illustrated example, this signal also constitutes information to the effect that said ramp coupling has been achieved. Otherwise, a separate pair of sensor detection units may be provided for this purpose.

In the event that the sensor detection units described above, either in the capture position, the blocking position or the locked position, can not send information in the sense that the respective positions have been reached, the operator can stop the coupling process and take the necessary measures.

Other sensor units 217 that function to identify the implement at a suitable location, for example, on the attachment coupling ramp, and which also coact with the corresponding detection units 117 on the attachment attachment means may be provided. These units can also be adapted to provide information on the parameters related to the transmission of hydraulic and / or electrical energy.

The sensor and the detection units included in the system can be based on the appropriate conventional technology and include magnetic, optical, electrical, contact-based units or units that function in some other way.

Figure 7 illustrates an example of how the information generated by the sensor and the detection units can be used. As described above, the sensor units 202, 210, 217, 115 in the implement 100 and in the implement attachment means 200 coact with the respective detection units 109, 110, 117, 116 in the attachment attachment means. . The information thus obtained is transferred through a signal line beam 120 to a microprocessor 121 that includes a program 122 for processing said information.

The processed information is sent from the microprocessor to a terminal 124 in the driver's cab of the machine through the signal line 123. The terminal 124 includes a screen 125 for the presentation of the information concerning the operator. A number of control buttons 126 are also included to execute the control measures initiated by the operator. These signals are transmitted from the terminal to the microprocessor 121 through a signal line 127.

The microprocessor is connected by a signal line 128 to a control unit 129 which initiates control measures on the basis of the information processed in the microprocessor 121 and / or on the basis of measurements ordered from the terminal 124. The control unit it is designed to select the hydraulic function, the correct pressure and fluid flow for the respective implements and to control the functions of the blocking process, among other things.

The system described in figure 7 can, of course, be expanded with other input and output functions and, therefore, be more sophisticated. On the contrary, it can, of course, be made simpler than what is described. The signal lines in the system can, of course, be replaced by means of wireless signal transmission.

Claims (12)

A system comprising an attachment joining means (100) adapted to be installed in a work machine, and further comprising at least one work attachment (200), wherein the attachment attachment means (100) includes the first locking means (105) and the first driving coupling means, wherein the implement (200) includes the second locking means (203) and second driving coupling means and wherein the first and second means (203) Locking are adapted for a mutual coercion to releasably lock the implement (200) to the implement attachment means (100) and the first and second drive coupling means are adapted for a mutual coercion to connect in a manner releasable said drive coupling means to each other, which system further comprises sensor means (115, 202, 210, 217) and detection means (109, 110, 116, 117) adapted for the transfer of information from the med sensor to the detection means, wherein the sensor means (115, 202, 210, 217) includes at least one sensor unit mounted either in the attachment attachment means or the work attachment, and wherein the detection means (109, 110, 116, 117) include at least one detection unit mounted on the other of said attachment means or working implement, whereby at least one sensor unit (115) and at least one A detection unit (116) is adapted to send information in the sense that the first (105) and the second (203) locking means are in blocking engagement with each other, characterized in that at least one sensor unit (217) in the implement (200) and at least one detection unit (117) in the attachment attachment means (100) is adapted to send attachment identification information. 2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor unit (202, 210, 217) is mounted on the implement and at least one detection unit (109, 110, 116, 117) is mounted on the implement. the attachment joining means (100). A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one sensor unit (202) and at least one detection unit (109) is adapted to send information to the effect that the joining means (100) of implement and implement (102) are positioned with respect to each other in a predetermined positioning area. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the attachment attachment means (100) includes capture means (104) and the implement (200) include grasping means (202) adapted for coercion with the means of capture; since the capture means (104) or the grip means (202) includes a first sensor unit (202) that is adapted to send information to a first detection unit (109) when the capture means (104) are coupled with the gripping means (202); and in that a second sensor unit (210) is disposed in a certain angular position at the periphery of the capture means or grip means (202) and functions to send information to a second detection unit (110) when the medium (100) Attachment attachment and implement (200) occupy a predetermined position of rotation between themselves around a pivot axis defined by the capture means or grasping means. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the capture means (104) includes at least one claw-shaped element (104) and the grip means (202) include at least one bar element (202) or vice versa, wherein said pivot axis is defined by the bar element (202). 6. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that said second sensor unit (210) is arranged in the bar element (202). A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one sensor unit (115) and at least one detection unit (116) is adapted to send information to the effect that the first and second drive coupling means are coupled together. 8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one sensor unit (115) and at least one detection unit (116) is adapted to send information related to the working conditions of the implement. . A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the system includes control means for controlling the measures or steps involved in the coupling between the implement attachment means (100) and the implement (200) in response to said information and / or to control the measures or steps involved in the maneuver of the implement. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by a microprocessor (121) that is adapted to receive and process the received information and to deliver control signals when applicable. 11. A work machine equipped with the system according to any of claims 1-10. 12. The use of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for connecting a work implement to an attachment attachment means.