FR2703113A1 - Device for rapidly attaching a bucket or the like to the operating arm of a civil engineering work machine or agricultural implement, for example - Google Patents

Abstract

The quick attachment device according to the invention consists of a pivot pin (2) associated with a mounting plate (1) mounted on one of the elements, and of a hook (5) secured to a mounting plate (3) mounted on the other element, the said pivot (5) being intended to hook onto the said pin (2) of the homologous element. This device also includes means (6) for securing the two mounting plates (1 and 3) together, these means consisting of a pivoting key (20) associated with an operating system which allows it to fit into at least one locking member (21). At least one of the rotation pins (25, 28) which allow the key (20) to pivot is situated substantially on the resultant of the forces for freeing the said key, in an active position, so as to form a limit stop which prevents it from being removed.

Description

 The present invention relates to a quick-attach device for fixing a bucket, palletizer, hammer, rock-breaker or ahalogue, at the end of the operating arm, or retro arm, of a public works or agricultural machine of the shovel type backhoe, mini excavator, loader or other.

 The assembly or change of a bucket, for example, at the end of the operating arm of a public works machine is traditionally carried out by two people, one at the controls of piloting and the other near the arm . The person in command controls the end of the arm to position it correctly in relation to the bucket; the other person removes or sets up the necessary fixing pins.

 These operations are not simple to perform and they require considerable time. On the other hand, they can only be done correctly in the presence of two people.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a device for quick and automatic attachment of the bucket or the like, by a single person, without effort and in a very limited time. This quick coupler is also very safe and very reliable over time.

 The device according to the invention, for the quick attachment of two elements, one in the form of a bucket or the like, 11 another in the form of an operating arm of a public or agricultural works machine, for example, consists of - a pivot axis, mounted on one of the elements, - a pivot hook, on the other element, which pivot is intended to hook said axis of the homologous element, - means for securing the two elements between them; these means are in the form of a key, integral with one of the elements, associated with an operating system which allows its movement so that it takes, on the one hand, an inactive position and, on the other hand , an active position in which it is embedded in at least one locking member secured to the homologous element. This key is mounted on its support element by means of at least one axis of rotation, so as to ensure its displacement by a rotation or pivoting movement around the said axis or axes.

 According to a preferred characteristic, at least one of the axes of rotation of the key is located on the resultant of the release forces of said key, in the active position, so as to form a stop which opposes its underrunning.

This feature improves the security of locking the two elements. On the other hand, it makes it possible to significantly limit the force of the operating system necessary for quality locking.

 According to another arrangement of the invention, the device comprises a pivot axis associated with a plate provided with two lateral ears which are intended to serve as a link with the end of the maneuvering arm of the machine. This pivot axis extends between said ears and it is arranged parallel to the front edge of the associated plate, at a distance from the latter adapted to allow hooking by the pivot. The latter is provided at the front edge of a support plate secured to the bucket or the like.

 Still according to the invention, the securing means by key and locking member are adapted to ensure the connection of the two plates, the upper face of the pivot support plate being pressed against the lower face of the plate associated with the pivot axis. . The latter is provided with a stop, at its rear end against which the rear edge of the pivot support plate locks.

 According to another arrangement of the invention, the key is mounted on the upper face of the plate associated with the pivot axis. The locking member or members are in the form of yokes provided with notches for receiving the key; these yokes are mounted on the upper face of the pivot support plate.

In addition, the plate associated with the pivot axis has openings adapted to the passage of said one or more yokes to allow their projection above the upper face of the plate associated with the pivot axis and allow their cooperation with the key.

Such a structure makes it possible to integrate the locking system in the size of the plates, between the ears connecting to the operating arm.

 Still according to the invention, the key is in the general form of a disc mounted on an off-center axis perpendicular to the upper face of its support plate. This key is associated with two locking yokes provided with notches for receiving an angular sector of its edge.

 According to another arrangement of the invention, the key operating system is made up of elastic return means which tend to permanently bring said key back towards the locking yoke (s), and of a removable blocking means of said key in the unlocked position.

 Preferably, this removable blocking means is in the form of a stop pin mounted on the key by means of a spring and which comes into an orifice provided in the key support plate, in the unlocked position. . This stopping axis co-operates with a trigger pin provided on the upper face of the homologous plate and intended to come to drive it out of its receiving orifice, during the placing of the two plates, to unlock the key and ensure the embedding of its edging in the notches of the screeds by the action of elastic return means.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the elastic return means act on an eccentric cam housed in a central opening of the key. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the latter is distant from the result of the underrunning forces and the axis of rotation of the cam is located substantially on this result.

By this arrangement the cam forms a stop, in the locking position, which tends to oppose the underrunning of the key. On the other hand, this cam makes it possible to multiply the efforts, in particular for the return to the locked position of the key and it also makes it possible to make up for the play which may exist between the edge of the key and the notches of the locking yokes.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, which can be provided in isolation or in combination with the characteristics defined above, the position of the pivot axis relative to the front edge of the associated plate, as well as the shape of the pivot hook , are adapted to allow the pivot axis to be hooked by the pivot in a well-determined position of the two elements with respect to each other, and so that the front edge of the plate associated with the axis pivot forms a safety stop avoiding the stalling of the pivot in case of accidental separation of the two plates, during work.

 However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description of a particular embodiment given by way of example and represented in the appended drawings in which - FIG. 1 is a general view, in perspective, of a possible embodiment of the quick coupling device according to the invention - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the plate associated with the pivot axis, isolated - Figure 3 is a perspective of the pivot support plate , isolated - Figure 4 is a cross section showing the locking of the edge of the key in the notch receiving the locking yoke - Figure 5 schematically shows the locking system of the two plates5 by means of the key and associated yokes - Figure 6 is a cross section at the removable locking means of the key - Figure 7 shows the association of a bucket with the quick coupler according to the invention on, which has a safety system which prevents it from accidentally stalling during work.

 As shown in Figure 1, the quick coupler according to the invention generally consists of - a plate I associated with a pivot axis 2, able to be mounted at the end of the arm of operation of the machine, not shown, - a plate 3 intended to be mounted on the bucket 4 or the like, simply sketched, which plate 3 supports a pivot 5 in the form of a hook intended to come and hook the axis 2 associated with the plate 1, - and means for securing the two plates 1 and 3 together, generally designated by the reference 6.

 The plate 1 has been shown in isolation in FIG. 2. It has a generally rectangular shape and it is made from a resistant material such as steel. Its upper face is extended, at right angles, by two ears 7 welded on its lateral edges. The two ears 7 are intended to serve as a link with the maneuvering arm of the equipped machine, they are provided with orifices, in particular 8 and 9, for the passage, respectively, of the pendulum axes 10 and of jack 11. The pivot axis 2 is welded between the two ears 7; it is arranged parallel to the front edge 12 of the plate 1, slightly below the latter. The space 13 between the edge 12 and the pivot axis 2 is sufficient to allow the hooking of said axis 2 by the pivot 5.

 The plate 3 is shown in isolation in FIG. 3. It is in the form of a rectangular plate whose dimensions correspond substantially to those of the plate 1 and whose front edge 14 is extended, downwards, by a square wing 15 which stiffens the structure. The front edge 14 carries the hook or pivot 5 secured by welding and designed to receive large forces thanks to the reinforcements 16 regularly distributed. The pivot 5 has a length slightly less than the distance which separates the two lateral ears 7 welded to the plate 1.

 The plate 3 is secured by any suitable means on the bucket 4 or the like; it can possibly be an integral part of the latter's structure.

 To mount the bucket 4 on the machine to be equipped, the operator begins by maneuvering the movable arm, from the cockpit, so as to thread the pivot axis 2 into the pivot 5. Once this operation has been carried out, the arm of the machine is manipulated so that the upper face of the plate 3 comes to press against the lower face of the plate 1, and to trigger their automatic securing means 6.

 Note in FIGS. I and 2, the presence of a stop 18 at the rear end of the plate 1.

This stop 18 extends over the entire width of the plate 1, down from its lower face; it can be in the form of a return to the square or a welded insert. The shape and dimensions of the plate 3 are adapted so that its rear edge 19 comes to block against the stop 18 of the homologous plate 1, when the two elements 1 and 3 are pressed against each other. This position is shown in FIG. 1 and it is then noted that the plate 3 is immobilized laterally, on one side by the axis 2-hook 5 assembly and, on the other, by the stop 18.

 The securing means 6 of the two plates 1 and 3 are in the form of a pivoting key 20 mounted on the upper face of the plate 1, associated with an operating system which allows its movement so that it takes, from on the one hand, an inactive uncoupling position and, on the other hand, an active position in which its edge is embedded in two locking yokes 21 mounted on the upper face of the plate 3.

 For this, the plate 1 is provided with two openings 22 adapted to the passage of the yokes 21. The openings 22 allow the projection of the yokes 21 above the upper face of the plate 1, when the two plates 1 and 3 are pressed l 'one against the other, and their presentation facing the locking key 20.

 The locking yokes 21 are in the form of cylindrical studs, the area opposite the key 20 includes a notch 23. The shape and the position of these notches 23 are adapted to allow the reception of an angular sector of the edge of the key 20, as shown in FIG. 4.

 This key 20 is in the form of a disc 24 secured to the plate 1 via an off-center pin 25, perpendicular to the upper face of said plate 1. The disc 24 thus has the possibility of pivoting around the axis 25, parallel to the plate 1. The disk 24 has a central opening 26 in which is housed a cam 27, itself mounted on an off-center axis 28 perpendicular to the plate 1. The opening 26 of the disk 24 is adapted to the shape of the cam 27, the movement of the latter is controlled by an operating system to bring the edge of the disc 24 towards the notches 23 of the yokes 21, for locking purposes, or to move it away from these notches 23, for unlocking. The cam 27 which pivots about its axis 28 comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the opening 26 and controls the pivoting movement of the disc 24, in one direction or the other, as the case may be.

 Figure 5 is a schematic view from above, which shows, in strong lines, the key 20 in the unlocked position and, in thin dashed lines, its locked position in the yokes 21. In this figure, we note the disc 24 which pivots around the axis 25 and inside which an opening 26 receiving the cam 27 has been provided. This cam 27 pivots on the support plate 1 around the off-center axis 28.

 In the unlocked position, the edge 30 of the disc 24 is distant from the yokes 21. When locking, the operating system 31 pivots the cam 27 to bring this edge 30 into the notches 23 of said yokes 21, as shown in thin dashed lines. In this FIG. 5, it can be seen that the axis 28 of the cam 27 is placed on the resultant 32 of the release forces from the key 20, in the active position. In the embodiment shown, with two yokes 21, this resultant 32 passes halfway between said yokes and substantially through the center of the disc 24. In this way, in the active position, the cam 27 forms a rigid stop which s 'opposes the underrun of the edge 30 of the disc 24; the disc 24 and the cam 27 are mechanically locked between the axis 28 and the two yokes 21.

 As can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, the upper corner of the edge 30 of the disc 24 is slightly beveled to improve locking; the notch 23 is cut according to a corresponding shape, with a slight flat 23 ′ before the slope.

 Preferably, the pivot axis 25 of the disc 24 is not located on the resultant 32. It is thus possible to make up for the play liable to form during locking between the edge 30 of the disc 24 and the notches 23 of the yokes 21 .

 It should also be noted that the presence of a cam 27 associated with the pivoting disc 24 makes it possible to multiply the forces and to facilitate the movements of the key 20 by the operating system 31.

 This maneuvering system 31 can consist of a double-acting cylinder associated with safety, controlled from the cockpit.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the operation of the key 20 is obtained by elastic return means, of the gas spring or pneumatic spring 31 type, which tend to permanently return the key 20 to the yokes 21. This cylinder 31 is associated with a removable locking means 33 of the key 20 in the unlocked position.

 Figure 6, details these locking means 33 and shows the two plates 1 and 3 just before they are placed on top of each other. These particular means consist of a stop pin 34 mounted on the key 20 via an orifice 35 and a return spring 36. This spring 36 is secured to the key 20 via d 'An anchor screw 37; it tends to lower the axis 34 locked in position by the upper shoulder 36 '. The length of the pin 34 is greater than the thickness of the key 20 but it does not exceed the thickness formed by the key 20 and the plate 1.

To block the key 20 in the unlocked position, the pin 34 enters a hole 38 provided in the support plate 1. Its release is obtained by a trigger pin 40 which projects above the upper surface of the plate 3 and which is intended to cooperate with the stop pin 34. This stud 40 is designed to lift the pin 34 when the two plates are placed together. The stud 34 is then driven from the orifice 38 of the plate 1; the key 20 is released and it is supported by the elastic return means 31 to accommodate its edge 30 in the notches 23 of the yokes 21.

 There is thus obtained a rapid and automatic joining of the two plates 1 and 3 as soon as they are pressed against one another.

 The separation of the two plates is carried out manually by means of a lever which is placed in the unlocking control 42. The length of the lever and the location of the axis of rotation reduce the effort to be provided; the key 20 is held in the unlocked position thanks to the stop pin 34 which, using the return spring 36, is automatically housed in the orifice 38 of the plate 1. To perform this operation, the two plates 1 and 3 must be separated from each other; to remove or replace bucket 4, it remains to remove the pivot axis 2 from the pivot 5.

 The key 20 and its operating system 31, 33 can be effectively protected by providing a casing, of the casing type, above the plate 1, between the two ears 7. On the other hand, provision can also be made to extend the upper face of the cam 27 by a thin sheet allowing the orifice 26 of the disc 24 to be closed, whatever the position of said cam 27.

 To complete the relative movement of the movable members 24 and 27, the plate 1 will be equipped with an automatic lubricator. This lubricator can be integrated into the protective casing and fitted with a conduit connected to cam 27.

 According to another interesting arrangement, the plate 1 is equipped with a lug 43 intended to act as a maximum travel stop for the key 20. This welded lug 43 limits the possibilities of displacement of the key on the side of the yokes 21. I1 acts as a safety member which in particular avoids the covering of the orifices 22 in the event of a malfunction of the locking system and when the yokes 21 are not integrated therein; it also makes it possible to prevent the jack 31 from collecting its own tensile forces.

 In Figure 1, there is shown the quick coupling device according to the invention in a position for placing the two plates 1 and 3 against each other, with an inactivated locking system. This representation was simply made by way of illustration, to facilitate understanding: it is quite obvious that it does not correspond to a real situation because when one is in such a plating situation, the locking means have already been triggered.

As shown in Figure 7, the position of the axle 2 relative to the front edge 12 of the plate
I and the shape of the hook 5 are adapted to, on the one hand, allow the picking of the axis 2 by the pivot 5 in a well-determined position of the two elements relative to each other, and, on the other hand, so that the front edge 12 of the plate 1 forms a safety stop which prevents untimely detachment of the pivot 5, in the event of accidental disunion of the two plates 1 and 3, during work.

 To this end, the axis 2 is disposed set back from the edge 12, and under the latter. The space 13 which separates them is adapted to the thickness of said hook. This thickness is important, on the rear, to come up against the front edge 12 of the plate 1 in the event of disunity of the two plates, this in the conventional working positions; it is sufficiently fine on the front to allow the picking of the axis 2, on the ground, in a position and on a well determined angular sector which does not correspond to the conventional working positions of the operating arm.

 A quick coupling device of this type can be adapted to all kinds of buckets or the like, without modification of their structure. I1 allows automatic and permanent locking, very safe, without manual intervention; it can be unlocked either manually by the rear of the bucket, or by a hydraulic cylinder controlled from the cockpit.

 Note that such a system can be used that the axis 2 and the pivot 5 are located in front or behind the balance axis 10 of the operating arm. Its structure will be adapted accordingly.

 The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims are intended only to facilitate the understanding of the latter and in no way limit their scope.

Claims (10)

- CLAIMS  1.- Device for quick attachment of two elements, one in the form of a bucket or the like, the other in the form of an operating arm of a machine for public or agricultural works, for example, characterized in that it consists of - a pivot axis (2), mounted on one of the elements, - a hook (5), forming a pivot, on the other element, said pivot (5) being intended to hook said axis (2) of the homologous element, - means for securing (6) the two elements together, which means (6) are in the form of a key (20) integral with one of the elements, associated with an operating system (31, 33) which allows it to move so that it takes, on the one hand, an inactive position and, on the other hand, an active position in which it is embedded in at least one locking member (21) integral with the homologous element, said key (20) being mounted on its support element by means of at least one axis of rotation (25, 28), so as to ensure its displacement by a rotational or pivoting movement around the said axis or axes (25, 28).  2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the axes of rotation (25, 28) of the key (20) is located substantially on the resultant (32) of the release efforts of said key (20), in the active position, so as to form a stop which opposes its underrunning.  3.- Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a pivot axis (2) associated with a plate (1) provided with two lateral ears (7) intended to serve as a link with the end of the maneuvering arm of the machine, said pivot axis (2) extending between said ears (7) and being arranged parallel to the front edge (12) of the associated plate (1), at a distance from this last adapted to allow its picking by the pivot (5), the latter being provided at the front edge (14) of a support plate (3), secured to the bucket (4) or the like.  4.- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the securing means by key (20) and locking member (21) are adapted to ensure the connection of the two plates (1, 3), the upper face of the plate (3) being pressed against the underside of the plate (1), the latter being provided with a stop (18) at its rear end, against which the rear edge (19) of the plate (3) is blocked.  5.- Device according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a key (20) mounted on the upper face of the plate (1), and at least one locking member in the form of a yoke (21) which is provided with a reception notch (23) of the key (20) and which is mounted on the upper face of the plate (3), the plate (1) being provided with openings (22) adapted to the passage of the said yoke (s) (21) to allow their projection above the upper face of the plate (1) and allow their cooperation with the key (20).  6.- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a key (20) which is in the general form of a disc (24) mounted on an off-center axis (25) perpendicular to the upper face of the plate (1), which key (20) is associated with two locking yokes (21) provided with reception notches (23) with an angular sector of its edge (30).  7.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the key operating system (20) consists of an elastic return means (31) tending to permanently bring the key (20 ) towards the locking yoke (s) (21), and a removable locking means (33) of the key (20), in the unlocked position.  8.- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a removable locking means (33) consisting of a stop pin (34) mounted on the key (20) via a spring (36) and coming into an orifice (38) provided in the plate (1), which stop pin (34) cooperates with a trigger pin (40) provided on the upper face of the homologous plate (3) and intended to come to drive it out of its reception orifice (38) during the placing of the two plates (1, 3) to unlock the key (20) and ensure the embedding of its edge (30) in the notches (23) of the yokes (21) by the action of elastic return means (31).  9.- Device according to any one of claims I to 8, characterized in that it comprises elastic return means which act on an eccentric cam (27) housed in a central opening (26) of the disc (24), the axis of rotation of said disc (24) being distant from the resultant (32) of underrunning forces, and the axis of rotation (28) of the cam (27) being located substantially on this resultant (32).  10.- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the position of the pivot axis (2) relative to the front edge (12) of the associated plate (1) and the shape of the pivot hook (5) are adapted to allow the pivot axis (2) to be hooked by the pivot (5) in a well-determined position of the two elements with respect to each other, and so that the front edge (12) of the plate (1) forms a safety stop preventing the pivot (5) from unhooking in the event of accidental disunion of the two plates (1, 3), during work.