GB1582398A

GB1582398A - Vehicle for releasably carrying an implement

Info

Publication number: GB1582398A
Application number: GB2782177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Komatsu Ltd
Current assignee: Komatsu Ltd
Priority date: 1976-07-05
Filing date: 1977-07-04
Publication date: 1981-01-07
Also published as: CA1071151A

Description

(54) A VEHICLE FOR RELEASABLY CARRYING AN IMPLEMENT (71) We, KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOMATSU SEISAKUSHO, a corporation duly organised under the laws of Japan of 3-6, 2-chome, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a vehicle adapted to have a work implement releasably attached thereon.

Heretofore attaching an implement to or replacing it from an earth moving vehicle required complicated and time consuming procedures. For example, when it is required to replace an implement from the vehicle, it is generally necessary to move the implement by means of a crane, etc. in order to align pin holes of the implement with those of lift arms of the vehicle. After aligning pin holes, pins are inserted therethrough so as to attach the implement to the vehicle. It is difficult to align pin holes formed in the implement and the lift arms of the vehicle by moving the vehicle itself without moving the implement by the crane or the like.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle for releasably carrying an implement having a C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface thereof, the vehicle comprising: a pair of lift arms for lifting the implement, a pair of tilt rods for effecting tilting motion of the implement, a pair of lower couplers pivotally connected to said lift arms at one end thereof, a pair of upper couplers pivotally connected to said pair of tilt rods, said lower and upper couplers being pivotally connected with each other; an upper connecting beam provided between said pair of upper couplers for connecting the same; a lower connecting beam provided between said pair of lower couplers for connecting the same, said upper and lower connecting beams being adapted for engagement with the C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface of the implement; and lock means for locking said lower couplers relative to said upper couplers thereby preventing pivotal movement with respect to each other.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partial back elevational view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front elevational view partially in cross-section of lower couplers according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4 but showing upper couplers according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of lock means according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a plan view thereof;; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an implement for use with a vehicle of the present invention; Fig. 12-I to Fig. 12-V are explanational views showing procedures for removing the implement from the vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 13 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section of lock releasing means according to the present invention; and Fig. 14 is a plan view partially in crosssection of Fig. 13.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a lower coupler having a beam 2. Fixedly secured to both ends of the beam 2 are inner plates 3.

Referring to Figure 4, each of the inner plates 3 has a pin hole 4 formed in the upper part thereof. Further, the upper edge of the inner plate is formed in a circular cam portion 5 defined about the pin hole 4. Each of the inner plates 3 is connected through a connecting plate 6 with an outer plate 7 disposed in parallel therewith. Each outer plate 7 has a pin hole 41 formed in the upper part thereof.

Further, each outer plate 7 has a stopper 8 formed in the upper edge portion thereof. The inner and outer plates 3 and 7 have pin holes 9 and 91 formed in the lower parts thereof, respectively.

Connected to the lower coupler 1 having pins 10 inserted into the pin holes 9 and 9 are a pair of lift arms 11 of a vehicle.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an upper coupler having a beam 13. Fixedly secured to both ends of the beam 13 are inner plates 14, Each of the inner plates 14 is fixedly secured through a connecting plate 15 to an outer plate 16 disposed in parallel therewith.

Further, each of the inner and outer plates 14 and 16 has pin holes 17, 171 and 18, 18 formed in the upper and lower parts thereof respectively. (refer to Figure 6).

The upper part of the lower coupler 1 is inserted into the lower part of the upper coupler 12. The upper and lower couplers 12 and 1 are interconnected by means of pins 19 each being inserted into the pin holes 18, 181, 4 and 8. The stopper 8 is adapted to contact with the connecting plate 15 when the upper coupler 12 is aligned with the lower coupler 1.

Connected to the upper coupler 12 having pins 20 inserted into the pin holes 17 and 171 are tilt rods 21 of the vehicle.

Referring to Figure 8, the inner plate 14 of the upper coupler 12 has a lock means 22 fixedly secured thereto. The lock means 22 comprises a block 23 fixedly secured to the inner plate 14. The block 23 has vertically extending holes 24 and 25 formed therein.

Inserted into the hole 24 is a lock pin 26 having a spring seat 27 formed thereon. The lock pin 26 has a notch 28 formed in the upper end thereof and also has a pin 29 attached to the lower part thereof. The block 23 has a spring retainer plate 30 fixedly secured thereto, and a spring 31 is interposed between the spring retainer plate 30 and the spring seat 27. Inserted into the hole 25 is a rod 32 urged downwardly by the biasing force of a spring 33. A yoke 34 is attached to the upper end of the rod 32. The block 23 has in the upper part thereof a lever 35 pivotally mounted by means of a pin 36.

The leading end of the lever 35 is connected through a pin 37 to the yoke 34. A claw 38 is fitted to the lever 35.

In Figure 11, reference numeral 39 denotes an implement comprising a bucket. The impleinent 39 has a pair of C-shaped hooks 40 fixedly secured to the rear surface thereof.

The implement 39 is fitted to the lift arms 11 by allowing the beam 13 of the upper coupler 12 to engage with upper portions 40a of the hooks 40 and the beam 2 of the lower coupler 1 to engage with the lower portions 40b of the hooks 40. In this case, the lock pin 26 of the lock means 22 is inserted into stopper grooves 41 of the circular cam parts 5 of the inner plates 3.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention will now be described below.

The lock pin 26 is lifted by the operator against the biasing force of the spring 31 by pulling up a tool 42 engaged by him with the pin 29 of the lock pin 26 so that the notch 28 of the lock pin 26 can be engaged with the claw 38 of the lever 35 thereby disengaging the lock pin 26 from the stopper groove 41. (Refer to Figure 12--I) Then the implement 39 is tilted back to allow a stopper face 43 of the upper coupler 12 to abut against a stopper 44 of the lift arms 11.Subsequently, the implement is dumped to allow stopper face 45 of the lower coupler 1 to abut against a connecting rod 46 of the lift arms 11. (refer to Figure 12--II) Thereafter, when the lift arms 11 are lifted and the implement 39 is dumped continuously further, the upper portions 40a of hooks 40 of implement 39 remain engaged with the beam 13 of the upper coupler 12, whilst the beam 2 will move along the hooks 40 until the lower coupler 1 abuts against the implement 39.If the implement 39 is dumped continuously further, point "B" on the upper coupler 12 will move to point "B1"; point "C" on the implement 39 will move to point ''Cl''; and point "D" will move to point "D1" so that the upper and lower couplers 12 and 1 are kept at an angle of about seventy degrees by abutment of the connecting plates 6 and 15. (Refer to Figure 12--III) At that time the rod 32 of the lock means 22 abuts against the circular cam portions 5 of the inner plates 3 thereby actuating the lever 35 so that the claw 38 can be disengaged from the notch 28 of the lock pin 26.

As a result, the lock pin 26 is urged by the resilient force of the spring 31 against the abovementioned circular cam portions 5.

If the implement 39 is dumped further, the point "B" will move towards point "B"".

In the next place, the implement 39 is dumped further while it is placed on the ground and the vehicle is moved backwards.

(Refer to Figure 12 IV) Next, dumping of the implement is stopped when the beam 13 has been disengaged from the hooks 40, and the vehicle is moved back further so as to detach the implement 39.

(Refer to Figure 12-V) The implement 39 can be mounted on the vehicle by effecting the abovementioned sequence in reverse.

In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention, unlocking of the lock means 22 is manual; however another embodiment of the invention described below has lock means which can be unlocked by the operator in the driver's cab operating its remote controls.

The aforementioned lift arms 11 have unlocking means 50 fixedly secured on the upper surfaces thereof. The unlocking means 50 comprises a spring loaded cylinder 51 fixedly mounted on the lift arm 11. Slidably mounted in the spring loaded cylinder 51 is a piston 52. The piston 52 has a rod 53 connected to a member 54 having an inclined face 55 formed thereon. Each of the lift arms 11 has a stopper 56 fixedly secured thereto.

Accommodated within the spring loaded cylinder 51 is a spring 57 which urges the piston 52 thereby allowing the member 54 to urge against the stopper 56. The piston 52 is connected to a cable 58 which extends to the driver's cab so as to be connected to a control lever (refer to Figure 13).

Thus, if the control lever is operated to pull the cable 58 to the right hand, the piston 52 is moved against the biasing force of the spring 57, the member 54 is moved through the rod 53 and the unlocking pin 29 is pushed upwardly by the inclined face 55 of the member 54, the lock pin 26 can be disengaged from the grooves 41, and the notch 28 of the lock pin 26 can be engaged with the claw 38 of the lever 35. In this condition, the upper and lower couplers 12 and 1 becomes capable of swinging freely relative to each other.

In a modification of the lock means 22, the block 23 is fixedly secured to the lower couplers and the stopper grooves 41 are provided in the lower portion of the upper couplers, the arrangement otherwise being the same as in the embodiment previously described.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. A vehicle for releasably carrying an implement having a C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface thereof, the vehicle comprising: a pair of lift arms for lifting the implement; a pair of tilt rods for effecting tilting motion of the implement; a pair of lower couplers pivotally connected to said lift arms at one end thereof; a pair of upper couplers pivotally connected to said tilt rods, said lower and upper couplers being pivotally connected with each other; an upper connecting beam provided between said pair of upper couplers for connecting the same; a lower connecting beam provided between said pair of lower couplers for connecting the same, said upper and lower connectirig beams being adapted for engagement with the C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface of the implement; and lock means for locking said lower couplers relative to said upper couplers thereby preventing pivotal movement with respect to each other.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock means comprises a block having a hole formed therein, said block being fixedly secured to said upper couplers, a lock pin slidably inserted in the hole of said block, and spring means disposed in the hole so as to urge said lock pin towards said lower couplers thereby engaging said lock pin with a hole formed at the upper portion of said lower couplers.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock means comprises a block having a hole formed therein, said block being fixedly secured to said lower couplers, a lock pin slidably inserted in the hole of said block, and spring means disposed in the hole so as to urge said lock pin towards said upper couplers thereby engaging said lock pin with a hole formed at the lower portion of said upper couplers.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising lock releasing means provided on said lift arms for releasing said lock means thereby allowing said couplers to pivot with each other.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lock releasing means comprises a cylinder fixedly secured to said lift arms, a piston rod having a member fixedly secured to said piston rod at one end thereof, and spring means disposed within said cylinder urging said piston rod to be extended, and a connecting cable for connecting said cylinder to a control lever provided in a driver's cab of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle for releasably carrying an implement having a C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface thereof substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

50 comprises a spring loaded cylinder 51 fixedly mounted on the lift arm 11. Slidably mounted in the spring loaded cylinder 51 is a piston 52. The piston 52 has a rod 53 connected to a member 54 having an inclined face 55 formed thereon. Each of the lift arms 11 has a stopper 56 fixedly secured thereto.

Accommodated within the spring loaded cylinder 51 is a spring 57 which urges the piston 52 thereby allowing the member 54 to urge against the stopper 56. The piston 52 is connected to a cable 58 which extends to the driver's cab so as to be connected to a control lever (refer to Figure 13).

Thus, if the control lever is operated to pull the cable 58 to the right hand, the piston 52 is moved against the biasing force of the spring 57, the member 54 is moved through the rod 53 and the unlocking pin 29 is pushed upwardly by the inclined face 55 of the member 54, the lock pin 26 can be disengaged from the grooves 41, and the notch 28 of the lock pin 26 can be engaged with the claw 38 of the lever 35. In this condition, the upper and lower couplers 12 and 1 becomes capable of swinging freely relative to each other.

In a modification of the lock means 22, the block 23 is fixedly secured to the lower couplers and the stopper grooves 41 are provided in the lower portion of the upper couplers, the arrangement otherwise being the same as in the embodiment previously described.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. A vehicle for releasably carrying an implement having a C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface thereof, the vehicle comprising: a pair of lift arms for lifting the implement; a pair of tilt rods for effecting tilting motion of the implement; a pair of lower couplers pivotally connected to said lift arms at one end thereof; a pair of upper couplers pivotally connected to said tilt rods, said lower and upper couplers being pivotally connected with each other; an upper connecting beam provided between said pair of upper couplers for connecting the same; a lower connecting beam provided between said pair of lower couplers for connecting the same, said upper and lower connectirig beams being adapted for engagement with the C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface of the implement; and lock means for locking said lower couplers relative to said upper couplers thereby preventing pivotal movement with respect to each other.
2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock means comprises a block having a hole formed therein, said block being fixedly secured to said upper couplers, a lock pin slidably inserted in the hole of said block, and spring means disposed in the hole so as to urge said lock pin towards said lower couplers thereby engaging said lock pin with a hole formed at the upper portion of said lower couplers.
3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock means comprises a block having a hole formed therein, said block being fixedly secured to said lower couplers, a lock pin slidably inserted in the hole of said block, and spring means disposed in the hole so as to urge said lock pin towards said upper couplers thereby engaging said lock pin with a hole formed at the lower portion of said upper couplers.
4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising lock releasing means provided on said lift arms for releasing said lock means thereby allowing said couplers to pivot with each other.
5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lock releasing means comprises a cylinder fixedly secured to said lift arms, a piston rod having a member fixedly secured to said piston rod at one end thereof, and spring means disposed within said cylinder urging said piston rod to be extended, and a connecting cable for connecting said cylinder to a control lever provided in a driver's cab of the vehicle.
6. A vehicle for releasably carrying an implement having a C-shaped hook formed on the rear surface thereof substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.