GB2305909A

GB2305909A - Attachment coupling

Info

Publication number: GB2305909A
Application number: GB9620764A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darrell Craig Bendall; Murray John Pierce
Original assignee: O & B Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: O & B Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 1995-10-04
Filing date: 1996-10-04
Publication date: 1997-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-04
Also published as: NL1004200C2; NL1004200A1; NZ280167A; GB2305909B; GB9620764D0; FR2739638A1

Abstract

A coupling 1 to couple an attachment such as a bucket (14, Fig. 9) to a machine such as a bulldozer, excavator and the like, comprising two portions 2, 3 connected by a central pivot pin 5. The first portion 2 of the coupling comprises front and rear apertures (13, Fig. 4) which can accommodate mounting pins for connection with support arms (15, 16) of the machine. The second portion 3 comprises a jaw means (9) adapted to provide a connection to the rear of the attachment (14). Hydraulic ram means 7 are located on either side of the central pivot pin 5 and are connected between respective apertures 8 provided in the aforementioned portions 2,3. The said hydraulic ram means 7 are angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the central pivot pin 5. Operation of the hydraulic ram means 7 results in the transverse tilting of one portion relative to the other thereby causing corresponding movement of the attachment (14) relative to the machine.

Description

AN ATTACHMENT COUPLING BAGROUND To TIIP3 The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to couplings for attachments and more particularly to attachments for use with earth moving machines such as excavators, backhoe loaders, bulldozers and the like (hereinafter referred to as "machinery").

Particularly in construction work, machinery will be required to be fitted with various attachments suitable for certain operations. These may include excavation buckets, augers, compactors, rock breakers and the like.

Various proposals have been put forward relating to the coupling of attachments to machines, some of which proposals relaying to the automatic or semi-automatic and rapid coupling of such attachments. However in many instances, attachments could usefully be provided with sideways movement or tilting which has not been possible with proposals available to the present time. It is to be appreciated that for example in a digging operation there can be advantage in enabling the excavator bucket to have a sideways tilting motion as well as he customary forward and reverse movement as earth is dug out and removed.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling for an attachment to a machine which will overcome or at least obviate disadvantages in such couplings available to the present time or which at least will provide the public with a useful choice.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF 0? INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a coupling to couple an attachment to a machine, said coupling including a first portion adapted to be connected to a machine and a second portion adapted to be connected with an attachment, said first and second portions being pivotally connected together about a substantially central pivot means, hydraulic ram means connecting said first and second portions on either side of said central pivot means whereby operation of said hydraulic ram means can selectively pivot said second portion relative to said first portion in transversely tilting, in use, said attachment relative to said machine.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a coupling which can couple an attachment to a machine substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments thereof and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF bESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1: Shows very diagrammatically a front view of a coupling according to one possible embodiment of the invention; eicure 2: Shows the coupling of figure 1 in which a tilting operation has been effected; Fibre 3: Shows a plan view of the coupling of figures 1 and 2; Figure 4: Shows a side view of the coupling of the preceding figures; Figure 5 Shows a side view of a coupling according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 6: Shows an end view of the coupling of figure 5; Figures 7 & 8: Shows diagrammatically side views of further possible embodiments of the present invention; Fissure 9:Shows very diagrammatically a coupling according to one possible embodiment of the invention in position connecting an excavator bucket with a machine.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERED EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, one embodiment of the present invention is referenced generally by arrow 1.

The coupling 1 is shown having a first connector portion 2 to connect with a machine and a second connector portion 3 which can connect with a required attachment such as an excavator bucket.

An upwardly directed support assembly 4 is pivotally connected through a substantially central pivot pin S with a downwardly depending support assembly 6. The support assembly 6 is shown connected with the connector portion 3 by means of an hydraulic ram assembly 7 indicated by means of the dotted lines and connecting between respective apertures 8, angled relative to the longitudinal axis af the pivot 5.

Corresponding apertures 8 are shown provided on the opposite side of the coupling 1 and would be provided with a corresponding hydraulic ram assembly. In Figure 2 the connector portion 3 is shown angled or tilted relative to the connector portion 2 by means of the operation of the hydraulic ram assembly 7. Typically the transverse angular disposition of the connector portions 3 and 2 would extend up to perhaps 45 degrees on either side of the coupling 1, achieved by the selective operation of a respective hydraulic ram assembly 7.

In Figure 4 the connector portion 3 is shown comprising a front jaw 9 which can locate about a transverse pin or the like of the required attachment such as an excavator bucket.

Rear apertures 10 can accommodate a pin or the like which can link the connector portion 3 with the rear of the attachment.

The support assembly 6 is shown comprising a plurality of support plates or the like 11 which accommodate the substantially central pivot pin 5. The support assembly 4 can similarly comprise a plurality o; plates or the like 12 throngh which t)ae pivot pin 5 extends The connector portion 2 is shown comprising front and rear apertures 13 which can accommodate mounting pins to connect the connector portion 2 with the support arm or the like of the required item of machinery.

In Figures 5 and 6 an alternative embodiment of the invention referenced generally by arrow 1 is provided with more substantial interconnection between the connector portions 2 and 3 about the pivot pin 5 so as to have a greater load bearing capacity. The embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 may for example be suitable for up to 20 tonnes. A further embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 referenced generally by arrow 1 has a further alternative connection between the connector portions 2 and 3 which may be suitable for alternative loads.

In Figure 9 an embodiment of the present invention is referenced generally by arrow 1 and is shown provided with an hydraulic ram assembly 7 on either side thereof (only one being shown) which enable a bucket 14 to be tilted relative to the support arms 15, 16 of an excavator or similar machine.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A coupling to couple an attachment to a machine, said coupling including a first portion adapted to be connected to a machine and a second portion adapted to be connected with an attachment said first and second portions being pivotally connected together about a substantially central pivot means, hydraulic ram means connecting said first and second portions on either side of said central pivot means whereby operation of said hydraulic ram means can selectively pivot said second portion relative to said first portion in transversely tilting, in use, said attachment relative to said machine.

2. A coupling as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each said hydraulic ram means is connected between respective apertures provided in said first and second portions.

3. A coupling as claimed in Claim 2 wherein each said hydraulic ram means is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said central pivot means.

4. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second portions can be transversely titled relative to one another by up to substantially 45 degrees on either side of said central pivot.

5. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said second portion comprises a jaw means adapted to be locatable about a connecting member of an attachment.

6. A coupling as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said second portion further comprises apertures adapted to provide a connection for a rear portion of the attachment.

7. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said central pivot means is mounted within a plurality of inter engageable supporting plate members extending respectively from said first and second portions and through which said central pivot pin can extend.

8. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said first portion includes front and rear apertures adapted to accommodate mounting pins for connection with a support arm of said machine.

9. A coupling substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. An attachment for a machine provided with a coupling as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

11. A machine provided with an attachment as claimed in Claim 9.