GB2574207A

GB2574207A - Bracket assembly for connecting a tool to a hydraulic excavator or other work machine

Info

Publication number: GB2574207A
Application number: GB1808735.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bulnes Julio
Original assignee: Caterpillar Work Tools BV
Current assignee: Caterpillar Work Tools BV
Priority date: 2018-05-29
Filing date: 2018-05-29
Publication date: 2019-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-29
Also published as: GB201808735D0; GB2574207B

Abstract

A bracket assembly 10 for mounting a tool (figure 4, 60) on a work machine (figure 1, 70), including a front bracket part 20 and a rear bracket part 30. Each bracket part has a base 21, 31 and two walls 22, 23, 32, 33 extending from the base. The base is connected in fixed relation to the tool and the two walls are spaced apart, with each of the two walls defining a mounting aperture (figure 13, 24, 34). The mounting apertures of the two walls being aligned to define a mounting axis X1, X2 along which a mounting pin may be inserted through the mounting apertures to mount the respective bracket part on the work machine. The front and rear bracket parts are configured as separate parts and the bracket assembly includes connectors 40 configured to connect each of the two walls of the front bracket to a respective one of the two walls of the rear bracket part. Optionally the connector is a connection pin.

Description

Bracket assembly for connecting a tool to a hydraulic excavator or other work machine

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to systems for attaching a tool to a work machine.

Background

In this specification, a work machine means a steerable land vehicle having at least one arm which is movable in rotation by a system of actuators, and which is configured to manipulate and operate a tool mounted at a distal end of the arm. Usually the arm is referred to as a stick and is mounted at the distal end of another arm known as the boom, with both arms being movable by hydraulic actuators.

Work machines such as excavators and backhoe loaders may be mounted on wheels or tracks and configured to operate a variety of interchangeable tools, for example, for 15 digging and shifting loose materials, crushing or breaking concrete, handling shaped loads, compacting surfacing materials and other specialist functions. Each tool is mounted in the required angular position at the distal end of the arm or stick of the work machine, normally by means of mounting pins which extend along two parallel axes to connect a bracket fixed to the tool to mounting points on the work machine.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a typical, known bracket which defines two spaced, parallel mounting axes XI, X2 through which the mounting pins can be inserted to engage the tool with the work machine. Often the tool is arranged to be movable in rotation by the machine at the distal end of the arm or stick, and for this purpose a first one of the mounting pins may be arranged to define a rotation axis while the other connects the tool to a movable linkage at a defined distance from the rotation axis. The machine operator can move the linkage using a hydraulic actuator to adjust the angular position of the tool about the rotation axis.

The bracket is fixed to the tool via cap screws or other high strength fixings which are spaced apart around the footprint of the bracket to provide a secure attachment.

Since different tools will have different size and shape and will be mounted and used in slightly different angular positions, generally each tool must have its own custom designed bracket. By varying the spacing between the connection axes of each bracket, the desired angular range of movement of each tool can be matched to the stroke of the actuator.

The proliferation of different bracket types for connecting different tools to different machines poses stockholding issues for the manufacturer and supplier.

Summary

In accordance with the present disclosure there is provided a bracket assembly as defined in the claims.

The bracket assembly includes a front bracket part and a rear bracket part, each bracket part comprising a base, and two walls extending from the base. The base is configured to be connected in fixed relation to the tool. The two walls are spaced apart. Each of the two walls defines a mounting aperture, with the mounting apertures of the two walls being aligned to define a mounting axis along which a mounting pin or pins may be inserted through the mounting apertures to mount the respective bracket part on the work machine.

The front and rear bracket parts are configured as separate parts, and the bracket assembly further includes at least one connector which is configured to connect each of the two walls of the front bracket part to a respective one of the two walls of the rear bracket part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following illustrative embodiment which will now be described, purely by way of example and without limitation to the scope of the claims, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are a side and front view of a conventional bracket for mounting a tool on a work machine;

Fig. 3 shows a first bracket assembly comprising a front bracket part and a first rear bracket part, in use;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of part of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 show respectively the first rear bracket part and a second rear bracket part, in side view;

Fig. 7 shows the front bracket part in side view;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the first rear bracket part of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the front bracket part of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 shows a connection pin and retainer of the first bracket assembly;

Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively a top and side view of the first bracket assembly; and Fig. 13 shows a second bracket assembly comprising the front bracket part and the second rear bracket part.

Reference numerals or characters appearing in more than one of the drawings indicate the same or corresponding features in each of them.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a conventional bracket assembly 1 comprises a steel base plate 2 and two steel walls 3 welded to the base plate in spaced parallel relation. Each wall defines a front mounting aperture 4 and a rear mounting aperture 5, each mounting aperture comprising a welded boss or collar with a large diameter throughhole, the respective front and rear through-holes aligned to define respectively a front mounting axis XI and a rear mounting axis X2.

Figs. 11 and 12 show a first bracket assembly 10 comprising a front bracket part 20 and a rear bracket part 30. Each bracket part comprises a respective base 21, 31, and two walls 22, 23, 32, 33 which extend from the base in spaced-apart, parallel relation. Each base is provided with fixing holes 28, 38 for cap screws 50 or other suitable fixings, by which it is configured to be connected in fixed relation to a tool 60 to mount the tool on a work machine 70, as shown for example in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the machine operator can manipulate the tool in rotation via a linkage 71 using an actuator 72.

Each of the two front walls 22, 23 defines a respective front mounting aperture 24, while each of the two rear walls 32, 33 defines a respective rear mounting aperture 34. The front mounting apertures are aligned to define a front mounting axis XI, while the rear mounting apertures are aligned to define a rear mounting axis X2.

In use, a mounting pin or pins 51 may be inserted through the each pair of mounting apertures to mount the respective front or rear bracket part on the work machine 70.

In contrast to the conventional bracket, it can be seen that the front and rear bracket parts 20 and 30 are configured as separate parts. Optionally, each bracket part may consist of a unitary, steel forging or casting.

Referring also to Fig. 10, the bracket assembly further includes at least one connector 40, which is configured to connect each of the two walls 22, 23 of the front bracket part 20 to a respective one of the two walls 32, 33 of the rear bracket part 30.

In the illustrated example, aligned connection apertures 25, 35 are formed through overlapping portions 26, 36 of the walls, and the at least one connector 40 comprises at least one connection pin, optionally two connection pins 40 as shown, which are received in the aligned connection apertures of each pair of front and rear walls to connect together the overlapping portions of the walls.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12 it can be seen that the aligned connection apertures 25, 35 define a connection axis X3 which lies in a plane P containing the mounting axis XI of the front bracket part and the mounting axis X2 of the rear bracket part when each base 21, 31 is connected in fixed relation to the tool 60 as shown in Fig. 4.

Each connection pin 40 may be secured by a retainer 45, the retainer being releasable only by destruction. For this purpose the connection pin 40 may be formed with a recess 41 in which the retainer is received in snap-fit relation when the pin is inserted via the retainer through the aligned connection apertures.

In the illustrated embodiment, the surfaces of the front walls 22, 23 which face the overlapping portions of the rear walls are provided with recesses 27 into which the retainers are inserted before assembling the front and rear bracket parts together. In this way the retainer 45 is concealed between the overlapping portions of each pair of 15 walls. When the connection pin 40 is inserted through the aligned connection apertures the retainer is deformed and then springs back into the recess, locking the connection pin 40 in position. The connection pin cannot be released except by destruction of one or other of the components, e.g. by drilling it out. This ensures that the mounting apertures remain at the correct spacing after assembly.

To close the region between the bracket parts and keep dirt out of any recesses of the tool, a flat cover plate 46 is releasably retained between the base 21 of the front bracket part and the base 31 of the rear bracket part. The cover plate may be retained by small screws 47 so that it is removable (by removing the screws and then sliding it 25 out) when each base is connected in fixed relation to the tool 60, as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring also to Fig. 6 and Fig. 13, in order to adapt the bracket assembly for use with different tools, alternative, first and second rear bracket parts 30,130 may be provided, wherein the rear mounting aperture 34 of the first rear bracket part 30 is in a different 30 position relative to the mounting aperture 34 of the second rear bracket part 130. The at least one connector 40 is configured to connect each of the two walls 22, 23 of the front bracket part 20 to a respective one of the two walls 32, 33 of a selected one of the rear bracket parts 30 or 130 to form selectively a first bracket assembly 10 comprising the front bracket part 20 and the first rear bracket part 30, or a second bracket assembly 110 comprising the front bracket part 20 and the second rear bracket part 130.

Comparing Figs. 12 and 13, it can be seen that the mounting axes XI, X2 are spaced further apart in the second bracket assembly (Fig. 13) than in the first bracket assembly 10 (Fig. 12), reflecting the increased distance between the connection aperture 35 and the rear mounting axis X2 in the second rear bracket part 130 (Fig. 6) compared with the first rear bracket part 30 (Fig. 5).

Industrial applicability

By providing a selection of front or rear bracket parts with different geometry, a selection of standard bracket parts (conveniently, forgings or castings or welded fabrications) may be coupled together by the connectors 40 in the required combination to form a complete bracket assembly to suit the type of tool to be mounted on the work machine, simplifying the stockholding requirement and obviating 20 the need for shop fabrication of different brackets to suit different tools.

In the unlikely event that the base of one of the bracket parts should become detached in use from the tool, the connectors 40 may be configured as shown to define a pivot axis X3 about which the detached bracket part may pivot relative to the other bracket 25 part. The tool will remain securely attached to the work machine by the remaining bracket part, while the pivotal motion of the detached bracket part will alert the operator to the failed fastenings.

In summary, a bracket assembly comprises separate, front and rear bracket parts, each 30 bracket part comprising a pair of spaced walls defining respective mounting apertures through which pins may be inserted to mount the bracket assembly on a work machine. The front and rear bracket parts are connected together by at least one connector. Bracket parts with different geometries may be selectively combined to configure the assembly for use with different tools.

The novel bracket assembly may be provided together with, or as a component part of, a tool.

In alternative embodiments the front and rear walls may be connected other than by connection pins. Many further adaptations are possible within the scope of the claims.

In the claims, reference numerals and characters are provided in parentheses purely for ease of reference and should not be construed as limiting features.

Claims

1. A bracket assembly (10,110) for mounting a tool (60) on a work machine (70), including a front bracket part (20) and a rear bracket part (30,130),

5 each bracket part comprising a base (21, 31), and two walls (22, 23, 32, 33) extending from the base;

the base being configured to be connected in fixed relation to the tool;

the two walls being spaced apart, each of the two walls defining a mounting aperture (24, 34), the mounting apertures of the two walls being aligned to define a

10 mounting axis (XI, X2) along which a mounting pin or pins (51) may be inserted through the mounting apertures to mount the respective bracket part on the work machine;

wherein the front and rear bracket parts are configured as separate parts, and the bracket assembly further includes at least one connector (40), the at least one connector configured to connect each of the two walls of the front bracket

15 part to a respective one of the two walls of the rear bracket part.

2. A bracket assembly according to claim 1, wherein aligned connection apertures (25, 35) are formed through overlapping portions (26, 36) of the walls, and the at least one connector comprises at least one connection pin, the connection pin being received

20 in the aligned connection apertures.

3. A bracket assembly according to claim 2, wherein the aligned connection apertures define a connection axis (X3), the connection axis lying in a plane (P) containing the mounting axis (XI) of the front bracket part and the mounting axis (X2)

25 of the rear bracket part when each base is connected in fixed relation to the tool.

4. A bracket assembly according to claim 2, wherein two connection pins (40) are provided, each connection pin (40) connecting together said overlapping portions (26, 36) of two of the walls.

5. A bracket assembly according to claim 4, wherein each connection pin (40) is secured by a retainer (45), the retainer being releasable only by destruction.

6. A bracket assembly according to claim 5, wherein the retainer is concealed

5 between said overlapping portions (26, 36) of two of the walls.

7. A bracket assembly according to claim 1, further including a cover plate (46), the cover plate being releasably retained between the base of the front bracket part and the base of the rear bracket part and removable when each base is connected in fixed

10 relation to the tool.

8. A bracket assembly accordiing to claim 1, wherein each bracket part consists of a unitary forging or casting or a welded fabrication.

15

9. A bracket assembly according to claim 1, wherein alternative, first and second rear bracket parts (30,130) are provided, the mounting aperture (34) of the first rear bracket part being in a different position relative to the mounting aperture (34) of the second rear bracket part; the at least one connector (40) being configured to connect each of the two walls (22, 23) of the front bracket part (20) to a respective one of the

20 two walls (32, 33) of a selected one of the rear bracket parts (30,130) to form selectively a first bracket assembly (10) comprising the front bracket part (20) and the first rear bracket part (30), or a second bracket assembly (110) comprising the front bracket part (20) and the second rear bracket part (130).

25

10. A tool comprising a bracket assembly according to claim 1.