KR20150094691A - A locking mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lock mechanism (10) for a quick coupler (A). The biasing element 13 moves in the first direction by exerting a force on the locking element 11. The actuator 12 moves the locking element 11 against the biasing element 13. The locking element 11 has teeth 19 and when the locking element 11 is moved in the first direction by the biasing element 13 this tooth is engaged with the other teeth on the movable wedge element F of the quick coupler, (20) to prevent the wedge element (11) from moving. When the locking element 11 moves, a pressure is generated which causes the teeth 19, 20 to engage with each other.

Description

A LOCKING MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a lock mechanism for a quick coupler.

Quick couplers are used to install attachments such as buckets in heavy equipment such as excavators. These quick couplers operate hydraulically. A potential hazard with a hydraulic quick - changer puller is that the quick coupler can not keep the attachment in the operating position if the hydraulic pressure fails. For example, the quick coupler can not restrain the attachment to one of the mounting pins, so that the attachment can fall from the quick coupler. This can result in injury or death to anyone near the attachment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lock mechanism for a quick coupler so that an attachment installed by the quick coupler can be held at the operating position even when the hydraulic pressure fails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The lock mechanism for a quick coupler according to the present invention comprises a movable locking element; Biasing means for applying a force to move the locking element in the first direction; And an actuator for moving the locking element with respect to the biasing means, wherein the locking element has a coupling means, which engages the movable wedge element of the quick coupler when the locking element is moved in the first direction by the biasing means To lock the wedge element in motion.

The present invention also provides a wedging element comprising a movable wedge element, actuating means for moving the movable wedge element, a movable locking element, biasing means for urging the locking element to move in a first direction, A quick coupler comprising an actuator is provided. In such a quick coupler, when the locking element has engagement means and the locking element is allowed to move by the biasing means in the first direction when the hydraulic supply to the actuating means fails, the engagement means engages with the movable element, To lock it in place.

In the present invention, the biasing means is preferably a mechanical biasing mechanism.

The mechanical biasing mechanism is preferably at least one spring.

The actuator is preferably a hydraulic linear actuator.

This actuator can be operated with the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic source of the actuating means of the wedge element.

Both the engaging means and the other engaging means of the present invention can be composed of a plurality of teeth engaging each other.

Also, if the locking element is moved, there may be a pressure to keep the teeth in engagement with each other.

It is also preferred that there is a stopper which is engaged when the locking element can not be moved by the actuator so that a gap is created between the coupling means and the other coupling means.

The other locking means may also be part of a catch that engages the mobile element.

In addition, the locking element can be movably coupled to the driving element.

In addition, the locking element and the driving element may have mutually coupled driving surfaces that convert the movement of the locking element by the biasing means into a side motion. In this case, it may further include a guide and a rail on which the locking element and the driving element slide.

On the other hand, the quick coupler may have a plurality of locking mechanisms.

1 is a side view of a hydraulic type quick coupler in which a lock mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the locking mechanism of Figure 1 when the wedge element of the quick coupler is moved to the wedging position;
FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing the configuration of the teeth of FIG. 2; FIG.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2, but showing when the wedge element of the quick coupler retracts during steady hydraulic operation;
5 is an enlarged view showing a locking mechanism for locking the wedge element when the hydraulic pressure fails;
6 is a perspective view of a quick coupler in which a lock mechanism of a second embodiment is installed and a side plate is removed so as to show a wedge and a cylinder;
7 is an exploded perspective view of the wedge and cylinder with the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 6;
Figure 8 is an assembled state view showing the arrangement of Figure 7 with the wedge fully retracted;
Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 8 but shows the assembled state when the wedge is fully extended;
10 is a perspective view showing locking mechanism elements with teeth completely separated;
11 is similar to Fig. 10, except that the catches 23 are retracted and the claws 19,20 are engaged with each other and the locking mechanism is engaged so that the latch 11 is no longer in a released state A perspective view showing not moving forward;
Figure 12 is similar to Figure 11 but similar to Figure 11 except that the latch 11 moves in a locked state outwardly by the slope 25 of the drive element 24 and backward by the biasing spring 13 and the two claws 19, Are in contact with each other;
Fig. 13 is similar to Fig. 12, but is a perspective view showing that the teeth 19, 20 are fully engaged in a locked state;
14 is a perspective view showing a cross section taken on the upper surface of the spring 13 in the lock mechanism shown in Figs. 10 to 13; Fig.
15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 14 but showing a cross section taken from the underside of the spring 13;
16 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 15 but showing the latch 1 being pushed forward in a locked state;
17 is a perspective view of the latch and drive element 20 showing that the latch is in the unlocked state;
FIG. 18 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 17 but with the latch 11 in a locked state; FIG.
19 is a perspective view showing that the latch 11 is advanced in a locked state by the spring 13 and shows a gap between the releasing mechanism 26 and the latch 11 of the actuator 12;
20 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 19, showing the release device 26 moving to contact the latch 11;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 20, but showing the release mechanism 26 retracting the latch 11 toward the spring 13;
22 is similar to FIG. 21, but is a perspective view showing that the release device is fully extended to fully retract the latch 11 to the unlocked position.

The locking device of the present invention locks the wedge immediately in the event of a hydraulic failure to the quick coupler to prevent any wedge tongue movement which may cause the mounting point of the attachment installed by the quick coupler to be released.

Fig. 1 shows a known quick coupler A in which the lock mechanism 10 of the present invention is installed. The quick coupler (A) is hydraulically operated by a hydraulic device coupled thereto. The mounting point C of the body B of the quick coupler is connected to the arm of the excavator (not shown).

The attachment pin of the attachment (not shown) is engaged with the hook D of the body B. [ Another attachment pin of the attachment is located in the recessed portion E. The hydraulic wedge F is stretched to engage the attachment with the quick coupler A by locking the mounting pin of the groove E.

Therefore, if the hydraulic pressure of the quick coupler A is incorrect, the wedge F is reduced so that the mounting pin is loosened in the recessed portion E, and if there is no other pin in the hook D, the attachment can fall from the excavator arm. However, if there is a pin in the hook D, the attachment will not shake off completely in the quick coupler A but will shake off the pin in the hook D.

In the quick coupler A of the type shown in Fig. 1, the wedge F is a part of an operating means consisting of a hydraulic cylinder G for controlling the expansion and contraction of the wedge. The construction of the hydraulic cylinder G and the wedge F is merely an example.

Here, the lock mechanism 10 is provided at the boundary between the cylinder G and the wedge F of the quick coupler A, but this is merely an example of coupling the lock mechanism of the present invention to the quick coupler. Other embodiments will be described later with reference to Figs.

2 to 3, the locking mechanism 10 includes a latch 11 as a locking element, a cylinder 12 as an actuator as a hydraulic linear actuator, and a spring 13 as a mechanical biasing element. The cylinder 12 operates with hydraulic pressure when the wedge F is retracted (see Fig. 4). The mechanical biasing element moves the latch 11 in the first direction X.

The latch 11 is in the form of a wedge, the surface fixed to the quick coupler body B and the surface of the latch 11 form the sliding interface 14, which will be described in detail later. The cylinder acts on the fixed surface 16 of the latch 11. [ Thus, in the first embodiment of Figures 1-5, the cylinder 12 can engage the surface 16. [

One end of the spring 13 is located in the pocket 17 of the latch 11 and the other end is in contact with the fixed surface 18.

A tooth 19 is formed on the surface of the latch 11 forming one side of the interface 14 and the tooth 19 is engaged with the tooth 20 of the opposite coupling to the wedge F of the quick coupler 3). The teeth 20 may be part of an element connected to the wedge F or a portion of the wedge action cylinder G but the engagement of the teeth 20 to the wedge F is not important in the present invention, (20) moves like a wedge (F).

Although the configuration of the two teeth 19 and 20 is shown in Fig. 3, they may be configured differently.

These teeth 19 and 20 are configured such that when the wedge F is extended to the operating position, the teeth 20 move over the teeth 19 due to the contact angle. 3 shows a state in which the tooth 20 is moved over the tooth 19. When the wedge F is elongated, the latch 11 is made to move freely against the tension of the spring 13 so that the two teeth 19 and 20 move without engaging with each other, .

When the wedge F has fully moved to the extended position, the spring 13 moves the latch 11 in the X direction and the two teeth 19, 20 engage to lock the wedge F into the extended position.

In the normal operating state, the quick coupler can be controlled to retract the wedge F. When the hydraulic pressure is applied to the retreat side of the double action cylinder G, the cylinder G applies pressure to the cylinder 12 as the actuator. When the cylinder 12 extends toward the unwinder 26 and pushes the surface 16 of the shoulder 15, the latch 11 moves in the Y direction against the force of the spring 13.

In the embodiment of Figures 1-5, the latch 11 is in contact with a stop surface which is a stopper formed by the surface 18. When the latch 11 is caught on the stop surface 18, a gap Z is formed between the teeth 19 and 20 so that the wedge F can freely retract (see FIG. 3).

However, even if the hydraulic pressure to the quick coupler is lost at any time and the pressure on the wedge cylinder G is lost and the wedge F is no longer fixed to the operating position (extended) by the double operating cylinder G, Continues to move the locking member along the sliding interface 14 in the X direction so that a compressive force acts in the direction of the arrow 21 to engage the teeth 19 and 20 so that the wedge F continues to sleep That's it.

As a result, the wedge F is prevented from retreating in the direction of the arrow 22, so that the wedge F continues to stay in the recessed portion E even if the hydraulic pressure is lost.

Therefore, even if the hydraulic pressure supply is wrong, the lock mechanism 10 locks the wedge F in the extended position, and does not lose the locking effect.

20 can be made relatively small owing to the number of teeth and the compression load due to the sliding angle of returning the load to the cylinder 12, which makes it possible to effectively reduce the locking position of the locking mechanism, which is very small and infinitely variable It can be generated. As a result, the wedge F can be locked at any extension position. In addition, the teeth 20 are engaged with almost all of the teeth 19.

In the type of quick coupler shown in Fig. 1, the position of the lock mechanism is also possible with a new kit for a conventional quick coupler product, between the wedge cylinder G and the wedge interface. These kits can be assembled in the field. Therefore, the locking mechanism of the present invention can not be used only for the quick coupler of the kind described above.

Figures 6 to 22 show a second embodiment of the present invention in which the only difference from the previous example is that there is not one lock mechanism under the wedge F but two lock mechanisms on both the cylinder G and the wedge F . The other corresponding elements are marked with the same number.

The quick coupler A in Fig. 6 shows the lock mechanism 10 by removing one side plate of the body B to expose the hydraulic cylinder G and the wedge F. Fig.

7, it can be seen that the tooth 20 is a part of the catch 23, which is fastened to the concave inner surface 27 of the leg 28 separated from the wedge F by a wedge. The locking mechanism 10 is connected to each leg 28 of the wedge F. [

The driving element 24 and the latch 11 are provided in the recessed portions 29 on both sides of the cylinder G. [ The latches 11 are formed with teeth 19.

Although there are two locking mechanisms 10 of this embodiment, only one will be described for the sake of convenience.

7 shows how each of a pair of actuating cylinders 12 mounted on both sides of the housing 30 and with a release mechanism 26 acts on each of the latches 11 of the two locking mechanisms 10. Fig.

Figs. 10 to 13 are sectional views of the cylinder G, and Fig. 10 shows the gap Z described in the first embodiment in a state in which the teeth 19 and 20 are not locked but completely separated. Most of the serrations of the latch 11 form a series of drive surfaces 31 and 32 and stop surfaces 33 and 34 and engage corresponding teeth of the drive element 24, A stop surface 18 is formed (see Figs. 11 to 12).

14 and 19 to 22, the spring 13 provided in the pocket 17 of the latch 11 acts on the stop surface 34 '.

The longitudinal and lateral movement of the latch 11 by the drive element 24 is controlled by the oblique guide rails 35,36 of the drive element 24 engaging the guide slots 37,38 of the latch 11 14-16). These rails 35 and 36 engage the slots 37 and 38 of the latches to aid in the release process when the release device 26 pushes against the back surface 38 of the latch 11. The slotted surface slides along the rail and the latch 11 is pulled backward in the direction controlled by the drive surfaces 31 and 32 and the spring 13. In this case, the latching effect that occurs when the wedge F is stretched is assisted so that the movement of the latch 11 occurs parallel and constantly between the teeth 19,20.

17-18 show how the latch 1 moves from the " retracted "state (unclamped state) of Fig. 17 to the" (35).

19-22 are sectional views showing the spring 13 in the pocket 17 with the release mechanism 26 of the cylinder 12 abutting the surface 39 of the latch 11 to release the latch 11 Show me how to turn it back on. The releasing device 26 is detached from the contact surface 39 of the latch 11 when the hydraulic pressure is released by the return spring 40 of the releasing device 26 itself shown in Fig. 7 (see Fig. 19). At this time, only the spring 13 is involved in the movement of the latch 11.

This embodiment works in the same manner as the first embodiment. 10, for example, when the latch 11 is moved to the fully retracted (released) position, the wedge F is moved by the clearance Z without any interference, that is, the teeth 19 and 20 are not in contact with each other .

Figure 11 shows a position where the latch 11 is no longer advanced to the unwinding position unless the teeth 19,20 are engaged by the retraction of the catch 23 and the locking mechanism 10 is engaged and the catch 23 does not advance again And the teeth 19 and 20 of FIG.

Fig. 12 shows that the teeth 19, 20 are fully engaged in the locked state. When the catch 23 retracts, the latch 11 drives the drive element 24 further back to lock the wedge F in place.

In addition to the latches 11, the driving elements 24 and the catches 23, which are the three main elements constituting the locking mechanism, the spring 13 is a bias element. The illustrated embodiments are only an example, and each part can be replaced, but can be installed in the assembled quick coupler.

A feature of the invention lies in the relationship between the angle of movement of the latch 11 in the drive element 24 and the angle of the teeth 19,20. Preferably, the latch 11 is moved at a 30 [deg.] Angle and the teeth 19, 20 are set at a 45 [deg.] Angle. During operation, when the front faces of the teeth 19 and 20 contact each other, they are in a locked state. Then, when the catch 23 is sufficiently retracted in the locked state (the locking state is that the two teeth 19, 20 are permanently engaged with each other), the teeth can no longer be separated due to the crossing angle relationship between the teeth. Therefore, until the catch 23 advances, the locking mechanism 10 remains locked and separation can not take place. This state is shown in Fig.

The lock mechanism of the present invention can operate to maintain the attachment installed in the quick coupler in the operating position even if the hydraulic pressure fails.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS 1. A lock mechanism for a quick coupler comprising:
Removable locking elements;
Biasing means for applying a force to move the locking element in the first direction; And
And an actuator for moving the locking element relative to the biasing means,
The locking element has a coupling means which engages with another coupling element coupled to the movable wedge element of the quick coupler to lock the wedge element immovably when the locking element is moved in the first direction by the biasing means Features a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a mechanical biasing mechanism. 3. The locking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical biasing mechanism is at least one spring. 4. The lock mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic linear actuator. 5. A lock mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuator operates from the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic source of the actuating means of the wedge element. 6. A locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coupling means and the other coupling means are made of a plurality of teeth engaging with each other. 7. The lock mechanism according to claim 6, wherein when the locking element is moved, a pressure is generated which causes the teeth to stay meshed with each other. 8. Locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a stopper which is engaged when the locking element is unable to move by the actuator, so that a gap is created between the coupling means and the other coupling means. 9. Locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said further locking means is part of a catch which engages the mobile element. 10. Locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the locking element is movably coupled to the driving element. 11. Locking mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking element and the driving element have mutually engaging driving surfaces for turning the movement of the locking element by the biasing means into lateral movement. 12. The locking mechanism according to claim 11, further comprising a rail and a guide portion on which the locking element and the driving element are slidably engaged. A movable wedge element, actuating means for moving the movable wedge element, a movable locking element, biasing means for urging the locking element to move in the first direction, and an actuator for immovably locking the locking element in the first direction;
When the locking element has engagement means and the locking element is allowed to move by the biasing means in the first direction when the hydraulic supply to the actuating means fails, the engaging means engages with the movable element to prevent the movable element from moving Wherein the first and second couplers are coupled to each other. 14. The quick coupler of claim 13, wherein the biasing means is a mechanical biasing mechanism. 15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14, characterized in that the coupling means and the other coupling means are made of a plurality of teeth engaging each other and, when the locking element is moved, a pressure is applied to keep the teeth in engagement with each other Quick coupler. 16. A quick coupler as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, comprising a stopper coupled when the locking element is unable to move by the actuator so that a clearance is created between the coupling means and the other coupling means. 17. A quick coupler according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that said another locking means is part of a catch which engages the mobile element. 18. A quick coupler according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the locking element is movably coupled to the driving element. 19. A quick coupler according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the actuator is a hydraulic linear actuator operating with hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic source of the actuating means of the shifting element. 20. A quick coupler according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that there are a plurality of locking mechanisms. The locking mechanism described with reference to Figures 1-5 or Figures 6-22 of the accompanying drawings. A quick coupler as described with reference to Figures 1-5 or Figures 6-22 of the accompanying drawings.

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