NZ579854A - A coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

This application is divided from NZ patents 550869 and 566977. The claims of this application are directed to the features that provide for safety during the uncoupling of the coupler from engagement with the bucket pins. Once the first and second pins of the bucket are received within the first fixed and second sliding docks 16, 15 of the coupler the coupler can only be disengaged from the pins of the bucket by firstly, using the actuator, moving the slide dock 15 toward the fixed dock 16, releasing the second pin from the slide dock 15 by manipulating the coupler with respect to the bucket, and then moving the slide right away from the fixed dock which has the effect of lifting the retainer 18 to allow the first pin to be released from the fixed dock 16.

Description

•* *10058184112* 57 98 5 4 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 Divided out of Application No: 566977 Itself a Divisional of Application No: 550869 Dates: 26 October 2006 and 25 October 2007 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A COUPLER We, J B SALES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand, of 22 Stonedon Drive, East Tamaki 2013, Auckland, New Zealand, 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: The present invention relates to a coupler suitable for coupling between a boom or arm and any appropriate implement.

Couplers for such usage have been sold by us and/or our affiliates as the QUICK-HITCH™ throughout the world. Early versions of such a product were typified by US Patent 5082389 (William J Balemi). It involves a dock to receive a machine or implement pin from one direction and a dock opening into which the other pin can be positioned from another (and not opposite) direction prior to being locked into position.

Later variants of such couplers include that of US Design Patent 458942 (Stephen J Balemi).

Other variations include articulating forms of such couplers.

Various other forms of coupler exist in the art and in the marketplace. Many of these include similar orthogonally open docking arrangements as in US Patent 5082389 and US Design Patent 458942. Others however have other arrangements.

US Patent 6902346 (Hendricks Manufacturing Limited) has one docking arrangement on a pivoted arm that is moveable under the action of double acting ram against a stop. Similarly UK Patent Application GB2330570 of Miller et al.

Nevertheless, we believe there is a need for an alternative coupler to those disclosed.

Any such form should be easy to operate and be safe to use. That is an object of the invention.

The coupler preferably is of a kind permanently or semi permanently pivoted about an axis of the boom that is parallel to one or more horizontal rotational axis (or axes) in the boom itself. The coupler is to serve the function of being able to engage at will with appropriate docking features (hereafter "pins" irrespective of the form thereof) of attachable apparatus ("implement^)") under the action of a controller of the boom and any control functions thereof and its carrying of the coupler.

We favour oppositely open docks for engaging the implement pins with at least one being locked to cover the case of any hydraulic failure, and if one, or an alternative, object of the invention.

It is an alternative or another object of the present invention to provide a coupler (preferably a hydraulic coupler) able to be readily engaged first to one pin and then to another pin, there being provision whereby, even with failure of hydraulic systems, there is a safety retention of at least one pin in a docking of the housing.

It is a further or alternative object of the present invention to provide such a coupler, an arm or boom embodying such a coupler, a combination of an appropriate implement dockable with such a coupler and the coupler or the coupler and the boom, and related assemblies, subassemblies, procedures of use and the like, which will at least provide the public with a useful choice insofar as coupling is concerned.

In a first aspect the invention consists in a coupler assembly of or for a boom or arm and connectable to a double pinned implement, the coupler assembly having a first component or assembly ("first component"), the first component having a dock into which a first pin is to be received transversely of its pin axis, a slide or second component ("slide") slideably mounted by said first component, the slide having a dock into which a second pin is to be received transversely of its pin axis, an actuator remotely or manually actuable to control the position of the slide relative to the first component, and a pivoted retention member pivoted from the first component and deployed or deployable as a retention member for a said first pin in the dock of the first component when the slide is not actuated to a position beyond that it assumes when docking and holding docked a second pin in the dock of the slide.

Preferably the pin axes and pivot axis are parallel when retaining docked pins.

Preferably the docks open to opposite directions.

Preferably the slide moves at least substantially parallel to those directions.

Preferably the actuator is a double acting hydraulic ram.

In another aspect the invention consists in a coupler assembly of or for a boom or arm and connectable to a double pinned implement, the coupler assembly having a first component or assembly ("first component"), the first component having a dock into which a first pin is to be received transversely of its pin axis from a first direction, a slide or second component ("slide") slideably mounted by said first component, the slide having a dock into which a second pin is to be received transversely of its pin axis from a second direction which is opposite to said first direction, an actuator remotely or manually actuable to control the position of the slide relative to the first component, and a retention member moveably supported (e.g. preferably pivoted) from the first component and deployed or deployable as a retention member for a said first pin in the dock of the first component.

Preferably the slide moves at least substantially parallel to the first and second directions. In another aspect the invention consists in a coupler assembly of or for a boom or arm and connectable to a double pinned implement, the coupler assembly having a first component or assembly ("first component"), the first component having a dock into which a first pin is to be received transversely of its pin axis from a first direction, a slide or second component ("slide") slideably mounted by said first component, the slide having a dock into which a second pin is to be received transversely of its pin axis from a second direction opposite the first direction, an actuator remotely or manually actuable to control the position of the slide relative to the first component, and a pivoted retention member pivoted from the first component and deployed or deployable as a retention member for a said first pin in the dock of the first component, wherein the slide interacts with the pivoted retention member either to allow or cause its deployment or to allow or cause its withdrawal from deployment, or both.

The present invention consists in, in combination, a coupler assembly of any of the kinds previously defined and a boom or arm to which it is connected. Preferably said combination allows orientation of the coupler assembly relative to a pivot connection thereof with at least one part of the boom or arm.

Preferably said combination also includes an implement associable or associated with the coupler assembly.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in the use of apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of coupling and decoupling an implement from a boom or arm carried coupler assembly in accordance with any aspect of the present invention, said method involving engaging first one pin of the implement into a dock of the coupler and thereafter engaging the other pin into the other dock of the coupler. Preferably the act of engaging both pins has leads to the inevitable deployment of the pivoted retention member.

Preferably the release of the second pin from the second dock and extension of the slide thereafter leads to the undeployment or raising of the retention member.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein the term "(s)" following a noun includes, as might be appropriate, the singular or plural forms of that noun.

As used herein the term "pin" or variations thereof in respect of an implement includes any structure (whether round in section, or not, and whether supported at both ends, or not, by the implement) which is receivable in a dock of a complementary coupler.

As used herein the term "dock" refers to any recess or other like arrangement adapted to provide part of the support and/or location of a pin of an implement when docked therein.

As used herein "implement" includes those forms of apparatus previously mentioned and also any other apparatus that might merit attachment to and/or detachment from a machine boom or arm. Examples include but are not limited to buckets, scoops, vibrators, picks, grapples, etc.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings in which Figure 1 shows a coupler in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention pivot supported from the end of a boom and able to be rotated about that pivot under the action of a hydraulic ram acting on another pivot axis of the coupler, the coupler being shown in two distinct docks docked pins of an appropriate implement (in this case a bucket), Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a coupler in accordance with the present invention showing connectors to a double acting hydraulic cylinder, the ram of which is to actuate the slide, Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 but this time showing the main components exploded therefrom, Figure 4 is another exploded view but this time from the underside of the coupler, Figure 5 is a plan view of the coupler of Figure 2 from above, Figure 6 is a side elevation of the coupler of Figure 5, Figure 7 shows a sectional view of a coupler of Figure 6 but with the safety pivoted retention member raised, Figure 8 is a similar view to that of Figure 7 but showing the safety pivoted retention member lowered, Figure 9A through 9D show in section in a manner similar to the view as in Figures 7 and 8 a progression from Figure 9A (the safety pivoted retention member raised and the second dock at its greatest position to the left), Figure 9B the safety pivoted retention member lowered as the slide under the action of the ram moves to the right, Figure 9C the safety pivoted retention member still lowered whilst the second dock is at its furtherest position from the left, and Figure 9D shows a return of the slide under the action of the ram in the arrowed direction to the left as would be the case after a pin has been received in the first dock, such movement continuing only so far to the left as is warranted to have the second dock engage the second pin of the implement, Figure 10 is a similar view to that of Figure 9D but on a different sectional axis, Figure 11 is a similar view to that of Figure 10 but with the slide in a different disposition relative to the safety pivoted retention member, Figure 12 is a view of a coupler as previously disclosed but having a lifting loop, Figure 13 is the coupler of Figure 12 from a different direction, Figure 14 is the coupler of Figures 12 and 13 from still a different direction, Figure 15 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the present invention but which nonetheless is operable insofar as locking and sliding is concerned as for the first embodiment, the second embodiment showing a different form of lead in tongue of the first component for assembly, Figure 16 is a plan view of the coupler of Figure 15, Figure 17 is a side elevation of the coupler of Figures 15 and 16, Figure 18 is a view in elevation looking towards the tongue of the coupler of Figures 15 to 17.

All main components of the preferred form of the present invention are formed from steel although parts of the hydraulic arrangement can be of any suitable materials and of course is adapted to be associated with pressure hose. Similarly pivot providing pins and the like can be of a suitable steel.

The components can be fabricated or cast or a mixture of both. They can be cast and be subjected to further machining.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described. In the preferred form of the present invention the safety retention member is a pivoted member pivoted from the first component. In other arrangements an alternative to such a pivot arrangement can be some toggle or other preproducibly controllable attachment or association.

In the preferred form of the present invention it is also featured that the retention member can be deployed or is deployed (or both) when the slide is not actuated to a position beyond that which it assumes when docking and holding a second pin on the dock of the slide i.e. it is envisaged that movement of the slide has a capability of raising the pivoted retention member so that the first dock (i.e. that of the first component) can be used to receive and dock a pin of an implement whereupon movement of the slide to allow its positioning ready to have its dock receive the other pin allows the pivoted retention member to fall to a safety retention condition for the pin in the first dock.

In the preferred form of the present invention, the boom 1 pivots the coupler 2 on a pivot at 3. A hydraulic ram arrangement 4 of the boom acting through a set off pivot 5 and a linkage 6 acts on the pivot axis 7 (being the other pivot axis of the connector for association with the boom or parts of the boom).

An implement 8 (in this case a bucket) is docked reliant on a first pin 9 received in the first dock and a second pin 10 received in the second dock i.e. that of the slide 15. The first dock 16 which engages the pin 9 co-acts with the safety retention member 18 which is preferably pivoted.

Received at IPONZ on 14 March 2011 In Figure 2 the coupler 2 is shown with openings 3a and 7a to provide the pivots 3 and 7 respectively referred to with respect to Figure 1. Shown connected to the first component 11 are connectors 12 of the hydraulic ram arrangement 13 to be connected by a pin (not shown) to the openings 14 of the end of the slide.

Shown also is the retention member 18 to be pivoted at 19 reliant on the openings 20 which receive a pin therethrough for that purpose.

Figure 9A shows the ram pinned at its opening 21 to the opening 22 of the first component.

Figure 9A shows the slide 15 having been moved to a condition beyond that it needs to 10 assume to have held docked a second pin of an implement. At such condition the safety retention member 18 has been pivoted upwardly about its pivot axis 19. The slide 15 includes a projection 23 which has interfered with the part 24 of the retention member 18 thus to uplift it from its non-retaining condition as shown in Figure 9A relative to the first dock 16.

Figure 9B shows, with the arrow, the slide 15 under the action of the hydraulic ram 15 moving to the right thus allowing gravity to take the safety retention member 18 down to a condition where it can act as a safety retention member of any pin received by then in the dock 16 (none being shown in Figure 9B). In such a condition the member 23 of the slide bears over part 25 to prevent the easy uplifting of the component 18 about its pivot axis i.e. its acts as a safety retainer. Similarly when even moved further to the right as shown in Figure 9C. 20 Figure 9C shows the slide 15 having been moved to its furtherest condition to the right whereupon it is then possible to position, by reconfiguring (the disposition of the coupler by manipulation of the hydraulics of the boom) the second pin of an implement to be received by the second dock.

Figure 9D shows movement to a condition which then engages against the pin of the 25 implement so that the dock 17 then has received the second pin from the opposite direction to its first dock 16.

Clearly, de-hitching is simply a reverse of the sequence shown in Figures 9A to 9D, i.e. the second pin is de-hitched by moving the slide 15 from the position shown in Figure 9D to its furtherest condition to the right as shown in Figure 9C, and then the first pin is de-hitched by 30 moving the slide 15 back past the position shown in Figure 9B and to its furtherest condition to the left as shown in Figure 9A.

It is believed that a coupler assembly in accordance with the present invention, with its fail safe provision on at least one of the two pins as a result of the action of the safety retention member, and the easy deployment and removal of the safety retention member, allows for quick 35 hitching and de-hitching of a suitably positioned implement.

Figures 12 through 14 show the coupler as previously described from a number of views. Its disclosure should be considered as an addition to that shown by the earlier drawings. Where the coupler of Figures 12 through 14 differs from those previously shown is in the provision of a Received at IPONZ on 14 March 2011 lifting loop 26. This may be appropriate for some sizes of coupler in a range of sizes.

Please note: 1. Low profile compared to existing couplers through its compact design. 2. Safety Hook activated by Clamp Hook movement. No need for operator to get out 5 of digger and place manual safety pin. 3. The 13.5 Tonne Hydraulic Coupler shown can clamp on a variety of different bucket pin centres from 431 down to 355. This allows buckets from different diggers of 12 to 14 tonnes to be able to be used on the one coupler. 4. The cylinder has a check valve incorporated into it plus both hydraulic hoses 10 connect to cylinder base.

The embodiment of Figures 15 through 18 is very similar to that of the embodiment already described. The major difference is in respect of the tongue region 26 which is both extended to assist in manipulation of an implement prior to its being locked on. The tongue 26 also includes a radius profile as shown again for assisting in such pre-locking manipulation of 15 the disposition of an implement to be engaged thereby or after disengagement therefrom.

Also shown in the embodiment of Figures 15 to 18 is a different connection arrangement for the hydraulics of the unit.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of 20 providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Received at IPONZ on 14 March 2011

Claims (12)

We Claim

1. A coupler assembly for coupling implements having a first pin and a second pin, to a vehicle, the coupler having; (a) a first component that is connectable to the vehicle, and which includes a first dock at or adjacent a forward end of the coupler for receiving the first pin, (b) a second component which is supported by the first component and which is movable through a range of travel relative to the first component, and which includes, or forms part of, a second dock for receiving the second pin, and (c) an actuator for selectively moving the second component relative to the first component, wherein, the actuator can selectively move the second component to and between a forward-most position at one extent of the second component's range of travel, an aft-most position at an opposite end of the second component's range of travel, and a third position which is between the forward-most position and the aft-most position; and wherein the coupler assembly is configured such that; (i) when the first pin is received in the first dock, the second pin can only be received within the second dock by moving the second component from a location at or adjacent the forward-most position and toward the third position; and (ii) when both the first and second pins of the implement are received in the first and second docks respectively, the implement can only be uncoupled from the coupler assembly by first moving the second component toward the forward-most position to allow the second pin to be released and then moving the second component back to, or adjacent to, the aft-most position to allow the first pin to be released.

2. A coupler assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second component positions a retainer which can retain the first pin within the first dock when the 204542NZB_Rvsd_Claims_Mar2011 .doc Received at IPONZ on 14 March 2011 - 10- second component is at or adjacent the forward-most position, and when the second component is at the third position.

3. A coupler assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the coupler assembly includes only a single actuator which can selectively position the second component in a range of locations, and which can also selectively position the retainer by selectively positioning the second component.

4. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second component is slidable relative to the first component.

5. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first component includes guides which are adapted to guide the slidable second component.

6. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second component includes a substantially planar slide portion from which the second dock extends.

7. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is a double acting hydraulic ram.

8. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer is a latching member which can be moved by the second component between a first position in which the first pin can move into or out of the first dock, and a second position in which the first pin can not move into or out of the first dock.

9. A coupler assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second component includes a projection which can move and/or position the latching member.

10. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the docks open to opposite directions. 204542NZB_Rvsd_Claims_Mar2011 ,doc Received at IPONZ on 14 March 2011 -11 -

11. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the docks include recesses adapted to support the pins.

12. A coupler assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupler assembly is connectable to a movable arm of the vehicle. PIPERS Attorneys for: S T Couplers Limited 204542NZB_Rvsd_Claims_Mar2011 .doc