WO2007122317A1

WO2007122317A1 - Mixed unlocking coupler for heavy-construction machine

Info

Publication number: WO2007122317A1
Application number: PCT/FR2007/000646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serge Morin; René Sieffert; Benjamin Leclercq
Original assignee: Morin S.A.S.
Priority date: 2006-04-21
Filing date: 2007-04-18
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: FR2900168A1; CA2650045A1; US20090191038A1; EP2013421A1; EP2013421B1; FR2900168B1; ATE535650T1; ES2374579T3

Abstract

The invention concerns a coupler comprising a cam (211) for locking a tool (100) with the coupler (200), characterized in that the cam (211) comprises for bringing the cam into a locking position, an articulation (213) with a connecting rod (209) itself connected through a bearing (206) to a piston (209) mobile in a bore (203) of the coupler body (200), said piston being subjected to the action of a spring (208), a chamber (220), opening on to a conduit (223), being formed by the piston (205) and the base of the bore (203), and means (215) for being connected to an unlocking object for applying an unlocking torque on the cam.

Description

R2007 / 000646

Coupler for a work machine with mixed unlocking

The field of the invention relates to a coupler or attachment device for the rapid attachment of a tool, bucket or the like to the end of the articulated arm of an excavating machine or hydraulic excavator or similar machine . The invention more particularly relates to the mode of unlocking the coupler with the tool.

Excavator-type machines or excavators have at the end of the arm a deformable parallelogram, moved by a jack, which allows the rotation and movement of a tool, for example a bucket. This tool is advantageously fixed detachably via a coupler, also called "quick coupler".

It is known from FR patent No. ⁰ 2,657,596 issued to Morin Brothers a quick coupler of a bucket on an excavator. The device taught is a coupler which allows the fixing of a bucket on the end of the articulated arm of the machine without the intervention of a person other than the driver of the machine, and without it having to leave his cabin. The coupler is attached to the articulated arm and consists of two hooks coming to rest on a cylindrical beam integral with the bucket. The position of the bucket in the hooks is maintained by an automatic locking system. The locking system of the coupler on the bucket comprises at least one cam rotatably mounted on the coupler and driven by a spring to come into contact with a bearing face of the bucket. Unlocking is performed manually by the driver of the machine, using a key forming a lever arm. Such a coupler is reliable and powerful but the patent FR 2,657,596 teaches a manual release without giving the possibility of adapting a hydraulic unlocking device.

It is known from the patent EP 0 671 513 issued to Morin Frères a coupler of the same type as that of patent FR 2 657 596. This coupler further comprises a hydraulic unlocking device, the unlocking being thus realized from the cab by the driver of 7 000646

the craft. This coupler is remarkable in that it allows remote locking and unlocking of the tool by the driver of the machine, but patent EP 0 671 513 proposes a complex device capable of hydraulic unlocking and far removed by its principle of a strictly manual unlocking device.

The technical problem for the coupler manufacturer of one of the two types above is that the manufacture of the parts for a hydraulic unlock coupler or for a manual unlocking coupler is specific to the mode of unlocking the coupler. On the other hand existing devices require the user to choose a priori unlocking device. These disadvantages penalize the manufacturer in terms of logistics and cost of the unlocking function.

The object of the present invention is to propose an attachment device, the unlocking of which, to separate the tool from the coupler, is achieved by a manual device or by a hydraulic device in a mixed manner thanks to structures comprising a maximum of identical components to enable optimization of the industrial manufacturing and ability to adapt the coupler device for hydraulic or mechanical operation.

This objective is achieved by a coupler comprising:

fastening means on an arm of a construction machine,

- support hooks of a beam of a tool

a cam mounted in rotation on a coupler body and arranged to come into contact with a bearing face of the tool in at least one locking position of the tool with the coupler, characterized in that:

the cam is driven towards its locking position by means of a spring in compression between a stop device mounted in a bore of the coupler body and a first face of a piston movable in said bore, the spring pushing the piston connected, by a first FR2007 / 000646

articulation, to a linkage linked on the other hand to the cam by a second articulation,

a chamber is formed by the piston and a bottom of the bore opened by a supply pipe, the piston comprising a peripheral groove,

- The cam comprises connecting means with an unlocking object which allows to exert an unlocking torque on the cam.

One objective is to propose a hydraulic unlocking of the coupler.

According to this objective, a seal being placed in the peripheral groove of the piston, liquid distribution means under pressure in the chamber are connected by a connection to the supply conduit to act on a second face of the piston opposite to the first face subjected to the action of the spring and push the connecting rod driving the cam from the locking position to an unlocked position, to achieve a hydraulic unlocking of the coupler.

Another objective is to provide manual unlocking of the coupler.

According to this purpose, the unlocking object is a key cooperating with the cam and comprising a lever on which an unlocking force is applied to exert the unlocking torque and drive the cam in rotation towards an unlocking position, compressing the spring by support between the piston and the stop by means of the force transmitted by the connecting rod to achieve manual unlocking of the coupler.

In another feature, a plug closes the supply conduit, the piston being mounted without a seal in the bore and having a bore or a longitudinal groove opening into the peripheral groove and placing the chamber in communication with a portion of the bore containing the spring.

According to another feature, the cam comprises on the one hand a surface of revolution along its axis of rotation, disposed around a shaft held in bearings of the coupler body, the cam further comprising a contact surface for cooperate with the support face of the tool, the contact surface of the cam having a profile, in a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation, eccentric radius substantially increasing in the opposite direction of the lock.

Another objective relates to innovations for the two modes of operation in hydraulic or manual unlocking.

In another feature, the hooks and the coupler body are made from the same piece of machined foundry.

According to this purpose the joints between the connecting rod and the piston, between the connecting rod and the cam and between the cam and the coupler are made by means of materials lubricated for life.

According to another feature, a cap resting on the coupler and on a lateral plane face of the cam, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam, sealingly closes a space comprising the connecting rod, the spring, and a part in which is the articulation between the connecting rod and the cam.

According to another particularity, the coupler comprises at least a second bore, a second piston, a second spring, a second feed pipe and a second connecting rod to perform a double control of the cam.

The invention, with its features and advantages, will emerge more clearly on reading the description given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of an example of a mixed unlocking coupler according to the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of an example of a mixed unlocking coupler according to the invention;

- Figure 3 shows a side view of an example of a coupler according to the invention used by an excavating machine;

FIG. 4 represents a side view of an exemplary coupler according to the invention arranged on an arm and connected to a bucket;

FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of an exemplary coupler according to the invention linked to a bucket; FIGS. 6 to 8 show side views of an exemplary coupler during automatic coupling, with three successive positions of the cam;

FIG. 9 represents a sectional view of an exemplary control device of a coupler according to the invention, in the hydraulic unlocking mode;

FIG. 10 represents a side view of an example of a manual unlocking key;

- Figure 11 shows a sectional view of an example of a control device of a coupler according to the invention, in manual unlocking mode by the key shown in Figure 10;

- Figure 12 shows a sectional view through the axis of rotation of the cam of an exemplary coupler according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the piston of an exemplary coupler according to the invention;

- Figure 14 is a partial sectional view of the piston disposed in the bore of an exemplary coupler according to the invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an example of a coupler with two pistons and two connecting rods according to the invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an exemplary coupler equipped with a manual unlocking key.

The invention will now be described with reference to the previously cited figures. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the coupler (200) is fixed on an arm (3) which is connected to an arrow (2) of a shovel (1) hydraulic or a similar machine. The coupler (200) according to the invention makes it possible to hold a bucket (100) securely. After the coupler (200) and the bucket have been locked together, the arm (3) can rotate the combination of the bucket and the coupler, acting on two mutually parallel axes (31). in bearings in side flanks (225) of the coupler.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lower part forms a jaw (211, 201) intended to connect a bucket (100) or another tool. The jaw is formed by two semicircular gripping hooks (201) and at least one axially pivotable locking cam (211) about a shaft (221). The hooks (201) are interconnected by at least one transverse bridge (224) of the coupler body, and two bosses (226) are provided in the coupler body opposite the hooks (201) to be traversed. by two holes (212) and to serve as a support for the shaft (221) of rotation of the cam (211). The hooks (201) of semicircular type are coaxial and accommodate a beam (112) attachment belonging to the tool, such as the bucket (100). The locking cam (211) is intended to come into contact with a bearing face (110) to effect locking.

The automatic attachment of the bucket on the coupler according to the invention is achieved by the cam (211) pushed towards its locking position under the action of a spring (208). The arm (3) of the machine is controlled so as to place the hooks (201) for gripping under the beam (112) for attachment of the bucket (100).

The arm (3) is then controlled in a vertical translation, to lift the tool (100) which is then oriented relative to the coupler (200) but free to rotate. Then the arm (3) is controlled so as to pivot the coupler (200) which places the cam bearing on the spout (111) connected to the tool, as shown in Figure 6. The spout (111) is particularly shown alone with the cam (211) resting on the spout (111). The cam (211) pushed by the spout (111), pivots on the shaft (221) and relative to the coupler body, in the direction (D 1) reverse lock, until the tip of the cam (211) is in contact with the tip of the nose (111), as shown in Figure 7. The nozzle is also shown alone with the cam (211), the tip of the nozzle meeting the tip of the cam (211). The contact between points is followed by a pivoting in the direction (D2) of the locking of the cam (211) under the action of the spring (208), a surface, with an eccentric profile, belonging to the cam (211) bearing on the surface (110) at the end of the spout (111). The bucket (100) is then locked with the coupler 46

(200), as shown in Figure 8 in which the cam (211) and the beak (111), are also shown alone in their relative position.

The hooks (201) retain the bucket left free in rotation, orienting itself under the action of its weight, until locking. After locking, the bucket is held in the hooks, and resting on the eccentric surface (214) of the cam, and against the shaft (221) of the cam held in bearings (212) of the coupler body. The cam (211) is rotatably mounted relative to the body of the coupler, the shaft (221) of the cam (211) being disposed on the side of the opening of the hooks (201) accommodating the beam (112) of the bucket. In the working position, when a force tending to lock the bucket is applied to the teeth of the bucket, the contact forces are transmitted on the one hand by the contact surfaces between the beam (112) and the hooks (201) and on the other hand by the contact surfaces between the cam shaft (221) and a bucket (113) of the bucket. The cam is not biased and subjected to the only return torque of the spring constantly catching the clearance between the contact surface (214) of the cam (211) and the bearing surface (110) of the spout (111).

In contrast, when a force tending to unlock the bucket with respect to the coupler is applied at the end of the tooth, the contact forces are then transmitted by the contact surfaces between the beam (112) and the hooks (201) and by the intermediate of the cam (211) supported by its surface (214) of contact on the surface (110) of support of the bucket.

The present invention is first novel by its structure. The cam (211) whose locking is automatic, is in fact actuated by a connecting rod (209) connected to the cam by a hinge (213) with an axis parallel to the axis (202) of rotation of the cam (211) . On the other hand the rod (209) is connected to a control piston (205) by a hinge (206), the piston (205) being movable in translation in a bore (203, fig.1) made in the body the coupler (200). The control piston (205) is actuated by a spring (208) which pushes the piston towards the bottom of the bore (203), the spring (208) being at its other end bearing against a stop segment (210). ). The diameter of the spring (208) is close to the diameter of the bore (203) so T / FR2007 / 000646

the spring (208) is traversed by the rod (209) hinged to the cam (211). Under the action of the spring (208), the piston (205) tends to pull the connecting rod (209) towards the bottom of the bore, rotating the cam (211) about its axis (202) towards its position. lock in the direction indicated by the arrow D2.

In other embodiments, the spring (208) bears against a ring screwed into the bore (203) or against two rods passing through the bore (203) of the coupler (200) on each side of the connecting rod ( 209).

In the different phases of the locking, the spring will be more or less compressed. The contact of the cam (211) on the spout (111) will gradually compress the spring as shown in Figure 6 and this up to a value close to the maximum at the contact position between the nose tip and the tip of the cam (211), shown in Figure 7. The spring then relaxes to place the cam in a locking position shown in Figure 8. In this position, the piston (205) is at a non-zero distance from the bottom of its bore (203), which corresponds to a stroke reserve allowing the clearance to be compensated between the contact surface (214) of the cam (211) and the bearing face (110) of the spout (111).

For unlocking, a direct action on the cam is possible in the direction (D1) of the spring compression by means of a manual key (400) having means (401, 403) for fixing on the cam (211). ) and a lever (402) for applying an unlocking force. The key is in fact fixed to the cam (211) and resting on it, the lever (402) allowing the user to exert an unlocking torque on the cam about its axis of rotation. This manual unlocking by means of the removable key (400) resting on the cam (211) thus makes it possible to disengage the contact surface (214) of the cam (211) from the support face (110) on the 'tool. A key (400) mounted on the cam (211) is, for example, shown in Figure 16. The lever arm (402) allows the user to apply a force (4021) for unlocking. Without limitation, the means for fixing the key on the cam comprise a hole (401) cylindrical around a stud (215) cylindrical complementary to the cam, a surface (403) FR2007 / 000646

key bearing coming into contact with the body of the cam (211). The key (400) is then pivoted about the stud (215) until its bearing surface (403) meets the body of the cam (211). Without limitation, the bearing surface (403) of the key and the cooperating surface of the body of the cam (211) both have an arcuate profile. The key, held around the stud (215) and resting on the body of the cam (211), is then secured to the cam. The arm (402) lever on which the user exerts his effort (4021) then allows to exert a torque for rotation of the cam about its axis in the direction (D1) of the unlocking. The tool (100) is then released by its own weight by pivoting in the hooks (201) of the coupler to be then deposited on the ground and spaced from the hooks (201) by controlling the arm (3).

In another embodiment, the fixing stud belongs to the key and engages in a hole belonging to the cam. In another embodiment, the key comprises a gripping finger bearing against the leading edge of the contact surface (214) of the cam (211) and the body of said cam, to exert an unlocking torque.

In addition, the piston (205) forms a chamber (220) with the bore (203), sealed by a seal (207, Fig. 9). This expansible chamber (220) fed with hydraulic fluid makes it possible to carry out a thrust on the piston (205) compressing the spring (208). Hydraulic unlocking requires the addition of a control block on the hydraulic excavator for diverting the hydraulic energy from the machine to the chamber (220) of the actuator constituted by the piston (205) provided with its seal (207). ) sliding in the bore (203).

With reference to FIG. 9, the oil is fed through a pipe (223) through the hydraulic connection (204) into the bore (203) to advance the piston (205) by compressing the spring (208). ) to the stop ring (210). The piston (205) in translation pushes the rod (209) which converts the translational movement of the piston (205) into a rotational movement of the cam (211) in the direction (D1) of the unlocking. The Hydraulic unlocking is thus performed remotely by the operator of the machine.

The present invention thus allows two modes of unlocking. The transition from the manual unlocking mode (Fig. 11) to the hydraulic unlocking mode (Fig. 9) is limited to adding to the system in the manual mode of the seal (207) and the connection (204) to the hydraulic circuit.

The coupler (200) is for example made by a casting having, without limitation, in its rear part, the locking device according to the invention. Said device can then be completely integrated in the foundry, in particular to protect the cam (211) and the entire locking system against possible shocks caused by projecting rocks.

In another embodiment, the coupler is mechanically welded and machined to produce the same functional surfaces.

The piston (205) according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, comprises guide surfaces (229) in the bore (203) in which the piston (205) is arranged. A cylindrical hole (228) is formed in the piston (205) and is intended to accommodate the axis about which the connecting rod (209) is articulated. The piston (205) slides in the bore (203) between an unlocked position in which the spring (208) is compressed and a locked position, wherein the piston (205) is in a position close to the bottom of the bore ( 203).

In a manual unlocking operation mode, the groove (227) for housing the seal (207) at the periphery of the piston is, for example, empty. The peripheral groove (227) is similar to a groove around the piston. The piston comprises an air circulation channel connecting the chamber (220) located at the bottom of the bore (203) with the portion of the bore (203) accommodating the spring (208). This channel is cut by the groove (227) housing the seal (207). In a nonlimiting manner, the air circulation channel is made by a longitudinal bore (217) or a longitudinal groove (216). This channel passes right through the piston and opens into the groove (227) housing the seal. In the example of a groove (216) longitudinally made on the outer face of the piston (205), the depth of the longitudinal groove does not exceed that of the groove (227) housing the seal (207). Thus for operation in manual mode, the circulation channel lets the air pass from one side of the piston to the other so as not to impede operation. In this embodiment, the conduit (223) supply can be completely closed to protect the piston from external aggression.

In a hydraulic unlocking mode, the sealing of the actuator chamber (220) is accomplished by placing a seal (207) in the groove (227) as shown in Figure 14. The hole (217) or the longitudinal groove (216) are thus closed by the seal (207). The supply conduit (223) opens out of the coupler (200) at a hydraulic coupling (204) for connection to a hydraulic controller.

A cover (218) for closing is shown transparent in Figure 1, so as to show the articulation (213) of the connecting rod (209) on the cam (211). Indeed, to function without maintenance, the device must be properly protected by a closure cover (218) which seals between the cam (211) and the body of the coupler (200) and protects the joints (213, 206 ), the piston (205), the spring (208) and the connecting rod (209) external aggressions.

The cover (218) is for example placed above the articulation, (213) bearing against the body of the coupler (200) and against a face (230) concentric with the axis (202) of the cam (211) .

In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the cover (218) does not bear against the cylindrical face (230) of the cam (211), but has a flat surface (219) abutting on the cam, perpendicular to the axis of rotation (202), providing both a seal and a limitation in translation of the cam.

Other choices of sealing performance techniques are feasible and left to the appreciation of the skilled person. The present invention has the advantage of not requiring lubrication and avoids the addition grease that would be difficult to implement in the space provided. The locking and unlocking device comprises for the joints of the connecting rod and those of the cam, materials operating without lubrication or external lubrication. The choice of these materials is left to those skilled in the art who will advantageously use the composite or plastic materials charged to ensure this property.

In a nonlimiting manner, the translation of the cam on its axis is bounded laterally by plane surfaces (219, fig.12) disposed close to the shaft (221) and perpendicular to it. These translational limiting surfaces are part, without limitation, of the cover, the coupler (200), the cam (211) or additional parts such as seals.

Without limitation, for couplers of large dimensions, the same cam (211) can be controlled by two devices according to the invention, the assembly consisting of the coupler with its cam being made symmetrically with respect to a plane (S) longitudinal perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam, as shown in FIG. 15. Thus the two devices each comprising a bore (203) associated with a piston (205) actuated by a spring (208) and connected in rotation to a connecting rod (209) are arranged on each side of the coupler (200). An unlocking tool fits, for example, in the same way on a pin (215) of the cam to exert an unlocking torque on the cam (211).

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, but may be modified within the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims

4613REVENDICATIONS

A coupler (200) comprising:

fastening means on an arm (3) of construction equipment,

hooks (201) for supporting a beam (112) of a tool (100)

a cam (211) rotatably mounted on a coupler body and arranged to come into contact on a support face (110) of the tool (100) in at least one locking position of the tool (100) with the coupler (200), characterized in that:

the cam (211) is driven towards its locking position by means of a spring (208) in compression between a stop device (210) mounted in a bore (203) of the coupler body (200) and a first face of a piston (205) movable in said bore, the spring pushing the piston connected, by a first articulation (206), to a connecting rod (209) further connected to the cam (211) by a second articulation ( 213)

a chamber (220) is formed by the piston (205) and a bottom of the bore (203) open by a supply duct (223), the piston having a peripheral groove (227),

- The cam comprises means (215) for connection with an unlocking object which allows to exert an unlocking torque on the cam.

2. Coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that a seal (207) being placed in the groove (227) peripheral of the piston (205), liquid distribution means under pressure in the chamber (220) are connected by a connection (204) to the supply duct (223) to act on a second face of the piston (205) opposite to the first face subjected to the action of the spring and push the connecting rod (209) driving the cam ( 211) from the locking position to an unlocking position, to effect hydraulic unlocking of the coupler.

3. Coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that the unlocking object is a key (400) cooperating with the cam (211) and comprising 007/000646

14

a lever (402) on which an unlocking force is applied for exerting the unlocking torque and driving the cam (211) in rotation towards an unlocking position, compressing the spring (208) resting between the piston (205) and the stopping (210) by means of the force transmitted by the connecting rod (209) to effect a manual unlocking of the coupler.

4. Coupler according to claim 3, characterized in that a cap closes the supply conduit (223), the piston being mounted without seal in the bore (203) and having a bore (217) or a longitudinal groove ( 216) opening into the peripheral groove (227) and placing the chamber (220) in communication with a portion of the bore (203) containing the spring (208).

5. Coupler according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cam (211) comprises firstly a surface of revolution along its axis (202) of rotation, arranged around a shaft (221) maintained in bearings (212) of the coupler body, the cam (211) further comprising a contact surface (214) for cooperating with the bearing face (110) of the tool, the surface (214) contacting the cam (211) having a profile, in a plane perpendicular to its axis (202) of rotation, eccentric of substantially increasing radius in the direction (D1) inverse of the lock.

6. Coupler according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hooks (201) and the coupler body are made from the same piece of machined foundry.

7. Coupler according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the joints between the connecting rod (209) and the piston (205), between the connecting rod (209) and the cam (211) and between the cam and the Coupler are made using materials lubricated for life.

8. Coupler according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a cover (218) resting on the coupler (200) and on a side plane side of the cam, perpendicular to the axis of rotation (219). ) of the cam (211), sealingly closes a space comprising the connecting rod (209), the spring (208), and a portion in which is formed the hinge (213) between the rod and the cam.

9. Coupler according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises at least a second bore (203), a second piston (205), a second spring (208), a second supply duct ( 223) and a second connecting rod (209) for dual control of the cam (211).