WO2009102223A1

WO2009102223A1 - Versatile couplers

Info

Publication number: WO2009102223A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2009/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Kevin Scheib; Timothy Craig Balemi
Original assignee: Jb Attachments Limited
Priority date: 2008-02-13
Filing date: 2009-02-12
Publication date: 2009-08-20

Abstract

An implement coupler assembly able to attach to a complementary implement and itself for attachment to a vehicle arm by a pair of pins, each pinning on a pinnable axis, wherein the coupler body of the assembly defines a first pinnable axis but at least one insert of the coupler body defines the second pinnable axis.

Description

"VERSATILE COUPLERS"

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a coupler suitable for coupling between a boom or arm and any appropriate implement.

BACKGROUND ART

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.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In our PCT/NZ2007/000320 there is disclosed 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 (eg, 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 retention member whether pivoted directly from the first component or in part supported by the first component but articulating or interfacing with the slide.

Nevertheless, we believe there is a need for an alternative coupler to those disclosed. The present invention, in one aspect relates to, or has as its object, a coupler whether of any one of the aforementioned kind or of a different kind which has provision whereby it can be associated quickly permanently or semi-permanently with the distal end of the arm or boom ("arm") of a vehicle or other mount ("vehicle") reliant upon at least one pin a (preferably two pins) that pass through such distal end region of the arm as well as the coupler. An object of the present invention is to provide for the moveability in the coupler assembly of one of such axes so as to accommodate different pin receiving spacings of different arms.

It is a further and/ or alternative of the present invention in any such coupler assembly as aforesaid or as herein defined to provide a nosing tongue substantially as herein after described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In an aspect the present invention consists in, in any such coupler (including that substantially as herein after defined as the present invention), the provision of such a nosing tongue.

In another aspect the present invention is a couplet assembly mountable to distal region(s) of the arm or boom ("arm") of a vehicle (eg, an excavator) and adapted to engage an implement where the coupler assembly is the interface of that implement with the arm, wherein the coupler assembly is mountable to such a said arm by two pins on parallel axes, and wherein at least one insert forming part of the coupler assembly defines one such axis of the assembly.

Preferably the coupler assembly is a hydraulic assembly, for example as herein after described (the full content of PCT/NZ2007/000320 herein being included by way of reference). In other forms however preferably a manual or semi-manual method of locking arrangement can be provided.

Whilst hereinafter a slide which articulates a retention member is disclosed, any form of appropriate docking for the implement is envisaged, preferably with a nosing tongue substantially as hereinafter described. Preferably a fail safe retention provision is provided. In the preferred form of the present invention, said insert forming part of the coupler assembly and defining one such axis of the assembly is preferably a pair of inserts, each of which is receivable in the assembly in at least two ways, one way defining a first axis, and the second way defining a second axis. In so doing such variation of insert receipt by the remainder of the assembly differently spaces that particular axis (first or second or "A" or "Al") from the other pin receiving parallel axis ("B") into which the distal end region of an arm is to be received. Preferably said inserts are in the form of a journalled boss or other journalled or pin receiving member received from within the body of the coupler assembly and unable to pass through the body assembly once received if held from movement back inwardly of the body.

Preferably a received end of a said arm prevents any such inward movement. In another aspect the present invention is a coupler assembly mountable to distal region(s) of the arm or boom ("arm") of a vehicle (eg, an excavator) and adapted to engage an implement where the coupler assembly is the interface of that implement with the arm, wherein the coupler assembly is mountable to such a said arm by two pins on parallel axes, "A" and "B", and wherein inserts positionable in different ways in a member of said assembly can define, as a variation of axis "A", an axis "Al".

Preferably each of said inserts is in the form of a flange member able to be received into said member in one or other of two conditions, one for each side of the coupler assembly, so as to define an axis "A" or the axis "Al". Preferably the arrangement is substantially as herein after described with or without • reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

Preferably there is some taper fit of such inserts in said member and/ or preferably the arm end, once pinned to said coupler assembly, prevents insert removal or dislocation.

The invention also consists in the use of such coupler assemblies and/ or assemblies of " such coupler assemblies with a vehicle or vehicle arm and/ or implement.

In another aspect the invention is an implement coupler assembly able to attach to a complementary implement and itself for attachment to a vehicle arm by a pair of pins, each pinning on a pinnable axis, wherein the coupler body of the assembly defines a first pinnable axis but at least one insert of the coupler body defines the second pinnable axis.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred coupler assembly in accordance with the present invention, such coupler assembly having a nosing tongue as one of its implement docking features and a moveable dock (on a slide) as in the aforementioned PCT invention

(PCT/NZ2007/000320), preferably but not necessarily actionable under the action of a hydraulic ram,

Figure 2 shows the nosing tongue end of the assembly of Figure 1 and showing, in a locking condition, the downwardly depending retention member that provides fail safe locking of a pin of an implement in that dock,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the assembly of Figures .1 and 2 showing a hydraulic ram and showing also received onto axes A and B two pins of a kind able to associate the arm of a vehicle (not shown) therewith,

Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the arrangement of Figure 1 to 3, Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 but showing the inserts reversed so as to define the axis

"Al",

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the components of the assemblies of Figures 1 to 5, and Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the coupler as in Figure 4 showing, in broken outlines, part of a received implement down into which the docking features of the coupler nest, . and showing as broken lines from above part of the distal region of the arm of a vehicle that nests into the coupler from above.

In a preferred form in accordance with the present invention the assembly is as shown in the accompanying drawings and has the hydraulic actuated slide and associated articulating retention feature for one of the docks as disclosed in the aforementioned PCT/NZ2007/000320 the full content of which is here included by way of reference.

Shown in exploded drawing 6 are two identical or mirror imaged members 1 and 2 each insertable from within into the openings 3 and 4 respectively of the main body 5 of the assembly. The journals or bores 6 and 7 (whether machined or moulded) of the inserts 1 and 2 respectively have the capability of being received as in Figure 4 to define a pinning axis A for a pin 8 for the implement 9 or an axis Al fat the implement 9 (depending on what the spacing is for the atrn end of the implement i.e. in the embodiment shown the spacing can be the spacing A to B or Al to B). Preferably the inserts 6 and 7 are fittable from within in one of only two conditions and of course they are fitted in an aligned condition to receive a pin. Preferably the region 10 of each insert is adapted to easily press fit into its corresponding opening (eg, 4) so as to be retained therein sufficiently to allow the pinning of the arm to the assembly as shown in Figure 7. Thereafter with the pin spacing adopted and the coupler being fitted to the arm, it can then engage the pins (preferably fixed), first 11 and then 12, of an implement 13. The retention member 14 holds the pin 11 in the dock defined in part by the nosing tongue 15 which preferably extends as shown in the drawings.

As a feature of the present invention such a nosing tongue allows manipulation of the pin 11 of an implement 13 (eg, a bucket) prior to receipt of the pin 12 in the second dock and prior to the retention member 14 being lowered. For the sake of completeness a first dock as defined as C and a second dock as D (See Figure 4). All main components of the preferred form of the present invention are formed from steel although parts of an optional 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.

It is believed that a coupler assembly in accordance with the present invention, (a) with its arm engagement versatility, (b) with its nosing tongue and (c) with its preferred 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 hitching and de-hitching of a suitably positioned implement.

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 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.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A coupler assembly mountable to distal region(s) of the arm or boom ("arm") of a vehicle (eg, an excavator) and adapted to engage an implement where the coupler assembly is the interface of that implement with the arm, . wherein the coupler assembly is mountable to such a said arm by two pins on parallel axes,

"A" and "B", and wherein inserts positionable in different ways in a member of said assembly can define, as a variation of axis "A", an axis "Al".

2. An assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said inserts is in the form of a flange member able to be received into said member in one or other of two conditions, one for each side of the coupler assembly, so as to define an axis "A" or the axis "Al".

3. An assembly of claim 2 wherein there is some taper fit of such inserts in said member.

4. An assembly of claim 3 wherein the arm end, once pinned to said coupler assembly, prevents removal or dislocation of the inserts.

5. An assembly of any one of the preceding claims substantially as herein described with or without reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

6. A coupler assembly mountable to distal region(s) of the arm or boom ("arm") of a vehicle (eg, an excavator) and adapted to engage an implement where the coupler assembly is the interface of that implement with the arm, wherein the coupler assembly is mountable to such a said arm by two pins on parallel axes, and wherein at least one insert forming part of the coupler assembly defines one such axis of the assembly.

7. An assembly of claim 6 wherein said at least one insert is a pair of inserts, each of which is receivable in the assembly in at least two ways, one way defining a first axis, and the second way defining a second axis, such variation of insert receipt by the remainder of the assembly differently spacing that particular axis (first or second or "A" or "Al") from the other pin receiving parallel axis ("B") into which the distal end region of an arm is to be received.

8. An assembly of claim 7 wherein said inserts are in the form of a journalled boss or other journalled or pin receiving member received from within the body of the coupler assembly and unable to pass through the body assembly once received if held from movement back inwardly of the body.

9. An assembly of claim 8 wherein, in use, a received end of a said aim prevents any sμch inward movement.

10. An implement coupler assembly able to attach to a complementary implement and itself for attachment to a vehicle arm by a pair of pins, each pinning on a pinnable axis, wherein the coupler body of the assembly defines a first pinnable axis but at least one insert of the coupler body defines the second pinnable axis.

11. An assembly of an arm of a vehicle and a coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims.

12. An assembly of claim 11 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. The use of a coupler assembly of any one of claims 1 to 10 with a vehicle or vehicle arm and/ or implement.