U.S. patent application number 12/121570 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-19 for coupler for excavating machines and the like.
Invention is credited to Edwin PRUSZYNSKI.
Application Number | 20090282712 12/121570 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41314772 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090282712 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PRUSZYNSKI; Edwin |
November 19, 2009 |
COUPLER FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE
Abstract
A coupler mountable on the dipper stick and tilt assembly of a
machine including a body provided with a fixed jaw and a pivotal
jaw connectable to the mounting pins of an implement; a stop latch
pivotally connected to the body, biased in a first position
obstructing the removal of a mounting pin disposed in the fixed
jaw; a latch cain pivotally connected to the body engageable with
the stop latch for pivoting the stop latch upon pivoting the latch
cam; a fluid actuated cylinder assembly operative interconnecting
the latch cam and the pivotal jaw; and means of cooperable with the
cylinder assembly and the latch cam, functional to preclude pivotal
movement of the latch cam when the body is disposed in a first
orientation, and to permit pivotal movement of the latch cam when
the body is disposed in a second orientation.
Inventors: |
PRUSZYNSKI; Edwin; (Bedford,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Novak Druce & Quigg LLP
1300 I Street NW, Suite 1000 West Tower
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
41314772 |
Appl. No.: |
12/121570 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/468 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 3/3622 20130101;
E02F 3/3618 20130101; E02F 3/365 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
37/468 |
International
Class: |
E02F 9/00 20060101
E02F009/00 |
Claims
1. A coupler mountable on a dipper stick and tilt assembly of a
machine, and detachably connectable to an implement having a pair
of spaced, substantially parallel mounting pins, comprising: a body
having means for pivotally connecting said body to said dipper
stick, means for pivotally connecting said body to said tilt
assembly wherein upon operation of said tilt assembly said body
will be caused to pivot about said dipper stick, a fixed jaw
portion having an opening for receiving one mounting pin of said
implement and a pivotally connected jaw member having an opening
for receiving the other of said mounting pins; a stop latch
pivotally connected to said body, having a first arm section biased
in a first position obstructing said opening in said fixed jaw; a
latch cam pivotally connected to said body having a first arm
section engageable with an arm section of said stop latch for
pivoting said stop latch upon pivoting said latch cam; a fluid
actuated cylinder assembly having one of the cylinder and rod
members thereof pivotally connected to a second arm section of said
latch cam and the other of said cylinder and rod members pivotally
connected to said pivotal jaw for pivotal movement of said pivotal
jaw upon displacements of said cylinder assembly; and means
cooperable with said cylinder assembly and said latch cam,
functional to preclude pivotal movement of said latch cam when said
body is disposed in a first orientation, and to permit pivotal
movement of said latch cam when said body is disposed in a second
orientation.
2. A coupler according to claim 1 wherein said first orientation of
said body is upright and said second orientation of said body is
inverted.
3. A coupler according to claim 2 wherein said cooperable means is
actuated by the force of gravity when said body is in at least one
of said positions.
4. A coupler according to claim 1 wherein said cooperable means is
pivotally mounted on said one of said cylinder and rod members.
5. A coupler according to claim 4 wherein said first orientation of
said body is upright and said second orientation of said body is
inverted.
6. A coupler according to claim 5 wherein said cooperable means is
pivoted by the force of gravity when said body is in at least one
of said positions.
7. A coupler according to claim 1 wherein said cooperable means
comprises a lock latch pivotally mounted on said cylinder
member.
8. A coupler according to claim 7 wherein said lock latch includes
an arm section disposable in obstructing relation to an arm section
of said latch cam when said body is disposed in said first
orientation and in nonobstructing relation to said last mentioned
arm section of said latch cam when said body is disposed in said
second orientation.
9. A coupler according to claim 8 wherein said first orientation of
said body is upright and said second orientation of said body is
inverted.
10. A coupler according to claim 9 wherein said lock latch is
pivoted by the force of gravity when said body is pivoted between
said first and second positions.
11. A coupler according to claim 10 wherein the pivotal movement of
said lock latch is restricted to a selected angle.
12. A coupler according to claim 11 wherein the degree and
orientation of said angle relative to a line passing through the
pivotal connection of said lock latch to said cylinder member is
such that under the force of gravity said lock latch will pivot
under the force of gravity out of obstructing relation with said
latch cam when said body is moved between said first and second
positions and into obstructing relation when said body is moved
between said second and first positions.
13. A coupler according to claim 1 wherein said coupler is movable
between said first and second positions when connected to said
dipper stick and tilt assembly and said tilt assembly is operated
to curl and uncurl said coupler.
14. A coupler according to claim 1 wherein said stop latch is
provided with an L-shaped configuration.
15. A coupler according to claim 7 wherein said latch cam includes
a second arm member pivotally connected to said cylinder member and
wherein said lock latch is disposable in a first position when said
body is in said first orientation, obstructing the pivotal movement
of said latch cam about the pivotal connection thereof with said
body, and in a second position when said body is in said second
orientation not obstructing the pivotal movement of said latch cam
about the pivotal connection thereof with said body.
16. A coupler according to claim 15 wherein said latch cam is
pivotally connected to said cylinder member by means of a shaft
extending through registered opening therein.
17. A coupler according to claim 16 wherein the last mentioned
opening in said latch cam is elongated.
18. A coupler according to claim 17 wherein said elongated opening
is open at one end providing said second arm section of said latch
cam with a fork-shaped configuration.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a coupler and more particularly to
a coupler mountable on the dipper stick of an earth working machine
such as an excavator machine, for detachably mounting various
implements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the prior art, there has been developed a type of coupler
that is adapted to be mounted on the dipper stick of an earth
working machine, which is used to detachably connect various
implements such as buckets, grapples, rakes and the like. Such
couplers typically consist of a body mountable on the dipper stick
and tilt assembly of a machine, and include a pair of jaws
engageable with a pair of mounting pills provided on an implement
to be connected to the machine. At least one of such jaws is
pivotally mounted on the coupler to permit the coupler to be
manipulated relative to the implement and connected thereto by
means of the jaws engaging the mounting pins. Normally, one or both
of such jaws is pivoted into and out of engagement with one or both
mounting pins of an implement by means of a fluid actuated cylinder
assembly.
[0003] In the use of the type of coupler described, utilizing a
cylinder assembly for pivoting one or both of the connecting jaws,
there is always the possibility through equipment malfunction or
operator error for a cylinder assembly intended to maintain a
movable jaw into engagement with a mounting pin of an implement, to
lose pressure or otherwise be operated and thus be caused to
disconnect from the dipper stick and possibly fall or otherwise
displace, possibly causing injury to personnel and/or damage to
property. Because of such a possibility, it is the principal object
of the present invention to provide a coupler of the general type
described, which is not prone to disconnect upon equipment
malfunction or operator error, and which can be disconnected only
upon certain intended action on the part of the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The principal object of the present invention is achieved by
means of a coupler mountable on a dipper stick and tilt assembly of
a machine, and detachably connectable to an implement having a pair
of spaced, substantially parallel mounting pins, generally
consisting of a body having means for pivotally connecting the body
to a dipper stick, means for pivotally connecting the body to the
tilt assembly wherein upon operation of the tilt assembly the body
will be caused to pivot about the dipper stick, a fixed jaw having
an opening for receiving a mounting pin of the implement and a
pivotally connected jaw having an opening or receiving the other of
the mounting pins; a stop latch pivotally connected to the body,
having a first arm section biased in a first position obstructing
the opening in the fixed jaw; a latch cam pivotally connected to
the body having a first arm section engageable with an arm section
of the stop latch for pivoting the stop latch upon pivoting the
latch cam; a fluid actuated cylinder assembly having one of the
cylinder and rod members thereof pivotally connected to a second
arm section of the latch cam and the other of the cylinder and rod
members pivotally connected to the pivotal jaw for pivotal movement
of the pivotal jaw upon displacement of the cylinder assembly; and
means cooperable with the cylinder assembly and the latch cam,
functional to preclude pivotal movement of the latch cam when the
body is disposed in a first orientation, and to permit pivotal
movement of the latch cam when the body is disposed in a second
orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the
invention, disposed in an upright orientation, having a portion
thereof broken away;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of tile embodiment shown
in FIG. 1, disposed in an inverted orientation;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of
the invention, disposed in an upright orientation, having a portion
thereof broken away; and
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4, disposed in an inverted orientation, having a portion
thereof broken away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1 and, 2 of the drawings, there is
illustrated a coupler 12 adapted to be connected to the dipper
stick and tilting assembly of a machine such as an excavator
machine (not shown), and detachably connected to an implement (not
shown) having a pair of spaced, parallel mounting pins 13 and 14.
Coupler 12 includes of a pair of longitudinal disposed,
transversely spaced side plates 15 and 16 rigidly interconnected by
means of a number of members including plate 17 disposed at one end
thereof. The lower, rear ends of side plates 15 and 16 are formed
as fixed jaws 18, 18 with rearwardly facing openings 19, 19 which
are adapted to receive mounting pin 13 of the implement to be
detachably connected to the coupler. The upper front end portions
of side plates 15 and 16 are provided with a transversely extending
openings 20, 20. The upper rear end portions of side plates 15 and
16 are provided with transversely disposed openings 21, 21. The
front end of coupler 12 is adapted to be pivotally connected to a
dipper stick by means of a pin inserted through openings 20, 20 and
a similar opening in the dipper stick. Similarly, the rear end of
the coupler is adapted to be pivotally connected to a link of the
tilt assembly of the machine by means of a pin inserted through
openings 21, 21 in the side plates of the coupler and a registered
opening in the connecting link of the tilt assembly. The forward
ends of side plates 15 and 16 further are provided with a pair of
transversely aligned openings 22, 22 in which there is received a
pin 23. Pivotally connected to pin 23 between side plates 15 and 16
is a jaw 24 having a forwardly facing opening 25.
[0010] Provided on the rearward end of the coupler body is a stop
latch 30 consisting of a transversely disposed shaft section 31
journalled in aligned openings in the side walls provided with a
first pair of radially disposed, transversely spaced arm sections
32, 32 and a pair of radially disposed, transversely spaced arm
sections 33, 33 angularly displaced relative to arm sections 32, 32
with respect to the axis of shaft section 30. Interconnecting the
coupler body and stop latch 30, 30 is a spring which urges the stop
latch in the position as shown in FIG. 1 with arm sections 33, 33
disposed in the upper end of openings 19, 19 to preclude the
removal of a mounting pin 13 from openings 19, 19 from jaws 18, 18.
Mounted just ahead of stop latch 30 is a latch cam 40 consisting of
a shaft section 41 journalled in aligned openings in the side
walls, provided with a pair of radially disposed, transversely
spaced arm sections 42, 42 engageable with arm sections 32, 32 of
stop latch 30 and a pair of radially disposed transversely spaced
arm sections 43, 43 angularly spaced relative to arm sections 42,
42 relative to the axis of shaft section 41. Each of arm sections
43, 43 is provided with a radially disposed slot 44.
[0011] Disposed between side plates 15 and 16 of the coupler body
and extending substantially longitudinally therein is a fluid
actuated cylinder assembly 50 consisting of a cylinder member 51
and an extendable rod member 52. The base of cylinder member 51 is
provided with a transversely disposed pin 53 having transversely
spaced portions thereof received in recesses 44, 44 of latch cams
40, 40. Rod member 52 is connected to a transversely disposed shaft
54 which is pivotally connected at its ends to pivotal jaws 24, 24
to permit the jaws to pivot as rod member 52 is extended and
retracted in the conventional manner.
[0012] Provided on opposite sides of cylinder member 51 and aligned
transversely is a pair of stub shafts 60, 60. Pivotally connected
on each of shafts 60, 60 is a gravity latch 61 extending towards
the base end of the cylinder member and having a notched portion 62
engaging shaft section 43. Gravity latches 61, 61 are
interconnected by means of a transversely disposed member 63.
[0013] When the components of the coupler are positioned as shown
in FIG. 1 with mounting pins 13 and 14 disposed in the openings of
the fixed and pivotal jaws, the implement of mounting pins 13 and
14 will be firmly connected to the couplers permitting the coupler
with the attached implement to be curled and uncurled by operation
of the tilt assembly of the machine in the conventional manner. In
the event of a retraction of rod member 52 by reason of a loss of
pressure due to equipment malfunction or inadvertent operation of
the operator, the rod member will retract, pivoting the pivotal jaw
to an open position to release mounting pin 14 but due to the
positioning of gravity latches 61, 61 in contact with shaft 62,
latch cam 40 will be prevented from pivoting to permit stop latch
30 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction relative to FIG. 1 to
remove arm sections 33, 33 from openings 19, 19 thus permitting
mounting pin 13 to be removed from such openings. Under such
circumstances, the coupler will remain attached to the implement by
virtue mounting pin 13 remaining in openings 19, 19 of fix jaws 18,
18.
[0014] With the implement being connected to the coupler by reason
of mounting pin 13 being disposed in the fixed jaws and prevented
from being removed therefrom by stop latch 30, the implement may be
detached from the coupler by operating the tilt cylinder assembly
to curl the coupler with the attached implement to an inverted
position as shown in FIG. 2, allowing gravity latch to pivot under
the force of gravity to the position as shown in FIG. 2, and then
applying pressure to the rod end of the cylinder to retract the
cylinder. As the cylinder retracts and the movable jaws reach their
rearward most positions, shaft 53 will cause latch cam 40 to pivot
in a clockwise direction relative to FIG. 2 to correspondingly
permit stop latch 30 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction,
causing arm sections 33, 33 to be removed from openings 19, 19.
Under such conditions mounting pin 13 may be freed of the coupler
by manipulation of dipper stick and tilt assembly.
[0015] When it is desired to reconnect the implement or connect
another implement having similar mounting pins, and the coupler is
in the position as shown in FIG. 2, the tilt assembly is operated
to pivot the coupler from the inverted position as shown in FIG. 2
to the upright position as shown in FIG. 1. As the coupler is thus
pivoted about the axis of connecting pin, gravity latches 61, 61
will pivot under the force of gravity from the position shown in
FIG. 2 to the position as shown in FIG. 1. Under such conditions,
stop latch 30 will be permitted to pivot in a counterclockwise
direction against the biasing force imposed thereon but not in a
clockwise direction due to the obstruction provided by latch cam
40. With the coupler thus configured, the dipper stick and tilt
assembly of the machine may be operated to cause mounting pin 13 to
trip stop latch 30 and be received in openings 19, 19 openings 25,
25 of pivotal jaws 24, 24 to be aligned with mounting pin 14 and
rod member 52 be extended to receive mounting pin 14 in the
openings of the pivotal jaws as shown in FIG. 1. Under such
conditions, the implement will be firmly connected to coupler
12.
[0016] The pivotal movement of latch cam 40 in a counterclockwise
direction with respect to FIG. 1 is precluded by a stop 70 secured
to coupler side walls 15 and 16. As best seen in FIG. 2, the
angular displacement of gravity latch 61 is limited by engagement
of member 63 with a stop 71 also connected at its ends to coupler
side walls 15 and 16. The dispositions and configurations of the
various components including cylinder assembly 50, latch cam 40 and
stop 71 are arranged so that when the coupler is in the upright
orientation as shown in FIG. 1, gravity latch 61 will be in a
position as shown in FIG. 1 engaging shaft 62 and preventing the
movement of cylinder member 51 and when the coupler is in the
inverted position as shown in FIG. 2, gravity latch 62 will be in
the position as shown in FIG. 2 out of engagement with shaft 53,
allowing the cylinder member to displace, and when the coupler is
pivoted from the position as shown in FIG. 2 back to the upright
position as shown in FIG. 1, the gravity latch will again engage
shaft 53 to preclude the displacement of cylinder member 51.
Typically, the coupler body and gravity latch 61 will be configured
to restrict the pivotal displacement of the gravity latch within an
angle of about 20.degree..
[0017] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar in
construction and operation to the construction and operation of the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The notable difference is in the
configuration of latch cam 40a. In lieu of providing a recess which
is adapted to receive a stud shaft mounted on the base end of the
cylinder member latch earn 40a is pivotally mounted on a shaft 41a
and further pivotally connected to a stub 53a mounted on the base
end of the cylinder member. Pivotal movement of latch cam 40a in a
counterclockwise direction with respect to FIG. 3 is precluded by a
stop 70a. The configuration of gravity latch 61 a also differs
slightly from the configuration of gravity latch 61 in that the
portion of such latch engaging latch cam 40a does not include a
recessed portion as at 62 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In all
respects, however, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 operates
in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Gravity latch 61a is positioned relative to the transverse axis of
stub shafts 62a to preclude the pivotal movement of latch cam 40a
in a clockwise direction relative to FIG. 3 when the gravity latch
is in the position as shown in such Figure.
[0018] The embodiments of the invention as described not only
provide a coupler that may be used to readily attach and detach
various implements in performing various earth working operations
but provides a component of comparatively simple design which is
reliably effective in precluding a unintentional detachment of an
implement from the coupler as a result of equipment malfunction or
operator error.
[0019] From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident
that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications
of the present invention, which come within the province of those
persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the
aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all
such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be
considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the
appended claims.
* * * * *