NZ587822A - Coupler for earth moving or materials handling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupler for coupling an implement to an earth moving or materials handling machine comprises a coupler with a first recess 26 configured to engage with a first pin 63 of an implement and a second recess 27 configured to engage with a second pin 62 of the implement, an extendable locking piece 51 for locking the second pin 62 of the implement, and a hydraulic cylinder with a cylinder body 52 and a shaft 61 for extending or retracting the locking piece 51. The cylinder body 52 is integrally formed with the locking piece 51, and the distal end of the shaft 61 is connected to the coupler body such that the cylinder body 52 moves with the locking piece 51 when the locking piece 51 is extended or retracted. (62) Divided Out of 566528

Description

06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 04/22 58 7 8 22 *10059229330* Our Ref: WED064NZ Patents Form No. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 Divisional Application out of NZ566528 dated 7 March 2008 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION COUPLER FOR EARTH MOVING OR MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINE We, Wedgelock Equipment Limited, a New Zealand company of 72 Montgomery Crescent, Lower Hutt, 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: 1 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ. - 6 SEP 2010 RECEIVED 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 05/22 The invention relates to couplers for connecting buckets and other implements to earth moving or materials handling machines.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Buckets and other implements for earth moving or materials handling machines such as excavators may be formed with a pair of parallel pins for engaging with the arm of the machine. Quick couplers are sometimes used which couple to the parallel pins and also 10 to the arm of the machine.

Quick couplers are thus attached to the machine's arm and allow implements to be easily attached or removed. A quick coupler allows an operator of a machine to attach and remove implements without moving from the cab or operating position of the 15 machine.

In general, couplers include a pair of parallel pins for coupling to the machine's arm. A pair of recesses are formed in the coupler body and are configured to receive the parallel pins of the implement.. One or more locking mechanisms lock the received pins 20 into one or both of the recesses.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved coupler or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first broad aspect the invention provides a coupler for coupling an implement to an earth moving or materials handling machine, including: a coupler body; a first recess formed in the coupler body and configured to engage with a first pin of an implement; a second recess formed in the coupler body and configured to engage with a second pin of an implement; 2 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 06/22 a locking member configured to extend to lock a second pin of an implement into the second recess and to retract to allow movement of a second pin of an implement into or out of the second recess; and a hydraulic cylinder body and shaft for extending or retracting the locking member, 5 wherein the hydraulic cylinder body is formed integrally with the locking member.

Preferably the shaft is connected at its distal end from the cylinder body to the coupler body.

Preferably the first pin is a front pin, the first recess is a front recess, the second pin is a rear pin and the second recess is a rear recess.

Preferably the rear and front recesses are positioned and dimensioned to engage with front and rear pins of implements over a range of front and rear pin diameters and/or 15 spacings.

Preferably the pin spacing is in the range 100 mm to 400mm Preferably the pin diameter is in the range 30mm to 60 mm.

Preferably the coupler is configured for attachment to an earth moving or materials handling machine having a weight less than 7500 kg, more preferably in the range 700 to 7500kg.

Preferably the cylinder body and locking member are cast as a single piece. Preferably the cylinder body and locking member are investment cast.

Preferably the coupler body is formed as a single piece. Preferably the coupler body is cast as a single piece.

Preferably the coupler includes a second locking member for locking a front pin of an implement into the front recess.

Preferably the coupler is a quick coupler. 3 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 07/22 Preferably the machine is an excavator.

In this specification, the term "hydraulic cylinder body" means the body in which the 5 piston rides.

Earth moving or materials handling machines can be adapted for and/or used in various applications including construction, earthworks, demolition, forestry, drainage, quarrying, mining etc. The term "earth moving or materials handling machine" includes machines 10 used in these and other applications, in particular, earth moving and materials handling machines include excavators and telehandlers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 5 are perspective views from different angles of a coupler according to one embodiment.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the coupler of Figures 1 to 5; Figure 7 is a cross-section through the coupler of Figures 1 to 5; Figure 8 is a second cross-section through the coupler of Figures 1 to 5; Figure 9 is a side view of a coupler: and Figure 10 is an end view of a coupler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figures 1 to 5 are perspective views of one embodiment of coupler 20, more specifically 30 a quick coupler. The coupler 20 includes an upper section 21 configured to attach to an earth moving or materials handling machine, for example to the arm of an excavator.

As shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the upper section 21 includes a pair of pins 23, 24 for attachment to an earth moving or materials handling machine. The diameter 4 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 08/22 and centre to centre spacing of the pins 23, 24 may be designed to suit any particular earth moving or materials handling machine.

The coupler 20 also includes a lower section 25 configured to attach to an implement.

Suitable implements include buckets, tilt buckets, rippers, ploughs, rakes, spades, rollers or any other implements for attachment to earth moving or materials handling machines. Each implement includes a first, front pin and a second, rear pin. The diameter of the pins and spacing between the pins varies across different makes of implement. Figure 10 12 shows the top section of an implement A, including a front pin P-i and a rear pin P2.

The lower section 25 includes a first, front recess 26 which is configured to receive an implement's front pin. The front recess 26 may include a suitable locking mechanism 26A (Figure 5). For example, a locking mechanism such as disclosed in Wedgelock 15 Equipment Limited's NZ App. No. 546893 / 552294 may be used.

The lower section 25 also includes a second, rear recess 27 which is configured to receive an implement's rear pin. A locking mechanism (described below) locks the rear pin into this rear recess, such that the shape of the front recess 26 together with the 20 locked rear pin securely attach the implement to the coupler 20.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the coupler 20. The coupler 20 includes a coupler body 30 which may be formed as a single integral piece. The coupler body may be cast by any suitable casting process, including: sand casting or investment casting. Some 25 machining of the coupler body following casting may be required, such as boring and threading of holes etc.

The pins 23, 24 pass through bores 31, 32, 33, 34 formed in the coupler body 30. Each pin 23, 24 may be formed with a flange 35 which can be secured to the coupler body 30 using fasteners 36 which engage with holes 37 in the coupler body 30. This both secures the pins 23, 24 in position and prevents rotation of the pins 23, 24 relative to the coupler body 30. 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 09/22 Figure 6 also shows one embodiment of locking mechanism 26A for locking an implement's front pin into the front recess 26. This mechanism is described in detail in NZ App. No. 546893 / 552294 and will be described only briefly below.

The locking mechanism 26A includes a locking member 40 which rotates about an axle 41 located in a bore 42 in the coupler body 30. The axle 41 is kept in position by retaining rings 43.

A coil spring 44 biases the locking member 40 into a locked position. A linear actuator 10 45 {such as a hydraulic ram) moves the locking member 40 into an unlocked position when required.

The locking mechanism 26A shown differs slightly from that disclosed in NZ App. No. 546893/552294. In NZ App. No. 546893/552294 the hydraulic ram drives a lug (marked 15 30 in NZ App. No. 546893/552294) which is fixed to the locking member. For reduced size and number of parts and for simplicity, in the coupler of Figure 6 the linear actuator 45 drives the locking member 40 directly, via the engagement portion 46 of the locking member 40.

A second locking mechanism 50 is configured to lock an implement's rear pin into the rear recess 27 of the coupler body 30.

This locking mechanism 50 includes a locking member 51 which may be wedge shaped, as shown. The locking member 51 is preferably formed integrally with a hydraulic 25 cylinder body 52. That is, the locking member and the hydraulic cylinder body may be formed as a single piece. The locking member 51 and hydraulic cylinder body 52 may be formed by any suitable casting process, such as investment casting.

Investment casting provides a high quality and accurate finish, making it particularly 30 suitable for forming the bore of the hydraulic cylinder body 52.

The locking mechanism 50 thus extends from the hydraulic cylinder body 52. 6 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 10/22 A shaft is connected to a piston within the hydraulic cylinder body and the head 53 of the shaft may be shaped to reside within a slot 54 in the coupler body 30, as is clear from Figures 3 to 5. Thus the shaft of the hydraulic cylinder is fixed with respect to the coupler body 30 while the integral cylinder body 52 and locking member 51 slides with 5 respect to the shaft and the coupler body to lock an implement's rear pin into the rear recess 27.

The integral cylinder body 52 and locking member 51 is connected to the coupler body by attachment arrangement 55, which includes a cover plate 56 configured for 10 attachment to the coupler body 30 using a number of fasteners 57.

The attachment arrangement 55 may also include a contact plate 58 which sits in a recess (not visible in Figure 6 but shown in Figure 7) on the underside of the cover plate 56. The contact plate 58 may be formed from a suitable material (such as 15 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) to reduce friction between the sliding cylinder body 52 and locking member 51 and the stationary contact plate 58 and cover plate 56.

PTFE strips may also be provided between the lower surface 59 of the integral cylinder body 52 and locking member 51 and the coupler body 30, again in order to reduce 20 friction.

The cylinder body 52 is formed with a pair of hydraulic ports 60 for feeding hydraulic fluid into or out of the cylinder, in a manner that will be easily understood by the skilled reader.

Figure 7 is a cross-section through the coupler 20. This view shows the integral cylinder body 52 and locking member 51 in a retracted position. In this position, an implement's rear pin is able to move freely into or out of the rear recess 27.

This cross-section also clearly shows the positions of the cover plate 56 and contact plate 58 with respect to the cylinder body 52. in the position shown in Figure 7, the coupler mounted on an earth moving or materials handling machine can be manipulated such that the front recess 26 engages with an 7 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 11/22 implement's front pin. The locking mechanism 26A (Figure 6) may be such that the locking member freely allows the pin to enter the recess, rotating up into the body of the coupler 20 before returning the locking member 40 to the protruding position shown. Thus, motion of the pin into the front recess is allowed, but motion out of the recess is 5 prevented by the locking member 40.

The coupler may then be manipulated such that the rear recess 27 engages with the implement's rear pin. When the pin is correctly positioned, a hydraulic actuator drives movement of the hydraulic cylinder body 52 with respect to the hydraulic shaft & piston 10 assembly 61, from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 8.

In Figure 8 the locking member 51 and cylinder body 52 have extended, such that the locking member 51 extends into the rear recess 27 and locks the rear pin 62 of an implement into the rear recess. Figure 8 also shows the position of the front pin 63 of 15 the implement in the front recess 26.

Figures 9 and 10 show one particular embodiment, in which the coupler is suitable for use with mini earth moving or materials handling machines. Mini earth moving or materials handling machines have a weight in the range 700 to 7500kg. The 20 dimensional data given below is given solely for the purpose of describing one embodiment of the invention and is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of protection sought. this coupler may have a length L (Figure 9) of around 524mm. The coupler may be 25 configured to couple to implements having minimum and maximum pin spacings of 180 and 220 mm respectively. The minimum and maximum pin spacings for a particular configuration are indicated by the dimensions S and S' in Figure 9.

The coupler may be configured to couple to a range of pin sizes. In particular, the 30 implement's pins 62, 63 as an example may be between 35mm and 40mm in diameter.

Alternative configurations could accommodate other combinations of pin diameters such as 40mm and 45mm etc. 8 06/09/2010 18:27 6445893720 PV LAW PAGE 12/22 The height H between the front pin 23 connecting the coupler to an earth moving or materials handling machine and the centre of the front recess 26 may be around 170 mm. The front recess 26 may be offset by a distance 0 behind the front pin 23. The distance O may be around 140mm.

As shown in Figure 10, the coupler may have a width W at the top of the coupler around 210 mm. The width W' between the inside walls of the coupler may be between 122 and 147 mm. The overall height H' of the coupler may be around 308 mm. The width W" at the bottom of the coupler may be around 121 mm.

In general, dimensions of couplers may vary depending on the size or type of earth moving or materials handling machine for which the coupler is designed.

The coupler body may be formed as a single piece. This eliminates many machining 15 steps, making the coupler simpler and less costly to produce.

The coupler is configured to couple to a range of implements from different suppliers. These implements will have different pin diameters and pin spacings, but the coupler allows a range of implements to be used with a single coupler. For example, the coupler 20 may accommodate pin spacings in the range 100 to 400mm and pin diameters in the range 30 to 60 mm.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention 25 of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the invention to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit 30 or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept. 9 Received at IPONZ on 4 October 2010

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A coupler for coupling an implement to an earth moving or materials handling machine, including: a coupler body; a first recess formed in the coupler body and configured to, in use, engage with a first pin of an implement; a second recess formed in the coupler body and configured to, in use, engage with a second pin of the said implement; a locking member extendible to, in use, lock the said second pin of the said implement into the second recess and retractable to, in use, allow movement of the said second pin of the said implement into or out of the second recess; and a hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder body and a shaft for extending or retracting the locking member, characterised in that the cylinder body is formed integrally with the locking member and the shaft is connected at its end distal to the coupler body, such that the cylinder body moves with the locking member when the locking member is extended or retracted.

2. A coupler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first pin is a front pin, the first recess is a front recess, the second pin is a rear pin and the second recess is a rear recess.

3. A coupler as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first and second recesses are configured and arranged to be engageable with, respectively, a first and second pin of an implement over a range of first and second pin diameters and/or pin spacings.

4. A coupler as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pin spacing is in the range 100 mm to 400mm.

5. A coupler as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the pin diameter is in the range 30mm to 60 mm.

6. A coupler as claimed in claim 1 configured for attachment to an earth moving or materials handling machine having a weight in the range 700 to 7500kg.

7. A coupler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylinder body and locking member are cast as a single piece. 10 Received at IPONZ on 4 October 2010

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14. A coupler as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cylinder body and locking member are investment cast. A coupler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coupler body is formed as a single piece, A coupler as claimed in claim 9 wherein the coupler body is cast as a single piece. A coupler as claimed in claim 1 further including a locking member for locking a said first pin of a said implement into the first recess. A coupler as claimed in claim 11 being a quick coupler. A coupler as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described. A coupler for coupling an implement to an earth moving or materials handling machine, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings. WEDGELOCK EQUIPMENT LIMITED By Their Attorneys PETER VERBOEKET LAW 11