Patent ID: 8602676
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: E02F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A compact quick coupling apparatus for coupling a tool to a tool arm of a tool manipulating machine, the apparatus comprising: a coupler member adapted to be attached to the tool arm, and configured to engage a mounting bracket extending out from the tool; a wedge mounted on the coupler member and movable, when the coupler member and mounting bracket are engaged, from a closed position where the wedge is engaged in a groove on the mounting bracket and where a tapered side of the wedge bears against a corresponding tapered side of the groove to draw the coupler member into engagement with the mounting bracket, to an open position where the wedge is removed from the groove; wherein the wedge moves in an opening direction when moving from the closed position to the open position, and moves in a closing direction when moving from the open position to the closed position; a wedge bias element extending in the opening direction from the wedge, the wedge bias element operative to continuously exert a wedge bias force on the wedge in the closing direction to push the wedge into the groove, and operative to exert the wedge bias force on the wedge when the wedge is in the closed position such that the wedge bias force maintains the wedge in the closed position; a safety latch, and a latch bias element operative to exert a latch bias force urging the safety latch to a latched position, the safety latch configured such that when the wedge moves into the groove and reaches the closed position, the safety latch can move from an unlatched position to the latched position to prevent the wedge from moving positioning the opening direction; a single acting hydraulic cylinder extending through an aperture in the wedge and extending in the opening direction from the wedge, the hydraulic cylinder configured such that when pressurized fluid is directed into the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder extends and the hydraulic cylinder moves through the aperture in the wedge and first contacts the safety latch and exerts a force moving the safety latch to the unlatched position, and when the safety latch is in the unlatched position, further extension of the hydraulic cylinder causes the hydraulic cylinder to exert a force on the wedge in the opening direction substantially opposite to the wedge bias force to move the wedge along the hydraulic cylinder toward the open position; wherein the wedge bias element comprises a coil spring extending in the opening direction from the wedge and wherein the single acting hydraulic cylinder extends in the opening direction from the wedge inside the coil spring; the single acting hydraulic cylinder configured such that when pressurized fluid is released from the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder retracts and the wedge moves in the closing direction and into the groove in response to the wedge bias force until the wedge reaches the closed position, and then the hydraulic cylinder further retracts in response to the latch bias force and the safety latch moves to the latched position; and a remotely operated control operative to selectively direct pressurized fluid into the hydraulic cylinder and release pressurized fluid from the hydraulic cylinder.