Abstract:
Quick fastener system for fixing a tool at the end of a loading arm. The system includes a first part coupled to the loading arm. The first part includes a cradle and a first aperture. A second part is arranged on the tool. The second part includes an element having a hook-shaped extension and a shaft which is adapted to be engaged by the cradle. A locking member is adapted to engage the hook-shaped extension. The tool is movable by the loading arm when the cradle engages the shaft and when the locking member engages the hook-shaped extension.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/FR99/02560, filed Oct. 21, 1999. Further, the present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application Nos. 98/14185 filed on Nov. 12, 1998 and 99/12671 filed on Oct. 12, 1999. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a quick fastener and/or a quick fastener system for fixing a tool, such as a bucket, at the end a loading arm, or the like. 
     In a known fashion, the quick fastener comprises two distinct portions, one of which is affixed to an arm and will be referred to as the catching member, whereas the other, which can cooperate with one arm, is the result of a modification of the tool or is constituted by an element affixed to the tool, and called hereinafter the “adapter.” 
     2. Discussion of Background Information 
     The state of the art can be illustrated by a fastener, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,741, whose catching member has hooks forming a cradle that is capable of catching a shaft borne by an adapter. By rotating the aforementioned member, bearings borne by the member and bearings provided on the tool are positioned so as to coincide, the affixing being obtained by axially engaging a shaft in the bearings. Such a device is not entirely satisfactory, because the operator of the apparatus is forced to step down from his machine. The coupling of the tool to the arm of the machine is therefore not automatic. 
     The device described in the French Patent No. 2641343 enables an automatic hooking. To this end, a longitudinally split sheath is used, which, under the action of springs, pivots and closes a cradle borne by the catching member by confining a shaft borne by the tool. In addition to the complexity of the mechanism, nothing is provided to eliminate the backlashes inherent in the various elements in contact. 
     The device described in the European Patent No. 438931 makes it possible to overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned devices. In particular, it is characterized by the use of rotary cams which are automatically retracted during the pivoting of the catching member and take support beneath a locking shaft borne by the tool. 
     This device is completely automatic and enables the elimination of backlashes. However, its cost is high due, in particular, to the time required to assemble the various parts constituting the catching member which comprises the aforementioned cams. Moreover, the cams comprise bores that must be machined, and the distance between the axis of the cradle of the cam carrying shaft and that of the locking shaft must be accurate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides for a quick fastener system for fixing a tool at the end of a loading arm. The system comprises a first part coupled to the loading arm. The first part comprises a cradle and a first aperture. A second part is arranged on the tool. The second part comprises an element having a hook-shaped extension and a shaft which is adapted to be engaged by the cradle. A locking member is adapted to engage the hook-shaped extension. The tool is movable by the loading arm when the cradle engages the shaft and when the locking member engages the hook-shaped extension. 
     The second part may be immobilized with respect to the first part when the cradle engages the shaft and when the locking member engages the hook-shaped extension. The locking member may comprise a plate. The first part may comprise a catching member which has substantially the shape of a bracket. The first aperture may be disposed in a median portion of the first part and the locking member may be disposed between the median portion and the hook-shaped extension. The second part may be one of fixed to the tool and integral with the tool. The locking member may be biased to engage the hook-shaped extension. The system may further comprise a guide mechanism for guiding the locking member, and the locking member may be constantly subject to a force that tends to move the locking member towards the shaft. 
     The system may further comprise a second aperture disposed in the locking member, wherein the second aperture is adapted to be substantially aligned with the first aperture when the tool is mounted to the loading arm. The system may further comprise a finger adapted to engage the locking member, and the finger may be one of movably mounted and pivotally mounted to the first part. 
     The finger may comprise a shoulder which is adapted to engage the locking member in order to maintain the locking member in an armed position. The finger may comprise an extended portion which is adapted to be engaged by an abutment disposed on the tool. The abutment may be disposed on the element and the abutment may engage the finger when the tool is pivoted towards a locked position. The first part may comprise an abutment which is adapted to engage the locking member. The abutment may be disposed on an upper surface of a median portion of the first part, and the abutment may maintain the locking member in an armed position against a force which acts to bias the locking member towards the hook-shaped extension. The locking member may also be biased towards the upper surface of the median portion. The element may comprise a shoulder which is adapted to engage the locking member. The element may further comprise a ramp which is adapted to engage an edge of the locking member so as to move the locking member away from the hook-shaped extension. 
     The locking member may be adapted to be moved away from the hook-shaped extension via an unlocking tool. The locking member may comprise two ears which each include a slit which is adapted to be engaged by at least one finger of the unlocking tool. The at least one finger of the unlocking tool may comprise an engaging pin which is adapted to engage the slit. 
     Each of the first part and the second part may comprise engaging surfaces which are adapted to immobilize the tool with respect to the first part. The engaging surfaces may be beveled. The element and the locking member may each comprise a corresponding tapered engaging surface. 
     The invention also provides for a quick fastener system for fixing a tool at the end of a loading arm. The system comprises a catching member pivotally connected to the loading arm and comprising a hook-shaped cradle. An element having a hook-shaped extension is mounted to the tool. A shaft which is adapted to be engaged by the cradle is mounted to the tool. A locking member is adapted to engage the hook-shaped extension. The loading arm is adapted to pivotally move the tool when the cradle engages the shaft and when the locking member engages the hook-shaped extension. 
     The invention also provides for a quick fastener system for fixing a tool at the end of a loading arm. The system comprises a first part movably mounted to the loading arm. The first part comprises a cradle, a biased movable locking member, and a mechanism for obstructing the movement of the locking member. A second part is coupled on the tool. The second part comprises an element having a hook-shaped extension and a shaft which is adapted to be engaged by the cradle. The tool is non-movably connected to the first part when the cradle engages the shaft and when the locking member engages the hook-shaped extension. 
     The present invention, which overcomes these disadvantages, comprises, in a known fashion, a catching member provided with a cradle capable of being mounted on a shaft, affixed to the tool, so that the latter can be lifted, and it is characterized in that the catching member, which has substantially the shape of a bracket, has on its median portion an aperture that can be crossed by an element having a hook-shaped extension and extending opposite said shaft of the tool, beneath which a locking plate borne by said member can be inserted, maintaining the latter applied against the tool. 
     The aforementioned shaft and abutment can be made integral with an adapter fixed on the tool by any usual means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, provided by way of examples only, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevated view of a quick fastener according to the invention applied to the fixing of a bucket at the end of the loading arm; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the catching member; 
     FIG. 3 is the top view of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the adapter; 
     FIG. 5 is the top view of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fastener of the invention, showing the first catching step, which is the lifting of the tool; 
     FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 6, which shows a subsequent catching step; 
     FIG. 8 is a view, on a larger scale and limited to the fastener, showing the catching member locked on the adapter; 
     FIG. 9 is a view, similar to that  8 , which shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, the tool being hooked; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial view, in vertical cross-section, showing a particular embodiment of the locking member; 
     FIG. 11 is the top view of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is an elevated view showing an embodiment of a tool that makes it possible to manually disconnect the bucket; 
     FIG. 13 is the top view of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 shows the use of the tool of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 15 is a partial view, in transverse cross-section, showing a mechanism which makes it possible to eliminate the backslashes between the two portions of the fastener; 
     FIG. 16 is a view, similar to that  6 , showing another embodiment; 
     FIG. 17 is a view, similar to that  8 , related to the embodiment of FIG.  16 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In a known fashion, the quick fastener comprises two portions  1  and  2 . A first portion  1 , which constitutes a catching member is journalled by a shaft  3  at the end of an arm  4  of a mechanical shovel. This mechanism can pivot about an axis of the shaft  3  by the conjugated action of two connecting rods  5  and  6  which are controlled by a piston rod  7  of a conventional jack. A second portion  2 , or adapter, is affixed to a tool  8  which may be a bucket, in the example shown. According to another embodiment, the mechanism constituting the adapter  2  can be made integral with the tool  8 . 
     In its simplest form, the adapter  2  is in the form of a bracket-shaped element, which is affixed by its median portion to a surface  8   a  of the tool  8 . Two arms of the bracket or adapter  2  are connected by a shaft  9 . The median portion also has an element  10  which extends beyond the sides  11 . The element  10  has an extension portion  12  which extends in a direction opposite the shaft  9 . 
     In a known fashion, the first portion or catching member  1  has a cradle  13  which forms a hook. This arrangement makes it possible to lift the tool  8 , when the shaft  9  rests in the cradle  13 , as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     According to one embodiment, the catching member  1  has substantially the shape of a bracket having side arms through which the shaft  3  extends. 
     A median portion  1   a  of the member  1  also has an aperture  14  through which the element  10  can extend during the pivoting and/or rotation of the member  1  about the axis of the shaft  3 . 
     In the example shown, the upper portion of the element  10  forms an abutment  15  capable, when it meets a pivoting finger  16 , of releasing a locking plate  17  which can slide on the median portion of the member  1  so as to be inserted beneath the extension  12 . 
     According to one embodiment, a plate  17  has an aperture  18  adapted to substantially coincide with aperture  14  when the plate  17  is in the “armed” position, i.e., in the position shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The plate  17  is constantly subject to the action of a force that tends to move it toward the cradle  13  to seal the aperture  14 . In the example shown, this force is materialized by two springs schematically designated by the reference numeral  19  (see FIG.  3 ). 
     A mechanism is provided to maintain the plate  17  in the armed position. 
     Thus, the plate  17  can be maintained in the armed position by the locking and/or pivoting finger  16 . As shown in the drawings, the finger  16  is journalled at one of its ends above the median portion  1  a, such that under the action of its weight, it tends to pivot toward the latter (i.e., clockwise in FIG. 2) and to be maintained in this position. As a precautionary measure, this action can be reinforced by utilizing a spring (not shown). 
     The finger  16  has a shouldered portion  20  against which an edge corresponding to the plate  17  is supported and/or engaged. Finger  16  also has an extension portion  21  that extends above the aperture  14 . 
     The operation of the hooking between the first portion  1  and the second portion  2  will now be explained. 
     By maneuvering the arm  4  and the piston rod  7 , the tool  8  is caught in the cradle  13  and lifted so as to bring it into the position shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Next, the member  1  is pivoted along the arrow F 1  by extending the piston rod  7 . During this movement, an abutment  15  meets the extension  21  of the finger  16  and pushes it back so as to release the plate  17  which, under the action of return springs, is caused to be inserted beneath the extension  12  (FIG.  8 ). As a result, portion  1   a  of the member  1  is supported, by its lower surface, against the sides  11  of the adapter  2 . 
     In the example shown, the extension  12  and the abutment  15  are integral with the element  10 , but these two functions could also be ensured by two distinct members. 
     The plate  17  is guided, as is schematically shown in the drawings, by the guides  22 . 
     The contact between the extension  12  and the locking plate  17  occurs via surfaces that are oblique with respect to the moving direction of the plate  17 . 
     As it appears from the drawings, the locking plate  17  is beveled at a right angle with its portion  23  which must be inserted beneath the extension  12 . According to one embodiment, this portion forms, together with the lower surface of the plate  17 , an angle on the order of 7°. In the same manner, the surface  12   a  (FIG. 8) of the extension  12 , which must be in contact with the portion  23 , forms an identical angle with the support surface of the adapter  2  materialized by the edges  11 . In this way, the catching member is strongly applied against the adapter  2  under the effect of the force developed by the springs  19 , which tends to cause the locking plate to penetrate beneath the extension  12 . 
     FIG. 9 shows an embodiment which makes it possible to eliminate the locking finger  16 . 
     Under the action of the force that tends to displace the plate  17 , the latter is applied against an abutment  24  and partially seals the aperture  14 . 
     The extension  12  has a ramp  25  at its end. During the rotation of the member  1 , the upper portion of the ramp  25  meets the edge  26  of the aperture  18  of the locking plate  17  and displaces the latter against the force to which the latter is subject, i.e., in the direction of the arrow F 2 . When the aforementioned rotation ceases, the end of the extension  12  is located above the aperture  18 , and the plate  17 , under the action of the force to which it is subject, is inserted beneath the extension. 
     The locking finger  16  can also be replaced by a hydraulic jack (not shown). 
     In certain cases, a manual unlocking may seem preferable, as will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10-14. 
     It is understood that to separate the tool  8 , the locking plate  17  must be displaced in the direction of the arrow F 2 . 
     To this end, the free end of the plate  17 , opposite the shaft  3 , has two ears  27  each having a slit  28  which opens toward the shaft  3 . This arrangement enables the use of a tool  29  (FIG. 12) comprising a handle  30  and, at one of its ends, two fingers  31  and  32 , finger  31  comprising two diametrically opposed pins  33 . 
     During the introduction of the pins into the slits  28 , the lower finger  32 , which is suitably sized, takes support against the edge of the median portion  1   a  of the member  1 . 
     Therefore, it is understood that by pivoting this handle  30  along the arrow F 3 , one drives the plate  17  which moves along the arrow F 2 . 
     The invention also provides a mechanism for opposing the generation of backlashes between the portions  1  and  2 , and to eliminate the same if they are produced. 
     According to one embodiment, the adapter  2  has two sides  34  (see FIG. 15) which extend perpendicularly to shaft  9 , and whose edges  35  are machined so as to form a V. The median portion  1   a  of the catching member  1  comprises a plate  36  whose edges  37  are beveled so as to form a V. Accordingly, it is understood that when the two portions  1  and  2  are assembled, portion  1  is immobilized transversely with respect to portion  2 , and vice versa as a result of this design, i.e., the resulting contact between edges  35  and  37 . 
     Naturally, the necessary machinings required to obtain the edges  35  and  37  can be carried out directly on the edges  11  of the adapter  2  and on those of the median portion  1   a  of the member  1 . 
     Another embodiment is provided which makes it possible to maintain the plate  17  in the armed position, which is described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. 
     According to the invention, the median portion  1   a  has, on the surface against which the locking plate  17  takes support, a small abutment  38  against which the end  17   a  of the plate  17  is applied under the effect of the springs  19  when the apertures  14  and  18  substantially coincide. 
     It must be noted that in this embodiment, the springs  19  also function to force the plate  17  against portion  1   a , and that only the pair of guides  22  shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are required. A substantial clearance exists between the guides  22  and the upper portion of the plate  17 . 
     The upper portion of the element  10  opposite the extension  12  has a shoulder  39 . 
     When, from the position shown in FIG. 16, the element  1  pivots along the arrow F 1 , the end  17   a  of the locking plate meets the shoulder  39 , which causes it to be lifted. In fact, the plate  17  pivots slightly clockwise by taking support against the edge of the portion  1   a , and by cambering each spring  19  in the plane of its longitudinal axis. As a result, the end  17   a  passes above the abutment  38  and, under the action of springs  19 , which slacken, the plate  17  occupies the position shown in FIG.  17 . 
     To facilitate the passage of the plate  17  from the position shown in FIG. 17 to that shown in FIG. 16, the abutment  38  has a ramp  38   b  at the rear of its support surface  38   a.    
     The assembly of the manual mechanism/tool  29  for unlocking the device, which is described with reference to FIGS. 10-14, can be used with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17, it being noted that in this case, the finger  31  is journalled on the handle  30 .