Tool mounting apparatus

A tool mounting apparatus is disclosed for detachably mounting a tool component such as for example a bucket, on a carrier such as for example the dipper stick of a backhoe. A power hitch component is connected to the carrier. Notches on one of the components are arranged to receive a first engagement member(s) on the other component. A support surface on the power hitch component is arranged to engage a second engagement member(s) on the tool component. A power actuated locking member is mounted on the power hitch component for movement between an unlocked position permitting relative engagement and disengagement between the notches and first engagement member(s) as well as between the support surface and the second engagement member(s), and a locked position securing the second engagement member(s) relative to the support surface. The arrangement of the support surface relative to the locking member is such that the force exerted on the second engagement member(s) retains the first engagement member(s) in the aforesaid notches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an apparatus which is suited for, although not 
strictly limited in use to, the detachable mounting of tool components on 
carriers, particularly vehicular type earth moving and digging equipment. 
Conventional tool mounting devices of the type referred to above are 
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,220,487; 3,220,579 and 4,030,470. The 
present invention is directed to an improvement over such conventional 
devices. Characteristics of the present invention include a more reliable 
and rigid coupling of the tool components to their respective carriers, as 
well as other advantageous features to be hereinafter described in more 
detail. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to one aspect to the invention, a tool mounting apparatus for 
detachably mounting a tool component on a carrier comprises a power hitch 
component connected to the carrier, either rigidly or in a pivotally 
adjustable manner. Notch means on one of these components is arranged to 
receive first engagement means fixed relative to the other of these 
components. A support surface on the power hitch component is arranged to 
engage second engagement means on the tool component. A power actuated 
locking means is mounted on the power hitch component for movement in a 
single mechanical motion between an unlocked position permitting relative 
engagement and disengagement between the notch means and the first 
engagement means as well as between the support surface and the second 
engagement means, and a locked position securing the second engagement 
means relative to the support surface. The arrangement of the support 
surface relative to the notch means is such that the force exerted on the 
second engagement means by the power actuated locking means is at least 
partially resolved into one or more force components seating the first 
engagement means in the notch means. This produces a secure coupling 
between the tool component and the carrier via the power hitch component. 
Advantageously, the power actuated locking means consists of a locking arm 
pivotally mounted on the power hitch component for movement between the 
aforesaid unlocked and locked positions. Preferably, the arm is pivotly 
manipulated by means of a piston-cylinder unit which can be controlled 
remotely from any convenient location such as the operating console of the 
vehicle, thus avoiding any necessity for the operator to leave the vehicle 
during coupling or uncoupling of the tool component. 
The aforesaid first and second engagement means may consist of bars 
arranged in parallel relationship on the tool component, with the support 
surface on the power hitch component being arranged at an angle relative 
to a plane containing the bars when the latter are in respective 
engagement with the notch means and the support surface. Preferably, the 
aforesaid angle is acute. 
In one aspect of the invention to be hereinafter described in greater 
detail, the power hitch component is pivotally connected to the dipper 
stick of a back hoe. In another aspect of the invention also to be 
described hereinafter in greater detail, the power hitch component is 
adapted to be connected directly to the chassis of a tractor or other like 
vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a carrier consisting of a 
backhoe dipper stick 10 is shown connected to a tool component or bucket 
12. The dipper stick is fixed relative to spaced plates 11 which are 
pivotally connected in a conventional manner at 14 to a boom 16. Boom 16 
is in turn pivotally connected at 18 to a turret 20. Pivotal movement of 
the boom 16 relative to the turret is controlled by a double acting 
hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 22. Another double acting hydraulic 
piston-cylinder unit 24 controls pivotal movement of the dipper stick 10 
relative to the boom 16. 
A power hitch component 26 is pivotally connected at 28 to the dipper stick 
10 and at 30 to a control link 32, the latter being pivotally connected at 
34 to an intermediate pivotal support link 36 and to another hydraulic 
piston-cylinder unit 38. Unit 38 is pivotally connected at 40 to plates 
11, and support link 36 is pivotally connected at 42 to dipper stick 10. 
Unit 38 serves as the means for pivotally manipulating the power hitch 
component 26 and attached bucket 12 relative to the dipper stick 10. 
As can best be seen by further reference to FIGS. 2A-3B, power hitch 
component 26 includes a basic frame consisting of side members 44, 46 
joined by intermediate transversally extending bifurcated spacer members 
48, 50. The side members 44, 46 are reduced in thickness as at 44a, 46a. 
The power hitch component has notch means 52 at one end and a support 
surface 54 at the opposite end. 
A power actuated locking means is mounted on the power hitch component. 
Preferably, the power actuated locking means consists of a locking arm 58 
pivotally mounted at 60 to spacer member 50. A piston-cylinder unit 64 is 
pivotally connected at one end at 62 to the arm 58 and at the opposite end 
at 66 to spacer member 48. Piston-cylinder unit 64 is connected 
hydraulically in the same manner as units 22, 24 and 38 via flexible 
hydraulic lines (not shown) to a remotely located control console at which 
an operator may remain stationed during operation of the apparatus. 
The tool component or bucket 12 is provided with rearwardly extending 
plates 68, 70 spanned by relatively fixed and parallel first and second 
engagement means consisting of bars 72, 74. 
The tool mounting apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3B operates in the following 
manner: as shown in FIG. 2A, the locking arm 58 is first pivoted to an 
unlocked position permitting relative engagement and disengagement between 
the notch means 52 and the first engagement means 72, and between the 
support surface 54 and the second engagement means 74. The boom 16 and 
dipper stick 10 are next manipulated to position the power hitch component 
as shown in FIG. 2B, with the first engagement means 72 seated in the 
notch means 52. Piston-cylinder unit 38 is then actuated to pivot the 
power hitch component 26 about the axis of first engagement means 72 in a 
clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings, to the position shown in 
FIG. 2C, thereby placing the support surface 54 in engagement with the 
second engagement means 74. Once this has been accomplished, 
piston-cylinder unit 64 is actuated to pivot locking arm 58 into its 
locked position as shown in FIG. 2C. It will be understood that as this 
occurs, the second engagement means 74 will be slidably engaged by both 
support surface 54 and a face 76 on arm 58. Face 76 is disposed at angle 
relative to a plane "X" containing pivot axis 60 and 62. Also, as the arm 
58 undergoes pivotal motion, the angle between face 76 and the 
longitudinal axis of piston cylinder unit 64 varies. As is best shown in 
FIG. 7, locking arm 58 acts on second engagement member 74 with a force 
F.sub.a. Surface 54 likewise acts on second engagement member 74 with a 
force F.sub.b. The forces F.sub.a and F.sub.b are angularly directed away 
from notch means 52 and first engagement means 72, and along an imaginary 
plane "P" containing the first and second engagement members 72, 74. 
Forces F.sub.a, F.sub.b can each be resolved into opposed forces F.sub.ax 
and F.sub.bx perpendicular to plane P, and forces F.sub.ay and F.sub.by 
parallel to plane P. Forces F.sub.ay and F.sub.by combine to produce a net 
force F.sub.n on second engagement means 74. Force F.sub.n pulls the first 
engagement means 72 into notch means 52. Thus, when the apparatus is in 
the fully locked position, first engagement means 72 is firmly and 
securely seated in notch means 52 and second engagement means 74 is firmly 
and positively secured relative to the support surface 54. The net result 
is thus a rigid coupling between the tool component or bucket 12 and the 
carrier or dipper stick 10 via the power hitch component 26. This rigid 
coupling can be achieved by appropriate operation of hydraulic 
piston-cylinder units 22, 24, 38 and/or 64 from a remote control console, 
thereby promoting both safety and efficiency. 
Preferably, and as is best shown in FIG. 2C, the support surface 54 is 
inclined at an angle .alpha. relative to plane P when the first engagement 
means 72 is received in the notch means 52 and the second engagement means 
74 is in contact with the support surface 54. 
In light of the above, it will be understood that movement of the locking 
arm 58 between its locked and unlocked positions occurs in a single 
mechanical motion, which represents a distinct improvement over known 
prior art arrangements which involve multiple mechanical motions. 
An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6C. 
Here, the tool component 12' consists of a backhoe attachment and the 
carrier 10' is the chassis of a vehicle. The power hitch component 26' is 
rigidly secured to the carrier 10', and again includes spaced side members 
44', 46'. A hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 64' pivotally connected at one 
end at 66' to a bracket on the carrier 10' and at the opposite end at 62' 
to an arm 58'. Arm 58' is pivotally mounted on a shaft 60' extending 
between the side members 44', 46'. 
The side members 44', 46' carry both first engagement means in the form of 
short laterally extending pins 72' and laterally protruding plates which 
define inclined support surfaces 54'. The tool component 12' has 
rearwardly extending pairs of spaced parallel plates 78 defining notch 
means 52' at their lowermost ends. In this embodiment, the second 
engagement means is comprised of bevelled surfaces 74'.sub.a at the upper 
ends of the outermost plates 78, and a cross pin 74'.sub.b carried by a 
pair of brackets 80 protruding rearwardly from the tool component 12' for 
engagement with arm 58'. 
This alternate embodiment operates in the following manner: the tool 
component 12' is conventionally provided with a boom and dipper stick (not 
shown) and hydraulically actuated lateral stabilizers 82, all as described 
in a number of prior art patents, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,487. The 
boom and stabilizers are first operated to raise the tool component and to 
incline the rearwardly protruding plates 78 at an angle, as shown in FIG. 
6A. Once this has been accomplished, the carrier 10' is advanced to 
position first engagement means 72' beneath notch means 52', again as 
shown in FIG. 6A. At this point, the pivotal arm 58' is in its unlocked 
position. 
The tool component's boom and stabilizers are then operated to lower and 
vertically align the plates 78 as shown in FIG. 6B. This places the first 
engagement means 72' in the notch means 52', and brings the second 
engagement means 74'.sub.a into engagement with support surfaces 54'. Once 
this has been accomplished, piston-cylinder unit 64 is operated to pivot 
locking arm 58' to its locked position in engagement with pin 74'.sub.b, 
as shown in FIG. 6C. The force exerted by arm 58' on pin 74'.sub.b pulls 
the second engagement means 74'.sub.a against surfaces 54'. The relative 
inclination of the surfaces 54' produces a resultant force in a direction 
towards notch means 52' and first engagement means 72' which firmly seats 
the first engagement means 72' in the notch means 52'. The net result is 
again a rigid coupling of the tool component 12' to the carrier 10' via 
the power hitch component 26'. 
In light of the above, it will now be evident to those skilled in the art 
that modifications can be made to the embodiments herein chosen for 
purposes of disclosure. For example, under certain circumstances it might 
be advantageous to substitute a sliding arm for the pivotal arms 58 and 
58' herein disclosed. It might also be desirable to vary the angular 
relationships of various components, particularly those of the support 
surfaces 54, 54' and the faces 76, 76' on the pivotal arms. It also might 
be advantageous to provide the notch means on either component and on 
either end of said components, the same being true of the support surface. 
For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3B the notch means 52 is 
located on the power hitch component 26, whereas in the embodiment shown 
in FIGS. 4-6C, the notch means 52' is located on the tool component 12'. 
Thus it will be seen that the notch means can be provided at any desirable 
location by rearranging the location of other cooperating components such 
as the engagement means, support surface and the locking means. These and 
numerous other modifications are included within the scope of the claims 
appended hereto.