Abstract:
Holding means ( 30 ) for protecting a movable connector part ( 20; 24   a - d ) of a hydraulic system on a work equipment ( 2 ), which movable  5  connector part ( 20; 24   a - d ) is connectable to a fixed connector part ( 10 ) of a hydraulic system of a work vehicle ( 1 ), the holding means ( 30 ) having a contact surface ( 32 ) being adapted to mate with the movable connector part ( 20; 24   a - d ) such that its hydraulic connections are protected and unexposed when it is placed in the holding means ( 30 ).  10  The holding means ( 30 ) is adapted to be fixedly arranged on the work equipment ( 2 ), such that said contact surface ( 32 ) of the holding means ( 30 ) is accessible for protective connection of the movable connector part ( 20; 24   a - d ).

Description:
TECHNICAL AREA 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a holding means for holding and protecting a movable connector part of a hydraulic system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Hydraulic systems are used in a wide variety of applications. One application relates to work vehicles, such as wheel loaders or tractors, to which a work equipment, such as front loader, a plough, a bucket or similar, my be connected. A part from being mechanically connected to the work vehicle, the work equipment also needs to be hydraulically connected. The work equipment includes a hydraulic system for controlling its functions. This hydraulic system is connected to and driven by the hydraulic system of the work vehicle. 
         [0003]    The two hydraulic systems are interconnected by means of connector parts. The connectors are preferably of a multi coupling type, in which a plurality of hydraulic connections may be connected in one single operation. A multi coupling comprises a fixed part on the vehicle and a movable part on the work equipment. It is however still common to connect each and every hydraulic connection individually, usually by means of so called quick couplings, one for every connection. In this application a “fixed connector part” denotes the connector on the work vehicle regardless of if it is of a multi coupling type or of comprises a plurality of individual couplings. Accordingly, application a “movable connector part” denotes the connector on the work equipment regardless of if it is of a multi coupling type or if it comprises a plurality of individual couplings. 
         [0004]    It is important for the well function of these connectors that they are kept clean, both during working operations, but also in between working operations. The work vehicle often operates in harsh environments, in which the connector parts are exposed to dirt. Thus, there exists a need for an arrangement for protecting the connector parts of the hydraulic systems. As the work vehicle sometimes is operated without work equipment the protective arrangement needs to adaptable, such that it also protects the fixed connector part and the movable connector part individually when they are disconnected from each other. 
         [0005]    Conventionally, the fixed connector part has been provided with a pivotable lid, which is arranged to cover the fixed connector part when no movable connector part is connected to it. To connect the movable connector part, the cover is folded open to make room for the movable connector part. This conventional type of cover protects the fixed connector part satisfactory when it is left disconnected. However, other than that it has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, the cover collects dirt during operation as the lower protective surface of it is left exposed to the environment during normal operation. Thus the cover has to be cleaned each time it is to be remounted on the fixed connector part. Additionally, no protection is provided for the movable connector part when it is disconnected from the fixed connector part. Normally, the work equipment with the exposed movable connector part is stored in a rather dirty environment, often outside. Thus it is not uncommon that the movable connector part needs to be cleaned before it is connected to the fixed connector part. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for keeping the connector parts clean. 
         [0007]    This is achieved according to the present invention by the holding means of claim  1 . Preferable embodiments of the present invention are indicated in the dependent claims. 
         [0008]    According to a main aspect, the invention relates to a holding means for protecting a movable connector part of a hydraulic system on a work equipment, which movable connector part is connectable to a fixed connector part of a hydraulic system on a work vehicle, the holding means having an contact surface being adapted to fit tightly on the movable connector part such that its hydraulic connections are protected and unexposed when the movable connector part is placed in the holding means. The holding means is adapted to be fixedly arranged on a work equipment, such that the contact surface of the holding means is accessible for protective connection of the movable connector part. 
         [0009]    An advantage of the present invention is that the movable connector part is kept clean in between operations, such that it does not have to be cleaned before use. 
         [0010]    Further, a second advantage of the invention is that thanks to the holding means the movable connector part of the work equipment is protected from impact as long as it is parked in the holding means. In prior art where there was no provision for protecting the movable connector part when disconnected from the fixed connector part there was always a risk that it might be damaged in one way or another. This risk is clearly minimised with the holding means according to the invention. 
     
    
     
       SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a work vehicle provided with a fixed connector part, wherein a work equipment with a movable multi coupling part is arranged on the work vehicle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a detailed view of the fixed connector part of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a work vehicle with a disconnected work equipment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of the fixed connector part of  FIG. 3  provided with a cover according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a detailed view of the movable connector part of  FIG. 3 , parked in a holding means according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows the holding means in detail; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows the holding means and three sets of connectable fittings; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows the movable connector part parked in the holding means; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  shows a movable connector part in form of  4  individual hydraulic couplings and an electric connector parked in the holding means; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  shows a movable connector part in form of  2  individual hydraulic couplings and an electric connector parked in the holding means; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  shows a cover arranged on the holding means. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a work vehicle  1 , i.e. a tractor, provided with a conventional hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic pump, a tank with hydraulic fluid and a number of conduits, connections and valves. The hydraulic system comprises a fixed connector part  10 , which is adapted to be connected to a movable connector part of a hydraulic system of a work equipment  2  to be used on the work vehicle  1 . In  FIGS. 1-5  the movable connector part is represented by a movable multi coupling part  20 . 
         [0024]    Often, a work vehicle  1  is used for a number of different work tasks involving different work equipments  2 . In the figures, the work equipment  2  is exemplified by a front loader unit, which is releasably attached to the work vehicle  1 . In addition to the movable connector part  20 , the front loader is provided with a movable hydraulic system comprising connections, conduits and pistons for lifting the loader and tilting the bucket. Generally, different types of equipments are adapted to be releasably attached to the work vehicle  1 . Hence, the hydraulic connection unit of the work equipments  2 , i.e. the movable connector part, must be adapted to be connected to/disconnected from the fixed connector part  10  of the hydraulic system on the work vehicle  1 . Additionally, different tools may be connected to the work equipment  2 . The tools generally also include hydraulic systems, which systems need to be connected to the hydraulic system of the work vehicle, via the hydraulic system of the work equipment  2 . These connections might or might not be of the same type as the connections between the work equipment  2  and the work vehicle  1 . For the sake of simplicity, only the connection between the work equipment  2  and the work vehicle  1  is described in this application. The invention may however also be used at the connection between the work equipment  2  and the tool. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1-2  show the work vehicle  1  when the work equipment  2  is arranged on it. In this state, the movable multi coupling part  20  is connected to the fixed connector part  10 , and a cover  40  is arranged to protect a holding means  30 , which is arranged on the work equipment  2 . 
         [0026]    In  FIGS. 3-5 , the work equipment  2  is disconnected from the work vehicle  1 . In this state the movable multi coupling part  20  is parked in the holding means  30 , and the cover  40  is instead arranged on the fixed connector part  10  in order to protect it. 
         [0027]    The main aspect of the invention concerns the holding means  30  or “parking slot”, which is adapted to be arranged on the work equipment  2  on a suitable location where it does not interfere with the function of the work equipment. The holding means  30  is designed such that it mates with the movable multi coupling part  20 . Thus, it resembles the fixed connector part  10  and comprises an contact surface  32  arranged to correspond to and co-act with the connection surface of the movable multi coupling part  20 , in order to protect the connection surface of the movable multi coupling part when attached to the holding means  30 . The holding means  30  in the shown embodiment is provided with a central bar  33  corresponding to a bar of the embodied fixed hydraulic connection part  10 . The holding means  30  is further provided with a circumferential rim  31 , inside which the movable multi coupling part  20  fits tightly, such that it is efficiently held at place without any possibility to rotate. Preferably, the rim  31  also defines the outer border of the contact surface  32 . Thus, the rim functions as a protective limit, keeping dirt away from the contact surface. 
         [0028]    When the work equipment  2  is not to be used any more, the movable multi coupling part  20  is disconnected from the fixed connector part  10  on the work vehicle and inserted into the holding means  30  in which it fits tightly and remains fixed. The movable multi coupling part  20  is thus kept out of the way and is at the same time protected from the environment, such that dirt, debris, ice, snow etc. is kept away from its connection surface. Conventionally the connection part of the work equipments have been left exposed to the environment, which of course may lead to all kinds of problems, including total failure of the connector part due to impact with neighbouring objects, and heavy soiling of both the connector part and the environment due to spillage of hydraulic fluid. 
         [0029]    As indicated above, not all work equipments  2  are provided with a movable connector part of a multi coupling type. Therefore, the holding means  30  according to the invention is also adapted to receiving conventional hydraulic quick couplings. Openings  34   a - d  are arranged in the holding means  30 , which are dimensioned to house individual quick couplings  24   a - d , see e.g.  FIG. 9  or  10 . Hence, if the work equipment  2  is furnished with individual quick couplings  24   a - d  instead of a movable multi coupling part  20 , these may be individually housed in these openings  34   a - d  of the holding means  30 . Often, en electric connection is integrated in the fixed connector part for supplying the work equipment with electricity. Therefore, the holding means is provided with a dummy  33  arranged for attachment of such an electric connection of the work equipment. 
         [0030]    In the shown embodiment the electric connection is covered by a housing  25  which fits on the central dummy  33 . 
         [0031]    Consequently, a holding means  30  is advantageously arranged on all work equipments  2  that include a hydraulic system, regardless of the type of connection the hydraulic system of the work equipment  2  is provided with. 
         [0032]    A second protecting means, in form of a cover  40 , is provided in accordance with the present invention on the one hand for protecting the fixed connector part  10  when the movable connector  20 ,  24   a - d  part is not connected to it, and on the other for protecting the holding means  30  when the movable connector part is connected to the fixed connector part  10 . The cover  40  is arranged as a lid with a lower surface that corresponds to the lower surface of the movable connector part  20 , such that it fits the upper surface of the fixed connector part  10  and the upper surface of the holding means  30 . The cover  40  may further be arranged with a central sleeve which protrudes through an opening in the cover, and is connected to a knob  41  for turning the sleeve around its longitudinal axis. The sleeve may have the same configuration as the sleeve of the movable connector part  20 , which enables the sleeve to be attached to the central bar  13  of the fixed connector part  10  in order to protect the hydraulic connections of the fixed connector part  10  when it is not in use. On the other hand, when the hydraulic system of the equipment is connected to the hydraulic system of the work vehicle, the cover is attached to the holding means  30  in order to protect the holding means  30  from dirt and debris. Thus, the holding means  30  and the cover  40  provides a full protection of the hydraulic connection parts of the present invention both during use and when parked. 
         [0033]    As the cover is intended to be transferred between the fixed connector part and the holding means it may not fixed to either of these. However it may preferably be attached to the work vehicle by means of a strap or similar. This is conceivable as the cover  40  is only attached to the holding means  30  when the work equipment with the holding means is attached to the work vehicle  1 . When the work equipment  2  is disconnected from the work vehicle  1  the movable connector part  20  is placed in the holding means  30  and the cover  40  is placed on the fixed connector part  10 . It is of course possible within the scope of the claims to use two individual covers, one for the fixed connector part  10  and for the holding means  30 , but for such an embodiment the covers need to be arranged such that they do not collect dirt when they are disconnected. 
         [0034]    In the shown embodiment the holding means and the cover are designed to fit a special embodiment of a movable and a fixed connector part, respectively. As can be readily understood from the above the present invention may however be designed in many ways without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the patent claims. A general idea is that the holding means and the cover should be designed to fit the movable and the fixed connector part of the hydraulic system where it is to be implemented. It is thereby to be understood that the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings are to be regarded as non-limiting examples.