Patent Publication Number: US-2020283989-A1

Title: Quick-change system, adapter and quick coupler

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates to a quick-change system for automatic changing of attachments to a construction machine. The disclosure also relates to an adapter and a quick coupler for such a quick-change system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Such quick-change systems are used for simple and convenient changing of different attachments of excavators and other construction machines. For example, tilting buckets, grippers, claws, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers and other attachments can be connected to or disconnected from a boom of an excavator in a few seconds with a high safety standard from a driver&#39;s cab. They generally contain an adaptor on the attachment side and a quick coupler arranged on the construction machine, which has first claw-like receptacles on one side to hold a first coupling element arranged on the adapter and second receptacles on the other side with at least one locking element movable between a release position and a locking position for releasable holding of a second coupling element arranged on the adapter. 
     A generic quick-change system is known from DE 20 2013 001 658 U1. It has an adapter with two pin-like coupling elements arranged between parallel side parts at a stipulated spacing from each other for connection of the adapter to a quick coupler. The quick coupler belonging to the adapter contains claw-like first receptacles on one side for the first pin-like coupling element and second receptacles on the other side with at least one locking element movable between a release position and a locking position for releasable holding of the second coupling element. Corresponding hydraulic couplings are provided on the adapter and the quick coupler to supply power to the attachments. For certain use areas, however, electrical plug connections may be necessary in order to supply electrical power to the attachments or to transfer electrical signals between the attachments and the excavators or the other construction machines for control or the like. Such electrical plug connections, however, are relatively sensitive and can also be easily damaged especially because of severe operating conditions. Replacement, however, is then demanding and expensive, because the coupling elements must be entirely replaced. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosure relates to a quick-change system, an adapter and a quick coupler that permits simple and cost-effective repair when the coupling elements are damaged. 
     Expedient embodiments and advantageous modifications are also disclosed. 
     In an embodiment, a first coupling piece provided with first electrical contact elements and a second coupling piece provided with second electrical contact elements for connection to the first coupling piece are provided on the quick coupler. A replaceable intermediate piece to form an electrical connection between the first and second coupling piece is arranged on the first coupling piece and/or the second coupling piece. The intermediate piece provided with the sensitive contacts can be quickly and simply replaced, when required, even without disassembly of all the coupling pieces, and replaced with a new intermediate piece. Simple and cost-effective repair is made possible on this account. 
     In a particularly expedient embodiment, the intermediate piece provided with electrical contacts can be releasably fastened via an interference-free releasable connection in a body of the first coupling piece and/or second coupling piece. In this way, the intermediate piece is securely held but can be simply replaced when required. The interference-free releasable connection can be designed, for example, as a press fit. 
     The disclosure also relates to an adapter intended for a quick-change system, which contains a support element having two coupling elements arranged at a stipulated spacing from each other for connection of the adapter to a quick coupler and at least one first coupling piece arranged on the support element for connection to a second coupling piece arranged on the quick coupler. A replaceable intermediate piece to produce an electrical connection between the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece is arranged on the first coupling piece provided with the first electrical contact elements. 
     The disclosure also relates to a quick coupler that contains a support having receptacles for connection with coupling elements of an adapter on the attachment side and at least one second coupling piece arranged on the support for connection with a first coupling piece arranged on the quick coupler. A replaceable intermediate piece to produce an electrical connection between the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece can also be arranged on the second coupling piece provided with the second electrical contact elements. 
     The intermediate piece arranged on the first and/or second coupling piece can contain first electrical contacts on one side for connection with the first electrical contact elements of the first coupling piece and second electrical contacts on the other side for connection with second electrical contact elements of the second coupling piece. The first electrical contacts of the intermediate piece can be designed as pins and the corresponding first electrical contact elements of the first coupling piece as bushings. The second electrical contacts of the intermediate piece can be designed as elastic contact pins. 
     In addition to the first and second electrical contacts, further contacts to form an additional connection plane can also be provided on the intermediate piece in another advantageous embodiment. Various controls are possible on this account via a single plug connection. At least one of the first, second or additional electrical contacts of the intermediate piece can be designed as a grounding contact. The grounding contact can then be designed using a larger protrusion so that it produces an electrical connection before the other contacts when the first and second coupling pieces are connected. 
     A sealing element designed as an O-ring can be arranged in a first annular groove on the outside of the intermediate piece to seal the intermediate piece relative to the body of the first coupling piece. This sealing element not only represents a seal of the intermediate piece relative to the coupling piece but can also serve for additional holding of the intermediate piece within the coupling piece. An annular seal, for example, having an X-shaped cross-section can also be arranged in a second annular groove provided on the outside of the intermediate piece. The body of the first coupling piece can be sealed by this seal relative to the body of the second coupling piece. 
     In another advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece can have a positioning element designed as a flattened protrusion on its side facing the contact insert of the coupling piece for shape-mated engagement with a mating element adapted to the contour of the positioning element on the contact insert  19  arranged in the body. This can guarantee that the intermediate piece can only be coupled with the contact insert in a stipulated position and the contacts provided on the intermediate piece therefore enter into proper engagement in the contact elements provided for this purpose in the contact insert. The positioning element on the intermediate piece can also be designed as a groove or as a protrusion for engagement of protruding shape-mated elements or corresponding recesses on the contact insert. Other positioning or shape-mated elements for mutual shape-mated engagement are also possible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the following description of a preferred practical example with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows a practical example of a quick-change system having an adapter and a quick coupler in a coupled position; 
         FIG. 2  shows a first coupling piece and a second coupling piece for electrical connection between the adapter and quick coupler in a longitudinal section; 
         FIG. 3  shows a detail view A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece of  FIG. 2  in a perspective view; 
         FIG. 5  shows a coupling piece of  FIG. 4  in an exploded view; 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of the coupling piece of  FIG. 1  without an intermediate piece; 
         FIG. 7  shows an intermediate piece in a rear view; 
         FIG. 8  shows an intermediate piece in a front view and 
         FIG. 9  shows a second practical example of an intermediate piece in a front view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A practical example of a quick-change system having an adapter  1  and a corresponding quick coupler  2  for simple changing of attachments to vehicles, especially construction machines, is shown in  FIG. 1  in a coupled position. Tilting buckets, grippers, claws, magnets, compactors, hydraulic hammers and other mechanical or hydraulic attachments can be simply and conveniently connected to or disconnected from a boom or other attachment of a construction vehicle from a driver&#39;s cab using such a quick-change system. 
     The adapter  1  fastenable to an attachment or integrated on the attachment contains a support element consisting of a base plate  3  and two side parts  4  having two coupling elements  5  and  6  spaced from each other. The coupling elements  5  and  6  that serve for connection with the quick coupler  2  are arranged between the two side parts  4  spaced from each other arranged parallel at right angles to the base plate  3 . In the depicted practical example, a pin-like first coupling element  5  and a pin-like second coupling element  6  arranged at a stipulated spacing from it are provided between the two cheek-like side parts  4  of the support element for releasable connection with the quick coupler  2 . The two pin-like coupling elements  5  and  6  are inserted with the corresponding ends into the corresponding holes  7  and  8  in the two side parts  4  of the adapter  1  and fixed there. 
     The quick coupler  2  can be mounted, for example, on a boom of an excavator. It contains a support  9  having two parallel side parts  10  in which the receiving openings  11  and  12  for the fastening pins (not shown) are provided for fastening of the quick coupler  2  to a boom of an excavator or a connection part of another construction vehicle. The quick coupler  2  has on one side claw-like or fork-like first receptacles  13  to accommodate and hold the first pin-like coupling element  5  and second receptacles on the other side to accommodate the second pin-like coupling element  6 . Locking elements (not apparent here) for locking of the second pin-like coupling element  6  are provided on the downward open second receptacles. 
     The locking elements in the depicted embodiment consist of two locking pins parallel to each other, which are guided to move in guide holes within the support  9  and can be moved between a pulled-in release position and an extended locking position via a hydraulically operable cylinder  14 . In the extended locking position, the downward open second receptacles of the pin-like locking elements are closed on the bottom so that the second pin-like coupling element  6  is engaged from below by the pin-like locking elements and the adapter  1  can be secured on the quick coupler  2 . 
     In order to connect the adapter  1  to the quick coupler  2 , the quick coupler  2  generally arranged on a boom of an excavator is initially moved so that the first pin-like coupling element  5  on the adapter  1  is introduced to the claw-like receptacles  13  on one side of the quick coupler  2 . The quick coupler  2  is then pivoted using the still withdrawn locking elements around the first pin-like coupling element  5  so that the second pin-like coupling element  6  on the adapter  1  engages on the contact surfaces of the downward open receptacles on the other side of the quick coupler  2 . The locking elements arranged movable in the support  9  of the quick coupler  2  can then be extended using the hydraulically operable cylinder  14  so that the second pin-like coupling element  6  on the adapter  1  is engaged from below by the two locking pins on the quick coupler  2  and the adapter  1  is therefore secured on the quick coupler  2 . 
     As follows from  FIG. 1 , a first coupling piece  15  is provided on the adapter  1  for connection with a second coupling piece  16  arranged on the quick coupler  2 . An electrical connection between the adapter  1  on the attachment side and the quick coupler  2  on the construction machine side can be created by the first coupling piece  15  and the second coupling piece  16  releasably connected to it. For example, the attachments can be supplied electrical power or electrical signals can be transferred between the attachments on the excavator or other construction machines. In the depicted embodiment, the first coupling piece  15  is designed as a plug arranged fixed on the adapter  1  and the second coupling piece  16  is designed as a socket movable with the cylinder  14 . 
     The connection between the first coupling piece  15  and the corresponding second coupling piece  16  is shown in different views in  FIGS. 2 to 4 . The first coupling piece  15  designed here as a plug and depicted in  FIG. 5  separately has a hollow cylindrical body  17  with the first electrical contact elements  18  arranged in it. In the depicted embodiment, the first electrical contact elements  18  of the coupling piece  15  are provided in a first contact insert  19  arranged within the body  17  and firmly cast with it. The first electrical contact elements  18  in the depicted embodiment are designed sleeve-like and embedded in the first contact insert  19 . They can be connected to a power supply or consumer via lines (not shown). 
     The second coupling piece  16  designed here as a socket and shown in  FIG. 4  also contains a hollow cylindrical body  20  with the second electrical contact elements  21  arranged in it. Here again the second electrical contact elements  21  are embedded in a second contact insert  22  cast into the housing  20 . The second contact elements  21  are designed here as protruding pins. The electrical connection between the first and second electrical contact elements  18  to  21  occurs via a replaceable intermediate piece  23 , which in the depicted embodiment is held using a press fit or another interference-free releasable connection within the housing  17  of the first coupling piece  15  but, if required, can be simply replaced. The replaceable intermediate piece  23 , however, could also be arranged in the housing  20  of the second coupling piece  16 . A replaceable intermediate piece  23  could also be provided in the first coupling piece  15  and in the second coupling piece  16 . 
     As is apparent from  FIG. 3 , the intermediate piece  23  has the first electrical contacts  24  on its first side facing the contact insert  19  of the first coupling piece  15  for connection with the first contact elements  18  of the first coupling piece  15 . The first electrical contacts  24  are designed as pins for engagement in the sleeve-like first electrical contact elements  18  of the first coupling piece  15 . The intermediate piece  23  on its second side facing the contact insert  22  of the second coupling piece  16  has the second electrical contacts  25  for connection with the second contact elements  12  of the second coupling piece  16 . The second electrical contacts  25  are designed as axially movable and elastic contact pins. 
     It is also apparent in  FIGS. 3 and 5  that a sealing element  27  designed here as an O-ring is arranged in a first annular groove  26  on the outside of the intermediate piece  23  for sealing of the intermediate pieced  23  relative to the body  17  of the first coupling piece  15 . Another annular seal  29  having an X-shaped cross-section is arranged in a second annular groove  28  provided on the outside of the intermediate piece  23 . Through this seal  29 , the body  17  of the first coupling piece  15  can be sealed relative to the body  20  of the first coupling piece  16 . 
     It follows from  FIG. 6  that the intermediate piece  23  has a positioning element  30  designed here as a flattened protrusion on its side facing the contact insert  19  of the first coupling piece  15  for shape-mated engagement with a mating element  31  adapted to the contour of the positioning element  30  shown in  FIG. 7  on the contact insert  19  arranged in the body  17 . The mating element  31  in the depicted embodiment is designed as a flattening on the outside of the intermediate piece  23 . It can be guaranteed by the positioning element  30  and the mating element  31  adapted to it that the intermediate piece  23  can only be coupled in a stipulated position with the contact insert  19  and therefore the pin-like contacts  24  provided on the intermediate piece  23  enter into proper engagement in the sleeve-like contact elements  18  in the contact insert  19  provided for this purpose. It can also prevent in this way an intermediate piece  23  not adapted to the connections of the contact insert  19  from being coupled to the first coupling piece  15 . 
     Another practical example of an intermediate piece  23  is shown in  FIG. 9 . In contrast to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 8 , the intermediate piece  23  contains additional contacts  32  arranged around contacts  25  for formation of an additional contact plane. Further controls via a single plug connection are made possible on this account. One of the contacts  32  can have an elevated protrusion and therefore serve as a grounding contact, which produces an electrical connection before the other contacts during coupling of the first coupling piece  15  with the second coupling piece  16 . 
     The disclosure is not restricted to the described practical example. The coupling piece provided on the quick coupler can also have a simply replaceable intermediate piece having the features just described. A replaceable intermediate piece can also be provided on both coupling pieces, i.e., both on the first coupling piece arranged on the adapter and on the second coupling piece provided on the quick coupler. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Adapter 
               2  Quick coupler 
               3  Base plate 
               4  Side part 
               5  First coupling element 
               6  Second coupling element 
               7  Hole 
               8  Hole 
               9  Support 
               10  Side part 
               11  Receptacle opening 
               12  Receptacle opening 
               13  First receptacle 
               14  Cylinder 
               15  First coupling piece 
               16  Second coupling piece 
               17  Body 
               18  First electrical contact elements 
               19  First contact insert 
               20  Body 
               21  Second electrical contact elements 
               22  Second contact insert 
               23  Intermediate piece 
               24  First contacts 
               25  Second contact 
               26  First annular groove 
               27  Sealing element 
               28  Second annular groove 
               29  Seal 
               30  Positioning element 
               31  Mating element 
               32  Additional contact