Patent Publication Number: US-11396733-B2

Title: Quick-change coupler device

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates to a quick-change coupler device. The disclosure further relates to a quick-change coupler system comprising this type of quick-change coupler device and a dedicated adapter. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Quick-change coupler devices of this type are used to easily and conveniently couple and uncouple different implement attachments to and from construction vehicles. Using this type of quick-change coupler device allows, e.g., tilt buckets, claws, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers or other implement attachments to be coupled to and uncoupled from, e.g., a boom structure of an excavator, within a few seconds and at a high safety standard from the operator&#39;s cab. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,075 B1 discloses a generic quick-change coupler device. This quick-change coupler device comprises a support member which, on one side, has first receiving members for retaining a first coupling member disposed on an implement attachment and, on the other side, second receiving members with a locking member for releasably retaining a second coupling member, which locking member can be shifted between a release position and a locking position. The locking member has the configuration of a linearly movable hook slider which can be shifted between an open position and a closed position. Attached to the hook slider is a signaling rod which, in the closed position of the hook slider, is retracted into a casing and which, in the open position of the hook slider, projects outwardly beyond the casing. Although this type of signaling mechanism allows the position of the hook slider to be monitored, this signaling mechanism does not allow checking whether the coupling member is properly engaged in the hook slider. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure relates to a quick-change coupler device of the type mentioned above and a quick-change coupler system comprising this type of quick-change coupler device, which allow improved monitoring to ensure a proper locking status. 
     Accordingly, a quick-change coupler device and a quick-change coupler system are disclosed herein. Expedient developments and advantageous refinements are also disclosed. 
     In an embodiment, the quick-change coupler device includes a mechanical signaling mechanism which comprises an assembly for signaling the failure of the second coupling member to be engaged in the second receiving members. This means that correct locking is signaled only if the second coupling member is also in the position required to ensure proper locking. Thus, monitoring and signaling proper locking does not only rely on the position of the at least one locking member, but also incorporates the position of the second coupling member. As a result, monitoring can be improved and the safety can be increased. 
     To signal the failure of the second coupling member to be engaged in the second receiving members, a signaling member, which is able to move between a locking position and an unlocking position, is provided. The assembly comprises a coupling gear for moving the signaling member into the locking position when the at least one locking member moves into the coupling position and for moving the signaling member back into the unlocking position when the at least one locking member moves beyond the coupling position. 
     The coupling gear conveniently comprises a control lever which is mounted on the support member so as to pivot about a hinge and which is connected to the signaling member via a jointed rod and a linearly movable rod. The control lever preferably has a control cam and a recess. The control cam and the recess can preferably be disposed on one arm of the control lever, and the jointed rod can be disposed on the other arm of the control lever. The linearly movable rod is conveniently movably guided in a guide and biased by a spring. 
     The control lever can be rotated via an actuating device through a cylinder provided for moving the at least one locking member. In a low-friction implementation, the actuating device can be a lever with a ball bearing. 
     In a configuration of the signaling member especially readily visible to the operator, the signaling member can be a flap which is pivotably mounted on a casing and which can be shifted by means of a linearly movable rod between an upwardly raised locking position and a downwardly lowered unlocking position. However, the signaling member can also be a bolt, which can move between a retracted and an extended position, or any another suitable signaling member. 
     In another implementation, the coupling gear can comprise a carriage, which is connected to the signaling member via a geared drive and which is able to move at right angles relative to the signaling member, and an actuating member which is detachably connected to the carriage. The carriage can be detachably connected to the actuating member, e.g., via a pivotable control lever. The two-arm control lever, which is pivotably mounted about an axis on the carriage, can have a lug on one arm for engagement in a groove of the actuating members and a guiding taper on the other for engagement with a guiding plane on a casing. The geared drive can comprise a lever which can be rotated by a gear wheel, an idler wheel meshing with the gear wheel, and a gear rack meshing with the idler wheel on the carriage. 
     The disclosure further relates to a quick-change coupler system comprising a quick-change coupler device described above and an adapter coupled to the quick-change coupler device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Additional characteristic features and advantages of the disclosure follow from the description of two preferred embodiment examples below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: 
         FIG. 1  a partially sectioned lateral view of a quick-change coupler system comprising a quick-change coupler device and an adapter in a coupling position; 
         FIG. 2  a perspective view of the quick-change coupler device of  FIG. 1  in a changeover position; 
         FIG. 3  an enlarged detail view A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  an enlarged detail view B of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  a partially sectioned lateral view of the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 1  in a changeover position; 
         FIG. 6  the quick-change coupler device in the changeover position of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  a partially sectioned lateral view of the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 1  in a coupling position; 
         FIG. 8  the quick-change coupler device in the coupling position of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  a partially sectioned lateral view of the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked first position; 
         FIG. 10  the quick-change coupler device in the position of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  a partially sectioned lateral view of the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked second position; 
         FIG. 12  the quick-change coupler device in the position of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  a second embodiment example of a quick-change coupler system in a coupling position; 
         FIG. 14  an signaling mechanism of the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 13  in the coupling position; 
         FIG. 15  the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 13  in a locked position; 
         FIG. 16  the signaling mechanism of the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 13  in the locked position; 
         FIG. 17  the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 13  in an unlocked position and 
         FIG. 18  the signaling mechanism of the quick-change coupler system of  FIG. 13  in the unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a quick-change coupler system for easily and conveniently coupling and uncoupling different implement attachments to and from construction vehicles, in particular from excavators, said system comprising a quick-change coupler device  1  and a dedicated adapter  2 . Using a quick-change coupler device of this type allows, e.g., tilt buckets, claws, shears, magnets, compactors, hydraulic hammers or other mechanical and/or hydraulic implement attachments to be simply and conveniently coupled to and uncoupled from a boom structure or another implement attachment of an excavator or another construction vehicle from an operator&#39;s cab. 
     The adapter  2 , which can be mounted on an implement attachment, comprises a base plate  3  and two parallel side walls  4 , between which a first bolt-shaped coupling member  5  and, at a predefined distance therefrom, a second bolt-shaped coupling member  6  are disposed for the detachable connection to the quick-change coupler device  1 . The two bolt-shaped coupling members  5  and  6  can be inserted into and affixed in complementary bores in the side walls  4 . 
     The quick-change coupler device  1 , also shown from a perspective view in  FIG. 2 , comprises a support member  7  in the form of a welded or cast component, which, on one side, has frontwardly open first receiving members  8  for receiving and retaining the first bolt-shaped coupling member  5  and, on the other side, downwardly open second receiving members  9  with a locking member  10  shown in  FIG. 1  for receiving and retaining the second bolt-shaped coupling member  6 . 
     In the embodiment example illustrated, the quick-change coupler device  1 , on one side of the support member  7 , has two spaced apart receiving members  8  for the first coupling member  5  and, on the other side, two receiving members  9  for the second coupling member  6 . The frontwardly open first receiving members  8  have a claw- or fork-shaped configuration. The downwardly open second receiving members  9  have a curved lower abutment surface  11 , against which the second bolt-shaped coupling member  6  abuts. On its top side, the support member  7  has two parallel side sections  12  in which are provided continuous openings  13  for mounting bolts (not shown) for mounting the quick-change coupler device  1  to a boom structure of an excavator or a connector part of another construction vehicle. 
     In the implementation shown, the quick-change coupler device  1  also comprises two locking members  10  in the configuration of locking bolts which according to  FIG. 1  are movably guided in guide bores  14  of the support member  7  and both of which together are moved hydraulically through a cylinder  15 , which is H-shaped in the top view, between a retracted release position shown in  FIG. 5  for releasing or connecting an implement attachment and a locking position shown in  FIG. 7 . In the locking position of  FIG. 7 , the lower ends of the downward open second receiving members  9  are closed by the locking members  10  disposed in the guide bores  14 , so that the second bolt-shaped coupling member  6  are engaged from below by the locking members  10 . 
     To connect an implement attachment by means of the quick-change coupler device  1 , the quick-change coupler device  1 , which, as a rule, is disposed on a boom structure of an excavator, is first moved in such a way that a first coupling member  5 , disposed, e.g., on an adapter or on the implement attachment, is retracted into the claw- or fork-shaped receiving members  8  on one side of the quick-change coupler device  1 . Subsequently, the quick-change coupler device  1  with still retracted locking members  10  is swiveled about the first bolt-shaped coupling member  5  in such a way that the second coupling member  6  on the adapter or on the implement attachment comes to abut on the abutment surfaces  11  of the downwardly open receiving members  9  on the other side of the quick-change coupler device  1 . Subsequently, the locking members  10  which are movably disposed in the guide bores  14  in the support member  7  of the quick-change coupler device  1  can be hydraulically extended outwardly, so that the second bolt-shaped coupling member  6  is engaged from below by the two locking members  10  on the quick-change coupler device  1  and the implement attachment is thus retained on the quick-change coupler device  1 . 
     The quick-change coupler device  1  further comprises a mechanical signaling mechanism  16  for monitoring proper locking. As is shown especially in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the mechanical signaling mechanism  16  has a means for signaling the failure of the second coupling member  6  to be properly engaged in the second receiving members  9 . The mechanism for signaling that the second coupling member  6  is not engaged in the second receiving members  9  comprises a signaling member  17 , which moves between a locking position and an unlocking position, and a coupling gear, by means of which the signaling member  17  is first moved into the locking position when the locking members  10  move into the coupling position. However, if, due to the failure of a coupling member  5  to be properly engaged, the locking members  10  move beyond the coupling position, the signaling member  17  is moved back into the unlocking position via the coupling gear. This allows the operator to be signaled that despite an actuation of the locking member  10 , proper locking did not occur. 
     In the embodiment example shown, the signaling member  17  is a flap, which is pivotably mounted on a casing  18  and which, by means of a linearly moving rod  19 , can be moved between an upwardly raised locking position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a downwardly lowered unlocking position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , via a bolt  20 , which is guided inside the casing  18 . In the locking position shown in  FIG. 1 , the bolt  20  protrudes outwardly beyond the casing  18  and raises the flap-type signaling member  17  upwardly. In the unlocking position, on the other hand, the bolt  20  is retracted into the casing  18 , and the flap-type signaling member  17  is closed. Thus, it is clearly visually observable from the outside, and especially from an operator&#39;s cab, whether the quick-change coupler device  1  is properly locked. However, the locking and unlocking position can also be signaled only by the bolt  20  without a flap. 
     As indicated especially in  FIG. 3 , the coupling gear, which is configured to connect the cylinder  15  and the signaling member  17 , comprises a control lever  22  which is pivotably mounted about a hinge  21  on the support member  7  and which is connected via a jointed rod  23  to the linearly movable rod  19 . On one of its arms, the control lever  22 , which is pivotably mounted about the hinge  21 , has a control cam  24  and a recess  25 . Hinged to the other arm of the control lever  22  is one of the ends of the jointed rod  23 . The other end of the jointed rod  23  is hinged to the linearly movable rod  19  so as to be able to move the signaling member  17 . Via a guide  26 , which is secured to the cylinder  15 , the linearly movable rod  19  is slidably guided and pushed by a spring disposed inside a bushing  27  into the unlocking position shown in  FIG. 3 . In the implementation shown, the guide  26  has the configuration of a double-bend sheet metal part. By rotating the plate-shaped control lever  22 , the rod  19  is linearly moved via the jointed rod  23 . The control lever  22  is rotated through the cylinder  15  provided for moving the two locking members  10  via a lever  28  with a ball bearing  29  disposed thereon. The ball bearing  29  is configured for engagement on the control cam  24  and in the recess  25  of the control levers  22 . 
     The working principle of the signaling mechanism  16  described above will be explained below with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 12 . 
     In the changeover position illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the two locking members  10  are in a retracted release position. In this position, the ball bearing  29 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , is at a distance from the control cam  24  of the control lever  22 , and the control lever  22  is pushed by the spring-loaded rod  19  via the jointed rod  23  into the basic position shown. The rod  19  is in a retracted position, which is why the flap-type signaling member  17  is in a downwardly folded unlocking position. This signals to the operator that the quick-change coupler device  1  is in a changeover position. In the changeover position with the retracted locking members  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the quick-change coupler device  1  on the front side can be downwardly lowered, so that the second coupling member  6  comes to abut on the lower abutment surface  11  of the receiving members  9 . 
     When the second coupling member  6 , as seen in  FIG. 7 , comes to abut the lower abutment surface  11  of the receiving members  9 , the two bolt-shaped locking members  10 , the front ends of which have a curvature  30  conforming to the outside contour of the coupling member  6  for abutting the outside surface of the bolt-shaped coupling member  6 , can be extended through the shared cylinder  15  and reach the coupling position shown in  FIG. 7 . In this coupling position, the coupling member  6  is engaged from below by the two bolt-shaped locking members  10 , and the adapter  2  is securely locked onto the quick-change coupler device  1 . 
     If, with the adapter  2  correctly coupled, the two locking members  10  are moved through the cylinder  15  from their retracted release position  15  into the coupling position shown in  FIG. 7 , the lever  28 , which is secured to the cylinder  15 , along with the ball bearing  29 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , latches onto the control cam  24  of the control lever  22 , so that the control lever  22  is rotated about the hinge  21 , and the flap-type signaling member  17  is moved via the joint lever  23  and the linearly movable rod  19  into the upwardly raised locking position. In the locking position illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the bolt  20  projects outwardly beyond the casing  18  and the flap-type signaling member  17  is raised upwardly. This signals to the operator that the adapter  2  is properly coupled to and locked into quick-change coupler device  1 . The coupling gear is designed so that in the locking position shown in  FIG. 8 , the ball bearing  29  comes to abut the outermost edge of the control cam  24  at the junction to the recess  25 . 
     If, due to the failure of the coupling member  6  to be engaged in the receiving members  9 , the bolt-shaped locking members  10 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , move beyond the coupling position shown in  FIG. 8  and extend up to the point at which the cylinder  15  strikes an edge  31  of the support member  7 , the ball bearing  29 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , reaches beyond the outermost edge of the control cam  24  and engages in the recess  25  of the control lever  22 , which causes the control lever  22  actuated by the spring-loaded rod  19  via the jointed rod  23  to move back into the basic position. At the same time, the bolt  20  on the front end of the rod  19  is retracted into the casing  18 , and the flap-type signaling member  17  is moved into the downwardly lowered unlocking position. This signals to the operator that despite the extended locking members  10 , the adapter  2  is not properly locked onto the quick-change coupler device  1 . 
     The operator is also alerted to a position shown in  FIG. 11  in which the coupling member  6  is not properly engaged. If the two locking members  10  are prevented from extending outwardly because the coupling member  6  is not properly engaged, the ball bearing  29 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , remains at a distance from the control cam  24  of the control lever  22 , and the control lever  22  is pushed by the spring-loaded rod  19  via the jointed rod  23  into the basic position shown. The bolt  20  on the front end of the rod  19  is retracted into the casing  18 , and the flap-type signaling member  17  is in the downwardly lowered unlocking position. This signals to the operator that the quick-change coupler device  1  is not properly locked. 
       FIGS. 13 to 18  show a further embodiment example of a quick-change coupler system comprising a quick-change coupler device  1  and a dedicated adapter  2 . In this implementation, the quick-change coupler device  1  again comprises a mechanical signaling mechanism  16  for monitoring proper engagement. The mechanical signaling mechanism  16  used in this implementation has a signaling member  17 , in this case in the form of a bolt, which is disposed inside a casing  18  so as to be able to shift between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the locking position illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the bolt-shaped locking member  17  projects outwardly from the side of the casing  18  while the locking member  17 , in an unlocking position shown in  FIGS. 14 and 18 , is retracted into the casing  18 . When the locking members  10  move into the release or coupling position, the signaling member  17  in this implementation is again first moved into the locking position via a coupling gear. However, if, due to the failure of a coupling member  5  to be properly engaged, the locking members  10  move beyond the coupling position, the signaling member  17  is again moved back into the unlocking position via the coupling gear. This signals to the operator that, despite an actuation of the locking members  10 , proper locking did not occur. 
     As  FIGS. 14 and 16  indicate, the bolt-shaped signaling member  17 , which is slidably guided inside the casing  18 , can be moved by a lever  33  which is pivotably disposed about an axis of rotation  32  inside the casing  18 . To this end, the lever arm  34  of the lever  33  that pivots about the axis of rotation  32  is hinged via a transverse pin  35  to the bolt-shaped signaling member  17 . The lever  33  is rotated by means of a gear wheel  36 , which is rigidly connected to said lever and which, via an idler wheel  37 , meshes with a gear rack  38  on a carriage  39 , which can move at right angles relative to the signaling member  17  inside the casing  18 . Thus, by moving the carriage  39 , the signaling member  17  can be shifted between the retracted position shown in  FIG. 14  and the extended position shown in  FIG. 16 . By means of a spring assembly (not shown), the carriage  39  is actuated in such a way that the signaling member  17  is retracted into the casing  18  by the force of the spring assembly. 
     Slidably guided inside the carriage  39  is a rod-shaped actuating member  40 , which is disposed at right angles relative to the signaling member  17  and which projects from the casing  18 . In addition, a control lever  42 , which pivots about an axis  41 , is disposed on the carriage  39 . The carriage  39  is detachably connected to the rod-shaped actuating member  40  via the control lever  42 , which pivots about the axis  41 . To this end, the control lever  42  has a lug  43  on one end of its lever arm for engaging in a groove  44  of the actuating member  40 , and a guiding taper  45  on its other end for engaging with a sloped guiding plane  46  on the casing  18 . By means of a spring (not shown), the control lever  42  is actuated in such a way that the lug  43  is pushed in the direction of the actuating rod  40 . The actuating rod  40  is connected to the cylinder  15  via a linkage system  47  and a retaining member  48 . 
     In the implementation shown in  FIGS. 13 to 18 , the signaling mechanism  16  is based on the following working principle: 
     In the changeover position shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the cylinder  15  is in the position shown in  FIG. 13 , and the locking members  10  are in a retracted release position. The rod-shaped actuating member  40 , which is connected to the cylinder  15  via a linkage system  47  and a retaining member  48 , and the carriage  39 , which is connected via the control lever  42  to this actuating member, are in a basic position shown in  FIG. 14 . In this basic position of the carriage  39 , signaling member  17 , which is connected to the carriage  39  via the gear rack  38 , the idler wheel  37 , the gear wheel  36  and the lever  33 , is retracted into the casing  18 . This signals to the operator that the quick-change coupler device  1  is in a changeover position. In this changeover position, the quick-change coupler device  1  can be connected at its the rear end via the first receiving members  8  to the first coupling member  5  of the adapter  2  and, on the front side, can be subsequently lowered downwardly so that the second coupling member  6  comes to abut the lower abutment surface  11  of the receiving members  9 . 
     If the cylinder  15 , as seen in  FIG. 15 , is subsequently moved in the direction of the second coupling member  6  and the thereby moved locking members  10  are properly coupled to the adapter  2 , the carriage  39  is moved by the actuating member  40 , which is coupled via the control lever  42  to said carriage, from the basic position shown in  FIG. 14  into a locking position shown in  FIG. 16 . In the locking position of the carriage  39  shown in  FIG. 16 , the control lever  42  is in its not yet swiveled coupling position. By shifting the carriage into the locking position, the signaling member  17  is moved via the gear rack  38 , the idler wheel  37 , the gear wheel  36  and the lever  33  into a locking position in which it projects outwardly beyond the casing  18 . This signals to the operator that the adapter  2  is properly coupled to and locked into the quick-change coupler device  1 . 
     If, due to the failure of the coupling member  6  to be engaged in the receiving members  9 , the bolt-shaped locking members  10 , as seen in  FIG. 9 , move beyond the coupling position shown in  FIG. 8  and extend up to the point at which the cylinder  15  strikes an edge  31  of the support member  7 , the carriage  39  also moves in the direction of the sloped guiding plane  46  on the casing  18 . At the same time, the control lever  42  is moved via the guiding taper  45  in such a way that the lug  43  is disengaged from the groove  44  on the actuating member  40 , and the carriage  39  and the actuating member  40  are no longer interlocked. Subsequently, the carriage  39 , which is spring-biased in the direction of the basic position, is pushed via the spring assembly into its basic position, and the signaling member  17  is again retracted into the casing  18 . This signals to the operator that despite the extended locking members  10 , the adapter  2  is not properly locked onto the quick-change coupler device  1 . When the quick-change coupler device  1  is opened, the cylinder  15  travels back, and the interlocking between the spring-biased control lever  32  and the actuating member  40  is re-established, so as to again connect the carriage  39  and the actuating member  40 . The mechanical system of the quick-change coupler device is then again ready for use in the normal operating position. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Quick-change coupler device 
               2  Adapter 
               3  Base plate 
               4  Side wall 
               5  First coupling member 
               6  Second coupling member 
               7  Support member 
               8  First receiving member 
               9  Second receiving member 
               10  Locking member 
               11  Abutment surface 
               12  Side section 
               13  Opening 
               14  Guide bores 
               15  Cylinder 
               16  Signaling mechanism 
               17  Signaling member 
               18  Casing 
               19  Rod 
               20  Bolt 
               21  Hinge 
               22  Control lever 
               23  Jointed rod 
               24  Control cam 
               25  Recess 
               26  Guide 
               27  Bushing 
               28  Lever 
               29  Ball bearing 
               30  Curvature 
               31  Edge 
               32  Axis of rotation 
               33  Lever 
               34  Lever arm 
               35  Transverse pin 
               36  Gear wheel 
               37  Idler wheel 
               38  Gear rack 
               39  Carriage 
               40  Actuating member 
               41  Axis 
               42  Control lever 
               43  Lug 
               44  Groove 
               45  Guiding taper 
               46  Guiding plane 
               47  Linkage system 
               48  Retaining member