Abstract:
A tool coupler is disclosed for use in coupling a tool to a machine. The tool coupler may have a frame with a first end receivable within the tool and a second end located opposite the first end. The tool coupler may also have a hydraulic cylinder pinned to the second end of the frame, and a wedge member pivotally connected to the hydraulic cylinder and configured to pass through the second end of the frame and selectively engage the tool. Engagement of the wedge member with the tool may inhibit disconnect of the first end of the frame from the tool.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to a tool coupler and, more particularly, to a tool coupler having a compact locking configuration. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A tool coupler can be used to increase the functionality and versatility of a host machine by allowing different tools to be quickly and interchangeably connected to linkage of the machine. Tool couplers generally include a frame rigidly attached to linkage of the machine, and the tools each have an identical set of hooks that engage a tube of the frame. A lock is mounted to the tool coupler and inhibits undesired disengagement of the hooks. 
         [0003]    An exemplary tool coupler is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,814,689 of Vering et al. that issued on Oct. 19, 2010 (“the &#39;689 patent”). The tool coupler of the &#39;689 patent includes a frame formed from a plurality of vertical plate-shaped members, a tube connecting first ends of the plate-shaped members, and a box that connects second ends of the plate-shaped members. The tool coupler also includes hydraulic cylinders pinned to the plate-shaped members at the first end, and a separate wedge pivotally connected to each of the hydraulic cylinders. The wedges are configured to pass through square holes in the box during extension of the hydraulic cylinders to engage an associated tool. 
         [0004]    Although the tool coupler of the &#39;689 patent may adequately support an associated tool, it may not be optimal. In particular, the location and configuration of the hydraulic cylinders and wedges may block an operator&#39;s view of the associated tool. 
         [0005]    The tool coupler of the present disclosure addresses one or more of the needs set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a tool coupler for coupling a tool to a machine. The tool coupler may include a frame with a first end receivable within the tool and a second end located opposite the first end. The tool coupler may also include a hydraulic cylinder pinned to the second end of the frame, and a wedge member pivotally connected to the hydraulic cylinder and configured to pass through the second end of the frame and selectively engage the tool. Engagement of the wedge member with the tool may inhibit disconnect of the first end of the frame from the tool. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a mounting base for a tool coupler having a hydraulic cylinder and a wedge member pivotally connected to the hydraulic cylinder. The mounting base may include a box portion forming a guide for the wedge member and having flanges configured to receive a pin that passes through an end of the hydraulic cylinder. The mounting base may also include a cylindrical portion extending from one side of the box portion. 
         [0008]    Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a machine. The machine may include a body, lift arms pivotally connected to the body, and a tilt arm pivotally connected to the lift arms. The machine may also include a tool coupler having a frame pivotally connected to the lift arms and to the tilt arm. The frame may include a base assembly, a tube, and a plurality of side plates extending from the base assembly to the tube. The tool coupler may also have a first hydraulic cylinder pinned to the base assembly, and a first wedge member pivotally connected to the first hydraulic cylinder and configured to pass through a first guide of the base assembly during retraction of the first hydraulic cylinder. The tool coupler may further have a second hydraulic cylinder pinned to the base assembly, and a second wedge member pivotally connected to the second hydraulic cylinder and configured to pass through a second guide of the base assembly during retraction of the second hydraulic cylinder. The machine may further include a tool having a base, a top, a front side, a backside, and hooks protruding rearward from the top to engage the tube of the tool coupler frame. A tip of the tool at the front side may be visible through the frame of the tool coupler at vertical locations between the tube and the first and second hydraulic cylinders. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed machine; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed tool coupler that may be used with the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an isometric illustration of an exemplary tool that may be selectively connected. to the tool coupler of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an isometric illustration of an exemplary disclosed hydraulic lock that may form a portion of the tool coupler of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5-7  are isometric illustrations of an exemplary disclosed mounting base that may form a portion of the hydraulic lock of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary machine  10 . Machine  10  may be a fixed or mobile machine that performs some type of operation associated with an industry, such as mining, construction, farming, transportation, or any other industry known in the art. For example, machine  10  may be a material moving machine such as a loader (shown in  FIG. 1 ), a backhoe, an excavator, or a motor grader. Machine  10  may include a power source  12 , a tool system  14  driven by power source  12 , and an operator station  16  situated for manual control of power source  12  and/or tool system  14 . 
         [0015]    Tool system  14  may include linkage acted on by hydraulic cylinders to move a tool  18 . Specifically, tool system  14  may include one or more lift arms  20  (two shown in  FIG. 1 ) that are vertically pivotal relative to a body or machine frame  22  by a pair of adjacent, double-acting, hydraulic cylinders (not shown). Tool system  14  may also include a tilt arm  24  that is connected at a center point to lift arms  20  and vertically pivotal by a single, double-acting, hydraulic cylinder  26 . With this configuration, tool  18  may be raised or lowered via lifting of lift arms  20 , and dumped or racked via the tilting of tilt arm  24 . It should be noted that other configurations of tool system  14  may also be possible. 
         [0016]    Numerous different tools  18  may be attachable to a single machine  10  and controllable via operator station  16 . Each tool  18  may include a device used to perform a particular task such as, for example, a fork arrangement (shown in  FIG. 1 ), a bucket, a blade, a grapple, or any other task-performing device. Although connected in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  to lift and pivot relative to machine  10 , tool  18  may additionally rotate, slide, swing, or move in any other manner known in the art. 
         [0017]    Tool system  14  may also include a tool coupler  28  located to facilitate a quick connection between the linkage of tool system  14  and tool  18 . in particular, tool coupler  28  may be pivotally connected to lift arms  20  and to tilt arm  24  (e.g., by way of a power link  29 ), and selectively connectable to hooks  30  of tool  18 . Thereafter, tool coupler  28  may be hydraulically locked (as will be explained in more detail below) to inhibit unintentional release of tool coupler  28  from hooks  30  during subsequent use of tool  18   
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , tool coupler  28  may include a frame  32  having spaced-apart parallel side plates (“plates”)  34  that extend lengthwise between a base assembly  36  and a tube  38 . Plates  34  may be divided into pairs, including an inside pair  34   a,  a first outside pair  34   b,  and a second outside pair  34   c.  Plates  34   a  may be notched at an upper end to receive a mid-portion of tube  38 , whereas plates  34   b  may encompass opposing ends of tube  38 . Plates  34   a  may be connected to each other at a lower end via a center spacer  40 . Plates  34   a  may be connected at their lower ends to adjacent plates  34   b  via two separate mounting bases  42 , and at their upper ends by way of tube  38 . Plates  34   c  may be connected to adjacent plates  34   b  via upper and lower spacers  44 ,  46 , respectively. In some embodiments, a vertical web  47  may also be located between one or more of plates  34 , if desired, to help stiffen frame  32 . The different components of frame  32  may be welded to each other, 
         [0019]    Frame  32  may be connected to the linkage of tool system  14  via pins (not shown). In particular, inner plates  34   a  may each include a pin bore  48  configured to receive a pin of power link  29 . Similarly, outer plates  34   c  may each include a pin bore  50  configured to receive a pin of each lift arm  20 . Raised bosses  52  may be formed at each pin bore  48 ,  50 , if desired, to facilitate spacing and/or to increase a strength of plates  34 . 
         [0020]    As also shown in  FIG. 2 , tool coupler  28  may be provided with one or more hydraulic locks  54  configured to inhibit release of tool  18  from tool coupler  28 . In the disclosed embodiment, two hydraulic locks  54  are included (one associated with each of mounting bases  42 ). It is contemplated that a single hydraulic lock  54  could alternatively be utilized, if desired. 
         [0021]    An exemplary hydraulic lock  54  is shown in  FIG. 4  as having multiple interconnected and movable components. For example, hydraulic lock  54  may include, among other things, a wedge member  56  that is slidingly disposed within a vertical guide  58  of mounting base  42 , and a hydraulic cylinder  60  that is generally parallel with and mounted adjacent to guide  58 . Wedge member  56  may include a base end  64  having an offset ear  66 , and a tapered tip end  68 . Hydraulic cylinder  60  may include a head end  70  pivotally connected to mounting base  42  via a pin  72 , and a rod end  74  pivotally connected to ear  66  of wedge member  56  via a pin  76 . With this configuration, an extension of hydraulic cylinder  60  may result in tip end  68  of wedge member  56  being pulled upward out of guide  58 , and a retraction of hydraulic cylinder  60  may result in tip end  68  being pushed downward into guide  58 . It should be noted that wedge member  56  does not leave guide  58  during operation of machine  10 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , tool  18  may include pockets  78  configured to receive tip ends  68  of wedge members  56 . Specifically, as wedge members  56  are pushed downward through guides  58  by hydraulic cylinders  60 , tip ends  68  may eventually protrude from mounting bases  42  and enter pockets  78 . When tip ends  68  are located within pockets  78 , there may not be enough vertical space between pockets  78  and hooks  30  to allow portions of tool coupler  28  (e.g., tube  38 ) to be released from hooks  30 . Only when tip ends  68  are pulled back out of pockets  78  by hydraulic cylinders  60 , can base assembly  36  of tool coupler  28  be rotated away from tool  18  to create vertical space sufficient for the release of tube  38  from hooks  30 . 
         [0023]    The location and arrangement of hydraulic cylinders  60  and wedge members  56  may create windows  80  (represented in  FIG. 2 , with dashed lines) that allow an operator of machine  10  to view work tool  18  through tool coupler  28 . In the example of work tool  18  being a fork arrangement (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ), work tool  18  may include a top  82 , a bottom  84 , a front side  86 , a back side  88 , and tines  90  that extend forward from front side  86 . With this configuration, there may be applications where locating the tip ends of tines  90  is critical (e.g., when picking up unbalanced and/or delicate loads). With the disclosed tool coupler  28 , the tip ends of tines  90  may be visible to the operator of machine  10  via windows  80 . 
         [0024]    The arrangement of hydraulic cylinders  60  and wedge members  56  may be facilitated via a unique configuration of mounting bases  42 . In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , mounting base  42  may include a box portion  92 , and a cylindrical portion  94  extending from a side of box portion  92 . Box portion  92  may house guide  58 , and also include flanges  96  that protrude rearward away from guide  58  (relative to the normal operational orientation of tool coupler  28 ). Flanges  96  may each have a bore  98  formed therein at a lower corner that together are configured to receive pin  72  (referring to  FIG. 4 ). In addition, flanges  96  may together form a three-sided longitudinal recess  100  (with the rest of box portion  92 ) that receives and functions to protect hydraulic cylinder  60  from damage. In one embodiment, recess  100  may be long enough to encompass a majority (if not all) of a tube portion of hydraulic cylinder  60 . Cylindrical portion  94  may function primarily as a support that allows connection of box portion  92  to inner plates  34   a  (referring to  FIG. 2 ). In addition, cylindrical portion  94  may function as a spacer to allow for box portion  92  (along with wedge member  56  and hydraulic cylinder  60 ) to be positioned further outward (relative to a crosswise center of tool coupler  28 ). This positioning of box portion  92  may move wedge member  56  and hydraulic cylinder  60  further out of a line-of-sight of the operator to the tip ends of tines  90 . 
         [0025]    Guide  58  may be generally aligned with a length direction of recess  100 , and located adjacent recess  100  (e.g., between recess  100  and tool  18 ). With this arrangement, hydraulic cylinder  60  may be folded over and lie generally within the same vertical and horizontal space as wedge member  56 , thereby reducing an amount of window  80  (referring to  FIG. 2 ) consumed by these components. In the disclosed embodiment, guide  58  is a hole or bore having a cross-section that inhibits rotation of wedge member  56 . Although shown as having a square cross-section, it is contemplated that guide  58  could have another cross-section (e.g., rectangular, triangular, or semi-circular), if desired. 
         [0026]    Cylindrical portion  94  may be shaped to enhance a view through window  80 . In particular, cylindrical portion  94  may have a smallest diameter at a base end near box portion  94 , where a more direct line-of-sight from the operator to the tip ends of times  90  may be located. In addition, cylindrical portion  94  may have a generally concave cross-section (i.e., flare outward to a distal end) to reduce intrusion into window  80 . Box and cylindrical portions  92 ,  94  may be integrally formed through a casting process. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0027]    The presently disclosed tool coupler may be applicable to a variety of machines to increase the functionality of the machines. For example, a single loader may be used for moving goods, dirt, rock and other materials. And during these operations, different implements may be required, such as forks, different sizes of buckets, or a broom. The disclosed tool coupler can be used to quickly change from one implement to another with ease, thus reducing the time during which the machine is unavailable for its intended purpose. And because the disclosed tool coupler may provide a view of critical areas of the tool through the tool coupler, use of the tools may be enhanced. Operation of tool coupler  28 , with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , will now be explained. 
         [0028]    To connect tool coupler  28  to tool  18 , tool coupler  28  may be pivoted forward to a full dump orientation (e.g., via counterclockwise tiling of tilt arm  24 —as seen in the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) and then lifted so that tube  38  enters into rear-facing hooks  30  of tool  18  (e.g., via raising of lift arms  20 ). Tool coupler  28  may then be pivoted rearward to a full rack orientation (e.g., via clockwise tiling of tilt arm  24 ) until guides  58  of tool coupler  28  (i.e., of mounting bases  42 ) generally align with pockets  78  in tool  18 . Thereafter, a command may be issued by the operator of machine  10  from inside station  16  to hydraulically lock tool coupler  28  to tool  18 . In response to this command, hydraulic cylinders  60  may retract, thereby pushing wedge members  56  downward through guide  58  and into pockets  78 . Once wedge members  56  are inside pockets  78 , tube  38  may not be removed from hooks  30 . 
         [0029]    To remove tool coupler  28  from tool  18 , the operator may issue the command for hydraulic cylinders  60  to extend. This extension may function to pull wedge members  56  upward out of pockets  78  and through guides  58 . Once wedge members  56  clear pockets  78 , tool coupler  28  may be pivoted forward to the full dump orientation and then lowered so that tube  38  falls out of hooks  30 . 
         [0030]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the tool coupler of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the tool coupler disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalent.