Patent ID: 7654019

Claim:
A quick coupling apparatus for coupling a tool to a tool arm of a tool manipulating machine, the apparatus comprising: a coupler member adapted to be attached to the tool arm, and configured to engage a mounting bracket extending out from the tool; a wedge mounted on the coupler member and movable, when the coupler member and mounting bracket are engaged, from a closed position where the wedge is engaged in a groove on the mounting bracket and where a tapered side of the wedge bears against a corresponding tapered side of the groove to draw the coupler member into engagement with the mounting bracket, to an open position where the wedge is removed from the groove; a wedge bias element operative to continuously exert a wedge bias force on the wedge towards the closed position and into the groove, and operative to exert the wedge bias force on the wedge when the wedge is in the closed position such that the wedge bias force maintains the wedge in the closed position; a safety latch, and a latch bias element operative to exert a latch bias force urging the safety latch to a latched position, the safety latch configured such that when the wedge moves into the groove and reaches the closed position, the safety latch can move from an unlatched position to the latched position to prevent the wedge from moving toward the open position; a single acting hydraulic cylinder configured such that when pressurized fluid is directed into the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder extends and the hydraulic cylinder first contacts the safety latch and exerts a force moving the safety latch to the unlatched position, further extension of the hydraulic cylinder causing the hydraulic cylinder to exert a force on the wedge in a direction substantially opposite to the wedge bias force to move the wedge toward the open position; the single acting hydraulic cylinder configured such that when pressurized fluid is released from the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder retracts and the wedge moves into the groove in response to the wedge bias force until the wedge reaches the closed position, and then the hydraulic cylinder further retracts and the safety latch moves to the latched position in response to the latch bias force; and a remotely operated control operative to selectively direct pressurized fluid into the hydraulic cylinder and release pressurized fluid from the hydraulic cylinder.