Excavator attachment

Abstract

An excavator attachment (1) is disclosed with a quick changer (2) on the tool side for connecting a tool or attachment, and a grapple assembly (3) with two gripper arms (4, 5) movable relative to each other via a gripper drive (23, 24). It further includes an adaptor (6) 5 for connecting the excavator attachment (1) to a quick changer on the excavator side. The grapple assembly (3) may be mounted on a gripper support (19) fixedly arranged on the bottom of the adapter (6). The quick changer (2) may be mounted on the bottom of the gripper support (19). 10 Fig. 1 5 10 20 25 27 96 58 10 D ec 2 02 5 A B S T R A C T 2 0 2 5 2 7 9 6 5 8 1 0 D e c 2 0 2 5 1 0 1 / 3 Fig. 1 1 3 6 3 4 23 4 5 8 9 12 6 1 7 18 17 19 5 20 21 22 22 20 23 24 27 28 29 30 29 31 32 34 33 Fig. 2 26 31 32 erI oz67 S 800 O E1 @ O34 00 00 32 ee 28 to 9 210E 2224 12L818 6©LI OO O 61 9 LT to 22EZ 20 32E1 67 I 20 25 27 96 58 10 D ec 2 02 5 E Z o z 2 9 S O 8 0 0 O 1 1 @o 3 4 0 0 3 2 e e 2 8 9 2 1 0 E 2 2 2 4 1 2 L 1 8 6 o o G L I 3 oo S O O 2 2 2 3 2 0 2 5 2 7 9 6 5 8 1 0 D e c 2 0 2 5 1 / 3

Description

FIELD 5 The invention relates to an excavator attachment according to the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND An excavator attachment is known from DE 10 2023 114 523 A1. In the tilt rotator disclosed 10   therein, the quick changer on the tool side serving to connect a tool or attachment is mounted to rotate around a rotation axis within a drive housing and can be rotated by 360°C relative to the drive housing by means of a rotary drive. The drive housing is arranged to pivot on a connection part designed as an adapter around a pivot axis orthogonal to the rotation axis via laterally protruding journals within two spaced-apart bearing eyes and can be pivoted by 15 about 45° relative to the support via a hydraulic pivot drive. The tilt rotator can be connected to a quick changer on the excavator side via the connection part designed as an adapter with two pin-like coupling elements. Using such a tilt rotator, tools connected to the tool changer can not only be rotated around the rotation axis but can also be tilted relative to the connection part around the pivot axis orthogonal to the rotation axis so that the movement 20 capabilities for the tools are expanded. Excavator buckets, compactors, hydraulic hammers or other tools can be connected to the quick changer. A grapple assembly with two gripper arms pivotable relative to each other can also be arranged on the quick changer for gripping pipes, bars, stones or the like. The areas of use can be expanded by using this arrangement. However, such a tilt rotator also invariably has a relatively high intrinsic weight and a 25 comparatively tall structure so that the operating speed, stability and handling can be compromised. A relatively demanding and cost-intensive control is also invariably required to control such a tilt rotator with additional grapple assembly. Any reference to prior art in the background above or elsewhere in this specification is not 30 and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or in any other country. 2025279658   10 Dec 2025 SUMMARY Applicant recognizes it may be beneficial to create an excavator attachment of the type mentioned above, which is stable and compact in design and enables an expanded area of 5 application. An excavator attachment is provided having the features of claim 1. Practical embodiments and advantageous modifications of the invention are mentioned in the dependent claims. 10 The excavator attachment according to the invention has a quick changer on the tool side for connecting a tool or attachment, a grapple assembly with two gripper arms movable relative to each other by means of a gripper drive, and an adaptor for connecting the excavator attachment to a quick changer on the excavator side. The mechanical gripper is mounted on a gripper support that is fixedly arranged on the bottom of the adapter, and the quick changer 15 is mounted on the bottom of the gripper support. The adapter, the gripper support with the grapple assembly, and the quick changer create a compact excavator attachment consisting of three modules with expanded use capabilities. The adapter, the gripper support and the quick changer are firmly connected to each other so 20 that a stable unit is produced. Using the adapter, the gripper support with the grapple assembly and the quick changer arranged on the bottom of the gripper support can be connected to a quick changer on the excavator side, mounted, for example, on an excavator boom and a coupling of an excavator. Manhole covers, curbstones, pipes or other components required at the construction site can be grasped and moved via the grapple 25 assembly. Backhoe buckets, profiling buckets or other tools can be connected to the quick changer on the tool side. The gripper support with the grapple assembly can also be used without any tools connected to the quick changer. In a preferred embodiment, the two gripper arms of the grapple assembly can be arranged to 30 pivot around a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gripper support on a support structure firmly connected to the gripper support. The gripper drive expediently comprises a first gripper cylinder for operating a first gripper arm and a second gripper cylinder for operating a second gripper arm. However, the two 2025279658   10 Dec 2025 gripper arms can also be driven in a different way. In order for the two gripper arms, each pivotable by means of a gripper cylinder, to enter one inside the other when retracted and to be fully collapsed, the first gripper arm expediently comprises a slit-like recess to accommodate the second gripper arm. 5 The first gripper arm and the second gripper arm can be arranged in a stable and compact structure on the outsides of two side walls of the gripper support. In a preferred embodiment, the quick changer on the tool side includes a support housing, 10 which has first receptacles on one side to accommodate and secure a first pin-like coupling element on the tool side and second receptacles on the other side to accommodate and secure a second pin-like coupling element on the tool side. The quick changer on the tool side also includes a locking device with two locking pins guided to move within the hole of the support housing, movable between an extended locking position and a retracted unlocking and 15 change position. In a simplified embodiment, the locking pins can be manually moved via a mechanical adjustment mechanism between the retracted unlocking and change position and the extended locking position. The adjustment mechanism can be formed by a shaft and a joint 20 assembly with cylindrical adjustment elements, joints and articulated levers. In a preferred embodiment, the adapter comprises two parallel side walls in which two parallel pin-like coupling elements are held for connecting the excavator attachment to a quick changer on the excavator side. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Additional details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a non-limiting practical embodiment of the invention with reference to the 30 accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1     shows a side view of an excavator attachment according to an embodiment of the invention; 2025279658   10 Dec 2025 Figure 2     shows a top view of the excavator attachment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3     shows a first perspective view from above of the excavator attachment shown in Figure 1; 5 Figure 4     shows a second perspective view from above of the excavator attachment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5     shows a first perspective view from the bottom of the excavator attachment 10                shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6     shows a second perspective view from the bottom of the excavator attachment shown in Figure 1. 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION The excavator attachment 1 shown in Figures 1 to 6 in different views has a quick changer 2 on the tool side for connecting a tool or attachment, a grapple assembly 3 with two gripper arms 4 and 5 movable relative to each other, and an adaptor 6 for connecting the excavator 20 attachment 1 to a quick changer on the excavator side. As can be seen from the side view of Figure 1 and the perspective views in Figures 5 and 6, the quick changer 2, which is designed for connecting an attachment or tool and is lockable or releasable manually here comprises a support housing 7 designed as a welded structure or 25 as a cast part, which has first receptacles 8 open to one side to accommodate and secure a first pin-like coupling element on the tool side on one side and second receptacles 9 open to the other side and downward to accommodate and secure a second pin-like coupling element on the tool side on the other side. The first receptacles 8 open to one side are designed to be claw-like or fork-like. The second receptacles 9 open to the other side and downward have 30 a curved lower support surface to support a pin-like coupling element. The quick changer 2 is provided with a locking device 10, which can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, having two locking pins 12 movable between an extended locking position and a retracted unlocking and change position and movable within holes 11 of the support housing 2025279658   10 Dec 2025 7. The locking pins 12 arranged on the second receptacles 9 can be manually moved here via a mechanical adjustment mechanism between the retracted locking and change position and the extended locking position. The mechanical adjustment mechanism has a shaft 13 and a joint assembly with cylindrical adjustment elements 14, joints 15 and articulated levers 5   16. By rotating the shaft 13, which is rotatably mounted between two side walls of support housing 7, the two locking pins 12 can be moved between the retracted unlocking and change position and the extended locking position. In the extended locking position of the two locking pins 12, the downwardly open second receptacles 9 on the quick changer 2 are closed at the bottom so that a pin-like coupling element can be secured on a tool. A practical 10 example of a manually operated quick changer is disclosed in DE 20 2017 001 992 U1. This document is referred to for the structure and function of a manually operated quick changer. The locking pins 12, however, can also be moved by a hydraulic adjustment drive or another drive between the retracted unlocking and change position and the extended locking position. Various attachments, such as backhoe buckets, profiling buckets or the like can then be 15 connected to quick changer 2. Foldable catch hooks 17 are arranged on the first receptacles 8 on the support housing 7 of the quick changer 2, which are open to the side between a folded-down change and catch position and folded-up securing position. The catch hooks 17, which are pivotable around 20 transverse axes 18, form a fall protection device that reliably prevents tools or attachments from falling off even if locking of the quick changer 2 was inadvertently not correctly closed, despite any available visual displays, warning signals and cross-checks. The quick changer 2 is fastened to the bottom of a gripper support 19 firmly connected to 25 the adapter 6. The grapple assembly 3 with the two gripper arms 4 and 5 movable relative to each other is arranged on the gripper support 19. The two gripper arms 4 and 5 are each arranged on a support structure 22 firmly connected to the gripper support 19 and are pivotable around a pivot axis 20 or 21 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gripper support 19. The two gripper arms 4 and 5 can be folded out or in via a hydraulic 30 grapple drive formed via two double-acting gripper cylinders 23 and 24. In the embodiment shown, a first gripper arm 4 is movable via a first gripper cylinder 23 and a second gripper arm 5 via a second gripper cylinder 24. As can be seen from Figure 5, the first gripper arm 4 has a slit-like recess 25 for accommodating the other gripper arm 4. The two gripper arms 4 and 5 are each pivotable by means of a gripper cylinder 23 and 24 and can thus be moved 2025279658   10 Dec 2025 one into the other when retracted and completely collapsed. The two gripper cylinders 23 and 24 are fastened to the outside of two side walls 26 of the gripper support 19 and are connected to the corresponding gripper arms 4 and 5 via their piston rods 27. 5 The adapter 6 for connecting the excavator attachment 1 to a quick changer on the excavator side is arranged on the top of the gripper support 19. The adaptor 6 has a base plate 28 and two parallel side walls 29 and 30. Two spaced apart and parallel pin-like coupling elements 31 and 32 are held in the two side walls 29 and 30 of the adaptor 6. A coupling support 33, which serves to accommodate couplings for power supply lines, is fastened to the coupling 10 element 32 closer to the gripper arms 4 and 5 via mounts 34. In this specification, the term ‘comprising’ may be intended to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or integers, but not necessarily the exclusion of any other integer, depending on the context in which that term is used. This applies also to variants of that term such as 15    ‘comprise’ or ‘comprises’. 2025279658   10 Dec 2025 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Excavator attachment 2 Quick changer on the tool side 3 Grapple assembly 4 First gripper arm 5 Second gripper arm 6 Adaptor 7 Support housing 8 First receptacle 9 Second receptacle 10 Locking device 11 Hole 12 Locking pins 13 Shaft 14 Adjustment element 15 Joint 16 Articulated lever 17 Catch hook 18 Transverse axis 19 Gripper support 20 Pivot axis 21 Pivot axis 22 Support structure 23 First gripper cylinder 24 Second gripper cylinder 25 Recess 26 Side wall 27 Piston rod 28 Base plate 29 First side wall 30 Second side wall 2025279658   10 Dec 2025 31    First coupling element 32   Second coupling element 33   Coupling element support 34   Mount

Claims

1. An excavator attachment with a quick changer on the tool side for connecting a toolor attachment, a grapple assembly with two gripper arms movable relative to each other by means of a gripper drive, and an adaptor for connecting the excavator attachment to a quick 5 changer on the excavator side, wherein the grapple assembly is mounted on a gripper support that is fixedly arranged on the bottom of adapter, and the quick changer is mounted on the bottom of the gripper support.

2. The excavator attachment according to claim 1, wherein the two gripper arms of the10 grapple assembly are each pivotable around a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gripper support and arranged on a support structure firmly connected to the gripper support.

3. The excavator attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the gripper drive15 comprises a first gripper cylinder for operating a first gripper arm and a second gripper cylinder for operating a second gripper arm.

4. The excavator attachment according to claim 3, wherein the first gripper armcomprises a slit-like recess for accommodating the second gripper arm.

205. The excavator attachment according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the first grippercylinder and the second gripper cylinder are arranged on the outside of two side walls of the gripper support.25   6.     The excavator attachment according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the firstgripper cylinder and the second gripper cylinder are connected to the gripper arms via a piston rod.

7. The excavator attachment according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the30 quick changer on the tool side includes, a support housing with first receptacles open to one side to accommodate and secure first receptacles open to one side, to accommodate and secure a first pin-like coupling element on the tool side on one side, and second receptacles2025279658   10 Dec 2025open to the other side and downward to accommodate and secure a second pin-like coupling element on the tool side on the other side.

8. The excavator attachment according to claim 7, wherein the quick changer on the5 tool side includes a locking device with two locking pins guided to move within holes of the support housing, and movable between an extended locking position and a retracted unlocking and change position.

9. The excavator attachment according to claim 8, wherein the locking pins can be10 manually moved via a mechanical adjustment mechanism between the retracted unlocking and change position and the extended locking position.

10. The excavator attachment according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism is formed by a shaft and a joint assembly with cylindrical adjustment elements, joints and 15 articulated levers.

11. The excavator attachment according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the adapter comprises two parallel side walls in which two parallel pin-like coupling elements are held.

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