Quick change system for replacing an attachment on a construction machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a quick-change system for replacing an attachment on a working machine, with a quick changer arranged to be rotatable about an axis of rotation on a connection part (2) by means of a hydraulic rotation drive (9) and to be rotatable about an axis of pivoting orthogonal to the axis of rotation by means of a hydraulic pivoting drive (12), which quick changer comprises a receiving part and at least one locking element actuatable by means of a hydraulic drive (27) for retaining an attachment (46) coupled to the quick changer (1). The quick-change system is characterized in that it comprises a hydraulic control device (44) comprising a first control circuit (47) for controlling the rotation drive (9) and the pivoting drive (12), at least one further control circuit (61) for supplying an attachment (46) coupled to the quick changer (1), and a shuttle valve device (64) for loading the hydraulic drive (27) with a higher pressure acting in the first or at least one further control circuit (47, 61) to actuate the at least one locking element (26).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick-change system for replacing auxiliary equipment on engineering machinery, as described in the preamble of claim 1. Background Technology

[0002] A quick-change system for rapidly and easily changing various attachments on construction machinery is known from DE 10 2013 206 574 A1. This quick-change system comprises: a quick-change unit rotatably supported in a drive housing and rotatable relative to the drive housing by rotating the drive; and a rotary joint arranged in the drive housing, having a stator and a rotor rotatable within the stator, for supplying working fluid to the quick-change unit. By rotating the drive, attachments coupled to the quick-change unit, such as buckets, grapples, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers, etc., can rotate not only about a pivot axis arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the excavator arm, but also about a rotation axis orthogonal to the pivot axis. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of this invention is to provide a quick-change system of the type described at the beginning, which enables the attachment device to be locked onto the quick-change unit with greater security.

[0004] This objective is achieved by a quick-change system having the features described in claim 1. Suitable designs and advantageous improvements of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0005] The quick-change system for replacing auxiliary equipment on engineering machinery according to the present invention includes a quick-change unit arranged on a connecting member in such a way that it can rotate about a rotation axis by means of a hydraulic rotary actuator and about a pivot axis orthogonal to the rotation axis by means of a hydraulic pivot actuator. The quick-change unit includes a receiving portion and at least one locking element actuated by means of a hydraulic actuator for retaining the auxiliary equipment coupled to the quick-change unit. The quick-change system also includes a hydraulic control device comprising: a first control circuit for driving the rotary actuator and the pivot actuator; at least one additional control circuit for supplying power to the auxiliary equipment coupled to the quick-change unit; and a shuttle valve device for applying a higher pressure, acting in the first or at least one additional control circuit, to the hydraulic actuator to actuate the at least one locking element. Here, the hydraulic actuator for actuating the locking element is supplied by the first and at least one additional control circuit, wherein the control circuit with the higher pressure always has priority. This ensures that locking is always performed at the maximum available pressure, thereby achieving a high safety standard.

[0006] In an advantageous embodiment, the shuttle valve device has two shuttle valves arranged between a separate control circuit and a hydraulic actuator. These two shuttle valves are preferably connected sequentially and arranged such that the hydraulic actuator, configured to actuate the locking element, is always loaded with the maximum available pressure.

[0007] The shuttle valve assembly is preferably connected upstream / upstream of a control line for controlling the movement of at least one locking element actuated by a hydraulic actuator between a locked position and a released position. The control line advantageously includes a check valve and a directional valve arranged in a rectifier configuration. This control line ensures that the hydraulic actuator for actuating at least one locking element functions correctly regardless of which control line in the control circuit is pressurized.

[0008] In another advantageous embodiment, the first control loop and at least one additional control loop are connected to the hydraulic actuator via control lines and a rotary joint built into the quick-change unit. Due to its arrangement and design within the quick-change unit, the rotary joint can have multiple supply channels for supplying working fluid to the quick-change unit. This also allows for the supply of additional equipment using multiple joints. Therefore, by interconnecting or merging multiple supply channels, a high-capacity supply line can be achieved to achieve higher flow rates at low back pressure / stagnation pressure.

[0009] The rotary drive can be driven via a first directional valve and the pivot drive can be driven via a second directional valve through the first control circuit. Other loads can also be operated via corresponding directional valves through the first control circuit. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0011] Figure 1 A perspective view shows a quick-change system with a quick changer, connecting parts, and a rotating device;

[0012] Figure 2 Shown in partial sectional view Figure 1 The quick-swap system in the middle, and

[0013] Figure 3 It shows the drive control Figure 1 and 2 The hydraulic circuitry of the quick-change system is shown in the figure. Detailed Implementation

[0014] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2An embodiment of a quick-change system is shown, comprising: a quick-change unit 1 for automatically connecting auxiliary equipment; a connecting member 2 for mounting the quick-change unit 1 to other auxiliary components of an excavator arm or construction machinery; and a rotating device 3 disposed between the quick-change unit 1 and the connecting member 2 for rotating the quick-change unit 1 relative to the connecting member 2. The rotating device 3 includes a drive housing 4 around which the quick-change unit 1... Figure 2 The vertically oriented axis of rotation 5, shown here, is rotatably supported in the drive housing. A rotary joint 6 is also arranged in the drive housing 4 of the rotating device 3. This rotary joint has a stator 7 arranged in a non-rotatable manner relative to it within the drive housing 4, and a rotor 8 rotatably supported in the stator 7 for conveying working fluid to the quick changer 1. The quick changer 1 can be connected via (in...) Figure 1 The rotary actuator 9 shown is designed as a hydraulic motor, and the actuator with (designed as a turbine in this case) Figure 2 The drive wheel 10 (identifiable in the text) can be electrically rotated 360° about the rotation axis 5 relative to the drive housing 1 via a drive worm gear (not shown here).

[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, the drive housing 4 of the rotating device 3 is arranged at the connecting member 2 in a manner that allows it to pivot about a pivot axis 11 orthogonal to the rotation axis 5, and in a manner that allows the pivot drive 12, formed here by two servo cylinders, to pivot relative to the connecting member 2 about the pivot axis 11. However, the pivot drive 12 used to tilt the drive housing 4 relative to the connecting member 2 can also be constructed as a rotary motor or the like. The additional equipment connected to the quick changer 1 can not only rotate about the rotation axis 5 through this quick changer system, also known as a tilter, but also tilt relative to the connecting member 2 about a pivot axis orthogonal to the rotation axis 5, thereby expanding the possibilities of movement and thus broadening the range of applications. However, the drive housing 4 can also be fixedly arranged on the connecting member 2 without additional pivoting possibilities, so that the quick changer 1 can only rotate about the rotation axis 5 relative to the connecting member 2.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting component 2 has two parallel side cheek plates 13 and a front crossbeam and a rear crossbeam 14. The drive housing 4 is connected via... Figure 1As can be seen, the bearing journals 15 are pivotally supported about the pivot axis 11 in corresponding bearing holes 16 in the front and rear crossbeams 14. The connecting member 2 can be mounted to the excavator's boom and linkage via holes 17 in the two cheek plates 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot actuator 12 is formed by two servo cylinders together with corresponding cheek plates 13 fixed to the connecting member 2 and piston rods 19 movably arranged in the cylinder housing 18 and hydraulically movable, the free ends of the piston rods being connected to the actuator housing 4 via hinge holes 20 and corresponding brackets 21. Thus, the actuator housing 14 can tilt relative to the connecting member 2 by correspondingly moving the two piston rods 19 in and out.

[0017] exist Figure 2 The quick-change device 1 shown in the cross-sectional view includes a support member 22 constructed as a welded structure or a casting, the support member having a first receiving portion 23 open to one side to receive and hold a first bolt-shaped coupling element on said one side, and a second receiving portion 24 open to the other side and the bottom surface to receive and hold a second bolt-shaped coupling element on said other side.

[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, the quick-change device 1 has two spaced-apart receptacles 23 on one side of the support 22 for a front coupling element and two receptacles 24 on the other side for a rear coupling element. The first receptacle 23, open towards the one side, is configured as a claw or fork shape. The second receptacle 24, open towards the other side and the bottom surface, has a curved lower abutment surface 25 for abutting against a bolt-shaped coupling element. A locking device is provided on the second receptacle 24, having two bolt-shaped locking elements 26 movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The two bolt-shaped locking elements 26 are movably guided within the support 22 and pass through... Figure 2 The hydraulic actuator 27, which is identifiable here as a hydraulic cylinder, can move into the unlocked position (for release or coupling of the adapter or additional equipment) and Figure 1 The movement is shown between the removed and locked positions. In the removed and locked position, the second receiving part 24, which is open towards the bottom surface, is closed at the bottom surface by the locking element 26, which is movably arranged in the guide hole of the support member 22, so that the coupling element is engaged from below by the bolt-shaped locking element 26.

[0019] To connect an auxiliary device via a quick-change unit 1, the quick-change unit 1, typically arranged on the excavator arm and connecting rod via a connecting member 2, first moves such that the front bolt-shaped coupling element, arranged on the adapter or directly on the auxiliary device, moves into the gripper-shaped or fork-shaped receiving portion 23 on one side of the quick-change unit 1. Subsequently, the quick-change unit 1 pivots around the front bolt-shaped coupling element using a still-retracted locking element 26, such that the rear coupling element reaches the adapter or auxiliary device and abuts against the contact surface 25 of the bottom-opening receiving portion 24 on the other side of the quick-change unit 1. Next, the locking element 26, movably arranged in a guide hole in the support member 22, can be removed by a hydraulic actuator 27, thereby engaging the rear bolt-shaped coupling element from below on the quick-change unit 1 by the two locking elements 26, and thus retaining the auxiliary device on the quick-change unit 1.

[0020] like Figure 2 As shown, the drive housing 4, composed of a single component, has: an upper annular covering surface 28, a central through hole 30 defined by an internal bearing ring 29 of the drive housing 4, and an annular space 31 arranged around the bearing ring 29 and opening downward for receiving the drive wheel 10. The annular space 31 is defined between the outer surface of the internal bearing ring 29 of the drive housing 4 and the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 32. The drive wheel 10 is rotatably supported on the outer surface of the internal bearing ring 29 of the drive housing 4 in an axially fixed manner, the internal bearing ring extending axially over almost the entire height of the drive wheel 10; the drive wheel 10 is used not only for driving but also for rotatably supporting the quick changer 1 in the drive housing 4. For this purpose, the support member 22 of the quick changer 1 is fixedly connected to the drive wheel 10, which is rotatably supported and axially fixed to the bearing ring 29 of the drive housing 4, by an intermediate ring 33. The intermediate ring 33 can be firmly welded to the support member 22 and firmly connected to the drive wheel 10 by bolts.

[0021] The stator 7 has a hollow cylindrical base 34 and an annular upper retaining flange 35, the annular upper retaining flange having, for example, Figure 1 The external lug 36 shown is form-fitted into a corresponding recess 37 on the upper cover surface 28 of the drive housing 4. The lug 36 on the retaining flange 35 and the corresponding recess 37 on the upper cover surface 28 of the drive housing 4 are used to torsionally and securely hold the stator 7 within the drive housing 4. The outer diameter of the hollow cylindrical base 34 matches the inner diameter of the through-hole 28 in the drive housing 4, such that the stator 7 is radially supported relative to the drive housing 4. This radial support of the stator 7 relative to the drive housing 4 occurs not only in the upper region of the base 34 but also below the upper end face 38 of the drive wheel, thus the stator 7 is radially supported relative to the drive housing 4 for most of its length.

[0022] Like from Figure 2 As can be seen, the bearing ring 29 extends downward to a relatively large extent within the drive housing 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end 39 of the bearing ring 29 is located in the region of the lower end face 40 of the drive wheel 10. The stator of the rotary joint 6 completely fills the through-hole 30 in the bearing ring 29, resulting in a closed structure. A sealing element 41, designed here with an O-shaped or rectangular cross-section, is arranged between the hollow cylindrical base 34 of the stator 7 and the drive housing 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the stator 7 of the rotary joint 6 is radially sealed within the through-hole 30 of the drive housing 4 by three axially spaced sealing elements 41. The rotary joint 6 has a plurality of supply channels in a manner known per se, having first channel sections 42 arranged in the stator 7 and second channel sections 43 having rotors 8 connected to these first channel sections.

[0023] exist Figure 3 The diagram shows the wiring diagram of the hydraulic control unit 44 used to control the aforementioned quick-change system. The hydraulic control unit 44 is designed to: drive the rotary actuator 9 to control the rotational movement of the quick-change unit 1 about the rotation axis 5; drive the pivot actuator 12 to control the pivotal-or tilting movement of the quick-change unit 1 about the pivot axis 11; control the hydraulic actuator 27, designed as a hydraulic cylinder, for locking the device; control the additional load 45; and supply and drive the hydraulically operated auxiliary device 46 coupled to the quick-change unit 1. The auxiliary device 46 can be, for example, a so-called continuously operating component, that is, a continuously operating hammer, vibrator, etc. Such auxiliary devices typically operate at a higher volumetric flow rate.

[0024] The hydraulic control unit 44 includes a first control circuit 47, through which a pivot actuator 12, designed as a 4 / 3 directional valve, can be driven via a first directional valve 48 to control the pivoting-or tilting movement of the quick changer 1 about the pivot axis 11, and a rotation actuator 9, designed as a 4 / 3 directional valve, can be driven via a second directional valve 49, also designed as a 4 / 3 directional valve, to rotate the quick changer 1 about the rotation axis 5. The first control circuit 47 can also drive an additional load 45 via a third directional valve 50, designed as a 4 / 3 directional valve. The first control circuit 47 can also control a hydraulic actuator 27, designed as a hydraulic cylinder, for locking the device via a control line 51, which has four check valves 52 to 55 arranged in a rectified manner, an additional check valve 56, and a resiliently loaded, electrically actuated 4 / 2 directional valve 57. The first control circuit 47 has a first control line 58 and a second control line 59 and is connected to the hydraulic actuator 27 via the control line 51 and the rotary joint 6 to enable... Figure 2The bolt-shaped locking element 26 shown moves between the locked position and the released position. In the 4 / 2 directional valve 57... Figure 3 In the positions shown, Figure 2 The locking element 26 shown is pressed into the locked position by the hydraulic actuator 27. Conversely, the locking element 26 can be moved to the retracted released position by actuating the 4 / 2 directional valve 57. The pressure in the first control circuit 47 can be limited to a predetermined maximum value by a pressure relief valve 60 arranged in the first control circuit 47. For example, the pressure in the first control circuit 47 can be limited to a maximum pressure of 225 bar by the pressure relief valve 60.

[0025] To control and supply the auxiliary equipment 46 coupled to the quick-change unit 1, the hydraulic control unit 44 also includes an additional control circuit 61. This additional control circuit 61, equipped with a third control line 62 and a fourth control line 64, is connected to the auxiliary equipment 46 via a rotary joint 6 and operates at a higher pressure (e.g., a maximum of 350 bar) relative to the first control circuit 47, in order to ensure a high volumetric flow rate supply to the auxiliary equipment 46 as well.

[0026] The hydraulic control unit 44 also includes a shuttle valve assembly 64, which is connected upstream / before the control line 51 and has two shuttle valves 65 and 66 connected sequentially. The shuttle valve assembly 64 ensures that a higher pressure, acting in the first or second control circuit, is applied to the hydraulic actuator 27 to actuate the locking element 26. The hydraulic actuator 27 for actuating the locking element is supplied by two control circuits 47 and 61, where the control circuit with the higher pressure always has priority. This ensures that locking is always performed at the maximum available pressure, thus achieving a high level of safety.

[0027] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Therefore, in addition to the two existing control loops, multiple other control loops may exist.

[0028] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0029] 1 Quick Change

[0030] 2 Connecting components

[0031] 3. Rotating device

[0032] 4. Driver Housing

[0033] 5. Rotation axis

[0034] 6. Rotary joint

[0035] 7. Stator

[0036] 8 rotors

[0037] 9 Rotary drive

[0038] 10 drive wheels

[0039] 11 Pivot axis

[0040] 12 Pivot Drives

[0041] 13 cheek plates 13

[0042] 14. Crossbeam

[0043] 15 Bearing journal

[0044] 16 bearing holes

[0045] 17 holes

[0046] 18 cylinder housing

[0047] 19 Piston rod

[0048] 20 hinge eyelets

[0049] 21 brackets

[0050] 22 Support components

[0051] 23 First Reception Department

[0052] 24 Second Reception Department

[0053] 25. Surface against the back.

[0054] 26 Locking elements

[0055] 27 Hydraulic actuator

[0056] 28 Coverage

[0057] 29 Bearing ring

[0058] 30 through hole

[0059] 31. Circular Space

[0060] 32 Zhou Bi

[0061] 33 Intermediate ring

[0062] 34 Matrix

[0063] 35. Retain flange

[0064] 36. Protruding ears

[0065] 37 recess

[0066] 38. Top surface

[0067] 39. Lower end of bearing ring

[0068] 40 Lower end face

[0069] 41 Sealing elements

[0070] 42 First Channel Section

[0071] 43 Second Channel Section

[0072] 44 Hydraulic control device

[0073] 45 Additional load

[0074] 46. ​​Additional Equipment

[0075] 47 First control loop

[0076] 48 First directional valve

[0077] 49 Second directional valve

[0078] 50 Third directional valve

[0079] Route 51

[0080] 52 First check valve

[0081] 53 Second check valve

[0082] 54 Third check valve

[0083] 55 Fourth check valve

[0084] 56. Fifth check valve

[0085] 57 4 / 2 reversing valve

[0086] 58 First Control Line

[0087] 59 Second Control Circuit

[0088] 60 Pressure relief valve

[0089] 61. Other control loops

[0090] 62 Third Control Line

[0091] 63 Fourth Control Circuit

[0092] 64 Shuttle Valve Device

[0093] 65 First shuttle valve

[0094] 66 Second shuttle valve

Claims

1. A quick-change system for replacing auxiliary equipment on engineering machinery, the quick-change system having a quick-change unit (1) arranged on a connecting member (2) in such a way that it is rotatable about a rotation axis (5) by means of a hydraulic rotary actuator (9) and pivotable about a pivot axis (11) orthogonal to the rotation axis (5) by means of a hydraulic pivot actuator (12), the quick-change unit including receiving portions (23, 24) and at least one locking element (26) actuated by means of a hydraulic actuator (27) for retaining the auxiliary equipment (46) coupled to the quick-change unit (1), characterized in that, The quick-change system also includes a hydraulic control device (44) comprising: a first control circuit (47) for driving the rotary drive (9) and the pivot drive (12); at least one additional control circuit (61) for supplying an auxiliary device (46) coupled to the quick-change unit (1); and a shuttle valve device (64) for applying a higher pressure to the hydraulic drive (27) acting in the first or at least one additional control circuit (47, 61) to actuate at least one locking element (26), wherein the shuttle valve device (64) is connected upstream of a control line (51) for controlling the movement of at least one locking element (26) actuated by the hydraulic drive (27) between a locked position and a released position.

2. The quick-change system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shuttle valve assembly (64) includes two shuttle valves (65, 66) arranged between a separate control circuit (61) and a hydraulic actuator (27).

3. The quick-change system according to claim 2, characterized in that, Two shuttle valves (65, 66) are connected one after the other.

4. The quick-change system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The control circuit (51) includes check valves (52 to 55) and directional valves (57) arranged in a rectifier circuit for controlling the movement of at least one locking element (26) actuated by a hydraulic actuator (27).

5. The quick-change system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first control circuit (47) and at least one additional control circuit (61) are connected to the hydraulic actuator (27) via control lines (51) and a rotary joint (6) built into the quick changer (1).

6. The quick-change system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The rotary joint (6) includes a stator (7) arranged in a through hole (30) of the drive housing (4) and a rotor (8) rotatably supported in the stator (7).

7. The quick-change system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first control loop (47) can drive the pivot drive (12) via the first directional valve (48) and the rotary drive (9) via the second directional valve (49).

8. The quick-change system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first control loop (47) can drive at least one additional load (45) via the reversing valve (50).

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