Quick change system

Abstract

The invention relates to a quick-change system (1) for changing attachments on a construction machine, comprising a quick-change device (3) for coupling a tool or attachment. The quick-change device is rotatable about a rotary axis (5) by means of a rotary drive (4) and / or pivotable about a pivot axis (7) by means of a swivel drive (6). According to the invention, a gripper assembly (23) with several gripper arms (24, 25) movable relative to each other is arranged on the quick-change device (3). The gripper arms (24, 25) are actuated by means of a gripper drive (30, 31), and replaceable gripper elements (32; 38) are arranged on the gripper arms (24, 25).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a quick-change system for changing attachments on a construction machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such quick-change systems are used on excavators or other similar construction machines between an attachment of the construction machine and the tool as a rotary-swivel unit to expand the movement options. Such quick-change systems usually contain a quick coupler arranged on a connecting part which can be rotated about a rotary axis by means of a hydraulic rotary drive and pivoted about a pivot axis orthogonal to the rotary axis by means of a hydraulic pivot drive. The quick coupler has mounts and at least one locking element for releasably holding an attachment coupled to the quick coupler. Using such a quick-change system, the attachments coupled to the quick coupler, such as swivel buckets, grapples, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers or the like, can be, can be rotated not only about a pivot axis arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of an excavator boom, but also about a rotation axis orthogonal to this pivot axis. Such a quick-change system is known from DE 10 2020 127 313 B3.

[0003] The object of the invention is to create a quick-change system of the type mentioned above, which enables an expanded range of applications.

[0004] This object is achieved by a quick-change system having the features of claim 1. Expedient embodiments and advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0005] The quick-change system according to the invention for changing attachments on a construction machine contains a quick-change device for coupling a tool or attachment, which is arranged on a carrier and can be rotated about a rotation axis by means of a rotary drive and / or pivoted about a pivot axis by means of a pivot drive. To expand the possible applications, a gripper assembly with several gripper arms that can be moved relative to one another is arranged on the quick-change device and can be actuated by means of a gripper drive and can be easily retrofitted if necessary. This allows, for example, pipes, rings, rods, stones or the like to be gripped and transported. In order to adapt the gripper assembly to different requirements relatively easily and cost-effectively, interchangeable gripper elements are arranged on the gripper arms. This easily expands the area of ​​application.To adapt to different requirements and applications, the entire gripper assembly does not need to be rebuilt and modified. Only the gripper elements arranged separately on the gripper arms need to be replaced.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the quick coupler with the gripper assembly mounted thereon is mounted on the support so that it can rotate about the rotation axis by means of the rotary drive and pivot about the pivot axis orthogonal to the rotation axis by means of the pivot drive. This allows the gripper assembly to be not only rotated but also tilted. However, the quick coupler can also be mounted on the support so that it can only rotate or tilt.

[0007] The gripper assembly preferably has two gripper arms arranged on a support structure so that they can pivot relative to each other. However, the gripper assembly can also contain more than two gripper arms.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the gripper elements, which are individually tailored to the desired application, can be attached to the gripper arms via a non-destructively removable connection. This allows the gripper elements to be easily replaced or exchanged particularly quickly and without major modifications. However, the gripper elements can also be welded to the gripper arms or fixed to the gripper arms in another suitable manner. Even in this case, the gripper elements can be replaced, albeit with somewhat greater effort. Adapting the gripper to a specific application does not require replacing the entire gripper arm.

[0009] In a practical embodiment, the gripper elements have an outer clamping surface for gripping components internally. The gripper elements can also include an outwardly projecting extension with a stop surface. In a further advantageous embodiment, elastic pressure bodies can be arranged on the gripper elements. This allows, for example, delicate components made of marble or the like to be gripped.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the gripper drive can include a first gripper cylinder for driving a first gripper arm and a second gripper cylinder for driving a second gripper arm. However, the gripper drive can also be configured differently.

[0011] The carrier preferably has two parallel side walls with openings for receiving two parallel bolt-shaped connecting elements. This allows the carrier to be mounted directly on an excavator arm or coupled to a quick coupler mounted on the excavator arm via the bolt-shaped connecting elements.

[0012] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Figure 1 a quick-change system with a gripper arrangement in a perspective view; Figure 2 a gripper arrangement in a perspective view; Figure 3 a gripper assembly in an exploded view; Figure 4 a detailed view of a gripper arm of the Figure 2 shown gripper arrangement and Figure 5 a detailed view of a gripper arm in another design.

[0013] In Figure 1a quick-change system 1, also referred to as a tiltrotator, is shown for changing attachments on an excavator or a similar construction machine. The quick-change system 1 contains a quick coupler 3 which is arranged on a carrier 2 so that it can rotate and pivot by means of a rotary and swivel drive and which is designed for the automatic or manual coupling of attachments. In the embodiment shown, the quick coupler 3 is arranged on the carrier 2, which can be coupled either directly or via a hydraulically actuated quick coupler to an excavator boom or another attachment element of a construction machine. The quick coupler 3 can be rotated 360° about a rotation axis 5 by means of a hydraulic rotary drive 4 and can be pivoted about a pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the rotation axis 5 by means of a hydraulic swivel drive 6.

[0014] The quick-change system 1, designed here as a tiltrotator, contains a drive housing 8 in which the quick coupler 3 is mounted so as to be rotatable by 360° about the rotational axis 5, which is oriented vertically here. Also arranged in the drive housing 8 is a hydraulic rotary union (not visible here), comprising a stator arranged in the drive housing 8 so as to be non-rotatable relative to the latter and a rotor rotatably mounted within the stator for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the quick coupler 3. The rotary drive 4 contains a hydraulic motor 9 designed as a hydraulic drive, by means of which the quick coupler 3 can be rotated by 360° relative to the drive housing 8 about the rotational axis 5 via a gear with a worm gear arranged within the drive housing 8 and a drive worm rotatable by the hydraulic motor 9.

[0015] The drive housing 8 is pivotally mounted on the carrier 2 via laterally projecting bearing pins 10 within two spaced-apart bearing eyes 11 about the pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the rotation axis 5 and can be pivoted relative to the connecting part 1 about the pivot axis 6 relative to the Figure 1 and 2 The excavator attachment 1, designed here as a tiltrotator, allows the attachments coupled to the quick coupler 3 to be rotated not only about the rotation axis 5, but also tilted relative to the carrier 2 about the pivot axis 7, which is orthogonal to the rotation axis 5, thereby expanding the movement options and thus increasing the range of application. However, the quick-change system 1 can also be designed solely for rotating or pivoting the quick coupler 3.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 2 has two parallel side walls 12 as well as front and rear crosspieces 13 with the bearing eyes 11 arranged thereon. The drive housing 8 is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis 7 via the two bearing pins 10 in the bearing eyes 11 of the front and rear crosspieces 13. In the illustrated connecting part 1, four openings 14 are provided in the two side walls 12 for receiving two parallel bolt-shaped connecting elements.

[0017] The quick coupler 3, which is designed for coupling an attachment or tool and can be operated manually or hydraulically, contains a housing 15 which has first receptacles 16 open towards one side for receiving and holding a first bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side and second receptacles (not visible here) on the other side for receiving and holding a second bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side. An exemplary embodiment of a hydraulically actuated quick coupler 3 for automatically coupling a tool is disclosed in DE 10 2018 128 479 A1. For the known structure and functioning of such a hydraulically actuated quick coupler, express reference is made to this document. However, the quick coupler 3 can also be designed as a manually actuated quick coupler. An exemplary embodiment of a manually actuated quick coupler is, for example,disclosed in DE 20 2017 001 992 U1.

[0018] In the embodiment shown, the swivel drive 6 is formed by two double-acting actuating cylinders 17 and 18, each with a cylinder housing 19 fastened to the respective side wall 12 of the carrier 2 and a piston rod 20 slidably arranged and hydraulically movable in the cylinder housing 19. The free ends of the piston rods 20 are connected to the drive housing 8 via a joint eye 21 and a corresponding holder 22. By appropriately extending and retracting the two piston rods 20 of the actuating cylinders 17 and 18, the drive housing 8 with the quick coupler 3 rotatably mounted therein can be tilted relative to the connecting part 2. The swivel drive 6 can also be formed by a hydraulic motor or another suitable hydraulic drive.

[0019] Furthermore, a gripper assembly 23 with two gripper arms 24 and 25 that can be pivoted relative to one another is arranged on the carrier 15 of the quick coupler 3. The gripper arms 24 and 25 are also arranged on a Figure 2 shown support structure 26 are arranged pivotably about an axis 27 or 28 and can be folded out or in via a hydraulic gripper drive formed here by two double-acting gripper cylinders 29 or 30. One of the two gripper arms 24 and 25 has a slot-shaped recess 31 for receiving the other gripper arm 5. As a result, the two gripper arms 24 and 25, which can be pivoted by a gripper cylinder 29 or 30, can be moved into each other during folding and can be folded in completely. In contrast to Figure 1, in which the gripper arm 24 provided with the slot-shaped recess 31 is arranged on the left side of the supporting structure 26, the gripper arm 24 provided with the slot-shaped recess 31 is in the execution of Figure 2 arranged on the right side of the support structure 26. The support structure 26 is symmetrically constructed so that it can be easily mounted on the quick coupler 3 in two different positions, ie, rotated by 180°.

[0020] As can be seen from the Figures 1 and 2As can be seen, separate, replaceable gripper elements 32 are arranged on the two gripper arms 24 and 25. In the illustrated embodiment, the gripper elements 32 are fastened to the gripper arms 24 and 25 via screws 33 or another non-destructively detachable connection. While two gripper elements 32 are fastened to the gripper arm 24 provided with the slot-shaped recess 31, one above and one below the recess 31, only one gripper element 32 is fastened to the other gripper arm 25.

[0021] The Figure 1 and 2 The gripper elements 32 shown are designed, for example, for gripping inside shaft rings, pipes or the like. As can be seen particularly from the enlarged illustration of the Figures 4 and 5As can be seen, these gripper elements 32 have a straight outer clamping surface 34 and an outwardly projecting nose-shaped projection 35 with a stop surface 36. By moving the two gripper arms 24 and 25 apart, shaft pipes or other parts can be clamped from the inside and held for transport via the mutually parallel clamping surfaces 34 of the two gripper elements 32. Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the gripper elements 32 are detachably attached to the gripper arms via screws 33 and can thus be easily replaced or exchanged. However, the gripper elements 32 can also be welded to the gripper arms or fixed to the gripper arms in another suitable manner, as shown in Figure 5 The gripper elements 32 can then also be replaced or changed to adapt to a different requirement. However, the changeover then involves greater effort.

[0022] Instead of the Figures 1 and 2 In addition to the gripper elements 32 shown, other gripper elements adapted to a specific application area can of course also be attached to the gripper arms 24 and 25. In Figure 3 For example, gripper elements 38 equipped with rubber buffers or other elastic pressure elements 37 can be mounted on the gripper arms 24 and 25. These can be used to grip delicate components made of marble or similar materials. Other specially adapted gripper elements can also be mounted quickly and easily. List of reference symbols

[0023] 1 Excavator attachment 2 Carrier 3 Quick coupler 4 Rotary drive 5 Rotary axis 6 Swivel drive 7 Swivel axis 8 Drive housing 9 Hydraulic motor 10 Bearing journal 11 Bearing eyes 12 Side cheek 13 Crosspiece 14 Opening 15 Housing 16 Mount 17 First actuating cylinder 18 Second actuating cylinder 19 Cylinder housing 20 Piston rod 21 Joint eye 22 Bracket 23 Grabber assembly 24 First grab arm 25 Second grab arm 26 Supporting structure 27 First axle 28 Second axle 29 First grab cylinder 30 Second grab cylinder 31 Recess 32 Grab element 33 Screw 34 Clamping surface 35 Extension 36 Stop surface 37 Pressure body 38 Grab element

Claims

1. Quick-change system (1) for changing attachments on a construction machine, which contains a quick-change system (3) for coupling a tool or attachment, which is arranged on a carrier (2) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (5) by means of a rotary drive (4) and / or pivotable about a pivot axis (7) by means of a pivot drive (6), characterized in that a gripper arrangement (23) which can be actuated by means of a gripper drive (30, 31) and which has a plurality of gripper arms (24, 25) which can be moved relative to one another is arranged on the quick changer (3), and interchangeable gripper elements (32; 38) are arranged on the gripper arms (24, 25).

2. Quick-change system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the quick changer (3) with the gripper arrangement (23) arranged thereon is arranged on the carrier (2) so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation (5) by means of the rotary drive (4) and pivotable about the pivot axis (7) orthogonal to the axis of rotation (5) by means of the pivot drive (6).

3. Quick-change system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gripper arrangement (23) contains two gripper arms (24, 25) arranged on a supporting structure (26) so as to be pivotable relative to one another.

4. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gripper elements (32; 38) are attached to the gripper arms (24, 25) via a non-destructively detachable connection.

5. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gripper elements (32; 38) are welded to the gripper arms (24, 25).

6. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the gripper elements (32; 38) contain an outer clamping surface (34) for internal gripping of components.

7. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the gripper elements (32; 38) contain an outwardly projecting projection (35) with a stop surface (36).

8. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that elastic pressure bodies (37) are arranged on the gripper elements (32; 38).

9. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the gripper drive (30, 31) contains a first gripper cylinder (29) for driving a first gripper arm (24) and a second gripper cylinder (30) for driving a second gripper arm (25).

10. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support (2) contains two mutually parallel side cheeks (12) with openings (14) for receiving two parallel bolt-shaped connecting elements.

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