Quick change system

Abstract

The invention relates to a quick-change system (1) for changing attachments on a construction machine, which includes a quick-change device (3) arranged on a carrier (2) rotatably about a rotary axis (5) by means of a rotary drive (4) and pivotably about a pivot axis (7) by means of a swivel drive (6), which has first receptacles (23) on one side for receiving and holding a tool-side first bolt-shaped coupling element and second receptacles (24) on the other side for receiving and holding a tool-side second bolt-shaped coupling element.According to the invention, a mechanical rotary and swivel indicator (26) is arranged on the quick-change system (1), which includes a first indicator element (27) with an associated first marking (29) for monitoring the rotary position of the quick-changer (3) relative to the carrier (2) and a second indicator element (28) with an associated second marking (30) for monitoring the tilting position of the quick-changer (3) relative to the carrier (2).

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] Quick-change systems of this kind are used on excavators or other comparable construction machinery between an attachment of the machine and the tool as a rotating and / or swiveling unit to expand the range of motion. Such quick-change systems typically include a quick coupler mounted on a connecting part, rotatable about a rotary axis by means of a hydraulic rotary drive and pivotable about a swivel axis orthogonal to the rotary axis by means of a hydraulic swivel drive. The quick coupler has mountings and at least one locking element for the detachable attachment of a tool coupled to it. With such a quick-change system, attachments coupled to the quick coupler, such as tilting buckets, grapples, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers, or the like, can be changed., not only about a pivot axis arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of an excavator arm, 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] There are already quick-change systems of the type mentioned above, in which the swivel and tilt position of a quick coupler is monitored by electrical sensors and transmitted to display devices inside a driver's cab. However, such sensor technology is relatively sensitive and complex. Furthermore, a suitable power supply is required for the sensors.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a quick-change system of the type mentioned above which enables simple and insensitive monitoring of a rotation and tilt position of the quick-changer relative to a carrier, even without a separate power supply.

[0005] This problem is solved by a quick-change system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The quick-change system according to the invention for changing attachments on a construction machine comprises a quick coupler mounted on a carrier, rotatable about a rotary axis by means of a rotary drive and pivotable about an additional pivot axis by means of a swivel drive. The quick coupler has, on one side, first receptacles for receiving and holding a first bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side, and on the other side, second receptacles for receiving and holding a second bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side. A mechanical rotation and swivel indicator is arranged on the quick-change system. This indicator includes a first indicator element with an associated first marking for monitoring the rotational position of the quick coupler and a second indicator element with an associated second marking for monitoring the tilting position of the quick coupler.The mechanical rotation and swivel indicator allows for quick and reliable verification of the quick coupler's position, even without an additional power supply. For example, it enables verification that the quick coupler is in its neutral (unrotated and untilted) starting position (0 position) without the need for complex sensors.

[0007] In a structurally simple and cost-effective design, the display elements can be in the form of a pointer with a pointer tip.

[0008] In a further advantageous embodiment, the indicator elements can include a slot-shaped recess that covers the corresponding marking in the quick-changer's initial position. In the quick-changer's initial position, the marking is thus clearly visible within the slot-shaped recess.

[0009] In a combined rotary and swivel display, the first and second display elements can be arranged on a common mounting plate. This common mounting plate can, for example, be attached to a drive housing, and the two markers can be located on the quick-change adapter and a cross piece of the mounting plate.

[0010] The first and second display elements can also be arranged on separate carrier plates. For example, the second display element can be located on a cross member of the carrier, and the corresponding marking on a bearing journal of a drive housing. Alternatively, the second display element can be located on a bearing journal of a drive housing, and the corresponding marking on a cross member of the carrier.

[0011] The carrier plates with the display elements can be designed as sheet metal parts in a cost-effective version.

[0012] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 a quick-change system with a rotating and tilting quick coupler in a perspective view; Figure 2 a front view of the in Figure 1 quick-change system shown with a quick coupler in a non-rotated and non-tilted starting position; Figure 3 a detailed view of area A of Figure 2 ; Figure 4 a front view of the in Figure 1 shown quick-change system with a quick coupler in a position rotated relative to the starting position; Figure 5 a detailed view of area B of Figure 4 ; Figure 6 a front view of the in Figure 1 shown quick-change system with a quick coupler in a position tilted relative to the starting position; Figure 7 a detailed view of area C of Figure 6 ; Figure 8 a front view of another embodiment of a quick-change system with a quick coupler in a starting position; Figure 9 a detailed view of area D of Figure 8 ; Figure 10 a detailed view of area E of Figure 8 ; Figure 11 a front view of another embodiment of a quick-change system with a quick coupler in a starting position and Figure 12 a detailed view of area F of Figure 11 .

[0013] In Figure 1Figure 1 shows a quick-change system 1, also known as a tiltrotator, for changing attachments on an excavator or similar construction machine. The quick-change system 1 includes a quick coupler 3 mounted on a carrier 2, which is rotatable and pivotable by means of a rotary and swivel drive. The quick coupler 3 is designed for the automatic or manual coupling of attachments. In the embodiment shown, the quick coupler 3 is mounted on the carrier 2, which can be coupled either directly or via a hydraulically actuated quick coupler to an excavator arm or other attachment element of a construction machine. The quick coupler 3 is rotatable about an axis of rotation 5 by means of a hydraulic rotary drive 4 and pivotable about a pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the axis of rotation 5 by means of a hydraulic swivel drive 6.

[0014] The quick-change system 1, designed here as a tiltrotator, includes a drive housing 8 in which the quick coupler 3 is rotatably mounted about the vertically oriented axis of rotation 5 through 360°. The drive housing 8 also contains a hydraulic rotary union (not shown here) with a stator fixed to the drive housing 8 relative to it and a rotor rotatably mounted within the stator for supplying hydraulic fluid to the quick coupler 3. The rotary drive 4 includes a hydraulic motor 9, which drives the quick coupler 3 through a gearbox with a worm gear located within the drive housing 8 and a drive worm rotated by the hydraulic motor 9, allowing it to rotate 360° about the axis of rotation 5 relative to the drive housing 8.

[0015] The drive housing 8 is pivotably arranged on the connection part 2 via laterally projecting bearing journals 10 within two spaced-apart bearing eyes 11 about the pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the axis of rotation 5 and can be pivoted relative to the connection part 1 about the pivot axis 6 via the hydraulic rotary actuator 6. Figure 1 and 2 The position shown can be swivelled by approximately + / - 45°. The tiltrotator 1, also known as a rotary-swivel drive, allows the attachments coupled to the quick coupler 3 not only to be rotated around the axis of rotation 5, but also to be tilted relative to the carrier 2 around the pivot axis 7, which is orthogonal to the axis of rotation 5. This expands the range of motion and thus increases the application range.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 2 has two parallel side walls 12 and front and rear cross pieces 13 with bearing eyes 11 arranged thereon. The drive housing 8 is pivotably mounted about the pivot axis 7 via the two bearing journals 10 in the bearing eyes 11 of the front and rear cross pieces 13. Openings for receiving two parallel and spaced-apart bolt-shaped coupling elements 14 and 15 for connection to an excavator-side quick coupler are arranged in the two side walls 12 of the illustrated carrier 2. However, the carrier 2 can also be mounted directly on a boom and a coupling of an excavator without the interposition of, for example, a hydraulically actuated quick coupler.

[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotary actuator 6 is formed by two double-acting actuating cylinders, each with a cylinder housing 16 or 17 attached to the respective side wall 12 of the connecting part 2, and a hydraulically movable piston rod 18 or 19 slidably arranged within the cylinder housing 19. The free ends of the piston rods 18 and 19 are connected to the drive housing 8 via a articulated eye 20 and a corresponding bracket 21. By extending and retracting the two piston rods 18 and 19 of the actuating cylinders, the drive housing 8, with the quick coupler 3 rotatably mounted therein, can be tilted relative to the support 2. The rotary actuator 6 can also be formed by a hydraulic motor or another suitable hydraulic drive.

[0018] As from Figure 1As can be seen, the quick coupler 3, designed for attaching a tool or implement, comprises a housing 22 constructed as a welded or cast part. This housing has first receptacles 23, open on one side, for receiving and holding a first bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side, and second receptacles 24, open on the other side, for receiving and holding a second bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side. The first receptacles 23, open on one side, are claw- or fork-shaped. Hinged catch hooks 25 are also arranged on these receptacles to prevent the attached tools from falling off. The second receptacles 24, open on the other side and downwards, have a curved lower contact surface for the engagement of a bolt-shaped coupling element.The second set of images 25 features a locking device (not shown here) with two locking bolts movable between an extended locking position and a retracted unlocking or changeover position. An 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 design and operation of such a hydraulically actuated quick coupler, explicit reference is made to this publication. Various attachments, such as tilting buckets, grapples, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers, or the like, can be coupled to the quick coupler 3.

[0019] A mechanical rotation and swivel indicator 26 is arranged on the quick-change system 1 to monitor the rotation and tilting position of the quick-changer relative to the carrier. In the Figures 1 to 7The embodiment shown is a combined mechanical rotary and swivel display 26 with two pointer-shaped display elements 27 and 28 arranged on the drive housing 8, a first marking 29 arranged on the quick coupler 3 and a second marking 30 arranged on the cross piece 13 of the carrier 2.

[0020] How particularly from Figure 3 As can be seen, the two pointer-shaped indicator elements 27 and 28, with the markings 29 and 30, have interacting pointer tips 31 and 32. The two pointer-shaped indicator elements 27 and 28 are located in the Figures 1 to 7In the illustrated embodiment, the two pointer-shaped indicator elements 27 and 28 are arranged on a common support plate 34, which is attached to the drive housing 8 by screws 33. The support plate 34, with the two pointer-shaped indicator elements 27 and 28, can be made of stamped sheet metal. The two pointer-shaped indicator elements 27 and 28 point in opposite directions with their pointer tips 31 and 32. The markings 29 and 30 are positioned such that they are visible in the Figures 2 and 3The quick-changer 3 is shown in its unrotated and untilted initial position (0 position) with the pointer tips 31 and 32 aligned. Slot-shaped recesses 35 and 36 are also arranged in the pointer-shaped indicator elements 27 and 28, in which the markings 29 and 30 are visible in the unrotated and untilted 0 position of the quick-changer 3. This allows for quick and reliable verification, even without electrical indicators, that the quick-changer 3 is in the unrotated and untilted 0 position.

[0021] If, on the other hand, the quick coupler 3 is used according to the Figures 4 and 5 When the quick-changer 3 is rotated around the vertically oriented axis of rotation 5, the marking 29 on the quick-changer 3 moves out of the field of view of the pointer-shaped display element 27, so that a rotation of the quick-changer 3 relative to the 0 position is readily apparent.

[0022] Is the quick coupler 3 rotated by pivoting about the pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the axis of rotation 5 according to the Figures 6 and 7 When tilted, the marking 30 on the side panel 13 moves out of the field of view of the pointer-shaped indicator element 28, so that a pivoting of the quick-changer 3 relative to the 0 position, i.e., a tilting movement of the quick-changer 3, is discernible. In this way, a purely mechanical and insensitive rotary and pivot indicator independent of a power supply is achieved.

[0023] As from the Figures 8 to 10 As can be seen, the two pointer-shaped display elements 27 and 28 do not necessarily have to be arranged on a common support plate. Rather, the first display element 27 can be arranged according to Figure 10The first indicator element 28 is mounted on a first support plate 37, which is attached to the drive housing 8 by means of screws 33, and the second indicator element 28 is mounted on a second support plate 38, which is attached to the cross piece 13 of the support 2 by means of screws 33. The marking 30 belonging to the second indicator element 28 can then be attached to the bearing pin 10.

[0024] Of course, the second indicator element 28 can also be arranged on the bearing pin 10 and the associated marking 30 on the cross piece 13 of the support 2, as shown in the Figures 11 and 12 shown. Reference symbol list

[0025] 1 Quick-change system 2 Carrier 3 Quick-changer 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 plate 13 Cross piece 14 First coupling element 15 Second coupling element 16 First cylinder housing 17 Second cylinder housing 18 First piston rod 19 Second piston rod 20 Ball joint 21 Bracket 22 Housing 23 First mount 24 Second mount 25 Catch hook 26 Rotation and swivel indicator 27 First indicator element 28 Second indicator element 29 First mark 30 Second mark 31 First pointer tip 32 Second pointer tip 33 Screw 34 Carrier plate 35 Recess 36 Recess 37 First carrier plate 38 Second support plate

Claims

1. Quick-change system (1) for changing attachments on a construction machine, which contains a quick-change system (3) 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 pivotable about a pivot axis (7) by means of a pivot drive (6), which quick-change system has, for coupling a tool or attachment, on one side first receptacles (23) for receiving and holding a tool-side first bolt-shaped coupling element and on the other side second receptacles (24) for receiving and holding a tool-side second bolt-shaped coupling element, characterized in thata mechanical rotation and swivel indicator (26) is arranged on the quick-change system (1), which contains a first indicator element (27) with an associated first marking (29) for monitoring the rotational position of the quick-change device (3) relative to the carrier (2) and a second indicator element (28) with an associated second marking (30) for monitoring the tilting position of the quick-change device (3) relative to the carrier (2).

2. Quick-change system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the display elements (27, 28) are designed in the form of a pointer with a pointer tip (30, 31).

3. Quick-change system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the display elements (27, 28) contain a slot-shaped recess (35, 36) covering the associated marking (29, 30) in an initial position of the quick changer (3).

4. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe first display element (27) and the second display element (28) are arranged on a common carrier plate (34).

5. Quick-change system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the common carrier plate (34) is arranged on a drive housing (8) and the two markings (29, 30) are arranged on the quick changer (3) and a crosspiece (13) of the carrier (2).

6. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first display element (27) and the second display element (28) are arranged on separate support plates (37, 38).

7. Quick-change system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second display element (28) is arranged on a crosspiece (13) of the carrier (4) and the associated marking (30) is arranged on a bearing pin (10) of a drive housing (8).

8. Quick-change system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe second display element (28) is arranged on a bearing pin (10) of a drive housing (8) and the associated marking (30) is arranged on a crosspiece (13) of the carrier (4).

9. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the support plates (34; 37, 38) are designed as sheet metal parts.

10. Quick-change system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the carrier (2) contains two mutually parallel side cheeks (12) with openings for receiving two parallel bolt-shaped coupling elements (14, 15).

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