High security quick coupler

Abstract

A coupler device comprising a coupler (1), or quick coupler, intended to be attached to an arm of a construction machine, and a connection device (2), intended to be attached to a tool such as a bucket; the connection device comprising at least one trunnion (5; 6; 5, 6), preferably two trunnions (5, 6) respectively front and rear;the coupler comprising a base body from which, on a front side, at least one hook is issued, the hook or each hook (7) comprising a stem-forming region and a hook-head-forming region (72), which extends upwards from the stem-forming region to form, with the base body, at least one receiving cavity (200) for the trunnion or one of the trunnions having an opening on the top which extends between the base body and the respective head-forming region of the respective hook: characterized in that when the trunnion or one of the trunnions is inside the receiving cavity in contact with the stem-forming region, the head-forming region protrudes upwards from the center of the circular section of the trunnion;

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a piece of construction equipment, for example an excavator, to which a tool, such as a bucket, is removably attached by means of a quick-coupler device comprising a coupler, also called a quick coupler, fixed to the machine, in particular to an arm of the machine, and a connecting device fixed to the tool to cooperate with the coupler. The present invention also relates to a quick-coupler device of this kind as well as to a quick coupler or quick coupler of this kind.

[0002] Hereafter, we will refer to it as a bucket. However, the term "bucket" should be understood as also encompassing any other tool or equipment intended to be mounted on a construction vehicle via the quick coupler and the connection device.

[0003] We already know, in the prior art, of so-called reversible quick couplers, that is to say, which allow attachment to the bucket, and in particular to the connection device attached to the bucket, by presenting the coupler or quick coupler in two possible orientations relative to the bucket, the quick coupler being turned 180° to go from one orientation to the other.

[0004] Typically, the connection device intended to be attached to the bucket comprises a cradle-shaped element having a base element and two left and right lateral sides between which extend, at a distance from each other, two parallel cylindrical circular trunnions or axes, arranged so that each can cooperate with at least one front hook, in particular two front hooks left and right, from the coupler for coupling between the coupler or quick coupler and the connection device, thus achieving the coupling of the bucket to the arm of the construction equipment.

[0005] In these reversible devices known from the prior art, the front hook or each hook has a stem-forming part and a hook-head-forming part which extends laterally from the stem-forming part to define a receiving cavity for one of the trunnions, the cavity being open on top to allow entry or exit of the trunnion into or out of the cavity.

[0006] These prior art couplers are dangerous to use. In particular, it can frequently happen during the hooking stage that the bucket falls from its hook(s) before the coupler attachment to the bucket has been fully secured, which, on worksites where people are present, can prove extremely dangerous.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a coupler-forming device, in particular a reversible one, as well as a coupler or quick-release fastener for use in such a device, which is safer to use.

[0008] According to the invention, a coupler device comprising a coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be attached to a piece of construction equipment, such as an excavator, and a connection device, intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket, the connection device comprising at least one trunnion, preferably two trunnions, in particular parallel to each other;the coupler comprising a base body from which, on a front side, at least one front hook is issued, the front hook or each front hook having a stem portion and a hook head portion, which extends upwards from the stem portion to define at least one receiving cavity for the trunnion or one of the trunnions having an opening on the top which extends between the base body and the respective head region of the respective hook, is characterized in that when the trunnion or one of the trunnions is in the receiving cavity or in contact with the stem portion, the head portion extends upwards beyond the center of the circular section of the trunnion.;

[0009] Preferably, the part forming the head extends upwards beyond the trunnion.

[0010] Preferably, each receiving cavity has, on the rear side, a recess cut into the base body into which the trunnion can penetrate at least partially.

[0011] Preferably, the recess has a shape, in longitudinal section, complementary to substantially at least half of the circular section of the trunnion.

[0012] By providing at least one front hook with a hook head that extends higher than in the prior art relative to the trunnion, it is ensured that, when the front hook or each front hook is attached to the trunnion and the machine operator raises the bucket away from the ground in order to lock the quick coupler to the connecting device, if the operator makes a mistake and rotates the coupler in the wrong direction, the trunnion does not come out of cooperation with the hook or each hook, and the bucket is thus prevented from falling back to the ground.

[0013] Furthermore, by incorporating a recess, at least a semi-circular one, it is ensured that even if the operator continues rotating in the wrong direction, the upper edge of the recess will abut against the sides of the connection device, preventing any further rotation of the coupler relative to the bucket and thus preventing the bucket from disengaging from the coupler once the hook(s) are engaged with the trunnion. This results in a coupling device that is particularly safe to use.

[0014] Thus, preferably, the connection device comprises a lower base plate and on the upper side two lateral flanks, two trunnions spaced apart, being fixed to the two flanks so as to extend between them, at a distance from the base plate, to permit passage between them and the base plate of the front hook or each hook of the quick-release fastener.

[0015] Preferably, the coupler, or quick coupler, has a top base plate from which two lateral sides project downwards, each side ending on the front side with a respective hook.

[0016] Preferably, in longitudinal section, the highest point of the part forming the head of the hook is beyond the trunnion, when the latter is placed in the cavity, in contact with the part forming the stem.

[0017] Preferably, in longitudinal section, the highest point of the inner wall of the part of the cavity formed by the part forming the head of the hook is beyond the center of the trunnion section, and in particular substantially at a height between the radius and the diameter of the trunnion section, in particular equal to the diameter of the trunnion section.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a quick-release fastener intended to be part of a device according to the invention.

[0019] Preferably, the connecting device has two trunnions and at least one second rear trunnion receiving cavity is defined in the basic body of the coupler for receiving the other trunnion once the first trunnion has been hooked to the hook or to each hook, this second rear cavity being open downwards, i.e. in the opposite direction to the direction in which the opening of the first front receiving cavity is turned.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a construction equipment comprising a lifting element, in particular a lifting arm, and a tool, in particular a bucket, and a quick coupler device according to the invention, the quick coupler or quick coupler being fixed to the lifting element of the equipment, while the connection device is fixed to the tool.

[0021] According to the invention, the hook or each hook is not movable relative to the base body, in particular is immovable relative to the base body, in particular is of one piece or of one unit with it, in particular comes from the same material as the base body, in particular is integral with the base body.

[0022] By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the drawings, in which: There figure 1is a side view showing, on the one hand, the coupler or quick coupler and, on the other hand, the bucket to which a connecting device comprising two trunnions has been attached, the figure showing the coupler at a distance from the bucket, that is to say in a position in which the attachment or coupling has not yet begun; The figure 2 is a larger-scale view of a part of the figure 1 showing the coupler hook which has been inserted under one of the two trunnions of the connection device; The figure 3 is a view virtually identical to that of the figure 2 in which the hook caught on the trunnion and the bucket was lifted a distance from the ground; The figure 4is a view representing the relative position of the coupler and the bucket when the operator has operated the coupler tilt in the wrong direction, i.e., a pivoting of the upper part of the coupler relative to the lower part, in a clockwise direction; The figures 5 to 7 represent the same coupler and bucket figures 1 to 4 , but in a configuration where the first coupling step is performed via the other of the two trunnions, the coupler being oriented, relative to the bucket, reversed at 180° with respect to the figures 1 to 4 ; There figure 8 represents a situation identical to that of the figure 4 , but with the quick-release fastener orientation reversed figures 5 to 7 ; There figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the various components of the quick-release fastener; The Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the quick-release fastener of the figure 9showing how the fastener is locked after the hook has been attached to one of the connecting device's trunnions; The figure 11 is a view similar to the Figure 10 , in which the second trunnion penetrated the inside of the quick-release fastener; The figure 12 is a view similar to Figures 10 and 11 showing the locked position of the quick-release fastener; The figures 13 to 16 show the relative positions of the different elements involved in locking the fastener, at different moments of the locking action; The figure 17 represents the unlocking key and its positioning relative to the fastener for the purpose of unlocking it; The figure 18 shows the relative position of the lever axis with respect to the oblong opening in which it can move translationally when the fastener is in the position of the figure 11 ; and La figure 19shows the relative position of the lever axis with respect to the oblong opening in which it can move translationally when the fastener is in the position of the figure 12 .

[0023] In the figures, a quick coupler 1 is shown cooperating with a connecting device 2, itself attached to a bucket 3.

[0024] The connection device 2 comprises a base plate from the upper face of which two lateral sides 4 extend perpendicularly. Two trunnions respectively 5 upper and 6 lower (when the bucket is placed on the ground), parallel and of circular cylindrical shape, are fixed to the two sides so as to extend from one to the other, at a distance from the base plate, to allow passage between them and the base plate of two front hooks 7 from the quick coupler.

[0025] The quick-release fastener is shown in detail, following an exploded view, at the figure 9. The only things missing from this figure are the two lateral wings 8 which support axes allowing the quick coupler 1 to be attached to the lever arm of a construction vehicle, such as the arm of an excavator.

[0026] The quick-release fastener 1 comprises a basic body including an upper base plate 101 and two lower side plates 102 (only one is visible at the figure 9 ) originating from the upper plate 101, each side 102 ending, on a side designated hereafter as the front side, by a respective front hook 7.

[0027] A lever-like part 103 is pivotally mounted about an axis 104 parallel to the axis of the trunnions when the quick-release fastener and the connecting device are locked together. The axis 104 is linked to the quick-release fastener but can undergo limited movement through oblong openings 109 formed in the lateral sides 102.

[0028] Two rollers 120, which can roll from one side to the other of the oblong openings 109, are fixed by screws (shown in the figure but not designated by numerical references) on each side of the axis 104. However, this fixing does not prevent a relative rotation of the rollers around the axis 104, thus allowing the axis 104, and therefore also the lever 103, to be driven in translation, even when the latter is not pivoting.

[0029] The lever 103 has two upper arms 105, left and right, and two lower arms 106, left and right, extending rearward from the axis 104. The upper arms extend further rearward than the lower arms. The upper and lower left arms define a left-hand C-shaped space with its opening facing rearward, and similarly, the upper and lower right arms define a right-hand C-shaped space with its opening facing rearward.

[0030] Two front branches 107, right and left, extend forward from axis 104. Each consists of a proximal section 108 followed by a distal section 111, which extends at an angle to the proximal section 108, in particular at approximately 90°. The two distal sections 111 pass through two through openings 112, left and right respectively, formed through the base plate 101 of the quick-release fastener to emerge from the upper surface of the base plate and are each fixed to a front end of a spring 400, left and right respectively, while the other respective ends of each spring 400 are fixed to two hook-shaped studs 113, left and right, originating from the upper face of the base plate 101, approximately at the rear edge of the base plate 101. The 400 springs are compression springs that tend to pull the front ends of the distal sections backwards.Two hoods 114 left and right are fixed by screws (shown but not referenced in the figure) against the lateral sides 102 to hide and / or protect the openings 109 from the outside, in particular to prevent soil from getting into the oblong openings 109 and hindering the movement of the rollers 120.

[0031] A rear plate 500, substantially rectangular in shape, extends transversely between the two lateral sides 102, approximately at the rear edge of the base plate 101. The rear plate 500 is fixed to the sides by screws and holes, shown in the figure 9 but without numerical references. A rear 501 notch is formed centrally in the upper edge of the rear 500 plate, on the rear side of the plate.

[0032] In longitudinal section, the rear face of the rear 500 plate is essentially straight and vertical. The front face of the rear 500 plate, on the other hand, comprises a lower section that is essentially vertical, followed by an upper section that slopes upwards towards the rear.

[0033] A part 502, called a lug, is mounted on the lever 103, between the two upper arms 105 (left and right), pivoting relative to the lever 103, about an axis 503, parallel to the axis 104 and extending in the space between the two upper arms 105 of the lever 103. The axis 503 of the lug 502 is fixed to the lever 103 by means of a bridge-shaped support part 504, fixed to the upper face of the upper arms 105 by screws and corresponding holes shown in the figure. figure 9but not designated by numerical references. A torsion spring 505 is mounted to act on the lug 502. The lug 502 has, on either side of the axis 503, a rear portion 506 and a front portion 507, the front portion 507 being smaller than the rear portion 506, and therefore lighter, so that the lug tends, under the effect of its weight, to tilt in a direction that causes its rear portion to fall downwards (counterclockwise in the figures). The torsion spring 505 is mounted to act on the lug 502 in such a way as to also force the rear portion downwards. The rear portion 506 has an upper bump 508 and terminates in a rear tooth 509 which projects downwards from the rest of the rear portion and which has dimensions enabling it to penetrate into the rear notch 501 of the plate 500.A groove 510 is formed in the lower face of the base plate 101 for receiving the upper bump 508 when the upper arms 105 of the lever 103 are positioned against the lower face of the base plate 101.

[0034] The quick-release fastener 1 defines, on the front side, two respective cavities 200 for receiving one or the other of the two trunnions 5 and 6 of the connecting device 2. On the rear side of the plate 101, two cutouts 300 are formed in the lateral sides 102 for receiving the other of the two axes 5 and 6 of the connecting device.

[0035] Each hook 7 comprises a stem-like portion 71 extending from the front end of one of the respective flanks 102, parallel to the plane of the plate 101, and terminating in a hook-head portion 72 extending upwards from the end of the stem-like portion 71. Each hook 7 thus defines, with the front edges of the lateral flanks 102, two cavities 200 into which one or the other of the two axes 5 and 6 from the connection device 2 fixed to the bucket 3 are intended to be inserted, through respective upper openings 201.The cavity 200 has a respective recessed area 202, cut into the front edge of each lateral side 102 and complementary in shape to at least half of the circular cross-section of the axes 5 and 6, so that when the axis 5 or 6 from the bucket is inserted into the receiving cavities 200 through the openings 201, the axis can come to be inserted into the recess 202 over at least half of its cross-section, that is to say over an angle sector of at least 180°.

[0036] Relative to the lower, or bottom, surface 210 of each cavity 200, the highest end 203 of the head portion 72 extends, in the vertical direction at least to the center of the cross-section of the axis 5 or 6, when the latter is located in the cavity 200, particularly beyond the center, and notably substantially to the diameter, or even beyond the diameter. Similarly, the highest end 204 of the head portion surface on the side of the cavity 200 extends beyond the center of the axis 5 or 6, notably to a height between the radius and the diameter, or even could extend substantially to a height equal to the diameter of the axis.

[0037] The dimensions of the axes of the trunnions of the connecting device fixed to the bucket and of the cavities 200 formed by the hooks 7 are chosen so that once the head part 72 has been inserted under the axis 5 or 6 of the bucket, as shown for example in the figure 4and that the operator of the lifting equipment is turning the coupler in the wrong direction, that is, clockwise to figures 1 to 4 , the shoulder formed between the edge 205 of the opening 201 and the upper edge 206 of the plate 101 of the quick coupler 1 comes against the edges of the sides 4 of the connection device from the bucket 3, so that although the driver has started to lift the bucket away from the ground, the quick coupler and the connection device can no longer pivot relative to each other, the head part of the hook thus always remaining under the axis and preventing it, and therefore also the bucket, from falling back to the ground, the stop at the level of the shoulder preventing any untimely exit from the axis of the cavities 200. This stop comes into play from a rotation in the wrong direction of about 15°.

[0038] When the bucket operator rotates the quick coupler in the correct direction (counterclockwise to figures 1 to 4 ) to achieve the locking of the coupler to the bucket connection device, the cutouts 300 are placed over the other axis 5 of the bucket from above.

[0039] As the operator rotates the quick coupler to insert the second pin 5 into the cutouts 300, the second pin 5 of the bucket bears against the upper arms 105 of the lever 103, causing the lever to pivot and move backward (forward). At the end of its travel, the upper faces of the two upper arms 105 are parallel to the lower face of the base plate 101, and simultaneously, the lug 502, pivotally mounted relative to the lever 103, is pushed rearward by the springs 400 so that its tooth 509 passes beyond the upper edge of the rear plate 500 and engages in the notch 501.

[0040] This rearward movement, under the effect of the springs 400, also causes the lower rear arms of the lever to pass under the trunnion to trap it in the cavity 300.

[0041] Thus, as represented in Figures 12 And 16 The quick coupler is locked to the bucket. The lock is very secure, and in particular, even if one or more of the 400 springs break or come loose, there will be no unlocking of the quick coupler from the bucket, which is therefore held securely.

[0042] The tooth 509 has a rear surface that is inclined upwards and backwards so that when the springs 400 push the lever 103 backwards once it is in position with the upper rear arms horizontal, the thrust force, in conjunction with the inclined shape of the rear face of the tooth, pivots the lug against the torsion spring and allows the tooth 509 to pass into the notch 501.

[0043] To the figure 17 , a key 600 is shown allowing the attachment to be unlocked once it has been locked, that is, once the tooth 509 has flipped into the notch 501 of the plate 500.

[0044] The wrench has an elongated handle 601 (only a portion of which is shown in the figure) ending in a head portion comprising two lateral arms, upper 603 and lower 604, and a central projection 605. A stud 606 extends transversely from the end of the upper arm 603, perpendicular to the handle, so as to fit into an eyelet formed in a stud 700 extending from the upper face of the fastener plate 101. A nose 609 extends from the lower lateral arm towards the upper arm.

[0045] To unlock the fastener, the user inserts the stud 606 into the eyelet and brings the end of the nose 609 against the rear face of the bump 508 of the tooth 502, the dimensions of the nose 609 being appropriate to enter the groove 511 in which the bump 508 is received, then exerts a rotational movement so as to drive the proximal end of the handle (end opposite to the head) downwards, which has the effect of pivoting the lug against the torsion spring 605 and of bringing the tooth 509 out of the notch 501, thus unlocking the quick fastener.

[0046] In this description, the vertical is defined as the perpendicular to the plane of the upper face of the base plate 101 of the quick fastener, the upper side being the side towards which the opening of the cavity 200 is turned. The terms proximal and distal are defined with respect to the middle of the quick fastener.

[0047] In particular, the terms top and bottom and lower and upper are defined in relation to this vertical, the connection device, fixed to the bucket, being located under the quick coupler, in the locked position.

Claims

1. A coupler device comprising a coupler (1), or quick coupler, intended to be attached to a piece of construction equipment, such as an excavator, and a connecting device (2), intended to be attached to a tool such as a bucket; the connecting device comprising at least one trunnion (5; 6; 5, 6), preferably two trunnions (5, 6); the coupler comprising a base body from which, on a front side, at least one hook is extended, the hook or each hook (7) comprising a shank portion and a hook head portion (72), which extends upwards from the shank portion to define at least one cavity (200) for receiving the trunnion or one of the trunnions having an opening (201) on its top extending between the base body and the respective hook head portion: characterized in that, when the trunnion or one of the trunnions is in the receiving cavity in contact with the part forming the stem, the part forming the head extends upwards beyond the center of the circular section of the trunnion, the or each receiving cavity having, on the rear side, a recess cut into the base body into which the trunnion can penetrate at least in part, the or each hook (7) not being movable relative to the base body.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the part forming the head extends upwards beyond the trunnion.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recess has a shape, in longitudinal section, complementary to substantially at least half of the circular section of the trunnion.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe connection device (2) comprises a lower base plate and on the upper side two side flanges, two trunnions spaced apart, being fixed to the two flanges so as to extend between them, at a distance from the base plate, to permit passage between them and the base plate of the front hook or each hook of the quick-release fastener.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupler (1), or quick coupler, comprises an upper base plate (101) from which two lateral sides (102) project downwards, each side (102) ending on the front side with a respective hook (7).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In longitudinal section, the highest point of the part forming the head of the hook is beyond the trunnion, when the latter is placed in the cavity, in contact with the part forming the stem.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In longitudinal section, the highest point of the inner wall of the part of the cavity formed by the part forming the head of the hook is beyond the center of the trunnion section, and in particular substantially at a height between the radius and the diameter of the trunnion section.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The connecting device has two trunnions and it is defined, in the basic body of the coupler, at least one second rear trunn receiving cavity intended to receive the other trunnion, once the first trunnion has been hooked to the hook or to each hook, this second rear cavity being open downwards, that is to say in the opposite direction to the direction in which the opening of the first front receiving cavity is turned.

9. Quick fastener intended to be part of a device according to one of the preceding claims.

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