Quick coupler for construction machines

Abstract

A coupler-forming device, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler (1), intended to be attached to a construction machine, such as an excavator, a connection device (2), intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket (3), comprising at least one coupling trunnion (5), or hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, or trunnion, of the quick coupler, and locking means intended to lock the quick coupler to the connection device, is characterized in that it comprises guiding means (800, 810) intended to guide the pivoting movement of the quick coupler relative to the connection device after coupling in order to lock the device, in particular self-centering means intended to allow relative self-centering of the quick coupler and the connection device.

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 consisting of 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 and a connecting device 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] Typically, the connection device intended to be attached to the bucket includes at least one trunnion or coupling hook, in particular, in the case of so-called reversible devices, two parallel cylindrical circular trunnions or axes, the trunnion or coupling hook being arranged so that each can cooperate with a respective hook or trunnion from the coupler to achieve a 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.

[0004] These older-style couplers are dangerous to use. In particular, once the coupling is made, it must be locked, and it can happen that, before locking, the coupling comes undone and the bucket falls onto the worksite where people are present, which can be extremely dangerous.

[0005] 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 and / or a connection device for use in such a coupler-forming device, which are safer to use.

[0006] According to a first aspect of 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, a connection device, intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket, comprising at least one coupling trunnion, or hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, or trunnion, of the quick coupler, and locking means intended to lock the quick coupler to the connection device, is characterized in that it comprises guiding means intended to guide the movement, in particular pivoting, of the quick coupler relative to the connection device after coupling for the purpose of locking the device, in particular self-centering means intended to allow relative self-centering of the quick coupler and the connection device,the guiding means also guiding the trunnion towards the hook cavity.

[0007] By the presence of these guiding means, it is ensured that after the trunnion and the hook have coupled and until locking, the quick coupler and the connection device are correctly positioned relative to each other, and in particular that the quick coupler is not hindered, or even stopped, in its movement by bumping against the connection device and can thus reach their correct position in which the locking can take place properly, thus ensuring a more secure attachment of the bucket to the machine.

[0008] According to a favorable embodiment, the guiding means comprise at least one support pin, in particular projecting laterally from at least one lateral side of the connection device, and at least one associated guide cutout of at least one support pin, in particular formed in the quick-release fastener, in particular in a lateral side of the quick-release fastener, the guide cutout being open at least downwards and outwards from the quick-release fastener, in particular downwards, outwards and towards the rear of the quick-release fastener.

[0009] According to another favorable aspect of the invention, independent of the first aspect above, but which can be favorably combined with the latter, a coupler device, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be attached to a piece of construction equipment, such as an excavator, a connection device, intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket, comprising at least one coupling trunnion, or hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, or trunnion, of the quick coupler, and locking means intended to lock the quick coupler to the connection device, is characterized in that it comprises guiding means intended to guide the movement, in particular pivoting, of the quick coupler relative to the connection device after coupling in order to lock the device,in particular self-centering means intended to allow relative self-centering of the quick-release fastener and the connecting device, the guiding means comprising at least one support pin, in particular projecting laterally from at least one lateral flank of the connecting device, and at least one associated guide cutout for at least one support pin, in particular formed in the quick-release fastener, in particular in a lateral flank of the quick-release fastener, the guide cutout being open at least downwards and outwards from the quick-release fastener, in particular downwards, outwards and towards the rear of the quick-release fastener, the guide cutout or cutouts comprising a lower region, the length of which, i.e. in the front-to-rear direction of the quick-release fastener, narrows upwards, followed by an upper region, the length of which is substantially constant up to its top,the two regions being separated by a bend formed in a front wall of the cutout.

[0010] Preferably, viewed in longitudinal section, the cutout or cutouts comprise a longitudinal wall forming the apex, substantially horizontal, followed by a top front wall substantially vertical, itself followed by a bottom front wall which extends to the bottom opening of the cutout, so as to form the elbow with the top front wall.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the quick fastener comprises at least one coupling hook and the connecting device at least one coupling trunnion, and the hook or each hook comprises a stem portion and a hooking head portion extending upwards from the end of the stem portion, thus defining a respective cavity into which a trunnion of the connecting device is intended to be inserted through a respective upper opening.

[0012] Preferably, the cavity includes a respective recessed area, in particular cut into the front edge of the lateral side of the quick-release fastener, so that when the trunnion is inserted into the receiving cavity or cavities through the upper opening or openings, the trunnion can come to rest in the recessed area or areas, preferably over at least half of its cross-section, i.e. over an angle sector of at least 180°.

[0013] Preferably, when the hook or each hook comes under the front pivot, the support pin or pins butt against the lower front wall.

[0014] Preferably, as the bucket operator rotates the quick coupler in the correct direction relative to the connecting device, the pin moves along the lower front wall until the trunnion reaches its position in the recess area or areas of the hook or holes.

[0015] Preferably, when the trunnion reaches the recess area, the pin reaches the elbow formed between the lower and upper front walls of the guide cutout.

[0016] 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 device forming a quick coupler according to the invention, the quick coupler or quick coupler being fixed to the equipment, and the connection device being fixed to the tool.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a connection device for a coupler-forming device, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be attached to a piece of construction equipment, such as an excavator, and the connection device comprising fastening means intended to allow its attachment to a tool, such as a bucket, and at least one coupling trunnion, or hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, or trunnion, of the quick coupler, characterized in that it comprises guiding means intended to guide the relative pivoting movement of the quick coupler, in particular self-centering means intended to allow relative self-centering of the quick coupler and the connection device, for example at least one pin, in particular projecting laterally from the inner surface of at least one lateral side of the connection device,in particular two pins respectively left and right projecting laterally from the respective inner surfaces of the two left and right lateral sides of the connection device.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a coupler or quick coupler of a coupler-forming device, comprising the coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be attached to a piece of construction equipment, such as an excavator, and a connecting device intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket, the coupler or quick coupler comprising at least one coupling hook, or trunnion, respectively, intended to couple to at least one trunnion, or hook, associated with the connecting device, characterized in that it comprises guiding means intended to guide the relative pivoting movement of the connecting device, in particular self-centering means intended to allow relative self-centering of the quick coupler and the connecting device, for example at least one guide cutout, in particular formed in a lateral side of the quick coupler,the guide cutout being open at least downwards and outwards from the quick-release fastener, in particular two guide cutouts formed in two lateral sides, left and right, of the quick-release fastener.

[0019] By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the drawings, in which: There figure 1 is 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 2in which the hook caught on the trunnion and the bucket was lifted a distance from the ground; The figure 4 is 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 9 showing 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 ; There figure 19 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 12 ; There Figure 20 is a side view of the quick-release fastener and the connecting device according to an embodiment of the invention, the right side of the quick-release fastener having a guide cutout formed in the outer face of the side wall and intended to cooperate with a support pin originating from the inner face of the corresponding side of the connecting device, the front hook of the quick-release fastener having coupled to the front trunnion of the connecting device; The figures 21 to 23 are figures identical to the Figure 20but representing the quick-release fastener and the connecting device in their respective positions as they rotate relative to each other to reach their final position in which they can be locked together; The figure 24 is a perspective view of the connection device of the embodiment of the device forming the coupler of Figures 20 to 23 , attached to a bucket; and The figure 25 is a perspective view of the quick attachment of the embodiment of the device forming the coupler of Figures 20 to 23 .

[0020] In the figures, a quick coupler 1 is shown cooperating with a connecting device 2, itself attached to a bucket 3.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] Two rollers 120 that 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 does not pivot.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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°.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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°.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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 pushing 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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 509, the dimensions of the nose 609 being appropriate to fit into 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 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.

[0043] To Figures 20 to 25 The quick-release fastener 1 and the connecting device 2 of an embodiment of the invention are shown during their relative movement between the moment when the coupling began, by the fact that the front hook 7 was inserted under the upper trunnion 5, until the moment when the two elements 1 and 2 are in the position shown in the figure. figure 11in which the locking step of the two elements 1 and 2 to each other will be able to begin by translation of the lever 103 then tilting of the tooth 509 in the notch 501.

[0044] The quick attachment of the Figures 20 to 23 And 25 is identical to that of figures 1 to 19 except for the fact that two left and right guide cutouts are cut into the outer surfaces of the left and right side panels, the right guide cutout 810 being visible at Figures 20 to 23 while the left guide cutout 810 is visible at the figure 25 .

[0045] To Figures 20 to 25 The right-hand side panel 102 has a right-hand guide cutout 810 machined into the outer wall of the side panel. The left-hand side panel, visible at the figure 25, includes the same guide cutout in its outer wall. The guide cutout 810 is open downwards, outwards and backwards and includes a lower region 811, the longitudinal dimension of which, i.e. in the front-back direction of the quick-release fastener, narrows upwards, followed by an upper region 812, the length of which is substantially constant up to its top.

[0046] Thus, viewed in longitudinal section, the cutout 810 comprises a longitudinal wall 814 forming the apex, substantially horizontal, followed by a front upper wall 815 substantially vertical, itself followed by a front lower wall 816 which extends to the lower opening of the cutout 810, being inclined with respect to the front upper wall 815, in particular at an angle of about 45°, so as to form a bend 818.

[0047] A right-hand support pin 800 protrudes inwards from the right lateral side 4 of the connecting device 2 and is intended to cooperate with the right-hand cutout 810. An identical left-hand support pin protrudes from the left lateral side 4 and is intended to cooperate with the left-hand cutout.

[0048] As represented in Figures 20 to 23 , when the hooks 7 come under the front trunnion 5 by their end 204, each support pin 800 comes to rest against the lower front wall 816 ( Figure 20 As the bucket operator rotates the quick coupler in the correct direction relative to the connecting device, the pin 800 moves along the wall 816 until the trunnion 5 reaches its position in the recesses 202 of the cavities 200 of the hooks 7, as shown in the figure 22The pin 800 is then at the entrance of the upper region 812 and thus passes beyond the elbow 818, in contact with the upper front wall 815. As the rotation continues, the pin 800 reaches the top wall 814. In this final position, the quick-release fastener and the connecting device can then be mutually locked.

[0049] To Figures 20 to 23 , only the 800 pin is shown, the right lateral side has been omitted for greater clarity of the interaction between the pin and the quick attachment.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] This application describes, by way of example, an embodiment in which the pin(s) originate from the sides of the connector or connecting device, while the guide cutout(s) are formed in the quick-release fastener. However, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the reverse could also be provided, that is, the pin(s) originate from the quick-release fastener and the cutout(s) are formed in the connector. It is even possible to provide that one or more pins originate from the quick-release fastener and another or others from the connector, while corresponding cutouts are formed in both the quick-release fastener and the connector.

Claims

1. A coupling device comprising a coupler, or quick coupler (1), intended to be attached to a piece of construction equipment, such as an excavator, a connecting device (2), intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket (3), comprising at least one coupling trunnion (5), or hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, or trunnion, of the quick coupler, and locking means intended to lock the quick coupler to the connecting device, is characterized in that It includes guiding means (800, 810) for guiding movement, in particular pivoting of the quick-release fastener relative to the connecting device after coupling for the purpose of locking the device, in particular self-centering means for enabling relative self-centering of the quick-release fastener and the connecting device, the guiding means also guiding the trunnion towards the cavity of the hook.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding means comprise at least one support pin (800), in particular projecting laterally from at least one lateral side of the connecting device, and at least one associated guide cutout (810) of the at least one support pin, in particular formed in the quick-release fastener, in particular in a lateral side (102) of the quick-release fastener, the guide cutout (810) being open at least downwards and outwards from the quick-release fastener, preferably downwards, backwards and outwards from the quick-release fastener.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in thateach guide cutout (810) includes a lower region (811), the length of which, i.e. in the front-to-back direction of the quick-release fastener, narrows upwards, followed by an upper region (812), the length of which is substantially constant up to its top, the two regions being separated by a bend (818) formed in a front wall of the cutout.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that Viewed in longitudinal section, the cutout or cutouts (810) comprise a longitudinal wall 814 forming a top, substantially horizontal, followed by a front upper wall 815 substantially vertical, itself followed by a front lower wall 816 which extends towards the lower opening so as to form the elbow (818) with the front upper wall.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatThe quick-release fastener includes at least one coupling hook (7) and the connecting device includes at least one coupling trunnion (5), and the hook or each hook (7) includes a shank portion and a hooking head portion extending upwards from the end of the shank portion, thus defining a respective cavity into which a trunnion of the connecting device is intended to be inserted through a respective upper opening.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cavity includes a respective recessed area, in particular cut into the front edge of the or each lateral side of the quick fastener, so that when the trunnion is inserted into the receiving cavity or cavities through the upper opening or openings, the trunnion can come to rest in the or each recessed area, preferably over at least half of its cross-section, i.e. over an angle sector of at least 180°.

7. Device according to claim 2 and one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that when the hook or each hook comes under the front pivot, the support pin or each support pin butts against the lower front wall.

8. Device according to claim 2 and one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that As the bucket operator rotates the quick coupler in the correct direction relative to the connecting device, the pin moves along the lower front wall until the trunnion reaches its position in the recess area or areas of the hook or hook cavity.

9. Device according to claim 3 and claim 8, characterized in that when the trunnion reaches the recess area, the pin reaches the elbow formed between the lower and upper front walls of the guide cutout.

10. Public works machinery comprising a lifting element, in particular a lifting arm, and a tool, in particular a bucket, and a device forming a quick coupler according to one of the preceding claims, the quick coupler or quick coupler being fixed to the machinery, and the connection device being fixed to the tool.

11. A connection device for a coupler device, in particular according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be attached to a piece of construction equipment, such as an excavator, and the connection device comprising fastening means for enabling its attachment to a tool, such as a bucket, and at least one coupling trunnion, or hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, or trunnion, of the quick coupler, is characterized in thatIt includes guiding means for guiding the pivoting movement of the quick-release fastener, in particular self-centering means for enabling relative self-centering of the quick-release fastener and the connecting device, for example at least one pin projecting laterally from the inner surface of at least one lateral side of the connecting device, in particular two pins respectively left and right projecting laterally from the respective inner surfaces of two left and right lateral sides of the connecting device.

12. Coupler or quick coupler of a coupler-forming device, in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be attached to a construction machine, such as an excavator, and a connection device intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket, the coupler or quick coupler comprising at least one coupling hook, or trunnion, respectively, intended to couple to at least one trunnion, or hook, associated with the connection device, characterized in thatIt includes guiding means for guiding the pivoting movement of the connecting device, in particular self-centering means for enabling relative self-centering of the quick-release fastener and the connecting device, for example at least one guide cutout formed in a side flank of the quick-release fastener, the guide cutout being open at least downwards and outwards from the quick-release fastener, in particular two guide cutouts formed in two left and right side flanks of the quick-release fastener.

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