Quick coupler for public works machinery

Abstract

Title: Quick coupler for public works machinery Device forming a coupler, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler (1), intended to be secured to a public works machine, such as an excavator, a connection device (2), intended to be secured to a tool, such as a bucket (3), comprising at least one coupling pin (5), respectively a coupling hook intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, respectively a coupling pin, of the quick coupler, and locking means intended to lock the quick coupler to the connection device, is characterized in that it comprises guide 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. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 20

Description

Title of the invention: Quick coupler for public works machinery

[0001] The present invention relates to a public works machine, 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, secured to the machine, in particular to an arm of the machine, and a connection device secured to the tool to cooperate with the coupler. The present invention also relates to a quick coupler device of this type, as well as to a quick coupler or coupler of this type and a connection device of this type.

[0002] Hereinafter, we will speak of a bucket. However, the term "bucket" must be understood as also encompassing any other tool or equipment intended to be mounted on a public works machine by means of the quick coupler and the connection device.

[0003] Conventionally, the connection device intended to be secured to the bucket comprises 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 as to be able to cooperate each with a respective hook or trunnion coming 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 public works machine.

[0004] These prior art couplers are dangerous to use. In particular, once the coupling has been made, it is necessary to lock it, and it may happen, before locking, that the coupling comes loose and the bucket then falls onto the site where people are located, which can prove extremely dangerous.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a coupler device, in particular a so-called reversible coupler, as well as a coupler or quick coupler and / or a connection device to be used in a coupler device of this type, which are safer to use.

[0006] According to the invention, a device forming a coupler, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be secured to a public works machine, such as an excavator, a connection device, intended to be secured to a tool, such as a bucket, comprising at least one coupling pin, respectively one hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, respectively one pin, of the quick coupler, and locking means intended to lock the quick coupler to the connection device, is characterized in that it comprises guide 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.

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

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

[0009] Preferably, the or each guide cutout comprises a lower region, the length dimension of which, i.e. in the front-rear direction of the quick coupler, narrows upwards, followed by an upper region, the length dimension of which is substantially constant up to its apex, the two regions being separated by an elbow formed in a front wall of the cutout.

[0010] Preferably, seen in longitudinal section, the or each cutout comprises a longitudinal wall forming a top, substantially horizontal, followed by a substantially vertical upper front wall, itself followed by a lower front wall which extends to the lower opening of the cutout, so as to form the elbow with the upper front wall.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the quick-release fastener comprises at least one coupling hook and the connection device at least one coupling pin, and the or each hook comprises a rod-forming portion and a hooking head-forming portion which extends upwards from the end of the rod-forming portion, to thus define a respective cavity into which a pin of the connection device is intended to be inserted, through a respective upper opening.

[0012] Preferably, the cavity comprises a respective recessed zone, in particular hollowed out in the front edge of the or each lateral flank of the quick fastener, so that when the pin is inserted into the receiving cavity or cavities through the upper opening or openings, the pin can be inserted into the or each recessed zone. recess, preferably over at least half of its cross-section, i.e. over an angle sector of at least 180°.

[0013] Preferably, when the or each hook comes under the front trunnion, the or each support pin comes to abut 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 or each recessed area of ​​the or each cavity of the or each hook.

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

[0016] The present invention also relates to a public works machine 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 coupler or quick attachment being fixed to the machine, and the connection device being fixed to the tool.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a connection device of a coupler-forming device, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be secured to a public works machine, such as an excavator, and the connection device comprising securing means intended to allow its securing to a tool, such as a bucket, and at least one coupling pin, respectively a hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, respectively a pin, of the quick coupler, characterized in that it comprises guide 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 flank of the connection device,in particular two pins, respectively left and right, projecting laterally from the respective inner surfaces of two left and right lateral flanks 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 secured to a public works machine, such as an excavator, and a connection device intended to be secured to a tool, such as a bucket, the coupler or quick coupler comprising at least one coupling hook, respectively one trunnion, intended to couple to at least one trunnion, respectively one hook, associated with the connection device, characterized in that it comprises guide means intended to guide the relative pivoting movement of the connection device, in particular self-centering means intended to allow relative self-centering of the quick coupler and the connection device, for example at least one guide cutout, in particular formed in a lateral flank of the quick coupler, the guide cutout being open at least downwards and towards the outside of the quick coupler, in particular two guide cutouts formed in two left and right lateral flanks of the quick coupler.

[0019] By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0020] [Fig. 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 connection device comprising two pins has been fixed, 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;

[0021] [Fig.2] is an enlarged view of part of [Fig.l] showing the coupler hook which has been inserted under one of the two journals of the connecting device;

[0022] [Fig. 3] is a view substantially identical to that of [Fig. 2] in which the hook has been hooked onto the trunnion and the bucket has been lifted clear of the ground;

[0023] [Fig.4] is a view showing the relative position of the coupler and the bucket when the driver has actuated the tilting of the coupler in the wrong direction, i.e. a pivoting in the figure of the upper part of the coupler relative to the lower part, in a clockwise direction;

[0024] Figures 5 to 7 show the same coupler and bucket of Figures 1 to 4, but in a configuration in which the first stage of the coupling is carried out via the other of the two journals, the coupler being oriented, relative to the bucket, inverted at 180° with respect to Figures 1 to 4;

[0025] [Fig.8] represents a situation identical to that of [Fig.4], but with the reversed orientation of the quick release of figures 5 to 7;

[0026] [Fig.9] is an exploded perspective view of the various elements constituting the quick coupler;

[0027] [Fig. 10] is a longitudinal sectional view of the quick coupling of [Fig. 9], showing how the coupling is locked after the hook has been attached to one of the journals of the connection device;

[0028] [Fig. 11] is a view similar to [Fig. 10], in which the second journal has penetrated inside the quick coupler;

[0029] [Fig. 12] is a view similar to Figures 10 and 11, showing the locked position of the quick coupler;

[0030] Figures 13 to 16 show the relative positions of the various elements involved in locking the fastener, at different times during the locking action;

[0031] [Fig. 17] shows the unlocking key and its positioning relative to the fastener for unlocking;

[0032] [Fig. 18] shows the relative position of the lever axis with respect to the oblong opening in which it can move in translation when the attachment is in the position of [Fig.l 1];

[0033] [Fig. 19] shows the relative position of the lever axis with respect to the oblong opening in which it can move in translation when the attachment is in the position of [Fig. 12];

[0034] [Fig.20] is a side view of the quick coupler and the connection device according to one embodiment of the invention, the right lateral flank of the quick coupler comprising a guide cutout formed in the outer face of the wall of the lateral flank and intended to cooperate with a support pin coming from the inner face of the corresponding lateral flank of the connection device, the front hook of the quick coupler being coupled to the front trunnion of the connection device;

[0035] Figures 21 to 23 are figures identical to [Fig.20] but representing the quick coupling and the connection device in their respective positions as they rotate relative to each other in order to reach their final position in which they can be locked to each other;

[0036] [Fig. 24] is a perspective view of the connecting device of the embodiment of the coupler device of Figures 20 to 23, attached to a bucket; and

[0037] [Fig. 25] is a perspective view of the quick coupler of the embodiment of the coupler device of Figures 20 to 23.

[0038] The figures show a quick coupling 1 which cooperates with a connection device 2, itself secured to a bucket 3.

[0039] The connection device 2 comprises a base plate from the upper face of which two lateral flanks 4 extend perpendicularly. Two journals respectively 5 top and 6 bottom (when the bucket is placed on the ground), parallel and of circular cylindrical shape, are fixed to the two flanks so as to extend from one to the other, at a distance from the base plate, to allow the passage between them and the base plate of two front hooks 7 coming from the quick coupler.

[0040] The quick coupler is shown in detail, in an exploded view, in [Fig. 9]. Only the two lateral wings 8 which support axes allowing the quick coupler 1 to be fixed to the lever arm of a public works machine, such as the arm of an excavator, are missing from this figure.

[0041] The quick attachment 1 comprises a base body comprising an upper base plate 101 and two lower lateral flanks 102 (only one is visible in [Fig.9]) originating from the upper plate 101, each flank 102 ending, on a side designated hereinafter as being the front side, by a respective front hook 7.

[0042] A lever-forming part 103 is pivotally mounted relative to an axis 104 parallel to the axis of the journals when the quick coupler and the connection device are locked together. The axis 104 is connected to the quick coupler while being able to undergo a limited movement by oblong openings 109 formed in the lateral flanks 102.

[0043] Two rollers 120 capable of rolling 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 translational drive of the axis 104, and therefore also of the lever 103, even when the latter does not pivot.

[0044] The lever 103 has two upper left and right arms 105 and two lower left and right arms 106 which extend rearwardly from the axis 104. The upper arms extend further rearwardly than the lower arms. The upper and lower left arms define a left C-shaped space whose opening faces rearward and similarly, the upper and lower right arms define a right C-shaped space whose opening faces rearward.

[0045] Two front right and left branches 107 extend forward from the axis 104. They are each made up of a proximal section 108 continued by a distal section 111, which extends inclined relative to the proximal section 108, in particular at substantially 90°. The two distal sections 111 pass through two through openings 112, respectively left and right, 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, respectively left and right, while the other respective ends of each spring 400 are fixed to two left and right hook-shaped studs 113 originating from the upper face of the base plate 101, substantially at the rear edge of the base plate 101. The 400 springs are compression springs tending to pull the front ends of the distal sections rearward.Two left and right covers 114 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 earth from becoming lodged in the oblong openings 109 and hindering the movement of the rollers 120.

[0046] A rear plate 500 of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extends transversely between the two lateral flanks 102, substantially at the rear edge of the base plate 101. The rear plate 500 is fixed to the flanks by screws and holes, shown in [Fig.9] but without numerical references. A rear notch 501 is formed centrally in the upper edge of the rear plate 500, on the rear side of the plate.

[0047] In longitudinal section, the rear face of the rear plate 500 is substantially rectilinear and vertical. The front face of the rear plate 500 comprises a first substantially vertical lower section, followed by an upper section inclined upwards towards the rear.

[0048] A part 502, called a lug, is mounted on the lever 103, between the two upper branches 105 left and right, being pivotable relative to the lever 103, relative to an axis 503, parallel to the axis 104 and which extends in the space between the two upper branches 105 of the lever 103. The fixing of the axis 503 of the lug 502 to the lever 103 is carried out by means of a bridge-shaped support part 504 fixed to the upper face of the upper branches 105 by screws and corresponding holes shown in [Fig.9] but not designated by numerical references. A torsion spring 505 is mounted so as to act on the lug 502.The lug 502 comprises, on either side of the axis 503, a rear part 506 and a front part 507, the front part 507 being smaller than the rear part 506, and therefore of lesser weight, so that the lug has a tendency, under the effect of its weight, to tilt in the direction tending to cause its rear part to fall downwards (counterclockwise in the figures). The torsion spring 505 is mounted to act on the lug 502 so as also to urge the rear part downwards. The rear part 506 has an upper boss 508 and ends with a rear tooth 509 which projects downwards from the rest of the rear part and which has dimensions allowing 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 boss 508 when the upper branches 105 of the lever 103 are positioned in abutment against the lower face of the base plate 101.

[0049] The quick attachment 1 defines, on the front side, two respective cavities 200 for receiving one or the other of the two pins 5 and 6 of the connection device 2. On the rear side of the plate 101, two cutouts 300 are formed in the lateral flanks 102 for receiving the other of the two pins 5 and 6 of the connection device.

[0050] Each hook 7 comprises a rod-forming portion 71 which extends at the front end of one of the respective flanks 102, parallel to the plane of the plate 101, and which ends with a hooking head-forming portion 72 which extends upwards from the end of the rod-forming portion 71. Each hook 7 thus defines, with the edges front of the lateral flanks 102, two cavities 200 in which are intended to be inserted, through respective upper openings 201, one or the other, depending on the direction of insertion relative to the bucket, of the two axes 5 and 6 coming from the connection device 2 fixed to the bucket 3. The cavity 200 comprises a respective recess zone 202, hollowed out in the front edge of each lateral flank 102 and of complementary shape of at least half of the circular cross-section of the axes 5 and 6, so that when the axis 5 or 6 coming from the bucket is inserted into the receiving cavities 200 through the openings 201, the axis can 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°.

[0051] With respect to the lower or bottom surface 210 of each cavity 200, the uppermost end 203 of the head-forming portion 72 extends, in the vertical direction at least at the center of the section of the axis 5 or 6, when the latter is located in the cavity 200, in particular beyond the center, and in particular substantially at the diameter, or even beyond the diameter. Similarly, the uppermost end 204 of the surface of the head-forming portion on the side of the cavity 200 extends beyond the center of the axis 5 or 6, in particular at a height between the radius and the diameter, or even could extend substantially to a height equal to the diameter of the axis.

[0052] The dimensions respectively of the axes of the journals of the connection 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 [Fig.4], and the driver of the lifting device turns the coupler in the wrong direction, i.e. clockwise in 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 into abutment against the edges of the sides 4 of the connection device coming 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 shoulder preventing any untimely exit of the axis from the cavities 200. This stop occurs from a rotation in the wrong direction of approximately 15°.

[0053] When the bucket driver rotates the quick coupler in the correct direction (counterclockwise in Figures 1 to 4) to lock the coupler to the bucket connection device, the cutouts 300 cover the other axle 5 of the bucket from above.

[0054] As the driver pivots the quick coupler to introduce the second axis 5 into the cutouts 300, the second axis 5 of the bucket comes to bear against the upper branches 105 of the lever 103, causing the latter to pivot and move back (forward). At the end of the stroke, the upper faces of the two upper branches 105 are parallel to the lower face of the base plate 101, and at the same time, the lug 502, pivotally mounted relative to the lever 103, is pushed by the springs 400 backwards so that its tooth 509 passes beyond the upper edge of the rear plate 500 and enters the notch 501.

[0055] This rearward movement, under the effect of the springs 400, also drives the lower rear branches of the lever which thus pass under the journal to trap it in the cavity 300.

[0056] Thus, as shown in Figures 12 and 16, the quick coupler is locked to the bucket. The locking is well secured, and in particular, even if one or more springs 400 break or become detached, there will be no unlocking of the quick coupler from the bucket, which is therefore held securely.

[0057] The tooth 509 has a rear surface which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly so that when the springs 400 push the lever 103 rearwardly once it is in position with the rear upper legs 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.

[0058] In [Fig. 17], a key 600 is shown for unlocking the fastener once it has been locked, that is to say once the tooth 509 has tilted into the notch 501 of the plate 500.

[0059] The key comprises an elongated handle 601 (only a part is shown in the figure) terminated by a head part comprising two upper lateral arms 603 and lower 604 and a central protrusion 605. A stud 606 extends transversely from the end of the upper arm 603, in a direction perpendicular to the handle, so as to be able to penetrate into an eyelet formed in a stud 700 originating from the upper face of the plate 101 of the fastener. From the lower lateral arm, a nose 609 originates which extends towards the upper arm.

[0060] 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 suitable for penetrating 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 causing the tooth 509 to come out of the notch 501, thus unlocking the quick fastener.

[0061] In Figures 20 to 25, the quick coupler 1 and the connection device 2 of an embodiment of the invention are shown during their relative movement between the moment when the coupling has started and the fact that the front hook 7 has been inserted under the upper journal 5 until the moment when the two elements 1 and 2 are in the position shown in [Fig.l 1] in which the step of locking the two elements 1 and 2 to each other can begin by translation of the lever 103 then tilting of the tooth 509 into the notch 501.

[0062] The quick release fastener of Figures 20 to 23 and 25 is identical to that of Figures 1 to 19, except that two left and right guide cutouts are cut into the outer surfaces of the left and right side flanks, the right guide cutout 810 being visible in Figures 20 to 23 while the left guide cutout 810 is visible in [Fig.25].

[0063] In Figures 20 to 25, the right lateral flank 102 has a right guide cutout 810 cut into the outer wall of the lateral flank. The left lateral flank, visible in [Fig. 25], has the same guide cutout cut into its outer wall. The guide cutout 810 is open downwards, outwards and rearwards and has a lower region 811, the longitudinal or length dimension of which, i.e. in the front-rear direction of the quick-release fastener, narrows upwards, followed by an upper region 812, the length dimension of which is substantially constant up to its top.

[0064] Thus, seen in longitudinal section, the cutout 810 comprises a longitudinal wall 814 forming a top, substantially horizontal, followed by a substantially vertical upper front wall 815, itself followed by a lower front wall 816 which extends to the lower opening of the cutout 810, being inclined relative to the upper front wall 815, in particular at an angle of approximately 45°, so as to form an elbow 818.

[0065] A right support pin 800 projects inward from the right lateral flank 4 of the connection device 2 and is intended to cooperate with the right cutout 810. An identical left support pin projects from the left lateral flank 4 and is intended to cooperate with the left cutout.

[0066] As shown in Figures 20 to 23, when the hooks 7 come under the front trunnion 5 by their end 204, each support pin 800 abuts against the lower front wall 816 ([Fig. 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 [Fig. 22]. The pin 800 is then at the entrance to 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 and the connecting device can then be mutually locked.

[0067] In Figures 20 to 23, only the pin 800 is shown, the right lateral flank having been omitted for greater clarity of the interaction between the pin and the quick release.

[0068] In the present description, the vertical is defined as being perpendicular to the plane of the upper face of the base plate 101 of the quick coupler, the upper side being the side towards which the opening of the cavity 200 is turned. The terms proximal and distal are defined relative to the middle of the quick coupler.

[0069] In particular, the terms top and bottom and bottom and top are defined in relation to this vertical, the connection device, fixed to the bucket, being located under the quick coupler, in the locked position.

[0070] In the present application, an embodiment is described by way of example in which the pin(s) is / are derived from the sides of the connector or connection device, while the guide cutout(s) is / are formed in the quick-release fastener. However, the reverse could also be provided, without departing from the scope of the present invention, i.e. the pin(s) derived from the quick-release fastener and the cutout(s) formed in the connector. It is even possible to provide for one or more pins to be derived 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

Claims

1. A coupler device, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler (1), intended to be secured to a public works machine, such as an excavator, a connection device (2), intended to be secured to a tool, such as a bucket (3), comprising at least one coupling pin (5), respectively a coupling hook intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, respectively a coupling pin, of the quick coupler, and locking means intended to lock the quick coupler to the connection device, is characterized in that it comprises guide means (800, 810) 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 coupler and the connection device.

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

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the or each guide cutout (810) comprises a lower region (811), the length dimension of which, i.e. in the front-rear direction of the quick-release fastener, narrows upwards, followed by an upper region (812), the length dimension 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 seen in longitudinal section, the or each cutout (810) comprises a longitudinal wall 814 forming a top, substantially horizontal, followed by a substantially vertical upper front wall 815, itself followed by a lower front wall 816 which extends towards the opening lower so as to form the elbow (818) with the upper front wall.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quick coupling comprises at least one coupling hook (7) and the connection device at least one coupling pin (5), and the or each hook (7) comprises a rod-forming part and a hooking head-forming part which extends upwards from the end of the rod-forming part, to thus define a respective cavity into which a pin of the connection device is intended to be inserted, through a respective upper opening.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cavity comprises a respective recessed zone, in particular hollowed out in the front edge of the or each lateral flank of the quick fastener, so that when the pin is inserted into the receiving cavity or cavities through the upper opening or openings, the pin can be inserted into the or each recessed zone, preferably over at least half of its cross-section, i.e. over an angle sector of at least 180°.

7. Device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that when the or each hook comes under the front trunnion, the or each support pin comes to abut against the lower front wall.

8. A device according to either 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 pin reaches its position in the or each recessed area of ​​the or each cavity of the or each hook.

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

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

11. A device for connecting a coupler-forming device, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be secured to a public works machine, such as an excavator, and the connection device comprising securing means intended to allow its securing to a tool, such as a bucket, and at least one coupling pin, respectively a hook, intended to couple with at least one associated coupling hook, respectively a pin, of the quick coupler, is characterized in that it comprises guide means intended to guide the 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 projecting laterally from the inner surface of at least one lateral flank of the connection device,in particular two pins, respectively left and right, projecting laterally from the respective inner surfaces of two left and right lateral flanks of the connection device.,

12. Coupler or quick coupler of a coupler-forming device, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the coupler, or quick coupler, intended to be secured to a public works machine, such as an excavator, and a connection device intended to be secured to a tool, such as a bucket, the coupler or quick coupler comprising at least one coupling hook, respectively one trunnion, intended to couple to at least one trunnion, respectively one hook, associated with the connection device, characterized in that it comprises guide means intended to guide the pivoting movement of the connection device, in particular self-centering means intended to allow relative self-centering of the quick coupler and the connection device, for example at least one guide cutout formed in a lateral flank of the quick coupler,the guide cutout being open at least downwards and towards the outside of the quick coupler, in particular two guide cutouts formed in two left and right lateral flanks of the quick coupler.,

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