Quick Change System

Abstract

To provide a quick change system for exchanging an attachment of a construction machine.SOLUTION: A quick change system 1 includes a quick coupler 3 which has a one-sided first receptacle 23 which is arranged on a carrier 2 so as to be rotatable around a rotating shaft by a rotation driving part and to be turnable around a turning shaft by a turning driving part, and stores and fixes a first bolt-like connection element on a tool side so as to connect the tool or attachment, and an opposite second receptacle for storing and fixing a second bolt-like connection element on the tool side. A mechanical rotation display part and / or turning display part 26 is arranged on the quick change system. The rotation display part and / or turning display part includes at least one indicator element and a marking mutually acting the indicator element so as to monitor a rotation position and / or inclined position of a quick coupler to the carrier.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick change system for exchanging attachments of a construction machine according to the preamble of claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] Such quick change systems are used between construction machine attachments and tools as rotation and / or swivel units for extending the movement capabilities of excavators or other comparable construction machines. Such quick change systems typically include a quick coupler arranged in a connection section so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis by a hydraulic rotary drive and swivelable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the rotation axis, as well as a receptacle and at least one locking element for releasably securing an attachment connected to the quick coupler. Such quick change systems allow attachments connected to the quick coupler, such as tilt buckets, grippers, shears, compactors, magnets, and hydraulic hammers, to swivel not only about a pivot axis arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the excavator arm, but also about a pivot axis perpendicular to the pivot axis. Such a quick change system is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,499.

[0003] In some quick-change systems, the pivot and tilt positions of the quick coupler are monitored by electrical sensors and transmitted to a display in the driver's cab. However, such sensor mechanisms are quite sensitive and expensive. They also require a corresponding power source. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Registration No. 102020127313 Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to devise a quick change system of the type mentioned at the beginning, which also allows for simple and robust monitoring of the rotational or tilt position of the quick coupler relative to the carrier, without the need for a separate power source.

[0006] This problem is solved by a quick change system having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments and advantageous refinements of the invention.

[0007] A quick-change system for changing attachments for a construction machine according to the present invention includes a quick coupler arranged to be swiveled about a further swivel axis by a swivel drive and rotatable about a rotation axis by a carrier rotation drive. The quick coupler has a first receptacle on one side for receiving and securing a first bolt-shaped connecting element on the tool side and a second receptacle on the opposite side for receiving and securing a second bolt-shaped connecting element on the tool side for connecting a tool or an attachment. Mechanical rotation and swivel indicators are arranged in the quick-change system. The indicators include a first indicator element having a corresponding first marking for monitoring the rotational position of the quick coupler and a second indicator element having a corresponding second marking for monitoring the tilt position of the quick coupler. The mechanical rotation and swivel indicators allow the position of the quick coupler to be quickly and reliably confirmed without an additional power source. For example, it can be confirmed whether the quick coupler is not rotating, tilting, or is in the initial position (zero position) without the need for an expensive sensor mechanism.

[0008] In a structurally simple and cost-effective embodiment, the indicator element can be designed in the form of a pointer with a pointer tip.

[0009] In another advantageous embodiment, the indicator element can include a slot-like recess that covers the associated marking in the initial position of the quick coupler, so that the marking can be easily identified in the slot-like recess in the initial position of the quick coupler.

[0010] In the case of a combined rotation indicator and swivel indicator, both the first and second indicator elements can be located on a common carrier plate, which can be located, for example, on the drive housing, and the two markings can be located on the cross member of the quick coupler and carrier.

[0011] However, the first and second indicator elements can also be arranged on separate carrier plates. The second indicator element can be arranged, for example, on a cross member of the carrier and a corresponding marking can be arranged on a support pin of the drive housing. Alternatively, the second indicator element can be arranged on a support pin of the drive housing and a corresponding marking can be arranged on a cross member of the carrier.

[0012] In a cost-effective embodiment, the carrier plate with the indicator elements can be designed as a sheet metal part.

[0013] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an example of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of a quick change system having a rotatable and tiltable quick coupler. [Figure 2] 2 shows a front view of the quick change system shown in FIG. 1 with the quick coupler in an unrotated and untilted initial position. [Figure 3] A detail of area A in FIG. 2 is shown. [Figure 4] 2 shows a front view of the quick change system shown in FIG. 1 with the quick coupler in a rotated position relative to the initial position. [Figure 5] A detail of area B in FIG. 4 is shown. [Figure 6] 2 shows a front view of the quick change system shown in FIG. 1 with the quick coupler in a tilted position relative to the initial position. [Figure 7] A detail of area C in FIG. 6 is shown. [Figure 8] 10 shows a front view of a further example embodiment of a quick change system with a quick coupler in an initial position. [Figure 9] A detail of region D in FIG. 8 is shown. [Figure 10] Detail of region E in FIG. 8 is shown. [Figure 11] 10 shows a front view of a further example embodiment of a quick change system with a quick coupler in an initial position. [Figure 12] A detail of region F in FIG. 11 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] 1 shows a quick-change system 1, also known as a tiltrotator, for changing attachments on an excavator or similar construction machine. The quick-change system 1 includes a quick coupler 3, which is disposed on a carrier 2 so that it can swivel and rotate by means of a rotary drive and a swivel drive, and which is designed for automatic or manual coupling of an attachment. In the illustrated embodiment, the quick coupler 3 is configured to rotate 360° about a rotation axis 5 by means of a hydraulic drive 4, and to pivot about a pivot axis 7 perpendicular to the rotation axis 5 by means of a hydraulic swivel drive 6 on the carrier 2, which is connected to the arm of the excavator or another attachment on the construction machine, either directly or via a hydraulically actuated quick coupler.

[0016] The quick-change system 1, here designed as a tiltrotator, includes a drive housing 8 in which the quick coupler 3 is mounted for 360° rotation about a rotation axis 5, which is shown here aligned vertically. A hydraulic rotary leadthrough, not visible here, is also located within the drive housing 8. The hydraulic rotary leadthrough has a stator rotatably fixed relative to itself within the drive housing 8 and a rotor mounted for rotation within the stator to supply hydraulic fluid to the quick coupler 3. The rotary drive 4 includes a hydraulic motor 9, here designed as a hydraulic drive. The hydraulic motor 9 mechanically rotates the quick coupler 3 360° about the rotation axis 5 via a gear mechanism having a worm wheel located inside the drive housing 8 and a drive worm that can be rotated relative to the drive housing 8 by the hydraulic motor 9.

[0017] The drive housing 8 is configured to pivot on the carrier 2 about a pivot axis 7 perpendicular to the rotation axis 5 via laterally protruding support pins 10 in two separated support lugs 11, and can be pivoted relative to the carrier 2 about the pivot axis 6 by approximately ±45° relative to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 by a hydraulic pivot drive 6. The tiltrotator 1, also known as a rotary pivot drive, allows the attachment connected to the quick coupler 3 to not only rotate about the rotation axis 5 but also tilt relative to the carrier 2 about a pivot axis 7 perpendicular to the rotation axis 5, thereby expanding the range of motion and increasing the application area.

[0018] The carrier 2 in the illustrated embodiment example has two parallel side walls 12 and front and rear cross members 13 on which support lugs 11 are arranged. The drive housing 8 is mounted so as to pivot about the pivot axis 7 via two support pins 10 on the support lugs 11 of the front and rear cross members 13. Openings are formed in the two side walls 12 of the illustrated carrier 2 for accommodating two parallel bolt-like connecting elements 14 and 15 separated from each other for connection to a quick coupler on the excavator side. However, the carrier 2 can also be mounted directly to the arm and coupling of the excavator without an intermediate connection, such as a hydraulically operated quick coupler, for example.

[0019] The slewing drive 6 in the illustrated embodiment is formed by two double-acting positioning cylinders, each of whose cylinder housings 16 or 17 is fastened to the corresponding side wall 12 of the carrier 2, and whose hydraulically actuated piston rods 18 and 19 are arranged to move within the cylinder housings 16 and 17, respectively. The free ends of the piston rods 18 and 19 are each connected to the drive housing 8 via articulated lugs 20 and corresponding mounts 21. The drive housing 8 with the quick coupler 3 mounted for rotation therein can thus be tilted relative to the carrier 2 by corresponding extension and retraction of the two piston rods 18 and 19 of the control cylinders. However, the slewing drive 6 can also be formed by a hydraulic motor or another suitable hydraulic drive.

[0020] As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the quick coupler 3, designed to connect attachments or tools, includes a housing 22 designed as a welded or cast structure. The housing 22 has a first receptacle 23, which is open on one side toward the tool, for receiving and securing a first bolt-like connecting element, and a second receptacle 24, which is open downwards on the opposite side toward the tool, for receiving and securing a second bolt-like connecting element. The first receptacle 23, which is open on one side, is claw- or fork-shaped. To prevent the connected tool from being accidentally dropped, these receptacles also have articulated safety catches 25. The second receptacle 24, which is open downwards on the opposite side, has a curved lower support surface that supports the bolt-like connecting element. A locking device (not shown here) is provided in the second receptacle 24. This locking device has two locking pins that are movable between an extended, locked position and a retracted, unlocked, or changed position. An example of an embodiment of a hydraulically actuated quick coupler 3 for automatically coupling tools is disclosed in DE 10 2018 128 479 A1, to which reference is made in particular with regard to the known structure and function of such a hydraulically actuated quick coupler. Various attachments can be connected to the quick coupler 3, such as tilt buckets, grippers, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers, etc.

[0021] To monitor the rotational and tilting position of the quick coupler relative to the carrier, the quick change system 1 is provided with a mechanical rotation and pivot indicator 26. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, a combined mechanical rotation and pivot indicator 26 is provided, with two pointer-like indicator elements 27 and 28 arranged on the drive housing 8, a first marking 29 arranged on the quick coupler 3 and a second marking 30 arranged on the cross member 13 of the carrier 2.

[0022] As can be seen particularly in FIG. 3 , the two pointer-like indicator elements 27 and 28, each having markings 29 and 30, have cooperating pointer tips 31 and 32. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 , the two pointer-like indicator elements 27 and 28 are arranged on a common carrier plate 34, which is fastened to the drive housing 8 via screws 33. The carrier plate 34 with the two pointer-like indicator elements 27 and 28 can be designed as a stamped sheet metal part. The two pointer-like indicator elements 27 and 28 point their pointer tips 31 and 32 in opposite directions. The markings 29 and 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are aligned with the initial position (zero position) of the quick coupler 3 with the pointer tips 31 and 32, in which the quick coupler 3 is not rotated or tilted. Slot-like recesses 35 and 36 are also arranged in the pointer-like indicator elements 27 and 28, and the markings 29 and 30 are shown in the zero position, in which the quick coupler 3 is not rotated or tilted. This makes it possible to quickly and reliably check whether the quick coupler 3 is in the zero position where it is not rotating or tilting, even without an electrical indicator.

[0023] On the other hand, when the quick coupler 3 is rotated around the rotation axis 5, which is now aligned vertically, as in Figures 4 and 5, the markings 29 on the quick coupler 3 move out of the range of the pointer-like indicator element 27, thereby making it easily apparent that the quick coupler 3 has rotated relative to the zero position.

[0024] 6 and 7 about a pivot axis 7 perpendicular to the rotation axis 5, the marking 30 on the cross member 13 moves out of the range of the pointer-like indicator element 28, thereby revealing the pivoting of the quick coupler 3 relative to the zero position, i.e., the tilting movement of the quick coupler 3. In this way, a purely mechanical and robust rotation and pivot indicator can be realized without a power source.

[0025] 8 to 10, the two pointer-like indicator elements 27 and 28 do not have to be arranged on a common carrier plate. Instead, as shown in Fig. 10, the first indicator element 27 can be arranged on a first carrier plate 37 fastened to the drive housing 8 by screws 33, and the second indicator element 28 can be arranged on a second carrier plate 38 fastened to the cross member 13 of the carrier 2 by screws 33. Furthermore, the marking 30 that is part of the second indicator element 28 can be applied to the support pin 10.

[0026] However, it is of course also possible to arrange the second indicator element 28 on the support pin 10 and the corresponding marking 30 on the cross member 13 of the carrier 2, as shown in FIGS. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 Quick Change System 2. Career 3 Quick Coupler 4 Rotation drive unit 5 Rotation Axis 6 Swivel drive unit 7 Swivel Axis 8 Drive housing 9 Hydraulic motor 10 support pin 11 Support lug 12 Side wall 13 Crosspiece 14 First connecting element 15 Second connecting element 16 First cylinder housing 17 Second cylinder housing 18 First piston rod 19 Second piston rod 20 Articulated Rugs 21 Mount 22 Housing 23 First Receptacle 24 Second Receptacle 25 Safety Catch 26 Rotation and turning indicators 27 First indicator element 28 Second Indicator Element 29 First Marking 30 Second Marking 31 First pointer tip 32 Second pointer tip 33 Screw 34 Carrier Plate 35 recess 36 Recess 37 First Carrier Plate 38 Second Carrier Plate

Claims

1. 1. A quick change system (1) for exchanging attachments of a construction machine, comprising: a quick coupler (3) arranged on a carrier (2) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (5) by a rotation drive (4) and swivelable about a swivel axis (7) by a swivel drive (6), the quick change system (1) being characterized in that the quick coupler (3) has a first receptacle (23) on one side for receiving and fixing a first bolt-like connecting element on the tool side and a second receptacle (24) on the opposite side for receiving and fixing a second bolt-like connecting element on the tool side for connecting a tool or an attachment, the quick change system (1) being characterized in that it is arranged with mechanical rotation and swivel indicators (26), and the quick change system (1) comprises a first indicator element (27) having a corresponding first marking (29) for monitoring the rotational position of the quick coupler (3) relative to the carrier (2), and a second indicator element (28) having a corresponding second marking (30) for monitoring the tilt position of the quick coupler (3) relative to the carrier (2).

2. 2. A quick-change system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator elements (27, 28) are designed in the form of pointers with pointer tips (31, 32).

3. 3. A quick change system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the indicator elements (27, 28) include slot-like recesses (35, 36) arranged on the corresponding markings (29, 30) in the initial position of the quick coupler (3).

4. 3. A quick change system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first indicator element (27) and the second indicator element (28) are arranged on a common carrier plate (34).

5. 5. The quick change system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the common carrier plate (34) is arranged on the drive housing (8), the marking (29) is arranged on the quick coupler (3), and the marking (30) is arranged on the cross member (13) of the carrier (2).

6. 3. A quick change system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first indicator element (27) is arranged separately on a carrier plate (37) and the second indicator element (28) is arranged separately on a carrier plate (38).

7. 7. A quick change system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second indicator element (28) is arranged on a cross member (13) of the carrier (2) and the corresponding marking (30) is arranged on a pivot pin (10) of the drive housing (8).

8. 7. The quick change system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second indicator element (28) is arranged on a pivot pin (10) of the drive housing (8) and the corresponding marking (30) is arranged on a cross member (13) of the carrier (2).

9. 5. A quick-change system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the carrier plates (34, 37, 38) are designed as sheet metal parts.

10. 3. A quick change system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier (2) comprises two parallel side walls (12) having openings for accommodating two parallel bolt-like connecting elements (14, 15).

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