Hydraulic safety manifold for material handling attachment with interchangeable jaw assembly

Abstract

A hydraulic safety system for a material handling attachment with a replaceable jaw assembly. The hydraulic safety system includes a hydraulic safety manifold that transfers fluid pressure to the rod side and releases fluid pressure from the base side of a hydraulic cylinder coupled to a locking pin that secures the replaceable jaw assembly to the main body of the material handling attachment. The hydraulic safety manifold ensures that even in the event of a hydraulic leak, the hydraulic pressure on the base side of the cylinder remains below the pressure on the rod side of the hydraulic cylinder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a hydraulic safety manifold for a material handling attachment having an interchangeable jaw assembly.

Background Art

[0002] Material handling attachments such as shear attachments, crusher attachments, concrete cracker attachments, rail breaker attachments, rebar shear attachments, and some grapple attachments include an upper jaw and a lower jaw supported from a main body. The rear end of the main body is typically attached to the boom or stick of an excavator via a swivel attachment, thereby allowing the material handling attachment to pivot or rotate relative to the boom or stick of the excavator to position the jaws in a desired orientation to shear, crush, or grip the material being processed. Some material handling attachments have an interchangeable jaw assembly that allows different jaw configurations to be replaced without the need to remove the main body from the boom or stick of the excavator. For example, a concrete cracker jaw may be replaced with, for example, a crusher jaw or a shear jaw. The interchangeable jaw assembly is typically coupled to the main body using one or more lock pins. The lock pins are typically moved between a locked or closed position and a released or open position by the actuation of a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the pins. In the event that hydraulic pressure is lost, the hydraulic cylinder may move the lock pins from the locked position to the released position, resulting in the separation of the jaw assembly from the main body. Therefore, there is a need for a hydraulic safety manifold to prevent inadvertent release or removal of the lock pins that secure the jaw assembly to the main body of the material handling attachment when hydraulic pressure is lost.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] [Figure 1] This is a left front perspective view (from the position of an operator seated in the cab of an excavator) of one embodiment of a material handling attachment having one embodiment of a replaceable jaw assembly attached to the main body. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a right front perspective view of the material handling attachment. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an exploded left front perspective view of the material handling attachment, showing the interchangeable jaw assembly, main body, and swivel assembly. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is an exploded right front perspective view of the material handling attachment, showing the interchangeable jaw assembly, main body, and swivel assembly. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is an exploded right elevation view of the material handling attachment, showing the main body and swivel assembly with the side plates removed to reveal the internal mechanical and hydraulic components. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is a right front perspective view of the material handling attachment, showing the swivel assembly mounted on the main body, with the right and upper plates removed to reveal the internal mechanical and hydraulic components. [Figure 7] Figure 1 is a close-up right rear perspective view of the material handling attachment, showing the main body with the right and upper plates removed to reveal the internal mechanical and hydraulic components. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hydraulic safety manifold from a first viewpoint. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the hydraulic safety manifold in Figure 8 from a second viewpoint. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the hydraulic safety manifold in Figure 8 from a third viewpoint. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the hydraulic safety manifold in Figure 8 from a fourth viewpoint. [Figure 12] Figure 8 shows the hydraulic circuit diagram of the hydraulic safety manifold in the first configuration. [Figure 13] Figure 8 shows the hydraulic circuit diagram of the hydraulic safety manifold in the second configuration. [Figure 14] Figure 8 shows the hydraulic circuit diagram of the hydraulic safety manifold in the third configuration. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0004] Referring to the drawings, similar reference numbers in the drawings designate the same or corresponding parts throughout several drawings, and Figures 1 and 2 are left and right front perspective views (from the operator's position), respectively, illustrating one embodiment of a material handling attachment 100 with a replaceable jaw assembly 300 incorporating a hydraulic safety manifold 500, which will be described in more detail later. To better understand the purpose of the hydraulic safety manifold 500, the components of the material handling attachment 100 will be described first.

[0005] Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding disassembled front left and right perspective views of the material handling attachment 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The material handling attachment 100 generally includes a main body 120 adapted to receive a replaceable jaw assembly 300. The main body 120 includes a front end 122 and a rear end 124. The rear end 124 is adapted to be operably mounted on the boom or stick (not shown) of an excavator by a swivel assembly 400 or other suitable mounting attachment as recognized and understood by those skilled in the art. As described below, the front end 122 of the main body 120 is configured to quickly release and receive the replaceable jaw assembly 300 without the operator having to leave the excavator cab or require assistance from another person. Therefore, unlike single-purpose material handling attachments with fixed or non-removable jaws, the material handling attachment 100 with interchangeable jaw assemblies 300 avoids the need for the time-consuming and often difficult procedure associated with connecting and disconnecting the main body of different single-purpose material handling attachments from the excavator boom or stick whenever different types of jaw configurations are required.

[0006] The main body 120 typically consists of a left plate 130 and a right plate 132, an upper plate 134, and a lower plate 136, which together define a substantially enclosed area in which the main hydraulic actuator 200 is substantially enclosed and protected. As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the main hydraulic actuator 200 is pivotably fixed to the rear end or base end 202 within the main body 120 by the left plate 130 and the right plate 132, an internal gusset (not shown), and an actuator pivot pin 210 extending through a base clevis 211. The front end or rod end 204 of the main hydraulic actuator 200 is adapted to be pivotably and removablely mounted to a jaw assembly 300, which is replaceable by an actuator lock pin assembly 150, which is described in more detail below.

[0007] One type of interchangeable jaw assembly 300, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, is a concrete cracker attachment characterized by a movable upper jaw 310 and a fixed lower jaw 340, each of which includes multiple teeth 302 facing forward and optionally a hardened shear blade 304 facing backward. During operation, the teeth 302 at the front of the cracker jaw are used to quickly and efficiently crack brittle materials such as concrete. The shear blade 304 may be used to cut or shred steel or other materials encountered during the demolition process.

[0008] Other non-limiting examples of jaw assemblies that may be interchangeably mounted to the main body 120 include crushers and shearers. A crusher is similar to a cracker, except that it typically includes more rows of distal teeth on both the upper and lower jaws so that the material being dismantled is divided into smaller pieces. A shearer includes a hardened steel drilling tip at the tip or nose of the upper jaw and shearing blades along the entire length of the upper and lower jaws. Shearers are used to cut or shred structural steel shapes such as I-beams, channels, tubes, and pipes, as well as sheet metal and other materials.

[0009] Common to the various aforementioned jaw assemblies are an upper jaw 310 and a lower jaw 340. The upper jaw 310 is received between the spaced pivot hubs 321, 322 of the lower jaw 340 and is pivotally attached to the lower jaw 340 by a main pivot 320 that extends through a central bore (not shown) of the pivot hubs 321, 322 and through the upper jaw 310 through the central pivot bore (not shown). Also common to the interchangeable jaw assembly 300 are various components that connect the interchangeable jaw assembly 300 to the main body 120 of the material handling attachment 100. Those skilled in the art will understand that the methods and devices described herein apply to at least the various jaw assemblies described above, including various components that connect the interchangeable jaw assembly 300 to the main body 120, which includes the material handling attachment 100, as will be described in more detail below.

[0010] The replaceable jaw assembly 300 is removably connected to the main body 120 by two hydraulic operating mechanisms that can be operated from the excavator's cab. The first mechanism is an actuator lock pin assembly 150, and the second mechanism is a body lock pin assembly 170. In addition, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the main body 120 may include a forward hook 125 that engages with an outward projection 127 on the replaceable jaw assembly 300.

[0011] The actuator lock pin assembly 150 pivotably and detachably attaches the front end 204 of the main hydraulic actuator 200 to the jaw assembly 300. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the actuator lock pin assembly 150 includes spaced-apart left clevis bracket 154 and right clevis bracket 156. The lower ends of the left clevis bracket 154 and right clevis bracket 156 include bracket apertures 155, 157, respectively, which align with the upper jaw lobe aperture 311 in a lobe 312 extending behind the upper jaw 310. The clevis pin 158 extends through the bracket apertures 155, 157 and is received by the upper jaw lobe aperture 311, thereby pivotably securing the upper jaw 310 to the main hydraulic actuator 200. The clevis pin cylinder 160 is fixed between the upper ends of the left clevis bracket 154 and right clevis bracket 156. The cylinder rod 162 is extendable and retractable from the clevis pin cylinder 160. A connecting plate 164 is attached to the end of the cylinder rod 162 and one end of the clevis pin 158. Thus, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the clevis pin cylinder 160 is operated to extend the cylinder rod 162 (i.e., in the open position), the clevis pin 158 is pushed outward, thereby disengaging the clevis pin 158 from the upper jaw lobe aperture 311 so that the upper jaw 310 is no longer connected to the main hydraulic actuator 200. Conversely, when the clevis pin cylinder 160 is operated to retract the cylinder rod 162 (i.e., in the closed or locked position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2), the clevis pin 158 is retracted inward so that the clevis pin 158 extends through the upper jaw lobe aperture 311 into the opposing bracket aperture 157, thereby locking the upper jaw 310 to the main hydraulic actuator 200.

[0012] As best shown in Figures 3 to 5, the main body lock pin assembly 170 may include a left main body lock pin subassembly 172 and a right main body lock pin subassembly 174. Each of the left main body lock pin subassembly 172 and the right main body lock pin subassembly 174 includes the respective left main body pin 176 and right main body pin 178 (or second and third lock pins) extending through the left wall bore 177 and the right wall bore 179, respectively, within the main body 120. The respective left central lugs 180 and right central lugs 182, each having their respective lug apertures 181 and 183, align with their respective left wall bores 177 and right wall bores 179 and receive the inner ends of the respective left main body pin 176 and right main body pin 178. The central lugs 180 and 182 are spaced apart from their respective left plate 130 and right plate 132 and receive the respective left jaw lobes 342 and right jaw lobes 344 of the lower jaw 340 between them. Each of the left lower jaw lobe 342 and the right lower jaw lobe 344 includes the left lower jaw lobe aperture 343 and the right lower jaw lobe aperture 345, respectively. The left lower jaw lobe aperture 343 and the right lower jaw lobe aperture 345 align with the left wall bore 177 and the right wall bore 179, respectively, as well as the lago apertures 181 and 183, respectively. Thus, it should be understood that the left body pin 176 extends through the left wall bore 177 into the left lower jaw lobe aperture 343 and is received in the left lago aperture 181, thereby pivotably securing the left side of the lower jaw 340 to the main body 120. Similarly, the right body pin 178 extends through the right wall bore 179 into the right lower jaw lobe aperture 345 and is received in the right lago aperture 183, thereby pivotably securing the right side of the lower jaw 340 to the main body 120.

[0013] As best shown in Figure 7, the left body lock pin subassembly 172 and the right body lock pin subassembly 174 include the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188, respectively, fixed within the main body 120, with their respective base ends facing each other and their respective rod ends projecting outward. The left body pin cylinder 186 includes an extendable and retractable left cylinder rod 187. The left connector plate 190 connects the outer end of the left body pin 176 to the left cylinder rod 187. Similarly, the right body pin cylinder 188 includes an extendable and retractable right cylinder rod 189. The right connector plate 192 connects the outer end of the right body pin 178 to the right cylinder rod 189. Therefore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 are operated to extend their respective left cylinder rods 187 and 189 (i.e., in the open position), the left body pin 176 and the right body pin 178 are pushed outward, thereby disengaging them from their respective left lower jaw lobe apertures 343 and 345, respectively, so that the lower jaw 340 is no longer connected to the main body 120. Conversely, when the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 are operated to retract their respective left cylinder rods 187 and 189 (i.e., to the closed or locked position as shown in Figures 1 and 2), the left body pins 176 and 178 are retracted inward so that they extend through the left lower jaw lobe aperture 343 and the right lower jaw lobe aperture 345 into the opposing left central lag aperture 181 and the right central lag aperture 183, thereby locking the lower jaws 340 to the main body 120.

[0014] The body lock pin assembly 170 is described above as comprising a left body pin cylinder 186 and a right body pin cylinder 188, respectively, and a left body lock pin subassembly 172 and a right body lock pin subassembly 174 that move the left body pin 176 and the right body pin 178 between a closed and open position. However, it should be understood that the body lock pin assembly 170 may also have a single body pin that is movable by a single body pin cylinder. The advantage of providing the left body lock pin subassembly 172 and the right body lock pin subassembly 174 is that, since the body pins 176 and 178 are generally the same length as the clevis pin 158, each body cylinder pin cylinder 186 and 188 generally has the same operating time as the clevis pin cylinder 160. However, depending on the configuration of the interchangeable jaw assembly, a body lock pin assembly 170 having a single body pin cylinder 186 and a single body pin 176 may be equally preferable.

[0015] It should be understood that the interchangeable jaw assembly 300 can be quickly and easily removed from the main body 120 without the operator having to leave the excavator cab to connect or disconnect pivot pins, or without connecting or disconnecting hydraulic lines between the main body 120 and the interchangeable jaw assembly 300, when it is desirable to replace one interchangeable jaw assembly 300 with another interchangeable jaw assembly 300. This is achieved by having all the lock pins and hydraulic connections for the main hydraulic actuator 200, the clevis pin cylinder 160, and the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 as part of the main body 120.

[0016] Figures 5 to 7 show the material handling attachment 100 with the side and top plates removed or concealed to show the internal hydraulic components comprising the hydraulic system for operating the material handling attachment 100, including the swivel assembly 400 and the interchangeable jaw attachment 300. Main hydraulic lines 212, 214 transmit hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic swivel 430 (described below) to the main hydraulic actuator 200. Clevis lock hydraulic lines 216, 218 transmit hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic swivel 430 to the base and rod sides of the clevis pin cylinder 160. Body lock hydraulic lines 222, 224 transmit hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic swivel 430 to the hydraulic junction box 220. As best seen in Figure 7, the left base hydraulic line 234 and the right base hydraulic line 236 transmit hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic junction box 220 to the respective base sides of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188. The left rod hydraulic line 238 and the right rod hydraulic line 240 transmit hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic junction box 220 to the respective rod sides of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188. The base hydraulic lines 234, 236 and the rod hydraulic lines 238, 240 are split or T-branched from the hydraulic junction box 220 to the respective left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 via the T-coupling 244, and it should be understood that the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 operate simultaneously and synchronously with respect to each other.

[0017] Figures 3–5 show the mechanical and hydraulic connections between the swivel assembly 400 and the main body 120. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, and as disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2016 / 0061230 incorporated herein by reference, the swivel assembly 400 may be mounted on the boom of an excavator (not shown) via a boom mount 404. The front end of the swivel assembly 400 includes a turning ring 410 which includes a stationary outer race 412 and a rotatable inner race 414. The outer race 412 is secured to the bulkhead 416 by a threaded connector 415. The inner race 414 is secured to the rear mounting plate 420 of the main body 120 by a threaded connector 421. The inner race 414 has inner gear teeth (not shown) which engage with one or more drive gears 422. Each drive gear 422 is rotatably driven by a hydraulic drive unit 424 (Figure 5) which is fixed within the stationary rear end swivel assembly 400. When the hydraulic drive unit 424 is actuated to rotate the drive gear 422, the rotation of the drive gear 422 engages with the gear teeth (not shown) of the inner race 414, causing the inner race 414 to rotate within the stationary outer race 412 of the turning ring 410. The mounting plate 420 at the rear end of the main body 120 is secured to the rotatable inner race 414 via a threaded connector 421, so that the rotation of the inner race 414 causes the main body 120 to rotate or pivot around the central axis of the turning ring 410, while the boom mount 404 at the rear end of the swivel assembly 400 is mounted on the boom of the excavator and does not rotate.

[0018] As best seen in FIGS. 3-6, the hydraulic swivel 430 includes a rotatable shaft 432 that projects forwardly and a stationary body 433 (FIG. 5). The stationary body 433 is fixed to the stationary bulkhead 416 of the swivel assembly 400. The rotatable shaft 432 projects into the main body 120 through the bulkhead 416. FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the swivel assembly 400 disassembled from the main body 120. The hydraulic swivel 430 is shown by a solid line with the stationary body fixed to the bulkhead 416 of the swivel assembly 400, but the hydraulic swivel 430 is also shown by a dashed line in FIG. 5 to indicate the position of the hydraulic swivel 430 when the swivel assembly 400 is attached to the main body 120. As shown in FIG. 5, the stationary body 433 includes a plurality of ports 435 that communicate and connect the hydraulic supply and return lines to the hydraulic system of the excavator. A plurality of other hydraulic lines connect to other ports on the stationary body 433 that supply hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic drive 424 and connect to a hydraulic safety manifold 500 (described later) and other hydraulic components housed on the stationary side of the swivel assembly 400. The forward end of the rotatable shaft 432 extending into the main body 120 includes a plurality of ports to which various hydraulic lines 212, 214, 216, 218, 222, 224 for the main hydraulic actuator 200, a clevis pin cylinder 160 for the actuator lock pin assembly 150, and body pin cylinders 186, 188 for the body lock pin assembly 170 are connected. The lever arm 436 extends outwardly from the rotatable shaft 432. The distal end of the lever arm 436 is received within a U-shaped retainer 438 fixed to the mounting plate 420 of the main body 120. Thus, when the main body 120 is rotated or pivoted by the operation of the hydraulic drive 424 that drives the drive gear 422 of the swivel assembly 430, the rotatable shaft 432 fixed to the main body 120 by the U-shaped retainer 438 necessarily rotates with the main body 120, while the rear stationary body 433 of the hydraulic swivel 430 remains fixed within the stationary side of the swivel assembly 400.

[0019] As shown in Figure 5, the hydraulic safety manifold 500 is fixed to the rear side of the bulkhead 416 of the swivel assembly 400. The safety manifold 500 is configured to transfer hydraulic fluid to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 and the rod side of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 to ensure that the clevis pin 158 of the actuator lock pin assembly 150 and the left body pin 176 and the right body pin 178 of the body lock pin assembly 170 remain in the closed or locked position when hydraulic pressure is lost. It should be understood that if there is a sudden loss of hydraulic pressure to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 and to the left lock body pin cylinder 186 and the right lock body pin cylinder 188, the clevis pin 158 and the left body pin 176 and the right body pin 178 may be pushed outward due to the pressure on the base side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 and the respective left body pin cylinder 186 and right body pin cylinder 188, resulting in the upper jaw 310 becoming disengaged from the main hydraulic actuator 200 and / or the lower jaw 340 becoming disengaged from the main body 120. Such accidental disengagement may cause damage to the excavator, the main body 120, or the jaw assembly 300, or surrounding property, or to nearby persons.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 8-11, the hydraulic safety manifold 500 is a single manifold that, in at least one embodiment, is generally a cube having six sides. The first side 512 of the hydraulic safety manifold 500 includes five solenoid valves SV1, SV2, SV3, SV4, and SV5. The solenoid valves SV1 and SV2 may be 6-port, 2-position, spring return, solenoid controlled direction control valves. The solenoid valves SV3, SV4, and SV5 may be 2-port, 2-position, always open spring offset electro-hydraulic direction control valves. The second side 514 of the hydraulic safety manifold 500 includes ports C1A, C2A, C1B, and C2B. The third side 516 of the hydraulic safety manifold 500 includes motor ports M1 and M2. The fourth side 518 of the hydraulic safety manifold 500 includes ports P1, P2, and CD, and check valves CV1 and CV2 that may be spring-loaded check valves. The fifth side 520 of the hydraulic safety manifold 500 includes check valves CV3 and CV4 that may be spring-loaded check valves. The sixth side (not shown) of the hydraulic safety manifold 500 does not include ports and is useful as a mounting surface for mounting the hydraulic safety manifold 500 to the bulkhead 416 of the swivel assembly 400. It should be understood that only one motor port M1 may be provided if only one hydraulic drive 424 is used.

[0021] Figures 12–14 are hydraulic circuit diagrams 600A–600C representing various configurations of the hydraulic safety manifold 500 that prevent the actuator lock pin assembly 150 and the body lock pin assembly 170 from moving to the open position in the event of a loss of hydraulic pressure. Referring to Figure 12, a first configuration 600A is shown in which hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic drive unit 424. In this first configuration 600A, pressurized hydraulic fluid is transmitted to and from a hydraulic fluid reservoir on the excavator through inlet ports P1 and P2. The pressurized hydraulic fluid immediately faces a de-energized solenoid valve SV1. When de-energized, solenoid valve SV1 is held by a spring in a position that allows hydraulic fluid to flow from both inlet ports P1 and P2 to solenoid valve SV2.

[0022] It is understood that hydraulic fluid ports are provided in pairs, unless otherwise referred to as drain lines. To supply hydraulic fluid through one port, it is necessary to return the hydraulic fluid through the pair of ports. Thus, as used herein, the term “inlet port” is used to indicate a port that connects the pressurized hydraulic fluid supply unit to the safety manifold 500. Since the fluid may flow in both directions through each port as needed to bring about the desired extension and retraction of the rods of various hydraulic cylinders 200, 160, 186, and 188, as well as the rotational motion of the hydraulic drive unit 424, or the movement of various hydraulic components, terms such as “inlet,” “outlet,” and “supply” do not refer to the direction in which the fluid flows through the port.

[0023] Solenoid valve SV2 is also de-energized in the first configuration 600A. When de-energized, SV2 allows hydraulic fluid to flow from solenoid valve SV2 to motor ports M1 and M2. Motor ports M1 and M2 supply hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic drive unit 424, which drives the drive gear 422 of the swivel assembly 430 to rotate the main body 120. Again, if only one hydraulic drive unit 424 is used, only one motor port M1 may be utilized. When the pressure exceeds a light threshold, for example 10 psi, valves CV1 and CV2 open, and oil is transferred through control valve SV5, which may be a normally-open spring-off electrohydraulic directional control valve, and check valves CV3 and CV4, which may be spring-type check valves, and these valves are also set to a light pressure much lower than the normal operating pressure of the hydraulic drive unit 424.

[0024] After passing through check valves CV3 and CV4, the hydraulic fluid is routed to ports C1A and C1B. Port C1A supplies the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic junction box 220, which then supplies the hydraulic fluid to rod-side hydraulic lines 238, 240, which are connected to the rod sides of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 of the left body lock pin subassembly 172 and the right body lock pin subassembly 174 of the body lock pin assembly 170. Port C1B supplies hydraulic fluid to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 of the actuator lock pin assembly 150. The positive pressure supplied through ports C1A and C1B maintains the left body pin 176 and the right body pin 178 of the left body lock pin subassembly 172 and the right body lock pin subassembly 174 of the body lock pin assembly 170, as well as the clevis pin 158 of the actuator lock pin assembly 150, in the locked position.

[0025] If it is desirable to change one interchangeable jaw assembly to another, the operator may, preferably, lower the material handling attachment 100 to the ground within a customized stand (not shown) designed to hold the material handling attachment 100 vertically with its rear end 124 facing upwards, thereby positioning the jaw assembly 300 to facilitate future attachment to the excavator boom.

[0026] With the material handling attachment 100 in the stand, the jaw assembly 300 can be detached from the main body 120. To perform the detachment, the operator places the safety manifold 500 into a second configuration 600B, as illustrated in the circuit diagram of Figure 13. This configuration 600B is achieved by the operator energizing the solenoid valve SV1. In doing so, hydraulic fluid is routed from port P2 to port C2B, which is connected to the base side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 of the actuator lock pin assembly 150, thereby extending the cylinder rod 162, pulling the clevis pin 158 out of the upper jaw lobe aperture 311, and positioning the actuator lock pin assembly 150 in the open position. The fluid from the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 returns through port C1B and is routed to port P1, completing the circuit. Simultaneously, control valve SV3, which may be a normally open spring offset electrohydraulic directional control valve, senses the pressure in the hydraulic line connected to port C2B and, combined with an electrical signal provided to valve SV3 when valve SV1 is activated, closes valve SV3 to stop the outflow of hydraulic fluid into the pressure drain line CD.

[0027] When the cylinder rod 162 of the clevis pin cylinder 160 is fully extended or released, thereby pulling the clevis pin 158 out of the upper jaw lobe aperture 311, the operator releases control of valve SV1, thereby opening valve SV3 and allowing any remaining pressure against the base side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 to flow out into the drain line CD. Power is supplied to valve SV5 during the replacement of the replaceable jaw assembly 300 to prevent fluid pressure from being directed towards the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 (which could inadvertently close or partially close the actuator lock pin assembly 150). Thus, when SV1 returns to its normal position, the hydraulic fluid is not directed towards the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 through port C1B, preventing the cylinder rod 162 and clevis pin 158 from moving to the closed position.

[0028] Next, the left body pin 176 and the right body pin 178 of the left body lock pin subassembly 172 and the right body lock pin subassembly 174 are engaged or disengaged by positioning the hydraulic safety manifold 500 into a third configuration 600C as illustrated in the circuit diagram of Figure 14. This third configuration 600C is achieved by the operator activating the solenoid valve SV2, causing hydraulic fluid to flow to the base side of the respective left body pin cylinder 186 and right body pin cylinder 188, thereby extending or releasing the respective cylinder rods 187 and 189, and pulling the respective left body pin 176 and right body pin 178 out of the respective left lower jaw lobe aperture 343 and right lower jaw lobe aperture 345. By activating the solenoid valve SV2, hydraulic fluid is routed from port P2 to port C2A, which is connected to the left base hydraulic line 234 and the right base hydraulic line 236 of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188, respectively, via a T-coupling 244 (Figure 7). The fluid from the rod side of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 returns to port C1A through hoses 238 and 240 via the T-coupling 244, and is routed to port P1, completing the circuit. Simultaneously, a control valve SV4, which may be a normally open spring offset electrohydraulic directional control valve, senses the pressure in the hydraulic line connected to port C2A and, combined with an electrical signal provided to valve SV4 when valve SV2 is activated, closes valve SV4 to stop the outflow of fluid to the drain line CD.

[0029] When the cylinder rods 187, 189 of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 are fully extended or released, and thus the respective left body pins 176 and right body pins 178 are withdrawn from the lower jaw lobe apertures 343, 345, the operator releases control of valve SV2, thereby opening valve SV4 and allowing any remaining pressure on the base side of the respective left body pin cylinder 186 and right body pin cylinder 188 to flow into reservoir CD. During the replacement of the replaceable jaws 300, power is supplied to valve SV5 to prevent fluid pressure from being directed towards the rod side of the respective left body pin cylinder 186 and right body pin cylinder 188 (which could inadvertently close or partially close the left body lock pin subassembly 172 and right body lock pin subassembly 174 of the body lock pin assembly 170). Therefore, when SV2 returns to its normal position, the hydraulic fluid does not flow through port C1A to the rod side of the respective left body pin cylinder 186 and right body pin cylinder 188, preventing the cylinder rods 187 and 189, as well as the left body pin 176 and right body pin 178, from moving to the closed position.

[0030] It should be understood that the hydraulic safety manifold 500 ensures that even in the event of a loss of hydraulic pressure, the hydraulic pressure on the base side of the clevis pin cylinder 160, as well as the pressure on the rod side of the respective left body pin cylinder 186 and right body pin cylinder 188, remains below the pressure on the rod side of the respective cylinders 160, 186, and 188. It should also be understood that the clevis pin 158, as well as the left body pin 176 and right body pin 178, are prevented from moving from the closed position to the open position whenever the material handling attachment 100 is in use by ensuring a constant supply of hydraulic pressure to the rod side of the hydraulic clevis pin cylinder 160, as well as to the left body pin cylinder 186 and right body pin cylinder 188.

[0031] When both the actuator lock pin assembly 150 and the body lock pin assembly 170 are in the open position, the boom arm on the excavator may be raised to detach the main body 120 and separate it from the jaw assembly 300. The operator can then, if necessary, move the excavator stick or boom and pivot the main body 120 of the demolition attachment 100 on the end of the excavator stick or boom to reposition the main body 120 onto a different jaw assembly 300.

[0032] The procedure for installing the replaceable jaw assembly 300 onto the main body 120 is the same as the removal procedure, except that the direction of the hydraulic fluid is reversed, with pressure supplied through port P1 and fluid returned to port P2. This routes the fluid to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder 160 of the actuator lock pin assembly 150, as well as to the rod side of the left body pin cylinder 186 and the right body pin cylinder 188 of the left body lock pin subassembly 172 and right body lock pin subassembly 174 of the body lock pin assembly 170, respectively, when valves SV1 and SV2 are operated.

[0033] The foregoing description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Embodiments, as well as various modifications to the general principles and features of the interchangeable jaw assembly 300, the main body 120, the actuator lock pin assembly 150, and the material handling attachment 100, and the main body lock pin assembly 170 including the hydraulic safety manifold 500 and the hydraulic system 600, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this disclosure should be given to the broadest scope that coincides with the appended claims and to the entire scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The following are some embodiments (configurations) of the present invention. [Aspect 1] A hydraulic safety manifold for a material handling attachment, The material handling attachment has a removable jaw assembly attached to a main body, the removable jaw assembly includes an upper jaw pivotably attached to a lower jaw, the rear end of the upper jaw connected to a main hydraulic actuator by an actuator lock pin assembly, the lower jaw attached to the main body by a body lock pin assembly, the actuator lock pin assembly includes a clevis pin movable between an open position and a closed position by a clevis pin cylinder, and the body lock pin assembly includes at least one body pin movable between an open position and a closed position by at least one body pin cylinder. The aforementioned hydraulic safety manifold Two inlet ports that are in fluid communication with the supply unit for pressurized hydraulic fluid, Each of the following is in fluid communication with a hydraulic drive unit configured to rotate the main body, and at least one motor port, Two body lock ports, which are in fluid communication with at least one of the body pin cylinders, Two cylinder lock ports are in fluid communication with the aforementioned clevis pin cylinder, It comprises multiple valves that can operate between multiple configurations, The aforementioned multiple configurations A first configuration in which the two inlet ports are in fluid communication with at least one motor port, A second configuration in which the two inlet ports are in fluid communication with the two main body lock ports, A third configuration is included, wherein the two inlet ports are in fluid communication with the two cylinder lock ports, In the first configuration described above, a hydraulic safety manifold is provided, in which hydraulic fluid pressure is supplied to the rod side of at least one main body pin cylinder. [Aspect 2] The hydraulic safety manifold according to embodiment 1, wherein the first configuration is a non-energized default configuration. [Aspect 3] The hydraulic safety manifold according to embodiment 1 or 2, further comprising the first configuration wherein hydraulic fluid pressure is supplied to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder. [Aspect 4] A hydraulic safety manifold according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of valves include a first solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the second configuration. [Aspect 5] A hydraulic safety manifold according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, further comprising a second solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the third configuration among the plurality of valves. [Aspect 6] A hydraulic safety manifold according to any one of embodiments 3 to 5, wherein the hydraulic fluid pressure supplied to the rod side of at least one main body pin cylinder passes through a check valve, so that the hydraulic fluid pressure is positive regardless of the direction of the fluid passing through the two motor ports. [Aspect 7] The hydraulic safety manifold according to embodiment 6, wherein the hydraulic fluid pressure supplied to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder passes through a check valve, so that the hydraulic fluid pressure is positive regardless of the direction of the fluid passing through the two motor ports.

Claims

1. A hydraulic safety manifold for a material handling attachment, The material handling attachment has a removable jaw assembly attached to a main body, the removable jaw assembly includes an upper jaw pivotably attached to a lower jaw, the rear end of the upper jaw being connected to a main hydraulic actuator by an actuator lock pin assembly, the lower jaw being attached to the main body by a body lock pin assembly, the actuator lock pin assembly including a clevis pin movable between an open position and a closed position by a clevis pin cylinder, and the body lock pin assembly including at least one body pin movable between an open position and a closed position by at least one body pin cylinder. The aforementioned hydraulic safety manifold Two inlet ports that are in fluid communication with the supply unit for pressurized hydraulic fluid, Each of the following is in fluid communication with a hydraulic drive unit configured to rotate the main body, and at least one motor port, Two body lock ports, which are in fluid communication with at least one body pin cylinder, Two cylinder lock ports are in fluid communication with the aforementioned clevis pin cylinder, It comprises multiple valves that can operate between multiple configurations, The aforementioned multiple configurations The first configuration is such that the two inlet ports are in fluid communication with at least one motor port, A second configuration in which the two inlet ports are in fluid communication with the two main body lock ports, A third configuration is included, wherein the two inlet ports are in fluid communication with the two cylinder lock ports, In the first configuration described above, a hydraulic safety manifold is provided, in which hydraulic fluid pressure is supplied to the rod side of at least one main body pin cylinder.

2. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 1, wherein the first configuration is a non-energized default configuration.

3. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 1, further comprising the first configuration wherein hydraulic fluid pressure is supplied to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder.

4. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 2, further comprising the first configuration wherein hydraulic fluid pressure is supplied to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder.

5. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of valves include a first solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the second configuration.

6. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of valves include a first solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the second configuration.

7. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of valves include a first solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the second configuration.

8. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of valves include a first solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the second configuration.

9. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 5, further comprising a second solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the third configuration among the plurality of valves.

10. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 6, further comprising a second solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the third configuration among the plurality of valves.

11. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 7, further comprising a second solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the third configuration among the plurality of valves.

12. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 8, further comprising a second solenoid valve that, when energized, causes a change from the first configuration to the third configuration among the plurality of valves.

13. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 3, wherein the hydraulic fluid pressure supplied to the rod side of at least one main body pin cylinder passes through a check valve, so that the hydraulic fluid pressure is positive regardless of the direction of the fluid passing through the two motor ports.

14. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 4, wherein the hydraulic fluid pressure supplied to the rod side of at least one body pin cylinder passes through a check valve, so that the hydraulic fluid pressure is positive regardless of the direction of the fluid passing through the two motor ports.

15. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 13, wherein the hydraulic fluid pressure supplied to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder passes through a check valve, so that the hydraulic fluid pressure is positive regardless of the direction of the fluid passing through the two motor ports.

16. The hydraulic safety manifold according to claim 14, wherein the hydraulic fluid pressure supplied to the rod side of the clevis pin cylinder passes through a check valve, so that the hydraulic fluid pressure is positive regardless of the direction of the fluid passing through the two motor ports.

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