Tool attachment assembly

Abstract

Tool Attachment Assembly for a Front Loader. An assembly for attachment of a tool to a utility vehicle front loader has a frame supporting first and second locking pins (405a) for engagement with mounting lugs on a tool in a locked position. A bracket (420) rotatably mounted to the frame (430) is connected to the locking pins (405a, 405b) so that movement of the bracket and the locking pins is linked. The bracket is held in an unlocked position by engagement of a latch (421) in a latching detent (412). A detent release mechanism (601) includes a body (610) mounted to the frame (430) for rotation between latched and unlatched positions and a trigger (606) mounted to the body. Rotation of the body (610) from the latched position towards the unlatched position causes the trigger (606) to release the latch (421) from the latching detent (412). The trigger (606) may be rotatably mounted to the body (610) so that it can pivot out of the way of the latch to enable the body to return to the latched position when a tool is disconnected.

Description

TITLE TOOL ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a tool attachment assembly for a utility vehicle such as a tractor.BACKGROUND

[0003] Utility vehicles such as excavators, backhoe loaders and tractors are multifunctional machines capable of performing various tasks using a variety of tools that may be attached to a front or rear loader of the vehicle. Such tools may for example include buckets, bale grabs, pallet forks and bale forks. It is advantageous for a common mounting mechanism to be used for a variety of tools. Tools may for example have common mounting features that enable a common tool attachment assembly to be used to attach a variety of tools to a loader of the vehicle.

[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a utility vehicle in the form of a tractor 100, the tractor 100 having a front loader 101 for operating a tool 102, which in this example is a bucket. The tool 102 is attachable to, and detachable from, a tool attachment assembly 103 located at a distal end 104 of the front loader 101. FIG. 1 illustrates the tool 102 detached from the tool attachment assembly 103, while FIG. 2 illustrates the tool 102 attached to the tool attachment assembly 103.

[0005] FIG. 3 is a more detailed view of a tool 102 and tool attachment assembly 103 on a front loader 101, with the tool 102 detached from the tool attachment assembly 103. The tool 102 comprises attachment features that include a hook 301 and a mounting lug 302, which together enable the tool 102 to be securely attached to the tool attachment assembly 103. A pair of such hooks and a corresponding pair of mounting lugs are typically provided on the tool 102, each pair spaced apart laterally. During attachment of the tool 102, each hook 301 is engagedwith a horizontal upper bar 303 on the tool attachment assembly 103. As the tool attachment assembly 103 further engages with the tool 102, a further horizontal lower bar 304 contacts a rear face 305 of the tool 102 below the mounting lug 302. The tool 102 is then secured to the tool attachment assembly 103 by translating locking pins (not shown in FIG. 3) on the tool attachment assembly 103 to pass through a fixing hole 306 in each mounting lug 302. The tool102 can then be operated by actuation of the front loader 101, for example by operation of various hydraulic actuators. The hydraulic actuator 307 shown in FIG. 3 is operable to actuate the tool attachment assembly 103 to rotate about the distal end 104 of the front loader 101. Other hydraulic actuators enable the front loader 101 to move the distal end 104 upwards and downwards, for example by rotating the front loader 101 about a horizontal axis relative to the vehicle 100.

[0006] A general problem to be addressed is how to ensure that the tool attachment assembly 103 is securely fastened to the tool 102. An operator of the vehicle will be able to operate the front loader 101 from within the vehicle 100 to move the tool attachment assembly103 into position against the tool 102. A further actuation movement may then be required to actuate the locking pins to secure the tool 102 to the attachment assembly, which in some examples may involve rotating the tool attachment assembly 103 to lift the tool 102 so that a feature on the distal end 104 of the front loader 101 makes contact with a releasable catch on the tool attachment assembly 103, thereby causing the locking pins to be actuated and the tool 102 secured. If this further movement is not done, or if the feature does not properly engage the releasable catch, the tool 102 will not be securely fastened. Furthermore, damage to the feature on the front loader 101 and / or the actuating mechanism of the locking pins can occur if the tool attachment assembly and the front loader are not properly aligned.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] In an aspect of the invention there is provided a tool attachment assembly for attachment of a tool to a utility vehicle, the tool attachment assembly comprising: a frame; first and second locking pins slidably mounted to the frame for movement along a longitudinal axis in opposing directions between locked and unlocked positions;a bracket rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation about a first rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the bracket connected to the first and second locking pins via respective first and second linkages such that rotation of the bracket about the first rotation axis is linked with movement of the first and second locking pins along the longitudinal axis, wherein the bracket is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions corresponding with the locked and unlocked positions of the first and second locking pins, the bracket comprising a latch configured to engage with a latching detent on the frame to hold the bracket in its unlocked position; and a detent release mechanism comprising a body portion rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation about a second rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis between latched and unlatched positions, the detent release mechanism further comprising a trigger mounted to the body portion and configured to engage with the latch, wherein, with the bracket in its unlocked position and the latch engaged with the latching detent, rotation of the body portion in a first direction about the second rotation axis from the latched position towards the unlatched position causes the trigger to release the latch from the latching detent.

[0008] The trigger may be mounted to the body portion for movement between an operative position in which it is capable of moving the latch in response to rotation of the body portion in the first direction and an inoperative position in which it is able to pass the latch to permit the body portion to rotate from its unlatched position to its latched position in a second direction opposite to the first with the bracket is in its unlocked position.

[0009] The trigger may be biased toward the operative position, the arrangement configured such that, in use during disengagement of a tool from the tool attachment assembly, engagement of the trigger with the latch or some other component of the tool attachment assembly, as the body portion moves from the unlatched position to the latched position causes the trigger to move to the inoperative position, allowing the trigger to pass the latch.

[0010] In some embodiments, the trigger is rotatably mounted to the body portion about a third rotation axis parallel to the second rotation axis. The trigger may be movable in a first rotary direction about the third rotation axis from an operative position to an inoperativeposition, the trigger being biased to the operative position in which a stop on the trigger engages the body portion to limit rotational movement of the trigger relative to the body portion about the third rotation axis in a direction opposite to the first direction. The trigger may be biased towards the operative position by a torsional spring.

[0011] In some embodiments, the body portion comprises an engagement member configured to engage with a mounting lug on the tool to cause rotation of the body portion in the first direction when the tool attachment assembly engages with the tool. The engagement member may extend to the longitudinal axis when the body portion is in its latched position. The engagement member may be operative to prevent movement of a first of the locking pins from an unlocked position to a locked position when the body portion is in the latched position. The engagement member may be a first arm which may extend generally radially from the second rotation axis to the longitudinal axis.

[0012] In some embodiments the body portion is biased to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction towards the latched position. The body portion may be biased to rotate in the second direction by a torsional spring.

[0013] In some embodiments, the body portion comprises a stop which is brought into engagement with a corresponding stop on the frame to limit rotation of the body member relative to the frame in the second direction when the body member is in the latched position. Where the body portion has an engagement member in the form of a first arm, the stop on the body portion may comprise a second arm.

[0014] In some embodiments, the tool attachment assembly comprises an upper bar configured to engage with corresponding hooks on a rear face of the tool and a lower bar configured to rest against the rear face of the tool when the tool and tool attachment assembly are fully aligned, the upper and lower bars being aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis.

[0015] In some embodiments, first and second locking pins are retracted towards each other along the longitudinal axis in the unlocked position and extended away from each other along the longitudinal axis in the locked position and wherein, optionally, the first and second locking pins are biased towards the locked position with respective first and second springs.

[0016] In some embodiments, the latch is biased against the latching detent when the bracket is in the unlocked position with a bracket spring.

[0017] In a further aspect, there is provided a utility vehicle comprising a loader attached to the vehicle, the loader comprising the tool attachment assembly of the aspect first set out above. The vehicle may be an agricultural tractor. The loader may be a front loader, and the tool attachment assembly may be mounted to a distal end of the front loader.

[0018] In a further aspect, there is provided a method of attaching a tool to the tool attachment assembly of the aspect first set out above, the method comprising: with the locking pins and bracket in their unlocked positions, the latch engaged with the latching detent, and the detent release mechanism in its latched position, engaging the tool attachment assembly with a rear face of a tool; and contacting a mounting lug on the tool with the body portion to cause rotation of the body portion in the first direction about the second rotation axis to cause the trigger to release the latch from the latching detent.

[0019] The method may further comprise, causing a fixing hole of the mounting lug to align with the longitudinal axis, such that the bracket and the first and second locking pins are able to move to their locked positions, engaging the locking pins with respective fixing holes in respective mounting lugs on the tool.

[0020] The various optional features described above in relation to the tool attachment assembly may also apply to the method.

[0021] Within the scope of this application, it should be understood that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out herein, and individual features thereof may be taken independently or in any possible and compatible combination. Where features are described with reference to a single aspect or embodiment, it should be understood that such features are applicable to all aspects and embodiments unless otherwise stated or where such features are incompatible.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] One or more embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view drawing of an example agricultural vehicle with a front loader prior to attachment to a tool;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view drawing of the vehicle of FIG. 1 after attachment of the tool to a tool attachment assembly on the front loader;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view drawing of a distal end of an example front loader adjacent a tool prior to attachment of the tool to a tool attachment assembly;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective partial cutaway drawing of an example tool attachment assembly;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective partial cutaway drawing of a latching end of the example tool attachment assembly of FIG. 4;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective drawing illustrating locking and unlocking components of the tool attachment assembly;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective drawing illustrating a handle and related components of the tool attachment assembly;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a front cutaway view of the latching end of the tool attachment assembly prior to actuation of a locking pin;

[0031] FIG. 9 is a front cutaway view of the latching end of the tool attachment assembly following actuation of the locking pin;

[0032] FIG. 10 is a side view of a tool attachment assembly in partial engagement with a tool;

[0033] FIG. 11 is a side view of the tool attachment assembly during a first stage of engagement of a mounting lug of the tool with the tool attachment assembly;

[0034] FIG. 12 is a side view of the tool attachment assembly during a second stage of engagement of the mounting lug with the tool attachment assembly;

[0035] FIG. 13 is a side view of the tool attachment assembly during a third stage of engagement of the mounting lug with the tool attachment assembly;

[0036] FIG. 14 is a side view of the tool attachment assembly during a first stage of disengagement of the mounting lug from the tool attachment assembly; and

[0037] FIG. 15 is a side view of the tool attachment assembly during a second stage of disengagement of the mounting lug from the tool attachment assembly.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any machine, or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

[0039] The following description provides specific details of embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a thorough description thereof. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without employing many such specific details. Indeed, the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with conventional techniques employed in the industry. In addition, the description provided below does not include all elements to form a complete structure or assembly. Only those process acts and structures necessary to understand the embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below. Additional conventional acts and structures may be used. The drawings accompanying the application are for illustrative purposes only, and are thus not drawn to scale.

[0040] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," "characterized by," and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps, but also include the more restrictive terms "consisting of' and "consisting essentially of" and grammatical equivalents thereof.

[0041] As used herein, the term "may" with respect to a material, structure, feature, or method act indicates that such is contemplated for use in implementation of an embodiment of the disclosure, and such term is used in preference to the more restrictive term "is" so as to avoid any implication that other, compatible materials, structures, features, and methods usable in combination therewith should or must be excluded.

[0042] As used herein, the term "configured" refers to a size, shape, material composition, and arrangement of one or more of at least one structure and at least one apparatus facilitating operation of one or more of the structure and the apparatus in a predetermined way.

[0043] As used herein, the singular forms following "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0044] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0045] As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below," "lower," "bottom," "above," "upper," "top," "front," "rear," "left," "right," and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the materials in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

[0046] As used herein, the term "substantially" in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0% met, at least 95.0% met, at least 99.0% met, or even at least 99.9% met.

[0047] As used herein, the term "about" used in reference to a given parameter is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the given parameter).

[0048] A tool attachment assembly 400 for mounting to the distal end 104 of a loader is illustrated in FIG. 4. The tool attachment assembly 400 comprises a frame 430 comprising a horizontal upper bar 403 and a horizontal lower bar 404, which in this example is divided into two portions 404a, 404b at either end of the tool attachment assembly 400. The horizontal upper and lower bars 403, 404 are configured to engage features on the rear face of a tool 102, asdescribed above in relation to FIG. 3. The upper bar 403 is configured to engage with corresponding hooks on the tool (e.g. of the type of hook 301 illustrated in FIG. 3), while the lower bar 404 is configured to rest against a rear face 305 of the tool 102. The upper and lower bars 403, 404 are aligned parallel with a longitudinal axis 406 of a pair of locking pins 405a, 405b, as described below. Other features of the tool attachment assembly 400 enable the tool attachment assembly 400 to engage with and be secured to the tool 102, the operation of which is described below.

[0049] The tool attachment assembly 400 comprises first and second slidably mounted locking pins 405a, 405b, which are shown in FIG. 4 in an unlocked position in which the locking pins 405a, 405b are drawn inwards along the common longitudinal axis 406. The locking pins 405a, 405b are each slidably mounted to the frame 430 within mounting holes 407a, 407b, 408a, 408b defined in corresponding plates on the tool attachment assembly 400 and are outwardly biased along the longitudinal axis 406 with respective springs 409a, 409b. The first locking pin 405a is mounted within first and second mounting holes 407a, 407b and the second locking pin 405b is mounted within third and fourth mounting holes 408a, 408b. Further mounting holes 407c, 408c are provided on the frame 430 in further plates for the respective locking pins 405a, 405b to engage with when they are moved to a locked position. In use, mounting lugs 302 on the tool 102 are engaged with the tool attachment assembly 400 in respective volumes defined between the plates in which mounting holes 407b and 407c are defined for the first locking pin 405a and between the plates in which mounting holes 408b and 408c are defined for the second locking pin 405b.

[0050] First and second linkages 410a, 410b connect the second locking pin 405b to the first locking pin 405a via a rotatably mounted bracket 420 so that the locking pins 405a, 405b actuate together and with rotation of the bracket 420. A handle 411 is connected to the bracket 420 to allow the bracket 420 to be manually rotated between locked and unlocked positions, causing actuation of the locking pins 405a, 405b. The bracket 420 and locking pins 405a, 405b are shown in FIG. 4 in an unlocked position, with the locking pins 405a, 405b maintained in the unlocked position by a latch 421 on the bracket 420, which is secured against a latching detent412 on the frame 430. The bracket 420, handle 411 and latch 421 may be formed as a single integral component, for example formed from sheet metal by cutting and bending.

[0051] Upon releasing the latch 421 from the latching detent 412, the bracket 420 is allowed to rotate in a direction indicated by arrow 414, which enables the locking pins 405a, 405b to slide outwardly driven by springs 409a, 409b to their locked positions. With the tool attachment assembly 400 correctly positioned against a tool 102, the locking pins 405a, 405b engage within fixing holes 306 of corresponding mounting lugs 302 on the tool 102 in their locked positions, i.e. with the first locking pin 405a engaged with a corresponding first fixing hole 306 in a first mounting lug 302 on the tool 102 and the second locking pin 405b engaged with a corresponding second fixing hole 306 in a second mounting lug on the tool 102. Each locking pin 405a, 405b also engages with their respective further mounting hole 407c, 408c when in the locked position. As the locking pins 405a, 405b slide from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 4 to the locked position, first and second indicators 415a, 415b mounted on the respective first and second locking pins 405a, 405b align with corresponding first and second markers 416a, 416b on the upper bar 403 so that an operator can observe that the locking pins 405a, 405b have moved into the locked position, indicating that the tool 102 is secured to the tool attachment assembly 400. The first indicator 415a is shown in FIG. 4 in partial cutaway view to allow the handle 411 to be seen.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a closer view of a latching end of the tool attachment assembly 400 of FIG. 4, showing details of the bracket 420 and associated components. The bracket 420 is rotatably mounted to the tool attachment assembly 400 at a pivot point 501 to allow the bracket 420 to rotate about a first rotation axis 503 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 406 between locked and unlocked positions. The first linkage 410a is pivotally mounted between the bracket 420 and the second locking pin 405b, while the second linkage 410b is pivotally mounted between the bracket 420 and the first locking pin 405a such that rotation of the bracket 420 and movement of the first and second locking pins 405a, 405b along the longitudinal axis 406 are concomitant. The arrangement is such that when the locking pins 405a, 405b are in their unlocked position, the bracket 420 is in its unlocked position and when the locking pins 405a, 405b are in their locked position, the bracket 420 is in its locked position. The latch 421 is biasedagainst the latching detent 412 when the bracket 420 is in the unlocked position with a bracket spring 502. When the latch 421 is engaged with the latching detent 412, this may be described as an unlocked and latched configuration of the bracket 420. Movement of the bracket 420 towards the tool in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 406 causes the latch 421 to be released from the latching detent 412, allowing the bracket 420 to rotate and so allowing the locking pins 405a, 405b to slidably actuate to locked positions to secure the tool 102 to the tool attachment assembly 400. In a known arrangement, the bracket 420 is released either by hand, i.e. using the handle 411, or by actuation of the tool attachment assembly 400 to cause a feature on the front loader to release the latch 421 from the latching detent 412. The tool attachment assembly 400 described herein comprises a different type of arrangement for releasing the latch 421, the operation of which is described in further detail below.

[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates portions of the tool attachment assembly 400 including the bracket 420, first locking pin 405a, first indicator 415a and a detent release mechanism 601. The detent release mechanism 601 comprises a body portion 610 that is rotatably mounted to the frame 430 for rotation about a second rotation axis 602 parallel to the longitudinal axis 406 of the first and second locking pins 405a, 405b between a latched position and an unlatched position. The body portion 610 comprises a first arm 603 which in the latched position of the body member extends generally radially from the second rotation axis 602 to the longitudinal axis 406 of the locking pin 405a. In the latched position of the body portion illustrated in FIG. 6, a distal end 604 of the first arm 603 is in line with the longitudinal axis 406 and covers the mounting hole 407b through which the first locking pin 405a is mounted. This has the effect of preventing movement of the first locking pin 405a along the longitudinal axis 406 further through the mounting hole 407b so that the locking pin 405a (and, by way of the linkage connection, also the second locking pin 405b and the bracket 420) cannot move towards the locked position when the body portion is in its latched position, even when the latch 412 is released from the latching detent 412. The body portion 610 is able to rotate relative to the frame in a first direction 609 about the second rotation axis 602 from its latched position to an unlatched position. A first torsional spring 607 biases the body portion 610 to oppose rotation in the first direction 609. The body portion has a second arm 605 and as illustrated in FIG. 7, the first torsional spring 60 biasesthe body portion 610 to a latched position in which the second arm 605 engages an end stop 701 on the frame 430 to limit rotation of the body portion in the direction opposite the first direction. In alternative arrangements, an end stop on the frame 430 may be provided in a different position, for example for the first arm 603 to rest against when the detent release mechanism is in the latched position.

[0054] The detent release mechanism 601 further comprises a trigger 606, which is rotatably mounted to the body portion 610 for movement about a third rotational axis 611 parallel to the second rotational axis 602. In this example, the trigger 606 is located on an opposite side of the body portion 610 to the first arm 603. The trigger 606 enables the latch 421 to be released from the latching detent 412 upon rotation of the body portion 610 in the first direction 609 about the second rotation axis 602 from the latched position to the unlatched position, as described below. A second torsional spring 608 biases the trigger 606 to oppose rotation of the trigger 606 about the third rotational axis 611 in a direction corresponding to the first direction. When the detent release mechanism is in the latched position, as shown in FIG. 6, the trigger is biased by the second torsional spring 608 to a first, operative position in which a stop member 612 on the trigger 606 contacts the body portion 610 to limit rotation of the trigger relative to the body portion 610 in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0055] The body portion 610 and trigger 606 are each rotatable against a bias force in the same rotary direction (i.e., anticlockwise as viewed in FIG. 6) about their respective second and third rotation axes 602, 611. This will be referred to for both the body portion 610 and trigger 606 as a first direction. Accordingly, in each case the respective bias force tends to rotate the body portion 610 and the trigger 606 in the same direction opposite to the first direction (i.e., clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6) about their respective second and third rotation axes 602, 611. This direction of rotation will be referred to for both the body portion and the trigger as a second direction.

[0056] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are corresponding sectional views illustrating the unlocked and lock positions respectively of the locking pin 405a. Full details of the detent release mechanism 601 are omitted in FIG.8 and FIG. 9 for clarity.

[0057] FIG. 8 illustrates the unlocked position of the locking pin 405a with the latch 421 in a latched position against the latching detent 412. The distal end 604 of the first arm 603 is in this position in line with the longitudinal axis 406 of the locking pin 405a. The first locking pin 405a extends into the mounting hole 407b but is prevented from moving further through the mounting hole 407b by the distal end 604 of the first arm 603.

[0058] FIG. 9 illustrates the locked position of the locking pin 405a, with the latch 421 released from the latching detent 412, allowing the bracket 420 to rotate and the locking pin 405a to slide along the longitudinal axis 406, driven by the biasing spring 409a, so that an end of the locking pin 405a passes through a fixing hole 306 in a mounting lug 302 of a tool 102 to which the tool attachment assembly 400 is now secured. The first locking pin 405a also passes into the further mounting hole 407c on the frame 430, further securing the mounting lug 302 to the frame 430. The second locking pin 405b would be similarly engaged in the fixing hole 306 of its respective mounting lug 302 and further mounting hole 408c.

[0059] Operation of the detent release mechanism 601 to cause the latch 421 to be released is illustrated in FIGs. 10 to 13. References to movement of a tool 102 or part of a tool relative to the tool attachment assembly (400) should be understood as encompassing manipulating the tool attachment assembly (400) on the front loader to adjust the relative positions of the tool (102) and the tool attachment assembly (400).

[0060] FIG. 10 shows a mounting lug 302 of the tool 102 being brought into contact with the tool attachment assembly 400, a hook 301 on the tool 102 already being in position against the upper bar 303 of the tool attachment assembly 400. The body portion 610 of the detent release mechanism is in its latched position in which the second arm 605 is biased against the end stop 701 and the trigger 606 is in its first, operative position.

[0061] As the tool 102 is brought closer to the tool attachment assembly 400, the mounting lug 302 contacts the first arm 603 as shown in FIG. 11. This causes the body portion 610 to begin to rotate in the first direction 609 away from its latched position, bringing the trigger 606 into contact with the latch 421.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 12, as the tool 102 is brought further closer to the tool attachment assembly 400, the body portion 610 is rotated further in the first direction and, asthe trigger 606 is prevented from rotating in the opposite direction by engagement of the stop member 612 and the body portion, the trigger 606 moves the latch 421 away from the latching detent 412. However, at this point, the hole 306 in the mounting lug 302 is out of alignment with the mounting hole 407b on the tool attachment assembly 400, which prevents the locking pin 405a from being moved to the locked position and the bracket 420 from rotating.

[0063] Once the tool 102 is brought into proper alignment with the tool attachment assembly 400, as shown in FIG. 13, the fixing hole 306 in the mounting lug 302 is aligned with the mounting hole 407b on the tool attachment assembly 400 (and with the longitudinal axis 406 of the locking pins), which allows the locking pin 405a to move to the locked position and the bracket 420 to rotate, as indicated in FIG. 13 by movement of the handle 411. The locking pin 405a passes through the fixing hole 306 in the mounting lug 302 and engages in the further mounting hole 407c on the tool. The other locking pin 405b is constrained to move with the first locking pin 405a and the bracket 420 and so will also be moved to the locked position, engaging in the fixing hole 306 of its corresponding tool mounting lug 302 and its respective further mounting hole 408c. The tool 102 is now secured to the tool attachment assembly 400. The operator can confirm that the locking mechanism is fully engaged by visually checking the first and second indicators 415a, 415b mounted on the respective first and second locking pins 405a, 405b align with corresponding first and second markers 416a, 416b on the upper bar 403.

[0064] To release the tool 102 from the tool attachment assembly 400, an operator manually actuates the bracket 420 using the handle 411 to rotate the bracket 420 back into the unlocked position, causing the locking pins 405a, 405b to retract back along the longitudinal axis 406 to their unlocked positions. An initial configuration after this is illustrated in FIG. 14, in which the bracket 420 has been rotated to the unlocked position with the latch 421 engaged with the latching detent 412 and the locking pins retracted. Initially, the body portion of the locking detent is held in its unlatched position by engagement of the tool mounting lug 302 with the first arm 603. The trigger 606 in this configuration is in front of the latch 421.

[0065] The front loader is then manipulated to move mounting lug 302 of the tool 102 away from the tool attachment assembly 400. As the mounting lug 302 is withdrawn, the first torsional spring 607 biases the body portion 610 back towards its latched position and thismovement brings the trigger 606 into engagement with a forward-facing surface of the latch 421. Continued rotational movement of the body portion 210 towards the latched position as the mounting lug 302 is withdrawn causes the trigger 606 to be rotated relative to the body portion 610 in the first direction about the third rotation axis 611 (i.e. anti-clockwise from the perspective of FIG. 14) against the bias force of the second torsional spring 608 to an inoperative position in which the trigger 606 is able to pass beneath the latch 421 so that the body portion 610 is able to move fully to its latched position as the tool mounting lug 302 is fully withdrawn. FIG. 15 shows the trigger 606 passing the latch 421 as the mounting lug 302 is moved further away and the body portion 610 rotates back towards its latched position. Once the tool 102 is moved away such that the mounting lug 302 is no longer in contact with the first arm 603, the body portion 610 is biased to fully to its latched position with the second arm 605 engaging the end stop 701 by the first torsional spring 607. The trigger 606 is biased back to its first, operative position once it has cleared the latch 241 as the body portion 610 moves towards its latched position so that the detent release mechanism is returned to its initial state as illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0066] In alternative examples, the trigger 606 may be mounted differently, provided that it is capable of moving relative to the body portion 610 between an operative position, in which it is capable of disengaging the latch 421 from the latching detent 412 as the body portion is rotated in the first direction from its latched position to its unlatched position, and an inoperative position, in which it is able to pass the latch 421 as the body portion returns to the latched position with the bracket 42 in an unlocked and latched configuration as a tool is disconnected from the tool attachment assembly (400). For example, the trigger may be mounted for rotation relative to the body portion 610 about a third rotation axis 602 that is orthogonal to the second rotation axis 602 or for linear translation relative to the body portion 610 between operative and inoperative positions. The trigger may be biased to the operative position and moved to the inoperative position against the bias force because of engagement of the trigger (or a part attached thereto) with a forward face or part of latch 412 or some other component as the body portion returns to the latched position. The trigger may engage a cam surface to effect movement to the inoperative position, for example. In a general aspect, the trigger 606 is biased towards a first, operative position, e.g. the position illustrated in FIG. 6, inwhich a stop member 612 on the trigger 606 contacts the body portion 610 to limit rotation of the trigger relative to the body portion in a direction opposite to the first direction, but is moved against the bias to an inoperative position as the body portion moves from the unlatched position to the latched position when a tool is being disconnected. The trigger 606 may be rotationally biased as in the example illustrated or may in alternative examples be linearly biased. Biasing of the trigger 606 may be achieved using a spring or in alternative examples a component connecting the trigger 606 to the body portion 610 may be formed from a resilient material such as a rubber to provide a biasing function for the trigger 606.

[0067] An advantage of the tool attachment assembly 400 comprising the detent release mechanism 601 as described herein is that the locking pins 405a, 405b are actuated to engage with and secure the tool 102 to the tool attachment assembly 400 in a single operation when the tool 102 is brought fully into alignment with the tool attachment assembly 400. A further operation such as rotating the tool to release the latch 421 is not required because bringing the tool 102 into alignment with the tool attachment assembly 400 itself causes the latch 421 to be released as the mounting lugs 302 are brought into engagement. This also reduces the possibility of the locking and unlocking mechanism from becoming jammed or otherwise inoperative. A further advantage is that the tool attachment mechanism can be used with existing tools without any modifications to the tool being required, since the existing mounting lugs are used to actuate the locking mechanism to attach the tool 102 to the tool attachment assembly 400.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A tool attachment assembly (400) for attachment of a tool (102) to a utility vehicle (100), the tool attachment assembly (400) comprising: a frame (430); first and second locking pins (405a, 405b) slidably mounted to the frame (430) for movement along a longitudinal axis (406) in opposing directions between locked and unlocked positions; a bracket (420) rotatably mounted to the frame (430) for rotation about a first rotation axis (503) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (406), the bracket (420) connected to the first and second locking pins (405a, 405b) via respective first and second linkages (410a, 410b) such that rotation of the bracket (420) about the first rotation axis (503) is linked with movement of the first and second locking pins (405a, 405b) along the longitudinal axis (406), wherein the bracket is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions corresponding with the locked and unlocked positions of the first and second locking pins (405a, 405b), the bracket (420) comprising a latch (421) configured to engage with a latching detent (412) on the frame (430) to hold the bracket (420) in its unlocked position; and a detent release mechanism (601) comprising a body portion (610) rotatably mounted to the frame (430) for rotation about a second rotation axis (602) parallel to the longitudinal axis (406) between latched and unlatched positions, the detent release mechanism further comprising a trigger (606) mounted to the body portion and configured to engage with the latch (421), wherein, with the bracket (420) in its unlocked position and the latch (421) engaged with the latching detent (412), rotation of the body portion (610) in a first direction (609) about the second rotation axis (602) from the latched position towards the unlatched position causes the trigger (606) to release the latch (421) from the latching detent (412).

2. The tool attachment assembly (400) of claim 1, wherein the trigger (606) is mounted to the body portion (610) for movement relative to the body portion between an operative position in which it is capable of moving the latch (421) in response to rotation of the body portion (610) in the first direction and an inoperative position in which it is able to pass the latch (421) to permit the body portion to rotate from its unlatched position to its latched position in a second direction opposite to the first with the bracket (420) is in its unlocked position.

3. The tool attachment assembly (400) of claim 2, wherein the trigger (606) is biased toward the operative position, the arrangement configured such that, in use during disengagement of a tool from the tool attachment assembly, engagement of the trigger with one of the latch (421) and some other component of the tool attachment assembly as the body portion (610) moves from the unlatched position to the latched position causes the trigger to move to the inoperative position, allowing the trigger to pass the latch.

4. The tool attachment assembly (400) of and one of the preceding claims, wherein the trigger (606) is rotatably mounted to the body portion (610) about a third rotation axis (611), wherein optionally, the third rotation axis is parallel to the second rotation axis (602).

5. The tool attachment assembly (400) of claim 4, wherein the trigger (606) is movable in a first rotary direction about the third rotation axis (611) from an operative position to an inoperative position, the trigger being biased to the operative position in which a stop (612) on the trigger (606) engages the body portion (610) to limit rotational movement of the trigger (606) relative to the body portion (610) about the third rotation axis (611) in a direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The tool attachment assembly (400) of claim 5, wherein the trigger (606) is biased towards the operative position by a torsional spring (608).

7. The tool attachment assembly (400) of any preceding claim, wherein the body portion (610) comprises an engagement member configured to engage with a mounting lug (302) on the tool (102) to cause rotation of the body portion (610) in the first direction (609) when the tool attachment assembly (400) engages with the tool (102).

8. The tool attachment assembly (400) of any preceding claim, wherein the body portion is biased to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction towards the latched position and wherein, optionally, the body portion is biased to rotate in the second direction by a torsional spring (607).

9. The tool attachment assembly (400) of claim 8, wherein the body portion comprises a stop (605) which is brought into engagement with a corresponding stop (701) on the frame (403) to limit rotation of the body member relative to the frame in the second direction when the body member is in the latched position and wherein, optionally, the body portion stop comprises a second arm (605).

10. The tool attachment assembly (400) of any preceding claim, comprising an upper bar (403) configured to engage with corresponding hooks (301) on a rear face of the tool (102) and a lower bar (404a, 404b) configured to rest against the rear face (305) of the tool (102), the upper and lower bars (403, 404a, 404b) being aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis (406).

11. The tool attachment assembly (400) of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second locking pins (405a, 405b) are retracted towards each other along the longitudinal axis (406) in the unlocked position and extended away from each other along the longitudinal axis (406) in the locked position and wherein, optionally, the first and second locking pins (405a, 405b) are biased towards the locked position with respective first and second springs (409a, 409b).

12. The tool attachment assembly (400) of any preceding claim, wherein the latch (421) is biased against the latching detent (412) when the bracket (420) is in the unlocked position with a bracket spring (502).

13. A utility vehicle (100) comprising a loader (101) attached to the vehicle (100), the loader comprising a tool attachment assembly (400) according to any preceding claim.

14. The vehicle (100) according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural tractor (100).

15. The vehicle (100) of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the loader is a front loader (101), and the tool attachment assembly is mounted to a distal end of the front loader.

16. A method of attaching a tool (102) to a tool attachment assembly (400) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the method comprising: with the locking pins (405a, 405b) and bracket (420) in their unlocked positions, the latch (421) engaged with the latching detent (412), and the detent release mechanism in its latched position, engaging the tool attachment assembly (400) with a rear face of a tool (102); and contacting a mounting lug (302) on the tool (102) with the body portion (610) to cause rotation of the body portion (610) in the first direction (609) about the second rotation axis (602) to cause the trigger (606) to release the latch (421) from the latching detent (412).

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, causing a fixing hole (306) of the mounting lug (302) to align with the longitudinal axis (406) such that bracket (420) and the first and second locking pins (405a, 405b) are able to move to their locked positions, engaging the locking pins (405a, 405b) with respective fixing holes (306) in respective mounting lugs (302) on the tool (102).

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