Coupler of a load-handling machine and locking / unlocking method therefor
The coupler design addresses the inefficiency of existing couplers by enabling simultaneous locking and unlocking with a single handle, improving safety and reducing manual effort.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MANITOU BF SA
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing load handling couplers require significant manual effort and multiple movements for attaching and detaching accessories due to the need to operate handles from opposite sides, posing safety concerns and inefficiency.
A coupler design with a single operating handle that simultaneously locks and unlocks two parallel locking axes, using an articulated structure to facilitate operation from a single side, reducing the need for side-to-side movement.
Simplifies the attachment and detachment process by allowing simultaneous locking and unlocking of both locking axes with a single handle, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025082721_21052026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Load handling equipment coupler and its locking / unlocking mechanism
[0001] The present invention relates to load handling.
[0002] In particular, the invention relates to a coupler interposable between a pivoting lifting arm of a load handling machine and an accessory, a load handling machine comprising such a coupler and a method for locking / unlocking an accessory of said coupler.
[0003] To couple an accessory to a load handling device, it is known to use a manual coupler.
[0004] Such couplers typically include two attachment locking pins and two handles for operating one or the other of the attachment locking pins. These handles are positioned, respectively, on one side of the coupler and the other on the opposite side. Consequently, when an operator is on one side of the coupler, they can only operate one of the handles.
[0005] When the machine operator wants to attach or detach the attachment from the coupler, they must manipulate both handles, moving from one side of the coupler to the other. However, for safety reasons, to make this change of side, the operator must not pass in front of the attachment but around the rear of the machine. Attaching or detaching the attachment therefore requires a significant number of movements.
[0006] There is a need for a coupler that reduces the time required for manual coupling and decoupling of an accessory by an operator.
[0007] One aim of the invention is to provide a coupler whose design reduces the time required for manual coupling and decoupling of an accessory by an operator.
[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a coupler, interposable between a pivoting lifting arm of a load handling device and an accessory, and coupleable to said arm by a pivot joint with an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the arm, said coupler comprising a frame with a rear face intended to be turned towards the arm and an opposite front face intended to be turned towards the accessory and two vertical locking axes for locking the coupler to the accessory, the rear face of the frame being provided with at least one longitudinal axis housing forming part of the pivot joint of the coupler to the arm and the locking axes, parallel to each other, extending substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the housing forming part of the pivot joint of the coupler to the arm,Each locking axis being associated with an operating handle for moving said locking axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, characterized in that the two locking axes are associated with the same operating handle, in that the operating handle associated with the two locking axes is disposed on the chassis at a position eccentric to a median plane of the coupler which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the housing, this operating handle being coupled by a first structure articulated to one of the locking axes and by a second structure articulated to the other of the locking axes to allow, in the actuated state of said handle, the parallel movement of the locking axes over at least part of their stroke for the passage from the locked position to the unlocked position or vice versa.
[0009] The coupler according to the invention allows simultaneous locking and unlocking of both locking axes by manipulating a single operating handle, thus simplifying the locking and unlocking operation. In particular, the operator does not need to move from one side of the coupler to the other to lock and unlock it. They simply need to position themselves on one side of the coupler. The off-center position of the handle facilitates this operation.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the operating handle is a handle pivoting around an axis extending from the rear face towards the front face, this axis being orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the housing forming part of the pivot link of the coupler to the arm and orthogonal to the locking axes.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first articulated structure comprises a connecting bar, a connecting rod and a rod, the connecting bar is pivotally coupled, at one of its ends, to the operating handle and at the other of its ends, to the connecting rod itself pivotally coupled to the chassis, the rod is pivotally and slidingly coupled to the connecting rod and pivotally to the locking axis, the first articulated structure coupled to the operating handle, the operating handle is pivotally coupled to the chassis, and the pivots of the pivoting connections handle / bar, bar / connecting rod, connecting rod / chassis and handle / chassis form between them the vertices of a deformable parallelogram.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting bar extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second articulated structure comprises a rod coupled pivoting and sliding to the operating handle and pivoting to the locking axis which the second articulated structure couples to the operating handle.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rod of the first articulated structure and the rod of the second articulated structure are each loaded by a rod return spring in the locked position of the locking axis associated with the rod.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the coupler comprises a single handle for operating the locking axes.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear face of the chassis is delimited by two edges called respectively upper and lower and two edges called lateral, each connecting an upper edge and a lower edge, each lateral edge extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the coupler housing forming part of the pivot connection of the coupler to the arm and the operating handle is disposed closer to one of the lateral edges of the rear face than to the median plane of the coupler orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
[0017] The invention further relates to a load handling device comprising a pivoting arm for lifting an accessory and a coupler interposable between the pivoting arm and the accessory, the coupler being coupleable to said arm by a pivot joint with an axis parallel to a pivot axis of the arm, characterized in that the coupler conforms to that described above, in that the rear face of the chassis of the coupler is turned towards the arm, in that the opposite front face of the chassis of the coupler is turned towards the accessory, and in that the locking axes parallel to each other extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the housing of the coupler forming a part of the pivot joint of the coupler to the arm.
[0018] The invention further relates to a method of locking / unlocking an accessory to a coupler interposable between a pivoting lifting arm of a load handling device and said accessory, characterized in that the coupler conforms to that described above, the method comprises, for the locking operation, a step of moving the locking axes in parallel over at least part of their stroke to move from the unlocked position to the locked position by manipulating the operating handle associated with the two locking axes and, for the unlocking operation, a step of moving the locking axes in parallel over at least part of their stroke to move from the locked position to the unlocked position by manipulating the operating handle associated with the two locking axes.
[0019] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings in which:
[0020] illustrates, in a top view, a load handling device with a coupler according to the invention,
[0021] illustrates, partially, in perspective, the front of the load handling equipment, the accessory being locked to the arm,
[0022] illustrates, partially, in perspective, the front of the load handling equipment, with the accessory unlocked from the arm,
[0023] illustrates, partially, in perspective, the front of the load handling equipment, the accessory being locked to the arm,
[0024] schematically represents, in a front view, the coupler of the machine in a locking position of the accessory.
[0025] is a view similar to that in which the coupler is in an intermediate position between the accessory locking position and the accessory unlocking position,
[0026] is a view similar to the one in which the coupler is in an accessory unlocking position.
[0027] In the following description, identical elements or elements with identical functions are marked with the same reference numeral. For the sake of brevity, they are not described alongside each figure; only the differences between the embodiments are described.
[0028] In the figures, the actual proportions have not always been respected, for the sake of clarity.
[0029] Figures 1 to 6 illustrate an example of load handling equipment 3 according to the invention.
[0030] The load handling device 3 includes a pivoting lifting arm 2 for an accessory 4, also called a tool, for example a bucket, forks, a clamp, a sweeper, and an auger.
[0031] A coupler 1, illustrated in isolation and schematically on figures 4 to 6, is fixed to said arm 2 by a pivot joint 22 with axis AA' parallel to a pivot axis BB' of arm 2.
[0032] The coupler 1 includes a chassis 5, notably metallic, with a rear face 6 facing the arm 2 and an opposite front face 7 facing the accessory 4.
[0033] The rear face 6 of the chassis 5 is provided with at least one housing 8 with longitudinal axis XX' forming part of the pivot link 22 of the coupler 1 to the arm 2. This longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8 with axis coincides with the axis AA' of the pivot link of the coupler 1 to the arm 2.
[0034] The rear face 6 of the chassis 5 is delimited by two edges called respectively upper and lower and two edges called lateral each connecting an upper edge and an lower edge, each lateral edge extending transversely to the longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8 of the coupler 1 forming part of the pivot link 22 of the coupler 1 to the arm 2.
[0035] The coupler 1 is also provided with two so-called vertical locking axes 21 used for locking the coupler 1 to the accessory 4. The locking axes 21 are parallel to each other and extend substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8, that is to say orthogonally to the longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8 to within +10°.
[0036] The two locking pins 21 are associated with a single operating handle 9. These two locking pins 21 are configured to each cooperate with a locking hole located on the accessory 4. Each locking pin is thus able to move from a locked position, in which it is inserted into the locking hole of the accessory 4, to an unlocked position, in which it is extended from the locking hole of the accessory 4. These locking holes are located on the accessory 4 within a recess equipped with an undercut. The coupler can therefore be inserted by tilting it into the recess before being held in place by the cooperation of the locking pins with the locking holes of the accessory.
[0037] The operating handle 9 is coupled by a first articulated structure 10 to one of the locking axes 21 and by a second articulated structure 11 to the other of the locking axes 21.
[0038] This allows, in the activated state of said operating handle 9, the parallel, i.e. simultaneous, movement of the locking axes 21 over at least part of their stroke for the passage from the locked position to the unlocked position or vice versa.
[0039] The operating handle 9 is pivotally coupled to the chassis 5 around an axis CC' extending from the rear face 6 towards the front face 7. This axis CC' is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8 forming part of the pivot link 22 of the coupler 1 to the arm 2 and orthogonal to the locking axes 21.
[0040] In particular, the first articulated structure 10 includes a connecting bar 12, a connecting rod 15 and a rod 16. The connecting bar is pivotally coupled, at one of its ends 13, to the operating handle 9 and at the other of its ends 14, to the connecting rod 15 itself pivotally coupled to the chassis 5. The connecting bar 12 is preferably rigid.
[0041] The connecting rod 15 is coupled to one of the locking axes 21 by the rod 16 which is pivotally and slidingly coupled to the connecting rod 15 and pivotally coupled to the locking axis 21. Thus, the first articulated structure 10 couples one of the locking axes 21 to the operating handle 9.
[0042] The connecting bar 12 extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8.
[0043] The second articulated structure 11 includes a rod 19 coupled pivoting and sliding to the operating handle 9 and pivoting to the locking axis 21 which the second articulated structure 11 couples to the operating handle 9.
[0044] The rod 16 of the first articulated structure 10 and the rod 19 of the second articulated structure 11 are each loaded by a return spring 20 of the rod in the locked position of the locking axis 21 associated with the corresponding rod.
[0045] Preferably, stem 16 and stem 19 are similar, or even identical.
[0046] The pivots of the pivoting links handle / bar 30, bar / link 31, link / frame 32 and handle / frame 33 also form between them the vertices of a parallelogram P which deforms when the locking axes 21 move from the locked position to the unlocked position.
[0047] In this example, the coupler 1 includes a single operating handle 9 for the locking axes 21. The operating handle 9 associated with the two locking axes 21 is arranged on the chassis 5 at an eccentric position relative to a median plane of the coupler 1 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8. In particular, the operating handle 9 is arranged closer to one of the lateral edges of the rear face 6 than to the median plane of the coupler 1 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis XX' of the housing 8.
[0048] The position of the operating handle 9 could be changed, for example by interchanging the operating handle 9 and the connecting rod 15.
[0049] In another variant, the coupler 1 could have a second operating handle 9 in place of the connecting rod 15. Thus, the simultaneous locking or unlocking of the locking axes 21 can be achieved with either of the two handles.
[0050] To unlock an accessory 4 coupled to the coupler 1, an operator will position themselves on the side of the machine 1 within reach of the operating handle 9.
[0051] The operating handle 9 is then manipulated by the operator, in this example by pulling it upwards. This movement causes the rod 19 of the second articulated structure 11 to move, which in turn causes the locking pin 21 associated with the second articulated structure 11 to move. The locking pin 21 moves in the direction of its exit from the locking hole in the accessory 4. This movement is a lifting movement, that is, an upward movement of the locking pin 21.
[0052] Simultaneously, the movement of the operating handle 9 will act on the connecting rod 12, which will in turn act on the connecting rod 15, which will in turn act on the rod 16, which will in turn cause the locking pin 21 associated with the first articulated structure 10 to move. The locking pin 21 is lifted to be extracted from the locking hole in the accessory 4. The parallelogram P will deform during this operation. More precisely, the length of each side of this parallelogram remains unchanged; only the angles between the sides are modified.
[0053] Thus, the manipulation of the single operating handle 9 allows, over at least part of their travel, the passage from the locked position to the unlocked position of the two locking axes 21.
[0054] Naturally, the transition from the unlocked to the locked position is reversed. Manipulating the operating handle 9, when the locking pins 21 are positioned opposite the locking holes of the accessory 4, allows the locking pins 21 to move from a position extended from the locking holes to a position retracted into the locking holes of the accessory 4.
Claims
Coupler (1), interposable between a pivoting lifting arm (2) of a load handling device (3) and an accessory (4), and coupleable to said arm (2) by a pivot joint (22) with axis (AA') parallel to the pivot axis (BB') of the arm (2), said coupler (1) comprising a frame (5) with a rear face (6) intended to be turned towards the arm (2) and an opposite front face (7) intended to be turned towards the accessory (4) and two locking axes (21) referred to as vertical for locking the coupler (1) to the accessory (4), the rear face (6) of the frame (5) being provided with at least one housing (8) with longitudinal axis (XX') forming part of the pivot joint (22) of the coupler (1) to the arm (2) and the locking axes (21), parallel to each other, extending substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the housing (8) forming part of the pivot joint (22) of the coupler (1) to the arm (2),each locking axis (21) being associated with an operating handle (9) for moving said locking axis (21) between a locked position and an unlocked position, characterized in that the two locking axes (21) are associated with the same operating handle (9), in that the operating handle (9) associated with the two locking axes (21) is disposed on the chassis (5) at a position eccentric with respect to a median plane of the coupler (1) which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the housing (8), this operating handle (9) being coupled by a first articulated structure (10) to one of the locking axes (21) and by a second articulated structure (11) to the other of the locking axes (21) to allow, in the actuated state of said handle (9), the parallel movement of the locking axes (21) over at least part of their stroke for the passage from the locked position to the unlocked position or vice versa. Coupler (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating handle (9) is a handle pivoting about an axis (CC') extending from the rear face (6) towards the front face (7), this axis (CC') being orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the housing (8) forming part of the pivot linkage (22) of the coupler (1) to the arm (2) and orthogonal to the locking axes (21). Coupler (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first articulated structure (10) comprises a connecting bar (12), a link (15), and a rod (16), in that the connecting bar (12) is pivotally coupled at one of its ends (13) to the operating handle (9) and at the other of its ends (14) to the link (15), which is itself pivotally coupled to the frame (5), in that the rod (16) is pivotally and slidingly coupled to the link (15) and pivotally coupled to the locking pin (21), the first articulated structure (10) couples to the operating handle (9), in that the operating handle (9) is pivotally coupled to the frame (5), and in that the pivots of the pivoting connections handle / bar (30), bar / link (31), and link / frame (32) and handle / frame (33) form together the vertices of a deformable parallelogram (P). Coupler (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connecting bar (12) extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the housing (8). Coupler (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second articulated structure (11) comprises a rod (19) pivotally and slidingly coupled to the operating handle (9) and pivotally coupled to the locking axis (21) which the second articulated structure (11) couples to the operating handle (9). Coupler (1) according to the preceding claim taken in combination with any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the rod (16) of the first articulated structure (10) and the rod (19) of the second articulated structure (11) are each loaded by a return spring (20) of the rod in the locked position of the locking axis (21) associated with the rod. Coupler (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a single operating handle (9) of the locking axes (21). Coupler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear face (6) of the chassis (5) is delimited by two edges respectively called upper and lower and two edges called lateral each connecting an upper edge and a lower edge, each lateral edge extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the housing (8) of the coupler (1) forming part of the pivot link (22) of the coupler (1) to the arm (2) and in that the operating handle (9) is disposed closer to one of the lateral edges of the rear face (6) than to the median plane of the coupler (1) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the housing (8). A load-handling device (3) comprising a pivoting arm (2) for lifting an accessory (4) and a coupler (1) interposable between the pivoting arm (2) and the accessory (4), the coupler (1) being couplingable to said arm (2) by a pivot joint (22) with axis (AA') parallel to a pivot axis (BB') of the arm (2), characterized in that the coupler (1) conforms to any one of claims 1 to 8, in that the rear face (6) of the frame (5) of the coupler (1) is oriented towards the arm (2), in that the opposite front face (7) of the frame (5) of the coupler (1) is oriented towards the accessory (4), and in that the locking axes (21) parallel to each other extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the housing (8) of the coupler (1), forming part of the pivot joint (22) of the coupler (1) to the arm (2). Method of locking / unlocking an accessory (4) to a coupler (1) interposable between a pivoting lifting arm (2) of a load handling device (3) and said accessory (4), characterized in that the coupler (1) conforming to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprises, for the locking operation, a step of parallel movement of the locking axes (21) over at least a part of their stroke for the passage from the unlocked position to the locked position by manipulation of the operating handle (9) associated with the two locking axes (21) and, for the unlocking operation, a step of parallel movement of the locking axes (21) over at least a part of their stroke for the passage from the locked position to the unlocked position by manipulation of the operating handle (9) associated with the two locking axes (21).