Quick Coupler Safety Plate Locking Without Hydraulic Failure Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety devices for quick couplers in heavy equipment are complex, leading to maintenance difficulties and reliability issues, particularly due to hydraulic cylinder failures and hose damage, which can result in safety accidents during attachment and detachment operations.
Innovation Solution
A safety device that employs a safety plate moved laterally by an elastic force of a DIE spring and link members to prevent the fixing hook from being arbitrarily released, incorporating a sub-cylinder and support means to securely engage the attachment pin, allowing for simple locking and unlocking operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional safety device with hydraulic cylinder is used to prevent arbitrary release of fixing hook, then the attachment pin is secured, but the device complexity increases and maintenance difficulty arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety function from the complex hydraulic system and implements it through a simple mechanical locking plate that moves laterally to engage or disengage from the attachment pin, eliminating the need for hydraulic components while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The locking plate is designed to be automatically positioned by spring force and manually moved only when needed for attachment or detachment, providing self-securing functionality without requiring complex control systems or maintenance
2Adaptability or versatility
If a safety pin is manually removed and reattached during attachment changes, then the attachment can be changed, but the operation time increases and convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking plate is pre-positioned in a locked state during attachment changes, allowing the operator to simply move it laterally to unlock rather than manually removing and reattaching safety pins, significantly reducing operation time
Solution Approach 2:
The locking plate transitions from a static safety pin to a dynamically movable component that can be easily shifted between locked and unlocked positions, enabling quick attachment changes while maintaining security
3Ease of operation
If hydraulic cylinder and hose are used in safety device, then the locking function is achieved, but the risk of element failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic system (cylinder and hose) with a purely mechanical locking plate system actuated by spring force and manual movement, eliminating the risk of hydraulic element failure while maintaining the locking function
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical locking plate system uses simple, robust components that are less prone to failure compared to hydraulic components, prioritizing reliability over complex functionality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the reliability and safety of the quick coupler by simplifying operations, reducing element failure causes, and ensuring secure engagement between the fixing hook and attachment pin, thereby improving product safety and reducing the risk of accidental detachment.
Implementation Method 1
at least one DIE-spring fixed to the first support plate by a support means, and transmitting an elastic force to allow the moving plate to be positioned at the upper side of the fixing hook
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a safety device for a quick coupler and, more particularly, to a safety device for a quick coupler, the safety device having an improved structure that is configured to improve the structure of a locking device, the locking device preventing the fixing hook from being arbitrarily released from a locking engagement, by using a safety plate that is laterally moved in a sliding manner by an elastic force of a DIE spring after a fixing hook and a first attachment pin are assembled together.