Quick Coupler Visual Indicator for Pin Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Quick couplers for earth working machines like excavators often fail to securely hold attachments, leading to potential injuries or fatalities due to hydraulic failures or incorrect pin location, with the rear pin engagement being invisible to the operator, necessitating a visual indication of engagement and locking.
Innovation Solution
An indicator system with a sensor and visual indicator means that moves in response to the engagement of the pin, using a profiled surface and follower mechanism to provide a visual confirmation of pin engagement and locking, even when the rear pin is not visibly accessible to the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rear pin engagement location is made invisible to the operator, then the coupler structure is simpler, but the operator cannot visually confirm pin engagement and locking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary indicator mechanism that translates the hidden pin engagement state into visible information. The indicator lever, follower, and profiled surface act as intermediaries between the rear pin engagement (which cannot be directly observed) and the operator's visual field, providing indirect but reliable visual confirmation without complicating the basic coupler structure.
2Loss of information
If a visual indicator mechanism is added to show pin engagement, then the operator can confirm engagement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator mechanism employs dynamic elements including a movable follower that tracks the pin engagement position, a pivotally mounted lever that rotates to indicate status, and a profiled surface that converts linear motion into rotational motion. These dynamic components provide clear visual feedback through their movement states while maintaining mechanical simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies color changes as a visual indication method, where the indicator lever displays different colored surfaces (such as green for engaged, red for disengaged) that are visible to the operator. This allows immediate visual recognition of the pin engagement status without requiring the operator to interpret mechanical positions.
3Volume of moving object
If the pin engagement means is hidden from view, then the coupler design is more compact, but the operator cannot detect engagement status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the indicator system continuously reflects the actual pin engagement state to the operator. The follower remains in contact with the pin engagement means throughout its movement, and the indicator lever provides real-time visual feedback about whether the pin is properly engaged and locked, enabling the operator to detect engagement status without exposing the mechanical components.
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 system ensures the operator has a clear visual indication of pin engagement and locking, preventing accidents by providing a reliable and visible confirmation of attachment security before operation, and can also indicate hydraulic failure or wear.
Implementation Method 1
a follower one of which is adapted to be coupled to a movable pin engagement means of a quick coupler and the other of which is coupled to a visual indicator means that is, in use, movable in response to relative movement between the profiled surface and follower
Data Source
AI summary
An indicator for a quick coupler for the mounting of an attachment to an earth working machine. The indicator (10) has a sensor (14,15) which, in response to movement of a movable pin engagement component (F) of a coupler (A), determines that the pin engagement component (F) will have moved sufficiently to engage and lock a pin (P2) of an attachment with the coupler (A). The indicator (10) has an indicating part (17) which is caused to be moved in response to the sensor (14,15) to thereby provide a visual indication (25) that engagement and locking of the pin (P2) has occurred.