Construction Machinery Coupling Saddle With Guided Semi-Automatic Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coupling devices for construction machinery fail to simultaneously provide quickness, ergonomics, and safety during the interchangeability of work equipment, requiring operator skill and supervision for successful coupling.

Innovation Solution

A coupling device with an inner guide and semi-automatic mechanism that ensures efficient, safe, and ergonomic coupling of work equipment, allowing both forward and backward pick-up operations, featuring a lever system with aligned and non-aligned arms for enhanced safety and a mobile indicator for visual feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional coupling devices are used, then the equipment can be coupled, but the coupling process requires operator skill and supervision, reducing quickness and productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling speedVSAvoidoperator skill requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device is designed to perform the coupling operation automatically without requiring operator skill or supervision. The lever system with aligned and non-aligned arms, combined with the inner guide, enables the device to self-couple the work equipment safely and quickly, eliminating the need for operator intervention during the coupling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional coupling devices are used, then coupling can be performed, but safety is compromised due to lack of visual feedback and proper positioning guidance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling safetyVSAvoidvisual feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a mobile indicator that provides visual feedback to the operator about the coupling status. The indicator moves to show whether the coupling is properly engaged, giving the operator immediate information about the coupling state without requiring close supervision or guesswork, thereby improving safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The inner guide is designed to automatically position the lever in the correct alignment before the coupling operation completes. This preliminary positioning action ensures that the coupling proceeds safely and correctly, preventing improper engagement that could compromise safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a simple coupling mechanism is used, then the device remains compact and simple to use, but it cannot provide both quickness and safety simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoidcoupling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device is divided into distinct functional segments: the lever with aligned and non-aligned arms for the coupling action, the inner guide for positioning, and the mobile indicator for feedback. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall device compact and relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4653619A1Coupling device for construction machinery and its saddle
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 TM BENNE SRL
  • EP4653619A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4653619A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4653619A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A coupling device for a construction machinery comprises a main body (2) provided with connecting means (4), said connecting means (4) being configured to connect the main body (2) to a construction machinery (M), a housing (6) configured to receive a pin (34, 36) of a work equipment (E), a lever (8) to which first holding means (10) are associated, and a mobile group (14) to which second holding means (12) are associated, wherein the mobile group (14) comprises a guide (16) and at least one supporting element (18), the coupling device (1) being configured to be moved between a resting position wherein the supporting element (18) is fully contained in the main body (2) and a coupling position wherein an end (18a) of the supporting element (18) juts out from the main body (2), wherein at least a first end (8e) of the lever (8) is always positioned in the guide (16).