Pin Grabber Coupler Safety Lock for Hydraulic Failure Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing excavator couplers lack effective and reliable mechanisms for securely attaching and detaching attachments, particularly in scenarios where hydraulic failures occur, leading to potential safety hazards and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A pin grabber coupler with a wedge lock mechanism driven by hydraulic actuators, featuring a biasing member and visual indicators, ensures secure attachment and detachment of excavator attachments, even in the event of hydraulic system failures, through a locking system with a latch and unlock actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hydraulic actuator is used to drive the wedge lock, then the attachment can be securely and quickly coupled, but the system becomes vulnerable to hydraulic failures that compromise safety
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded latch automatically engages with the wedge lock when the attachment is properly positioned, providing self-securing functionality without requiring continuous hydraulic power. The system uses the natural forces (spring pressure, wedge geometry) to maintain the locked state, ensuring safety even when hydraulic systems fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded latch is pre-positioned and spring-loaded to be ready to engage the wedge lock immediately upon proper attachment insertion. This preliminary preparation ensures that the safety locking action occurs automatically and instantly, cushioning against the potential harm of hydraulic system failures before they can compromise safety.
2Reliability
If a spring-loaded latch is added to automatically engage the wedge lock, then safety is improved during hydraulic failures, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is integrated with the wedge lock assembly, combining the safety locking function with the primary coupling mechanism. Rather than adding a completely separate safety system, the latch and wedge lock work together as a unified assembly, reducing overall complexity while maintaining enhanced safety 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
Provides secure and reliable attachment and detachment of excavator attachments, ensuring safety and operational efficiency even in hydraulic system failures, with visual confirmation of engagement.
Implementation Method 1
The wedge lock may have a tapered end for engaging the pin of the attachment
Implementation Method 2
a biasing member and visual indicators, ensures secure attachment and detachment
Implementation Method 3
a wedge lock mechanism driven by hydraulic actuators
Data Source
AI summary
A pin grabber coupler for coupling an attachment with an excavator having a housing at least between the plates; a rear receiving arch and a forward receiving arch formed by the spaced-apart plates for receiving a pin of the attachment; a wedge lock extending between the spaced-apart plates; and a main actuator driving the wedge lock into the rear receiving arch and retracting the wedge lock from the rear receiving arch. A locking system for locking or unlocking the wedge lock has a latch having a latch end, a lever end, and a pivot therebetween; the latch end engaging the wedge lock once the wedge lock is fully extended into the rear receiving arch; a biasing member coupled to the lever end and biasing the latch end towards the wedge lock; and an unlock actuator opposing the biasing member to disengage the latch end from the wedge lock.