Quick Coupler Double Safety Device for Excavator Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quick couplers for heavy equipment face challenges in maintaining a secure coupling state between the attachment pin and the fixed hook, particularly due to malfunctions or damage to hydraulic components, leading to unreliable safety devices and complex maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A double safety device for quick couplers that incorporates a locking mechanism utilizing first and second compression springs and a cylinder operation to prevent unintentional release, featuring a fastening block, blocking block, and anti-breakaway plate to ensure the attachment pin remains securely locked and coupled, even in emergency situations without hydraulic pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional safety device is used in a quick coupler, then the attachment can be securely coupled, but the safety device becomes unreliable when hydraulic cylinders malfunction or hydraulic hoses are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is divided into two independent safety mechanisms: a hydraulic cylinder-based automatic safety device and a spring-based manual safety device. This segmentation ensures that if one system fails, the other can still provide safety functionality, thereby improving overall reliability without over-relying on a single complex hydraulic system.
Solution Approach 2:
A manual safety device with compression springs is provided as a backup mechanism that activates automatically when hydraulic pressure is lost. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even in emergency situations where the hydraulic system fails, the attachment remains securely coupled through the spring-based locking mechanism.
2Reliability
If a manual safety pin operation is required for attachment replacement, then the coupling state can be secured, but the operation becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic safety device uses hydraulic pressure from the existing cylinder system to automatically engage and disengage the safety locking mechanism during normal attachment replacement operations. This self-service functionality eliminates the need for manual safety pin operations, making attachment replacement easier and faster while maintaining secure coupling.
3Device complexity
If the hitch is rotated about a hinge for coupling, then the coupling mechanism is simple, but the quick coupler has limitations due to ambient environment
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch mechanism transitions from a simple rotational hinge to a dynamic sliding mechanism that moves along guide grooves. This dynamic structure allows the hitch to adapt to various ambient conditions such as dust, moisture, and temperature variations while maintaining reliable coupling through the sliding action and associated locking features.
4Reliability
If the locking means structure is made complicated to prevent arbitrary release, then safety is improved, but the component becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means is segmented into distinct functional components: a blocking block for preventing pin removal, a stopper member for limiting hitch movement, and associated springs. This segmentation allows each component to be independently maintained or replaced without affecting the entire locking system, simplifying maintenance while maintaining secure locking 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 safety by maintaining a firm coupling state between the attachment pin and fixed hook, allowing for convenient locking and coupling operations, and prevents accidental separation, even in scenarios with hydraulic pressure loss, thereby improving reliability and simplifying maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a first compression spring being provided on between the fasting block and the hitch and assigning an elastic compression force
Implementation Method 2
a second compression spring having an elastic compression force to push the cylinder tube toward a body stanchion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a double safety device for a quick coupler, which, in a coupling process of a quick coupler for connecting a heavy equipment attachment and an excavator, automatically prevents unintentional separation between an attachment pin and a fixed hook, and enables a locking device to be automatically operated in association with a cylinder operation for slidably moving a hitch and elastic force of first and second compression springs. The double safety device for a quick coupler according to the present invention comprises: a quick coupler body mounted to an end of an excavator arm and a push link; a fixed hook disposed on one side of the quick coupler body and coupled to a first attachment pin; a hitch disposed on the other side of the quick coupler body and engaged with or disengaged from a second attachment pin according to an operation of a hydraulic cylinder; and a locking means which is operated in association with a cylinder operation for operating the hitch, and prevents unintentional release of a coupling state between the fixed hook and the first attachment pin by compressive elastic force of first and second compression springs.