Quick Coupler Trigger Mechanism for Earthworking Attachment Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick couplers for earth working machines face challenges in safely and efficiently attaching and detaching heavy attachments, such as breaker bars, which can be cumbersome and unsafe due to the need for precise alignment and the risk of accidental damage from improper operation, particularly with the current reliance on hydraulic systems and timers.
Innovation Solution
A coupler design featuring a trigger mechanism that allows for the decoupling of the retainer and driver, enabling the retainer to move between occluding and releasing positions independently of the driver, with a second retainer actuator controlling both processes, reducing the need for additional hydraulic lines and enhancing safety by preventing accidental re-engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic system with timer is used to control retainer movement, then the retainer can be automatically reset after a set time, but the system becomes more complex and requires additional hydraulic lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timer control function from the hydraulic system and replaces it with a simple mechanical trigger mechanism. The trigger is mechanically coupled to the retainer and automatically resets the retainer to its retaining position after the attachment is removed, eliminating the need for complex hydraulic timing control while maintaining the automatic reset functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic control system with a purely mechanical trigger mechanism. The trigger uses levers, springs, and cam surfaces to automatically reset the retainer, substituting the hydraulic actuation and timer control with a self-contained mechanical system that is simpler and more reliable
2Ease of operation
If the retainer is held in the release position by the driver, then the attachment can be removed, but the retainer cannot be accidentally re-engaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the retainer control into two independent functions: the driver controls the release position for attachment removal, while the trigger independently controls the reset to retaining position. This segmentation ensures that releasing the attachment does not automatically re-engage the retainer, preventing accidental re-engagement while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger acts as an intermediary mechanism between the retainer release and reset functions. It mediates the transition from release to retaining position, ensuring that the retainer only returns to the retaining position when the attachment is properly removed and the trigger is manually actuated, preventing accidental re-engagement
3Reliability
If precise alignment is required for pin insertion, then the attachment can be securely retained, but the coupling process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the retainer dynamic by allowing it to move between retaining and release positions. During coupling, the retainer is automatically pushed to the release position as the pin enters, then automatically returns to the retaining position when the pin is fully inserted, eliminating the need for manual alignment adjustments while ensuring secure retention
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer mechanism is self-adjusting during the coupling process. As the pin is inserted, the retainer automatically moves to accommodate the pin's position, then self-activates to the retaining position when the pin is fully seated, eliminating the need for operator intervention or precise manual alignment while ensuring secure attachment
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 safety and efficiency of attachment operations by allowing for safer handling and reduced risk of damage, improving productivity by simplifying the attachment process and eliminating the need for complex hydraulic systems.
Implementation Method 1
the retainer being spring biased to a first position at which the retainer occludes the passage
Data Source
AI summary
A coupler for securing an attachment to an earth working machine. The coupler Includes a coupler body that presents a receptacle having a capture region. A pin of an attachment can move into and out of the capture region. A retainer can capture the pin in the capture region but the retainer can be moved by a hydraulically driven driver to a position to allow release of the pin from the capture region. A trigger that the pin will strike when the pin moves into or out of the capture region, decouples the driver from the retainer and the retainer is then allowed to be biased back to its retaining position by a spring.