IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0969141
(2004-10-20)
|
등록번호 |
US-7404448
(2008-07-29)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Tuttle,Thomas B.
- Hagarty,Jon R.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A coupler for a hitch such as a quick hitch for a three point hitch of a work machine such as a tractor or the like, having a latching mechanism for holding a pin of a work element such as an implement or the like, in a receptacle of the coupler, which latching mechanism is self-latching and provide
A coupler for a hitch such as a quick hitch for a three point hitch of a work machine such as a tractor or the like, having a latching mechanism for holding a pin of a work element such as an implement or the like, in a receptacle of the coupler, which latching mechanism is self-latching and provides a self-locking capability when latched to hold the pin in the coupler, in opposition to, and in response to, forces and movements of the pin in directions for normally opening the coupler.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A coupler for a hitch, comprising: a body including opposing spaced apart first and second leg portions defining a receptacle therebetween, the receptacle having a closed end for receiving and holding a pin and an opposite open end through which a pin can pass into and out of
What is claimed is: 1. A coupler for a hitch, comprising: a body including opposing spaced apart first and second leg portions defining a receptacle therebetween, the receptacle having a closed end for receiving and holding a pin and an opposite open end through which a pin can pass into and out of the closed end; a self-locking latch disposed in a slot in the first leg portion, the latch having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the first end portion of the latch being pivotally connected to the first leg portion at a location outwardly of the receptacle beyond the open end thereof for movement of the second end of the latch between an open position beside the open end of the receptacle for allowing passage of a pin into and out of the closed end of the receptacle and a closed position spanning at least a substantial portion of the open end for preventing passage of a pin into and out of the closed end, wherein when in the open position the latch is pivoted toward the slot in the first leg and further wherein when in the closed position the latch is pivoted in a direction away from the slot generally toward the second leg portion and away from the closed end of the receptacle, the second end portion of the latch having a pin engaging surface which faces the closed end when the latch is in the closed position, the pin engaging surface being shaped and oriented to face away from the pivotal connection of the latch to the first leg portion to provide a self-locking capability when the latch is in the closed position such that if a pin received in the closed end is urged against the pin engaging surface the latch will be urged thereby to pivot in a closing direction toward the closed position for holding the pin in the closed end, and such that if a pin received in the closed end is rotated in contact with the pin engaging surface in a direction for pivoting the latch toward the open position the latch will be urged thereby against the pin for holding the pin in the closed end wherein contact with the pin prevents the latch from rotating to the open position. 2. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the pin engaging surface terminates at a projecting portion which is positioned and oriented such that when the latch is in the closed position and a pin received in the closed end is urged against the pin engaging surface and rotated in a direction so as to pivot the latch toward the open position the projecting portion will be pivoted against the pin for holding the pin in the closed end. 3. The coupler of claim 2, wherein the pin engaging surface is located a first predetermined distance from an axis of pivotal movement of the latch, and the projecting portion is located a second predetermined distance from the axis greater than the first predetermined distance, such that when a pin is located in the closed end of the receptacle in contact with a concave portion of the latch and is rotated in the direction to pivot the latch toward the open position the projecting portion will be urged thereby into contact with the pin such that the pin will block further pivotal movement of the latch toward the open position for holding the pin in the closed end. 4. The coupler of claim 2, wherein the projecting portion is positioned so as to be located adjacent to the second leg portion when the latch is in the closed position. 5. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the pin engaging surface has a concave shape adapted to provide a clearance space between the latch and the pin when located in a deepest position in the closed end of the receptacle farthest from the open end, to allow pivotal movement of the latch between the open and closed positions. 6. The coupler of claim 5, wherein the location that the first end portion of the latch is pivotally connected to the first leg lies on a line extending through the closed and open ends of the receptacle. 7. The coupler of claim 5, wherein the open end of the receptacle has a predetermined sideward extent as measured between the legs, and the latch when in the closed position extends at least three quarters of the sideward extent across the open end. 8. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the coupler is an element of a quick hitch for a three point hitch. 9. A self-latching and self-locking coupler for a quick hitch comprising: a body including first and second leg portions defining a receptacle therebetween, the receptacle having a closed end for receiving a pin and an opposite open end through which a pin can pass into and out of the closed end, the first leg portion including a slot therein extending along the receptacle; and a self-locking latching mechanism including a latch disposed for pivotal movement in the slot between an open position beside the open end of the receptacle and a closed position extending at least partially across the open end, and a resilient biasing element for resiliently holding the latch in the closed position, the latch having a first end portion pivotally connected to the first leg portion at a location in the slot and outwardly from the receptacle beyond the open end thereof, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a side edge portion extending between the first and second end portions, the second end portion of the latch having a pin engaging surface which faces the closed end when the latch is in the closed position and which has a projecting portion at a juncture with the side edge portion which extends toward the closed end of the receptacle adjacent to the second leg portion, such that the latch must be pivotally moved from the closed position to the open position for passage of a pin into and out of the receptacle, the resilient biasing element being operable for automatically returning the latch to the closed position after being pivoted therefrom to the open position, and the pin engaging surface being shaped and oriented to provide a self-locking function when the latch is in the closed position such that if a pin located in the closed end is urged toward the open end against the pin engaging surface the latch will be pivoted thereby toward the closed position for holding the pin in the closed end, and such that if a pin located in the closed end is rotated against the pin engaging surface in a direction for pivoting the latch toward the open position, the projecting portion of the latch contacts the pin thereby preventing further movement of the latch toward the open position. 10. The coupler of claim 9, wherein the pin engaging surface has a concave shape portion positioned so as to extend across the open end of the receptacle when the latch is in the closed position for engaging a pin located in the closed end of the receptacle. 11. The coupler of claim 10, wherein the concave shape is adapted to provide a clearance space between the latch and a pin located in the closed end of the receptacle to allow pivotal movement of the latch from the closed position to the open position to allow passage of the pin from the receptacle. 12. The coupler of claim 9, further comprising an element connected to the latch and manually movable for pivoting the latch between the open and closed positions. 13. The coupler of claim 9, wherein the open end of the receptacle has a predetermined sideward extent between the first and second leg portions, and when the latch is in the closed position, the second end portion thereof extends across at least about three-fourths of the sideward extent of the open end. 14. A quick hitch for a work machine, comprising: a member having a hook shape portion including a receptacle having a closed end for receiving a pin and an opposite open end through which a pin can pass into and out of the closed end, the hook shape portion including an elongate side extending along a first side of the receptacle and outwardly beyond the open end; and a self-locking latch disposed in a slot in the first side of the receptacle, the latch having a first end portion pivotally mounted by a pivot to the elongate side of the hook shape portion at a location outwardly of the receptacle beyond the open end thereof, the latch having a second end portion opposite the first end portion pivotally movable between a closed position extending at least substantially across the open end of the receptacle and an open position beside the first side of the receptacle, wherein when in the closed position the latch is pivoted in a direction away from the slot generally away from the closed end of the receptacle and further wherein when in the open position the latch is pivoted toward the slot in the first side, the second end portion of the latch having a pin engaging surface which when the latch is in the closed position faces the closed end of the receptacle and is positioned such that a force exerted by a pin located in the closed end against the pin engaging surface toward the open end will urge the latch to pivot toward the closed position, and a force exerted by a pin located in the closed end against the pin engaging surface in a direction for pivoting the latch toward the open position will cause the latch to be forced against the pin for holding the pin in the receptacle, wherein contact with the pin prevents the latch from rotating to the open position. 15. The quick hitch of claim 14, wherein the latch further comprises a side edge portion extending between the first and second end portions positioned to face away from and extend diagonally across at least a portion of the open end of the receptacle when the latch is in the closed position, such that the latch can be pivoted from the closed position to the open position by a pin pressed against the side edge portion. 16. The quick hitch of claim 15, further comprising an element yieldably biasing the latch toward the closed position. 17. The quick hitch of claim 16, wherein the pin engaging surface of the latch has a concave shape portion which when the latch is in the closed position extends across at least half of the open end of the receptacle. 18. The quick hitch of claim 17, wherein the pin engaging surface includes a projecting portion disposed between the concave portion and the side edge portion in a position such that if a pin located in the closed end of the receptacle exerts a force against the pin engaging surface in a direction for pivoting the latch toward the open position, the projecting portion will be brought thereby into contact with the pin such that further pivoting of the latch toward the open position will be blocked by the pin and the latch will hold the pin in the receptacle. 19. The quick hitch of claim 14, further comprising an element connected to the latch and manually movable for pivoting the latch between the open and closed positions.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.