IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0555476
(2009-09-08)
|
등록번호 |
US-8622645
(2014-01-07)
|
우선권정보 |
GB-0816335.4 (2008-09-08) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Flory, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
▼
A coupler for an excavator, the coupler having a body with first and second spaced-apart recesses for receiving respective pins of an excavator attachment. A first latching hook is movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in the first r
A coupler for an excavator, the coupler having a body with first and second spaced-apart recesses for receiving respective pins of an excavator attachment. A first latching hook is movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in the first recess. A second latching hook is movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in the second recess. A blocking member may be provided that is movable into and out of a blocking state in which it lies in the path of the second latching member to prevent the second latching member from leaving its latching state. The blocking member may be movable into and out of the blocking state under the influence of gravity.
대표청구항
▼
1. A coupler for an excavator, the coupler comprising: a main body having first and second spaced-apart recesses for receiving respective pins of an excavator attachment;a first latching member comprising a first body, said first latching member being pivotably coupled to said main body and being mo
1. A coupler for an excavator, the coupler comprising: a main body having first and second spaced-apart recesses for receiving respective pins of an excavator attachment;a first latching member comprising a first body, said first latching member being pivotably coupled to said main body and being movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in said first recess;a second latching member comprising a second body, said second latching member being pivotably coupled to said main body and being movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in said second recess;at least one actuator coupled to said main body and configured to selectively actuate said first latching member into and out of said latching state and actuate said second latching member into and out of said latching state; anda blocking member comprising a body having a free end, said blocking member being movable into and out of a blocking state in which said blocking member lies in the path of the second latching member to prevent the second latching member from leaving its latching state by engagement with said free end, said blocking member being movable into and out of said blocking state under the influence of gravity,wherein said blocking member is pivotably coupled to the body at a pivot point having a pivot axis that is fixed with respect to said body, and wherein said coupler is operable in a first mode of use in which said second latching member is in said latching state, said blocking member is in said blocking state and hangs substantially vertically from said pivot point under the influence of gravity, and wherein said pivot point is positioned and said blocking member is dimensioned to define a gap between said free end of said blocking member and said second latching member and such that said blocking member is located above and does not engage with said second latching member in said first mode of operation, andwherein said second latching member is pivotably coupled to said coupler at a pivot point that is located beyond said second recess with respect to said first recess and spaced apart from the mouth of said second recess in a direction substantially parallel with a notional axis joining said first and second recesses. 2. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocking member is movable into and out of its blocking state upon movement of the coupler between a working orientation and a non-working orientation. 3. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, further including a first stop member located in a path of movement of said blocking member, movement of said blocking member in a first direction being limited by engagement with said first stop member, and wherein said blocking member adopts said blocking state when engaged with said first stop member. 4. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, further including a second stop member located in a path of movement of said blocking member, movement of said blocking member in a second direction being limited by engagement with said second stop member, and wherein said blocking member adopts a non-blocking state when engaged with said second stop member. 5. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot point of said blocking member is positioned with respect to the second latching member such that engagement of said second latching member with said free end of said blocking member upon movement of said second latching member out of its latching state urges said blocking member into its blocking state. 6. A coupler as claimed in claim 5 further including a first stop member located in a path of movement of said blocking member, movement of said blocking member in a first direction being limited by engagement with said first stop member, and wherein said blocking member adopts said non-blocking state when engaged with said first stop member and wherein engagement of said second latching member with said blocking member upon movement of said second latching member out of its latching state urges said blocking member into engagement with said first stop member. 7. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second latching member takes the form of a hook including a jaw portion that at least partially closes the mouth of said second recess when in the latching state. 8. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator includes a first actuator coupled to said first latching member and is provided with a resilient biasing member arranged to urge said first actuator coupled to said first latching member into a state corresponding to said latching state of said first latching member. 9. A coupler as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first actuator comprises a linear actuator, said biasing member being arranged to urge said linear actuator into an extended state. 10. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second latching member includes a portion that, when the second latching member is in its latching state, is located in a path of movement of said first latching member such that said portion of said second latching member is engagable with said first latching member when said first latching member is moved towards its non-latching state, wherein upon engagement of said portion of said second latching member with said first latching member, said first latching member holds said second latching member in said latching state by preventing movement of said second latching member out of said latching state. 11. A coupler as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first latching member includes a seat for engagement with said portion of said second latching member, said seat being shaped such that the action of said first latching member on said portion of said second latching member urges said second latching member into its latching state. 12. A coupler as claimed in claim 10, wherein said seat is shaped such that engagement of said first latching member with said portion of said second latching member serves to hold said first latching member in its latching state. 13. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive attachment pins in different locations corresponding to different attachment pin spacings, said first recess further including a lip at one side of a mouth, and wherein when said first latching member adopts a latching position corresponding to the smallest attachment pin spacing accommodated by the coupler, a gap being defined between the first latching member and said lip, and wherein the arrangement is such that said gap has a size that is less than the width of the respective attachment pin. 14. A coupler as claimed in claim 13, wherein said lip extends from the side of the first recess that is furthest from the second recess and in a direction substantially towards said second recess. 15. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein a resiliently deformable member is coupled to the blocking member and is arranged to engage with an arm of the excavator such that the action of the resiliently deformable member when engaged with the arm biases the blocking member into its blocking state. 16. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator comprises a first hydraulic ram coupled to said first latching member and a second hydraulic ram coupled to said second latching member, said hydraulic rams being hydraulically inter-linked such that the operation of one of said first and second hydraulic rams between the latching and non-latching states causes operation of the other of said first and second hydraulic rams between the latching and non-latching states. 17. A coupler as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first and second hydraulic rams are controlled by a common hydraulic circuit, each of said hydraulic rams sharing a common hydraulic fluid feed line and a common hydraulic fluid return line. 18. A coupler as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said first and second hydraulic rams have a pilot non-return valve at a respective extend side port, the pilot control line being connected to the respective retract side port. 19. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupler is operable in a second mode of use in which said second latching member is in said latching state and said blocking member is out of said blocking state, said coupler being operable between said first and second modes of operation by rotation of said coupler about said pivot axis. 20. A coupler as claimed in claim 19, wherein said pivot point is positioned and said blocking member is dimensioned so that, in said second mode of use, upon movement of said second latching member out of said latching state, said second latching member engages with said blocking member to hold said blocking member out of said blocking state. 21. A coupler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, said first actuator being coupled to said main body and to said first latching member and configured to selectively actuate said first latching member into and out of said latching state, and said second actuator being coupled to said main body and to said second latching member and configured to selectively actuate said second latching member into and out of said latching state. 22. A coupler for an excavator, the coupler comprising: a main body having first and second spaced-apart recesses for receiving respective pins of an excavator attachment;a first latching member comprising a first body, said first latching member being pivotably coupled to said main body and being movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in said first recess;a second latching member comprising a second body, said second latching member being pivotably coupled to said main body and being movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in said second recess;at least one actuator coupled to said main body and configured to selectively actuate said first latching member into and out of said latching state and actuate said second latching member into and out of said latching state; anda blocking member comprising a body having a free end, said blocking member being movable into and out of a blocking state in which said blocking member lies in the path of the second latching member to prevent the second latching member from leaving its latching state by engagement with said free end, said blocking member being movable into and out of said blocking state under the influence of gravity,wherein said blocking member is pivotably coupled to the body at a pivot point having a pivot axis that is fixed with respect to said body, and wherein said coupler is operable in a first mode of use in which said second latching member is in said latching state, said blocking member is in said blocking state and hangs substantially vertically from said pivot point under the influence of gravity, and wherein said pivot point is positioned and said blocking member is dimensioned to define a gap between said free end of said blocking member and said second latching member and such that said blocking member is located above and does not engage with said second latching member in said first mode of operation, andwherein said second latching member includes a portion that, when the second latching member is in its latching state, is located in a path of movement of said first latching member such that said portion of said second latching member is engagable with said first latching member when said first latching member is moved towards its non-latching state, wherein upon engagement of said portion of said second latching member with said first latching member, said first latching member holds said second latching member in said latching state by preventing movement of said second latching member out of said latching state. 23. The coupler of claim 22, wherein said at least one actuator comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, said first actuator being coupled to said main body and to said first latching member and configured to selectively actuate said first latching member into and out of said latching state, and said second actuator being coupled to said main body and to said second latching member and configured to selectively actuate said second latching member into and out of said latching state. 24. A coupler for an excavator, the coupler comprising: a main body having first and second spaced-apart recesses for receiving respective pins of an excavator attachment;a first latching member comprising a first body, said first latching member being pivotably coupled to said main body and being movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in said first recess;a second latching member comprising a second body, said second latching member being pivotably coupled to said main body and being movable into and out of a latching state in which it is capable of retaining a respective attachment pin in said second recess;at least one actuator coupled to said main body and configured to selectively actuate said first latching member into and out of said latching state and actuate said second latching member into and out of said latching state; anda blocking member comprising a body having a free end, said blocking member being movable into and out of a blocking state in which said blocking member lies in the path of the second latching member to prevent the second latching member from leaving its latching state by engagement with said free end, said blocking member being movable into and out of said blocking state under the influence of gravity,wherein said blocking member is pivotably coupled to the body at a pivot point having a pivot axis that is fixed with respect to said body, and wherein said coupler is operable in a first mode of use in which said second latching member is in said latching state, said blocking member is in said blocking state and hangs substantially vertically from said pivot point under the influence of gravity, and wherein said pivot point is positioned and said blocking member is dimensioned to define a gap between said free end of said blocking member and said second latching member and such that said blocking member is located above and does not engage with said second latching member in said first mode of operation, andwherein a resiliently deformable member is coupled to the blocking member and is arranged to engage with an arm of the excavator such that the action of the resiliently deformable member when engaged with the arm biases the blocking member into its blocking state. 25. The coupler of claim 24, wherein said at least one actuator comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, said first actuator being coupled to said main body and to said first latching member and configured to selectively actuate said first latching member into and out of said latching state, and said second actuator being coupled to said main body and to said second latching member and configured to selectively actuate said second latching member into and out of said latching state.
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