WORK TOOL COUPLER LINKAGE
An electrically actuated coupling device for a machine and an implement is disclosed. The device includes a frame and an electric motor coupled to a drive shaft that extends between right and left ends of the frame. The motor causes the shaft to extend or retract from each end of the frame simultaneously. Each end of the frame includes a guide for receiving a latch. Each latch is pivotally coupled to a spring and each spring is pivotally coupled to a specially shaped lever which is pivotally coupled to the frame as well as an end of the shaft. The electric motor may be activated by the operator from within the cab.
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This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/647,105, filed on Oct. 8, 2012.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates generally to a quick coupling device for a tool/implement for a machine and, more particularly, to a quick coupling device that may be actuated by the operator from the cab of the machine.
BACKGROUNDMachines frequently have lift arms with tools or implements disposed at the ends of the lift arms. The tools or implements may include as buckets, blades and the like. To simplify and expedite the exchanging or replacement of such tools, the lift arms are typically equipped with an attachment frame that includes coupling devices for quickly coupling and decoupling the various implements from the frame. Some of these coupling devices may also be power-operated to reduce the necessity for manual intervention and for ease of operation. Further, some coupling devices may be actuated from inside the cab of the machine.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,467, a hydraulically-actuated quick coupling device includes an attachment frame. A pair of latch members is disposed at each end of the attachment frame and the latch members are movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A link has first and second end portions with the first end portion of the link connected to the latch member. A pivot member has first and second end portions and a central portion with the first end portion pivotally connected on the attachment frame and the second end portion pivotally connected on the second end portion of the link. A cylinder has a head end connected to the attachment frame and a rod end connected to the central portion of the pivot member. The cylinder is operable for moving the latch member between the disengaged and engaged positions.
A low amount of force is required when the tool and coupler are very clean, but in dirty conditions or with a lack of scheduled lubrication or maintenance, the linkage can stick or jam, causing the operator to have to use a pry bar to force the linkage loose and engage/disengage the work tool.
SUMMARYIn one aspect, an electrically actuated coupling device is disclosed. The disclosed device may include a frame having a right end and a left end. The disclosed device may also include an electric motor with a drive shaft extending between the right and left ends of the frame. The motor may be used to cause the shaft to expand outwards towards the right and left ends of the frame simultaneously and to retract the shaft inwards away from the left and right ends of the frame simultaneously. The right end of the frame may include a right guide for slidably receiving a right latch. The left end of the frame may include a left guide for slidably receiving a left latch. The right latch may be pivotally coupled to a right spring. The right spring may pivotally couple the right latch to a right lever at a first pivot point. The right lever may be pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot point. The right lever may also be pivotally connected to the shaft at a third pivot point. Similarly, the left latch may be pivotally coupled to a left spring. The left spring may pivotally couple the left latch to a left lever at a fourth pivot point. The left lever may also be pivotally connected to the frame at a fifth pivot point. The left lever may also be pivotally connected to the shaft at a sixth pivot point. Further, an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points may range from greater than 20° to less than 35°, and, similarly, an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points may also ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°.
In another aspect, a machine is disclosed that may include a cab. The machine may also include right and left lift arms that may be coupled to a frame having a right end and a left end. The machine may also include an electric motor with a drive shaft that extends between the right and left ends of the frame. The motor may cause the shaft to expand outwards towards the right and left ends of the frame simultaneously and retract inwards away from the left and right ends of the frame simultaneously. The right end of the frame may include a right guide for slidably receiving a right latch and the left end of the frame may include a left guide for slidably receiving a left latch. The right latch may be pivotally coupled to a right spring. The right spring may pivotally couple the right latch to a right lever at a first pivot point. The right lever may be pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot point. The right lever may also be pivotally connected to the shaft at a third pivot point. The left latch may also be pivotally coupled to a left spring. The left spring may pivotally couple the left latch to a left lever at a fourth pivot point. The left lever may be pivotally connected to the frame at a fifth pivot point and the left lever may be pivotally connected to the shaft at a sixth pivot point. The machine may also include a control switch for controlling the motor wherein the control switch is disposed inside the cab. Further, the second and third pivot points are separated by a first length and the first and second pivot points are separated by a second length. The first length is greater than the second length. The fifth and sixth pivot points are separated by a third length and the fourth and fifth pivot points are separated by a fourth length. The third length is greater than the fourth length. A ratio of the first length to the second length ranges from greater than 1.31 to less than 1.75, and a ratio of the third length to the fourth length ranges from greater than 1.31 to less than 1.75.
In another aspect, a method for coupling and decoupling a tool to and from a machine having right and left lift arms is also disclosed. The method may include coupling a frame having a right end and a left end to the right and left lift arms. The frame may support an electric motor with a drive shaft extending between the right and left ends of the frame. The right end of the frame may include a right guide for slidably receiving a right latch and the left end of the frame may include a left guide for slidably receiving a left latch. The right latch may be pivotally coupled to a right spring and the right spring may pivotally couple the right latch to a right lever at a first pivot point. The right lever may also be pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot point and to the shaft at a third pivot point. The left latch may be pivotally coupled to a left spring. The left spring may pivotally couple the left latch to a left lever at a fourth pivot point. The left lever may be pivotally connected to the frame at a fifth pivot point and to the shaft at a sixth pivot point. The method may include aligning the right and left latches with right and left openings in the tool. The method may further include activating the motor to expand the shaft outwards towards the right and left ends of the frame thereby causing the right and left latches to be received in the right and left openings of the tool. Further, the method may also include activating the motor to retract the shaft inwards away from the right and left ends of the frame thereby causing right and left latches to be withdrawn from right and left openings of the tool. Further, an angle between a second line extending through the second and third pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18° and an angle between a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°.
Turning to
Turning to
Turning to
A plan view of the position shown in
The dimensions of the levers 24, 25 have also been surprisingly found to be useful in optimizing the performance of the coupling device 11. The left lever 25 is illustrated in
The coupling device 11 has been described above. It may be used to quickly and easily change implements 15 on the machine 10 and the activation of the coupling device 11 may be performed by the operator in the cab 46. All that is required is that the right and left latches 28, 29 be aligned with corresponding openings in the tool or implement 15. Then the operator activates the motor 19 (or hydraulic system or actuator) to extend the shaft assembly 21 (or cylinder or extendable member) outward which results in the right and left latches 28, 29 extending downward through their respective guides into the openings of the tool or implement 15. Disengagement of the tool or implement 15 from the frame 16 is also easily accomplished by activating the motor and retracting the shaft assembly 21 laterally inwards away from the right and left ends 17, 18 of the frame 16.
Claims
1. An electrically actuated coupling device, comprising:
- a frame having a right end and a left end;
- an actuator or extendable member extending between the right and left ends of the frame, the actuator causing the extendable member to expand outwards towards the right and left ends of the frame simultaneously and to retract inwards away from the left and right ends of the frame simultaneously;
- the right end of the frame including a right guide for slidably receiving a right latch, the left end of the frame including a left guide for slidably receiving a left latch;
- the right latch pivotally coupled to a right spring, the right spring pivotally coupling the right latch to a right lever at a first pivot point, the right lever being pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot point, the right lever being pivotally connected to the shaft at a third pivot point;
- the left latch pivotally coupled to a left spring, the left spring pivotally coupling the left latch to a left lever at a fourth pivot point, the left lever being pivotally connected to the frame at a fifth pivot point, the left lever being pivotally connected to the shaft at a sixth pivot point;
- wherein an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°; and
- wherein an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°.
2. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the second and third pivot points are separated by a first length, the first and second pivot points are separated by a second length and the first length is greater than the second length; and
- wherein the fifth and sixth pivot points are separated by a third length, the fourth and fifth pivot points are separated by a fourth length and the third length is greater than the fourth length.
3. The coupling device of claim 2 wherein a ratio of the first length to the second length ranges from greater than 1 to about 1.75; and
- a ratio of the third length to the fourth length ranges from greater than 1 to about 1.75.
4. The coupling device of claim 3 wherein the ratios range from greater than 1.31 to about 1.45.
5. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°; and
- wherein an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°.
6. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points ranges from greater than 27° to less than 31°; and
- wherein an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points ranges from greater than 27° to less than 31°.
7. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein an angle between a second line extending through the second and third pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from greater than 10° to less than 25°; and
- wherein an angle between a fourth line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from greater than 10° to less than 25°.
8. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein an angle between a second line extending through the second and third pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°; and
- wherein an angle between a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°.
9. A machine comprising:
- a cab;
- right and left lift arms coupled to a frame having a right end and a left end;
- an actuator with an extendable member extending between the right and left ends of the frame, the actuator causing the extendable member to expand outwards towards the right and left ends of the frame simultaneously and to retract inwards away from the left and right ends of the frame simultaneously;
- the right end of the frame including a right guide for slidably receiving a right latch, the left end of the frame including a left guide for slidably receiving a left latch;
- the right latch pivotally coupled to a right spring, the right spring pivotally coupling the right latch to a right lever at a first pivot point, the right lever being pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot point, the right lever being pivotally connected to the shaft at a third pivot point;
- the left latch pivotally coupled to a left spring, the left spring pivotally coupling the left latch to a left lever at a fourth pivot point, the left lever being pivotally connected to the frame at a fifth pivot point, the left lever being pivotally connected to the shaft at a sixth pivot point; and
- wherein the second and third pivot points are separated by a first length, the first and second pivot points are separated by a second length and the first length is greater than the second length;
- wherein the fifth and sixth pivot points are separated by a third length, the fourth and fifth pivot points are separated by a fourth length and the third length is greater than the fourth length; and
- wherein a ratio of the first length to the second length ranges from greater than 1.31 to less than 1.75, and a ratio of the third length to the fourth length ranges from greater than 1.31 to less than 1.75.
10. The machine of claim 9 wherein the ratios range from greater than 1.31 to about 1.45.
11. The machine of claim 9 wherein an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°; and
- wherein an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°.
12. The machine of claim 9 wherein an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points ranges from about 27° to about 31°; and
- wherein an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points ranges from about 27° to about 31°.
13. The machine of claim 9 wherein an angle between a second line extending through the second and third pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from greater than 10° to less than 25°; and
- wherein an angle between a fourth line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from greater than 10° to less than 25°.
14. The machine of claim 9 wherein an angle between a second line extending through the second and third pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°; and
- wherein an angle between a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°.
15. A method for coupling and decoupling a tool to and from a machine having right and left lift arms, the method comprising:
- coupling a frame having a right end and a left end to the right and left lift arms, the frame supporting an actuator with an extendable member extending between the right and left ends of the frame, the right end of the frame including a right guide for slidably receiving a right latch, the left end of the frame including a left guide for slidably receiving a left latch, the right latch pivotally coupled to a right spring, the right spring pivotally coupling the right latch to a right lever at a first pivot point, the right lever being pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot point, the right lever being pivotally connected to the shaft at a third pivot point, and the left latch pivotally coupled to a left spring, the left spring pivotally coupling the left latch to a left lever at a fourth pivot point, the left lever being pivotally connected to the frame at a fifth pivot point, the left lever being pivotally connected to the shaft at a sixth pivot point;
- aligning the right and left latches with right and left openings in the tool;
- activating the actuator to extend the extendable member outwards towards the right and left ends of the frame thereby causing the right and left latches to be received in the right and left openings of the tool; and
- activating the actuator to retract the extendable member inwards away from the right and left ends of the frame thereby causing the right and left latches to be withdrawn from the right and left openings of the tool;
- wherein an angle between a second line extending through the second and third pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18° and wherein an angle between a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second and third pivot points are separated by a first length, the first and second pivot points are separated by a second length;
- wherein the fifth and sixth pivot points are separated by a third length, the fourth and fifth pivot points are separated by a fourth length; and
- wherein ratios of the first length to the second length and the third length to the second length range from greater than 1.31 to less than 1.75.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the second and third pivot points are separated by a first length, the first and second pivot points are separated by a second length;
- wherein the fifth and sixth pivot points are separated by a third length, the fourth and fifth pivot points are separated by a fourth length; and
- wherein ratios of the first length to the second length and the third length to the second length range from greater than 1.32 to about 1.40.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°; and
- wherein an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points ranges from greater than 20° to less than 35°.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein an angle between a first line extending through the first and second pivot points and a second line extending through the second and third pivot points ranges from about 27° to about 31°; and
- wherein an angle between a third line extending through the fourth and fifth pivot points and a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points ranges from about 27° to about 31°.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein an angle between a second line extending through the second and third pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°; and
- wherein an angle between a fourth line extending through the fifth and sixth pivot points and an axis of the shaft ranges from about 13° to about 18°.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 26, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 10, 2014
Applicant: CATERPILLAR SARL (Geneva)
Inventors: George Pinther (Raleigh, NC), Sage Smith (Apex, NC), John Salay (Pittsboro, NC), Florin Neamtu (Apex, NC), Leigh Reeves (Sanford, NC)
Application Number: 13/661,814
International Classification: E02F 3/36 (20060101);