Granted Patent B2

US 8,585,345 · App. 13/072,098 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. An attachment coupler comprising:

a frame including: (i) an upper portion adapted for connection to an associated excavator arm and an associated excavator control link; and, (ii) a lower portion including a front hook and rear hook respectively adapted for engaging first and second associated attachment pins of an associated attachment;

a rear hook lock movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein said rear hook lock obstructs said rear hook sufficiently to capture the second associated attachment pin in the rear hook when in said locked position and wherein said rear hook lock is withdrawn relative to said rear hook sufficiently to allow movement of the second associated attachment pin into and out of the rear hook when in said unlocked position;

an actuator operably connected to the rear hook lock for moving the rear hook lock to its unlocked position and its locked position;

a first gravity lock that pivots relative to the frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said first gravity lock blocking movement of the rear hook lock from its locked position to its unlocked position when said first gravity lock is located in its engaged position;

a first supplemental lock arm movable relative to the frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said first supplemental lock arm urges said first gravity lock toward its engaged position when said first supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position, said first supplemental lock arm comprising a lock face and a projecting tail, said projecting tail adapted to contact the associated excavator arm when said coupler frame is located in a select angular position relative to the associated excavator arm to move the first supplemental lock arm from its engaged position to its disengaged position;

a first lock arm spring that biases said first supplemental lock arm toward its engaged position;

a secondary lock located adjacent said front hook, said secondary lock comprising a latch that moves between an extended position and a retracted position, said latch including at least a first latch projection that projects into and obstructs said front hook sufficiently to capture the first associated attachment pin in said front hook when said latch is in its extended position and that is retracted relative to said front hook sufficiently to allow movement of the first associated attachment pin into and out of said front hook when said latch is in its retracted position;

wherein said lock face of said first supplemental lock arm blocks movement of said latch from its extended position to its retracted position when said first supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position; and,

wherein said latch is biased to its extended position and is movable from its extended position to its retracted position by contact between the latch and the first associated attachment pin when said first supplemental lock arm is in its disengaged position.

2. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said latch of said secondary lock pivots relative to said frame between its extended and retracted positions.

3. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said latch further comprises a latch bar to which said first latch projection is connected, wherein said latch bar pivots relative to said frame about a pivot axis such that pivoting movement of said latch bar relative to said frame moves said latch from its extended position to its retracted position.

4. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said secondary lock further comprises at least one latch spring that that biases said latch toward its extended position.

5. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said latch further comprises a second latch projection that projects into and obstructs said front hook sufficiently to capture the first associated attachment pin in said front hook when said latch is in its extended position and that is retracted relative to said front hook sufficiently to allow movement of the first associated attachment pin into and out of said front hook when said latch is in its retracted position, wherein both said first and second latch projections are connected to said latch bar and move with said latch bar when said latch bar pivots relative to said frame.

6. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first supplemental lock arm comprises a keeper that abuts said first gravity lock and urges said first gravity lock toward its engaged position when said first supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position.

7. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said keeper comprises a resilient arm.

8. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lock face of said first supplemental lock arm contacts said first latch projection and blocks movement of said latch to its retracted position when said first supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position and said latch is urged toward its retracted position by force exerted on said first latch projection.

9. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a second gravity lock that pivots relative to the frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said second gravity lock blocking movement of the rear hook lock from its locked position to its unlocked position when said second gravity lock is located in its engaged position;

a second supplemental lock arm movable relative to the frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said second supplemental lock arm urges said second gravity lock toward its engaged position when said second supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position;

said second supplemental lock arm comprising a keeper that abuts said second gravity lock and urges said second gravity lock toward its engaged position when said second supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position.

10. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 9 , wherein:

said latch further comprises a second latch projection that projects into and obstructs said front hook sufficiently to capture the first associated attachment pin in said front hook when said latch is in its extended position and that is retracted relative to said front hook sufficiently to allow movement of the first associated attachment pin into and out of said front hook when said latch is in its retracted position;

said second supplemental lock arm comprises a lock face and a projecting tail, said projecting tail of said second lock supplemental lock arm adapted to contact the associated excavator arm when said coupler frame is located in said select angular position relative to the associated excavator arm to move the second supplemental lock arm from its engaged position to its disengaged position, and said lock face of said second supplemental lock arm located to block movement of the latch from its extended position to its retracted position when said second supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position;

said coupler further comprising a second lock arm spring that biases said second lock arm toward its engaged position.

11. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said lock face of said second supplemental lock arm contacts said second latch projection and blocks movement of said latch to its retracted position when said second supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position and said latch is urged toward its retracted position by force exerted on said first latch projection or said second latch projection.

12. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said rear hook lock comprises:

a lower lock plate slidably connected to said frame by sliding engagement in first and second lower slots of said frame;

an upper lock plate arranged parallel to said lower lock plate and slidably connected to said frame by sliding engagement in first and second upper slots of said frame;

at least one connector plate that interconnects said lower and upper lock plates;

wherein said lower lock plate obstructs said rear hook sufficiently to capture the second associated attachment pin in the rear hook when said rear hook lock is located in its locked position and wherein said lower lock plate is withdrawn relative to said rear hook sufficiently to allow movement of the second associated attachment pin into and out of the rear hook when said rear hook lock is located in its unlocked position.

13. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one sensor connected to the frame for determining a position of the rear hook lock relative to its unlocked and locked positions, said sensor adapted to output an electrical signal that indicates said position of said rear hook lock.

14. The attachment coupler as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic manifold connected to said coupler, said hydraulic manifold including: (i) a pressure port; (Ii) a tank port; (iii) first and second solenoid valves that control the flow of hydraulic oil to and from the actuator that controls the position of the rear hook lock.

15. An attachment coupler comprising:

a frame including a front hook and rear hook respectively adapted for engaging first and second associated attachment pins;

a rear hook lock movable between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to said rear hook;

an actuator operably connected to the rear hook lock for moving the rear hook lock to its unlocked position and its locked position;

a gravity lock that moves relative to the frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said gravity lock obstructing movement of the rear hook lock from its locked position to its unlocked position when said gravity lock is located in its engaged position;

a supplemental lock arm movable relative to the frame between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said supplemental lock arm comprising a lock face and a projecting tail, said projecting tail adapted to contact an associated excavator arm to move the supplemental lock arm from its engaged position to its disengaged position;

a lock arm spring that biases said supplemental lock arm toward its engaged position;

a secondary lock located adjacent said front hook, said secondary lock comprising a latch that moves between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein said latch obstructs said front hook when said latch is in its extended position, and wherein said lock face of said supplemental lock arm blocks movement of said latch from its extended position to its retracted position when said supplemental lock arm is in its engaged position; and,

a spring that urges said latch toward its extended position.

Assignments (8)