(12) United States Patent
`US 8,112,914 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`Miller et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Feb. 14, 2012
`
`US008112914B2
`
`(54) FULLY AUTOMATIC COUPLER FOR
`EXCAVATOR ARM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Gary Miller, Tyne & Wear (GB);
`Howard Reay, Tyne & Wear (GB)
`
`(73) Assignee: Miller International, Ltd., Casemates
`Square (GI)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 12/698,700
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 2, 2010
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2010/0192425 A1
`
`Aug. 5,2010
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`9/2003 Miller et a1.
`6,625,909 B1
`8/2005 Miller et a1.
`6,922,926 B2
`3/2008 Miller et a1.
`D565,062 S
`1/2010 Beales ....................... 403/322.1
`7,648,305 B2 *
`7,832,130 B2 * 11/2010 Sederberg et a1.
`.............. 37/468
`2003/0154636 A1
`8/2003 Miller et al.
`2005/0169703 A1
`8/2005 Fatemi
`2007/0157492 A1
`7/2007 Miller et al.
`2007/0199214 A1
`8/2007 McCormick et al.
`
`EP
`FR
`GB
`GB
`GB
`GB
`GB
`GB
`GB
`GB
`WO
`WO
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2119834 A2
`11/2009
`2914932 A1
`10/2008
`2330570 A
`4/1999
`2332417 A
`6/1999
`2446138 A
`8/2008
`2450127 A
`12/2008
`2450202 A
`12/2008
`2450203 A
`12/2009
`2467380 A
`8/2010
`2467383 A
`8/2010
`2008/029112 A2
`3/2008
`2008/031590 A2
`3/2008
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Feb. 3, 2009
`Mar. 5, 2009
`
`(GB) ................................... 09017294
`(GB) ................................... 09038423
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`E02F 3/96
`(52) US. Cl.
`.......................................... 37/468; 172/272
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............ 37/4037410,
`37/468; 172/2727274; 414/705, 723, 724;
`403/231, 322.1, 325, 328, 330, 321
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4/2001 Miller et a1.
`D440,983 S
`5/2001 Pemberton ...................... 37/468
`6,233,852 B1 *
`7/2002 Miller
`6,422,805 B1
`11/2002 Miller et a1.
`6,481,124 B1
`6,487,800 B1 * 12/2002 Evans et a1.
`
`..................... 37/468
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Robert E Pezzuto
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm 7 Stephen B. Salai, Esq.;
`Brian B. Shaw, Esq.; Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A coupler comprising two jaws and a latch for each jaw, one
`of the latches being powered for movement between a latch-
`ing position and a non-latching position, and being associated
`with a blocking mechanism that is remotely movable between
`a blocking position and non blocking position, and the other
`latch being independent of the blocking mechanism, but
`being also remotely moveable between a latching position
`and a non-latching position, wherein the powered latch, in its
`non-latching position, can maintain both the blocking mecha-
`nism in its non blocking position and the other latch in its
`non-latching position, irrespective of the orientation of the
`coupler.
`
`42 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
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`Page 1 of 22
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`CATERPILLAR EXHIBIT 1001
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`CATERPILLAR EXHIBIT 1001
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`US 8,112,914 B2
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`1
`FULLY AUTOMATIC COUPLER FOR
`EXCAVATOR ARM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`None.
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
`
`None.
`
`None.
`
`NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT
`RESEARCH AGREEMENT
`
`REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”
`
`None.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a coupler for attaching an
`accessory, such as an excavator bucket, to an excavator arm on
`an excavator. In particular it relates to a fully automatic cou-
`pler for attachment, at its top half, to an excavator arm, and
`having, in its bottom half, two jaws and two latches for selec-
`tively securing, and releasing, two attachment pins of an
`accessory in, or from, the jaws of the coupler.
`2. Description of Related Art
`Many couplers for attaching accessories to excavator arms
`of an excavator have been developed. Many of those have
`been manual or semi-automatic, requiring one or more
`manual step to be carried out at the coupler in order to com-
`plete or commence the attachment or removal of an accessory
`onto or from the coupler. An increasing drive, however, is to
`provide fully automatic couplers which allow the full secure-
`ment and release of an accessory to and from the coupler by
`the operator from within the cab of the excavator via controls
`provided in the cab.
`With any coupler, it is possible to use them incorrectly.
`Therefore it is possible that an accessory might not be fully,
`and securely, fastened onto the coupler. Such situations can
`lead to dangers, not only for the operator, but also for bystand-
`ers. That is because such an incorrectly mounted accessory
`can potentially fall off the coupler if the error is not noted and
`corrected. It would be desirable, therefore, to develop a cou-
`pler which will reduce or eliminate the opportunities for an
`operator to make an error that could cause such dangerous
`situations to arise.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`According to the present invention there is provided a
`coupler having a top half for attaching to an end of an exca-
`vator arm of an excavator and a bottom half for attaching to an
`accessory; wherein:
`the bottom half comprises:
`a first jaw having an opening pointing generally towards
`the front end of the coupler and a second jaw having an
`opening pointing generally downwards with respect to the
`coupler;
`a first latching mechanism associated with the first jaw; and
`
`Page 13 of 22
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`2
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`a second latching mechanism associated with the second
`jaw, the second latching mechanism being powered for move-
`ment between an open position and a closed position, wherein
`the first latching mechanism has an arm extending therefrom
`and towards the second latching mechanism, whereby the
`second latching mechanism can hold the first latching mecha-
`nism in an open position when it is in its own open position;
`and
`
`the coupler further comprising:
`a blocking mechanism that is independent ofthe first latch-
`ing mechanism, and being for selectively blocking the second
`latching mechanism in its latching position, the blocking
`mechanism being operable between a blocking position and
`an unblocking position by a separate drive means, or by the
`influence of gravity, operation by the influence of gravity
`comprising attaining a blocking position when the top side of
`the coupler is pointing generally upwards and an unblocking
`position when the bottom side of the coupler is pointing
`generally upwards.
`Preferably the arm’ s free end directly bears against the
`second latching mechanism when the second latching mecha-
`nism is holding the first latching mechanism in an open posi-
`tion.
`
`Preferably the first latching mechanism comprises a finger
`or block that extends in a different direction to the arm, and
`which provides an at least partial blockage of the opening of
`the first jaw when the first latching mechanism is in a jaw-
`closing position.
`Preferably the arm of the first latching mechanism extends
`down one side of the internal space of the coupler and the
`blocking mechanism comprises a member that extends down
`the other side of the internal space of the coupler. Preferably
`the member comprises a second arm. The two arms, or the
`first arm and the member, can have a similar maximum width.
`Preferably a hydraulic ram powers the second latching
`mechanism.
`
`A separate hydraulic ram might operate the blocking
`mechanism. It is preferred, however, that the blocking mecha-
`nism is gravity operated. This reduces the number of moving
`or serviceable parts in the coupler.
`Preferably the hydraulic ram for the second latching
`mechanism is located down the centre of the internal space of
`the coupler.
`Preferably the arm of the first latch and the member of the
`blocking mechanism extend either side of the hydraulic ram
`(or of whatever powering means is provided for the second
`latching mechanism), and are spaced therefrom.
`Preferably the blocking mechanism shares a common piv-
`otal axis to the hydraulic ram for the second latching mecha-
`nism. Preferably that or those axes are defined by a hinge pin
`that is mounted to the frame of the coupler. Preferably the
`hinge pin extends laterally with respect to the frame of the
`coupler, i.e. between sideplates of the coupler.
`Preferably the first latching mechanism is defined by a first
`pivotal latch.
`Preferably the second latching mechanism is defined by a
`second pivotal latch.
`Preferably both the first pivotal latch and the second pivotal
`latch are mounted for pivotal movements relative to the frame
`ofthe coupler about hinge pins that are mounted to the frame.
`Preferably those hinge pins extend laterally with respect to
`the frame of the coupler.
`Preferably the first latching mechanism includes a latching
`member defined by a finger or a block. Preferably the finger or
`block extends generally perpendicularly relative to the arm.
`Preferably it extends generally downwards. It is adapted, in
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`US 8,112,914 B2
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`3
`use, to extend at least partially across the opening ofthe front
`jaw when the first latching member is in a jaw closing posi-
`tion.
`
`Preferably the latching member has a greater width than
`the arm of the first latching mechanism. Preferably the width
`ofthe latching member is approximately, or at least, a third of
`the width ofthe frontj aw. More preferably it is about, or more
`than, half the width of the front jaw.
`The latching member is preferably painted in a high-vis-
`ibility colour, such as red or yellow, or in a contrasting colour
`to the jaw. This is to make it more Visible from the cab of the
`excavator, through the opening of the jaw, when the first
`latching mechanism is in a jaw closing position; it can func-
`tion as a Visual check for jaw engagement, even from the cab,
`since thatjaw usually points towards the cab during the acces-
`sory engagement process.
`Preferably the arm has a width of less than halfthe width of
`the latching member.
`Preferably the free end of the arm has an increased lateral
`width relative to the rest of the arm to provide a greater mass
`at its free end. This is to facilitate the operation of the first
`latch when it is operable under the influence of gravity. Pref-
`erably the front latch is operable under the influence of grav-
`ity between the open position, when the coupler is inverted,
`and a jaw-closing position, when the coupler is arranged
`upright, or in a normal, in use, orientation, i.e. with its top
`portion generally uppermost. An arm powering mechanism
`might be provided, however, to remotely lift the arm, e.g. a
`further hydraulic ram. The use of gravity, however, is the
`preferred arrangement.
`Preferably no mechanical biasing means whatsoever are
`provided for the first latching mechanism, i.e. for biasing it
`towards a closed positionigravity is used exclusively for
`causing the opening/closing of that latching mechanism.
`Mechanisms might, however, interfere with that operationi
`i.e. the second latching mechanism can hold it out of its
`jaw-closing position until that second latching mechanism
`releases it.
`
`Preferably the blocking member has a width that generally
`corresponds to the width of either the arm or the free end of
`the arm. The width of the blocking member, however, is
`preferably less than the width of the latching memberiper-
`haps half that width.
`Preferably the second latching mechanism comprises a
`pivoting latching hook.
`Preferably the rear surface ofthe latching hook (the surface
`facing away from the rearjaw of the hook) has steps provided
`thereon for providing adjustability for the blocking mecha-
`nism, whereby a plurality of different accessories, each with
`different pin spacings (i.e. the distance between the axes of
`the pair of pins), can be accommodated by the coupler.
`For that same purpose, it is preferred that the opening ofthe
`downwardly facing jaw has a heightimeasured in the lon-
`gitudinal direction of the coupleriof at
`least 1.5x the
`heightimeasured in the height direction of the coupler40f
`the opening of the front jaw. More preferably it is approxi-
`mately twice that dimension.
`Preferably the steps on the rear surface of the hook are
`down just one flank of that surface of the hook; the hook may
`have two such flanks, with the other flank being adapted for
`selectively engaging the first
`latching mechanism. For
`example, on that other flank, a different form can provided,
`such as a smooth back with a single flange, or a stepped
`surface, for engaging against the raised free end of the arm of
`the first latching mechanism, i.e. when the hook is in its open
`position.
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`Because of the presence of the blocking mechanism, that
`inter-engagement between the arm and the rear of the hook is
`only achievable upon moving the blocking mechanism into a
`non blocking mechanismithe hook is otherwise resisted
`from retraction towards its open position. Therefore, with the
`gravity operated embodiment, that is only possible upon
`inverting the coupler, so as both to release the blocking
`mechanism and to raise the arm, whereby upon drawing back
`the hook to its open position, the arm will be retained upon the
`back of the hook automatically.
`The two flanks may be formed by providing the hook with
`a bifurcated backside. The hinge-pin for attaching the actua-
`tor for the hook to the hook may then bridge between the two
`flanks, the space between the two flanks providing room for
`the actuator to pivot relative to the hook.
`Preferably the arm of the first latching mechanism has a
`cut-out in its underside for accommodating the structure of
`the front jaw and the attachment pin. Preferably that cut-out
`rests against the top of the structure of the front jaw when the
`first latching mechanism is in a jaw-closing position. That
`then provided a stop for defining a first extreme ofmovement
`for that arm.
`
`Preferably the arm has an indentation in a top wall thereof
`for engaging a member of the frame of the coupler for defin-
`ing a second extreme of movement for that arm. Preferably
`that member of the frame is a bearing portion of the frame, in
`the sidewall of the frame, for receiving a hinge pin of the
`actuator for the powered latching mechanism.
`Extremes ofmovement for the blocking mechanism can be
`provided by elements or stops provided on the frame, or, in
`one respect, by an extended flange at the back of the hook,
`usually towards its bottom.
`Preferably the latching member ofthe first latching mecha-
`nism has a face that is adapted to face towards an attachment
`pin of an accessory, when the accessory pin is located fully
`within the front jaw. Preferably that surface extends down-
`wardly into the jaw at least one-third of the way across the
`opening. More preferably it extends at least halfway across
`the opening. By extending it sufliciently across the opening,
`and/or providing it with an appropriate shape, an attachment
`pin in the front jaw can usually be prevented from forcing the
`first latching mechanism from its jaw-closing position into its
`open position, even if the pin was to apply a considerable
`force against the latching member.
`The resistance to opening of the first latching member can
`be enhanced further by correctly locating the hinge axis ofthe
`first latching member above the line ofreaction force between
`the attachment pin and the pin facing/engaging surface of the
`latching member as will occur once the first latching member
`is in its jaw-closing position. With that arrangement, those
`reaction forces would tend to maintain the latching member in
`a closed position, rather than tending to open the jaw.
`Preferably the pin-facing surface ofthe latching member is
`concavely curved.
`Preferably the blocking mechanism is spring biased
`towards a blocking position by a spring member that is
`adapted to engage against a portion of the excavator arm
`during normal conditions of use, i.e. in non-crowd orienta-
`tions. That spring member preferably extends into the top half
`ofthe coupler, towards the rear end of the coupler, but in front
`of the rear attachment hole in that top half. The spring mem-
`ber does not engage against any part of the frame of the
`coupler. When the coupler and excavator arm are moved into
`the crowd position, however, that spring arm is no longer
`engaging the portion ofthe excavator arm with suflicient bias
`to maintain the blocking mechanism in a blocking position.
`
`Page 14 of 22
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`Page 14 of 22
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`

`US 8,112,914 B2
`
`5
`Preferably the front jaw has a ridge or lip, or a dip or
`groove, provided in the upper wall of its profile, the ridge or
`lip extending downwardly, and the dip or groove, where
`instead or additionally provided, extending upwardly.
`The ridge or lip is the preferred arrangement for the upper
`wall. In effect it extends partially across the opening of the
`jaw. Preferably it extends no more than a fifth of the way
`across the opening. Preferably it is between 5 and 8 mm high.
`The lower wall of the front jaw may also, or alternatively,
`have a ridge or lip, or a dip or groove, provided in it, the ridge
`or lip extending upwardly, and the dip or groove, where
`instead or additionally provided, extending downwardly.
`The dip or groove is the preferred arrangement for the
`lower wall. It may be radiused for partially accommodating
`an attachment pin, i.e. should an attachment pin be in the front
`jaw such that it is not secured into the rear ofthe frontjaw. The
`radius need not match the radius ofthe attachment pin. In that
`regard, the radius of it nearest the opening is preferably of a
`smaller radius than the pin, whereby the groove provides an
`outer lip against which the attachment pin can hit, for stop-
`ping fur‘ther exiting ofthe pin from the jaw, in the event of the
`attachment pin starting to slip out of the front jaw.
`Preferably the dip or groove is between 5 and 8 mm deep.
`Preferably the dip or groove’s depth is between 0.3x and
`0.1>< the diametric height of the jaw.
`The upper wall ofthe front jaw’ s profile may extend further
`forwards, relative to the frame of the coupler, than the lower
`wall ofthat profile so as to overhang the lower profile, The lip
`or ridge in the upper wall preferably is located in the over-
`hanging area of that upper wall. Preferably it is overhanging,
`and clear, of the lower wall such that the gap between the
`bottom ofthe ridge or lip and the free end ofthe lower wall has
`a length no less than the distance between that lower wall and
`the upper wall when measured diametrically (or approxi-
`mately perpendicularly) therebetween. The upper and lower
`walls, however, are not usually parallel to one anotheria
`widening mouth facilitates attachment pin location into the
`jaw.
`The present invention also provides an excavator with a
`powered excavator arm having a coupler on an end thereof,
`the coupler comprising two jaws and a latch for each jaw, one
`of the latches being powered for movement between a latch-
`ing position and a non-latching position, and being associated
`with a blocking mechanism that is remotely movable between
`a blocking position and non blocking position, and the other
`latch being independent of the blocking mechanism, but
`being also remotely moveable between a latching position
`and a non-latching position. The coupler may additionally
`have any of the above features from the first aspect of the
`invention, either in isolation or in combination with its poten-
`tially, but in practice not necessarily, dependent features.
`The present invention also provided a method of coupling
`an accessory to a coupler as defined in the claims. For
`example, the method may comprise:
`a) providing an excavator with a powered excavator arm
`having a coupler on an end thereof, the coupler comprising
`two jaws and a latch for each jaw, one of the latches being
`powered for movement between a latching position and a
`non-latching position, and being associated with a blocking
`mechanism that is remotely movable between a blocking
`position and non blocking position, and the other latch being
`independent of the blocking mechanism, but being also
`remotely moveable between a latching position and a non-
`latching position;
`b) opening the jaw with the powered latch;
`
`6
`b) providing an accessory with two attachment pins
`thereon sized and spaced to fit into the two jaws of the cou-
`pler;
`c) powering the excavator arm to manipulate the coupler to
`locate a first attachment pin of the accessory into the jaw
`associated with the other latch;
`d) powering the excavator arm to curl the coupler relative to
`the accessory to locate the second attachment pin into the
`opened jaw; and
`e) powering the powered latch to engage the powered latch
`against the second attachment pin to secure it within that now
`closed jaw.
`Preferably the powered latch is powered in step b) while the
`coupler is at least partially inverted, preferably in the crowd
`position, the blocking mechanism and other latch being grav-
`ity operated such that they move to non blocking and open
`positions, respectively, as the coupler is moved into that at
`least partially inverted orientation. Alternatively one or both
`of those elements might be powered for movement into their
`non-blocking and open positions.
`The present invention also provides a method of decou-
`pling an accessory from the coupler as defined in the claims.
`For example, the method might comprise:
`a) providing an excavator with a powered excavator arm
`having a coupler on an end thereof, the coupler comprising
`two jaws and a latch for each jaw, one of the latches being
`powered for movement between a latching position and a
`non-latching position, and being associated with a blocking
`mechanism that is remotely movable between a blocking
`position and non blocking position, and the other latch being
`independent of the blocking mechanism, but being also
`remotely moveable between a latching position and a non-
`latching position;
`b) providing an accessory with two attachment pins
`thereon fitted into the two jaws of the coupler;
`c) rotating the coupler and accessory into a crowd position
`for at least partially inverting the coupler;
`d) opening the jaw having the powered latch;
`e) powering the excavator arm to manipulate the coupler
`back from its crowd position to position the accessory on hard
`standing, such as the ground; and continuing to power the
`excavator arm to guide the coupler off the accessory, the two
`latches now being open.
`The present invention also provides a coupler having a top
`half for attaching to an end of an excavator arm of an exca-
`vator and a bottom half for attaching to an accessory;
`wherein:
`
`the bottom half comprises:
`a first jaw having an opening pointing generally towards
`the front end of the coupler and a second jaw having an
`opening pointing generally downwards with respect to the
`coupler;
`a first latching mechanism associated with the firstjaw; and
`a second latching mechanism associated with the second
`jaw, the second latching mechanism being powered for move-
`ment between an open position and a closed position;
`wherein the first latching mechanism has an arm extending
`therefrom and towards the second latching mechanism,
`whereby the second latching mechanism can hold the first
`latching mechanism in an open position when it is in its own
`fully open position, and whereby while the first latching
`mechanism in a latching position for the first jaw, the second
`latching mechanism is blocked from moving from its latching
`position into its fully open position by the end of the arm.
`The first latching mechanism can operate under the influ-
`ence of gravity, just like the first latching mechanism of the
`other aspects of this invention. Indeed,
`the first latching
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`US 8,112,914 B2
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`7
`mechanism can have many of the features ofthe first latching
`mechanism of the other aspects of this invention.
`Preferably the second latching mechanism has a flange that
`extends towards the end of the arm while the second latching
`mechanism is in the latching position.
`Preferably the first latching mechanism is provided with a
`spring arm that extends up therefrom into the top half of the
`coupler for selective engagement against the excavator arm.
`Preferably the spring arm is J shaped.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show left and right, cut-away,
`partial, sections through a coupler of the present invention in
`a normal working condition;
`FIGS. 3 and 4 show similar views, but during a first pin
`engagement step (the hydraulic ram has been removed for
`clarity);
`FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate details of the first latching mecha-
`nism as it moves into its jaw-closing position;
`FIG. 7 shows the front latch in its jaw-closing position for
`capturing a first attachment pin of an accessory, but with the
`second attachment pin ofthe accessory being accidentally not
`latched by the second latch;
`FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate, in similar views to
`the first seven Figures, opposing sections through the coupler,
`but while it is in an inverted condition, Le. during an acces-
`sory disconnection procedure;
`FIG. 10 shows the final step of that accessory removal
`procedure with the first latching mechanism being held up in
`its open position by the second latching mechanism;
`FIG. 11 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 10 ofa coupler
`with a modified front jaw;
`FIG. 12 shows in greater detail the jaw from FIG. 11;
`FIG. 13 shows a further view corresponding to FIG. 10 of
`a coupler with another modified front jaw; and
`FIGS. 14 to 16 show an alternative arrangement for a
`coupler of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Referring first of all to FIG. 1, there is shown a partial
`section through a coupler of the present invention. Various
`internal elements of the coupler have been simplified or
`removed for clarity. What is illustrated, however, is a coupler
`10 comprising a frame 12 having a top half 14 and a bottom
`half 16.
`
`The opposite side of the coupler 10 is shown in FIG. 2. It
`likewise has parts cut away or removed for clarity.
`The top half 14 has two pairs of attachment holes 18 in its
`sidewalls for connecting the coupler 10 to an end of an exca-
`vator arm of a excavator (not shown) via an a pair of attach-
`ment pins. Such an attachment is generally recognised as
`being conventional for excavator arms, and has been the
`conventional
`technique used for attaching accessories
`directly to the excavator arm. The present invention, however,
`positions a coupler 10 between the end of the excavator arm
`and the accessory 20.
`In all of the Figures, only a part of an accessory 20 is
`shown. Such an accessory, however, might be, for example, a
`conventional digging bucket.
`For this type of coupler 10, the accessory has a pair of
`attachment pins 22. The attachment pins 22 are arranged on
`the bucket in a parallel manner and are for engagement with
`two jaws 24, 26 that are provided in the bottom half 16 of the
`coupler 10.
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`15
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`20
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`A first one of the jaws is a front jaw 24. It is provided
`towards the front 28 of the coupler 10. That front jaw 24 has
`an opening 30 that faces generally forwards with respect to
`the longitudinal axis of the coupler 10.
`The second jaw is a rear jaw 26. It is provided towards the
`rear 32 of the coupler 10. It also has an opening 34. That
`second opening 34, however, faces downwardly with respect
`to the coupler 10.
`The front jaw 24, in use, is normally for engaging a first or
`front attachment pin 22 of the accessory 20, whereas the rear
`jaw 26 of the coupler 10 is usually for engaging the second or
`rear attachment pin 22 of the accessory 20. That occurs after
`the first attachment pin 22 has been engaged within the front
`jaw 24. A first step in an accessory attachment is therefore
`usually the engagement of an attachment pin 22 in a front jaw
`24 of the coupler by an appropriate manipulation of the exca-
`vator arm. Then, the second attachment pin 22 needs to be
`engaged into the rear jaw 26 by rotating the rear 32 of the
`coupler 10 downwardly. For these steps to occur, however,
`any latching means for those jaws needs to be set appropri-
`ately for allowing the jaws to receive the pins. This aspect of
`the present invention will now be described in detail.
`Both the front jaw 24 and the rearjaw 26 are provided with
`a latching mechanism. The first latching mechanism 36 is
`provided for the front jaw 24 and the second latching mecha-
`nism 38 is provided for the rear jaw 26. Parts of each latching
`mechanism 36, 38 are visible in each pair of drawings (FIGS.
`1 & 2, FIGS. 3 & 4, and FIGS. 8 & 9), each pair showing
`opposing sides of the coupler in a corresponding coupler
`condition.
`
`The first latching mechanism 36 is best illustrated perhaps
`in FIG. 3. Referring, therefore, to FIG. 3, the first latching
`mechanism 36 comprises an arm 40 with a free end 42. The
`first latching mechanism 36 further comprises a finger or
`block 44 that is adapted or shaped such that when the first
`latching mechanism 36 is in an open position, as shown in
`FIG. 3, the finger or block 44 will have ascended into a
`position in which it will not hinder the movement of an
`attachment pin 22 out of the opening 30 of the front jaw 24,
`but also such that when the first latching mechanism 36 is in
`a jaw-closing position, as shown in FIG. 1, the finger or block
`44 will block movement of the attachment pin 22 out of that
`opening 30 of the front jaw 24.
`That block 44 is preferably wedge shaped. However, it
`might alternatively be curved, while still performing the same
`function.
`
`The arm 40 of the first latching mechanism 36 is also
`provided with a cut-out area 46 to provide a space for accom-
`modating the structure 48 of the front jaw 24. As shown in the
`drawings, the structure 48 of the front jaw 24 is generally a
`solid lump ofhardened steel, welded to the frame, although it
`might be integrally formed thereon. The piece might, for
`example, be formed as part of a solid casting.
`At the free end 42 ofthe arm 40 there is provided a widened
`region 50. This widened region 50 provides a significant mass
`at the free end 42 of the arm 40. This helps to increase the
`reliability of the latching mechanism since the extra mass at
`the end will generate a better gravity induced moment on the
`arm 40 upon inverting the coupler, such as into the position
`shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 clearly shows that widened region 50,
`and also shows that the first latching mechanism 36 has fallen
`into an open positionisee the arrow 49. Likewise, the block-
`ing mechanism 78 shown in FIG. 9 will have fallen into a
`non-blocking positionisee arrow 86, whereby the second
`latching mechanism 38 can be pulled back into an open posi-
`tionisee the arrows 51 in both FIGS. 8 and 9. However those
`additional features will be returned to later on.
`
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`US 8,112,914 B2
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`9
`Returning, therefore, to the first latching mechanism 36. It
`is rotatably mounted to the frame 12 of the coupler 10 about
`a pivot point 53. A housing 52 provided just in front of that
`pivot point 53 serves to protects the leading face of the first
`latching mechanism 36 when an attachment pin of an acces-
`sory is initially being aligned to the jawithis equipment can
`be very heavy, and are assumed to be very tough, whereby
`they are often roughly treated by users in an attempt to force
`attachment pins into the jaws 24, 26. That housing 52 may be
`an integral part of the frame 12, or else it may be a separate
`part welded or otherwise fixed onto the frame 12 of the
`coupler 10.
`In preferred embodiments, the frame 12 is a moulded com-
`ponent with some finishing work carried out for perfecting the
`locations of any attachment point or jaws or hinge points or
`other bearing surfaces. It might, alternatively, be fabricated
`from individual components and plates of steel.
`Referring next to the second latching mechanism 38, as
`also shown in FIG. 1, that second