Quick-coupling device for attaching tools to an excavator

Abstract

Quick-coupling device for attaching a tool ( 2 ) to an excavator comprising at least one main working arm ( 1 ); this device comprises a main body ( 3 ) provided with two side walls ( 306 ) each connected at the rear to this working arm ( 1 ) by a pin ( 401 ) housed in holes ( 301 ) in these walls ( 306 ) to allow it to be rotated relative to the said arm ( 1 ) by the movement of excavator levers ( 5 ) connected to the body ( 3 ) by a pin ( 40 ) housed in holes ( 302 ) in these walls ( 306 ) and at the front to upper walls ( 205 ) of this tool ( 2 ) by second pins ( 7 ) for locking them onto this tool ( 2 ); and these second pins ( 7 ) are able to extend out of these side walls ( 306 ) and be housed in holes ( 204 ) formed in these upper walls ( 205 ) of the tool ( 2 ) under the action of control means ( 8 ) mounted in this body ( 3 ) for automatically inserting and removing them into and from these holes ( 204 ), these upper walls ( 205 ) being provided with rear hook means ( 203 ) for attaching the tool ( 2 ) to pins ( 4 ).

1 . Quick-coupling device for attaching a tool ( 2 ) to an excavator comprising at least one main working arm ( 1 ), characterized in that it comprises a main body ( 3 ) provided with two side walls ( 306 ) each connected at the rear to the said working arm ( 1 ) by a pin ( 401 ) housed in holes ( 301 ) in the said walls ( 306 ) to allow it to be rotated relative to the said arm ( 1 ) by the movement of excavator levers ( 5 ) connected to the body ( 3 ) by a pin ( 40 ) housed in holes ( 302 ) in the said walls ( 306 ) and at the front to upper walls ( 205 ) of the said tool ( 2 ) by second pins ( 7 ) for locking them onto the said tool ( 2 ), the said second pins ( 7 ) being able to extend out of the said side walls ( 306 ) and be housed in holes ( 204 ) formed in the said upper walls ( 205 ) of the tool ( 2 ) under the action of control means ( 8 ) mounted in the said body ( 3 ) for automatically inserting and removing them into and from the said holes ( 204 ), and the said upper walls ( 205 ) being provided with rear hook means ( 203 ) for attaching the tool ( 2 ) to pins ( 4 ).  
     
     
         2 . Coupling device according to    claim 1   , characterized in that the said control means comprise at least one cylinder ( 8 ) in which one or two pistons ( 9 ) slide in opposite directions, the said cylinder ( 8 ) being provided with admission holes ( 804 ,  805 ,  806 ) for a fluid for operating the said pistons ( 9 ), the pistons ( 9 ) projecting from the end walls ( 801 ) of the cylinder and being connected by suitable means ( 10 ,  11 ,  12 , 13 ) to the said second pins ( 7 ).  
     
     
         3 . Coupling device according to    claim 2   , characterized in that the said second pins ( 7 ) comprise mechanical means ( 14 ,  25 ,  32 ) for locking them if necessary in their holes ( 204 ) in the tool ( 2 ).  
     
     
         4 . Coupling device according to    claim 3   , characterized in that the said locking means are elastic means ( 14 ,  25 ,  32 ).  
     
     
         5 . Coupling device according to    claim 3   , characterized in that the body ( 3 ) comprises a set of supports ( 17 ) for the cylinder ( 8 ), and a first end of a spring ( 14 ) is attached to each of these supports, the second end of each spring being attached to a flange ( 15 ) connected to the respective pin ( 7 ), the said springs ( 14 ) being positioned parallel to the said side wall ( 803 ) of the cylinder ( 8 ).  
     
     
         6 . Coupling device according to    claim 5   , characterized in that the said first ends of the springs ( 14 ) are mounted inside sleeves ( 16 ) attached to the said supports ( 17 ) provided in the body ( 3 ) of the device.  
     
     
         7 . Coupling device according to    claim 5   , characterized in that the said supports ( 17 ) comprise a bolt ( 22 ) for adjusting the tension of the spring ( 14 ), a more inward end of the said bolt ( 22 ) being inserted in a corresponding tapped hole provided in each of the said supports ( 17 ) and a more outward end of the said bolt ( 22 ) being attached to a support ( 18 ) for the said first end of the spring ( 14 ).  
     
     
         8 . Coupling device according to    claim 7   , characterized in that the said support is in the form of a cup ( 18 ) in which the said first end of the spring ( 14 ) is inserted and onto which is fitted a sleeve ( 19 ), the said second end of the spring ( 14 ) being inserted into a jacket ( 24 ) attached to an inner side of the flange ( 15 ).  
     
     
         9 . Coupling device according to    claim 3   , characterized in that a set of springs ( 25 ) arranged around the cylinder ( 8 ) and parallel with its side wall ( 803 ) are attached between the flanges ( 15 ) connected to the pins ( 7 ).  
     
     
         10 . Coupling device according to    claim 9   , characterized in that the said springs ( 25 ) comprise, for adjusting their tension, bolts ( 27 ) connected to the said flanges ( 15 ) and to supports ( 26 ) for the said springs ( 15 ).  
     
     
         11 . Coupling device according to    claim 9   , characterized in that the said springs ( 25 ) are fully enclosed in a jacket ( 30 ) and in a sleeve ( 29 ) that moves telescopically inside the said jacket ( 30 ), the said jacket ( 30 ) being attached to a respective flange ( 15 ) and the said sleeve ( 29 ) being connected to the said support ( 26 ) of each spring ( 25 ).  
     
     
         12 . Coupling device according to    claim 1   , characterized in that the said pin ( 7 ) consists of a more inward cylindrical part ( 701 ) and a more outward part ( 702 ) on which a bevel is formed, the said bevel being designed to mate with a corresponding flat ( 206 ) formed in the insertion hole ( 204 ) situated on the upper wall ( 205 ) of the tool ( 2 ).  
     
     
         13 . Coupling device according to    claim 7   , characterized in that the piston ( 9 ) comprises a rod ( 10 ) on whose more outward end is a disc ( 11 ) designed to be inserted between two suitably shaped plates ( 12 ) connected to the flange ( 15 ), the said disc ( 11 ) and the said plates ( 12 ) being clamped together by a rod ( 13 ) or pin.  
     
     
         14 . Coupling device according to    claim 4   , characterized in that the said elastic means consist of one or more springs ( 32 ) coaxial with the pin ( 7 ) and housed at one end in a seat ( 703 ) running in from the more inward end of the pin ( 7 ) and at the other end in the base of a cup ( 31 ) that slides in the said seat ( 703 ) and is integral with a respective piston ( 9 ) moving inside the cylinder ( 8 ).  
     
     
         15 . Coupling device according to    claim 14   , characterized in that coaxially with the said spring ( 32 ) inside the pin ( 7 ) is a bolt ( 33 ) comprising a threaded portion ( 34 ) and a head ( 35 ) of larger cross section, the said bolt ( 33 ) engaging in holes ( 37 ,  36 ) formed respectively in the base of the cup ( 31 ) and on the more outward end of the rod ( 10 ) of the piston ( 9 ), and the head ( 35 ) of the bolt ( 33 ) sliding in a first hole ( 704 ) running in from the more outward end of the pin ( 7 ), the head ( 35 ) abutting against the walls of a second hole ( 705 ) of smaller cross section coaxial with the said first hole ( 704 ).  
     
     
         16 . Coupling device according to    claim 1   , characterized in that it comprises a lower plate ( 307 ) attached to the two side walls ( 306 ) or plates and shaped in such a way so as to rest on at least one suitably shaped stop ( 207 ) on the tool ( 2 ).  
     
     
         17 . Coupling device according to    claim 1   , characterized in that the said side plates ( 3 ) comprise at the front a strengthening member ( 305 ) running transversely to these plates.