Apparatus for connection of an implement to machinery

Abstract

Apparatus for connecting an implement ( 5 ) to an arm assembly of machinery, the implement ( 5 ) having first and second pin support plates ( 4, 6 ) each having first opposed apertures ( 9. 10 ) and second opposed apertures ( 11, 13 ). The apparatus includes a first pin and bush assembly ( 2 ) having a pin ( 28 ) and two pairs of bushes ( 32, 34 ) and ( 36, 38 ) for engagement with the pin ( 28 ), The pin ( 28 ) extends through the first opposed apertures ( 9, 10 ) and through eccentric apertures in each pair of bushes ( 32, 34 ), ( 36, 38 ) with the pair of bushes ( 32, 34 ) abutting respective sides of the first pin support plate ( 4 ) and the other pair of bushes ( 36, 38 ) abutting respective sides of the second pin support plate ( 6 ) The first pin and bush assembly ( 2 ) is moveable to adjust the spatial separation between the pin ( 28 ) and a second pin ( 40 ) located between the second opposed apertures ( 11, 13 ) and the length of pin ( 28 ) between inner bushes ( 34, 36 ) is varied to accommodate the dimensions of a pin engagement portion of the arm assembly.

1 . Apparatus for connecting an implement to an arm assembly of machinery, the implement having a first pin support plate spaced apart from a second pin support plate, each pin support plate having a pair of apertures, the apertures being located to provide first opposed apertures and second opposed apertures facing across a space between the first and second pin support plates, the apparatus comprising:
 a first pin and bush assembly including a pin and two pairs of bushes adapted to cooperate with the pin, the pin extendable through each pair of bushes and through the first opposed apertures of the first and second pin support plates;   wherein one pair of bushes engages the first pin support plate and the other pair of bushes engages the second pin support plate such that a pair of inner bushes is defined on the pin with respect to the first and second pin support plates; and   each bush in said two pairs of bushes having an eccentric aperture for receiving the pin such that the pin and bush assembly is moveable to adjust the spatial separation between the pin and a second pin located between the second opposed apertures of the first and second pin support plates, and the length of the pin between the inner bushes is varied to accommodate the dimensions of a pin engagement portion of the arm assembly of machinery.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  further including a second pin and bush assembly having the second pin and a pair of bushes adapted to cooperate with the second pin, the second pin extendable through the pair of bushes of the second pin and bush assembly and through the second opposed apertures of the first and second pin support plates. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein one of the bushes in said pair of bushes of said second pin and bush assembly engages with the first pin support plate and the other bush in said pair of bushes of said second pin and bush assembly engages with the second pin support plate. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the second pin and bush assembly has two pairs of bushes adapted to cooperate with the second pin, wherein one pair of bushes engages the first pin support plate and the second pair of bushes engages the second pin support plate such that a pair of inner bushes is defined on the second pin and with respect to each of the first and second pin support plates, such that the length of the second pin between the inner bushes of the second pin and bush assembly is variable to accommodate the dimensions of a pin engagement portion of the arm assembly of machinery. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein each bush has identical eccentric apertures. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the pin has at one end a mounting flange to enable the pin to be affixed to either the first pin support plate or to the second pin support plate. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the second pin has at one end a mounting flange to enable the second pin to be affixed to either the first pin support plate or to the second pin support plate. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the mounting flange of the pin is mountable to the respective pin support plate through one of the bushes of said first pin and bush assembly. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the mounting flange of the second pin is mountable to the respective pin support plate through one of the bushes of said second pin and bush assembly. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a mounting disc is provided on each of the first and second pin support plate either side of each aperture of the first opposed apertures and the second opposed apertures in the first and second pin support plates and wherein further a respective bush is mountable to a corresponding mounting disc. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the bushes has a flange, a portion of the flange positioned in use within a respective aperture of the first and second pin support plates. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pin and bush assembly is rotatable to adjust the spatial separation of the pin and the second pin and is mountable to each of the pin support plates in any one of a number of predetermined rotational positions. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second pin and bush assembly is rotatable to adjust the spatial separation of the pin and second pin and is mountable to each of the pin support plates in any one of a number of predetermined rotational positions. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein either or both of the pin and the second pin have a mid-section formed between a first end section and a second end section, the first and second end sections having the same diameter and larger than the diameter of the mid-section, such that only the mid-section is exposed to the pin engagement portion of the arm assembly. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein either or both of the pin and the second pin are heat treated to increase the hardness of either or both the pin and second pin and thereby increase resistance to damage from engagement with the pin engagement portion of the arm assembly. 
     
     
         16 . An implement connectable to one of a plurality of machine arm assemblies using the apparatus of  claim 1  coupled to the spaced apart first and second pin support plates of the implement. 
     
     
         17 . A method of connecting an implement to an arm assembly of machinery, the implement having a first pin support plate spaced apart from a second pin support plate, each pin support plate having a pair of apertures defining first opposed apertures and second opposed apertures facing across a space between the first and second pin support plates, the method comprising:
 providing a first pin and bush assembly including a pin and two pairs of bushes adapted to cooperate with the pin;   wherein one pair of the bushes engages the first pin support plate and the other pair of bushes engages the second pin support plate such that a pair of inner bushes is defined on the pin with respect to the first and second pin support plates;   wherein further the length of the pin between the inner bushes is varied to accommodate the dimensions of a pin engagement portion of the arm assembly;   positioning the pin through each pair of bushes and through the first opposed apertures of the first and second pin support plates;   providing a second pin and positioning the second pin through the second opposed apertures of the pin support plates;   providing eccentric apertures in each bush of the pairs of bushes;   rotating the bushes with the eccentric apertures so as to adjust the spatial separation between the pin and the second pin;   affixing the pin and second pin to the first and second pin support plates; and   engaging the pin engagement portion of the arm assembly with the implement through the pin and second pin.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  further including the step of providing a second pin and bush assembly having the second pin and a pair of bushes adapted to cooperate with the second pin, the second pin extendable through the pair of bushes of the second pin and bush assembly and through the second opposed apertures of the first and second pin support plates. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  including the steps of engaging one of the bushes in said pair of bushes of said second pin and bush assembly with the first pin support plate and engaging the other bush in said pair of bushes of said second pin and bush assembly with the second pin support plate. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  including the step of providing the second pin and bush assembly with two pairs of bushes adapted to cooperate with the second pin, such that one pair of bushes engages the first pin support plate and the second pair of bushes engages the second pin support plate wherein a pair of inner bushes is defined on the second pin with respect to each of the first and second pin support plates, and the length of the second pin between the inner bushes of the second pin and bush assembly is variable to accommodate the dimensions of a pin engagement portion of the arm assembly of machinery.