Coupling assembly and method of hydraulically coupling to a tool

Abstract

A method of coupling a tool to a work machine including inserting a front lug of a coupling assembly into a front recess on the tool, inserting a rear lug of the coupling assembly into a rear recess on the tool, moving a retaining member of the coupler assembly to a retaining position relative to the tool to releasably mount the tool to the work machine, while simultaneously preventing movement of a hydraulic coupling manifold on the coupling assembly from moving; and moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to a coupling position with a hydraulic power transmission coupling on the tool to hydraulically couple the tool to the work machine in response to the retaining member reaching the retaining position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of coupling a tool to a work machine, the method comprising:
 inserting a front lug of a coupling assembly into a front recess on the tool;   inserting a rear lug of the coupling assembly into a rear recess on the tool;   moving a retaining member of the coupler assembly to a retaining position relative to the tool to releasably mount the tool to the work machine, while simultaneously preventing movement of a hydraulic coupling manifold on the coupling assembly from moving; and   moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to a coupling position with a hydraulic power transmission coupling on the tool to hydraulically couple the tool to the work machine in response to the retaining member reaching the retaining position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to the coupling position comprises actuating a manifold actuator mounted within the hydraulic coupling manifold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein preventing movement of the hydraulic coupling manifold comprises restricting flow of pressurized fluid to the manifold actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein preventing movement of a hydraulic coupling manifold comprises preventing flow of pressurized fluid to the manifold actuator until a hydraulic pressure threshold is exceeded. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member moves to the retaining position in a direction opposite of the direction that the hydraulic coupling manifold moves to the coupling position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to the coupling position further comprises guiding movement of the hydraulic coupling manifold with an actuator on the coupling assembly configured to move the retaining member. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein guiding movement of the hydraulic coupling manifold with an actuator on the coupling assembly further comprising extending the actuator through a passage on the hydraulic coupling manifold. 
     
     
         8 . A method of decoupling a tool from a work machine, the method comprising:
 moving a hydraulic coupling manifold on a coupling assembly from a coupling position in which the tool is hydraulically coupled to the work machine to a decoupling position in which the tool is hydraulically decoupled from the tool; and   moving a retaining member on the coupling assembly to a release position in response to the hydraulic coupling manifold reaching the decoupling position.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sensing that the hydraulic coupling manifold has reached the decoupling position by displacing an actuating member associated with a control valve. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising moving the control valve in conjunction with moving the hydraulic coupling manifold. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein displacing an actuating member associated with the control valve further compromises the actuating member contacting a fixed contact surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling assembly includes one or more actuators configured to move the retaining member to a release position, and wherein the control valve prevents the flow of pressurized fluid to the one or more actuators unless the hydraulic coupling manifold is in the decoupling position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to the decoupling position further comprises guiding movement of the hydraulic coupling manifold with one or more actuators on the coupling assembly configured to move the retaining member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to the decoupling position comprises actuating a manifold actuator mounted within the hydraulic coupling manifold. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining member moves to the release position in a direction opposite of the direction that the hydraulic coupling manifold moves to the decoupling position.