Quick-release fastener for construction machinery

Abstract

A device forming a coupler includes a coupler, or quick-release fastener, for attachment to a construction machine, such as a mechanical shovel; a connection device for attachment to a tool, such as a bucket; coupling means to couple the quick-release fastener to the connection device; and locking means to lock the coupling. The connection device includes at least one trunnion and preferably two trunnions parallel with one another, the coupler including a bottom body defining a rear receiving cavity for at least one of the trunnions, characterised in that the coupler includes a lever mounted to pivot between a closed position holding one of the trunnions in the rear receiving cavity and an open position in which it does not hold the trunnion, the locking means being arranged to block or prevent rotation of the lever in the closed position.

1 . A device forming a coupler comprising a coupler, or quick-release fastener ( 1 ), which is intended to be attached to a construction machine, such as a mechanical shovel, a connection device ( 2 ), which is intended to be attached to a tool, such as a bucket ( 3 ), coupling means intended to couple the quick-release fastener ( 1 ) to the connection device ( 2 ) and locking means intended to lock the coupling; the connection device ( 2 ) comprising at least one trunnion ( 5 ); the coupler comprising a bottom body in which a rear receiving cavity ( 300 ) for the trunnion ( 5 ) is defined, characterised in that it comprises a lever ( 103 ) mounted such that it pivots between a closed position in which it holds the trunnion ( 5 ) in the rear receiving cavity ( 300 ) and an open position in which it does not hold the trunnion ( 5 ), the locking means being arranged such as to block or prevent rotation of the lever ( 103 ) in the closed position, the lever ( 103 ) being mounted such that it is mobile in translation, in particular in the horizontal direction from the front side to the rear side, the locking means being arranged such that they push the lever ( 103 ) in a translation movement to move it into a closed position, in particular to the blocked state. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the rotating axle ( 104 ) of the lever is received in at least one oblong through window ( 109 ), in particular two through windows formed in the respective lateral flanks ( 102 ) of the bottom body. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the locking means comprise at least one spring ( 400 ), in particular two springs, which is/are attached on the one hand to the body of the coupler, in particular a rear part ( 113 ) of the body of the coupler, and on the other hand to a front end part ( 111 ) of the lever ( 103 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the or each spring ( 400 ) is a tension spring which is intended to draw the lever ( 103 ) backwards. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the lever ( 103 ) comprises at least one upper branch ( 105 ), in particular two left and right lateral upper branches, and at least one lower branch ( 106 ), in particular two left and right lateral lower branches, which extend towards the rear from the axle ( 104 ) of the lever, the or each upper branch ( 105 ) extending further towards the rear than the or each lower branch ( 106 ), each pair of lower and upper branches, left and right respectively, defining a respective C-shaped cavity, in particular with an opening facing rearwards, in which the trunnion ( 5 ) is received in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the lever ( 103 ) comprises at least one front branch ( 107 ), in particular two front right and left branches, extending towards the front from the axle ( 104 ) of the lever, the or each branch being composed of a proximal portion ( 108 ) followed by a distal portion ( 111 ), which extends in an inclined manner in relation to the proximal portion ( 108 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the front branch or each front branch pass though a respective through opening, in particular two respective left and right openings, of the bottom body to emerge from the upper surface of the bottom body, the front end or each front end of the distal portion or each distal portion being attached to a front end of a respective spring, while the other end of the spring or each spring is attached to a respective stud originating from the upper face of the bottom body, in particular substantially in the region of the upper rear edge of the bottom body. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the locking means comprise a lug ( 502 ) mounted on an upper rear end of the lever ( 103 ), in particular by being pivoted with respect to said lever, particularly in the region of a rear end of the upper rear branch ( 105 ) or rear ends of the upper rear branches. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the lug ( 502 ), comprises, on either side of its pivot axle ( 503 ), a rear part ( 506 ) and a front part ( 507 ), the front part ( 507 ) having smaller dimensions than the rear part ( 506 ), and thus a lower weight, such that the lug ( 502 ), under the effect of its own weight, tends to swing in a direction such as to cause its rear part to fall downwards. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that a torsion spring ( 505 ) is mounted such as to act on the lug ( 502 ), in particular such as to load the rear part ( 506 ) downwards. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the locking means comprise a rear plate ( 500 ) forming a stop mounted on a rear end of the coupler such that, in the blocked closed position of the lever, part of the lever ( 103 ) abuts against the rear plate ( 500 ) and is thus prevented from moving forwards. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that a tooth ( 509 ) projects downwards from the rear part of the lever ( 103 ), in particular of the lug ( 502 ), a notch ( 501 ) being formed in the upper edge of the rear plate ( 500 ) on the rear side of the plate, and in the blocked closed position, the tooth ( 509 ) is received in the notch ( 501 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the rear receiving cavity ( 300 ) is open towards the bottom. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the coupling means comprise at least one front hook ( 7 ), in particular two left and right lateral front hooks, protruding from the front of the bottom body and the connection device ( 2 ) comprises two trunnions ( 5 ,  6 ), one of which is intended to be received in the rear receiving cavity ( 300 ) and the other in a front receiving cavity ( 200 ) or cavities defined by the front hook ( 7 ) or hooks, the coupler, or quick-release fastener ( 1 ), comprising a base plate from which two lateral flanks ( 102 ) protrude downwards, each flank terminating on the front side with a respective hook ( 7 ). 
     
     
         15 . A construction machine comprising a lifting element, in particular a lifting arm, and a tool, in particular a bucket ( 3 ), and a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupler or quick-release fastener ( 1 ) is attached to the lifting element and the connection device ( 2 ) is attached to the tool.