Quick Tool Coupler System

Abstract

A quick tool coupler system includes a tool coupler associated with a work machine and a coupler interface associated with a work tool. The coupler interface includes first and second coupler hooks to hook to a frame beam of the tool coupler and first and second wedge pockets that can receive hydraulically actuated movable wedges on the tool coupler. To determine if the work tool is attached correctly to the tool coupler, first and second pressure data sets are obtained from the first and second hydraulic actuators respectively and compared to a control model data set.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tool coupler system for a work machine comprising:
 a work tool including a coupler interface having a first coupler hook and second coupler hook and having a first wedge pocket and a second wedge pocket located below the first coupler hook and the second coupler hook;   a tool coupler including a coupler frame having frame beam and a base assembly located below the frame beam, the tool coupler further including a first wedge mechanism having a first movable wedge and operatively associated with a first hydraulic actuator; and   a coupling monitoring system including an electronic controller, a fluid pressure sensor associated with the first hydraulic actuator, the electronic controller configured to receive a pressure data set from the fluid pressure sensor and to compare the pressure data set with a control model data set to determine if the work tool is attached to the tool coupler.   
     
     
         2 . The tool coupler system of  claims 1 , wherein the fluid pressure sensor is a first fluid pressure sensor associated with the first hydraulic actuator and providing a first pressure data set, and the coupling monitoring system includes a second fluid pressure sensor associated with a second hydraulic actuator associated with a second wedge mechanism having a second movable wedge, the second fluid pressure sensor providing a second pressure data set to compare with the control model data set to determine if the work tool is attached to the quick tool coupler. 
     
     
         3 . The tool coupler system of  claim 2 , wherein the first pressure data set and the second pressure data set each include a plurality of fluid pressure datum made with respect to time. 
     
     
         4 . The tool coupler system of  claim 3 , wherein the first pressure data set, the second pressure data, and the control data set are portioned into a plurality of attachment segments. 
     
     
         5 . The tool coupler system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of attachment segments include a wedge travel segment associated with movement of the first and second movable wedges, an alignment segment associated with sliding contact between the first and second movable wedges and the first and second wedge pockets respectively, and a loading segment associated with application of clamping forces between the first and second movable wedges and the first and second wedge pockets respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The tool coupler system of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling monitoring system is further configured to plot a first measurement curve based on the first pressure data set, a second measurement curve based on the second pressure data set, and a control model curve based on the control data set. 
     
     
         7 . The tool coupler system of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling monitoring system is configured to compare the first measurement curve, the second measurement curve, and the control model curve in determining if the work tool is attached to the tool coupler. 
     
     
         8 . The quick coupler system of  claim 7 , wherein the coupling monitoring system is configured to apply logic approximation rules to approximately match the first measurement curve and the second measurement curve to the control model curve. 
     
     
         9 . The tool coupler system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second pressure sensors are disposed in hydraulic fluid lines fluidly connected to the first and second hydraulic actuators respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The tool coupler system of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling monitoring system is configured to issue an alert if the work tool is determined to not be attached correctly to the tool coupler. 
     
     
         11 . A method of attaching a work tool having coupler interface to tool coupler on a work machine comprising:
 receiving a pressure data set from a hydraulic actuator displacing a moveable wedge on the tool coupler to engage a wedge pocket on the coupler interface;   comparing the first pressure data set and the second pressure data set with a control model data set; and   determining if the work tool is attached to the work machine based on the step of comparing the pressure data set with the control model data set.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure data set is a first pressure data set from a first hydraulic actuator displacing a first movable wedge to engage a first wedge pocket, the method further comprising:
 receiving a second pressure data set from a second hydraulic actuator displacing a second moveable wedge on the tool coupler to engage a second wedge pocket on the coupler interface; and   comparing the second pressure data set with the first pressure data set and the control model data set to determine if the work tool is attached to the work machine.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first pressure data set, the second pressure data set, and the control model data set each include a plurality of fluid pressure datum made with respect to time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising partitioning the first pressure data set, the second pressure data, and the control data set are portioned into a plurality of attachment segments. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of attachment segments include a wedge travel segment, an alignment segment, and a loading segment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising plotting a first measurement curve based on the first pressure data set, a second measurement curve based on the second pressure data set, and control model curve based on the control model data set. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising comparing the first measurement curve, the second measurement curve, and the control model curve in determining if the work tool is attached to the tool coupler. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising applying logic approximation rules to approximate the first pressure curve and the second pressure curve with control model curve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising issuing an alert if the work tool is determined not to be attached correctly to the tool coupler. 
     
     
         20 . A coupling monitoring system configured as a computer readable program to be executed by an electronic controller associated with a work machine, the coupling monitoring system comprising:
 a data gathering operation receiving:
 a first pressure data set about a first hydraulic actuator displacing a first movable wedge with respect to a first wedge pocket on a work tool; 
 a second pressure data set about a second hydraulic actuator displacing a second movable wedge with respect to a second wedge pocket on the work tool; 
   a comparison operation configured to compare the first pressure data set and the second pressure data set with a control model data set to determine if the first and second movable wedges are received correctly in the first and second wedge pockets respectively;   wherein the first pressure data set, the second pressure data set, and the control model data set include a plurality of pressure datum with respect to time.