Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Guide and support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-15
2001-03-06
Arola, Dave W. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Guide and support
C285S920000, C037S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196595
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coupling device for coupling a working implement to a working machine and having at least two coupling parts mutually connected both mechanically and hydraulically with no manual handling of the coupling arrangement. An implement of this kind, e.g. a so-called combi-bucket, is normally coupled to a working machine with the aid of a coupling arrangement that is designed to enable coupling of the implement to be achieved from the operating cabin of the working machine, so that the operator need not leave the cabin to couple the implement manually. The implement is normally maneuvered with the aid of pressure fluid, normally an hydraulic fluid. Thus, it is not only the implement that shall be coupled mechanically, but also the hydraulic lines. Quick coupling devices with which implements can be connected both mechanically and hydraulically without manual assistance are known to the art; cf., for instance, SE-443 437, SE-467 742 and SE-463 319.
When mechanically coupling the implement to the machine, the respective implement-mounted and machine-mounted coupling devices engage one within the other. A relatively large clearance of about 20 mm is required, to facilitate coupling of the implement. Such a large clearance cannot be accepted when quick-coupling the hydraulic couplings automatically, and consequently the clearance must be eliminated or at least limited in some way or the other. One possibility in this regard is to weld guide shoulders on one of the coupling parts. This solution, however, makes quick-coupling of the implement difficult to achieve, since the operator must position the coupling parts very precisely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling arrangement that will enable the coupling parts for the operating fluid to be mutually coupled effectively and reliably without placing high demands on the mechanical precision at which the coupling parts are presented to one another.
This has been achieved in accordance with the invention with a coupling arrangement herein described.
Because the fluid coupling devices on the implement-mounted coupling part are resilient in the coupling direction, said devices, when no load acts on the spring, may be orientated in a position in which there is no risk of the mechanical machine-mounted coupling parts striking against the implement-mounted fluid coupling parts when mechanically coupling said coupling parts, even when there exists a clearance in the order of 20 mm. In conjunction with coupling the hydraulics, the implement-mounted fluid coupling device is moved to its correct position against the action of the spring by said maneuvering movement, wherein the implement-mounted fluid coupling is pressed in said position into abutment with a surface on the machine-mounted coupling part. This ensures a rapid, positive and correct coupling, both mechanically and hydraulically, without requiring the operator to leave the driving cabin of the machine.
Resilient or sprung hydraulic coupling arrangements are known in the art. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,703 discloses an hydraulic coupling in which one part is resiliently mounted. This part is resilient only in a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction, for the purpose of compensating for the case when the coupling elements are not in register with one another. WO 90/10544 teaches an hydraulic coupling arrangement in which one coupling part is resilient in the coupling direction. The sole purpose of this arrangement is to provide a smooth coupling action. No direct movement of the resiliently mounted coupling element from a first to a second distinct position is achieved with this arrangement.
A simple and effective embodiment is obtained when resiliency is achieved with a mechanical spring, preferably a compression spring.
An optimal distance of resilient or spring movement is in the order of 20-50 mm, preferably 30-40 mm.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention is applied to a coupling arrangement with which the hydraulic coupling connections of the machine-mounted coupling part are disposed directly opposite and move outwards towards inwardly facing connections on the implement-carried part when effecting said coupling.
In another preferred embodiment, the hydraulic coupling connections of one or both parts are movable along guide bars.
The above preferred embodiments and other preferred embodiments of the invention will be evident from the following dependent claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3527480 (1970-09-01), Larson
patent: 3705656 (1972-12-01), Hunger et al.
patent: 3750703 (1973-08-01), Arita
patent: 5316347 (1994-05-01), Arosio
patent: 5333400 (1994-08-01), Sonerud
patent: 5465513 (1995-11-01), Sonerud
patent: 5581917 (1996-12-01), Barden
patent: 390715 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 443 437 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 463 319 (1990-11-01), None
patent: 467 742 (1992-09-01), None
Arola Dave W.
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Soneruds Maskin AB
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