Excavating – Combined or convertible – Having quick-connect coupling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-12
2001-05-22
Shackelford, H. (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Combined or convertible
Having quick-connect coupling
C414S723000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233852
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of earth moving machinery and more particularly to an adjustable coupler system for coupling a variety of earth moving buckets of different sizes and different manufacturers to a variety of sizes of hydraulic excavators.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Manufacturers of hydraulic excavator machines are notorious for constructing the connection end of the machine, called the stick or boom, such that only buckets specifically designed for that model of machine can be attached. As a result, distributors and users of the machines are forced to carry a large inventory of buckets in order to have buckets of varying sizes (widths and capacities) for each machine owned or leased. Such inventory is expensive and space consuming. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a mechanism that would allow different sizes and styles of buckets to be coupled to any one of a variety of hydraulic excavators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a coupler device for releasably interconnecting an excavating bucket having a pair of pins to an excavator apparatus. The coupler device includes a mounting plate, a means for connecting the mounting plate to the excavator pigging mechanism, and a means for connecting the mounting plate to the excavating bucket.
The means for connecting the mounting plate to the excavator apparatus in one embodiment includes a first pin and a second pin, and a first flange member and a second flange member spaced apart from the first flange member, wherein the first flange member and the second flange member are both attached to an upper surface of the mounting plate. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first flange member and the second flange member each contain two holes such that the first pin aligns with and passes through a first hole in the first flange member, then through corresponding holes in the excavator apparatus, then through a matching hole in the second flange member, while the second pin aligns with and passes through a second hole in the first flange member, then through corresponding holes in the excavator apparatus, then through a matching hole in the second flange member. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first flange member includes a third hole and the second flange member includes a third matching hole, wherein the third hole and the third matching hole are operable to receive the second pin. Adding a third hole to the flange members allows the coupler device to have a different spacing between the front and rear connection points for changing the effective leverage.
In another embodiment of the present invention the means for connecting the mounting plate to the excavator apparatus includes a first pin and a second pin, a first flange member and a second flange member spaced apart from the first flange member, wherein the first flange member and the second flange member are both attached to an upper surface of the mounting plate, and wherein the first flange member and the second flange member each include one hole such that the first pin aligns with and passes through the hole in the first flange member then through corresponding holes in the excavator apparatus, then through the hole in the second flange member, a slidable plate that is slidably attached to the mounting plate, and a third flange member and a fourth flange member spaced apart from the third flange member, wherein the third flange member and the fourth flange member are both attached to an upper surface of the slidable plate, and wherein the third flange member and the fourth flange member each include one hole such that the second pin aligns with and passes through the hole in the third flange member, then through corresponding holes in the excavator apparatus, then through the hole in the fourth flange member.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the means for connecting the mounting plate to the excavating bucket includes a forward-facing front hook that is attached to a lower surface of the mounting plate and is operable to engage a first of the pins on the excavating bucket, a slidable plate that is slidably attached to the mounting plate, a first side plate and a second side plate spaced apart from the first side plate, wherein the first side plate and the second side plate are both attached to a lower surface of the slidable plate and are formed with downward-facing U-shaped opening which are operable to engage a second pin on the excavating bucket, a forward-facing rear hook movably attached to the lower surface of the slidable plate, and a means for moving the rear hook with respect to the slidable plate so that the rear hook is operable to secure the second pin within the U-shaped openings.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the means for moving the rear hook includes a bolt support that is attached to the slidable plate and a bolt that is threaded through the bolt support and attached to the rear hook so that rotation of the bolt moves the rear hook axially of the slidable plate. The slidable plate may be moved axially along the mounting plate and, in one embodiment of the present invention, secured thereto using bolts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4810162 (1989-03-01), Foster
patent: 4881867 (1989-11-01), Essex et al.
patent: 5082389 (1992-01-01), Balemi
patent: 5179794 (1993-01-01), Ballinger
patent: 5350250 (1994-09-01), Nagler
patent: 5423625 (1995-06-01), Gebauer et al.
patent: 5456030 (1995-10-01), Barone et al.
patent: 5549440 (1996-08-01), Cholakon et al.
patent: 28407 (1993-01-01), None
Beusse, Esq. James H.
Holland & Knight LLP
Pemberton, Inc.
Shackelford H.
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