COUPLING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling device for simultaneously coupling and decoupling a number of coupling pairs, which coupling device includes:—a number of coupling pairs, each having a first coupling part and a second coupling part;—a first mounting frame on which the first coupling parts of the number of coupling pairs are arranged;—a second mounting frame arranged parallel to the first mounting frame, wherein the second coupling parts of the number of coupling pairs are arranged to the second mounting frame, and wherein the second mounting frame is movable towards to and away from the first mounting frame between a connected position, in which each first coupling part is connected with the corresponding second coupling part, and a disconnected position;—guiding mechanism arranged to the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame for guiding the movement between the connected and disconnected position;—at least one rack and pinion drive arranged between the first and second mounting frame, wherein the pinion is arranged on a shaft rotatable arranged in the first mounting frame and wherein the rack extends from the second mounting frame in the direction of movement of said second mounting frame into the first mounting frame along the pinion; wherein the shaft extends with at least one end out of the first mounting frame and wherein an operating lever is arranged on the shaft.

Claims

1. A coupling device for simultaneously coupling and decoupling a number of coupling pairs, which coupling device comprises: a number of coupling pairs, each having a first coupling part and a second coupling part; a first mounting frame on which the first coupling parts of the number of coupling pairs are arranged; a second mounting frame arranged parallel to the first mounting frame, wherein the second coupling parts of the number of coupling pairs are arranged to the second mounting frame, and wherein the second mounting frame is movable towards to and away from the first mounting frame between a connected position, in which each first coupling part is connected with the corresponding second coupling part, and a disconnected position; wherein at least one rack and pinion drive arranged between the first and second mounting frame, wherein the pinion is arranged on a shaft rotatable arranged in the first mounting frame and wherein the rack extends from the second mounting frame in the direction of movement of said second mounting frame into the first mounting frame along the pinion; wherein the shaft extends with at least one end out of the first mounting frame and wherein an operating lever is arranged on the shaft.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1, further comprising guiding means arranged to the first mounting frame and the second mounting frame for guiding the movement between the connected and disconnected position.

3. The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein the guiding means comprise at least one, preferably at least two guide pins extending from the second mounting frame and at least one, preferably at least two corresponding guide holes arranged in the first mounting frame.

4. The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the guiding means are further embodied by the at least one rack and a hole through hole arranged in the first mounting frame in which the corresponding pinion extends.

5. The coupling device according to claim 1, further comprising blocking means comprising a hole or groove arranged in the rack and a locking pin movable perpendicular to the movement of the at least one rack between a locking position, in which the locking pin engages in the hole or groove, and an unlocked position.

6. The coupling device according to claim 5, wherein the free end of the rack is wedge shaped and wherein the wedge shape is directed towards the locking pin for urging the locking pin towards the unlocked position.

7. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pinion comprises a toothed sector and a non-toothed sector and wherein the corresponding rack comprises a toothed zone and a recess arranged adjacent to the toothed zone, wherein the recess is congruent to the non-toothed sector of the pinion.

8. The coupling device according to claim 7, further comprising blocking means comprising a hole or groove arranged in the shaft and a locking pin movable perpendicular to the shaft between a locking position, in which the locking pin engages in the hole or groove, and an unlocked position.

9. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein a second end of the shaft extends out of the first mounting frame and wherein a second operating lever is arranged on the second end of the shaft.

10. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling pairs comprise hydraulic quick connect shut-off couplings and/or the coupling pairs comprise electrical connectors.

11. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting frames are substantially plate shaped.

12. The coupling device according to claim 2, further comprising blocking means comprising a hole or groove arranged in the rack and a locking pin movable perpendicular to the movement of the at least one rack between a locking position, in which the locking pin engages in the hole or groove, and an unlocked position.

13. The coupling device according to claim 3, further comprising blocking means comprising a hole or groove arranged in the rack and a locking pin movable perpendicular to the movement of the at least one rack between a locking position, in which the locking pin engages in the hole or groove, and an unlocked position.

14. The coupling device according to claim 4, further comprising blocking means comprising a hole or groove arranged in the rack and a locking pin movable perpendicular to the movement of the at least one rack between a locking position, in which the locking pin engages in the hole or groove, and an unlocked position.

15. The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one pinion comprises a toothed sector and a non-toothed sector and wherein the corresponding rack comprises a toothed zone and a recess arranged adjacent to the toothed zone, wherein the recess is congruent to the non-toothed sector of the pinion.

16. The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one pinion comprises a toothed sector and a non-toothed sector and wherein the corresponding rack comprises a toothed zone and a recess arranged adjacent to the toothed zone, wherein the recess is congruent to the non-toothed sector of the pinion.

17. The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one pinion comprises a toothed sector and a non-toothed sector and wherein the corresponding rack comprises a toothed zone and a recess arranged adjacent to the toothed zone, wherein the recess is congruent to the non-toothed sector of the pinion.

18. The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein a second end of the shaft extends out of the first mounting frame and wherein a second operating lever is arranged on the second end of the shaft.

19. The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein a second end of the shaft extends out of the first mounting frame and wherein a second operating lever is arranged on the second end of the shaft.

20. The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein a second end of the shaft extends out of the first mounting frame and wherein a second operating lever is arranged on the second end of the shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the coupling device according to FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the coupling device according to FIG. 1 in disconnected position.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the coupling device according to FIG. 1 in connected position.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a second embodiment according to the invention in disconnected position.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in connected position.

[0038] FIG. 7-10 show details of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a coupling device 1 according to the invention.

[0040] The coupling device 1 has a first mounting frame 2 and a second mounting frame 3 arranged parallel to the first mounting frame 2.

[0041] A number of first coupling parts 4 of a hydraulic coupling pair, such as a quick disconnect coupling, are arranged in the first mounting frame 2. The corresponding second coupling parts 5 of the hydraulic coupling pair are arranged in the second mounting frame 2.

[0042] As shown in detail in FIG. 7, the second hydraulic coupling parts 4 are mounted in the second mounting frame 3 and locked by a nut 40, which is accommodated in a recess 41 in the second mounting frame 3. With the nut 40, the second hydraulic coupling parts 4 can be removed for servicing.

[0043] FIG. 10 shows a detail of the first coupling parts 4 arranged in the first mounting frame 2. The first coupling part 4 is provided with a semi circular slot 42, which corresponds with a semi circular slot 43 in the first mounting frame 2. By aligning both semi circular slots 42, 43 to a full circular slot, the first coupling part 4 can be locked for rotation during servicing by inserting a pin into the full circular slot 43, 43.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second mounting frame 3 is provided with guide pins 6, which are guided in guide holes 7.

[0045] Racks 8, 9 are arranged to the second mounting frame 3 and extend into holes 10 in the first mounting frame 2. A pinion 11 extends into the hole 10. This pinion 11 is arranged on a shaft 12, which is operated by a lever 13 arranged on both ends of the shaft 12.

[0046] As show in FIG. 8, a pin slot 44 is provided to align the rack 8 with the second mounting frame 3. The pin slot 44 is a circular slot with a cylindrical pin arranged in said slot. Due to the overlap of this slot between the rack 8 and the second mounting frame 3, the alignment of the rack 8 is ensured.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a detail of the shaft 12. The shaft 12 is provided with an indent 45, in which a spring force urged pin 46 extends. Due to the spherical end 47 of the pin 46 and the suitably shaped indent 45, it is possible to move the shaft 12 out of the locked position by applying a small additional force. This spring force urged pin 46 thus provides for a recognizable position of the shaft, while providing the ability to freely rotate the shaft and the attached lever 13.

[0048] A locking pin 14 arranged on a control rod 15 is arranged perpendicular to the rack 8 in the first mounting frame 2. The rack 8 has a toothed portion 16, which cooperates with the pinion 11, and a hole or groove 17 in which the locking pin 14 can be seated.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows the coupling device 1 in the connected position, wherein the second mounting frame 3 is moved toward the first mounting frame 2 and is guided by the guide pins 6 and the rack 8 arranged in the hole 10. This movement is caused by the rotation of the shaft 12, which drives the pinion 11 and causes a translation of the rack 8 by the engagement of the toothed portion 16.

[0050] In this connected position of the first and second mounting frame 2, 3, the locking pin 14 is seated in the hole or groove 17 of the rack 8 to prevent unintentional movement of the first and second mounting frame 2, 3 towards the disconnected position. When it is desired to rotate the shaft 12, such that the second mounting frame 3 moves to the disconnected position, the locking pin 14 is pulled out of the hole or groove 17 by the control rod 15, after which the shaft 12 can be rotated and the first and second mounting frame 2, 3 can move to the disconnected position.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a coupling device 20 according to the invention. The coupling device 20 has a first mounting frame 21 and a second mounting frame 22. The first and second mounting frame 21, 22 are guided by the rack 25 and hole 26.

[0052] The rack 25 has a toothed zone 27 and a recess 28. The rack cooperates with the pinion 29, 30, which is arranged on a shaft 31 operable by a lever (not show). The pinion 29, 30 has a toothed sector 29 and a non-toothed sector 30.

[0053] When the shaft 31 is rotated, the teeth of the toothed sector 29 will engage with the toothed zone 28 of the rack and will pull the second mounting frame 22 towards first mounting frame 21 and into a connected position (see FIG. 6.)

[0054] When the first and second mounting frame 21, 22 are in the connected position, the shaft 31 can be rotated further, such that the non-toothed sector 30 is accommodated into the recess 28 of the rack 25 and ensures that the rack 25 cannot move without intentional rotation of the shaft 31 and pinion 29, 30.

[0055] While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.