QUICK COUPLING HAVING A CENTERING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a quick coupling for coupling a tool to the boom of a working machines, comprising a quick coupling part at the boom side and a quick coupling part at the tool side that are latchable to one another via two spaced apart latching axles and an energy circuit coupling for the automatic coupling of an energy connector at the tool side and an energy connector at the boom side that comprises an energy coupling part at the boom side and an energy coupling part at the tool side that move toward one another by pivoting together about a first latching axle on an orbit and thereby automatically couple with one another. At least one of the energy coupling parts is movably supported. The energy circuit coupling comprises a linear guide that compensates the circular relative movement of the energy coupling parts on the pivoting together and guides them linearly toward one another.

Claims

1. A quick coupling for coupling a tool to a boom of a working machine, comprising: a quick coupling part at a boom side and a quick coupling part at a tool side; and an energy circuit coupling for an automatic coupling of an energy connector at the tool side to an energy connector at the boom side, wherein the quick coupling parts are reversibly latchable to one another via a pair of spaced apart latching axles; wherein the energy circuit coupling comprises an energy coupling part at the boom side and at the tool side that are arranged at the quick coupling parts such that they move toward one another and thereby automatically couple with one another by pivoting together of the quick coupling parts about a first latching axle on an orbit about the first latching axle; wherein at least one movable energy coupling part is pivotable about an axle in parallel with the first latching axle and is movably supported perpendicular thereto; and wherein the energy circuit coupling comprises a linear guide that is configured to compensate relative movement of the energy coupling parts occurring along an orbit on the pivoting together of the quick coupling parts in cooperation with a movable support of the energy coupling parts and to guide the energy coupling parts linearly with respect to one another during coupling, comprising a centering device by means of which the movable energy coupling part is holdable in a central position independently of its alignment and a movement of the movable energy coupling part relative to the quick coupling part fastened thereto is preventable in the absence of an external force, with the centering device being configured to enable a movement of the movable energy coupling part relative to the quick coupling part fastened thereto on the automatic coupling with the other energy coupling part due to an external force generated by a coupling procedure.

2. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the centering device comprises at least one centering element that is fixedly supported at the quick coupling part and holds the movable energy coupling part in the central position in a force transmitting and/or shape matched manner in the absence of an external force.

3. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 2, wherein the energy coupling part is supported at the quick coupling part via a spring device, that presses the movable energy coupling part against the centering element.

4. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 2, wherein the centering device has at least one holding element that is arranged at the movable energy coupling part and that is configured to cooperate with the at least one centering element in a force transmitting and/or shape matching manner.

5. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 4, wherein the holding element comprises a cutout in which the centering element is at least partially received in the central position.

6. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 5, wherein the cutout has at least one chamfer and/or rounded portion that cooperates with at least one chamfer and/or rounded portion of the centering element.

7. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cutout is designed in funnel shape at least along one direction, with the centering element being chamfered and/or rounded at least along just that direction.

8. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 5, wherein the cutout has a continuous recess.

9. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movable energy coupling part is supported at the quick coupling part fastened thereto via two spaced apart carrier elements.

10. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 9, wherein the centering element is configured in pin form and cooperates with a holding element, with the holding element being formed at or in a carrier block of the coupling part that substantially extends between the carrier elements and perpendicular thereto.

11. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 10, wherein the centering element is conical and is fastened to the carrier elements via narrower ends.

12. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 10, wherein at least four centering elements and at least four holding elements are provided, with each of the carrier elements having at least two respective centering elements of which one is connected to one of the carrier elements via a fixed support and the other via a loose support such that two respective centering elements form a fixed-loose arrangement.

13. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 12, wherein the energy connector of the movable energy coupling part is arranged on the side of the carrier block remote from the movable support at the quick coupling part and is configured such that, on the coupling with the other energy coupling part, a coupling with the other energy connector arranged thereat is automatically established to establish an energy circuit connection.

14. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movable energy coupling part is arranged at the quick coupling part of a tool, and is aligned such that the coupling of the energy coupling part communicated by the linear guide takes place along a substantially horizontal line.

15. A working machine, in particular a wheel loader, having a quick coupling part in accordance with claim 1.

16. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 7, wherein the centering element is configured in pin form.

17. The quick coupling in accordance with claim 9, wherein the two spaced apart carrier elements are arranged between the carrier elements, with each of the carrier elements having a centering element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0036] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention result from the embodiments explained in the following with reference to the Figures. There are shown:

[0037] FIG. 1: an embodiment of the movable energy coupling part of the quick coupling in accordance with the invention in a perspective view;

[0038] FIG. 2: two carrier elements for fastening the energy coupling part in accordance with FIG. 1 to a quick coupling part in a perspective view;

[0039] FIG. 3: the energy coupling part in accordance with FIG. 1 fastened to the carrier elements in accordance with FIG. 2 in a plan view;

[0040] FIG. 4: a frontal cross-sectional view of the device in accordance with FIG. 3 along the line AA:

[0041] FIG. 5: a lateral cross-sectional view of the device in accordance with FIG. 3 along the line BB; and

[0042] FIG. 6: an alternative embodiment of the movable energy coupling part of the quick coupling in accordance with the invention in a schematic side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The preferred embodiment of the quick coupling in accordance with the invention discussed in the following is substantially a quick coupling in accordance with EP 1 239 087 A1, with a centering device additionally being provided that will be described in detail in the following. Those elements and properties of the quick coupling in accordance with the invention that are not explicitly described in the following preferably correspond to one of the embodiments disclosed in EP 1 239 087 A1.

[0044] The quick coupling in accordance with the invention comprises a quick coupling part at the boom side and at the tool side that are reversibly latchable to one another via a pair of spaced apart parallel latching acles. The quick coupling has an energy circuit coupling comprising an energy coupling part at the tool side fastened to the quick coupling part at the tool side and an energy coupling part at the boom side fastened to the quick coupling part at the boom side. The energy coupling part at the tool side is movably supported at the quick coupling part via a spring device 16 and will be called a movable energy coupling part 10 in the following. The other energy coupling part fastened to the quick coupling part at the boom side is not movably supported in this embodiment, which is, however, not compulsory. The other energy coupling part could therefore likewise be movably supported in an embodiment.

[0045] The energy coupling parts each have an energy connector 12 that comprises a plurality of connector pieces 13 that are each arranged at a carrier block 18 and project perpendicularly therefrom. An energy circuit connection, in particular a hydraulic connection to supply a hydraulic tool with hydraulic oil, is closed by connecting or coupling the energy connectors 12 or the respective connector pieces 13. It can in this respect, for example, be a wheel loader blade having hydraulic components.

[0046] The energy coupling parts furthermore have a linear guide 14 that forces the energy coupling parts to make a relative movement toward one another along a line or a straight line against the orbital pivot movement about one of the two latching axles. In the present embodiment, the linear guide comprises two parallel guide pins 14 that are arranged at the carrier block 18 of the movable energy coupling part 10 and project perpendicularly therefrom and corresponding guide bores at the other energy guide part into which the guide pins 14 travel on the coupling and force the linear coupling movement before the connector pieces 13 move into engagement with one another.

[0047] Reference is explicitly made to EP 1 239 087 Al with respect to further details, properties, and advantages of the quick coupling parts, energy coupling parts, and linear guide and to the further design of the quick coupling. In the following, only the movable energy coupling part 10 and its support at the quick coupling part and the centering device in accordance with the invention will be discussed.

[0048] In FIG. 1, the movable energy coupling part 10 of the quick coupling in accordance with the invention is shown in a perspective view, with the quick coupling part fastened thereto being removed for reasons of clarity. The movable energy coupling part 10 comprises a substantially plate-shaped carrier block 18 that is movably supported at the quick coupling part on a spring device 16 comprising four compression springs. A plurality of connector pieces 13 and two guide pins 14 of the linear guide are arranged at the carrier block 18 and project in parallel from the surface of the carrier block 18 disposed opposite the spring device 16. Two pressure rams 17 are furthermore arranged at the side of the spring device 16 whose function is described in EP 1 239 087 A1.

[0049] The movable energy coupling part 10 is supported at two lateral carrier elements 30 that are rigidly connected to the quick coupling part. The carrier elements 30 are shown individually in a perspective view in FIG. 2. They are designed in plate form, differ in shape from one another, and are aligned in parallel with one another. The carrier elements 30 are arranged spaced apart from one another so that the carrier block 18 is supported between them that is installed via the spring device 16 at two fasteners 32 that are formed or installed at the inner sides of the carrier elements 30. The pressure rams 17 are installed at the fasteners 32.

[0050] The carrier block 18 and the positions of the components arranged thereat are axially symmetrical. It has a substantially rectangular basic shape in a plan view and extends substantially perpendicular between the carrier elements 30. The short sides of the carrier block 18 lie at the carrier elements 30.

[0051] In accordance with the invention, a centering element 20 is installed at the inner side of each carrier element 30, in the present embodiment via a screw connection. The carrier block 18 furthermore has two cutouts 24 laterally in the region of the edges, said cutouts 24 forming the holding elements 22 that cooperate with the centering elements 20 and form the centering device in accordance with the invention with them. The centering elements 20 are rigidly connected to the quick coupling part via the carrier elements 30 while the holding elements 22 are movably supported and are movable relative to the centering elements 20 due to the sprung support of the carrier block 18.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows the movable energy coupling part 10 together with the carrier elements 30 at which it is installed in a plan view. A frontal cross-sectional view along the line AA is shown in FIG. 4 and a lateral cross-sectional view along the line BB in FIG. 5.

[0053] The centering elements 20 are fastened to the carrier elements 30 at such a distance from the fasteners 32 that the carrier block 18 is urged against the centering elements 20 by the spring device 16. The carrier block 18 or the movable energy coupling part 10 are held in a defined position, that is called the central position in the present case, by this pressing force. In this central position, a correct and cant-free threading of the guide pints 14 into the corresponding guide bores of the other energy coupling part (not shown) can take place in the coupling procedure. The movable energy coupling part 10 is also held in the central position by the pressing when the carrier block 18 is not substantially horizontally oriented (as is the case, for example, in EP 1 239 087 A1), but rather has a different, in particular vertical, installation position. The pressing force here is dimensioned such that the movable energy coupling part 10 is not moved out of the central position in any installation position due to the weight and/or the stiffness/strain of the tubes (not shown) connected thereto via the tube connector 11. The quick coupling in accordance with the invention is thereby in particular suitable for use at a wheel loader blade.

[0054] To ensure a certain movability of the carrier block 18 that is required for the compensation of the circular movement on the coupling procedure by means of the linear guide 14 despite the pressing force generated by the spring device 16, the cutouts 24 are funnel-shaped and the centering elements 20 are round pins. The cutouts 24 have a rectangular shape or slit shape in the plan view and are conically chamfered along the short sides of the carrier block 18 toward the center. The chamfers have an angle of approximately 30°, with different angles also being possible. In the center of each cutout 24, the chamfers merge into a rectangular recess 25 that passes through the total carrier block 18 and that opens into the lower side of the carrier block 18. The cutouts 24 are furthermore open laterally at the short sides of the carrier block 18, i.e. open toward the carrier elements 30.

[0055] The centering elements 20 are configured as conically shaped pins having a circular cross-section and are fastened to the carrier elements 30 via the short side. In the central position, the centering elements 20 are partially received in the cutouts 24 (cf. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5). Due to the chamfers, a movement of the carrier block 18, in particular a pivoting or tilting about a pivot axis in parallel with the first latching axle and/or a displacement relative to the centering elements 20, is possible by external forces arising in the coupling procedure. The carrier block 18 or the movable energy coupling part 10 is thus held in the central position by the centering elements 20 in a shape matched form in the direction of the coupling straight lines defined by the linear guide 14 and in force transmitting form in a direction perpendicular thereto.

[0056] The pressing force by the spring device 16 is set such that the movability of the carrier block 18 is ensured on the occurrence of an external force generated as a result of the coupling procedure. If the carrier block 18 is deflected from the central position by such an external force and if this external force is removed, the movable energy coupling part 10 is again moved back or pressed back into the central position by the spring device 16.

[0057] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the compression springs of the spring device 16 are not compressed uniformly in the central position and are not aligned in parallel with one another. The centering elements 20 are furthermore not arranged centrally above the carrier block 18, but rather slightly laterally offset therefrom, and indeed on the straight line connecting the guide pins 14. However, other arrangements of the centering elements 20 are also possible, for example an arrangement in which they are not aligned with the guide pins 14.

[0058] The recesses 26 in the cutouts 24 prevent dirt or deposits from being able to accumulate in the cutouts 24 and to block them, which would prevent a correct positioning of the movable energy coupling part 10. The deposits are pressed through the centering elements 20 into the cutouts 26 and are thereby urged out of the cutouts 24. The conical shape of the centering elements 20 furthermore also provide that dirt or deposits are laterally urged outwardly out of the cutouts 24. The cutouts 24 thereby always remain free of contaminants, which ensures a correct positioning in the central position.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the movable energy coupling part 10 of the quick coupling in accordance with the invention in a side view with a view toward the short side of the carrier block 18. Two centering elements 20 are provided here instead of one centering element 20 per carrier element. The carrier block 18 correspondingly has two funnel-shaped cutouts 24 at each short side. The two centering elements 20 of each carrier element 30 form a fixed-loose arrangement, with one of the centering elements 20 being connected to the quick coupling part or to the carrier element 30 via a fixed support and the other via a loose support. It is thereby possible to provide more than one centering element 20 per carrier element 30, which increases the inherent stability of the movable energy coupling part 10 in the central position, but nevertheless permits a certain movability of the carrier block 18 for the purpose of the coupling with the other energy coupling part. A use of more than two centering elements 20 per side/carrier element 30 is also conceivable here. A rotatable support of one or more centering elements 20 at the carrier elements 30 could also be provided.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0060] 10 movable energy coupling part [0061] 11 tube connector [0062] 12 energy connector [0063] 13 connector piece [0064] 14 linear guide/guide pin [0065] 16 spring device [0066] 17 pressure ram [0067] 18 carrier block [0068] 20 centering element [0069] 22 holding element [0070] 24 cutout [0071] 26 recess [0072] 30 carrier piece [0073] 32 fastener